Transfer Unit Positioning for Image Forming Apparatus Door Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses require high operational force to open and close the door for jam recovery, and the conveying path visibility is obstructed due to the transfer unit's rotation, making it difficult to handle jams and maintain the recording material.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a movable door and integrated transfer unit, featuring a transfer positioning member and roller positioning member that interlock with the door's rotation, allowing the transfer unit to move independently and reducing the operational force required for door opening and closing, while maintaining visibility of the conveying path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the transfer roller contact pressure is increased to 3 kgf to 8 kgf for high recording accuracy, then the image transfer quality is improved, but the door opening and closing operation becomes heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening/closing operation is segmented into two independent actions: (1) opening the door to separate the transfer unit from the intermediate transfer belt, and (2) releasing the registration roller nip. This segmentation allows the high contact pressure to be maintained during image formation while the door can be opened with reduced force when jam recovery is needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer unit is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to be separated from the intermediate transfer belt when the door is opened. The contact pressure is dynamically adjusted - high (3-8 kgf) during normal operation for quality, and reduced when the door opens for maintenance access.
2Ease of operation
If the transfer unit is provided at the main body to rotate for jam recovery, then the door opening operation is lightened, but the conveying path visibility is obstructed by the transfer unit blocking the path
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening operation is divided into two independent functions: (1) separating the transfer unit from the intermediate transfer belt to lighten the opening force, and (2) releasing the registration roller nip to clear the conveying path. This segmentation ensures both ease of operation and unobstructed visibility when the door is opened.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer unit is extracted from the fixed position and made separable from the intermediate transfer belt. When the door is opened, the transfer unit is taken out of the conveying path, eliminating the visibility obstruction while maintaining the lightened door opening operation.
3Reliability
If the registration roller nip force is maintained at 2 kgf to 4 kgf for proper material handling, then the material conveying is stable, but the user must pull up the recording material more strongly to remove it during jam recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The registration roller nip force is dynamically controlled - maintained at 2-4 kgf during normal operation for stable material conveying, and automatically released when the door is opened to facilitate easy material removal during jam recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The registration roller nip is preliminarily configured to release automatically upon door opening. This preliminary action prepares the system for easy material removal before the user even attempts to access the jammed material.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a door movably holding a transfer unit; a first roller movably held by the door and a second roller provided on the main body for conveying a recording material; a transfer positioning member provided on the main body to be interlocked with rotation of the door, the transfer positioning member positioning the transfer unit with respect to the main body with the transfer member being in contact with the image bearing member; and a roller positioning member provided on the main body to be interlocked with rotation of the door, the roller positioning member positioning the first roller with respect to the main body with the first roller being in contact with the second roller.