Process Cartridge Movable Electric Contact for Stable Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing electro-photographic image forming apparatus experiences noise and contact failures during attachment or detachment of the process cartridge due to interference between electric contacts and abrasion, affecting position stability and image quality.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a process cartridge with a movable and fixed electric contact structure, where the first cartridge electric contact is fixed and the second is movable, minimizes interference by maintaining a constant developing gap and stable power connection, using elastic or magnetic forces to ensure proper alignment and contact during attachment and detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electric contacts are provided on the process cartridge for electrical connection with the main body, then electrical connection is enabled, but interference occurs during attachment or detachment causing noise and contact failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidinterference and noise during attachment/detachment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making at least one of the first or second cartridge electric contacts movable rather than fixed. This movable contact can dynamically adjust its position during attachment and detachment operations, avoiding interference with the main body while maintaining reliable electrical connection when mounted. The movable contact moves in the mounting direction to prevent contact with the main body during insertion/removal, eliminating noise and contact failure issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the process cartridge is made detachable for maintenance and flexibility, then ease of operation is improved, but position stability deteriorates due to contact pressure on electric contacts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetachability for maintenanceVSAvoidposition stability in main body

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The movable contact design allows the process cartridge to be easily detached while maintaining position stability during operation. The contact moves dynamically to accommodate attachment/detachment movements, preventing instability caused by rigid contact pressure. This enables simple cartridge replacement while ensuring stable positioning when mounted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the electric contact function into multiple contacts (first and second cartridge electric contacts) with different characteristics. This segmentation allows one contact to be fixed while another is movable, distributing the functions of electrical connection and position stabilization across multiple elements, thereby maintaining stability during operation while enabling easy detachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If friction ridges are increased to prevent sliding of the process cartridge, then position stability is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to uneven developing gap

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition stabilityVSAvoiddeveloping gap uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The movable contact design provides dynamic position adjustment that maintains uniform developing gap without requiring excessive friction ridges. The movable contact compensates for positioning variations during attachment, ensuring the process cartridge settles into the correct position with uniform gap to the photoconductor, thereby maintaining image quality while achieving position stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

This solution stabilizes the position of the process cartridge, reduces interference, and maintains uniform developing gaps, leading to improved image quality and reliable electrical connections.

Implementation Method 1

at least one of the first or second cartridge electric contacts is movable in a mounting direction along which the process cartridge is mounted on or detached from the main body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

using elastic or magnetic forces to ensure proper alignment and contact during attachment and detachment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3187943B8Process cartridge and electro-photographic image forming apparatus using the process cartridge

Publication Date: 2019.12.11 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

Provided is a process cartridge attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes at least one roller, sidewalls on an axial direction of the at least one roller, and a first cartridge electric contact and a second cartridge electric contact provided on the sidewalls. One of the first cartridge electric contact and the second cartridge electric contact is a fixed electric contact, and the other is a movable electric contact that is movable in a direction protruding from the sidewalls.