Storage Assembly for Imaging Device with Elastic Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing process cartridges in electronic photographic imaging face issues where the storage unit, which has a longer service life than the developing cartridge, is discarded along with the developing cartridge, leading to waste and increased printing costs due to frequent replacements.
Innovation Solution
A storage assembly is designed to be detachably mounted on the drum cartridge, allowing it to establish a communication connection with the imaging device independently of the developing cartridge. This assembly includes a chip with an electrical contact surface and an elastic component that urges the contact surface towards the imaging device's electrical contact point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the storage unit is mounted on the developing cartridge, then the storage unit can be identified by the imaging device, but the storage unit must be replaced frequently along with the developing cartridge, causing waste and increased costs
Solution Approach 1:
The storage assembly is separated from the developing cartridge, allowing the storage unit (chip) to remain in the drum cartridge while the developing cartridge is replaced. This segmentation enables the storage unit to serve multiple developing cartridges, reducing waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage unit is extracted from the developing cartridge and placed in the drum cartridge instead. This extraction allows the storage unit to be reused across multiple developing cartridges, eliminating the need to discard it with each developing cartridge replacement.
2Loss of information
If the storage unit is mounted on the developing cartridge, then the storage unit can store developing cartridge information, but frequent replacement increases printing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The storage assembly is segmented into a holder and a chip, with the chip containing the information storage function. This segmentation allows the expensive storage unit to remain in the drum cartridge while only the cheaper developing cartridge is replaced, reducing printing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage assembly in the drum cartridge serves multiple developing cartridges universally. The chip stores information that can be used across multiple developing cartridge replacements, making the storage unit multi-functional and cost-effective.
3Device complexity
If the electrical contact surface is fixed on the holder, then the structure is simple, but reliable electrical connection cannot be ensured during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical contact surface is made dynamic through the elastic component, allowing it to move and adapt during assembly. The elastic component enables the contact surface to automatically adjust its position to ensure reliable electrical connection without increasing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The position of the electrical contact surface is changed dynamically through the elastic component's deformation. This parameter change allows the contact surface to move towards the electrical contact point, ensuring reliable connection while maintaining a simple overall structure.
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 solution allows the process cartridge to function normally even if the storage assembly is not provided on the developing cartridge, reducing waste and lowering printing costs by eliminating the need for frequent replacements of the storage assembly, which can be used with multiple developing cartridges.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic component on the holder and configured to urge the electrical contact surface
Data Source
AI summary
A storage assembly is configured to be mounted in an imaging device having an electrical contact point, separately from a developing cartridge. The storage assembly has a chip configured to store information of the developing cartridge, the chip having an electrical contact surface; a holder configured to support the electrical contact surface; and an elastic component on the holder and configured to urge the electrical contact surface. The developing cartridge may have a rotatable developing roller extending in a first direction. The electrical contact surface may be configured to electrically connect to the electrical contact point. The holder may support the chip. The electrical contact surface may be spaced apart from the developing roller in the first direction when the storage assembly and the developing cartridge are mounted in the imaging device.