Developer Transport Cylinder Fastening Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing developer transport devices in image forming apparatuses face issues with secure fastening and stress concentration, leading to potential leakage due to external forces during mounting or unmounting of toner cartridges, which can result in cracks and disconnection of cylinder members.
Innovation Solution
The device employs a cylindrical transport path with interconnected hollow pipe-shaped members featuring protrusions and hooks that securely fasten and connect, distributing stress evenly to prevent disconnection and leakage, using a unique fastening mechanism where protrusions on one cylinder member engage with hooks on another, ensuring stable developer transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional fastening methods are used to connect cylinder members, then the structure is simple, but stress concentrates at connection points causing cracks and disconnection under external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening structure is divided into multiple discrete elements: protrusions on one cylinder member and corresponding recesses on the other. This segmentation allows stress to be distributed across multiple contact points rather than concentrated at a single connection point, preventing cracks while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
One cylinder member is inserted into the other, with protrusions fitting into recesses in a nested configuration. This nesting approach creates an interlocking joint that resists disconnection under external forces while maintaining a compact and simple overall structure
2Reliability
If simple connection structures are used between cylinder members, then the device is easy to manufacture, but leakage occurs due to disconnection under external forces during mounting or unmounting
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions and recesses are pre-formed during the manufacturing process, ensuring proper alignment and fit before assembly. This preliminary action guarantees reliable connection upon assembly while maintaining ease of manufacture through standard manufacturing techniques
Solution Approach 2:
The geometric parameters of protrusions and recesses are optimized to achieve both reliability and ease of manufacture. By carefully selecting dimensions, shapes, and tolerances of these fastening elements, the design achieves reliable stress distribution without requiring complex manufacturing processes
3Ease of operation
If external forces are applied during mounting or unmounting of toner cartridges, then cartridge installation is straightforward, but stress concentrates on cylinder members causing cracks and disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion-recess fastening structure acts as a cushioning mechanism that absorbs and distributes external forces applied during cartridge mounting or unmounting. This pre-designed stress distribution path prevents force concentration on cylinder members, protecting them from cracks while allowing easy operation
Data Source
AI summary
A developer transport device includes a cylinder member including first and second cylinders in which a transport path, through which a developer is transported, is formed, a transport member disposed in the transport path so as to transport the developer by rotating, a to-be-fastened member that is formed on one of the first and second cylinders and that has a first surface formed in a downstream end portion thereof in a direction in which the second cylinder is fastened to the first cylinder and a second surface extending in the direction, and a fastening member that is formed on another one of the first and second cylinders and is to be fastened to the to-be-fastened member, the fastening member having first and a second fastening surfaces that respectively face the first and second surfaces when the fastening member is fastened to the to-be-fastened member.