Pivotable Developing Cartridge Housing for Contact Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing developing cartridges experience rubbing issues between the electric contact surface and the electric connector during insertion, which can lead to mechanical stress and potential damage, affecting the reliability and stability of the contact.

Innovation Solution

The developing cartridge design includes a pivotable housing with a lever mechanism that positions the electric contact surface out of contact initially and then engages it with the connector only after insertion, using a protrusion and guide surfaces to ensure proper alignment and minimize contact during the insertion process, thereby preventing rubbing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the electric contact surface is in contact with the electric connector during insertion, then electrical connection is established, but rubbing occurs between the contact surface and connector causing mechanical stress and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidrubbing damage to contact surface
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is pivotable about the developing roller between a first position and a second position. In the first position (during insertion), the electric contact surface is out of contact with the electric connector. After insertion is complete, the housing pivots to the second position where the electric contact surface engages with the electric connector. This preliminary positioning prevents rubbing during the insertion process while ensuring proper electrical connection afterward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the electric contact surface is positioned out of contact during insertion, then rubbing is prevented, but electrical connection cannot be established

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverubbing damage preventionVSAvoidelectrical connection establishment
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is designed to be pivotable about the developing roller between different positions. During insertion, the housing is in a first position where the electric contact surface is out of contact with the electric connector, preventing rubbing. After insertion is complete, the housing pivots to a second position where the electric contact surface engages with the electric connector to establish electrical connection. This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction between preventing rubbing and establishing connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3301515B1Developing cartridge
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 BROTHER KOGYO KK
  • EP3301515B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3301515B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3301515B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A developing cartridge attachable to an image forming apparatus includes a developing roller, a housing, and a storage medium. The developing roller may be rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction. The housing may be pivotable between a first position and a second position with respect to the image forming apparatus in a state where the developing roller is positioned at one end portion of the housing and the developing cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus. The storage medium may include an electric contact surface. The electric contact surface may be out of contact with an electric connector of the image forming apparatus in a state where the housing is at the first position, the electric contact surface being in contact with the electric connector of the image forming apparatus in a state where the housing is at the second position.