Roller Holding Unit With Automatic Separating-Member Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, rollers such as development rollers and charging rollers remain in contact with the photosensitive drum during shipment, leading to contact traces that affect image quality, and existing solutions require manual assembly of a separating member using biasing forces or additional components.
Innovation Solution
A roller holding unit with a frame body, bearing member, biasing members, and regulating members that allow the separating member to be positioned correctly relative to the photosensitive drum during assembly, ensuring contact is maintained only at the start of use, using a cylinder portion and projecting portion to regulate movement and rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a separating member is fitted to prevent roller contact with photosensitive drum during shipment, then contact traces are prevented, but the separating member requires manual holding during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing member is configured to automatically hold the separating member in the correct position during assembly through its own structural features and interaction with the roller shaft, eliminating the need for external manual holding devices or procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing member acts as an intermediary component that facilitates the assembly process by providing a temporary holding function for the separating member, enabling smooth transition from manual assembly to automatic operation
2Ease of operation
If another component is biased to the roller to hold the separating member, then automatic holding is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing member performs multiple functions: supporting the roller shaft, positioning the separating member during assembly, and maintaining proper alignment during operation, thereby eliminating the need for separate dedicated components
Solution Approach 2:
The holding function for the separating member is merged into the bearing member structure, combining positioning and support functions in a single component to reduce overall device complexity
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
Enables automatic and reliable assembly of the separating member to prevent contact traces, improving image quality by ensuring proper alignment and contact only at the start of operation, reducing manual intervention and assembly complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a first biasing member for biasing the bearing member in the first direction with respect to the frame body
Implementation Method 2
a second biasing member configured to bias the separating member in a second direction, which is a rotating direction around the shaft portion, with respect to the frame body
Data Source
AI summary
A roller member, a bearing member supporting a shaft portion of the roller member and movable in a first direction perpendicular to a rotation axis of the shaft portion, a first biasing member for biasing the bearing member in the first direction, a first regulating member regulating movement of the bearing member from a first position in the first direction, a separating member rotatable around the shaft portion, a second biasing member for biasing the separating member in a second direction, which is a rotating direction around the shaft portion, and a second regulating member regulating rotation of the separating member in the second direction are provided. The separating member has a cylinder portion attached to an end part in an axial direction of the shaft portion and a projecting portion projecting in a radial direction of the shaft portion from the cylinder portion.