Relay Electrode Unit for Photosensitive Array Electrical Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of the main body casing in image forming apparatuses, such as electrophotographic color printers, is increased due to the need for multiple contacts corresponding to various electrodes, making it difficult to simplify the structure.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a process unit that includes photosensitive units arranged in parallel, each with a unit contact, and an electrode unit that electrically connects these units to the apparatus main body using unit-side and relay electrode members, reducing the number of body-side electrodes required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple contacts are provided in the main body casing for each electrode, then electrical connectivity is ensured, but the structure of the main body casing becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple unit-side electrode members are merged into a single relay electrode member that makes one contact with the main body casing. This consolidates multiple electrical connections into a single interface point, reducing the number of contacts required in the main body casing while maintaining electrical connectivity to all photosensitive units.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay electrode member acts as an intermediary between the unit-side electrode members and the main body casing contact. It receives electrical connection from the main body through a single contact and distributes it to multiple photosensitive units, eliminating the need for multiple separate contacts in the main body casing.
2Reliability
If multiple contacts are provided in the main body casing, then all electrodes can be connected, but the number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple contact points are merged into a single contact interface. The relay electrode member consolidates multiple electrical connections that would otherwise require separate contacts into one unified connection point on the main body casing, reducing the quantity of contacts needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The single contact on the main body casing serves a universal function, providing electrical connection to multiple photosensitive units through the relay electrode member. This single contact performs the work of multiple contacts, making the system more efficient and reducing part quantity.
Data Source
AI summary
A process unit and an image forming apparatus are provided. The process unit is slidably moutable on an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. The process unit includes plural photosensitive units which include photosensitive members, respectively, and are arranged at an interval, each of the photosensitive units including a unit contact, an electrode unit which electrically connects the photosensitive units to the apparatus main body. The electrode unit includes plural unit-side electrode members which come into contact with the unit contacts of the photosensitive units, respectively, a relay electrode member which comes into contact with the respective unit-side electrode members to electrically connect the respective unit-side electrode members, and a body-side electrode member which comes into contact with an apparatus main body contact provided in the apparatus main body.