Sealing Member Groove Assembly for Developing Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing developing cartridges in electrophotographic image forming devices require high accuracy and cumbersome efforts to attach sealing members to the leaf spring using double-sided adhesive tape, making the process inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A developing device with a thickness-regulation member featuring a thin-plate member and an engagement portion, where a sealing member is fitted into a groove between the engagement portion and the end face, allowing for easy assembly and preventing toner leakage without the need for double-sided adhesive tape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing members are attached to the leaf spring using double-sided adhesive tape, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but assembly complexity and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the adhesive tape from the assembly process by providing a groove structure that mechanically retains the sealing member. The groove is formed between the engagement portion and the end face of the thickness-regulating member, allowing the sealing member to be fitted and held in place without requiring adhesive materials, thus eliminating the complexity of precise positioning and adhesive application.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove structure provides self-retention functionality for the sealing member. The engagement portion and end face automatically form a retaining groove that holds the sealing member in position through the thickness-regulating member's own structure, eliminating the need for external adhesive materials and complex assembly procedures.
2Reliability
If sealing members are carefully attached with high positioning accuracy, then toner leakage prevention is improved, but assembly time and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The groove acts as an intermediary structure that facilitates the connection between the sealing member and the thickness-regulating member. By providing a predefined groove between the engagement portion and end face, the sealing member can be easily fitted into place without requiring high positioning accuracy, as the groove guides and retains the sealing member automatically.
3Reliability
If adhesive tape is used to attach sealing members, then sealing function is achieved, but manufacturing and assembly precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adhesive tape from the sealing mechanism and replaces it with a groove-based retention system. The groove is formed between the engagement portion and the end face of the thickness-regulating member, providing a mechanical retention structure that eliminates the need for adhesive materials and reduces positioning precision requirements during assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A developing device includes a casing having an opening extending in a first direction, a developing roller, a thickness-regulation member, an engagement portion and a sealing member. The thickness-regulation member includes a thin-plate member and a regulating portion. The thin-plate member is fixed to the casing and has a lateral end extending in a second direction. The regulating portion is fixed on the thin-plate member and has an end face extending in a direction. The engagement portion is fixed on the thin-plate member and positioned closer to the lateral end than the end face to the lateral end to provide a groove between the engagement portion and the end face. The sealing member is fitted in the groove and has a length in the first direction longer than a length of the groove prior to assembly of the sealing member into the groove.