Developer Supply Kit Pump Mechanism for Stable Toner Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing developer supply systems for electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face challenges in achieving high supply accuracy and stability, leading to variations in image density during high-volume printing.
Innovation Solution
A developer supply kit with a developer supply container that incorporates a pump portion capable of alternately changing internal pressure between lower and higher than ambient pressure, using a drive receiving portion to input driving force, and containing toner with a specific binder resin material and coloring agent, ensuring precise developer discharge and reduced image density variation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bellow pump is used to discharge developer by alternating pressure changes, then the developer can be stably discharged, but the supply accuracy is insufficient for high precision image formation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the developer by controlling the alternation between aerated and non-aerated states through the bellow pump's expansion and contraction. By precisely controlling the timing and degree of aeration, the system achieves both stable discharge and high supply accuracy, resolving the contradiction between reliability and manufacturing precision.
2Ease of operation
If the developer is aerated to improve flowability, then the discharge becomes smoother, but the image density variation increases during high printing ratio operations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies periodic action by alternating between aerating and non-aerating the developer in a controlled cycle. The bellow pump expands to aerate the developer for smooth discharge, then contracts to stop aeration and maintain image density stability. This periodic alternation resolves the contradiction between discharge smoothness and image density reliability.
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 system achieves precise developer discharge and suppresses image density variation even during high printing ratios, enhancing the stability and accuracy of the image forming 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 to provide a pressure higher than the ambient pressure in the developer supply container, so that the developer is pushed out by the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the developer supply container
Implementation Method 2
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
Data Source
AI summary
A developer supply kit detachably mountable to a developer supplying apparatus comprising a developer supply container and a developer accommodated therein, wherein the developer supply container includes, a developer accommodating portion accommodating the developer, a discharge opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion, a drive receiving portion to which a driving force is inputted from the developer supplying apparatus, and a pump portion operable so that an internal pressure of the developer accommodating portion alternately and repetitively changes between a pressure lower than a ambient pressure and a pressure higher than the ambient pressure, by the driving force received by the drive receiving portion, wherein the developer accommodated in the developer supply container includes toner containing binder resin material and a coloring material, the developer satisfies,10≤E(mJ)≤80,0.4≤Ea(mJ)≤2.0,where E is total energy when it is not aerated, andEa is total energy when it is aerated.