Process Cartridge Chip Positioning for Stable Printer Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
During the installation of a process cartridge in an image-forming apparatus, the conductive terminals on the apparatus can be damaged, or debris can adhere to them due to contact with other parts of the cartridge, leading to abnormal communication between the cartridge's chip and the apparatus.
Innovation Solution
The process cartridge design includes a chip part with a contact point portion and a positioning portion, where the distance between the contact point and a reference point along the axial direction of a rotating part is greater than the distance between the positioning portion and the reference point, ensuring the positioning portion does not collide with the electrical contact portion, thus maintaining stable electrical connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large number of process cartridges are stored in the cartridge storage box, then the supply of process cartridges is sufficient, but the width of the storage box increases
Solution Approach 1:
The process cartridges are arranged in a stacked configuration extending in the width direction of the storage box, utilizing the width dimension for vertical stacking rather than horizontal placement. This dimensional reorganization allows multiple cartridges to be stored within a compact width footprint by stacking them vertically like blocks.
2Quantity of substance
If process cartridges are stacked in the width direction, then the width utilization is improved, but the cartridges may tilt forward due to gravity
Solution Approach 1:
A support portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the process cartridges and the storage box bottom. This support portion extends in the width direction and provides a stable base that prevents the cartridges from tilting forward under gravity, enabling reliable vertical stacking.
Solution Approach 2:
The support portion is pre-configured in the storage box before the process cartridges are placed. This preliminary structural preparation ensures that when cartridges are stacked, they immediately have the necessary support to maintain stability, preventing tilting before it occurs.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the support portion extends in the width direction, then cartridge stability is improved, but the support portion width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support portion is designed with non-uniform width characteristics, being wider at specific locations where stability is most needed and narrower in other areas. This localized quality variation provides adequate stability support while minimizing the overall width occupation of the support structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides a process cartridge, a process cartridge assembly, and an image-forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes a cartridge main body; a rotating part where the cartridge main body includes a first end portion and a second end portion; a chip part, where the chip part is disposed on the cartridge main body and includes a contact point portion for electrical connection with an electrical contact portion of the image-forming apparatus; and a positioning portion, configured to be supported on a moving part of the image-forming apparatus. A distance between the contact point portion and the reference point along the axial direction of the rotating part is L1, and a minimum distance between the reference point and a surface of the positioning portion away from the second end portion along the axial direction of the rotating part is L2, where