Cartridge Detection Gear Protrusion for New Product Determination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in accurately monitoring the service life of cartridges due to the detection gear returning to its initial position after initial use, leading to difficulties in distinguishing between new and used cartridges.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a detection gear with a movable protrusion and a memory in the cartridge, along with a sensor and controller in the image forming apparatus, to determine whether the cartridge is new based on the motion of the protrusion and store new product determination information, allowing for precise service life management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the detection gear is used to determine whether the cartridge is new, then the determination process is simple, but the service life management becomes inaccurate when the detection gear returns to its initial position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetermination processVSAvoidservice life management

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The detection gear is divided into multiple protrusions (first protrusion, second protrusion, etc.) positioned at different circumferential locations. Each protrusion independently provides detection information, allowing the system to distinguish between a cartridge that has been used and returned to initial position versus a truly new cartridge, thereby resolving the reliability issue while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A lever is introduced as an intermediary mechanism that translates the rotational position of the detection gear protrusions into detectable signals. The lever contacts the protrusions and moves accordingly, enabling the sensor to detect the circumferential positions of multiple protrusions and determine cartridge status accurately

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the sensor detects the detection gear to obtain yield information, then the information acquisition is efficient, but the measurement precision decreases when the detection gear returns to initial position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation acquisitionVSAvoidcartridge status detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple protrusions are positioned asymmetrically at different circumferential locations on the detection gear. This asymmetric arrangement creates unique detection patterns for new cartridges versus used cartridges that have returned to initial position, enabling the sensor to distinguish between these states with high precision while maintaining efficient information acquisition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The detection system transitions from detecting a single position to detecting multiple circumferential positions simultaneously. By measuring the positions of multiple protrusions around the gear, the system adds dimensional information that enables precise differentiation between cartridge states, resolving the measurement precision issue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10101684B2Image forming apparatus and cartridge comprising detection gear

Publication Date: 2018.10.16 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A cartridge includes a detection gear and a memory. The detection gear may be rotatable about a first axis extending in a predetermined direction. The detection gear may include a first protrusion movable with rotation of the detection gear. The memory may include a first storage region configured to store, based on the motion of the first protrusion, new product determination information representing that the cartridge is detected as a new product.