Supporting Member Segmentation for Cartridge Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing recycling methods for electrophotographic image forming apparatus cartridges are complex and prone to damaging the supporting members, which can affect the position accuracy of the image bearing members, leading to compromised image quality.
Innovation Solution
A method for disassembling and reassembling the image bearing units by deforming and removing parts of the supporting members to separate the drum unit and developing unit without damaging the cartridge, allowing for the reuse of components and maintaining the positional accuracy of the image bearing members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the supporting member is deformed to separate the drum unit and developing unit, then the disassembly process becomes possible, but the supporting member may be damaged affecting position accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member is divided into a main body portion and a cover portion that can be separated. The cover portion is removed to expose the engagement structure, allowing the drum unit and developing unit to be separated without deforming the main supporting structure, thus maintaining position accuracy while enabling disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover portion of the supporting member is extracted and removed to access the engagement mechanism. This allows the separation of drum unit and developing unit without applying deformation forces to the critical supporting structures that maintain position accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If the supporting member is deformed to allow separation, then the units can be separated, but the complexity of the disassembly process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member is segmented into a removable cover portion and a fixed main body. This segmentation simplifies the disassembly process by allowing operators to simply remove the cover portion rather than performing complex deformation operations on the entire supporting structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover portion is designed to be removable in advance, exposing the engagement structure before separation is needed. This preliminary action simplifies the subsequent separation operation, making it straightforward rather than complex.
3Manufacturing precision
If the supporting member structure is maintained intact, then position accuracy is preserved, but the ability to disassemble and recycle the cartridge is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member is segmented into a permanent main body that maintains position accuracy and a removable cover portion that enables disassembly. This segmentation allows the cartridge to be recycled while preserving the critical geometric relationships that ensure position accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the supporting member have different properties: the main body maintains rigid geometric relationships for position accuracy, while the cover portion is designed for easy removal to enable recycling. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between integrity and recyclability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A manufacturing method includes a removing step for removing at least a part (73k) of a contact portion (73j) of a cover portion (73e) from a supporting member (73), the cover portion (73e) being configured to come into contact with a projecting portion (71m) included in a frame (71) when the supporting member (73, 73h) is deformed (W) to allow a second engaged portion (73f) to be detached from an engaging portion (26b) in a state in which a fixed portion (73b) of the supporting member is fixed to the frame (71), a deforming step for deforming the supporting member (73, 73h) to allow the second engaged portion (73f) to be detached from the engaging portion (26a) in the state in which the fixed portion (73b) is fixed to the frame (71), and a separating step for detaching an engaging portion (26b) from a first engaged portion (71i) and separating (G2) a developing unit (20) from the frame (71).