Tiltable Steering Roller Belt Drive Misalignment Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses using endless belts without ribs fail to detect and correct misalignment in the width direction, leading to operational inefficiencies and potential image quality issues.
Innovation Solution
A belt driving device with a tiltable steering roller, pulley, and link mechanism that adjusts tension by engaging the endless belt's edge portion, allowing for reliable detection and correction of misalignment even without ribs, enhancing the belt's movement and image forming quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ribs are provided on the endless belt to enable misalignment detection, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the detection function from the endless belt itself by removing the ribs and instead providing detection rollers that contact the smooth belt surface. The detection rollers are positioned to detect belt position in the width direction, separating the detection function from the belt structure and enabling misalignment detection without requiring complex rib features on the belt.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces detection rollers as intermediary components between the endless belt and the detection system. These rollers contact the smooth belt surface and convert belt position information into rotational motion that can be detected, serving as a mediator that enables precise misalignment detection without requiring structural modifications to the belt itself.
2Ease of manufacture
If a smooth endless belt without ribs is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the ribs from the endless belt, extracting the detection function from the belt structure itself. The smooth belt surface is maintained for ease of manufacture, while the detection function is transferred to separate detection rollers that contact the belt and provide misalignment detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Detection rollers are introduced as intermediary components that enable misalignment detection on smooth belts. These rollers contact the belt surface and convert positional information into detectable signals, allowing precise measurement without requiring structural features on the belt that would complicate manufacturing.
3Reliability
If the steering roller is made tiltable to correct misalignment, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering roller is designed to be tiltable rather than fixed, enabling dynamic adjustment of the belt position. The roller can change its orientation in response to detected misalignment, allowing the system to adapt to position variations and maintain reliable belt operation through dynamic correction rather than static positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection rollers provide feedback on belt position to the steering roller mechanism. When misalignment is detected, this information is used to adjust the steering roller's tilt angle, creating a feedback loop that continuously corrects belt position and maintains alignment, thereby improving reliability through active control.
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 misalignment and stabilizes the endless belt's movement, improving the operation of image forming apparatuses and the quality of generated images by ensuring consistent tension and reduced wear on components.
Implementation Method 1
The pulley is pressed with the movement of the endless belt in the first direction to move in an axis line direction of the steering roller
Implementation Method 2
The link mechanism tilts the steering roller by moving the end portion of the steering roller inward in the third direction with the outward movement of the pulley in the first direction
Implementation Method 3
The steering roller is tiltable while one end portion of the steering roller in the longitudinal direction moves in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction
Data Source
AI summary
A belt driving device to drive an endless belt, includes a drive roller and a suspension roller which extend in a first direction and face each other in a second direction. The belt driving device includes a steering roller located between the drive roller and the suspension roller in a tiltable manner. A pulley (or wheel) is located at an end portion of the steering roller. The belt driving device includes a link mechanism which presses the end portion of the steering roller to tilt the steering roller with the movement of the pulley (or wheel).