Belt Unit Contact and Separation Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face issues with damage and unpleasant impact sounds due to large impacts when stretching members come into contact with the belt, as the existing methods of tensioning the belt result in uneven contact and high stress on the components.
Innovation Solution
A belt unit with a rotatable endless belt, stretching members, and an urging member that uses a contact and separation unit to gradually decrease the movement speed of the stretching members as they transition from a separation to a contact position with the belt, reducing the impact by ensuring one end contacts the belt faster than the other and utilizing a shock-absorbing mechanism to manage the force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If stretching members are moved to contact the belt simultaneously at the entire area, then the belt tension is applied efficiently, but large impact force is generated causing damage and unpleasant sound
Solution Approach 1:
The stretching members are divided into multiple segments along the belt width direction. Each stretching member contacts a specific region of the belt independently, allowing sequential contact from one end to the other, which distributes the impact force over time and space rather than applying it all at once across the entire belt width.
Solution Approach 2:
The stretching members contact the belt in a sequential, periodic manner rather than simultaneously. The contact occurs in stages where one end of the belt is contacted first, followed by the other end at a different time, creating a periodic action pattern that reduces peak impact forces compared to simultaneous contact.
2Loss of time
If stretching members contact the belt at high speed, then the tensioning process is quick and efficient, but large impact sound is generated that is unpleasant to users
Solution Approach 1:
The rapid tensioning process is segmented into multiple contact stages across different belt regions. Each stretching member contacts its designated belt region in sequence, maintaining overall speed efficiency while distributing the sound-generating impact events across time and space, reducing the perception of loud simultaneous impact sounds.
Solution Approach 2:
The tensioning operation uses periodic, sequential contact of stretching members with the belt at controlled intervals. This periodic action allows the system to maintain relatively quick tensioning while avoiding continuous high-speed impact, thereby reducing unpleasant sound generation during the belt tensioning process.
3Productivity
If the cam moves the stretching members quickly to contact the belt, then the positioning is efficient, but the cam position accuracy deteriorates due to impact causing the cam to move
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning process is segmented so that stretching members contact the belt in discrete regions rather than all at once. This segmentation reduces the cumulative impact force on the cam mechanism at any given moment, allowing the cam to maintain its position accuracy while still achieving efficient overall positioning through the sequential contact of multiple stretching members.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam-driven positioning system uses periodic, phased contact of stretching members with the belt. This periodic action distributes the impact loads over time, preventing the cam from being displaced by simultaneous large impacts while maintaining positioning efficiency through the coordinated, sequential engagement of multiple stretching members at different phases.
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 solution effectively reduces damage to the belt and minimizes impact sounds during the stretching process, ensuring smoother operation and extended component lifespan by distributing tension evenly and reducing the initial force applied during belt stretching.
Implementation Method 1
an urging member configured to urge at least one of the stretching members from an inner surface side to an outer surface side of the belt
Implementation Method 2
temporarily decreases a movement speed of each of the both ends of the stretching member in the longitudinal direction respectively before arriving at the contact position
Data Source
AI summary
A belt unit used for an image forming apparatus is provided. The belt unit includes a rotatable endless belt, a plurality of stretching members configured to stretch the belt, an urging member, and a contact and separation unit configured to be able to switch a position of the stretching member urged by the urging member. In moving the stretching member urged by the urging member from the separation position to the contact position, the contact and separation unit makes one end side of the stretching member urged by the urging member in a longitudinal direction coming into contact with the inner surface of the belt faster than the other end side, and temporarily decreases the movement speeds of the both ends of the stretching member in the longitudinal direction respectively before arriving at the contact position.