Steering Roller Restricting Portion for Belt Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face issues with belt deviation and damage during attachment/detachment due to inadequate tension control, leading to potential abrasion of components like the photosensitive member.
Innovation Solution
A belt unit with a steering mechanism that includes a rotatable steering roller, non-rotating sliding ring portions, and a restricting portion to correct belt position and prevent excessive inclination, ensuring effective belt alignment and tension management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the steering roller is made rotatable to correct belt deviation, then belt alignment is improved, but the steering roller may incline excessively when belt tension is reduced, causing contact with other components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the degree of freedom parameter of the steering roller by introducing a restricting portion that allows rotation within a controlled range but prevents excessive inclination. This parameter change enables the steering roller to correct belt alignment through rotation while limiting its inclination to avoid contact with other components when belt tension is reduced.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic system where the steering roller can rotate to correct belt deviation during operation, but the restricting portion dynamically limits its movement range. The restricting portion rotates together with the steering roller and engages with the supporting member to prevent excessive inclination, creating a dynamic constraint that adapts to operational conditions.
2Reliability
If springs are added as rotation stopping units to prevent excessive inclination, then component protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the rotation stopping function from a separate spring-based mechanism and integrates it directly into the steering roller structure through the restricting portion. By taking out the need for external springs and rotation stopping units, the design achieves component protection through a simpler, self-contained structural feature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the steering roller with the restricting portion to form an integrated assembly. The restricting portion is disposed on the steering roller and rotates together with it, combining the alignment function and the limitation function into a single unified structure, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the steering mechanism is simplified for low cost, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the steering roller may lack sufficient tension control, leading to belt deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the steering roller to self-correct belt deviation through its own rotation capability. The restricting portion works passively with the supporting member to provide automatic limitation of inclination range, creating a self-regulating system that maintains belt alignment without requiring complex external control mechanisms or additional actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the steering mechanism into functional components: the rotatable steering roller for alignment correction and the restricting portion with supporting member for range limitation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function simply, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving precise belt alignment through the coordinated action of segmented parts.
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
The solution effectively corrects belt deviation and prevents damage to components by maintaining optimal tension and alignment, reducing the risk of abrasion and extending the lifespan of the apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
both end members 91 that are disposed at both end portions of the steering roller 90 in the rotary axis direction and cannot be driven by the rotation of the belt... generate force for rotating the steering roller about the steering axis line with friction force produced by friction on an inner circumference surface of the belt
Data Source
AI summary
A belt unit including a steering mechanism employing a belt auto alignment method includes a restricting portion configured to enable a steering roller to rotate about a steering axis line for correcting the deviation of the position of the belt in the width-wise direction, while restricting the inclination of the steering roller due to the rotation.