Developing Device Discharge Regulating Port

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing developing devices for image forming apparatuses face instability in developer amount due to excessive discharge of surplus developer, especially during high-speed image formation, leading to inconsistent toner distribution and charging performance deterioration.

Innovation Solution

A developing device with a discharge regulating portion, including a decelerating conveyance member and a regulating member, which reduces the conveying speed of the developer and stabilizes its discharge, preventing excessive overflow and maintaining accurate developer levels within the container.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the stirring members are rotated at high speed to improve productivity, then the image formation speed increases, but the developer excessively discharges due to collision against the discharge regulating portion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage formation speedVSAvoiddeveloper discharge amount

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

A decelerating conveyance member is introduced as an intermediary between the helical blade and the discharge regulating portion. This member reduces the conveying speed of the developer, preventing direct high-speed collision with the discharge regulating portion while still allowing surplus developer to be discharged. The decelerating conveyance member acts as a buffer that mediates the interaction between the stirring mechanism and the discharge control structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the speed parameter of developer conveyance by introducing the decelerating conveyance member. The developer is conveyed at a reduced speed compared to the rotation speed of the stirring members, creating a speed differential that prevents excessive discharge while maintaining high-speed operation capability. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between high-speed operation and stable developer amount.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If the reverse helical blade is used to regulate discharge, then surplus developer can be discharged, but the developer amount becomes unstable due to excessive discharge during high-speed operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurplus developer dischargeVSAvoiddeveloper amount stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The decelerating conveyance member serves as an intermediary that controls the speed at which developer reaches the discharge regulating portion. By reducing the conveying speed, it prevents the instability caused by high-speed collision while still allowing the reverse helical blade to perform its discharge regulation function. This intermediary structure enables both discharge capability and amount stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the helical blade conveys developer directly to the discharge port, then the structure is simple, but the developer collides against the discharge regulating portion causing excessive discharge

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge structure complexityVSAvoiddeveloper discharge control

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The decelerating conveyance member is an additional structural element that acts as an intermediary between the helical blade and the discharge regulating portion. While it increases device complexity slightly, it provides crucial control over developer discharge by reducing conveying speed, preventing the collision-induced excessive discharge that would occur in a simpler direct conveyance structure.

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 ensures stable and accurate discharge of surplus developer, maintaining the desired developer amount in the container, even during high-speed operations, thereby enhancing toner distribution and extending the lifespan of the carrier's charging performance.

Implementation Method 1

a decelerating conveyance member arranged between the helical blade and the regulating member, for partially reducing a conveying speed of the developer in the one of the conveyance paths

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS8750765B2Developing device and image forming apparatus provided therewith

Publication Date: 2014.06.10 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

Provided is a developing device including: a developing container including a developer replenishing port from which the developer is replenished, and a developer discharge port which is provided on a downstream side of one of the conveyance paths and from which surplus developer is discharged; and a discharge regulating portion provided to one of the plurality of stirring members which is arranged in the one of the conveyance paths, in which the discharge regulating portion includes a regulating member arranged so as to face the developer discharge port, for regulating movement of the developer to the developer discharge port side, and a decelerating conveyance member arranged between the helical blade and the regulating member, for partially reducing a conveying speed of the developer in the one of the conveyance paths.