Powder Container Swing Member for Inner Wall Residue Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing powder containers in image forming devices face issues with powder remaining on the inner walls due to the inefficiency of swing members that require engagement with the stirring member, leading to incomplete powder discharge and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A powder container design with a swing member fixed to an intersecting wall, which is pressed by the stirring member to swing and drop remaining powder, ensuring comprehensive powder removal without additional engagement mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a swing member is designed to swing about a rotation axis parallel to the stirring member's rotation shaft (swing scheme), then powder remaining on the inner wall can be dropped, but the stirring member needs to engage with and push the swing member upward, causing the swing member to separate from the inner wall and allowing powder to enter the bent portion, and when rotating in the opposite direction, the swing member is pressed toward the lower side and does not sufficiently function
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional swing scheme by making the swing axis perpendicular to the stirring member's rotation axis instead of parallel. This allows the swing member to swing in a direction that brings its leading end into contact with the stirring member during rotation, eliminating the need for the stirring member to push the swing member upward and preventing separation from the inner wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The swing member is designed with an asymmetric structure where the leading end portion extends in the rotation axis direction and contacts the stirring member, while the base portion is fixed to the inner wall. This asymmetric configuration ensures proper engagement and swinging motion without requiring additional engagement mechanisms.
2Quantity of substance
If the inner wall of the holder has an inclined surface extending outward upward from a predetermined position above the discharge port, then powder may remain on the inclined surface where the stirring member does not reach, but providing a stirring member in the upper portion to rotate and drop powder increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
The swing member serves multiple functions: it acts as a scraper to remove powder from the inclined inner wall surface, functions as a swing mechanism to drop remaining powder, and works in conjunction with the single stirring member to ensure complete powder discharge. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional stirring members in the upper portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The swing member acts as an intermediary between the stirring member and the inclined inner wall surface. The stirring member rotates to push the swing member, which then swings to scrape and drop powder from the inclined surface, effectively transferring the powder removal function from the stirring member to the swing member.
3Ease of operation
If the bent portion of the swing member is separated from the inner wall of the holder, then the swing member can swing, but powder enters the portion on the inner wall corresponding to the bent portion from both sides, making it impossible to reliably suppress powder remaining
Solution Approach 1:
The swing member is designed to be dynamically positioned during operation. The leading end portion swings in contact with the rotating stirring member, maintaining dynamic engagement that prevents powder from entering the bent portion while allowing the swing member to effectively scrape and drop powder from the inner wall.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a powder container including a holder that stores powder, a stirring unit that stirs the powder, and a swing member to drop the powder remaining on an inner wall of the holder. The stirring unit includes a rotation shaft rotatably supported in the holder, and a stirring member provided to the rotation shaft in such a manner as to protrude outward in a radial direction. The inner wall includes a wall along an intersecting direction intersecting with a rotation axis direction of the rotation shaft. A base side of the swing member includes a fixed portion that is fixed to the all along the intersecting direction of the holder, and a movable side of the swing member swings about the fixed portion by being pressed by the stirring member due to the rotation of the rotation shaft.