Developer Container Helical Ridge Limiter Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Developer containers in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face difficulties in discharging toner developers with varying fluidity, leading to aggregation near the discharge port and reduced discharge efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A developer container design featuring a container main body with a helical ridge and a limiter that reduces the cross-sectional area of the space between the limiter and the sidewall, limiting the amount of developer conveyed to the discharge port and enhancing fluidity, thereby preventing aggregation and ensuring efficient discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the amount of developer stored in the container main body is increased, then the developer supply capacity is improved, but the fluidity of the developer near the discharge port deteriorates and aggregation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a limiter with a specific cross-sectional area that is smaller than the container main body's cross-section. This limiter is positioned at a specific location near the discharge port, creating a localized restriction that controls the developer amount in the discharge-side space. The limiter's cross-sectional area is designed to be 0.1 to 0.5 times that of the container main body, ensuring proper fluidity while maintaining adequate storage capacity in the container space.
2Productivity
If the cross-sectional area of the discharge-side space is increased, then the developer discharge efficiency is improved, but the developer aggregation near the discharge port worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the cross-sectional area of the limiter and the amount of developer in the discharge-side space. The limiter's cross-sectional area is set to 0.1 to 0.5 times that of the container main body, and the developer amount in the discharge-side space is controlled to be 0.01 to 0.5 times the container space amount. These parameter adjustments ensure optimal fluidity and discharge efficiency while preventing aggregation.
3Quantity of substance
If the limiter cross-sectional area is increased, then the developer storage capacity near discharge port is improved, but the developer fluidity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the limiter at a specific location and designing its cross-sectional area to be 0.1 to 0.5 times that of the container main body. This creates a localized control zone that maintains adequate storage capacity in the discharge-side space while ensuring proper fluidity for reliable discharge. The limiter's position and dimensions are optimized to balance storage and fluidity requirements.
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 design reduces the amount of developer aggregated near the discharge port, preventing density issues and ensuring reliable discharge, even with toners of different fluidities, thus improving the discharge efficiency and preventing image defects.
Implementation Method 1
A helical ridge for conveying the stored developer is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the container main body. When the container main body is made to rotate, the stored developer is conveyed to a discharge port at the front end of the container main body
Implementation Method 2
one of the limiter and the sidewall has a second ridge for reducing an area of a cross-section of the space perpendicular to the conveyance direction at a first position to a smaller area than an area of a cross-section of the space perpendicular to the conveyance direction at a second position
Data Source
AI summary
A developer container includes a container main body that stores a developer, has an outlet for discharging the developer to a downstream side in a conveyance direction in which the developer is conveyed, has a sidewall having a circular cross-section perpendicular to the conveyance direction, and has a first ridge that continuously or intermittently continues to the downstream side in a helical form in a certain winding direction and is formed on an inner surface of the sidewall, and a limiter disposed at a downstream end that is an end on the downstream side of the container main body, to secure a space between the limiter and the sidewall, the space extending to an upstream side of the outlet in the conveyance direction and extending from the upstream side to the outlet.