Powder Conveyor Reverse Rotation to Prevent Supply Clogging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Clogging and conveyance failure of powder in powder conveying devices, leading to supply failures at the supply destination, are not adequately addressed by existing technologies.

Innovation Solution

The image forming apparatus includes a conveyor that rotates in a forward direction during the supply mode and executes a reverse rotation mode before the supply mode to reduce conveyance failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the conveyor rotates in a forward direction to convey powder, then powder supply to the supply destination is achieved, but powder clogging and conveyance failure may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepowder supply efficiencyVSAvoidconveyance reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor rotates in reverse before the forward conveyance operation to loosen and prevent clogging of powder in the conveyance passage. This preliminary reverse rotation action ensures that the powder flow path is clear before normal supply operation begins, preventing conveyance failure during actual powder delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The conveyor performs a reverse rotation operation opposite to the normal forward conveyance direction. By rotating in reverse before forward conveyance, the system uses the opposite motion to loosen compacted powder and prevent clogging, thereby improving reliability before maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If reverse rotation is performed after powder supply, then toner clogging in tubes is prevented (according to prior art), but conveyance failure is not sufficiently solved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoner cloggingVSAvoidconveyance failure prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The reverse rotation is performed before the forward conveyance operation rather than after. This timing ensures that the powder flow path is cleared and loosened before supply begins, addressing the root cause of conveyance failure rather than treating symptoms after they occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The reverse rotation creates a preliminary anti-action that counteracts the clogging tendency of powder before forward conveyance starts. By applying reverse motion beforehand, the system prevents the harmful effect of clogging rather than attempting to correct it after supply failures occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 effectively minimizes powder clogging and conveyance failures in the powder conveying device, ensuring reliable powder supply to the destination.

Implementation Method 1

The conveyor rotates in a forward direction to convey powder in a supply mode in which the conveyor supplies the powder from a supply source to a supply destination

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical conveyance:

Implementation Method 2

The controller executes a reverse rotation mode to rotate the conveyor in a reverse direction before execution of the supply mode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReverse rotation:

Data Source

PatentUS12585213B2Image forming apparatus with powder conveying device having reverse rotation mode

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

An image forming apparatus including a conveyor disposed in a conveyance passage for conveying powder from a supply source to a supply destination in a forward direction during a supply mode. A controller is configured to execute a reverse rotation mode before the supply mode is executed. In this mode, the controller causes the conveyor to first rotate in a reverse direction and then rotate in a forward direction.