Blade Seal Positioning via Casing Protrusions

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing developing cartridges in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face difficulties in correctly attaching and positioning the blade rear seal, leading to potential misalignment and increased complexity with longer seal lengths.

Innovation Solution

A developing device with a casing that includes a first seal member between the layer-thickness regulating blade and the casing, where the casing has protrusions and/or indentations to regulate the movement of the first seal member, allowing for easier and accurate attachment without adhesive layers, ensuring proper alignment and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the blade rear seal is made longer to cover more area, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the difficulty of correct attachment and positioning increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidattachment and positioning difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The casing is divided into multiple segments with individual protrusions and indentations that act as separate positioning features. This segmentation allows the long seal member to be guided and positioned in discrete steps along its length, making attachment easier while maintaining comprehensive sealing coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Protrusions and indentations serve as intermediary positioning features between the seal member and the casing. These intermediaries provide tactile and mechanical guidance during attachment, ensuring correct positioning without requiring the operator to manually align the entire length of the seal member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If adhesive layers are used to attach the seal member, then the attachment strength is improved, but the ease of attachment and repositioning is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidease of attachment and repositioning

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the chemical bonding mechanism of adhesive layers with a mechanical positioning system using protrusions and indentations. This mechanical system provides sufficient attachment strength through geometric interlocking while allowing for easier attachment and potential repositioning compared to adhesive bonding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If the seal member is attached without positioning features, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision of seal alignment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidseal alignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding complex positioning features throughout the entire seal member, the patent applies local quality by placing simple protrusions and indentations only at critical positioning points on the casing. This localized approach provides sufficient alignment precision without significantly increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9471010B2Developing device having regulating portions that regulate movement of a seal member

Publication Date: 2016.10.18 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A developing device includes a casing configured to store a developing agent and a developing agent carrier configured to carry the developing agent in the casing. The developing agent carrier is configured to rotate about an axis extending in a first direction. The developing device further includes a layer-thickness regulating member configured to regulate a thickness of a layer of the developing agent carried on the developing agent carrier and a first seal member disposed between the layer-thickness regulating blade and the casing. The first seal member extends along the first direction. The casing includes a first regulating portion configured to regulate a movement of the first seal member in the first direction by contacting a surface of the first seal member non-parallel to the first direction. The first regulating portion may include protrusions and/or indentations to regulate the movement of the first seal member.