Developer Container Conveying Member Elastic Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for conveying developer in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face issues with developer loss due to protrusions on light-guiding members, leading to reduced developer amount before reaching the development chamber, which affects the efficiency and accuracy of the image forming process.
Innovation Solution
A developer container with a conveying member that undergoes elastic deformation by contacting projecting portions on the sidewall, utilizing these deformations to enhance the conveying force and prevent developer loss, ensuring consistent delivery to the development chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If light-guiding members with protrusions are provided in the developer chamber to guide detecting light, then the remaining developer amount can be detected, but developer loss occurs due to contact between the conveying member and protrusions
Solution Approach 1:
The light-guiding members are extracted from the developer chamber and positioned on its outer surface. The transmitting member penetrates the chamber wall to transmit light signals without physical protrusions into the developer space, thereby eliminating the harmful contact between protrusions and the conveying member while preserving the detection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The chamber wall acts as an intermediary between the light transmission function and the developer storage space. The transmitting member passes through this intermediary structure to deliver light signals without directly contacting the developer or interfering with the conveying member's path.
2Productivity
If the conveying member is deformed to increase conveying force, then developer delivery is improved, but the conveying member may contact harmful protrusions causing developer loss
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful protrusions are completely removed from the developer chamber interior. The light-guiding function is extracted and relocated to the outer surface, allowing the conveying member to deform and move freely without encountering obstructions that would cause developer loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The potential harm of the conveying member deforming is converted into a benefit by removing the harmful protrusions. The deformation now serves purely to enhance conveying force and developer delivery without the risk of contact-induced loss, as the harmful elements have been eliminated.
3Illumination intensity
If light-guiding members are positioned in the central area of the developer chamber, then the optical path is optimized, but the conveying member path is obstructed causing developer loss
Solution Approach 1:
The light-guiding members are relocated from the interior three-dimensional space to the outer surface of the chamber. The transmitting member penetrates through the wall in a perpendicular direction, creating a spatial separation between the optical path and the developer conveying path, thereby eliminating interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-guiding function is extracted from the central developer chamber area and repositioned on the outer surface. This removes the obstruction from the conveying member's path while maintaining the optical detection capability through the chamber wall.
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 reduces developer loss and ensures consistent delivery to the development chamber, improving the efficiency and accuracy of the image forming process by maximizing the amount of developer conveyed.
Implementation Method 1
the conveying member is deformed elastically by coming into contact with one of the first projecting portion and the second projecting portion
Data Source
AI summary
In a developer container or the like, developer is conveyed efficiently by utilizing a projecting portion included in a transmitting member and another projecting portion. A velocity vector that is generated at a free end of a conveying member and is oriented upward becomes largest during a period from when the conveying member having been in contact with the projecting portion is released from the projecting portion until when the free end of the conveying member comes into contact with a storage chamber.