Oblique Developer Supply Port for Toner Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional developing devices face issues with uneven toner supply and aggregation, leading to reduced print quality due to the horizontal orientation of toner discharge and supply ports, which causes toner to aggregate and block the supply path, especially in low print density images.
Innovation Solution
The developing device incorporates a housing with a ceiling plate and a partition plate, featuring a first and second conveyance path with a toner supply port obliquely open above the second area, and a conveying ability suppressing portion to form a reservoir, ensuring smooth toner flow and preventing aggregation by adjusting the toner supply based on path conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the developer supply port is open horizontally in the ceiling plate, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the developer aggregates and blocks the supply path, reducing print quality
Solution Approach 1:
The developer supply port is opened obliquely (at an angle) rather than horizontally, changing the orientation dimension. This oblique opening allows developer to flow smoothly into the conveyance path without aggregating, while the conveying member rotates to match the oblique angle, resolving the blockage issue while maintaining structural simplicity
2Reliability
If the developer supply port is opened obliquely above the second area, then toner aggregation is prevented and supply stability is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The oblique opening of the developer supply port is merged with the rotational movement of the conveying member. The conveying member rotates to an angle that matches the oblique supply port opening, allowing seamless integration of the two features. This merging approach achieves reliable toner supply without requiring separate complex mechanisms for each function
3Device complexity
If the conveying member rotates to convey developer horizontally, then the conveyance path is simple, but the developer aggregates at the supply port, especially in low print density images
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying member is designed to rotate dynamically to match the oblique angle of the developer supply port. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the conveying surface is always properly oriented relative to the supply port, preventing developer aggregation and ensuring smooth flow even in low print density scenarios where developer quantity is reduced
Data Source
AI summary
A developing device includes a housing, a developing roller, a developer conveyance path, a partition plate, a developer supply port and a developer conveying member. The developer conveying member rotates such that an outer peripheral part thereof moves from top to bottom in a first area between a second shaft portion and the partition plate and moves from bottom to top in a second area between the second shaft portion and the side wall. The developer supply port is obliquely open above the second area. The housing includes a first space formed above the second area of the first conveyance path and a second space formed up to a position higher than the partition plate above the first area of the first conveyance path. The ceiling plate includes a ceiling portion. The ceiling portion restricts a movement of replenishing developer in the first direction.