Developing Cartridge Recessed Electrical Contact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional developing cartridges experience rubbing of the electrical contact surface during mounting, which can lead to mechanical stress and potential connectivity issues.
Innovation Solution
A developing cartridge design incorporating a resilient member, such as a coil spring, that expands and contracts to generate a pressing force, allowing the electrical contact surface to be positioned in a recessed area, reducing the likelihood of rubbing during insertion and ensuring reliable contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the electrical contact surface is positioned on the outer surface of the cartridge for easy connection, then the ease of operation is improved, but the electrical contact surface is rubbed by the frame during mounting, causing harmful mechanical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical contact surface is nested within a recessed area on the cartridge, rather than being positioned on the outer surface. This nesting protects the electrical contact surface from direct contact with the frame during mounting operations, eliminating the rubbing problem while maintaining connectivity functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
A resilient member (spring) acts as an intermediary element between the cartridge and the frame. This spring allows the cartridge to be pushed into the frame while the electrical contact surface remains protected in the recessed area, enabling easy mounting without direct rubbing of the electrical contacts.
2Reliability
If the electrical contact surface is recessed to prevent rubbing, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional holders and resilient members
Solution Approach 1:
The holder structure serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support for the cartridge, creates the recessed area for the electrical contact surface, and works with the resilient member to enable both protection and connection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member (spring) automatically provides the necessary pressing force to maintain electrical contact without requiring external actuation or complex control mechanisms. The system self-regulates the connection force, simplifying the overall structure while ensuring reliable connectivity.
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 design effectively minimizes the risk of electrical contact surface rubbing, ensuring stable and consistent connectivity between the developing cartridge and the image-forming apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient member positioned at one end of the housing in the first direction, the resilient member being configured to expand and contract in a third direction crossing the electric contact surface
Implementation Method 2
the resilient member expands and pressing force acting in a direction from the second position toward the first position is generated by contraction force of the expanded resilient member
Data Source
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AI summary
A developing cartridge includes a housing, a developing roller positioned at one end of the housing in a second direction, a storage medium including an electric contact surface, a resilient member and a first holder positioned at one end of the housing in a first direction, and a second holder holding the electric contact surface. The resilient member can expand and contract in a third direction crossing the electric contact surface. The resilient member has one end connected to the first holder, and another end connected to the second holder. The second holder is movable relative to the first holder in the third direction between a first position and a second position. In a case where the second holder moves from the first position to the second position, the resilient member expands to generate contraction force, pressing force acting in a direction from the second position toward the first position being generated by the contraction force.