Developing Device Screw Blade Inclined Discharge Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional developing devices face issues with developer discharge stability due to jumping phenomena, leading to unstable discharge characteristics and inefficiencies in developer feeding, particularly when the screw blade opposes the developer discharge opening.
Innovation Solution
The developing device incorporates a discharge opening design where the downstream edge is inclined upward relative to the developer feeding direction, and the screw blade is configured to ascend toward the downstream, reducing the movement time of the blade through the discharge opening and minimizing jumping discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If the screw blade is made smaller or omitted in the opposing region to the developer discharge opening, then developer jumping discharge is suppressed, but developer feeding power becomes insufficient causing stagnation and unstable discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The blade cross-sectional area is varied along the rotational direction: larger in the opposing region to the discharge opening for strong feeding power, and smaller in the downstream region to suppress jumping discharge. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between feeding power and jumping suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade cross-sectional area is made variable rather than uniform, changing dynamically along the rotational direction. This allows the blade to provide different feeding characteristics at different positions, simultaneously achieving strong feeding in the opposing region and jumping suppression in the downstream region.
2Productivity
If the blade cross-sectional area is increased in the opposing region, then developer feeding power is improved, but developer jumping toward the discharge opening is enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The blade cross-sectional area is differentiated along the rotational direction: larger in the opposing region for feeding power, and smaller in the downstream region for jumping suppression. This local quality variation resolves the contradiction between feeding power and jumping suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade design allows the developer to be quickly pushed through the opposing region with large cross-sectional area, then the cross-sectional area reduces in the downstream region to prevent jumping. This rushing through mechanism ensures efficient feeding without sustained jumping.
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
This configuration effectively suppresses developer jumping and stabilizes the discharge process, ensuring consistent and efficient developer feeding and discharge, even when the developer amount increases.
Implementation Method 1
a blade (51) helically extending on a rotation shaft (50), for feeding the developer in the developing container along the rotation shaft by rotation
Implementation Method 2
the blade is rotatable such that the blade moves downwardly at a side opposing to the discharge opening
Implementation Method 3
the developer caused to jump by the blade is discharged in a large amount at a position below the developer discharge opening also by the influence of gravitation
Data Source
AI summary
A developing device includes a developing container for accommodating a developer, a feeding member, including a blade for feeding the developer, and a discharge opening for permitting discharge of excessive developer. A winding direction of the blade ascends toward a downstream developer feeding direction. A first lower intersection position between a downstream edge of the discharge opening and a first cross-section perpendicular to a rotational axis of the feeding member and crossing the discharge opening is a first position, and a second lower intersection position between the downstream edge of the discharge opening and a second cross-section which is perpendicular to a rotational axis of the feeding member and crossing the discharge opening and which is provided downstream of the first cross-section is a second position, and the discharge opening is configured so that the second position is higher than the first position.