Developing Device Pressure-Release Vent Filter

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-speed developing devices face issues with air pressure rise inside the developer container, leading to toner scattering due to airflow, which contaminates the image forming apparatus and affects output quality.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a pressure-release vent with a porous fluoroplastic film filter to discharge air while preventing toner and carrier particles from escaping, thereby maintaining internal pressure and preventing filter clogging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the surface movement velocity of the developer bearer is increased to enable high-speed output, then productivity is improved, but air pressure inside the developer container rises causing toner scattering

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput speedVSAvoidtoner scattering

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful air pressure buildup by introducing a pressure-release vent that selectively removes air from the developer container while retaining toner particles through the filter mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a porous fluoroplastic film as a filter material that allows air molecules to pass through while blocking larger toner particles, enabling pressure release without toner scattering

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Stress or pressure

If a pressure-release vent is introduced to discharge air from the developer container, then air pressure rise is inhibited, but toner may be discharged through the vent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair pressureVSAvoidtoner loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a porous fluoroplastic film with specific pore size that creates a size-selective barrier, allowing air (small molecules) to pass through while blocking toner particles (larger solids) from escaping

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The filter acts as an intermediary element between the pressure-release function and toner containment, mediating the interaction between air flow and toner particles to achieve selective discharge

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 inhibits toner scattering and filter clogging, ensuring reliable and high-quality image formation by efficiently managing air pressure and preventing toner contamination within the developing device.

Implementation Method 1

The filter includes a porous fluoroplastic film

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Data Source

PatentUS9195173B2Developing device and image forming apparatus and process cartridge incorporating same

Publication Date: 2015.11.24 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A developing device includes a developer bearer to carry by rotation developer to a development range facing a latent image bearer, a developer container to contain developer and having a pressure-release vent to discharge air from the developer container to outside the developing device, and a filter provided to the pressure-release vent to inhibit developer from being discharged through the pressure-release vent. The filter includes a porous fluoroplastic film.