Developer Container Elastic Agitation Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the capacity of the developer container increases, developer remaining inside the container becomes inefficiently supplied to the image forming unit due to poor agitation mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A developer container with a cylindrical hollow shape and an elastic, rotatably mounted agitation member that contacts a projection part on the side wall, imparting vibration to shake off developer attached to the side wall, allowing efficient supply through the contact between the agitation member and projection parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the capacity of the developer container is increased, then the amount of developer stored is improved, but the developer remaining inside the container increases and cannot be efficiently supplied
Solution Approach 1:
The agitation member rotates to generate mechanical vibration that propagates through the developer container, causing developer adhering to the inner wall to detach and fall into the developer supply region. This vibration mechanism enables efficient supply of developer even in large-capacity containers where gravity alone is insufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The agitation member is rotatably provided within the developer container itself, allowing the container to self-agitate its own contents without requiring external agitation devices. The rotation of the agitation member creates the necessary vibration to prevent developer from adhering to walls and ensure continuous supply.
2Volume of stationary object
If the capacity of the developer container is increased, then the storage capability is improved, but the agitation effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating agitation member generates mechanical vibration that effectively agitates developer throughout the large-volume container. This vibration prevents developer from adhering to walls and ensures uniform distribution, maintaining agitation effectiveness regardless of container size.
Solution Approach 2:
The agitation member is designed to rotate dynamically within the container, creating moving vibration patterns that reach all regions of the developer. This dynamic agitation mechanism adapts to the large container volume, ensuring reliable agitation effectiveness throughout the entire developer storage space.
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 vibration mechanism effectively reduces developer residue within the container, ensuring efficient supply to the image forming unit, enhancing the operational efficiency of the image forming apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
The side wall part has a projection part that projects toward inside of the developer containing part so that the side edge of the agitation member is elastically deformed by the projection part when passing over the projection part
Data Source
AI summary
A developer container includes a developer containing part that has an cylindrical hollow shape inside and contains developer therein; and an agitation member that is elastic and rotatably provided inside the developer containing part, rotating around a rotation axis that is a center of the cylindrical hollow shape, having at least a side edge extending in the rotation axis. The developer containing part has a side wall part on one end thereof in a direction of the rotation axis of the agitation member, the side wall extending to correspond to the side edge of the agitation member and scraping a surface of the side wall while the agitation member rotates, the side wall part has a projection part that projects toward inside of the developer containing part so that the side edge of the agitation member is elastically deformed by the projection part when passing over the projection part.