Developer Container Movable Wall Toner Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toner containers face challenges in fully utilizing the developer due to toner remaining in regions not affected by rotational forces, leading to inefficiencies in toner usage and disposal.
Innovation Solution
A developer container with a movable wall that conveys toner from the storage space to a discharge port, featuring a conveying surface and ribs to prevent tilting, ensuring efficient toner discharge and reducing residual toner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rotary stirring member is used to discharge toner, then toner can be conveyed through rotation, but toner remains in regions not affected by rotational force
Solution Approach 1:
The movable wall dynamically changes the storage space volume by moving from a first position to a second position, actively pushing residual toner toward the discharge port. This dynamic adjustment ensures complete toner discharge by mechanically eliminating dead zones that static rotational mechanisms cannot reach.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge mechanism is segmented into two functional components: a rotary stirring member for bulk toner movement and a movable wall for residual toner removal. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in different aspects of toner discharge, with the movable wall specifically addressing the residual toner problem in regions inaccessible to rotational force.
2Productivity
If a helical groove is formed on the container body to convey toner, then toner can be transported along the groove, but toner adhered to the groove continues rotating with the container body
Solution Approach 1:
The movable wall provides a dynamic pushing action that overrides the rotational adhesion effect. By moving linearly toward the discharge port, the movable wall physically pushes adhered toner particles forward, preventing them from simply rotating with the container body and ensuring complete discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable wall performs preliminary action by pushing toner including adhered particles toward the discharge port before final discharge occurs. This preliminary pushing action prevents toner adhesion from becoming a permanent barrier to complete discharge.
3Device complexity
If the movable wall moves without tilting prevention, then the structure is simpler, but the movable wall may tilt during movement affecting toner conveyance
Solution Approach 1:
Ribs are added locally to the movable wall structure at specific positions where tilting prevention is needed. This local reinforcement provides the necessary stability during movement while minimizing the overall increase in structural complexity. The ribs are strategically placed to prevent tilting without requiring complete structural redesign.
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 the amount of developer remaining in the container at the end of its use, enhancing toner utilization and preventing waste.
Implementation Method 1
a conveying surface defining the storage space in cooperation with the inner surface of the container body, the movable wall being movable in the longitudinal direction from one end side toward the other end side of the internal space while conveying the developer in the storage space to the developer discharge port
Implementation Method 2
the outer peripheral wall portion has ribs disposed on the outer peripheral wall portion and extend in the longitudinal direction, the ribs being spaced from one another in a circumferential direction of the outer peripheral wall portion, the ribs being in contact with the inner surface of the container body and function to prevent the movable wall from tilting
Data Source
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AI summary
A developer container (30) includes a container body (31) and a movable wall (34). The container body (31) includes an inner surface (31 K) defining a cylindrical internal space (31H) extending in a longitudinal direction, and a developer discharge port (319). The developer discharge port (319) is formed in a lower part of the inner surface (31K). The movable wall (34) includes an outer surface (34K) disposed slidably in contact with the inner surface (31 K) of the container body (31), and a conveying surface (340S). The conveying surface (340S) defines a storage space (31 S) for containing developer in cooperation with the inner surface (31K). The movable wall (34) moves in the longitudinal direction from one end side toward the other end side while conveying the developer in the storage space (31 S) to the developer discharge port (319).