Transfer Device Pressing Mechanism Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face issues with high contact pressure on photoconductor drums, leading to rapid wear and potential displaced image transfer due to high vibration damping requirements, which are not adequately met by using only a spring member without a rubber damper.
Innovation Solution
A transfer device incorporating a spring member and a rubber damper in series, with a cam member for variable pressing force, effectively dampens vibrations and reduces contact pressure by using a rubber damper with appropriate Asker C hardness and internal damping coefficient, ensuring target vibration damping performance while preventing wear and image transfer issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring member alone is used to press the transfer member against the image carrier, then the structure is simple, but the vibration damping performance is insufficient leading to displaced image transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a spring member and a rubber damper into a single pressing mechanism that operates together. The spring member provides the necessary contact pressure while the rubber damper simultaneously dampens vibrations, achieving both functions through a merged structure rather than separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing mechanism uses composite elements by combining metallic spring material with rubber damping material. This composite approach allows the single pressing mechanism to provide both elastic force (from the spring) and vibration damping (from the rubber), resolving the contradiction between simplicity and performance.
2Manufacturing precision
If high contact pressure is applied to ensure image transfer, then transfer quality improves, but photoconductor drum wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic vibration damping to the pressing mechanism. By incorporating the rubber damper, the system dynamically absorbs vibrations that occur during sheet feeding, preventing these vibrations from causing image displacement while maintaining the necessary contact pressure for quality transfer, thereby reducing wear on the photoconductor drum.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the pressing mechanism by selecting specific rubber materials with appropriate damping coefficients and spring constants. This parameter optimization allows the system to maintain effective contact pressure for image transfer while the damping properties reduce vibrations that would otherwise cause wear and image defects.
3Reliability
If vibration damping is increased to prevent displaced image transfer, then image quality improves, but contact pressure increases causing wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the functions of pressure application and vibration damping into two distinct components working in series: the spring member handles pressure application while the rubber damper handles vibration damping. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other, preventing the trade-off where increased damping would require excessive pressure.
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 achieves the target vibration damping performance while reducing contact pressure on the photoconductor drum, preventing wear and displaced image transfer, and maintaining image quality by effectively damping vibrations caused by sheet entry impacts.
Implementation Method 1
a first rubber damper... with appropriate Asker C hardness and internal damping coefficient, ensuring target vibration damping performance
Implementation Method 2
a pressing member that includes a spring member and a first rubber damper, which are arranged in series with each other
Implementation Method 3
a first rubber damper... with appropriate Asker C hardness... that effectively dampens vibrations
Data Source
AI summary
A transfer device includes a transfer member to which a bias voltage is applied and that transfers a toner image, which is carried on an image carrier, onto a sheet while nipping the sheet between the transfer member and the image carrier when the sheet is transported to the transfer member; and a pressing member that includes a spring member and a first rubber damper, which are arranged in series with each other, and that presses the transfer member against the image carrier.