Developer Container with Movable Wall and Stirring Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional developer containers for image forming apparatuses lack efficient mechanisms for independent control of developer movement and stirring, leading to suboptimal developer distribution and discharge.
Innovation Solution
A developer container design featuring a movable wall and a rotatable stirring member, both independently controlled, which allows for precise movement and stirring of developer within the container, ensuring consistent supply to the image forming apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional toner container with a rotary stirring member is used, then developer can be discharged through the toner discharge port, but the developer distribution and discharge efficiency is suboptimal due to lack of independent control between movement and stirring
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into functionally independent components: a movable wall for controlling developer movement and discharge, and a rotary stirring member for mixing. These components can be controlled independently through separate drive mechanisms, allowing optimized developer distribution and discharge without requiring complex integrated control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable wall is designed to be movable along the longitudinal direction of the container, enabling dynamic adjustment of the storage space volume and controlled discharge of developer. This dynamic structure allows the system to adapt developer supply to actual consumption rates, improving discharge efficiency without complex control mechanisms.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the movable wall and stirring member are independently controlled, then developer distribution is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into independent control mechanisms for the movable wall and stirring member. This segmentation allows each component to be controlled separately, achieving uniform developer distribution through coordinated but independent actions without requiring a complex integrated control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive controller provides universal control capabilities that can manage both the movable wall and stirring member through standardized control interfaces. This multi-functionality allows independent control of both components while maintaining system simplicity through a unified control architecture.
3Productivity
If the movable wall moves to convey developer, then discharge efficiency improves, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The movable wall is designed as a simple movable structure that can shift along the longitudinal direction to convey developer from the storage space to the discharge port. This dynamic but structurally simple design improves conveyance efficiency without requiring complex mechanisms, relying instead on straightforward linear motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable wall combines multiple functions into a single component: it serves as both a boundary defining the storage space and a conveyance mechanism for discharging developer. This merging of functions improves discharge efficiency while maintaining structural simplicity by avoiding separate components for space definition and material transport.
Data Source
AI summary
A developer container includes a container body, a movable wall, and a stirring member. The container body is formed with a developer discharge port opening in a circumferential portion of the container body and communicating with an internal space for allowing discharge of developer therethrough. The movable wall includes an outer surface slidably in close contact with an inner surface of the container body, and a conveying surface defining a storage space for the developer, the movable wall being movable in the first direction in the internal space while conveying the developer in the storage space to the developer discharge port. The stirring member faces the developer discharge port in a direction intersecting the first direction and is rotatable to stir the developer in the storage space. The movement of the movable wall and the rotation of the stirring member are controlled independently of each other.