Spring Terminal Axial Locking in Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrographic image forming apparatuses, spring terminals housed in a housing tend to come off or become displaced during assembly or maintenance, complicating the structure and increasing the number of components required to prevent this issue.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a connecting member with a spring terminal featuring a coil spring and a protruding part, and a holding member with a housing and integral locking part that restricts axial movement of the spring terminal, preventing it from coming off and displacing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a spring terminal is simply housed in a housing without additional restraint mechanisms, then the structure remains simple, but the spring terminal may come off or become displaced during assembly or maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The locking part is integrated into the housing as a single integral structure, combining the housing and locking function into one component. This eliminates the need for separate restraint mechanisms while ensuring the spring terminal remains securely positioned without coming off or displacing during assembly or maintenance operations
2Reliability
If a separate coming-off prevention member is provided to restrain the spring terminal, then the spring terminal position stability is improved, but the number of components increases and the configuration becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The locking part is formed integrally with the housing rather than being a separate component. This merging of the housing and locking function into a single structure achieves reliable spring terminal restraint while avoiding the increased component count and configuration complexity that would result from using separate prevention members
3Reliability
If a locking part is integrated into the housing to restrict axial movement of the spring terminal, then the spring terminal comes-off prevention is improved, but the housing structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The locking part is designed as an integral feature of the housing structure itself, combining the housing and locking functions into one component. This provides effective axial movement restriction and come-off prevention for the spring terminal while avoiding the additional structural complexity that would arise from separate locking mechanisms or multiple components
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
This configuration effectively prevents the spring terminal from coming off and displacing within the housing, maintaining a simple structure and reducing the number of components needed, thereby enhancing the apparatus's reliability and maintainability.
Implementation Method 1
The spring terminal is composed of a coil spring
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a unit (18), a high-voltage board (36), a connecting member (43) and a holding member (44). The connecting member (43) is arranged in a current path from the high-voltage board (36) to the unit (18). The holding member (44) holds the connecting member (43). The connecting member (43) includes a spring terminal (68) and a protruding part (69). The protruding part (69) protrudes from the spring terminal (68) to an outer diameter side. The holding member (44) includes a housing (83) and a locking part (91). The housing (83) houses the spring terminal (68). The locking part (91) is arranged integrally with the housing (83). When the locking part (91) locks the protruding part (69), movement of the spring terminal (68) in an axial center direction is restricted.