Developer Cartridge Projection for Posture Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in increasing the capacity of cartridges while maintaining the ability to change the posture of the cartridge in accordance with the movement of a movable member, often resulting in reduced developer accommodation space due to recessed designs.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus incorporates a cartridge with a projection portion on its upper surface that projects upward, allowing for increased developer accommodation capacity and enabling posture change through elastic deformation when abutted by the apparatus body's abutting portion during attachment, thereby enhancing the cartridge's ability to transition from a detaching posture to an image forming posture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a recess shape is provided in the cartridge casing to enable posture change during attachment, then the cartridge can transition from detaching posture to image forming posture, but the developer accommodation capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The abutted portion is designed as an elastic projection that can be compressed elastically during the posture change process. This flexible design allows the projection to temporarily deform to pass through the abutting portion's space, enabling posture transition without requiring a permanent recess that would reduce developer capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The abutted portion transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic elastic structure that can change shape during operation. The projection is elastically compressed during attachment to enable posture change, then returns to its original shape, providing adaptability without sacrificing developer accommodation space
2Reliability
If the abutted portion is designed to be abutted by the abutting portion during movable member movement, then reliable posture change is ensured, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The abutted portion is integrated directly into the cartridge frame as a projection, combining the positioning and posture change functions into a single structural element. This eliminates the need for separate mechanisms or components, reducing overall structural complexity while ensuring reliable posture transition through the elastic deformation mechanism
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
This configuration increases the developer accommodation capacity and ensures reliable posture change of the cartridge, preventing image formation failures by maintaining the developing rollers in the correct position against the photosensitive drums.
Implementation Method 1
the projection portion is configured to, after the posture of the cartridge is transitioned from the first posture to the second posture in accordance with movement of the cartridge in the attaching direction, pass through a space under the abutting portion while being elastically deformed by the abutted portion being pressed by the abutting portion of the apparatus body
Data Source
AI summary
A cartridge includes a projection portion provided in a first region of an upper surface of a frame in a vertical direction. The projection portion projects more upward than second regions between which the first region is interposed. An inside of the projection portion is a space that is part of a developer accommodating portion. The projection portion is configured to pass through a space under an abutting portion while being elastically deformed by the abutted portion being pressed by the abutting portion after the cartridge is transitioned from the first posture to the second posture in accordance with movement of the cartridge in the attaching direction.