Process Cartridge Chip Power Layout for Drum Charge Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming technologies require additional power supply pins for discharge components, leading to increased costs, complex structural designs, and larger device sizes due to limited internal space in image forming apparatuses.

Innovation Solution

A process cartridge with a power supply contact on the chip that receives power from the image forming apparatus, where the discharge component is configured to eliminate residual charge on the photosensitive drum, reducing the need for multiple power supply pins by integrating the power supply contact with the discharge component into the chip, thereby simplifying the structural layout and simplifying the electrical connection between the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional power supply pins are configured on the image forming apparatus to power the discharge component, then the discharge component can be powered reliably, but the device complexity and size increase due to limited internal space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply stabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the power supply contact for the discharge component with the existing chip structure. The chip now integrates both the original power supply contact and the additional power supply contact, merging multiple functions into a single component. This reduces the number of separate power supply pins needed on the image forming apparatus while ensuring reliable power delivery to both the chip and the discharge component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If additional power supply pins are configured on the image forming apparatus to power the discharge component, then the discharge component can be powered reliably, but the cost increases due to more complex structural design

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the power supply contact for the discharge component with the existing chip structure. By integrating the additional power supply contact into the chip, the invention reduces the number of separate power supply pins required on the image forming apparatus, thereby simplifying the overall structural design and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining reliable power supply to the discharge component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If more contacts are configured on the consumables side to support additional components, then the functionality is enhanced, but the number of terminals required on the image forming apparatus increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidterminal layout
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple power supply contacts into a single integrated chip structure. The chip now includes both the original power supply contact and the additional power supply contact, allowing the consumable to support multiple functions (chip operations and discharge component) through a unified contact interface. This reduces the number of terminals required on the image forming apparatus while maintaining enhanced functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4668026A1Process cartridge and image forming apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 ZHUHAI PANTUM ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4668026A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4668026A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4668026A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A process cartridge (2) and an image forming apparatus (100). The process cartridge (2) comprises a cartridge body, a photosensitive drum (25), and a chip (26). The photosensitive drum (25) is rotatably arranged on the cartridge body; the chip (26) is arranged on the cartridge body; the chip (26) comprises a power supply contact (261) for receiving a power supply provided by the image forming apparatus (100); the power supply contact (261) is configured to be electrically connected to a discharge component (3); the discharge component (3) is used for eliminating residual charges on the photosensitive drum (25); when the process cartridge (2) is mounted on a body (101) of the image forming apparatus (100), the power supply contact (261) of the chip (26) is electrically connected to the body (101) of the image forming apparatus (100), so that the chip (26) and the discharge component (3) can work normally, and charges generated after exposure of the photosensitive drum (25) are discharged, that is, the body (101) of the image forming apparatus (100) only needs to be provided with a power supply pin corresponding to the power supply contact (261) of the chip (26), and there is no need to simultaneously provide a plurality of power supply pins corresponding to the chip (26) and the discharge component (3), thereby reducing the number of power supply pins needing to be provided on the body (101) of the image forming apparatus (100), reducing the cost, and making the structure simpler and smaller.