Cartridge Coupling Member for Easy Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatuses lack a mechanism for moving the main assembly side engaging portion in the rotational axis direction in response to the opening and closing operation of the main assembly cover, making it difficult to mount or dismount process cartridges or photosensitive member units without compromising usability.
Innovation Solution
A cartridge or photosensitive member unit with a rotatable member and a coupling member that can transmit rotational force, allowing for movement between two positions: one where the rotational axes are parallel and another where the coupling member is displaced perpendicular to the rotatable member's axis, enabling easy mounting and dismounting without deteriorating usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the main assembly is not provided with a mechanism for moving the main assembly side engaging portion in the rotational axis direction, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the main assembly side engaging portion movable (which would increase complexity), the invention inverts the approach by making the cartridge side engaging portion movable. This allows the coupling member to actively seek engagement with the stationary main assembly side, achieving easy mounting/dismounting without adding complexity to the main assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling member is designed with dynamic characteristics, being movable in the rotational axis direction to transition between engaged and disengaged states. This dynamic element is located in the cartridge rather than the main assembly, maintaining simplicity of the main assembly while enabling ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If the coupling member is made movable in the rotational axis direction, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable coupling mechanism is extracted from the main assembly and placed entirely within the cartridge. This isolates the complexity to a removable component, allowing the main assembly to remain simple while still achieving easy mounting and dismounting operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling member is designed to automatically engage with the main assembly side engaging portion when the cartridge is inserted, and automatically disengage when removed. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for additional actuating mechanisms, reducing complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes a rotatable member capable of carrying developer, the rotatable member being rotatable about a rotational axis thereof. The cartridge also includes a coupling member provided at one end portion of the cartridge with respect to a rotational axis direction of the rotatable member, the coupling member including at least one projection and being configured to transmit a rotational force to the rotatable member. A holding member holds the coupling member, and two pins support the holding member, with each of the two pins including a shaft portion elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rotatable member and the two pins being disposed substantially parallel to each other.