Rotating Support Linear Protection Member for Compact Drum Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser printers require a large space within the apparatus main body for opening and closing the drum cover, which is inefficient in terms of space utilization.
Innovation Solution
A process cartridge with a linear protection member that can move between a protecting position and a retreat position, allowing for reduced space requirements by using a frame with an opening in a predetermined direction and a support portion that rotates about an axis along the longitudinal direction, enabling the protection member to be displaced from the protecting position to the retreat position during installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plate element drum cover is used to protect the photosensitive drum, then the photosensitive drum is effectively protected, but a large space is required within the apparatus main body for opening and closing the drum cover
Solution Approach 1:
The drum cover is divided into two functional parts: a support portion that rotates about a shaft to enable opening/closing motion, and a linear body portion that provides protection. This segmentation allows the protective function to be separated from the motion mechanism, enabling compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the drum cover rotate in the conventional manner where the entire cover traces a large arc, the invention inverts the approach by having the support portion rotate about a shaft while the linear body portion moves linearly between protected and retracted positions. This inversion of the motion mechanism dramatically reduces the space required.
2Ease of operation
If the drum cover is designed to rotate about a shaft for opening and closing, then the drum can be exposed when needed, but the free end portion traces a large arc-shaped locus requiring significant space
Solution Approach 1:
The drum cover is segmented into a support portion (rotating element) and a linear body portion (protective element). The support portion handles the rotational motion about the shaft, while the linear body portion provides protection without tracing a large arc, thus reducing space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the dimensional approach by having the linear body portion move primarily in a linear direction (one dimension) rather than following a large arc (two-dimensional path). This dimensional change reduces the space envelope required for the drum cover operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A process cartridge includes: a frame having an opening that is long in a predetermined direction; a photosensitive drum held in the frame, a portion of a surface of the photosensitive drum being opposite to the opening of the frame, the photosensitive drum extending along a longitudinal direction of the opening; and a protection member that has: a linear body portion extending in the longitudinal direction; and a support portion extending from an end of the linear body portion in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the support portion is supported on the frame so as to rotate about an axis that extends along the longitudinal direction, and the linear body portion is movable between a protecting position and a retreat position.