Tilting Steering Roller for Endless Belt Meandering Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming systems, the endless belt used for toner transfer experiences displacement issues due to uneven tension, leading to premature wear and reduced lifespan as one edge repeatedly contacts the pulley, causing abrasion.
Innovation Solution
A steering member with a tiltable steering roller and a lever mechanism that adjusts tension by pivoting the roller to redirect the belt's displacement, ensuring even contact and distributing tension across both edges, thereby preventing continuous abrasion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the endless belt is used for toner transfer without a steering roller, then the structure is simple, but the belt experiences displacement and uneven tension causing premature wear
Solution Approach 1:
The steering roller is designed to be tiltable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its angle in response to belt displacement. This dynamic adjustment enables the roller to correct belt position automatically while maintaining system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The steering roller acts as an intermediary element between the drive roller and tension roller, mediating the belt's path and correcting displacement. This intermediate component distributes tension more evenly across the belt edges without requiring complete structural redesign
2Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed steering roller is used to correct belt displacement, then the belt position is stabilized, but one edge of the belt repeatedly contacts the pulley causing abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The steering roller is made tiltable to dynamically respond to belt position variations. When the belt displaces, the roller tilts to redirect the belt, preventing continuous contact of the same edge with the pulley and thereby reducing abrasion while maintaining stability
Solution Approach 2:
The tilting mechanism creates periodic adjustment cycles where the steering roller alternates its angle to correct belt displacement. This periodic action prevents continuous one-sided contact by rhythmically redistributing the contact points along the belt edge
3Stability of the object's composition
If the steering roller is tilted to correct belt displacement, then the belt position is corrected, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The tilting mechanism is designed to be self-actuating, using the belt's own displacement forces to trigger the roller's tilt. This eliminates the need for external actuators or complex control systems, achieving position correction while minimizing added complexity
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
This solution effectively corrects belt displacement and extends the belt's lifespan by alternating contact points, preventing repeated abrasion and doubling the belt's operational life.
Implementation Method 1
a lever mechanism that adjusts tension by pivoting the roller to redirect the belt's displacement
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging system includes an endless belt, a tension roller to engage the endless belt, a steering roller to contact the endless belt and a tilting mechanism to tilt the steering roller. The tension roller has a first end adjacent a first edge portion of the endless belt and a second end adjacent a second edge of the endless belt. A first belt meandering detection member is located at the first end of the tension roller. A second belt meandering detection member is located at the second end of the tension roller. The tilting mechanism operates the steering roller between a first mode wherein the first edge portion of the endless belt contacts the first belt meandering detection member, and a second mode wherein the second edge portion of the endless belt contacts the second belt meandering detection member.