Developer Supply Container with Rotating Blades for High Bulk Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional developer supply containers face challenges in stably discharging developers with high bulk density during suctioning and discharging operations, leading to inefficient fluidization and discharge due to high internal pressure and bulk density issues.
Innovation Solution
A developer supply container design featuring a rotatable member with multiple blades that alternates between expanded and compressed states to manage pressure and facilitate efficient discharge, incorporating a pump portion that changes volume with reciprocating operations and a stirring portion to fluidize the developer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the bulk density of the developer in the neighborhood of the discharge opening is made high to discharge a large amount of developer by a single suctioning and discharging operation, then the quantity of substance discharged is improved, but the developer is not readily discharged due to high discharge resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The pump portion performs periodic reciprocating operations (expansion and compression cycles) to create alternating pressure differences. During expansion, air is suctioned to fluidize the developer; during compression, developer is discharged. This periodic action enables continuous discharge of large amounts of high bulk density developer without clogging.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump portion changes the pressure parameter periodically through expansion and compression. During expansion, internal pressure decreases below atmospheric pressure to suction air and fluidize developer. During compression, internal pressure increases above atmospheric pressure to discharge developer. This parameter change enables efficient discharge of high bulk density developer.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the pump is expanded to suction air and fluidize the developer, then the developer fluidization is improved, but the pressure inside the container becomes lower than atmospheric pressure causing air suction
Solution Approach 1:
The pump portion alternates between expansion (suction phase) and compression (discharge phase). During expansion, low pressure fluidizes developer by suctioning air. During compression, high pressure discharges developer. This periodic alternation maintains both fluidization and discharge functions.
Solution Approach 2:
Air acts as an intermediary substance. During pump expansion, air is suctioned into the container to fluidize the developer. The air bubbles mix with the developer, reducing its bulk density and improving flowability. This intermediary enables stable fluidization of high bulk density developer.
3Productivity
If the pump is compressed to discharge the developer, then the discharge operation is improved, but the pressure inside the container becomes higher than atmospheric pressure causing air discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The pump portion alternates between expansion (suction phase) and compression (discharge phase). During compression, high pressure forces developer out through the discharge opening. During expansion, low pressure allows air to be suctioned back in. This periodic alternation enables continuous discharge operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump portion changes the pressure parameter periodically. During compression, internal pressure increases above atmospheric pressure to discharge developer. During expansion, internal pressure decreases to allow air suction. This parameter change enables both fluidization and discharge operations.
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
Enables stable and efficient discharge of developers with high bulk density by fluidizing the developer during suctioning and discharging operations, improving the discharge resistance and productivity of the image forming apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
in the case where the pump is expanded, pressure in the developer supply container is in a state in which the pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure (ambient pressure), and thus air flows into the developer supply container through the discharge opening
Implementation Method 2
air flows into the developer supply container through the discharge opening (suction of air)
Implementation Method 3
air flows into the developer supply container through the discharge opening (suction of air), so that the developer in the developer supply container is fluidized
Implementation Method 4
a rotatable member including a plurality of blades and rotatable about a rotational axis of the developer accommodating body so as to pass through a region opposing the opening of the storing portion
Data Source
AI summary
A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating body, a developer discharging body, a storing portion, provided a pump portion capable of changing a volume thereof with a reciprocating operation, and a rotatable member including a plurality of blades. The number of said blades is not less twice the number of times, per rotation of the rotatable member, of the reciprocating operation of the pump portion.