Image-Forming Apparatus With Sealing for Movable Development Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The development housing in a process cartridge may not easily move relative to the photosensitive drum due to the weight of the toner cartridge, leading to instability in toner supply and potential leakage.
Innovation Solution
The development housing is configured to be movable relative to the photosensitive drum, with a partition portion and seal to stabilize toner supply from a non-moving toner cartridge, using conveyors to convey toner through passage and reception openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the development housing is configured to be movable relative to the photosensitive drum to maintain constant pressing force, then the pressing force stability is improved, but the movement stability deteriorates due to the weight of the toner cartridge
Solution Approach 1:
The drum frame is divided into a first frame, second frame, and partition portion. The partition portion is fixed relative to the photosensitive drum while the first and second frames are movable, allowing the development housing to move independently to maintain pressing force without being constrained by the toner cartridge weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal acts as an intermediary element between the partition portion and development housing, enabling relative movement while maintaining sealing. The seal allows the development housing to move relative to the photosensitive drum while preventing toner leakage, thus maintaining both movement stability and sealing integrity.
2Device complexity
If the toner cartridge is kept stationary relative to the photosensitive drum to simplify structure, then the structural complexity is reduced, but the toner supply stability deteriorates due to the movable development housing
Solution Approach 1:
The development housing is configured to be movable relative to the photosensitive drum, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position to maintain constant pressing force on the photosensitive drum surface, thereby ensuring stable toner supply despite the stationary toner cartridge.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal serves as an intermediary that enables the development housing to move relative to the stationary partition portion and photosensitive drum while maintaining proper sealing, thus allowing dynamic adjustment without compromising structural integrity or causing toner leakage.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the development housing moves relative to the photosensitive drum to maintain pressing force, then the pressing force stability is improved, but toner leakage increases due to the relative movement
Solution Approach 1:
The seal acts as a mediator between the movable development housing and the fixed partition portion, allowing relative movement to maintain pressing force while preventing toner from leaking through the interface between these components.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal is made of a flexible material that can accommodate the relative movement between the development housing and partition portion while maintaining a tight seal to prevent toner leakage, thus resolving the contradiction between movement capability and leakage prevention.
Data Source
AI summary
A drum frame includes a first frame, a second frame, and a partition portion. The first frame supports one end of a photosensitive drum in a first direction. The second frame supports another end of the photosensitive drum in the first direction. The partition portion is not movable relative to the photosensitive drum. The partition portion has a passage opening through which toner from a toner cartridge passes. A development housing has a reception opening configured to receive toner that has passed through the passage opening. The reception opening is larger than the passage opening. The development housing is movable relative to the photosensitive drum. A seal is located around the passage opening and the reception opening. The seal seals between the partition portion and the development housing. A conveyor is located in the development housing. The conveyor faces the partition portion via the reception opening.