Powder Container Gear Layout for Compact Waste Toner Conveying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional powder containers in image forming apparatuses face challenges in arranging the driven unit and driving gear without increasing the container's size, as they need to be positioned on opposite ends due to layout constraints.
Innovation Solution
The powder container is designed with the driven unit and driving gear positioned in a way that allows them to be integrated without significant size increase, using a configuration where the driven unit is on one end and the driving gear is between the ends, allowing for efficient transmission of drive force while maintaining compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional powder container with a single-chamber developing roller is used, then the structure is simple, but the image quality deteriorates due to powder clumping and uneven distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The powder container is divided into multiple independent chambers (first chamber, second chamber, third chamber) that are spatially separated. Each chamber can independently store and supply powder to different regions of the developing roller, preventing powder clumping and ensuring uniform powder distribution across the entire roller surface, thereby improving image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-chamber design to a multi-chamber spatial arrangement around the developing roller. The chambers are positioned at different angular positions and heights, creating a three-dimensional powder supply system that ensures comprehensive and uniform powder coverage on the roller surface.
2Manufacturing precision
If a multi-chamber powder container is implemented, then powder distribution improves, but the container size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple powder chambers are arranged concentrically around the developing roller, with chambers nested in a circular pattern. This radial arrangement allows the container to maintain a compact cross-sectional area while providing multiple independent powder storage regions, effectively reducing the overall container volume compared to a linear multi-chamber design.
Solution Approach 2:
The chambers are distributed in three-dimensional space around the roller at different angular positions and radial distances, utilizing the circumferential dimension to pack multiple chambers into a compact volume. This spatial distribution achieves uniform powder coverage without proportionally increasing container size.
3Volume of stationary object
If powder is stored in a single large chamber, then the container is compact, but powder clumping occurs leading to poor image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The single large chamber is segmented into multiple smaller independent chambers that surround the developing roller. Each small chamber supplies powder to a specific region, preventing powder from clumping together in one location. This segmentation maintains compact overall container volume while ensuring uniform powder distribution and high image quality.
4Productivity
If the developing roller rotates at high speed, then productivity increases, but powder distribution becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented multi-chamber design ensures that powder is supplied from multiple locations simultaneously as the roller rotates. This distributed supply approach maintains uniform powder distribution even at high rotation speeds, as each chamber continuously replenishes powder in its designated region, preventing the uneven distribution that would occur with a single chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-chamber arrangement ensures continuous powder supply to all regions of the developing roller throughout the rotation cycle. As the roller rotates, multiple chambers are simultaneously in position to supply powder, creating a continuous and uniform powder distribution process that maintains image quality even at high development speeds.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A powder container includes a collection port to receive and collect powder from outside; a driven unit that is disposed on one end side in a width direction of the powder container and to which drive is transmitted from outside; a first rotary shaft that rotates by the drive transmitted to the driven unit; a first gear disposed on other end side of the powder container and rotating with the first rotary shaft; a second rotary shaft that is disposed on the other end side, that includes a second gear to which drive is transmitted from the first gear, and that rotates with the second gear; and a driving gear that is disposed on the second rotary shaft in a position between the second gear and a central portion in the width direction of the powder container, and that rotates with the second rotary shaft to transmit drive to outside.