Developer Container Partition Communication Port Pressure Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing developer containers face issues with decreased toner replenishment efficiency when the toner level in the developer chamber is low, leading to insufficient toner supply to the developing device due to high internal pressure and pressure imbalances in the developer conveyance path.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a partition with a communication port between the developer conveyance path and the developer chamber, positioned between the toner supply and replenishment ports, to manage pressure and facilitate toner flow by allowing air discharge from the developing device, thereby reducing toner backflow and maintaining efficient toner supply.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a partition is added to separate the developer conveyance path from the developer chamber, then toner backflow is reduced and pressure control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoner supply reliabilityVSAvoidcontainer structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The developer container is divided into separate functional zones by a partition: the developer chamber for storing toner and the developer conveyance path for transporting toner to the discharge port. This segmentation prevents toner backflow from the conveyance path into the chamber while maintaining pressure balance, thereby improving toner supply reliability without requiring complex additional mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A communication port acts as an intermediary connection between the developer chamber and the developer conveyance path, allowing air to pass through while preventing direct toner flow between the two spaces. This intermediary structure enables pressure equalization and air discharge while maintaining the separation needed to prevent toner backflow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the communication port is positioned between the discharge port and supply port, then pressure balance is improved and toner backflow is reduced, but the conveyance path length increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure balanceVSAvoidconveyance path length

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The communication port is positioned in the partition wall rather than extending the conveyance path linearly. This three-dimensional arrangement allows the conveyance path to maintain its primary function of transporting toner from the supply port to the discharge port while the communication port provides a separate air passage through the partition, achieving pressure balance without significantly increasing the toner transport path length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If air discharge is facilitated through the communication port, then pressure imbalances are reduced and toner flow is improved, but developer chamber pressure control becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoner replenishment efficiencyVSAvoidpressure control

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the natural pressure differential created during toner discharge to automatically drive air through the communication port from the developer chamber to the conveyance path. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for active pressure control systems while maintaining pressure balance and facilitating toner flow, as the air discharge occurs passively in response to pressure imbalances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

This configuration effectively minimizes the decrease in toner replenishment by reducing pressure imbalances and facilitating toner movement, ensuring a substantial predetermined amount of toner is supplied to the developing device even when the developer chamber is low, with a 20% reduction in replenishment decrease.

Implementation Method 1

facilitate toner flow by allowing air discharge from the developing device, thereby reducing toner backflow and maintaining efficient toner supply

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS10871730B2Developer container, developer supply device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus including a communication port in a partition

Publication Date: 2020.12.22 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A developer container includes a developer chamber configured to store a developer, a discharge port configured to discharge the developer in the developer chamber to a developing device, a developer conveyance path configured to transport the developer in the developer chamber to the discharge port, a supply port configured to supply the developer in the developer chamber to the developer conveyance path, a conveyor disposed in the developer conveyance path and configured to transport the developer to the discharge port, a partition between the developer conveyance path and the developer chamber, and a communication port disposed in the partition between the discharge port and the supply port and connecting the developer conveyance path with the developer chamber.