Process Cartridge Toner Replenishing Unit Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing process cartridges in image forming apparatuses face issues with varying press urge force due to changes in toner replenishing unit capacity, leading to potential disturbances in image quality and mechanical deformations.
Innovation Solution
The process cartridge design supports at least a portion of the toner replenishing unit by the image forming apparatus main body, ensuring that the press urge force of the developing cartridge remains constant regardless of toner capacity variations, using a deformable toner supply path and separate toner replenishing units to maintain image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the toner replenishing unit is integrated to the developing unit in the developing cartridge, then the service life and operational simplicity are improved, but the press urge force varies when toner containing amount changes, causing image disturbance
Solution Approach 1:
The toner replenishing unit is separated from the developing cartridge and integrated into the image carrier cartridge instead. This segmentation allows the developing cartridge to maintain constant weight and press urge force, while the toner replenishing unit independently supplies toner without affecting the developing pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
A toner supply path is introduced as an intermediary mechanism connecting the toner replenishing unit in the image carrier cartridge to the developing unit in the developing cartridge. This allows toner transfer without requiring the toner replenishing unit to be part of the developing cartridge, thus maintaining constant press urge force.
2Manufacturing precision
If the press urge force is set to be proper when toner containing amount is full, then image quality is maintained, but when toner containing amount becomes small, the press urge force becomes deficient causing separation of developing roll from image carrier
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the toner replenishing unit from the developing cartridge, the weight of the developing cartridge remains constant regardless of toner level. This ensures consistent press urge force maintains reliable contact between the developing roll and image carrier throughout the toner replenishment cycle.
3Reliability
If the press urge force is set to be proper when toner containing amount is small, then contact stability is maintained, but when toner containing amount is full, the press urge force becomes excessively large causing deformation or excessive rotational load
Solution Approach 1:
The toner replenishing unit is relocated to the image carrier cartridge, decoupling its weight variations from the developing cartridge. This ensures the developing cartridge applies constant, appropriate press urge force without experiencing excessive mechanical stress during toner replenishment.
4Ease of operation
If the developing cartridge is pivotably positioned to engage with the image carrier cartridge, then ease of installation and removal is improved, but the position of gravitational center varies causing press urge force variation
Solution Approach 1:
By moving the toner replenishing unit to the image carrier cartridge and connecting via toner supply path, the developing cartridge's weight remains constant. This eliminates gravitational center variation and resulting press urge force fluctuations, while maintaining pivotable engagement for easy installation and removal.
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
This design effectively stabilizes the press urge force, preventing image disturbances and mechanical deformations, thereby ensuring high-quality image formation even with varying toner levels.
Implementation Method 1
a developing cartridge (12) including at least the developing unit (2) and urged to press to the image carrier cartridge (11) in a state of being positioned relative to the image carrier cartridge (11)... an urging element of an urge spring or the like
Data Source
AI summary
A process cartridge provided attachably and detachably to and from an image forming apparatus main body, and including an image carrier, a developing unit for visualizing an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier and a toner replenishing unit for replenishing at least a toner to the developing unit, includes: an image carrier cartridge unitized by including at least the image carrier and positioned and supported by the image forming apparatus main body; and a developing cartridge unitized by including at least the developing unit and urged to press to the image carrier cartridge in a state of being positioned relative to the image carrier cartridge, wherein: the toner replenishing unit is included in at least either of the image carrier cartridge and the developing cartridge; and at least a portion of the toner replenishing unit is supported by the image forming apparatus main body.