Developer Conveyance Elastic Part Design for Agglomeration Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Developer agglomeration occurs in the gap between the rotary shaft and support parts of the conveyance member in developer containers, leading to inefficient developer conveyance.
Innovation Solution
A developer container design featuring a conveyance member with a rotary shaft and an elastic part, supported by a rotation member, where the distance from the rotary shaft's center to the elastic part's leading end is gradually increased, and a sliding contact part on the peripheral wall facilitates smooth developer conveyance by preventing agglomeration through controlled deformation and scattering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the conveyance member is fitted to the support part with precision, then the scattering force is stabilized, but developer may be introduced into the gap and agglomerated
Solution Approach 1:
The support part is designed with different surface properties in different regions: a first surface with small friction coefficient and a second surface with large friction coefficient. This local differentiation allows the conveyance member to be positioned precisely while preventing developer from entering the gap, as the low-friction first surface reduces resistance for positioning while the high-friction second surface prevents developer accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The support part is divided into multiple surfaces (first surface and second surface) with different functional characteristics. The first surface handles positioning with minimal friction, while the second surface prevents developer agglomeration through high friction, effectively segmenting the support function to address both requirements simultaneously.
2Productivity
If the elastic part is made to slide-contact the inner wall, then developer conveyance is achieved, but the force for scattering developer may become unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The friction coefficient of the support part is changed in different regions: the first surface has a small friction coefficient to reduce resistance during conveyance, while the second surface has a large friction coefficient to stabilize the scattering force. This parameter change allows stable developer conveyance while maintaining reliable scattering force for efficient transport.
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 design effectively prevents developer agglomeration and ensures uniform force distribution for efficient conveyance, ensuring consistent developer supply to the developing unit.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic part which is supported by the rotation member and is configured to be elastically deformed
Implementation Method 2
the elastic part sliding-contacts while being elastically deformed when the conveyance member is being rotated
Data Source
AI summary
A developer container may include a container body accommodating developer, a conveyance member, and a rotation member having a rotary shaft and an elastic part supported by the rotation member and configured to convey the developer. The container body may include a first support part to which the rotary shaft is loosely fitted, and a second support part that supports the rotary shaft. The container body may further include a sliding contact part that the elastic part sliding-contacts while being elastically deformed when the conveyance member is being rotated. In some examples, a distance from a center of the rotary shaft to a leading end of the elastic part gradually increases from the one end portion-side of the rotary shaft towards the other end portion-side of the rotary shaft.