Movable Cartridge Support for Compact Electrophotographic Jam Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing color electrophotographic image forming apparatus requires increased height for jam clearance and transportation belt spacing, making the system less efficient and user-friendly.
Innovation Solution
A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus with a cartridge supporting member that is movable between inside and outside positions, allowing the belt unit and cartridges to be locked and spaced without increasing the main assembly height, facilitating easy jam clearance and belt unit exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the process cartridge and transportation belt are made retractable integrally to enable jam clearance operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the height of the main assembly must be increased to provide space for belt spacing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the cartridge supporting member and belt unit into separable components that can be independently positioned. The cartridge supporting member can be moved to the outside position while the belt unit remains in place, allowing jam clearance without requiring increased main assembly height. This segmentation enables the belt and cartridge to be spaced when needed while maintaining a compact overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements dynamic positioning where the cartridge supporting member can move between inside and outside positions, and the belt unit can be locked in specific positions. This dynamic system allows the belt and cartridge to be spaced for jam clearance operations while maintaining a compact structure during normal operation, eliminating the need for increased main assembly height.
2Ease of operation
If the height of the main assembly is increased to provide space for belt spacing, then the ease of operation for jam clearance is improved, but the device complexity and space occupation are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the cartridge supporting member from the belt unit, allowing independent positioning of each component. The cartridge supporting member can be moved to the outside position while the belt unit remains locked in place, enabling jam clearance operations without requiring increased main assembly height or complex structural modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing the vertical height of the main assembly, the invention uses horizontal movement of the cartridge supporting member to achieve belt spacing. The cartridge supporting member moves in the horizontal direction to the outside position, creating space for jam clearance without affecting the vertical dimension, thus avoiding increased device complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the cartridge supporting member and belt unit are locked in contact state, then the stability of the image forming process is improved, but the ease of maintenance and belt unit exchange is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a dynamic locking system where the belt unit can be locked in contact with the cartridge supporting member during normal operation to ensure stability, and unlocked when the cartridge supporting member is moved to the outside position for maintenance. This dynamic system maintains stability during image forming while enabling easy belt unit exchange during maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention separates the locking function from the structural connection, allowing the belt unit to be locked independently when needed. The locking means can engage or disengage without affecting the overall structural integrity, enabling stable operation during image forming and easy maintenance during belt unit exchange operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, wherein plurality of cartridges are detachably mounted to a main assembly of the apparatus, the color electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member for supporting the cartridges, the cartridge supporting member being movable between an inside position which is in the main assembly the outside position which is out of the main assembly; a belt unit including a feeding belt for feeding a recording material on which the image is to be formed; and locking means for locking the cartridge supporting member and the belt unit in the state that the feeding belt and the cartridge are contacted to each other, wherein the belt unit and the cartridge supporting member in the state of being locked by the locking means are movable from the inside position to the outside position, and the feeding belt and the cartridge are capable of being spaced from each other by releasing the locking means.