Image Forming Apparatus Cable Routing to Avoid Belt Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatus design results in interference between the intermediate transfer belt and the cable connecting the LED heads to the control circuit board, due to the cable's downward extension and central positioning, which hampers the apparatus's functionality.
Innovation Solution
The design rearranges the components so that the main body circuit board is positioned below the intermediate transfer belt, with the cable passing outside the belt's axial direction, allowing the drum supporting member to be moved rectilinearly and preventing interference between the belt and the cable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cable extends downward from the drum supporting member and is arranged substantially at the center in the right-and-left direction, then the connection between LED heads and control circuit board is achieved, but the cable interferes with the intermediate transfer belt
Solution Approach 1:
The cable routing is changed from a vertical downward extension to a horizontal passage through the right-and-left direction. The cable passes through a cable passage formed in the drum supporting member, extending in the right-and-left direction rather than downward, thereby avoiding intersection with the intermediate transfer belt while maintaining electrical connection.
2Volume of moving object
If the intermediate transfer belt is disposed below the drum supporting member, then space utilization is improved, but the cable may interfere with the belt
Solution Approach 1:
The drum supporting member is segmented into functional regions: a upper region for supporting photoconductor drums and LED heads, a lower region for housing the control circuit board, and a lateral cable passage for cable routing. This segmentation allows the cable to be routed horizontally through the member without interfering with the vertically arranged belt and components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable passage acts as an intermediary structure within the drum supporting member. It provides a dedicated pathway for the cable to pass through horizontally, serving as a mediator that separates the cable's horizontal routing from the belt's vertical position, thereby eliminating interference while maintaining compact space utilization.
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
This configuration effectively avoids interference between the intermediate transfer belt and the cable, enhances the apparatus's operational efficiency, and allows for easier movement and protection of components, while also reducing noise and weight by using a relay board to manage the power and signal transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of exposure members (40) configured to expose the plurality of photoconductor drums (61) to light to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drums (61)
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of photoconductor drums; a plurality of exposure members; a drum supporting member having a pair of side walls disposed opposite to each other in an axial direction of the photoconductor drum and configured to support the photoconductor drums and the exposure members between the side walls; a belt disposed below and opposite to the photoconductor drums; a pair of guide members configured to support the drum supporting member while allowing rectilinear movement of the drum supporting member; and a main body circuit board provided in the main body and connected to the exposure members via a cable. The main body circuit board is arranged below the belt, and the cable passes a region outside the belt in the axial direction of the photoconductor drum and is connected to the main body circuit board.