Drum Unit Electrical Contact Surface Positioning for Reliable Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing drum units in image forming apparatuses lack an effective mechanism for the electrical contact surface of a storage medium to connect with external electrical contacts, which is essential for handling the increasing amount of information required for both developing cartridges and drum units.
Innovation Solution
A drum unit design that includes a frame supporting two photosensitive drums and a storage medium with an electrical contact surface positioned on the outer surface of the frame, allowing for contact with external electrical contacts when attached to the image forming apparatus, facilitating the transfer of information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a storage medium is mounted on a drum unit, then information handling capability is improved, but electrical contact reliability deteriorates due to lack of proper contact structure
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical contact surface is pre-positioned on the outer surface of the frame at a location that will contact the external electrical contact when the drum unit is installed in the image forming apparatus. This preliminary positioning ensures reliable electrical connection before the actual information transfer occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame serves as an intermediary structure that carries the electrical contact surface, which in turn establishes electrical connection between the storage medium and the external electrical contact. This intermediary arrangement solves the problem of how to reliably connect the storage medium to the external system.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the electrical contact surface is positioned inside the drum unit, then structural integration is improved, but accessibility for electrical connection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical contact surface is moved from an internal position to an external position on the outer surface of the frame, changing the spatial dimension of the contact interface. This allows the contact surface to be accessible from the outside while maintaining its functional integration with the drum unit structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A drum unit includes: a frame; a first photosensitive drum; a second photosensitive drum; a charger; and a storage medium. The frame includes: a first frame plate; a second frame plate spaced apart from the first frame plate in a first direction; a third frame plate connecting one end of the first frame plate to one end of the second frame plate; and a fourth frame plate connecting another end of the first frame plate to another end of the second frame plate. The first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum are rotatably supported by the frame. The second photosensitive drum is spaced apart from the first photosensitive drum and positioned closer to the third frame plate than the first photosensitive drum to the third frame plate in a second direction. The storage medium has an electrical contact surface positioned at an outer surface of the fourth frame plate.