Sealed Developer Bearing Member Protrusion Prevents Paper Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, the exposure of elastomer or its storage fence to the sheet conveyance path can cause paper jamming due to the reduced size of the apparatus, as the elastomer may come into contact with curled sheets.
Innovation Solution
A developing apparatus with a protruding portion that extends beyond the storage portion and into the sheet conveyance path, which includes an injection inlet for elastomer to form a sealing portion and a buffer portion to contain any spilled elastomer, preventing it from jutting out and contacting the sheet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the apparatus size is reduced, then the compactness is improved, but the risk of paper jamming increases due to elastomer exposure to sheet conveyance path
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful elastomer material is extracted and isolated from the sheet conveyance path by confining it within the sealed developing chamber. The seal member creates a barrier that removes the elastomer exposure risk while maintaining the compact apparatus design.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member acts as an intermediary barrier between the elastomer (injection material) and the sheet conveyance path. It allows the apparatus to maintain compact size with elastomer present while preventing paper jamming by blocking the elastomer from contacting sheets.
2Reliability
If elastomer is injected to seal the gap between seal member and frame, then the sealing performance is improved, but the complexity of assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomer injection process is performed as a preliminary sealing action during assembly. By injecting elastomer into the injection inlet before final assembly completion, the seal is formed in advance, ensuring reliable sealing while streamlining the overall assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomer material itself performs the sealing function automatically when injected. The elastomer fills the gap between the seal member and frame, creating a self-sealing effect that improves sealing performance without requiring additional complex sealing mechanisms.
3Area of stationary object
If the fence for storing elastomer is exposed to sheet conveyance path, then the space utilization is improved, but the sheet jamming risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomer storage function is extracted and isolated within the sealed developing chamber. The seal member creates a dedicated containment space that allows elastomer to be stored and accessed without exposing it to the sheet conveyance path, thus preventing jamming while maintaining space efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomer storage space is nested within the developing chamber, which itself is integrated into the compact apparatus structure. This nested arrangement allows the elastomer to be contained in a space-efficient manner while maintaining isolation from the sheet path through the seal member barrier.
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
Prevents paper jamming by ensuring the elastomer does not interfere with the sheet conveyance, even when the apparatus is compact, by containing any elastomer spillage and positioning the protruding portion to guide the sheet safely past the buffer area.
Implementation Method 1
a seal member that seals a gap between the developer bearing member and the frame such that the developer does not leak from the gap between the developer bearing member and the frame
Implementation Method 2
a protruding portion that protrudes toward a conveyance path of a recording medium to which the developer image is transferred, and the protruding portion protrudes toward the conveyance path further than the storage portion exposed to the conveyance path
Data Source
AI summary
A process cartridge of an image forming apparatus includes a seal member to seal a first gap between an end portion of a developer bearing member and a frame, and a sealing portion that seals a second gap between the frame and an end portion of the seal member. The frame includes an injection inlet through which elastomer has been injected into the second gap for forming the sealing portion, a storage portion that is a space surrounded by a second surface of the frame and a wall protruding from the second surface and in which elastomer spilling out of the second gap is stored, and a protruding portion that protrudes, from the second surface of the frame, further than the wall of the storage portion. The protruding portion contacts a conveyed recording medium when the process cartridge is mounted in an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus.