Rotating Toner Container Projections for Reduced Toner Residue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toner containers have reduced storable capacity due to spiral grooves, leading to increased toner accumulation and wasteful toner remaining at the end state.
Innovation Solution
A toner container design with inward-protruding projections having inclined slopes, where adjacent projections overlap in the rotation axis direction, minimizing gaps and maintaining toner capacity while preventing accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spiral groove is formed on the circumferential surface of the container body, then toner conveyance is enabled, but the internal volume and storable toner capacity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral groove is divided into multiple separate projections arranged in the rotation axis direction. This segmentation reduces the total volume occupied by the grooves while maintaining the toner conveyance function through the combined effect of multiple projections
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from a continuous spiral groove to discrete projections arranged along the rotation axis, adding an axial dimension to the conveyance mechanism. This allows toner to be conveyed through multiple staggered projection levels rather than a single continuous groove
2Volume of stationary object
If the groove is divided in the rotation axis direction to reduce its proportion, then internal volume increases, but toner accumulation occurs between adjacent grooves
Solution Approach 1:
Adjacent projections are designed to overlap in the radial direction, merging their toner-guiding functions. The overlapping arrangement ensures that toner flowing down one projection is captured and guided by the adjacent projection, preventing accumulation in the gaps between discrete structures
Solution Approach 2:
The projections have asymmetric cross-sections with different widths at different heights, creating varying local qualities. The wider upper portion and narrower lower portion optimize both toner capture capability and conveyance efficiency, preventing accumulation while maintaining volume
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
Prevents excessive toner remaining at the end state without reducing the overall storage capacity, ensuring efficient toner conveyance and utilization.
Implementation Method 1
When the container body is driven to rotate in a state in which the toner container is installed in a body of an image forming apparatus, toner contained in the container body is conveyed in a rotation axis direction along the spiral groove
Implementation Method 2
toner contained in the container body is conveyed in a rotation axis direction along the spiral groove and is discharged from an opening portion
Data Source
AI summary
A toner container (32) includes a rotatable container body (33). The container body includes an opening portion (33c) and a plurality of projections (33a). The opening portion is on a first end, which is opposite a second end, of the container body in a rotation axis direction. The plurality of projections are each protrude inward and have a slope inclined with respect to the rotation axis direction. The plurality of projections are disposed such that, out of two adjacent projections in the rotation axis direction, one projection closer to the first end of the container body in the rotation axis direction overlaps the other projection closer to the second end of the container body in the rotation axis direction, in an area of the one projection closer to the second end and an area of the other projection closer to the first end in the rotation axis direction.