Developer Transport Venting to Extend Filter Life in Image Forming
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The internal pressure increase in developing devices of image forming apparatuses can lead to developer contamination of pressure-relief filters, reducing their service life, and frequent filter replacement is cumbersome due to their design for frequent attachment and detachment.
Innovation Solution
The internal pressure of developing devices is relieved through openings in the supply and transport devices, away from the developing device, reducing developer flow to these filters and simplifying filter replacement by minimizing direct exposure to developer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If an opening for relieving internal pressure is provided in the developing device, then pressure relief is achieved, but developer contamination of the filter increases and service life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas discharge opening is extracted from the developing device and relocated to the supply device or transport device. This separation removes the source of developer contamination (the opening) from the developing device interior, allowing pressure relief without direct exposure of the opening to developer, thereby extending filter service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The supply device or transport device acts as an intermediary for gas discharge. Instead of discharging gas directly from the developing device, the system uses these intermediate components to facilitate pressure relief at locations away from the developing device interior, reducing developer contamination at the discharge opening.
2Productivity
If an opening for discharging gas is provided directly above the developer flow path, then gas discharge is efficient, but developer reaches the opening and contaminates the filter
Solution Approach 1:
The gas discharge opening is extracted from the developer flow path area and relocated to positions away from it. This spatial separation maintains gas discharge functionality while eliminating the harmful effect of developer reaching the opening and contaminating the filter.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas discharge opening is positioned in a different spatial dimension or location relative to the developer flow path. By changing the positional relationship between the opening and the flow path, the system achieves gas discharge without direct exposure to developer.
3Device complexity
If a filter is installed in a device not designed for frequent attachment and detachment, then filter replacement is complex, but device structure is simpler
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into replaceable modules (supply device, transport device, filter) that can be independently removed and replaced. This modular segmentation allows the filter to be accessed and replaced easily without disassembling the entire device, maintaining simple device structure while improving maintenance ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter replacement process is designed to be self-service friendly, allowing users to easily replace filters without requiring complex disassembly or specialized tools. The removable body design enables straightforward filter maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, at least one developing device that applies a developer to the image carrier, and a transport device that transports a developer discharged from the developing device, the transport device having at least one gas opening that is an opening to be used to discharge a gas that has flowed from the developing device to the transport device.