Swingable Cartridge Unit for Smooth Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in ensuring smooth movement of units during cartridge attachment, particularly due to the complexity of mechanisms involving developing rollers and photosensitive drums.
Innovation Solution
The configuration involves a cartridge with a first unit containing an image bearing member and a second unit with a developer bearing member, where the second unit is swingable about a parallel axis, allowing it to move from a contact position to a separated position upon pressing a pressed portion by a pressing member of the apparatus body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a developing roller separating mechanism is used to separate the developer bearing member from the image bearing member during non-image-forming periods, then the reliability of image formation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is designed to automatically separate the developer bearing member from the image bearing member during non-image-forming periods without requiring external control mechanisms. The swingable second unit naturally moves to the separated position when not in use, and returns to the contact position when the cartridge is attached to the apparatus body, eliminating the need for complex automated controlling mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The second unit (developer bearing member) is designed to be swingable relative to the first unit (image bearing member) about a swing axis, allowing it to dynamically change position between contact and separated states. This dynamic configuration enables the mechanism to adapt its state based on whether the cartridge is attached or detached, simplifying the overall control system.
2Ease of operation
If the second unit is made swingable about a parallel axis to allow smooth movement during cartridge attachment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The swingable mechanism is integrated directly into the cartridge structure itself, merging the separation function with the cartridge body. The second unit is swingably connected to the first unit within the cartridge, eliminating the need for separate external separating mechanisms in the apparatus body, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge is divided into two separable units: the first unit (image bearing member) and the second unit (developer bearing member). This segmentation allows the second unit to be independently positioned relative to the first unit, enabling smooth attachment and separation operations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
3Ease of operation
If the pressed portion is positioned such that it moves the second unit from contact to separated position during attachment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pressed portion acts as an intermediary element that translates the attachment motion into the swinging motion of the second unit. By positioning the pressed portion at a specific location relative to the swing axis, it efficiently converts linear attachment movement into rotational movement of the developer bearing member, reducing the need for high precision in other parts of the mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The swing axis is positioned parallel to the rotational axis of the image bearing member, creating a geometric relationship that allows smooth, low-friction movement during attachment. This parallel axis configuration ensures that the movement paths are well-defined and easier to manufacture with standard tolerances, reducing precision requirements while maintaining operational smoothness.
Data Source
AI summary
A cartridge includes a first unit including an image bearing member and a second unit including a developer bearing member. The second unit is swingable with respect to the first unit. The second unit includes a pressed portion to be pressed by a pressing member of the apparatus body. When viewed in an axial direction, (i) the swing axis and the pressed portion are arranged on opposite sides to each other with respect to a virtual straight line, (ii) the pressed portion, the swing axis, and the first axis are arranged in the named order in an interaxial direction, and (iii) a distance from the pressed portion to the swing axis in the interaxial direction is longer than a distance from the swing axis to the first axis in the interaxial direction.