Image Forming Apparatus Cleaning Unit Drawer Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses require a large height due to the conventional arrangement of photosensitive drums, conveyor belts, and cleaning units, making maintenance of the cleaning unit cumbersome as it necessitates removal of the conveyor belt, leading to a bulky device.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a movable drawer that supports both the image forming unit with arrayed photosensitive drums and the cleaning unit, allowing them to be pulled out together from the main body, eliminating the need to remove the conveyor belt for maintenance and reducing the device's height by integrating the cleaning unit on the same side as the image forming unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cleaning unit is disposed below the conveyor belt, then the cleaning function is achieved, but the device height increases and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning unit is repositioned from a vertical arrangement (below the conveyor belt) to a horizontal arrangement (on the same side as the image forming unit). This dimensional change allows the cleaning unit to be accessed from the front when the drawer is pulled out, eliminating the need for vertical space and reducing device height while improving maintenance accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning unit is integrated with the drawer assembly that holds the image forming unit. Both units are now accessed together through the same drawer mechanism, combining maintenance operations into a single action and eliminating the need to separately access the conveyor belt area.
2Ease of repair
If the cleaning unit is disposed below the conveyor belt, then the cleaning function is achieved, but the conveyor belt must be removed for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning unit is merged with the drawer assembly containing the image forming unit. This integration allows both components to be accessed simultaneously through a single drawer operation, eliminating the need to separately remove the conveyor belt for cleaning unit maintenance and simplifying the overall maintenance procedure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the photosensitive drum unit and cleaning unit are separately disposed, then each unit can be independently accessed, but the device requires larger height dimension
Solution Approach 1:
The arrangement transitions from vertical stacking (one above the other) to horizontal positioning (on the same side). This allows both units to be accessed from the front when the drawer is pulled out, maintaining independent accessibility while eliminating the need for vertical separation and reducing device height.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an image forming apparatus including a main body, a drawer, an image forming unit, a belt unit and a cleaning unit. The drawer is movably supported to the main body and configured to be pulled out from an interior of the main body. The image forming unit is supported on the drawer and has photosensitive drums arrayed in line in a direction for forming an image on a recording medium. The belt unit is disposed in opposition to each of the photosensitive drums and extends in the direction. The cleaning unit is fixed to the drawer and is disposed at a side the same as the image forming unit with respect to the belt unit, such that the cleaning unit is pulled out integrally with the image forming unit from the main body.