Developer Cartridge Attachment via Orthogonal Belt Reorientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electro-photographic type color printers face difficulties in easily attaching and detaching developer cartridges due to the vertical orientation of the photosensitive drum and developing unit, making it challenging to access and replace the developer cartridges efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a configuration where an endless belt confronts photosensitive members orthogonally, and developer cartridges are positioned opposite to the belt, allowing for easy detachment and attachment in a direction orthogonal to the photosensitive members, facilitated by a permitting unit and moving unit that adjusts the relative positions of the belt and chargers to enable smooth cartridge handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the photosensitive drum is supported to an upper end portion of the process cartridge and the developing unit is positioned below the photosensitive drum, then the structural configuration is simplified, but the attachment and detachment of the developing unit becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the attachment direction from vertical to horizontal by positioning the developing unit laterally adjacent to the photosensitive drum. This dimensional reorientation allows the developing unit to be easily attached and detached through a horizontal movement path, resolving the difficulty while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the process cartridge into separable functional modules: the photosensitive drum unit and the developing unit. This segmentation allows the developing unit to be independently accessed and replaced without removing the entire cartridge, improving ease of operation while keeping the overall structure simple.
2Volume of stationary object
If the developer cartridge is positioned vertically below the photosensitive drum, then the space utilization is improved, but the accessibility for maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the developing unit from a vertical arrangement to a horizontal arrangement, allowing maintenance personnel to access and replace the developing unit through a lateral opening. This dimensional change improves accessibility while the modular design maintains efficient space utilization within the process cartridge.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the developing unit as a separate, removable module from the process cartridge. This extraction allows the developing unit to be easily removed for maintenance or replacement without affecting the photosensitive drum or other components, significantly improving ease of repair while maintaining compact integration.
3Ease of manufacture
If the photosensitive drum and developing unit are integrated in the process cartridge, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the frequency of replacement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the integrated process cartridge into independently replaceable modules: the photosensitive drum unit and the developing unit. This segmentation allows only the developing unit to be replaced when depleted, while the photosensitive drum remains intact, reducing replacement frequency and time loss while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a design where only the consumable developing unit is discarded and replaced, while the non-consumable photosensitive drum is recovered and retained. This approach minimizes waste and reduces the frequency of complete cartridge replacements, addressing the time loss issue while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized modular components.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming device includes a permitting unit and a moving unit. The permitting unit selectively establishes a first positional relationship in which photosensitive members contact an endless belt and a second positional relationship in which the photosensitive members separate from the endless belt. The moving unit moves a charger between a first position confronting the corresponding photosensitive member at a rear side thereof in a juxtaposed direction and a second position moved away from the first position. The endless belt confronts the photosensitive members at a top side thereof in an orthogonal direction. Each developer cartridge confronts the corresponding photosensitive member at a bottom side thereof. The developer cartridge is attachable to and detachable from a main casing while moved past a front side of the corresponding photosensitive member when the second positional relationship is established and the neighboring charger is in the second position.