Developer Conveyance Device Floating Member Toner Adhesion

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Solution Overview

Problem

In image forming apparatuses, excess toner often adheres to the inner walls of conveyance paths, leading to transport inefficiencies and potential blockages, which existing systems fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

A developer conveyance device featuring a downward conveyance path where toner falls under gravity, a transverse conveyance path with a rotating transport screw, and a floating member that contacts the screw to float within the downward path, preventing toner adherence by colliding with the inner walls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a downward conveyance path and transverse conveyance path are used to transport developer, then the developer can be transported from the image forming unit to the collection container, but the developer adheres to the inner walls of the conveyance path causing transport inefficiency and potential blockages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeveloper transport efficiencyVSAvoidconveyance path blockage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a floating member that dynamically moves within the downward conveyance path, allowing the system to adapt to varying developer flow conditions. This dynamic element continuously interacts with the developer and conveyance path walls to prevent adhesion, resolving the contradiction between maintaining efficient transport and preventing blockages

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The floating member creates mechanical disturbances and vibrations as it moves and contacts the conveyance path inner walls. This mechanical action prevents developer particles from adhering to the walls by disrupting the adhesion process, thereby maintaining transport efficiency while preventing blockages

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

This configuration effectively prevents toner from adhering to the inner walls of the conveyance path, ensuring smooth transport and reducing the risk of blockages, thereby maintaining the apparatus's operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

As a transport screw rotates in the transverse conveyance path, the developer flowing from the downward conveyance path is transported in a transverse direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

The developer falls in the downward conveyance path under gravity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

preventing toner adherence by colliding with the inner walls

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact Force: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentUS10935907B2Developer conveyance device and image forming apparatus incorporating same

Publication Date: 2021.03.02 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A developer conveyance device includes a downward conveyance path in which a developer falls under gravity, a transverse conveyance path communicating with a lower end of the downward conveyance path and extending in a transverse direction intersecting with the downward conveyance path, a transport screw disposed in the transverse conveyance path, and a floating member. The transport screw is configured to rotate in a predetermined direction to transport the developer in the transverse direction. The floating member is configured to contact the transport screw rotating in the predetermined direction to float in the downward conveyance path.