Belt Support Deflection Correction via End Tension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatus configurations with fixedly supported roller members suffer from deflection due to weight, leading to compromised belt flatness and inaccurate gap adjustments between the belt and image forming sections, complicating the adjustment mechanism.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a supporting member extending in the width direction of the belt, featuring a flat part facing the belt and a pulling section that corrects deflection by pulling the end sections outward, ensuring the belt's flatness and simplifying the adjustment process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If both end sections of the roller member are fixedly supported to a predetermined section, then the roller member is stably supported, but the central part is lowered by its own weight causing deflection that compromises belt flatness
Solution Approach 1:
The pulling section applies a counteracting force to the gravitational load on the supporting member. By pulling the end section outward, it creates a moment that counterbalances the downward deflection caused by the weight of the supporting member, thereby maintaining the belt's flatness while preserving support stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pulling section changes the stress state of the supporting member by introducing tensile stress at the end section. This parameter change in the internal force distribution compensates for the gravitational loading, preventing deflection and maintaining the required shape for belt flatness.
2Reliability
If both end sections of the roller member are fixedly supported, then support stability is improved, but the configuration becomes complicated when an adjustment mechanism is provided to eliminate deflection
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member with pulling section automatically compensates for its own deflection caused by gravity. The pulling section provides a built-in counterbalancing mechanism that eliminates the need for external adjustment mechanisms, achieving self-service functionality while maintaining support stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the adjustment function from a separate complex mechanism and integrates it into the supporting member structure itself. By incorporating the pulling section directly into the support system, the complex adjustment mechanism is eliminated while retaining the ability to compensate for deflection.
3Device complexity
If the central part of the roller member is lowered by weight, then the structure is simplified, but the belt flatness cannot be secured and gap adjustment becomes inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The pulling section provides a counteracting force that prevents the central part of the supporting member from sagging under its own weight. This counterbalancing action maintains the precise positioning required for accurate gap adjustment between the belt and image forming section, while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration secures the belt's flatness, allows for accurate gap adjustments between the belt and image forming sections, and eliminates the need for complex adjustment mechanisms, reducing costs and space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
both end sections of the roller member are fixedly supported, a central part in the axial direction of the roller member is lowered by its own weight, thereby causing the roller member to deform to a state in which the central part is deflected
Implementation Method 2
the roller member to deform to a state in which the central part is deflected
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An image forming apparatus (1) includes an endless belt member (23), an image forming section (3) that forms an image in an image forming area facing the belt member, a supporting member (4) that supports an entire width direction of the belt member at a position corresponding to the image forming area of the belt member, and a pulling section (6, 7) that pulls an end section of the supporting member toward outside the belt member.