Dual-Material Sealing Member for Developer Container Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing members in image forming apparatuses, particularly in electrophotographic processes, face challenges in maintaining effective sealing and assembly due to deformation under weight and gripping forces, leading to difficulties in assembling the sealing member at predetermined positions.
Innovation Solution
A sealing member comprising a seal forming portion made of elastomer resin or rubber material and a supporting portion made of a harder material, which is fixed to the accommodating container, ensuring the seal forming portion maintains its attitude and preventing deformation, thus improving assembly and sealing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing member is made of a single elastic material to ensure flexibility and sealing contact, then sealing capability is improved, but the sealing member deforms under weight and gripping forces, making assembly difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is divided into two distinct parts: a soft seal portion made of elastic material for sealing contact, and a hard supporting portion for structural support and positioning. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member uses composite construction by combining materials with different properties - an elastic material for the seal portion and a harder material for the supporting portion. This composite structure provides both the flexibility needed for sealing and the rigidity needed for stable assembly.
2Reliability
If a sealing member is made of a single elastic material to maintain flexibility, then sealing contact is improved, but deformation occurs under load, reducing manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is divided into two distinct parts: a soft seal portion made of elastic material for sealing contact, and a hard supporting portion for structural support and positioning. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the sealing member have different material properties tailored to their specific functions: the seal portion uses soft elastic material for conforming contact, while the supporting portion uses harder material for maintaining precise position and resisting deformation under load.
3Reliability
If a sealing member is made of soft elastic material to ensure close contact, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the member deforms under its own weight, increasing device complexity for support
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is divided into two distinct parts: a soft seal portion made of elastic material for sealing contact, and a hard supporting portion for structural support and positioning. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The material hardness parameter is changed between the two portions of the sealing member. The seal portion uses low hardness (soft elastic material) for conforming contact, while the supporting portion uses high hardness (hard material) for structural support, eliminating the need for additional support structures.
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 enhances the assembly properties of the sealing member by maintaining its attitude and preventing deformation, ensuring effective sealing between the accommodating container and the developer carrying member, thereby improving the sealing efficiency and ease of assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a seal forming portion (101) formed of an elastomer resin material or a rubber material and configured to be closely contacted each of the accommodating container (23) and the member (32, 42)
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing member for sealing between an accommodating container for accommodating a developer and a member to be assembled to the accommodating container includes a seal forming portion formed of an elastomer resin material or a rubber material and configured to be closely contacted to each of the accommodating container and the member; and a supporting portion for supporting the seal forming portion, wherein the supporting portion is formed of a material harder than the material of the seal forming portion and is configured to be fixed to the accommodating container.