Terminal Contact Structure for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing terminal contact structures in image forming apparatuses face issues with contact failure and contamination when photoconductor units are inserted or removed, as the terminals can abrade and pick up dust, leading to potential damage and malfunction.
Innovation Solution
A terminal contact structure is designed with a guide member on the apparatus body that includes a first surface for guiding the insertion of the photoconductor unit and a second surface for guiding the contact of the terminals, ensuring they are not in contact during removable states and only connect when the unit is fixed, using a mechanical lever and cam mechanism to facilitate easy switching between states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If terminals are in contact during insertion and removal of photoconductor units, then electrical connections are maintained, but terminal abrasion and contamination occur leading to contact failure
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal contact structure transitions from a static contact state to a dynamic state where terminals are separated during insertion/removal and connected during operation. The guide member enables the photoconductor unit to move between positions where terminals are disengaged (during maintenance) and engaged (during operation), resolving the contradiction by making the contact state variable rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member acts as an intermediary mechanism that controls the relative positioning between the photoconductor unit and the apparatus body. It mediates the interaction between terminals by guiding the photoconductor unit to a specific insertion position where terminals align and contact, while preventing contact during removal, thus protecting terminals from abrasion and contamination.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If terminals are separated during removable state, then terminal abrasion is reduced, but electrical connection is lost when photoconductor unit is inserted
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member performs a preliminary action by guiding the photoconductor unit into the correct insertion position before terminal contact occurs. This ensures that terminals are properly aligned and ready for connection, so when the photoconductor unit is inserted, electrical connection is immediately established without requiring force or causing misalignment that could lead to contact failure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If guide member is added to control terminal contact, then terminal protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides the photoconductor unit during insertion, positions the terminals for proper alignment, prevents terminal contact during removal, and protects terminals from contamination. By consolidating these multiple functions into a single component, the design achieves terminal protection without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal contact structure includes a first terminal provided on a removable body; a second terminal provided on an apparatus body in which the removable body is inserted, the second terminal not being in contact with the first terminal when the removable body is in a removable state, the second terminal being in contact with the first terminal when the removable body is in a fixed state; and a guide member provided on the apparatus body and having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface guiding the first terminal in an insertion direction in which the removable body is inserted, the second surface guiding the second terminal in a contact direction in which the second terminal comes into contact with the first terminal, the contact direction being a crossing direction that crosses the insertion direction.