Developer Container With Swinging Delivery Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing developer containers in image forming apparatuses face issues with non-uniform developer supply due to gravitational forces, leading to potential image forming failures.

Innovation Solution

A developer container design featuring a rotating developer delivery member with an elastic body that swings and rotates to generate a strong air flow, ensuring uniform delivery of toner to the developing chamber by colliding with a strategically positioned colliding portion, enhancing delivery capability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the developer delivery member uses a simple rotating mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but the developer supply uniformity deteriorates due to gravitational forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery mechanism complexityVSAvoiddeveloper supply uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the static rotating delivery member into a dynamic system that swings and rotates. The elastic body causes the delivery member to swing during rotation, creating variable motion that generates air flow. This dynamic motion pattern resolves the contradiction by achieving uniform developer supply through complex motion without requiring additional complex mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies pneumatics by utilizing air flow generated from the collision between the swinging delivery member and the colliding portion. This air flow is used to transport the developer uniformly to the developing chamber. The pneumatic mechanism resolves the contradiction by providing uniform developer supply through air flow rather than relying solely on mechanical rotation, thereby avoiding the need for complex mechanical adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Device complexity

If the developer is supplied from the bottom portion against gravitational force, then the device structure is simplified, but the developer supply uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery structureVSAvoiddeveloper supply uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent overcomes gravitational force by introducing air flow generated from the collision mechanism. The air flow acts as a pneumatic lifting force that transports the developer upward from the bottom storage chamber to the developing chamber. This resolves the contradiction by using pneumatic force to counteract gravity while maintaining the simple bottom-supply structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses dynamic swinging motion of the delivery member to generate the air flow needed to overcome gravity. The collision with the colliding portion creates periodic air bursts that lift and transport the developer upward. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by converting simple rotational motion into effective upward transport without complex mechanical lifting mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the delivery member remains stationary during rotation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the developer delivery capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery mechanismVSAvoiddeveloper delivery capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the delivery member swing during rotation through the elastic body mechanism. This swinging motion increases the delivery member's interaction with the developer, enhancing stirring and delivery capability. The dynamic motion resolves the contradiction by improving productivity through motion-induced air flow and developer agitation without adding complex multi-component mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes mechanical vibration through the swinging and colliding motion of the delivery member. The periodic collision with the colliding portion creates vibrations that agitate the developer and generate air flow for enhanced delivery. This vibrational mechanism resolves the contradiction by improving delivery capability through dynamic agitation rather than static positioning, achieving better productivity with simple structural additions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

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 improves the uniformity and efficiency of developer delivery, reducing the risk of image forming failures by generating a high-energy air flow that consistently supplies toner to the developer delivery opening.

Implementation Method 1

a body 13C of the developer delivery member 13 which is formed of an elastic part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic restoring force: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the body 13C of the developer delivery member 13 collides with the colliding portion 12A of the container body 12, thereby generating an air flow to deliver the toner 2

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact force: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentEP2645176B1Developer container
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 BROTHER KOGYO KK
  • EP2645176B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2645176B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2645176B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a developer container, including: a container body; and a developer delivery member, wherein the developer delivery member includes a rotational shaft, a rotating base member, and a body of the developer delivery member in a plate shape; the container body includes a colliding portion against which the body of the developer delivery member collides, a sliding portion, a developer delivery chamber, and a developer delivery opening; the developer delivery opening is open on an upstream side of the colliding portion in a rotation direction of the body of the developer delivery member; and the container body and the developer delivery member are configured so that, in a case that the body of the developer delivery member collides with the colliding portion, an air flow to deliver the developer in the container body toward the developer delivery opening is generated.