Meandering Prevention Pulley Guide Surface Roughness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses generate abnormal noise due to contact between the meandering prevention belt and the guide surface of the meandering prevention pulley.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus includes a meandering prevention pulley with a guide surface having a surface roughness Ra of 0.5 μm or more, which enhances the slidability of the meandering prevention belt and prevents abnormal noise generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the meandering prevention belt contacts the guide surface of the meandering prevention pulley to restrict meandering, then the intermediate transfer belt is prevented from meandering in the axial direction, but abnormal noise is generated due to the contact
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surface of the meandering prevention pulley is designed with a specific surface roughness parameter (Ra of 0.03 μm or more and less than 0.3 μm). This parameter change in surface texture reduces the friction and sliding resistance between the meandering prevention belt and the guide surface, thereby suppressing abnormal noise generation while maintaining the meandering restriction function.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the guide surface has high smoothness to reduce noise, then abnormal noise is suppressed, but the slidability of the meandering prevention belt deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By precisely controlling the surface roughness parameter within the range of Ra 0.03 μm or more and less than 0.3 μm, the guide surface achieves an optimal balance between smoothness and slidability. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient sliding performance for the meandering prevention belt while suppressing abnormal noise, resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and operational ease.
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 enhanced slidability between the meandering prevention belt and the guide surface suppresses abnormal noise generation and prevents wear on the belt, improving the overall operation of the image forming apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
The guide surface is formed to have a surface roughness Ra of 0.5 μm or more, and thus slidability of a meandering prevention belt is enhanced, so that abnormal noise can be suppressed
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image forming apparatus including: an image bearing member which is configured to bear a toner image; an intermediate transfer belt; a transfer roller; a drive roller; a driven roller; a meandering prevention pulley; and a meandering prevention belt. The meandering prevention pulley is arranged to face an end surface of the driven roller in an axial direction of the driven roller. The meandering prevention belt is arranged on an outside in the axial direction relative to the meandering prevention pulley, and protrudes from an inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt. The meandering prevention pulley has a guide surface which faces the meandering prevention belt in the axial direction, and which is formed to have a surface roughness (Ra) of 0.5 μm or more.