Developing Housing Cushion Member Toner Leakage Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

In image forming apparatuses, the movement of the developing housing with respect to the photosensitive drum can cause toner leakage from the toner cartridge to the developing housing due to changes in the position of the toner receiving port relative to the toner shutter.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a cushion member between the developing housing and the developing shutter, which is engaged with the toner cartridge, allowing the developing housing to move while maintaining the developing shutter's position, thus preventing toner leakage by ensuring the toner receiving port remains aligned with the toner discharge port.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the developing housing moves with respect to the photosensitive drum to prevent contact state changes, then the contact state stability is improved, but the position of the toner receiving port changes relative to the toner shutter causing toner leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact state stabilityVSAvoidtoner leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into independent movable and fixed components: the developing housing (with toner receiving port) moves with the photosensitive drum, while the developing shutter (with toner discharge port) remains fixed to the drum cartridge. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function independently without causing misalignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the developing shutter movable to follow the developing housing, the invention inverts the approach by making the developing housing movable and the developing shutter fixed. This inversion resolves the contradiction by allowing the housing to move for contact stability while the fixed shutter maintains proper toner discharge alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Manufacturing precision

If the developing shutter is fixed to the drum frame, then the toner discharge port position is stable, but the developing housing movement causes misalignment between toner receiving port and toner discharge port

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoner discharge port position precisionVSAvoidtoner supply reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The developing housing is designed to be movable relative to the photosensitive drum, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position while the developing shutter remains fixed. This dynamic design maintains both position precision and supply reliability by allowing the housing to follow the drum's movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The toner supply system acts as an intermediary mechanism that accommodates the relative movement between the fixed developing shutter and the movable developing housing, ensuring continuous and reliable toner supply despite the position differences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the developing housing is made movable, then the contact state with photosensitive drum is maintained, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact state maintenanceVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the movable developing housing from the fixed developing shutter, allowing the housing to move independently to maintain contact with the photosensitive drum while the shutter remains simple and fixed, thus managing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The developing housing serves multiple functions: it houses the toner receiving port, supports the developing roller, and moves with the photosensitive drum to maintain contact. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, managing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11669025B2Image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.06.06 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge and a toner cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a developing device, and a cushion member. The developing device includes a developing roller and a developing housing having a toner receiving port. The developing housing is movable with respect to the photosensitive drum. The toner cartridge includes a toner housing having a toner discharge port and a toner shutter. The toner shutter opens and closes the toner discharge port. The cushion member allows the developing housing to move with respect to the developing shutter in a state where the developing shutter is engaged with the toner cartridge.