Developing Cartridge Tubular Member Rotation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional developing cartridges stop protrusion rotation by disengagement between the gear and drive gear, limiting the structural options for achieving this functionality.
Innovation Solution
A developing cartridge design incorporating a casing, developing roller, shaft, tubular member, elastic member, and gear, where the tubular member moves between two positions, engaging or disengaging with the gear to control rotation, allowing rotation stoppage without releasing meshing engagement with the drive gear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gear is disengaged from the drive gear to stop protrusion rotation, then the protrusion rotation is stopped, but the driving force transmission is interrupted and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the gear system into two independent functional components: the drive gear that transmits driving force continuously, and the gear that controls protrusion rotation. By segmenting these functions into separate gears, the system can stop protrusion rotation without interrupting driving force transmission, as each gear operates independently for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the elastic member and tubular member assembly) that mediates between the drive gear and the protrusion. This intermediary allows the protrusion rotation to be stopped by the gear disengaging from the tubular member, while the drive gear continues to transmit driving force through the elastic member, thus preventing direct interruption of the driving force transmission chain.
2Device complexity
If the gear structure is simplified to maintain driving force transmission, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to stop protrusion rotation is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic engagement and disengagement between the gear and the tubular member to control protrusion rotation. The elastic member provides a dynamic connection that allows the gear to engage with the tubular member when protrusion rotation is needed, and disengage when rotation stoppage is required, while maintaining overall structural simplicity and continuous driving force transmission capability.
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
Enables efficient stoppage of protrusion rotation using an alternative mechanism, reducing cartridge size and maintaining driving force transmission, thereby improving cartridge functionality and usability.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic member has a first state in which the elastic member has a first length in the axial direction and a second state in which the elastic member has a second length in the axial direction. The second length is greater than the first length.
Data Source
AI summary
A developing cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller, a shaft, a tubular member, an elastic member, and a gear. The tubular member is rotatable about the shaft and is movable from a first position and a second position. The tubular member at the second position is farther from an outer surface of the casing in an axial direction than at the first position. The gear is rotatable about the shaft from a first rotational position to a second rotational position. In case where the gear is at the first rotational position, the gear engages with the tubular member and the tubular member is rotatable together with the gear at the first position. In a case where the gear is at the second rotational position, the engagement of the gear with the tubular member is released and the tubular member stops rotating at the second position.