Conductive Contact Guide for Image Forming Apparatus

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing image forming apparatuses face issues with maintaining reliable electrical connections between replaceable parts and the main body, particularly due to abrasion or breakage of gold-plated contact portions during attachment and detachment, leading to incorrect information transfer.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a replaceable part with a storage portion and a first electrically-conductive contact portion, and a main body with a supporting portion and a second electrically-conductive contact portion, where the second contact portion is movable and has a supporting portion with a predetermined angle, ensuring secure contact and preventing abrasion by guiding the contact points to maintain electrical connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the replaceable part is attached to or detached from the main body, then the replaceable part can be replaced, but the contact portion may contact a portion other than the contact portion, causing gold plating to be abraded or broken

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereplaceability of the replaceable partVSAvoidelectrical connection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A guide portion is introduced as an intermediary structure between the replaceable part and the main body. The guide portion includes a guide surface that guides the contact portion of the replaceable part, ensuring it contacts only the intended contact portion on the main body during attachment, preventing contact with other portions and avoiding gold plating damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the conventional direct contact mechanism with a guided contact mechanism. Instead of relying on precise alignment through force fitting, the guide surface provides a mechanical guidance system that directs the contact portion to the correct position, substituting the need for high-precision manual alignment with a self-guiding structural feature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If gold plating is applied to contact portions to prevent oxidization, then corrosion resistance is improved, but the gold plating becomes susceptible to abrasion and breakage during attachment and detachment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxidation resistance of contact portionsVSAvoiddurability of gold plating

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The guide surface acts as a mediator that separates the attachment/detachment motion from the contact portion. By guiding the replacement process, it prevents direct friction and impact between the replaceable part and the gold-plated contact portion, thereby protecting the gold plating from abrasion and breakage while maintaining its oxidation resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the contact portion is made fixed to ensure stable electrical connection, then connection stability is improved, but the contact portion cannot accommodate misalignment during attachment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection stabilityVSAvoidease of attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention substitutes the need for precise manual alignment with a self-guiding mechanical structure. The guide surface automatically directs the contact portion to the correct position during attachment, allowing the contact portion itself to remain fixed and stable while the guide structure accommodates any misalignment in the replacement process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8862016B2Image forming apparatus that ensures an electrical connection between a replacement part and a main body part of the apparatus

Publication Date: 2014.10.14 OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO LTD

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus main body, and a replaceable part detachably attached thereto. The replaceable part is moveable in a first direction to be attached to the image forming apparatus main body and in a second direction to be detached from the image forming apparatus main body. The replaceable part includes a storage portion. The storage portion including a memory for storing information of the replaceable part and/or the image forming apparatus main body, and a first electrically-conductive contact portion electrically connected to the memory. The image forming apparatus main body includes a second electrically-conductive contact portion that electrically contacts the first contact portion, and a supporting portion that supports the second electrically-conductive contact portion. The second electrically-conductive contact portion has a first end portion fixed to the supporting portion and a second end portion which is movable with respect to the supporting portion. The first electrically-conductive contact portion includes an inclined surface contacting the second electrically-conductive contact portion. The inclined surface faces the first direction and is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the first direction.