Movable LED Unit for Compact Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses with LED units face usability issues due to the need to retract the LED unit when replacing cartridges, which increases the size of the main assembly and complicates the insertion and extraction process.
Innovation Solution
The design allows the cartridge to be inserted and removed in one direction, with the LED unit moving perpendicular to the insertion direction, eliminating the need for retraction and reducing the main assembly's size by maintaining the LED unit's position relative to the photosensitive drum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the LED unit is disposed close to the top side of the photosensitive drum in the drawer, then the exposing apparatus size is reduced, but the cartridge insertion and extraction process becomes complicated requiring movement in multiple directions
Solution Approach 1:
The LED unit is made movable relative to the drawer through a moving mechanism that allows it to shift position automatically. When the cartridge is inserted or extracted, the LED unit moves to avoid contact, enabling simple linear cartridge replacement while maintaining close proximity for compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
A moving mechanism acts as an intermediary between the fixed drawer structure and the cartridge insertion operation. This mechanism mediates the spatial relationship by dynamically adjusting the LED unit's position, allowing the cartridge to move in one direction without contacting the LED unit.
2Ease of operation
If the LED unit is made retractable to allow cartridge replacement, then the cartridge can be easily replaced, but the main assembly size must be increased to accommodate the retraction mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a fixed retraction mechanism requiring additional space, the LED unit employs a dynamic moving mechanism that shifts position within the existing drawer volume. This allows the LED unit to clear the cartridge path during insertion/extraction without requiring the main assembly to expand.
Solution Approach 2:
The LED unit moves in a direction perpendicular to the cartridge insertion direction, utilizing unused spatial dimensions within the drawer. This allows the LED unit to clear the cartridge path without requiring additional space in the insertion direction, maintaining compact main assembly dimensions.
3Device complexity
If the LED unit is attached to the main assembly requiring retraction, then the exposing apparatus structure is simplified, but the overall apparatus size increases reducing the size reduction merit of LED units
Solution Approach 1:
The moving mechanism is integrated into the drawer structure itself, merging the LED unit positioning function with the existing drawer assembly. This eliminates the need for separate retraction mechanisms in the main assembly, maintaining structural simplicity while achieving compact dimensions through the drawer-based moving mechanism.
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 design enhances usability by simplifying the cartridge replacement process and reducing the size of the image forming apparatus, ensuring precise alignment and maintaining high-quality image formation.
Implementation Method 1
This exposing means is in the form of an LED unit, which is provided with multiple LEDs (light emitting diodes) aligned in such a direction that is parallel to the axial line of a photosensitive drum
Implementation Method 2
The peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum is exposed by an exposing means to form an electrostatic latent image
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly and a cartridge including at least an image bearing member. The apparatus further includes a tray drawable from the main assembly, wherein the cartridge is mountable to and dismountable from the tray in one direction and an opposite direction, respectively; and a light emission unit provided in the tray and including a plurality of light emission elements arranged in an axial direction of the image bearing member to form a latent image on the image bearing member. The cartridge is capable of being inserted into the tray by moving it in the one direction, in response to which the light emission unit is moved in a direction crossing with the one direction to outside of a movement range of insertion of the cartridge.