Drawer Member Axial Positioning in Tandem Laser Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The positioning accuracy of photosensitive drums in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, particularly in tandem-type color laser printers, is inadequate in the axial direction, leading to image formation failures due to insufficient securing of the drum support member with respect to the housing.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus is designed with a housing, a drawer member to support photosensitive drums, and a presser member that presses the drawer member in the axial direction, along with an electrode member for electrical connection, ensuring accurate positioning and smooth movement between attached and drawn positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a drawer member is used to support photosensitive drums and allow smooth movement between attached and drawn positions, then ease of operation is improved, but positioning accuracy in the axial direction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing function is segmented from the drawer member itself and assigned to a separate presser member. This allows the drawer member to focus on smooth movement while the presser member independently ensures positioning accuracy through axial pressing force.
Solution Approach 2:
The presser member acts as an intermediary element between the housing and the drawer member. It transmits pressing force to the drawer member to secure positioning accuracy without interfering with the drawer member's movement capability.
2Manufacturing precision
If the drawer member is pressed in the axial direction to improve positioning accuracy, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The presser member is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides axial pressing force for positioning accuracy, supports the electrode member for electrical connection, and maintains structural integrity during both attached and drawn states.
Solution Approach 2:
The presser member combines the pressing function with the electrode member support function into a single integrated component, reducing the total number of parts while achieving both positioning accuracy and electrical connectivity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a housing having an opening; a drawer member to support photosensitive drums disposed to have intervals therebetween to be parallel with each other and to be movable in an arrangement direction of the photosensitive drums such that the drawer member moves between an attached position where the drawer member is attached in the housing and a drawn position where the drawer member is drawn to an outside of the housing; and a presser member that is provided in the housing and is configured to press the drawer member toward one side in an axial direction each photosensitive drum, wherein the presser member presses a downstream end part of the drawer member defined in a moving direction of the drawer member, at a position overlapping with the photosensitive drums in the arrangement direction, in a state where the drawer member is at the attached position.