Developing Cartridge Independent End Member Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing developing cartridges require increased size to accommodate connecting portions for supporting both ends, leading to potential upsize issues in image forming apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
The developing cartridge is designed with separate rotatable end members, allowing independent rotation and positioning, eliminating the need for a coupling member and preventing contact between the developing roller and photosensitive drum during attachment/detachment, thus maintaining a compact size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single second frame body is used to rotatably support both ends of the first frame body, then the structure is simplified, but the developing cartridge size increases to accommodate connecting portions
Solution Approach 1:
The second frame body is divided into two separate end members instead of being a single integrated component. Each end member independently supports one end of the first frame body, eliminating the need for large connecting portions and reducing the overall developing cartridge volume while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The end members are designed to rotate independently about rotation axes that extend in the axis direction of the developing roller. This rotational degree of freedom allows the end members to accommodate the first frame body without requiring additional linear space, thus reducing the developing cartridge size in the longitudinal direction
2Ease of operation
If end members are designed to rotate independently about rotation axes, then proper alignment and contact are ensured, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation function is integrated directly into the end members themselves, which are already structural components supporting the first frame body. By combining the support function and rotation function in the same component, no additional rotation mechanisms are needed, thus maintaining device simplicity while enabling proper alignment and contact
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A developing cartridge comprises a developing roller; a developing frame body rotatably supporting the developing roller, the developing frame body including (i) a first end and (ii) a second end that is opposite to the first end in an axial direction of the developing roller; a first end member attached to the first end of the developing frame, the first end member being configured to support the first end of the developing frame body; and a second end member attached to the second end of the developing frame body, the second end member being configured to support the second end of the developing frame body. The first end member and the second end member are rotatable independently of each other relative to the developing frame body about the same rotational axis.