Helical Toner Cartridge Intermittent Rotation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently breaking down and replenishing toner developers, leading to adhesion and coagulation issues within the toner cartridge, affecting printing quality and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a toner cartridge with a helical-shaped transport section and a controller that drives the rotational portion intermittently at specific angles (n+½)π±18 degrees or less than 90 degrees to break down and replenish the toner, utilizing a CRUM reader for use state information and adjusting driving modes based on toner usage and environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the rotational portion is driven continuously to transport developer, then developer replenishment is improved, but developer adhesion and coagulation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational portion is driven intermittently rather than continuously, with periodic rotation and stopping cycles. This periodic action allows the developer to be transported during rotation phases while preventing adhesion and coagulation during stopping phases, resolving the contradiction between replenishment efficiency and developer stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the rotational portion rotates at large angles to break down developer, then developer breakdown is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation angle parameter is optimized to specific ranges (45-90 degrees or 135-180 degrees) rather than arbitrary large angles. This parameter change achieves effective developer breakdown while minimizing power consumption by avoiding excessive rotation angles that would waste energy.
3Stability of the object's composition
If intermittent driving is implemented to reduce adhesion, then developer flow is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The driving system transitions from static continuous rotation to dynamic intermittent rotation with variable angles. This dynamic control approach improves developer flow characteristics by preventing adhesion while the complexity is managed through programmable control rather than mechanical complexity.
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
This approach effectively breaks down and replenishes toner, reducing adhesion and coagulation, improving toner flow and printing efficiency while minimizing power consumption and manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a helical-shaped transport section formed in an inner surface of the rotational portion (1)
Implementation Method 2
the controller (190) controls a driving source which drives the rotational portion (1) to intermittently drive the rotational portion (1) by performing driving at a rotation angle of (n+1⁄2)π±18 degrees or less than 90 degrees and stopping
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an accommodation container, a storage medium, and a controller. The accommodation container includes a rotational portion and outflow portion. The rotational portion accommodates a developer therein and has a helical-shaped transport section formed in an inner surface thereof. The outflow portion rotatably supports the rotational portion and has an outflow port through which the developer transported during rotation of the rotational portion flows out. The storage medium stores use state information of the developer accommodated in the rotational portion. The controller controls a driving source which drives the rotational portion. When a use state of the accommodation container for the developer is a use state which is set in advance, the controller intermittently drives the rotational portion by performing driving at a rotation angle of (n+½)π±18 degrees or less than 90 degrees and stopping.