Process Cartridge Spacing Mechanism for Drive Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing process cartridges for image forming apparatuses have a limited flexibility in the design due to the narrow interval between the drive input mechanisms for the photosensitive drum and the developing roller, which restricts the degree of freedom in the apparatus main assembly and the cartridge configuration.
Innovation Solution
The process cartridge incorporates a spacing mechanism that allows the photosensitive drum and the developing roller to be contacted or spaced, utilizing an Oldham coupling for independent drive transmission, enabling a wider interval between the drive inputs and enhancing the flexibility of the apparatus main assembly and the cartridge design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If independent drive transmission is performed on the axis of the photosensitive drum and the axis of the developing roller, then the photosensitive drum and developing roller can be driven independently, but the interval between the drive transmitting member for the photosensitive drum and the drive transmitting member for the developing roller narrows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable connection between the photosensitive drum and developing roller along the axial direction, transforming a fixed two-dimensional arrangement into a three-dimensional configuration. This allows the drive transmitting members to be positioned farther apart while maintaining independent drive transmission capability through the movable coupling mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an Oldham coupling as an intermediary mechanism between the drive transmitting members. This coupling device enables independent rotation of the photosensitive drum and developing roller while accommodating the increased distance between their drive inputs, effectively mediating the transmission of rotational motion across the expanded interval.
2Volume of moving object
If the cartridge of the photosensitive drum and the coupling of the developing roller are in a relationship in which these couplings are adjacent to each other, then compact structure is achieved, but the degree of flexibility in constitution of the apparatus main assembly or the process cartridge narrows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the connection between the photosensitive drum and developing roller dynamic rather than fixed. The movable coupling mechanism allows the relative position and orientation of these components to be adjusted, providing flexibility in the constitution of the process cartridge while maintaining a compact overall structure when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables changes in the spatial parameters (position, orientation, distance) between the photosensitive drum and developing roller through the movable connection mechanism. This allows the system to adapt between compact configurations for space efficiency and expanded configurations for design flexibility, depending on the operational requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
A process cartridge comprising a photosensitive drum, a rotatable developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on said photosensitive drum, a coupling member including a driving force receiving portion for receiving a driving force to be transmitted to said developing roller, wherein said driving force receiving portion is movable relative to said developing roller in a direction crossing an axis of said driving force receiving portion, an urging portion for urging said driving force receiving portion in the direction crossing the axis of said developing roller, a supporting portion for rotatably supporting said driving force receiving portion so as to be movable together with said driving force receiving portion relative to said developing roller in the direction crossing the axis of said driving force receiving portion, and an abutting portion for receiving said supporting portion urged by said urging portion, wherein said abutting portion is positioned outside an outer periphery of said photosensitive drum in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said developing roller, and wherein one of said developing roller and said coupling member is rotated in clockwise direction and the other of said developing roller and said coupling member is rotated in counterclockwise direction.