Tiltable Steering Roller for Imaging Belt Position Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In imaging systems, the positioning of an endless transfer belt is challenging due to the belt's tendency to meander, especially when using elastic belts, which affects the uniform contact with steering rollers and impacts the accuracy of toner transfer and cleaning processes.
Innovation Solution
A steering assembly that includes a tiltable steering roller and a pressing roller, where the pressing roller adjusts the tension and charge of the toner on the belt's surface, ensuring uniform contact and preventing meandering by tilting the steering roller to redistribute tension along the belt's edges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional steering assembly is used, then the structure is simple, but the endless belt meanders and does not contact uniformly with the steering roller
Solution Approach 1:
The steering roller is made tiltable relative to the pressing roller, allowing dynamic adjustment of the steering roller's angle. This enables the system to adapt to belt tension variations and maintain optimal contact between the belt and steering roller, preventing meandering while managing the added mechanical complexity through a straightforward tilting mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter (angle) of the steering roller relative to the pressing roller. By adjusting this angle parameter, the system optimizes the contact between the belt and steering roller, ensuring uniform contact and preventing meandering. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by improving belt position accuracy without requiring a fundamentally complex structural redesign.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the steering roller is fixed, then the structure is simple, but the belt tension is uneven and meandering occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The steering roller is designed to tilt dynamically relative to the pressing roller, allowing it to adjust its angle in response to belt tension variations. This dynamic capability ensures uniform belt tension distribution and prevents meandering, while the relative tilting mechanism keeps the overall device complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing roller is positioned to apply preliminary compression on the belt before it reaches the steering roller. This preliminary action pre-compresses the belt, ensuring it maintains proper contact with the steering roller even when the steering roller tilts, thereby stabilizing belt tension and preventing meandering without requiring an overly complex steering mechanism.
3Adaptability or versatility
If elastic belts are used, then the belt flexibility is improved, but the belt position control becomes difficult due to meandering
Solution Approach 1:
The tiltable steering roller provides dynamic adjustment capability that works synergistically with the elastic belt's flexibility. The steering roller can tilt to accommodate the belt's elastic deformation and maintain optimal contact, thereby preserving both the belt's flexibility and position control accuracy. This dynamic mechanism resolves the contradiction by allowing the elastic belt to adapt while maintaining precise position control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adjusts the geometric parameter (angle) of the steering roller to optimize contact with the elastic belt. By changing this parameter, the system compensates for the belt's elastic properties and maintains accurate belt position control. This parameter adjustment allows the elastic belt to remain flexible while preventing meandering and ensuring precise positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging system includes an endless belt which includes a first surface and a second surface and a steering assembly which is tiltable to adjust a position of the endless belt. The steering assembly includes a first member that is adjacent to the first surface of the endless belt and a second member that is adjacent to the second surface of the endless belt, to press the endless belt against the first member.