Image Forming Apparatus Skew Correction Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses suffer from inaccuracies in geometric characteristics due to oblique printing of images on recording materials caused by deviations in the apparatus position of the transfer unit, leading to adverse effects on image quality.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus is designed with a skew correction unit, a transfer unit, an opening/closing door, and a positioning member that includes guide portions to correctly position and align the skew correction unit, transfer unit, and detection unit, ensuring precise alignment and preventing oblique printing by guiding their insertion or removal through the opening/closing door.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the transfer unit is made movable for easy maintenance, then ease of operation is improved, but positioning accuracy deteriorates causing oblique printing
Solution Approach 1:
A positioning member is introduced as an intermediary component between the transfer unit and the apparatus body. This positioning member includes guide portions that engage with corresponding guide grooves, ensuring accurate positioning of the transfer unit while allowing it to be easily inserted and removed for maintenance. The positioning member acts as a mediator that maintains positioning accuracy despite the movable design.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning function is segmented into separate components: the positioning member with positioning portions and the guide grooves in the apparatus body. This segmentation allows the transfer unit to be easily removed for maintenance while ensuring precise positioning when installed, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and positioning accuracy.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple positioning components are added to improve positioning accuracy, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple positioning functions are merged into a single positioning member that includes both the first positioning portion for the skew correction unit and the second positioning portion for the transfer unit. This consolidation achieves high positioning accuracy without proportionally increasing device complexity, as one component performs multiple positioning tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning member is designed with multi-functionality, serving as a universal positioning component for both the skew correction unit and the transfer unit. By making the positioning member universal, the patent reduces the total number of positioning components needed while maintaining high positioning accuracy for multiple units.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes: a skew correction unit configured to correct skew feeding of a recording material and convey the recording material; a transfer unit configured to include an image bearing member which carries a toner image to be transferred onto the recording material corrected in the skew feeding by the skew correction unit; an opening/closing door configured to be provided in an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus to be opened; and a positioning member configured to include a first positioning portion to position the skew correction unit and a second positioning portion to position the transfer unit.