Cover-Mounted Bearing Guide for Transfer Roller Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face complexity and cost increases due to complicated configurations of bearing holders supporting transfer rollers, making integration with cover members difficult.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a simplified configuration that uses a cover member, rotary bodies, a rotary shaft, a bearing member, a spring member, a bearing support portion, and a bearing guide portion, where the bearing member is supported by the spring member and can move within the cover member and the apparatus main body to ensure press-contact between rotary bodies, facilitating easy assembly and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complicated bearing holder configuration is used to support the transfer roller, then the transfer roller can be reliably supported, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing holder is merged with the cover member by forming the bearing holder as an integral part of the cover member structure. This integration eliminates the need for separate bearing holder components, reducing device complexity while maintaining the support function through the combined structural design
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the protective cover and the bearing holder for the transfer roller. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed while maintaining reliable support for the transfer roller through the integrated structure
2Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for the bearing holder, then the support function is achieved, but the number of components increases leading to higher manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate components (cover member and bearing holder) are merged into a single integrated structure. The bearing holder is formed as part of the cover member, reducing the component count while maintaining the essential support function through the unified design
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the protective cover and as the bearing holder. This eliminates the need for additional separate bearing holder components, reducing the total quantity of parts while achieving reliable transfer roller support
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for reliable press-contact between rotary bodies, reducing component complexity and costs while maintaining efficient operation, such as in the image forming apparatus described, where the bearing member is guided into a groove for proper alignment and contact, enhancing maintenance accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
a spring member (41) that biases the bearing member (53) so that the first rotary body (9) is pressed against the second rotary body (1)
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a bearing support portion that is provided in a cover member and supports a bearing member and a spring member and a bearing guide portion that is provided in an apparatus main body and has a guide groove that extends in a first direction and in which an outer peripheral portion of the bearing member is fitted when the cover member is in a close position. The bearing support portion has an opening portion extending in the first and second directions and a contact portion, and the bearing member has a convex portion that is formed on one side relative to an outer peripheral surface and is movable within the opening portion in the first and second directions and a regulation lug that is formed on the other side relative to the outer peripheral surface and, when the cover member is in an open position, can come in contact with the contact portion under a biasing force of the spring member.