Developing Device Seal Member and Pressing Members for Toner Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing developing devices in image forming apparatuses face challenges in effectively preventing the outflow of toner from the developing container, leading to inefficiencies and potential waste during the mounting process.
Innovation Solution
The developing device incorporates a seal member and pressing members to close gaps between the developer carrier and the developing container, with a radially concave cutout recess in the pressing members and a second blocking part to prevent toner outflow, ensuring secure mounting and efficient toner supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a seal member is provided at the gap between the developer carrier and container opening to suppress toner outflow, then toner containment is improved, but the structure becomes more complex and manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is integrated into the container opening structure, forming a nested configuration where the seal member is positioned within the container opening's structural framework. This nesting approach allows the seal function to be incorporated without adding a completely separate external component, thereby suppressing toner outflow while minimizing structural complexity and manufacturing difficulty.
2Loss of substance
If pressing members are added to close gaps at both end parts of the developer carrier, then toner containment is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing members are merged with the container structure, forming an integrated assembly where the pressing function is combined with the container's structural elements. This merging approach allows the pressing members to close gaps at both end parts of the developer carrier effectively, while avoiding the complexity of completely separate pressing mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The container structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support, defines the container opening, and incorporates pressing members for gap closure. This multi-functionality approach allows the same structural elements to perform both containment and pressing functions, thereby suppressing toner outflow without proportionally increasing device complexity or manufacturing cost.
3Reliability
If the seal member contacts the entire outer circumferential surface of the developer carrier, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but positioning precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is designed with varying contact characteristics along its length, with enhanced sealing features at critical locations such as the container opening and end gaps, while maintaining adequate but not excessive contact elsewhere. This local quality approach ensures reliable sealing at critical points without requiring uniform high-precision positioning across the entire contact surface, thereby balancing sealing effectiveness with manufacturing precision requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A developing device includes a developing container, a developer carrier, a seal member, and a pair of pressing members. The developing container has an opening. The seal member includes a contact end part, a first blocking part, and an interposed end part. Each of the pressing members has a pressing surface in which a cutout recess is formed. The developing container includes a second blocking part that is adjacent to each end part of the first blocking part in a rotary shaft direction and protrudes upward. The interposed end part is located at such a position as to overlap the cutout recess with respect to a circumferential direction, and the second blocking part is located at such a position as to overlap the cutout recess with respect to the rotary shaft direction.