Wire Spring Conductive Member for Flexible Grounding
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in image forming apparatuses is to provide a reliable and cost-effective conductive member that offers high flexibility in arrangement while ensuring reliable electrical conduction, especially when metal side plates are replaced with plastic, which complicates grounding and increases the size and cost of the apparatus.
Innovation Solution
A conductive member with a connection portion comprising a first arm portion, first and second bent portions, and a third bent portion is used to establish electrical contact with cutaway portions on metal plate members, allowing for flexible arrangement and secure grounding without the need for additional metal plates or complex assembly steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plate spring is used as the relay member, then grounding can be achieved, but the degree of freedom in molding and arrangement becomes lower and the length of the relay member becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a wire spring instead of a plate spring, leveraging the flexibility and thin-film characteristics of the wire structure to achieve grounding while maintaining high degree of freedom in molding and arrangement. The wire spring can be easily formed into various shapes and configured in different spatial arrangements without the constraints of plate spring geometry.
2Reliability
If a wire spring is used as the relay member, then grounding can be achieved, but the wire spring may be bent during transportation or detached from connection portions
Solution Approach 1:
The wire spring is designed with optimized bending radius and structural parameters that allow it to be flexible enough for installation yet rigid enough to resist deformation during transportation. The dynamic balance between flexibility and rigidity is achieved through careful selection of wire diameter, spring pitch, and overall geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire spring structure incorporates pre-designed cushioning features such as loops, bends, and connection portions that absorb external forces during transportation, preventing the spring from being bent or detached. These built-in protective features compensate for external impacts before they can damage the grounding connection.
3Reliability
If additional metal plates are provided for grounding, then grounding can be achieved, but the number of assembly steps and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wire spring relay member combines multiple functions into a single component: it serves as both the grounding conductor and the mechanical connector between metal plates. This eliminates the need for separate grounding plates and fasteners, reducing the number of parts and assembly steps while maintaining effective grounding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire spring is designed as a universal grounding solution that can be applied to various configurations of metal plates and grounding points within the image forming apparatus. Its flexible structure allows it to adapt to different spatial arrangements, making it a multi-functional component that replaces multiple specialized parts.
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 enables reliable electrical conduction between grounded and ungrounded metal plate members within the image forming apparatus, reducing size and cost while maintaining high flexibility in arrangement, thus addressing the limitations of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
the conductive member is electrically connected to a metal plate member having a cutaway portion
Data Source
AI summary
A conductive member includes a connection portion which is to be electrically connected to a cutaway portion of a metal plate. The connection portion includes a first arm portion extending from one end to another end and configured to come into contact with one face of two faces opposed to each other of the cutaway portion, a first bent portion connected to the another end of the first arm portion and bent extending from the another end toward the one end, a second bent portion connected to the first bent portion and bent getting closer toward the first arm portion as getting away from the first bent portion, and a third bent portion connected to the second bent portion and bent getting away from the first arm portion as getting away from the second bent portion so as to come into contact with another face of the two faces.