End Member with Switchable Engagement for Drum Cartridge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in smoothly attaching and detaching process cartridges from image forming apparatuses, particularly due to issues with rotating force transmission and alignment, leading to difficulties in maintenance and reusability.
Innovation Solution
An end member with a tubular bearing and a shaft member, including a rotating shaft and a rotating force receiving member, is designed to be engaged with the driving shaft of the image forming apparatus, allowing for smooth attachment and detachment by switching between engaged and disengaged postures, with a maximum static friction coefficient of 0.40 or less, facilitating easy movement and rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the process cartridge is moved in the axial direction of the driving shaft for attachment and detachment, then the attachment and detachment structure is simple, but the image forming apparatus size increases and attachment/detachment space is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft member is designed to dynamically change its engagement state with the driving shaft. During attachment, the shaft member engages with the driving shaft; during detachment, the shaft member disengages from the driving shaft. This dynamic engagement/disengagement mechanism enables the process cartridge to be attached and detached in a direction different from the axial direction of the driving shaft, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and space requirements.
2Ease of operation
If a gear is provided in the photosensitive drum for rotation, then the photosensitive drum can rotate by meshing with a gear driven by the apparatus body, but the structure becomes more complex and alignment issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional gear meshing mechanism with a direct engagement mechanism. The shaft member includes an engaging member that directly engages with the driving shaft, eliminating the need for gears. This substitution simplifies the structure, reduces alignment requirements, and maintains effective rotation transmission of the photosensitive drum.
3Reliability
If the engaging member is designed for reliable engagement, then rotating force transmission is appropriate, but the attachment and detachment process becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft member is designed with dynamic engagement characteristics. The engaging member can reliably transmit rotating force when engaged, but can also be easily disengaged when detachment is required. This dynamic design allows the system to switch between high reliability during operation and ease of detachment during maintenance, resolving the contradiction between reliable force transmission and easy attachment/detachment.
4Volume of stationary object
If the process cartridge is disengaged from the apparatus body for pulling out in a direction different from the axial direction of the driving shaft, then the image forming apparatus size is reduced, but the alignment and engagement precision becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft member acts as an intermediary between the process cartridge and the driving shaft. It includes an engaging member that facilitates precise engagement and alignment. This intermediary mechanism enables the process cartridge to be attached and detached in a direction different from the axial direction of the driving shaft while maintaining sufficient alignment and engagement precision, resolving the contradiction between compact size and alignment precision.
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 solution enables efficient transmission of rotating force and improves the ease of attachment and detachment of process cartridges, reducing the complexity of the process and enhancing the reusability of configuration members.
Implementation Method 1
a tubular bearing member (40)
Implementation Method 2
a maximum static friction coefficient applied when the rotating shaft moves in a rotating axial direction with respect to the bearing member is equal to or less than 0.40
Data Source
AI summary
An end member includes a tubular bearing member and a shaft member held by the bearing member. The shaft member includes a rotating shaft rotatable around an axis and movable in an axial direction, and a rotating force receiving member disposed in one end portion of the rotating shaft and including an engaging member to be engaged with a driving shaft of the image forming apparatus body. The engaging member is switchable between a posture of being engaged with the driving shaft and a posture of not being engaged with the driving shaft. A maximum static friction coefficient applied when the rotating shaft moves in a rotating axial direction with respect to the bearing member is equal to or less than 0.40 where a force that acts in a direction orthogonal to a frictional force direction is 2.5 to 10.5 N.