Developer Guide Device Optical Sensor Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in accurately determining toner presence in the developer storage container due to false signals caused by toner adhesion on optical sensor windows, which affects the determination of toner availability for printing.
Innovation Solution
A developer guide device with a conveying pipe, light-emitting and light-receiving portions, and a cleaning mechanism is introduced. The cleaning mechanism includes a power transmission portion and a cleaning member that reciprocates to clean the inner surfaces of the light projection and reception windows, ensuring accurate toner detection by preventing toner adhesion interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an optical sensor is used to detect developer presence in the conveying pipe, then developer detection capability is improved, but false detection occurs due to toner adhesion on the light projection and reception windows
Solution Approach 1:
A cleaning member is introduced as an intermediary component between the optical sensor and the developer flow. This cleaning member periodically contacts and cleans the light projection and reception windows, serving as a mediator to remove toner adhesion that causes false detection, thereby maintaining reliable developer presence detection without compromising the optical detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning mechanism performs preliminary cleaning action on the light projection and reception windows before false detection can occur. By periodically removing toner adhesion in advance, the system prevents the accumulation of toner that would otherwise block light and cause inaccurate developer presence detection
2Productivity
If the intermediate hopper is fixed to the apparatus main body while making the developer storage container and developing device detachable, then the intermediate hopper can temporarily store developer, but the optical sensor windows become susceptible to toner adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning member acts as an intermediary protective mechanism that periodically contacts the optical windows to remove toner adhesion. This mediator component enables the system to maintain the beneficial fixed intermediate hopper configuration for continuous printing while counteracting the harmful toner adhesion effect on the optical sensor windows
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning mechanism is integrated into the existing conveying pipe structure and uses the same drive force to operate the cleaning member. The system performs self-maintenance by automatically cleaning its own optical windows without requiring external intervention, ensuring continuous reliable operation while maintaining the fixed intermediate hopper configuration
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 ensures accurate detection of toner presence in the developer storage container, preventing false signals and allowing for uninterrupted printing even when the toner container is empty, by effectively cleaning the optical sensor windows and maintaining the reliability of toner availability assessments.
Implementation Method 1
The light-emitting portion is configured to emit light into an interior of the conveying pipe portion through a light projection window provided in a peripheral wall of the conveying pipe portion. The light-receiving portion is capable of receiving light from the interior of the conveying pipe portion through a light reception window provided in the peripheral wall of the conveying pipe portion.
Implementation Method 2
The cleaning mechanism includes a cleaning member configured to receive a predetermined drive force to be displaced thereby to come into contact with inner surfaces of the light projection window and the light reception window to clean the inner surfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
A developer guide device includes a conveying pipe portion, a light-emitting portion, a light-receiving portion, and a cleaning mechanism. The conveying pipe portion is configured to guide a developer in a predetermined conveyance direction. The light-emitting portion is configured to emit light into an interior of the conveying pipe portion through a light projection window provided in a peripheral wall of the conveying pipe portion. The light-receiving portion is capable of receiving light from the interior of the conveying pipe portion through a light reception window provided in the peripheral wall of the conveying pipe portion. The cleaning mechanism includes a cleaning member configured to receive a predetermined drive force to be displaced thereby to come into contact with inner surfaces of the light projection window and the light reception window to clean the inner surfaces.