Elastic Fiber Seal for Developing Roller Toner Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing developing apparatuses require high positioning precision to prevent toner leakage, which can be challenging during assembly.
Innovation Solution
A developing apparatus with a seal member having a sliding contact portion made of elastic fiber and a bent portion that enters the sliding contact portion, allowing the fiber to fill spaces between the housing and the developing roller, and between the housing and the layer thickness regulating member, thereby preventing toner leakage without requiring high assembly precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If side seal members are fixed to the housing with rigid structures to prevent toner leakage, then toner leakage is prevented, but high positioning precision is required during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member uses an elastic body (flexible material) instead of a rigid structure. The elastic body can deform elastically to fill gaps between the housing, developing roller, and layer thickness regulating blade, preventing toner leakage without requiring high positioning precision during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member incorporates a sliding contact portion made of fiber with elasticity. This elastic property allows the seal member to adapt to positional variations during assembly by deforming and filling spaces, thereby preventing toner leakage while reducing the need for precise positioning.
2Reliability
If rigid seal members are used to ensure reliable toner containment, then toner leakage is prevented, but assembly complexity increases due to positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic body seal member automatically adapts to the space between components through elastic deformation, eliminating the need for complex positioning mechanisms or procedures during assembly, while still ensuring reliable toner containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic body seal member self-adjusts to fill gaps through its elastic properties during assembly, without requiring external positioning aids or complex assembly procedures, thereby reducing assembly complexity while maintaining reliable toner containment.
3Reliability
If precise assembly procedures are implemented to eliminate gaps, then toner leakage is prevented, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic body seal member compensates for assembly tolerances through elastic deformation, allowing simple assembly procedures without requiring precise gap elimination, thereby improving ease of operation while preventing toner leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic property of the seal member allows it to dynamically adapt to gap variations during assembly, enabling operators to complete assembly without precise positioning while still achieving reliable gap elimination and toner leakage prevention.
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 prevents toner leakage by allowing the elastic fiber to fill spaces easily, reducing the need for precise assembly and ensuring reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
the seal member has a sliding contact portion made of fiber having elasticity and sliding-contacting the circumferential surface of the developing roller
Data Source
AI summary
A developing apparatus includes a housing; a developing roller; a seal member, and a layer thickness regulating member that contacts a circumferential surface of the developing roller via developer and regulates a thickness of a developer layer on the circumferential surface of the developing roller. The seal member has a sliding contact portion made of fiber having elasticity and sliding-contacting the circumferential surface of the developing roller. The layer thickness regulating member has one end portion that is supported by the housing and the other end portion to which a bent portion is formed to face the seal member, and the bent portion is configured to enter the sliding contact portion.