Movable Drum Unit with Shared Toner Conveying Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tandem type color printers have a complex structure due to multiple connections between toner collection sections and conveying units, making the removal and conveyance of waste toner from photoconductive drums cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a movable drum unit and a conveying mechanism that connects and disconnects with the toner accommodating unit, allowing for simple and efficient removal and conveyance of waste toner from photoconductive drums to a toner collecting unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple connections are made between toner collection sections and conveying units for each photoconductive drum, then waste toner can be removed from all drums, but the structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate conveying units into a single shared conveying unit that serves all photoconductive drums. The conveying unit includes a single conveying chamber that receives waste toner from multiple cleaning blades through multiple introduction units, eliminating the need for separate conveying mechanisms for each drum while maintaining complete waste toner removal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveying unit is designed as a multi-functional component that handles waste toner collection and conveyance for all photoconductive drums simultaneously. The single conveying unit with multiple introduction units serves the universal function of waste toner management across the entire imaging system, replacing multiple specialized conveying units.
2Device complexity
If a movable drum unit is used to simplify the conveying mechanism, then the structure becomes simpler, but connection and disconnection operations are required
Solution Approach 1:
The drum unit is designed as a movable component that can be dynamically positioned between an inside position (connected to the conveying unit) and an outside position (disconnected from the conveying unit). This dynamic positioning allows the system to switch between operational modes, enabling simplified structure during normal operation while allowing easy removal and installation of the drum unit.
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 configuration simplifies the structure for removing and conveying waste toner, reducing complexity and ensuring reliable operation while preventing toner leakage.
Implementation Method 1
a conveying mechanism configured to convey the waste toner removed from the photoconductive drum by the drum cleaning member to the collecting unit
Implementation Method 2
The drum unit is configured to be movable between an inside position which is inside the main body and an outside position which is outside the main body
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus has a main body, a belt unit configured to accommodate a belt, a belt cleaning member and an accommodating unit. The belt cleaning unit is configured to remove waste toner adhered on the belt. The accommodating unit is configured to accommodate the toner removed by the belt cleaning unit. The apparatus further includes a drum unit having a drum cleaning member, and a waste toner conveying mechanism configured to convey the waste toner to the collecting unit. The conveying mechanism has a drum-side conveying unit configured to be connected with the drum cleaning member. Communication between the drum-side conveying unit and the collecting unit is enabled in association with movement of the drum unit from the outside position to the inside position, and disabled in association with movement of the drum unit from the inside position to the outside position.