Elastic Support Member for Development Cartridge Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The development cartridge in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses experiences instability and positional changes due to impacts during mounting and accommodation, leading to poor image transfer efficiency and color registration errors, especially when moving between mounting and accommodation positions.
Innovation Solution
An elastic support member is used to buffer impacts and maintain the development cartridge's stability by elastically supporting it relative to the tray, ensuring it remains securely positioned during these movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the development cartridge is directly mounted on the tray without elastic support, then the mounting structure is simple, but the development cartridge experiences positional changes and instability due to impacts during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by introducing an elastic support member that anticipates and buffers impacts during tray movement. The elastic member is pre-installed to absorb shock before it reaches the development cartridge, preventing positional changes and maintaining stability during mounting and accommodation operations.
2Reliability
If an elastic support member is added to buffer impacts, then the development cartridge stability improves, but the mounting structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible shells and thin films by using an elastic support member that flexes to absorb impacts. This flexible component provides shock buffering while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, as the elastic member can be designed as a thin or compact element that integrates into the existing mounting framework.
3Productivity
If the development cartridge is securely fixed to prevent positional changes, then image transfer efficiency improves, but the ability to remove and replace the cartridge becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using an elastic support member that provides adaptive support rather than rigid fixation. The elastic member maintains stable support during operation to ensure proper cartridge positioning for image transfer, but allows for easier removal when needed, as the elastic connection can be disengaged more readily than rigid mechanical fasteners.
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
The elastic support member effectively stabilizes the development cartridge, preventing positional changes and ensuring uniform image quality by absorbing impacts, thus improving transfer efficiency and preventing color registration errors.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic support member that elastically supports the development cartridge with respect to the tray
Data Source
AI summary
An example image forming apparatus includes a main body including an opening and an accommodation portion, a development cartridge detachable from the main body, a tray on which to mount the development cartridge, the tray being movable between a mounting position inserted into the main body through the opening, a withdrawal position extracted from the main body, and an accommodation position at which the development cartridge is accommodated in the accommodation portion, and an elastic support member to elastically support the development cartridge with respect to the tray while the tray moves between the mounting position, the withdrawal position, and the accommodation position.