Helical Feeding Device for High-Volume Developer Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing developer feeding devices with helical feeding members and crossing rotational axes face challenges in delivering a large amount of developer efficiently due to limitations in developer delivery performance.
Innovation Solution
A feeding device with a first feeding member having helical and crank-shaped regions, and a second feeding member that reciprocates across the rotational axis, enhancing developer delivery by optimizing the feeding mechanism to accommodate increased demand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If two helical feeding members with crossing rotational axes are used to feed developer, then the developer can be delivered to a distant position, but the developer delivery performance is insufficient for high-speed printing
Solution Approach 1:
The first feeding member is divided into three distinct regions along its rotational axis: a first helical region for initial developer engagement, a crank-shaped region for transferring developer to the second feeding member, and a second helical region for continued feeding. This segmentation allows each region to perform a specific function, optimizing the overall developer delivery performance while maintaining the crossing rotational axis configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The feeding mechanism employs dynamic interaction between the rotating first feeding member and the reciprocating second feeding member. The crank-shaped region converts the rotational motion of the first feeding member into reciprocating motion of the second feeding member, creating a dynamic feeding action that enhances developer delivery efficiency and quantity per unit time while preserving the crossing rotational axes arrangement.
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 improves developer delivery performance by efficiently feeding a large amount of developer between the first and second feeding members with crossing rotational axes, addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a first feeding member provided rotatably in the accommodating member and including a first region having a helical shape, a second region having a crank shape and a third region having a helical shape
Implementation Method 2
a second feeding member supported in the second region and reciprocating in a direction crossing the rotational axis direction by rotational motion of the first feeding member
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2~3
Figure 4(a)~4(b)
AI summary
A feeding device for feeding a developer includes an accommodating member (71b), a first helical feeding member (87) including a first region having a first diameter and a second region having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter in a named order with respect to a first feeding direction (W), a second helical feeding member (88) for feeding the developer in a second feeding direction (X) crossing the first feeding direction, and a wall (72t) extending toward the second helical feeding member so that the wall is spaced from the first helical feeding member toward a downstream side of the first helical feeding member with respect to the first feeding direction to branch a flow path of the developer. With respect to the first feeding direction, the second region is provided between the first region and a position where the first and second helical feeding members cross each other.