Movable Partitioning Member for Developer Storage Capacity Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, developer coagulation during transportation can lead to increased load torque and non-uniform developer mixing, affecting image quality, and existing solutions like clutch configurations in drive gear trains are not fully effective.
Innovation Solution
A cartridge with a movable partitioning member that increases the developer storage capacity when attached to the main assembly, using an operated portion to move the partitioning member from a first to a second position, reducing coagulation and stabilizing the developer conveyance member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the cartridge is designed with a fixed partitioning member, then the structure is simple, but the developer storage capacity cannot be adjusted to reduce coagulation
Solution Approach 1:
The partitioning member is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to shift between a first position (transport state) and a second position (operation state). This dynamic adjustment enables the developer storage capacity to be modified based on operational needs, reducing developer coagulation while maintaining structural simplicity through a single movable component
Solution Approach 2:
The partitioning member is pre-positioned at the first position during transportation to prevent developer coagulation. When the cartridge is installed in the image forming apparatus, the partitioning member automatically or manually moves to the second position to increase storage capacity. This preliminary positioning ensures developer stability during transport without requiring complex active control systems
2Productivity
If the developer conveyance member operates immediately after attachment, then the developer is conveyed quickly, but the coagulated developer increases the load torque
Solution Approach 1:
The partitioning member is moved to the second position that increases developer storage capacity before the developer conveyance member begins operation. This preliminary adjustment prevents developer coagulation from occurring during the conveyance process, ensuring that when the conveyance member operates, it encounters uniformly distributed developer rather than coagulated clusters, thus maintaining low load torque while achieving quick conveyance
Data Source
AI summary
A cartridge attachable/detachable to/from a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes a developer storage unit configured to store developer, a partitioning member movably provided inside the developer storage unit and configured to partition the developer storage unit, a developer conveyance member configured to convey the developer stored in the developer storage unit, and an operated portion configured to move the partitioning member, wherein when the cartridge is attached to the main assembly, the operated portion is moved by touching the main assembly to move the partitioning member from a first position to a second position where the developer storage unit is caused to be greater in capacity than that in the first position.