Developer Container Movable Wall Toner Conveyance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional developer containers face issues with toner remaining in the container due to inadequate rotational force distribution and adherence to grooves, leading to incomplete toner usage and sealing challenges at the developer discharge port.
Innovation Solution
A developer container design featuring a movable wall that slides from one end to the other within the container, equipped with a backward movement preventing mechanism and ribs to prevent tilting, ensuring efficient toner conveyance and reliable sealing of the discharge port.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rotary stirring member is used to convey toner, then toner can be discharged through the discharge port, but toner remains in the region not affected by rotational force making it difficult to use up all toner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable wall that dynamically changes position along the container body to convey toner. Unlike a fixed rotary stirring member, the movable wall progresses from the discharge port toward the closed end, actively pushing toner forward and ensuring complete utilization of toner supply while maintaining discharge efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The container interior is segmented into a toner supply space and a sealed space by the movable wall. This segmentation allows the movable wall to systematically advance through different regions, conveying toner step by step from the closed end toward the discharge port, ensuring complete toner discharge without leaving residue in any segment.
2Productivity
If helical grooves are formed on the container body to convey toner, then toner can be moved along the grooves, but toner adhered to the groove continues to rotate with the container body remaining in the container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the conveying function from the container body structure (no grooves on container) and relocates it to a dedicated movable wall component. The movable wall has a conveying surface that directly contacts and pushes toner, separating the conveyance mechanism from the container structure, thereby preventing toner adhesion to rotating grooves.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable wall acts as an intermediary between the container body and the toner. Instead of toner directly contacting rotating grooves on the container body, the movable wall mediates the conveyance process by sliding along the inner circumferential surface and pushing toner forward, preventing direct adhesion to rotating structures.
3Productivity
If the movable wall is allowed to move freely, then it can convey toner efficiently, but the movable wall may tilt or move backward reducing sealing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The movable wall is designed to move dynamically along the container body while maintaining controlled contact through ribs. The ribs provide dynamic support points that allow the movable wall to slide smoothly without tilting, and the backward movement preventing mechanism provides dynamic protection against reverse motion, ensuring both smooth conveyance and reliable sealing throughout the operation cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable wall has different structural zones with different functions: the conveying surface provides smooth contact with toner for efficient conveyance, while the ribs provide localized support points for preventing tilting, and the backward movement preventing mechanism provides localized protection against reverse motion. Each local structure optimizes for its specific function while working together to ensure overall reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A developer container (30) includes a container body (31), a movable wall (34), and a backward movement preventing mechanism (55). The container body (31) includes an inner surface (31K) defining a cylindrical internal space (31H) extending in a longitudinal direction, and a developer discharge port (319). The movable wall (34) includes an outer surface (34K) disposed slidably in close contact with the inner surface (31K) of the container body (31), and a conveying surface (340S). The conveying surface (340S) defines a storage space (31 S) for developer. The movable wall (34) moves in the longitudinal direction from an initial position at one end side to the developer discharge port (319) while conveying the developer in the storage space (31 S) to the developer discharge port (319). The backward movement preventing mechanism (55) prevents the movable wall (34) at the developer discharge port (319) from moving back toward the initial position.