Developing Cartridge Pressing Member for Drum Rigidity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Increasing the amount of toner stored in the developing cartridge without compromising the rigidity of the photosensitive cartridge and ensuring stable pressing of the developing roller against the photosensitive drum, as excessive size and lack of bridging between side walls lead to deformation and instability.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a developing cartridge with a pressing protrusion and engagement protrusion, and a drum cartridge with a pivotable locking member and pressing member, allowing for stable attachment and detachment while maintaining contact between the developing roller and photosensitive drum, even with increased toner storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the developing cartridge is made larger in size away from the photosensitive drum to increase toner storage, then the amount of stored toner is increased, but the rigidity of the photosensitive cartridge degrades

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of stored tonerVSAvoidrigidity of photosensitive cartridge

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the structure into separate functional components: the photosensitive cartridge maintains its original compact structure for rigidity, while the developing cartridge is designed as a separate attachable unit with increased capacity. The pressing member acts as an intermediary that connects these segmented parts, allowing the developing cartridge to be larger without compromising the photosensitive cartridge's structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing member extends in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum, utilizing the third dimension (length along the drum axis) to provide pressing force. This dimensional approach allows the developing cartridge to be positioned away from the photosensitive drum while still maintaining effective contact and pressing capability through the axially extending pressing member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If no wall bridging is provided between side walls to increase toner storage space, then the amount of stored toner is increased, but the photosensitive cartridge deforms under reaction force from pressing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of stored tonerVSAvoiddeformation of photosensitive cartridge

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing member serves as an intermediary element between the locking member and the developing cartridge. It absorbs and distributes the reaction forces generated during pressing, preventing these forces from directly deforming the photosensitive cartridge. The pressing member acts as a buffer that mediates the mechanical interaction, allowing force transmission while protecting the photosensitive drum structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing member can be designed with flexible characteristics, allowing it to deform elastically under pressing forces and then return to its original position. This flexibility enables the pressing member to absorb reaction forces without transmitting them to the photosensitive cartridge, preventing deformation while maintaining pressing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Volume of moving object

If the pressing portion is positioned excessively far away from the photosensitive drum, then the developing cartridge can be larger, but reaction force causes deformation making it difficult to press the developing roller appropriately

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of developing cartridgeVSAvoidpressing stability of developing roller

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing member is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and apply pressing force as needed. This movability enables the pressing member to reach the developing roller even when the developing cartridge is positioned away from the photosensitive drum, maintaining reliable pressing contact despite the increased distance and larger cartridge size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9383720B1Process cartridge and drum cartridge

Publication Date: 2016.07.05 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A process cartridge includes a drum cartridge and a developing cartridge attachable to and detachable from the drum cartridge. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller, a pressing protrusion and an engagement protrusion. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a locking member engageable with the engagement protrusion of the developing cartridge attached to the drum cartridge, and a pressing member disposed between the locking member and the photosensitive drum. The locking member is pivotable between a restricting position engaged with the engagement protrusion to restrict detachment of the developing cartridge from the drum cartridge and a non-restricting position disengaged from the engagement protrusion to allow detachment of the developing cartridge from the drum cartridge. The pressing member is configured to contact the pressing protrusion of the developing cartridge attached to the drum cartridge for pressing the developing cartridge toward the photosensitive drum.