Developer Supply Container with Rotary-to-Reciprocating Pump Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional developer supply containers require multiple drive inputs for rotating and reciprocating mechanisms, leading to misalignment issues when removed and reinstalled, preventing proper operation of the pump portion and disrupting developer supply to image forming apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A developer supply container with a feeding portion, a discharging chamber, a drive inputting portion for rotation, a pump portion with variable volume, and a drive converting mechanism to ensure seamless operation by converting rotational force into reciprocating force for the pump.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the developer supply container is provided with separate drive inputting portions for rotating the feeding portion and reciprocating the pump portion, then the developer can be fed and discharged, but the driving connection becomes improper when the container is remounted, disabling pump reciprocation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drive inputting portions for the feeding portion and pump portion into a single integrated structure. The single drive inputting portion receives rotational force and transmits it to both the feeding portion (for rotation) and the pump portion (for reciprocation), eliminating the need for separate drive inputting portions and ensuring proper driving connection upon remounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The single drive inputting portion serves multiple functions: it acts as the rotational drive interface for the feeding portion and simultaneously as the reciprocating drive interface for the pump portion. This multi-functional design simplifies the overall structure while maintaining reliable driving connection.
2Ease of operation
If the pump portion is made expandable and contractable to discharge caked developer, then the developer can be discharged even when caked, but the stop position changes during removal, causing misalignment with the drive outputting portion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a stopper that limits the expansion of the pump portion to a predetermined position. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the developer supply container is removed and remounted, the pump portion returns to the correct stop position, maintaining proper alignment with the drive outputting portion while still allowing sufficient expansion for effective developer discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump portion's volume is dynamically changed through controlled expansion and contraction. The expansion allows the pump to discharge caked developer effectively, while the contraction (limited by the stopper) ensures proper positioning for drive connection. This parameter control resolves the contradiction between discharge capability and alignment reliability.
3Quantity of substance
If the pump portion expands freely to discharge caked developer, then all developer can be supplied even when caked, but the drive inputting portion cannot be properly engaged with the drive outputting portion upon remounting
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper is positioned in advance to limit the pump portion's expansion to a predetermined extent. This preliminary action ensures that even when the pump expands to discharge caked developer, it does not expand beyond the position that would prevent proper re-engagement with the drive outputting portion, thus maintaining both complete developer supply and ease of remounting.
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
Ensures proper feeding and discharging of developer, maintaining consistent supply to image forming apparatuses by preventing misalignment of drive inputs during installation and operation.
Implementation Method 1
a pump portion (2b) for acting at least on the developer discharging chamber (3h), the pump portion (2b) having a volume which changes with reciprocation
Implementation Method 2
a feeding portion (2c) for feeding the developer in the developer accommodating chamber (2) with rotation of the cylindrical portion (2k)
Data Source
AI summary
In the case that a developer supply container is provided with a feeding portion for feeding a developer by receiving a rotational force and a pump portion for discharging the developer by reciprocation, and the rotational force and a reciprocating force are received from a main assembly side of an image forming apparatus, there is a liability that a driving connection is not properly established between a portion of the developer supply container for receiving the reciprocating force and a portion of the main assembly side for applying the reciprocating force. The developer supply container is provided with a drive converting mechanism for converting the rotational force received from the main assembly side to a force for operating a volume changing type pump.