Developing Device Feeding Member Projected Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional developing devices face issues with maintaining stable toner charging performance over time due to carrier contamination and uneven developer distribution, leading to unsatisfactory image quality and overflow/insufficient developer supply.
Innovation Solution
A developing device with a first and second chamber for developer circulation, featuring a developer discharge path with a disk portion having a protrusion to ensure smooth developer conveyance and discharge, even in high temperature and humidity environments, preventing developer stagnation and maintaining optimal developer levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the carrier is continuously stirred with toner for a long period of time, then the carrier is contaminated and adheres toner and external additive on its surface, but the carrier reduces in its ability to provide triboelectric charge to toner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the discarding and recovering principle by automatically discharging contaminated carrier particles from the developing device through a carrier discharge mechanism. The carrier discharge amount adjusting member controls the discharge of carrier particles that have accumulated contamination from long-term operation, thereby recovering the toner charging performance of the remaining carrier particles and maintaining stable image quality over extended continuous operation periods
2Stability of the object's composition
If the developer is not discharged properly, then the developer circulates continuously, but the developer overflows or becomes insufficient in the developing device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control through the carrier discharge amount adjusting member that responds to changes in developer circulation conditions. When the developer circulation state changes (indicating potential overflow or insufficiency), the adjusting member automatically modifies the carrier discharge amount to maintain stable developer quantity in the developing device, ensuring continuous stable operation without overflow or deficiency
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
Ensures stable and efficient discharge of excessive developer, preventing image quality issues and maintaining consistent developer supply, enabling reliable high-quality image output over extended periods.
Implementation Method 1
a developing method which uses two-component developer charges toner with the use of friction between the carrier and toner
Implementation Method 2
forms an image by electrostatically adhering the charged toner to a latent image
Implementation Method 3
a developer discharge path provided downstream of the second chamber with respect to a feeding direction of the developer and having a bottom surface at a position higher than a bottom surface of the second chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A developing device includes a developer carrying member for carrying a two component developer, a first feeding member rotatably provided in a first chamber, and a second feeding member rotatably provided in a second chamber. The second feeding member includes a first spiral portion, a second spiral portion provided downstream of the first spiral portion, a disk portion provided downstream of the second spiral portion, and a shaft portion provided downstream of the second spiral portion. A stepped portion is provided in the second chamber at a position downstream of the disk portion and upstream of a discharge opening and has a height high enough to oppose a lateral surface of the disk portion. In addition, a projected portion projects from a part of the disk portion that opposes the stepped portion.