Mobile Image Forming Roller Restraint Against Axial Rattling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile image forming apparatuses often experience rattling in the roller axial direction during movement, which disturbs the image formation process.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a pressing member to securely hold the rollers in place, preventing axial movement and thus suppressing rattling and image disturbance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If rollers are provided to the mobile image forming apparatus body, then the apparatus can rotate on the recording medium during scanning, but the body rattles in the roller axial direction during movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroller rotation functionVSAvoidbody stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing member is pre-installed on the body to apply continuous pressing force to the roller in the axial direction before movement occurs. This preliminary action prevents the roller from moving axially during scanning, eliminating rattling while maintaining the rotation function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing member acts as an intermediary element between the body and the roller. It mediates the interaction by applying controlled pressing force to secure the roller axially, allowing the roller to rotate freely while preventing unwanted axial movement and rattling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the body is moved in scanning direction with roller contacting recording medium, then image formation is achieved, but image disturbance occurs due to rattling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage formation capabilityVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing member converts the potentially harmful rattling motion into beneficial controlled contact. By applying axial pressing force, it ensures the roller maintains stable contact with the recording medium during scanning, transforming what would be disruptive axial movement into consistent, image-quality-preserving engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution effectively stabilizes the image forming apparatus, ensuring high-quality image formation by preventing rattling and maintaining straight travel performance.

Implementation Method 1

at least one pressing member disposed in contact with the at least one roller and configured to press the at least one roller in an axial direction of the at least one roller

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3539787B1Mobile image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2021.08.25 RICOH CO LTD

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AI summary

A mobile image forming apparatus (1) include a body, a recording device supported by the body and configured to form an image on a recording medium, at least one roller (17) provided to the body and configured to rotate on the recording medium while the body is moved in a scanning direction for image formation. The mobile image forming apparatus (1) further includes at least one pressing member (74) disposed in contact with the at least one roller (17) and configured to press the at least one roller (17) in an axial direction of the at least one roller (17).