Process Cartridge Cover Space for Stable Drive Gear Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses with process cartridges face challenges in improving the structure for efficient mounting and dismounting of components, particularly the drive transmission member, which can lead to interference and instability during engagement.
Innovation Solution
The proposed structure includes a tiltable drive transmission member covered by a cover, with a movable member and a restricting portion to prevent inclination, and a cartridge side gear that engages with the drive transmission member, allowing a space to accommodate the cover when engaged, and specific positioning of gears and frames to avoid interference during rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drive transmission member is made tiltable to facilitate cartridge mounting and dismounting, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stability and precision of gear engagement deteriorates due to potential inclination during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The drive transmission member is designed to be tiltable relative to the cartridge axis, allowing dynamic adjustment during cartridge mounting and dismounting operations. This dynamic capability enables the gear portion to engage and disengage from the cartridge side gear more easily, improving operability while maintaining reliable engagement through controlled movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable member is positioned to preliminarily move the gear portion of the drive transmission member to a predetermined position before rotation occurs. This preliminary positioning ensures that the gear portion is correctly aligned with the cartridge side gear, preventing inclination during engagement and ensuring stable, reliable connection before the rotation process begins.
2Manufacturing precision
If the gear portion is moved to a predetermined position by a movable member, then the manufacturing precision of gear engagement is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The movable member is integrated into the existing cartridge structure, serving multiple functions: it positions the gear portion preliminarily, guides the engagement process, and works in conjunction with the tiltable drive transmission member. This multi-functionality achieves precise gear engagement without requiring entirely separate positioning mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable member acts as an intermediary between the drive transmission member and the cartridge side gear. It mediates the engagement process by preliminarily positioning the gear portion, ensuring correct alignment before the actual gear engagement occurs. This intermediary function achieves precise engagement while using a relatively simple component rather than a complex positioning system.
3Reliability
If the restricting portion is added to suppress inclination of the drive transmission member, then the stability of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional structural components
Solution Approach 1:
The restricting portion is added locally to the cartridge structure at the specific location where the drive transmission member engages. Rather than redesigning the entire cartridge, this localized addition suppresses inclination of the drive transmission member only where necessary, improving operational stability while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge structure is segmented into functional portions, with the restricting portion being a distinct, separable element that specifically addresses the inclination problem. This segmentation allows the restricting portion to be added independently to provide stability without requiring a complete structural redesign, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a development roller, a cartridge side gear, a movable member and a restricting portion. The cartridge is constituted such that when the cartridge side gear and a drive transmission member of a main assembly of an image forming apparatus are engaged with each other, the drive transmission member and a cover covering the drive transmission member is accommodated in a space surrounded by the restricting portion, the movable member and the cartridge side gear. the space includes, in a range downstream of the restricting portion and upstream of the cartridge side gear, a region in which a distance from the axis of the photosensitive drum exceeds Ra which is a distance from the axis of the photosensitive drum to the restricting portion. The cartridge is structured to accommodate the cover in the region.