Developing Holder Swing Mechanism for Drum Unit Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face challenges in smoothly and securely fitting and removing the drum unit and developing device, which can lead to inefficiencies in maintenance and replacement processes.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus incorporates a developing holder with a driving gear and swinging shaft parts that allow the developing device to be swung closer to or further from the image carrier, enabling secure and efficient fitting and removal operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the drum unit and developing device are provided to be respectively and independently fittable and removable, then maintenance and replacement operations can be performed efficiently, but the complexity of the fitting and removal mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image carrier unit is segmented from the developing device, allowing independent removal and maintenance of each component. The retainer mechanism is further segmented into a retainer body and a retainer arm that can move independently to facilitate assembly and disassembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer arm is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to swing between a closed position (for securing the image carrier unit) and an open position (for removal). The developing device is also made dynamically positionable, capable of moving between a developing position and a separate position.
2Reliability
If the retainer is designed to securely hold the image carrier unit, then positioning reliability is improved, but the ease of removal operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer arm is designed as a movable component that can swing between closed and open positions. When closed, it provides secure holding with high reliability. When opened, it allows easy removal operations. This dynamic design resolves the contradiction between secure holding and ease of removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer arm acts as an intermediary mechanism between the retainer body and the image carrier unit. It mediates the transition between secured and removed states, providing both reliable positioning when engaged and easy removal when disengaged.
3Manufacturing precision
If the developing device is positioned close to the image carrier during development, then image quality is improved, but the ease of fitting and removal is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The developing device is designed to be dynamically positionable, moving between a developing position (close to the image carrier for high-quality image formation) and a separate position (far from the image carrier for easy fitting and removal operations). This resolves the contradiction between image quality and ease of operation.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the axial distance between swinging shaft parts is increased, then the stability of the developing device is improved, but the size of the developing holder increases
Solution Approach 1:
The swinging shaft parts are arranged with their rotational axes extending in the axial direction of the developer carrier, utilizing the axial dimension to provide stability. This allows the developing device to be stabilized along its axis without significantly increasing the overall holder length in other dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
The image forming apparatus includes an image carrier unit, a developing device, a unit support frame, and a developing holder. The developing holder is provided on the unit support frame, and holds the developing device such that the developing device is swingable in a direction that allows the developer carrier to get nearer to or further separate from the image carrier. The developing holder includes a driving gear and a pair of swinging shaft parts. The driving gear transmits motive power to the developing device. The pair of swinging shaft parts have a rotational axis extending parallel to an axial direction of the developer carrier and are supported rotatable relative to the unit support frame. An axial distance between the pair of swinging shaft parts is longer than a distance from a rotational center of the driving gear to a rotational center of the swinging shaft parts.