Reverse Transfer Vane for Toner Concentration Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing developing devices experience toner concentration detection errors due to variations in toner volume and charge, as the permeability sensor fails to consistently correlate with the applied pressurizing force, especially when the developer is not sufficiently pressurized in the clearance areas outside the screw vane.
Innovation Solution
A developer transferring device with a reverse transfer vane that protrudes from the rotary shaft member, allowing the developer to be transferred in an opposite direction and pressed against the toner concentration detection sensor, ensuring sufficient pressurization and reducing detection errors by bridging or transferring at higher speeds between the screw vane and opposing surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the developer is transferred in the rotary axis direction by the screw member, then the developer can be continuously supplied to the developing sleeve, but the pressurizing force applied to the developer in the transfer direction does not sufficiently pressurize the developer in the clearance outside the screw vane, resulting in detection errors
Solution Approach 1:
The screw member is segmented into multiple screw vanes (first screw vane, second screw vane, third screw vane) with different functions. The first screw vane transfers developer in the rotary axis direction, while the second and third screw vanes pressurize the developer in the radial direction toward the detection sensor, ensuring both continuous supply and accurate detection.
Solution Approach 2:
A pressurization fin is introduced as an intermediary component between the screw member and the detection sensor. This fin receives the developer from the screw vane and actively pressurizes it in the radial direction, mediating the transfer process to ensure sufficient contact with the sensor for accurate toner concentration measurement.
2Device complexity
If the toner concentration detection sensor has a small detectable distance range, then the sensor structure can be compact, but the sensor cannot detect the toner concentration of the developer in the screw vane positioned at a large distance, requiring sufficient pressurization
Solution Approach 1:
The pressurization direction is changed from the rotary axis direction to the radial direction toward the detection sensor. By applying force in this new dimension (radial direction), the developer is pushed closer to the sensor, extending the effective detection range without increasing the sensor's inherent detectable distance range.
3Stress or pressure
If surface roughening processing is implemented on the inner wall downstream of the detection position, then the developer transfer speed can be reduced to pressurize the developer, but a favorable correlation is not achieved between pressurizing force and detection result
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the screw member are given different functional qualities. The first screw vane is designed for transfer with a specific pitch, while the second and third screw vanes are designed for pressurization with different pitch ratios. This local differentiation ensures that pressurization occurs at the precise location where the developer contacts the detection sensor, creating a favorable correlation between pressurizing force and detection result.
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 reduces toner concentration detection errors by ensuring consistent pressurization of the developer near the detection sensor, improving the correlation between pressurizing force and detection results, and enhancing the accuracy of toner concentration control.
Implementation Method 1
the permeability sensor serving as the toner concentration detecting means
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus capable of reducing the number of toner concentration detection errors caused by variation in the volume of a toner includes a reverse vane for transferring developer in an opposite direction and protruding from the rotary shaft member in a region where a lower side faces a bottom wall of a first transfer chamber and two lateral sides that are orthogonal to the rotary axis direction face respective side walls of the first transfer chamber, and a toner concentration detection sensor is disposed to detect the toner concentration of the developer as the developer is transferred between the reverse transfer vane and a location of the screw vane adjacent to the reverse transfer vane.