Inclined Support Roller Belt Deviation Correction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Belt deviation in image forming apparatuses, such as printers, leads to misalignment and potential damage of the belt, as existing solutions like flange and rib-type belt deviation restriction mechanisms can cause stress and breakage due to improper contact and alignment.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a rotator inclination unit that adjusts the inclination of support rollers to balance belt deviation, maintaining a consistent pushing amount for the cleaner relative to the belt, thereby preventing excessive stress and maintaining cleaning effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a flange or rib-type belt deviation restriction mechanism is used, then belt alignment is improved, but stress and breakage of the belt increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebelt alignmentVSAvoidbelt durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the support rollers by inclining them at specific angles relative to the belt width direction. This inclination allows the rollers to guide the belt back to the correct position without creating sharp edges or rigid constraints that would cause stress concentration and breakage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using protruding flanges or ribs that push against the belt from the sides (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by inclining the support rollers themselves. The inclined rollers gently guide the belt through their rotation and positioning, eliminating the need for aggressive lateral constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Manufacturing precision

If support rollers are inclined to correct belt deviation, then belt alignment is improved, but cleaning effectiveness may deteriorate due to varying pushing amount

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebelt alignmentVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies different inclination angles to different support rollers along the belt path. Each roller is inclined according to its specific position and function, allowing localized optimization of both alignment correction and cleaning effectiveness without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The inclined support rollers create a dynamic interaction with the belt during rotation. The pushing amount naturally varies during the rotation cycle, but this dynamic variation is controlled to maintain effective cleaning while achieving alignment correction, rather than creating excessive or inconsistent forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10175614B2Belt device, transfer device, and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2019.01.08 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A belt device includes a plurality of support rotators, a belt, a cleaner, and a rotator inclination unit. The belt is looped around the plurality of support rotators and moves according to rotation of the plurality of support rotators. The cleaner contacts a surface of the belt to remove foreign substances. The rotator inclination unit inclines an inclined support rotator that is at least one of the plurality of support rotators. The cleaner is disposed in contact with a portion of the belt stretched taut between the inclined support rotator and another support rotator. A pushing amount of the cleaner relative to the belt varies according to inclination of the inclined support rotator and is smallest in a state in which the inclined support rotator is not inclined by the rotator inclination unit.