Slidable Receptacle for Developing Unit Waste Toner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional color image-forming apparatuses require significant time and effort to replace the cleaning box, as they necessitate removal of the paper-conveying belt and photosensitive drums, limiting the ability to separately move developing units and the cleaning blade, thereby increasing component count and cost.
Innovation Solution
A developing unit with a slidable receptacle for waste developer, allowing for independent movement of developing units and the cleaning member without altering the relative positions, reducing the number of components needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cleaning box is disposed beneath the paper-conveying belt, then the cleaning unit can effectively collect residual toner, but the cleaning box cannot be replaced without removing the paper-conveying belt and photosensitive drums, increasing maintenance time and effort
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning unit is segmented into a fixed cleaning blade portion and a movable receptacle portion. The receptacle can be independently removed and replaced without affecting the cleaning blade's position or requiring removal of other components, thus reducing maintenance time while preserving cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The receptacle is extracted as a separate replaceable component from the cleaning unit assembly. This allows the receptacle to be removed and replaced independently, eliminating the need to remove the paper-conveying belt and photosensitive drums during receptacle maintenance.
2Ease of operation
If the cleaning unit is supported by a developing unit, then the receptacle can be replaced when replacing the developing unit, but the developing unit and scraping blade cannot move to their respective desired positions separately, requiring separate moving members and increasing component count
Solution Approach 1:
The moving mechanism for the receptacle is merged with the developing unit's existing moving mechanism. The receptacle is supported on the developing unit in such a way that it can move independently along the conveying member's axis without requiring a separate moving mechanism, thus reducing component count while maintaining operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The developing unit's moving mechanism is designed to serve multiple functions: it moves both the developing roller and the receptacle. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate moving members for the receptacle, reducing device complexity while preserving ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate members are provided for moving the developing units and the scraping blade, then each component can be positioned independently, but the number of components increases, resulting in increased cost
Solution Approach 1:
The moving mechanisms are merged such that the developing unit's movement mechanism also controls the receptacle's position. This combining of functions maintains positioning flexibility while reducing the total number of components and associated costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The receptacle is designed with dynamic support that allows it to move independently along the conveying member's axis while being integrated with the developing unit. This dynamic arrangement provides positioning flexibility without requiring separate fixed moving members, thus reducing component count.
Data Source
AI summary
A developing unit includes a developer casing, a developer carrying member, and a receptacle. The developer carrying member is mounted on the developer casing. The receptacle is supported on the developer casing to be slidable linearly with respect to the developing casing, and is configured to accommodate a waste developer.