Charging Unit Support Member with Integrated Bearing Portions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging units for image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently supporting and assembling the charging and cleaning rollers, leading to reduced work efficiency and increased complexity due to conventional support methods that require precise alignment and hole-shaped bearings.
Innovation Solution
A charging unit design featuring a support member with distinct opening portions for the charging and cleaning rollers, allowing for easy assembly and stable support through elastic members, with the charging roller's length extended beyond the cleaning roller's length to minimize size and prevent bearing displacement, and a small diameter portion on the cleaning roller for enhanced contact and reduced assembly complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional hole-shaped bearings are used to support the charging and cleaning rollers, then the rollers can be supported, but the assembly process becomes complex and requires precise alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bearing function from a separate component and integrates it directly into the support member structure. The support member includes built-in bearing portions that directly support the charging and cleaning rollers, eliminating the need for separate hole-shaped bearings and reducing assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member combines multiple functions: it provides structural support, incorporates bearing portions for roller support, and includes pressing portions for applying pressure. This merging of functions into a single integrated component reduces the number of parts and simplifies the overall structure.
2Reliability
If the charging roller length is extended beyond the cleaning roller length, then bearing displacement is prevented and size is minimized, but the structure becomes asymmetric and more complex to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The charging roller is designed with an asymmetric length relationship to the cleaning roller, where the charging roller extends beyond the cleaning roller. This asymmetric configuration prevents bearing displacement while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through the integrated support member design.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member is segmented into distinct functional portions: a first bearing portion for supporting the charging roller, a second bearing portion for supporting the cleaning roller, and pressing portions for applying pressure. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall manufacturing simplicity.
3Ease of operation
If a small diameter portion is added to the cleaning roller, then contact with the charging member is enhanced and assembly is simplified, but the roller structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning roller features a local variation in diameter, with a small diameter portion at one end and a larger diameter portion at the other end. This local quality change enhances contact with the charging member at the small diameter end while maintaining structural integrity and simplifying assembly through the integrated support structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a charging unit including a charging member that is provided and comes in contact with a surface of an image holding member holding an image to charge the image holding member, a cleaning member that is provided and comes in contact with a surface of the charging member to clean the charging portion which is provided with an opening portion that opens in a direction intersecting rotating shafts of the charging member and the cleaning member, and which supports one end of the charging member is inserted through the opening portion to support the one end of the charging member, and a second support portion which is formed by being connected to the first support portion and which supports one end of the cleaning member which is inserted from the opening portion through the first support portion.