Developer Case Toner Jam Prevention Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Toner containers in existing image forming apparatuses experience toner jamming near the discharge port, leading to excessive load on the toner conveying screw and drive motor, resulting in potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A developer case design featuring a case main body with a conveyer, first tube, and second tube, where the conveyer includes a rotation shaft with blades that exert conveying forces in opposite directions to manage toner flow, and the second tube communicates with the first tube downstream of the discharge port to redirect overflowing toner to an evacuation room, reducing load on the conveyer and drive motor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a toner conveying screw is used to convey toner to the discharge port, then the toner can be supplied continuously, but the toner near the discharge port condenses and causes toner jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic condensed toner from the discharge path by providing a dedicated evacuation room and evacuation screw that separately removes condensed toner from the discharge port area, preventing it from causing jams while maintaining continuous supply through the conveying screw
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary evacuation mechanism (evacuation room and evacuation screw) that mediates between the toner supply system and discharge port, capturing condensed toner before it can cause jamming while allowing smooth toner flow to continue
2Productivity
If the toner conveying screw operates continuously to maintain supply, then productivity is improved, but excessive load is applied to the conveying screw or drive motor when toner jamming occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides beforehand cushioning by creating an evacuation room that captures condensed toner before it can cause jamming and excessive load on the conveying screw, and by providing an evacuation screw that can be activated to clear any condensed toner that forms, preventing damage to the drive system
Solution Approach 2:
The evacuation mechanism serves as an intermediary that protects the conveying screw and drive motor from excessive load by capturing problematic toner conditions before they can transmit harmful forces to the drive system
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
The solution effectively suppresses toner discharge failures by redirecting toner overflow to an evacuation room, preventing excessive load on the conveyer and drive motor, thus protecting them from damage and ensuring stable toner discharge.
Implementation Method 1
The first blade exerts conveying force on the developer toward a downstream side of the conveying direction, and the second blade exerts conveying force on the developer toward an upstream side of the conveying direction
Data Source
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AI summary
A developer case (10) according to the present invention includes a case main body (30), a conveyer (33), a first tube (34), and a second tube (35). The case main body (30) contains developer and has a discharge port (30a) to discharge the developer toward an outside of the case main body (30). The conveyer (33) conveys the developer in the case main body (30) toward the discharge port (30a). The first tube (34) is arranged in the case main body (30) so as to cover the discharge port (30a). The second tube (35) communicates with an inside of the first tube (34) at a downstream side of the discharge port (30a) in a conveying direction of the developer and extends in a direction crossing to the conveying direction.