Belt Device Widthwise Movement Restriction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional belt devices in image forming apparatuses experience skewing and widthwise positional shifts due to uneven urging forces from springs, leading to increased load on the belt and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A belt device with a widthwise-movement restricting member and an expansion-contraction restricting member, where the urging member applies tension evenly, preventing skewing and positional shifts without excessive load, using a drive roller and follow roller with springs applying consistent forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If springs are used to apply tension to the belt, then the belt can be tensioned along its circumference, but the uneven urging forces from the springs cause skewing and widthwise positional shifts
Solution Approach 1:
The tensioning system is segmented into multiple independent springs distributed along the circumference of the belt. Each spring applies tension locally, and their combined effect creates uniform overall tension while individual variations are compensated by the distributed arrangement, preventing skewing and positional shifts
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the belt receive tailored tensioning through locally positioned springs. The springs are strategically placed to ensure that each section of the belt receives appropriate tension, compensating for variations in spring forces and maintaining uniform belt tension and position throughout
2Stability of the object's composition
If the urging force of springs is increased to prevent positional shift, then belt stability improves, but the load on the belt increases and can cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single high-force spring, the system uses multiple springs distributed around the belt circumference. Each spring applies a moderate force, and the cumulative effect of all springs provides the necessary tension to prevent positional shifts without overloading the belt at any single point
Solution Approach 2:
The function of applying tension is extracted from a single concentrated spring and distributed across multiple springs. This extraction of the tensioning function from a single point to multiple points allows the system to achieve the required stability while reducing the peak load on 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 reduces the load on the belt, prevents damage, and ensures stable operation by maintaining even tension and preventing irregular expansion and contraction, resulting in uniform belt speed and high-quality image formation.
Implementation Method 1
The urging member applies tension to the belt in the peripheral direction
Data Source
AI summary
A belt is looped around a plurality of rollers including a drive roller and a follow roller. The belt has an inner peripheral surface facing inside of a loop of the belt and an outer peripheral surface opposite the inner peripheral surface. The belt has a first widthwise edge and a second widthwise edge. A widthwise-movement restricting member is disposed on the inner peripheral surface on a first widthwise edge side. The widthwise-movement restricting member restricts widthwise movement of the belt in a direction toward a second widthwise edge side. An expansion-contraction restricting member is disposed on the second widthwise edge side on at least one of the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface. The expansion-contraction restricting member is less expandable in a peripheral direction of the belt than the widthwise-movement restricting member is. An urging member applies tension to the belt in the peripheral direction.