Development Device Agitation Mechanism for Toner Coagulation Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses using a two-component developer, the carrier's charging performance deteriorates over time due to increased agitation frequency, leading to reduced development quality.
Innovation Solution
A development device with a specific agitation member configuration, including a first and second transport chamber, a regulation portion, discharge blade, and damming member, which effectively agitates and transports the developer while discharging excess material to prevent coagulation and maintain toner concentration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the carrier is agitated frequently with the toner within the development container, then the developer is well-mixed and transported, but the carrier's charging performance deteriorates due to degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The development container is divided into multiple transport chambers (first transport chamber, second transport chamber, third transport chamber) with separate agitation members for each chamber. This segmentation allows different agitation intensities and patterns in different regions, enabling effective developer transport while reducing overall carrier degradation through optimized localized agitation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different agitation members are designed with different characteristics suited to their specific chamber functions. The first agitation member has a large shaft diameter portion for strong agitation in the first chamber, while the second agitation member has a small shaft diameter portion for gentler agitation in the second chamber, creating local quality variations that balance transport efficiency with carrier protection.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the developer is continuously agitated and transported, then the developer remains well-mixed, but excess developer accumulates and causes coagulation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts excess developer from the system through a dedicated discharge mechanism. The second agitation member transports excess developer to a discharge port where it is removed from the development container, preventing accumulation and subsequent coagulation while maintaining proper developer composition in the remaining volume.
Solution Approach 2:
Excess developer is periodically discharged from the system through the discharge port to maintain optimal developer volume and prevent coagulation. This discarding mechanism ensures that the remaining developer maintains stable composition and charging performance by removing degraded or excess material.
3Device complexity
If a single transport chamber is used, then the device structure is simple, but the developer cannot be effectively agitated and transported without causing carrier degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The transport system is segmented into multiple chambers with dedicated agitation members, allowing complex developer transport and agitation functions to be achieved through modular, organized sections rather than a single complex chamber, balancing structural complexity with functional efficiency.
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 reduces the occurrence of image failures caused by developer coagulation, maintaining the carrier's charging performance and improving the quality of printed images by efficiently managing the developer's transport and discharge.
Implementation Method 1
The first agitation member is formed with a first rotation shaft and a first transport blade formed on an outer circumferential surface of the first rotation shaft and agitates and transports the developer within the first transport chamber
Implementation Method 2
The second agitation member is formed with a second rotation shaft and a second transport blade formed on an outer circumferential surface of the second rotation shaft and agitates and transports the developer within the second transport chamber in a direction opposite to the first agitation member
Implementation Method 3
The regulation portion is formed with a transport blade that transports the developer within the second transport chamber in a direction opposite to the second agitation member
Implementation Method 4
The discharge blade is formed on the downstream side of the regulation portion in the direction in which the developer within the second transport chamber is transported and transports the developer in the same direction as the second transport blade so as to discharge the developer from the developer discharge port
Implementation Method 5
The damming member is formed on an upstream side of the regulation portion in the direction in which the developer within the second transport chamber is transported and dams the developer transported by the second transport blade
Data Source
AI summary
A development device includes a development container and a second agitation member. The development container includes a second transport chamber and a developer discharge port which is provided at the end portion of the second transport chamber on a downstream side. The second agitation member includes a second transport blade, a damming member which dams a developer, a regulation portion which transports the developer in a direction opposite to the second transport blade and a discharge blade which discharges the developer from the developer discharge portion. A second rotation shaft includes a large shaft diameter portion on which the second transport blade is provided, a small shaft diameter portion on which the regulation portion and the discharge blade are provided and a shaft diameter change portion. The damming member is arranged between the shaft diameter change portion and the end portion of the second transport blade on the downstream side.