Image Forming Apparatus Cover Linkage Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in downsizing and simplification while maintaining operativity during process cartridge exchange, as the rising and lowering direction of cartridges is perpendicular to the rotation shaft, requiring oblique rotation of the cover and complex linkages, which complicates the device and reduces operativity.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a rotatable openable member, supporting members at different levels, and a connecting member that moves these members between contact and spacing positions relative to the image bearing belt, allowing for compact and simplified design by aligning the rotation shafts and improving operativity during cartridge exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the rising and lowering direction of the process cartridge is made perpendicular to the rotation shaft of the cover, then the device can be downsized and simplified, but the operativity becomes poor requiring oblique cover rotation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the cover rotation shaft oblique to achieve compactness, the patent inverts the approach by making the supporting member connecting shaft oblique relative to the cover rotation shaft. This allows the cover to rotate horizontally for good operativity while the oblique connecting shaft achieves compact space utilization through its angled configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an oblique dimension by positioning the supporting member connecting shaft at an angle relative to both the cover rotation shaft and the rising/lowering direction. This three-dimensional angular arrangement allows simultaneous optimization of operativity (horizontal cover rotation) and compactness (oblique shaft configuration) by utilizing spatial dimensions more effectively.
2Ease of operation
If the cover has a horizontal rotation shaft for good operativity, then the rising and lowering direction of the process cartridge is perpendicular to this shaft, but the linkages become complicated and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cover opening/closing motion with the supporting member rising/lowering motion through the oblique connecting shaft. This single oblique shaft simultaneously transmits both motions, eliminating the need for separate linkages and reducing overall linkage complexity while maintaining horizontal cover rotation for good operativity.
Solution Approach 2:
The oblique supporting member connecting shaft serves multiple functions: it acts as the rotation axis for the supporting member, transmits motion from the cover to the supporting member, and enables compact space utilization. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall linkage system.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material, and detachably mounts process cartridges having photosensitive drums. The apparatus includes a main assembly, a rotatable openable member, a belt receiving an image or carrying the recording material, supporting members supporting the process cartridges at different levels and movable between drum-contacting and retracted positions, and a connecting member moving the supporting member when the openable members moves to position the supporting member at the drum-contacting position when the openable member is closed, and position the supporting member at the retracted position when the openable member is opened, and including a shaft whose axis crosses the openable member rotational axis, first connecting portions rotatably connected with respective supporting members, and a second connecting portion engaging the openable member and fixed to the shaft closer to the openable member than the first connecting portions are fixed to the shaft.