Image Carrier Unit Positioning via Concentric Circumference Parts
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses face complications in positioning image carrier units with high precision due to complex constructions, leading to increased costs, poor workability, and risk of unit damage during attachment and detachment, especially when using metal retainers with resin units.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a positioning member that uses concentric circumference parts on the image carrier unit and edge parts on the apparatus main body for precise positioning, eliminating the need for retainer attachment and simplifying the attachment process, thereby enhancing precision and reducing damage risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a retainer made of metal plate is used to position image carrier units, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases and workability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the positioning function from the complex retainer assembly and integrates it directly into the image carrier unit structure. The positioning protrusions are built-in to the image carrier unit itself, eliminating the need for separate retainers and their associated mounting mechanisms, thereby simplifying the overall construction while maintaining positioning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning features (protrusions and recesses) are merged into the image carrier unit structure itself rather than being separate components. This integration combines the positioning function with the image carrier unit, reducing the number of parts and simplifying the construction while achieving the required positioning accuracy.
2Manufacturing precision
If metal retainers are used for positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complicated attachment and detachment procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the separate retainer component and its complex attachment/detachment mechanism. The positioning function is extracted and integrated into the image carrier unit through built-in protrusions that engage with recesses in the apparatus main body, allowing simple slide-in/slide-out operations without additional steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The image carrier unit performs its own positioning function through integrated protrusions that automatically engage with the apparatus main body during the sliding operation. This self-positioning capability eliminates the need for separate positioning operations or complex attachment procedures, improving ease of operation.
3Manufacturing precision
If metal retainers and apparatus main body are used for positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but reliability decreases due to risk of damage to resin units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses resin material for both the apparatus main body and the image carrier unit, creating material homogeneity. This eliminates the metal-resin interface that causes damage, allowing the positioning protrusions and recesses to engage without risk of impacting or cracking the resin unit structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction where resin positioning features are integrated into the resin image carrier unit. This composite approach using matching materials (resin-protrusions with resin-recesses) eliminates the harmful metal-resin contact, improving reliability while maintaining positioning precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus (1) includes an image carrier unit (15) and a positioning member (30) configured to position the image carrier unit (15) to the apparatus main body (2). The image carrier unit (15) has a concentric circumference part (51L), (51R) formed on a concentric circle with a rotating shaft (9a) of the image carrier (9) and the apparatus main body (2) has an edge part (42L), (42R) facing the concentric circumference part (51L), (51R) at the attachment position. The positioning member (30) has an intervening part (37) formed with an edge side abutment face (37a) facing the edge part (42L), (42R) of the apparatus main body (2) and a unit side abutment face (37b) facing the concentric circumference part (51L), (51R) of the image carrier unit (15).