Process Cartridge Contact Member Regulating Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing process cartridges for electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining reliable electrical connections between the cartridge and the main assembly, particularly in terms of easy attachment and detachment of electrical contacts, which affects operational efficiency and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A process cartridge design featuring a contact member with supporting means that includes regulating portions for precise movement and exposure, allowing for easy insertion and secure attachment of electrical contacts to the main assembly, ensuring a stable and maintainable electrical connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If connectors and springy members are used to establish electrical connection, then the structure is simple and cost is reduced, but the attachment and detachment of electrical contacts becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical contact system is divided into separate components: a contact member with contact portion and a supporting means. This segmentation allows the contact member to be easily attached to and detached from the process cartridge, while the supporting means remains in the main assembly, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact member serves as an intermediary component that bridges the process cartridge and the main assembly. It can be easily attached to the process cartridge and connected to the supporting means in the main assembly, facilitating easy attachment and detachment while maintaining electrical connection.
2Reliability
If electrical contacts are fully exposed, then electrical connection is ensured, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The contact member is designed with movable portions that can dynamically adjust their position. The contact portion can move to ensure full exposure and reliable electrical connection, while the supporting means provides guidance and constraints to maintain proper positioning without excessive structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact member includes portions that extend in multiple directions (widthwise direction and thickness direction). This multi-dimensional configuration allows the contact portion to be fully exposed for reliable electrical connection while the supporting means provides regulation in different dimensions to control complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If regulating portions with gaps are used, then movement regulation is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting means includes regulating portions with gaps that provide precise movement regulation only where needed. The first regulating portion regulates movement in the widthwise direction and the second regulating portion regulates movement in the thickness direction, applying precision control locally rather than throughout the entire structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A cartridge is detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a main assembly electrical contact. The cartridge includes: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a memory; a cartridge electrical contact electrically connectable to the main assembly electrical contact; a contact including the cartridge electrical contact; and a support supporting the contact. The support includes first and second regulators of the contact member in widthwise and thickness directions, respectively, with a gap therebetween. Also provided is an opening permitting insertion of the contact into the support that opens in one direction perpendicular to the widthwise and thickness directions. The main assembly electrical contact includes a spring movable by a stroke in the contact thickness direction, and the gap of the second regulator W1, a length W2 of the contact in the thickness direction, the stroke U satisfy, W2<W1, and (W1−W2)<U.