Belt Transporting Device Tension Roller Lateral Shift Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing belt transporting devices in image forming apparatuses face challenges in adjusting lateral shifts of endless belts without applying excessive load, which can lead to belt damage due to the need for high torque and force to counteract spring restoring forces.
Innovation Solution
A belt transporting device that adjusts lateral shifts by tilting stretching members, such as the tension roller, using adjustment members that rotate in conjunction with each other to minimize the load applied to the belt, utilizing a mechanism where the adjustment members are connected by a link member to ensure symmetrical and balanced rotation, reducing the rotational loads and eliminating the need for urging springs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If urging springs are used to return the follower roller to initial positions after lateral shift adjustment, then the follower roller can be reset to its initial position, but a large load is applied to the belt when the running torque exceeds the spring restoring force
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using springs to actively push the follower roller back to its initial position (applying force to overcome belt tension), the invention inverts the approach by allowing the belt's own tension to passively return the follower roller to its initial position. The follower roller is designed to move freely in the axial direction without active urging, eliminating the need for spring forces that could exceed belt承受能力.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the urging springs from the system entirely. By eliminating the springs that were previously used to urge the follower roller to its initial position, the design avoids the problem of excessive loads being applied to the belt when the spring force exceeds the belt's承受能力 during lateral shift adjustment.
2Manufacturing precision
If contact members are used to adjust lateral shift by rotating with the belt, then lateral shift can be corrected, but a running torque exceeding spring restoring force damages the belt end
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an intermediary mechanism (the follower roller with free axial movement capability) between the belt and the lateral shift adjustment system. This intermediary allows the belt to exert force on the adjustment mechanism without directly transmitting excessive torque to the belt end, thereby protecting the belt from damage while still achieving lateral shift correction.
Solution Approach 2:
The follower roller is designed with dynamic freedom to move in the axial direction without restriction from urging springs. This dynamic design allows the system to adapt to the belt's tension and movement naturally, avoiding the rigid force application that would cause damage to the belt end during lateral shift adjustment.
3Manufacturing precision
If a large force is applied to rotate the contact member for lateral shift adjustment, then the lateral shift can be corrected, but a large load is applied to the contact area between contact member and belt
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameter of force application by eliminating the spring urging force entirely. Instead of applying a large force through springs to rotate the contact member, the system uses the natural tension and movement of the belt to achieve lateral shift correction, thereby reducing the load on the contact area between the contact member and the belt.
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
The solution effectively adjusts belt lateral shifts with a significantly reduced load on the belt, preventing damage and ensuring smooth operation by distributing forces evenly and reducing frictional loads, thereby maintaining belt integrity during continuous rotation.
Implementation Method 1
adjustment members that rotate in conjunction with each other to minimize the load applied to the belt
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A belt transporting device includes a belt (5); first and second adjustment members (21R, 21L) provided at two respective ends of a tension roller (7) in a belt width direction orthogonal to a direction of rotation of the belt, the first and second adjustment members each being movable by receiving a force from the belt; and a link member (23) that interlocks the movement of the first adjustment member and the movement of the second adjustment member. If the belt is laterally shifted in the belt width direction, one of the first and second adjustment members moves by receiving a force from the belt while the other is moved by the link member such that the tension roller is tilted with respect to a driving roller (6).