Developing Device Toner Receiver Vibration for Image Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, the fast rotation of toner stirring members leads to toner scattering and deposition issues, causing image malfunctions due to toner accumulation on the developing roller and regulating blade, which existing solutions fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A developing device with a dual conveying system, a toner receiver member, and a vibration generating device that shakes off deposited toner into a separate chamber for forced discharge, preventing toner accumulation and ensuring stable image formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the toner stirring member rotates fast to support fast processing, then productivity is improved, but toner scattering and deposition occur causing image malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful deposited toner from the system by providing a dedicated toner receiver member that collects toner dropped from the developing roller, separating it from the problematic deposition areas (regulating blade periphery) and enabling controlled removal through the discharge port.
Solution Approach 2:
The toner receiver member acts as an intermediary component between the developing roller and the environment, intercepting dropped toner before it can deposit on the regulating blade or other critical areas, thus mediating the harmful effects of high-speed operation.
2Reliability
If a toner receiver member is added to receive dropped toner, then toner deposition is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the toner receiver member: it serves as both a collection surface for dropped toner and a vibration-receiving structure for toner removal, while also acting as a structural support element within the developing device housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration generating device enables the toner receiver member to self-clean by vibrating and shaking off deposited toner back into the developer, allowing the component to maintain its function without manual intervention or additional complex mechanisms.
3Reliability
If vibration is applied to shake off toner, then toner deposition is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration is applied periodically rather than continuously, activating the vibration generating device at intervals to shake off accumulated toner from the toner receiver member, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective toner removal.
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
The solution effectively prevents toner deposition on the regulating blade, reduces image malfunctions, and allows for efficient toner collection and discharge, maintaining image quality and apparatus reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration generating device that vibrates the toner receiver member
Data Source
AI summary
A developing device includes a developing container, a first stirring and conveying member, a second stirring and conveying member, a developer replenishing port, a developer discharging portion, a developing roller, a toner supply roller, a regulating blade, a toner receiver member, and a vibration generating device. The developing device is capable of executing a toner collecting mode in which the vibration generating device vibrates the toner receiver member so that toner deposited on the toner receiver member is shaken off by vibration and is collected into the second conveying chamber, in the non-image formation period. The developing device is capable of executing a forced discharge mode in which developer containing the collected toner collected from the toner receiver member into the second conveying chamber is forcibly discharged from the developer discharging portion to outside of the developing container, after the toner collecting mode is executed.