LED Array Image Forming Apparatus Pivotable Developing Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining stable contact pressure between the developer roller and the photosensitive drum, especially when the drum behaves eccentrically, and in simplifying the coupling structure between the developing unit and the toner cartridge to prevent toner leakage.
Innovation Solution
The developing unit is designed to be movable with respect to the photosensitive drum, allowing it to pivot between contact and separation positions, and is coupled to the toner cartridge through a bendable pipe, ensuring stable coupling and preventing toner leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the developer roller is made movable with respect to the photosensitive drum to maintain stable contact pressure, then the reliability of toner supply is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional coupling structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible tube (bellows structure) to connect the toner cartridge and developing unit. This flexible membrane allows the developer roller to move relative to the photosensitive drum while maintaining a sealed connection, preventing toner leakage. The flexible tube absorbs the movement and maintains sealing without requiring complex rigid coupling mechanisms with multiple seals and joints.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a bendable pipe is used to couple the developing unit and toner cartridge to allow movement, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows structure serves as a flexible coupling that accommodates the pivot movement between contact and separation positions. This single flexible component replaces what would otherwise require a complex assembly of rigid segments, joints, and seals, thereby improving adaptability while actually reducing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling structure is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The flexible tube can bend and expand/contract to accommodate the changing distance and angle between the toner cartridge and developing unit as the developer roller moves, providing adaptability through inherent flexibility rather than mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
3Ease of manufacture
If the coupling structure is simplified to reduce complexity, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability of preventing toner leakage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows structure provides a simple yet effective sealing solution. It is essentially a single-piece flexible membrane that maintains the toner-containing environment sealed while allowing movement. This avoids the need for multiple rigid components with numerous seals and connection points, where each joint would be a potential leakage point, thus improving reliability while maintaining ease of manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus, including a casing, a toner cartridge, and a process cartridge, is provided. The toner cartridge detachably attached to the casing stores toner therein. The process cartridge detachably attached to the casing includes a developing unit and a drum unit. The developing unit includes a developer roller and a toner conveyer tube. The toner conveyer tube has a first opening, through which the toner from the toner cartridge is acceptable into the toner conveyer tube while the toner cartridge and the process cartridge are attached to the casing. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum supporting the toner conveyer tube by contacting a circumferential surface of the toner conveyer tube. The developing unit is pivotable with respect to the drum unit with the toner conveyer tube and the drum unit being slidable on each other.