Drum Cartridge Coupling for Reliable Drive Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses require complex maintenance operations, particularly in toner replenishment and maintenance, which can be cumbersome and require professional intervention.
Innovation Solution
A cartridge system is developed that integrates the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and process means into a single unit, allowing for easy mounting and dismounting from the image forming apparatus main assembly, and includes a coupling member that can advance and retract to transmit driving force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a coupling member is provided to transmit driving force from the main assembly to the photosensitive drum, then the photosensitive drum can be driven, but the structure becomes complex and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling member is divided into a first coupling member provided in the main assembly and a second coupling member provided in the cartridge. This segmentation allows each coupling member to have simplified individual structures while collectively achieving the driving force transmission function, thereby reducing overall device complexity and facilitating maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling members are designed to be movable relative to each other, with the second coupling member movable in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum. This dynamic design allows the coupling members to automatically adjust and engage during cartridge installation, simplifying the overall coupling structure while ensuring reliable driving force transmission.
2Reliability
If maintenance operations are performed by service personnel, then proper maintenance can be ensured, but user independence and operability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the coupling mechanism into separate coupling members located in different assemblies (main assembly and cartridge), the invention enables users to easily remove and replace the entire cartridge assembly for maintenance, achieving both user independence and proper maintenance quality without requiring service personnel intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The simplified coupling member structure with movable components allows users to independently perform maintenance operations by simply removing and replacing the cartridge assembly. The automatic engagement and disengagement mechanisms enable self-service maintenance without requiring specialized knowledge or service personnel.
3Ease of manufacture
If the coupling member structure is simplified, then ease of manufacture and maintenance improve, but driving force transmission reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is segmented into two separate coupling members, each with simplified individual structures that are easier to manufacture. Despite the simplification, the segmented design ensures reliable driving force transmission through the interaction between the first coupling member in the main assembly and the second coupling member in the cartridge.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable second coupling member dynamically adjusts during engagement, ensuring reliable driving force transmission even with simplified static structures. This dynamic adaptation compensates for the simplification, maintaining transmission reliability while improving ease of manufacture and maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
To further develop a drive transmission method from a main assembly of an apparatus toward a cartridge. The cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus including a drive output member configured to output a driving force, and a main assembly side pushing member configured to incline the drive output member by pushing the drive output member. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum and a cartridge side pushing member. The cartridge side pushing member is configured such that an inclination angle of the drive output member is changed by pushing the main assembly side pushing member.