Polypropylene Frame Sealing for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional development devices require thick PET resin frames for communication port sealing, leading to increased costs and poor mold formability, with two-sided tape seals causing damage to the developer layer and resulting in defective images.
Innovation Solution
A development device with a frame body made of polypropylene resin and a seal member adhered via thermal compression bonding, allowing the seal member to be peeled off parallel to the communication port surface, reducing costs and improving image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a thick PET resin frame body is used for communication port sealing, then the strength and peeling capability of the seal member is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases and mold formability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from PET resin to polypropylene resin, which has different mechanical properties including lower hardness and better flexibility. This material substitution allows the frame body to achieve sufficient strength while maintaining good mold formability and enabling thin-walled construction without cracks or scuffing during bending operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a bent section at a specific location of the frame body to concentrate the structural reinforcement where needed. This localized geometric modification provides the necessary strength for seal member peeling while keeping the overall frame body thin-walled and easy to manufacture, avoiding the need to thicken the entire structure
2Reliability
If a two-sided tape is used to adhere the seal member, then the sealing function is achieved, but the developer layer may be damaged or the tape may enter the developer container causing defective images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical adhesion method (two-sided tape) with thermal compression bonding. This substitution eliminates the intermediate tape material that could damage the developer layer or contaminate the developer container, while still achieving reliable sealing through direct thermal bonding between the seal member and frame body
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces heat as an intermediary medium to achieve bonding between the seal member and frame body. This thermal intermediary allows for strong adhesion without requiring contact with the developer layer, preventing contamination and damage while maintaining the sealing function
3Strength
If the sheet thickness of the frame body is increased, then the strength is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from PET resin to polypropylene resin, which offers a different strength-to-cost ratio. This material substitution allows the use of thinner sheet material while maintaining adequate strength, thereby reducing material consumption and manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a bent section at a specific location of the frame body to concentrate the structural reinforcement where needed. This localized geometric modification provides the necessary strength for seal member peeling while keeping the overall frame body thin-walled, reducing material usage and cost
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
The solution enables cost reduction, easy manufacturing, and the formation of high-quality images by using polypropylene resin for the frame body and thermal compression bonding for the seal member, preventing damage and ensuring effective sealing.
Implementation Method 1
the seal member is adhered to the frame body by thermal compression bonding
Data Source
AI summary
A development device that has communication port sealing means for sealing a communication port communicating a developer supporter container with a developer container. The development device is advantageous in cost reduction, easy manufacturing, and formation of high-quality images. In the development device which has a developing roller container for containing a developing roller, a developer container for containing a developer, a base member for forming a communication port communicating the developer roller container with the developer container, and a seal member that is adhered to the base member so as to cover the communication port, and which cancels sealing of the communication port by peeling off the seal member from the base member by pulling out the seal member in a direction parallel to an opened surface of the communication port, the base member is composed of a polypropylene resin having a bent section, and the seal member is adhered to the base member by thermal compression bonding.