Viscoelastic Developing Roller Support Regulates Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in maintaining a consistent distance between the image carrier and the developing roller, leading to development unevenness due to changes in this distance, which affects image quality.
Innovation Solution
A developing roller support device that includes a viscoelastic body interposed between a bearing and its support portion, along with a coil spring to urge the developing roller towards the image carrier, and a distance regulating mechanism using a bearing and bearing support member to maintain the distance within a predetermined range, utilizing a viscoelastic body to absorb changes and regulate the maximum and minimum distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid support structure is used to maintain distance between image carrier and developing roller, then structural stability is improved, but the ability to absorb distance variations and maintain consistent development is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from a rigid support structure to a flexible support structure that can dynamically adjust its physical state. The flexible support structure changes its stiffness parameter to accommodate distance variations between the image carrier and developing roller, allowing the system to maintain reliable development despite mechanical variations in the imaging apparatus.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the distance between image carrier and developing roller is made adjustable, then adaptability is improved, but maintaining precise distance control within a narrow range becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible support structure acts as an intermediary element between the adjustable distance mechanism and the developing roller. It mediates the distance variations by absorbing excess movement through its flexibility while maintaining sufficient structural support, thereby enabling both adaptability and precision without requiring complex control mechanisms.
3Reliability
If a flexible support structure is used to absorb distance variations, then development consistency is improved, but structural stability and support for the developing roller is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible support structure utilizes parameter changes in its mechanical properties to resolve this contradiction. By designing the support structure with appropriate flexibility parameters, it can absorb distance variations to maintain development consistency while retaining sufficient structural stability to properly support the developing roller during operation.
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 suppresses development unevenness by maintaining the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller within a required range, ensuring consistent image quality by balancing the viscoelastic deformation with the urging force and repulsive forces, thereby regulating the distance to prevent density variations.
Implementation Method 1
a distance regulating unit that includes a viscoelastic body which is deformed according to a change of a distance between the image carrier and the developing roller
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image carrier on which a latent image is developed, a developing roller that is provided to face the image carrier to perform development for the latent image of the image carrier, an urging unit that urges the image carrier and the developing roller so that the image carrier and the developing roller approach each other, and a distance regulating unit that includes a viscoelastic body that is deformed according to a change of a distance between the image carrier and the developing roller, and regulates at least one of a maximum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller and a minimum value of the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller so that the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller falls within a predetermined range.