Flexible Agitator Toner Case Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toner cases for image forming apparatuses lack an efficient mechanism for toner agitation and replenishment, leading to potential toner deformation and reduced agitation efficiency due to the agitator's rotating positions and contact with the inner surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A toner case design featuring a curved and recessed structure for the agitator, allowing it to switch between a bent and flat state during rotation, preventing permanent deformation and enhancing toner agitation and replenishment efficiency by varying the agitator's position relative to the toner container's inner surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the agitator rotates and contacts the inner circumferential face of the curve, then the agitator agitates the toner effectively, but the agitator undergoes permanent deformation due to repeated bending
Solution Approach 1:
The agitator is designed with a flexible portion that dynamically changes its configuration during rotation. When the agitator rotates, the flexible portion bends to contact the inner circumferential face of the curve for effective toner agitation. When rotation stops, the flexible portion returns to its original flat state, preventing permanent deformation. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between agitation efficiency and structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible portion of the agitator changes its physical state between bent and flat configurations. During operation, it transitions to a bent state to achieve contact with the curve surface for agitation. When not in use, it returns to a flat state, eliminating stress accumulation. This parameter change allows the system to achieve both effective agitation and prevention of permanent deformation.
2Productivity
If the agitator maintains constant contact with the inner wall for continuous agitation, then mixing efficiency improves, but the agitator deforms permanently due to sustained bending stress
Solution Approach 1:
The agitator operates through periodic cycles of bending and returning to its original position. During each rotation cycle, the flexible portion bends to contact the inner wall for agitation, then returns to its flat state. This periodic action ensures continuous mixing efficiency while allowing the material to recover from bending stress, preventing permanent deformation and maintaining operational reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If the agitator is designed to be rigid for structural stability, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but the agitator cannot adapt to varying positions for optimal agitation
Solution Approach 1:
The agitator is segmented into a rigid portion and a flexible portion. The rigid portion maintains dimensional stability and manufacturing precision, while the flexible portion provides positional adaptability by bending during rotation. This segmentation allows the agitator to combine the benefits of both rigidity and flexibility, achieving optimal agitation through position adaptation without compromising overall structural stability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A toner case (6) includes a case main body (21) and an agitator (26). The case main body (21) stores a toner. The agitator (26) rotates around a rotation axis (X) extending along one direction and agitates the toner stored in the case main body (21). The case main body (21) includes a curve (39) and a recess (40). The curve (39) is curved in an arc shape around the rotation axis (X). The recess (40) is recessed from the curve (39) toward a side remote from the rotation axis (X). In a state where the agitator (26) is in a first rotating position, a part of the agitator (26) comes into contact with an inner circumferential face of the curve (39) so that the part of the agitator (26) is in a bent state. In a state where the agitator (26) is in a second rotating position, the part of the agitator (26) is inserted into the recess (40).