Pressing Member Frame Fixation for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in achieving high fixing accuracy while maintaining cost-effectiveness, as conventional fastening methods like welding are costly and prone to heat deformation, while screw or rivet fastening results in gaps that lead to slippage under load, and existing blind rivet solutions struggle with maintaining dimensional accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a pressing member with tapered portions that abut and press frames together, eliminating gaps and ensuring precise alignment without the need for specialized equipment or drawn shapes, using a configuration where the pressing member is inserted into holes to eliminate backlash and maintain positional accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If welding is used to fix members, then high strength and high fixing accuracy are achieved, but cost increases and heat deformation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces welding (thermal process) with a mechanical pressing and expanding system. The pressing member applies mechanical force to press the first and second frames together, while the fixing member expands mechanically within the hole to create fixation, eliminating the need for welding equipment and thermal processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing member changes its physical parameters by expanding its outer diameter during the fixing process. This expansion allows the fixing member to tightly fit within the hole, creating strong mechanical fixation without requiring welding, thereby reducing cost while maintaining high fixing strength and accuracy.
2Ease of manufacture
If screw or rivet fastening is used, then cost is reduced compared to welding, but gaps remain that cause slippage under load
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing member features a curved or tapered outer surface that enables progressive expansion within the hole. This curved geometry allows the member to elastically deform and expand, creating uniform radial pressure against the hole walls, which eliminates gaps and prevents slippage under load while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing member transitions from a compressed state during insertion to an expanded state during fixation. This dynamic expansion process allows the member to adapt to the hole dimensions and create a tight fit, eliminating the static gaps that occur with conventional screw or rivet fastening, thereby improving fixation stability.
3Reliability
If blind rivet with expansion is used, then gaps are eliminated and fixation stability is improved, but dimensional accuracy deteriorates due to deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing member acts as an intermediary that applies controlled mechanical pressure to press the first frame and second frame together during the fixing process. This intermediary pressing action compensates for any dimensional variations or deformations that may occur during the expansion process, ensuring that the final fixation maintains high dimensional accuracy while achieving gap-free stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing member performs preliminary pressing of the first and second frames together before and during the expansion of the fixing member. This preliminary action ensures that the frames are properly positioned and aligned, preventing deformation-induced accuracy loss and maintaining precise dimensional relationships throughout the fixing process.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple processing steps are used for tubular projection, then fixing accuracy varies due to accumulated dimensional variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of positioning and fixation into a single integrated hole structure. Instead of requiring separate processed features like tubular projections with multiple steps, the hole is designed to directly receive and fix the expanding fixing member, thereby reducing the number of processing steps and minimizing accumulated dimensional variations while maintaining high positioning accuracy.
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 achieves high fixing accuracy and stability under load without increasing costs, providing a strong and reliable fixation that maintains positional accuracy even under heavy loads, equivalent to multiple screws, while being cost-effective and space-efficient.
Implementation Method 1
the outer diameter of the fixing member is increased toward the stepped portion of the body in a fixing process
Implementation Method 2
a pressing member for pressing the first frame and the second frame so that the abutment portion of the first frame abuts on the second frame
Data Source
AI summary
In order to improve a fixing accuracy, provided is an image forming apparatus including a pressing member pressing a first frame and a second frame so that an abutment portion of the first frame abuts on the second frame, wherein the first frame and the second frame are pressed by the pressing member urged by a fixing member, and the second frame abuts on the abutment portion of the first frame.