Developer Supply Container Regulating Portion Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing developer supply containers for image forming apparatuses lack high supply accuracy, leading to instability in image formation processes.
Innovation Solution
A developer supply container with a pump portion that changes volume to regulate developer flow through a fluid communication path and air flow path, ensuring precise discharge by controlling internal pressure and flow regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bellow pump is used to discharge developer by pressure difference, then developer can be stably discharged, but supply accuracy is insufficient for higher image formation stability
Solution Approach 1:
A regulating portion is introduced as an intermediary component between the developer accommodating portion and the discharge opening. This regulating portion includes a regulating surface that controls the flow of developer, acting as a mediator between the pressure-driven discharge mechanism and the required precision discharge, thereby improving supply accuracy without compromising discharge stability
Solution Approach 2:
The regulating portion creates a localized control region at the entrance of the penetration path with a specific regulating surface. This local quality enhancement focuses the flow control function at a critical location, allowing precise regulation of developer flow into the pump portion while maintaining the overall discharge stability provided by the bellow pump
2Measurement precision
If developer flow is increased to improve supply accuracy, then image formation stability improves, but uncontrolled flow causes discharge instability
Solution Approach 1:
The regulating portion is designed to dynamically control developer flow through its regulating surface. The surface geometry and positioning are optimized to maintain controlled flow conditions, allowing the system to adapt flow characteristics while preserving both supply accuracy and discharge stability through dynamic flow management rather than static control
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 provides high supply accuracy and stability in discharging developers to image forming apparatuses, enhancing the reliability of the image formation process.
Implementation Method 1
the bellow pump is expanded to provide a pressure lower than the ambient pressure in the developer supply container, so that the air is taken into the developer supply container to fluidize the developer. In addition, the bellow pump is contracted provide a pressure higher than the ambient pressure in the developer supply container, so that the developer is pushed out by the pressure difference
Implementation Method 2
the air is taken into the developer supply container to fluidize the developer
Data Source
AI summary
A developer supply container 1 detachably mountable to a developer supplying apparatus 201 includes a developer accommodating portion 2 capable of accommodating a developer, a discharge opening 4a for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion 2 toward the developer supplying apparatus 201, a pump portion 3a for effecting a discharging operation through the discharge opening 4a, a communicating portion 4d provided at a position contacting the discharge opening 4a and capable of storing a constant amount of the developer, and a regulating portion 7 capable of taking a developer flow regulating state in which the flow of the developer into the communicating portion 4d and a developer flow non-regulating state in which the entering of the developer is not regulated, the regulating portion 7 taking the developer flow regulating state in a discharging operation of the pump portion 3a, wherein the regulating portion 7 is provided with an air flow path 7g for communicating between the communicating portion 4d and the pump portion 3a.