Developing Cartridge Guide Member for Compact Image Forming Trays
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in managing the size increase due to the need for space for information communication between developing cartridges and the main body, which can compromise developer capacity and user usability, and experience friction issues during relative position changes.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a protrusion portion on the developing cartridge that guides and supports the memory medium, a guide member for electrical connection, and a cover member to protect the developing roller and electrical contact, allowing for compact design and reduced friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a memory medium and communication parts are added to the developing cartridge, then information communication capability is improved, but the size of the cartridge tray or developing cartridge increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is designed to perform multiple functions: guiding the developing cartridge during insertion and maintaining electrical contact with the memory medium. By combining the guiding function and electrical contact function into a single component, the patent avoids adding separate parts that would increase the cartridge size, thus resolving the contradiction between information communication capability and cartridge volume.
2Volume of moving object
If the size of the developing cartridge is reduced to secure component arrangement space, then the apparatus size is suppressed, but the developer capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical contact portion is positioned at the end surface of the developing cartridge in the longitudinal direction, utilizing the end surface area rather than consuming internal volume. This dimensional placement allows the memory medium and communication components to be accommodated without reducing the internal space available for developer storage, thus resolving the contradiction between compact size and developer capacity.
3Reliability
If multiple protective members are added to protect the developing roller and electrical contact portion, then reliability is improved, but the time and effort for replacement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is designed as a single integrated component that simultaneously protects both the developing roller and the electrical contact portion. By combining multiple protection functions into one cover member, the patent maintains reliability while reducing the number of parts that need to be handled during replacement, thus resolving the contradiction between protection reliability and replacement time.
4Loss of information
If a contact-type IC chip is used as the memory medium, then information storage capability is improved, but friction occurs during relative position changes
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member acts as an intermediary between the memory medium and the cartridge tray, maintaining electrical contact through a guided interface. This intermediary structure ensures stable electrical connection for information communication while controlling the relative movement to minimize friction, thus resolving the contradiction between information storage capability and friction during position changes.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: a main body; a developing cartridge having a housing, a memory medium, a memory medium unit, a developer carrier, and a protrusion portion in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier; and a tray having a frame, an image bearing member, a guide member provided at one end in the longitudinal direction, an electric contact portion with the memory medium, and a memory unit support portion. The guide member includes a portion which functions as a memory unit support portion, and a downstream portion located downstream of the memory unit support portion in the mounting direction of the developing cartridge. The memory unit support portion guides the protrusion portion to the downstream portion when the developing cartridge is mounted on the frame.