Process Cartridge Installation Bracket Bridges Electrical Contact Gaps

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Solution Overview

Problem

The relative distance or gap between a process cartridge and the drawer, and between the drawer and the main body of an image-forming apparatus, affects electrical connection stability, leading to unstable data transmission.

Innovation Solution

An installation bracket with a conductive connection portion that electrically connects the process cartridge's chip contact portion to the image-forming apparatus' electrical contact portion, ensuring stable electrical connections by minimizing gaps and positional interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a drawer structure is used to accommodate process cartridges, then ease of operation is improved, but electrical connection stability deteriorates due to gaps between components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidelectrical connection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

An installation bracket is introduced as an intermediary component between the drawer and the process cartridge. The bracket includes a conductive portion that ensures stable electrical connection by bridging the gap between the cartridge's contact portion and the drawer's electrical contact portion, thus maintaining reliability while preserving the drawer's ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If gaps are maintained between the process cartridge and drawer, then ease of installation is improved, but electrical connection stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of installationVSAvoidelectrical connection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The installation bracket serves as a mediator that allows gaps to exist for ease of installation while simultaneously ensuring stable electrical connection. The conductive portion of the bracket bridges the gap between components, maintaining electrical reliability without requiring tight tolerances or complex alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of repair

If the drawer is made removable for maintenance, then ease of repair is improved, but electrical connection stability may deteriorate due to repeated installation and removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of repairVSAvoidelectrical connection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The installation bracket acts as a durable intermediary that remains in the drawer while the process cartridge is removed or replaced. This design allows easy maintenance and cartridge replacement while the bracket maintains consistent electrical connection stability, as it is not subject to the same wear and alignment issues as direct cartridge-to-drawer contacts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Ensures stable electrical connections and reliable data transmission by maintaining consistent contact between the process cartridge and the apparatus main body, reducing installation errors and positional interference.

Implementation Method 1

the connection portion includes a conductive portion, configured to electrically connect a contact portion of a chip on the process cartridge and an electrical contact portion of an image-forming apparatus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP4372478B1Installation bracket, process cartridge assembly and image-forming apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 ZHUHAI PANTUM ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4372478B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4372478B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4372478B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an installation bracket, a process cartridge assembly and an image-forming apparatus. The installation bracket is configured to carry a process cartridge and includes a bracket main body, and a connection portion disposed on the bracket main body. The connection portion includes a conductive portion, configured to electrically connect a contact portion of a chip on the process cartridge and an electrical contact portion of an image-forming apparatus. The connection portion is configured as an intermediate part; the contact portion of the chip on the process cartridge is not in direct contact with the electrical contact portion of the image-forming apparatus, thereby reducing error and improving electrical connection stability between the process cartridge and the main body of the image-forming apparatus.