Developer Container with Movable Wall and Rotating Sensor Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing developer containers in image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently managing developer replenishment and distribution, leading to inconsistencies in toner supply and potential waste due to inadequate monitoring and conveyance mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A developer container with a movable wall, detection surface, and rotating body that includes a cleaning member, stirring member, and detection target for sensors, allowing for precise monitoring and distribution of the developer, ensuring consistent supply and reducing waste by adjusting the volume of developer based on consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a movable wall is used to convey developer toward the discharge port, then developer supply consistency is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional monitoring and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The movable wall is equipped with a detection surface that directly monitors developer level, and the rotating body with stirring members automatically stirs the developer when needed. The system uses its own components for monitoring and maintenance rather than requiring external complex control systems, achieving self-service functionality that improves reliability while limiting complexity growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating body serves multiple functions: it carries the cleaning member for the detection surface, includes stirring members for developer agitation, and provides a mounting structure for sensors. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise be separate systems into a single integrated component, improving developer supply consistency while avoiding the complexity of multiple independent mechanisms.
2Ease of manufacture
If developer level is monitored using a detection sensor outside the container main body, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to indirect detection
Solution Approach 1:
The detection surface is integrated as part of the movable wall structure itself, with the detection sensor positioned to read directly from this surface. This nested arrangement where the detection surface is embedded within the movable wall allows for precise direct measurement while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through integrated design rather than requiring separate external sensing systems.
3Device complexity
If the storage space volume is fixed, then device simplicity is maintained, but loss of substance increases due to inadequate developer distribution and potential waste
Solution Approach 1:
The movable wall can change position within the container, dynamically adjusting the effective storage space volume. When developer level drops, the movable wall retreats to allow more space for replenishment. The rotating body with stirring members dynamically agitates the developer to ensure uniform distribution. This dynamic adaptability prevents developer waste by optimizing space utilization and ensuring complete usage of available developer.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating body continuously or periodically stirs the developer in the storage space, maintaining continuous useful action to prevent settling and ensure uniform distribution. This continuous agitation ensures that all developer material remains accessible and usable, preventing waste through inadequate distribution while the movable wall continuously monitors and adjusts storage volume as needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A developer container includes a container main body having an internal space and a developer discharge port; a movable wall moving in the internal space toward the developer discharge port; a detection surface which is a part of an inner peripheral surface that divides a storage space of a developer in the container main body and which becomes a detection region of a first detection sensor which detects the developer in the storage space; and a rotating body arranged in the storage space and capable of rotating around a rotary shaft along the first direction. The rotating body is mounted with a cleaning member which cleans the detection surface, a stirring member which stirs a developer in the storage space, and a detection target member to be a detection target of a second detection sensor which detects presence of the container main body.