Swing Member Scrapes Residual Developer in Storage Body

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in effectively scraping developer from the inner wall of the developer storage body, leading to a significant amount of unusable developer remaining.

Innovation Solution

A developer storage body configuration featuring a swing member that contacts an agitation member, allowing the swing member to swing and scrape developer from the inner wall, reducing residual developer through its deflection and sliding portions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If a swing member is provided to scrape developer from the inner wall of the developer storage body, then the amount of unusable developer is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of unusable developerVSAvoidstructure of developer storage body

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The swing member is configured to swing dynamically within the storage portion rather than being fixed. It has a fixed portion attached to the inner surface and a swing portion that moves to contact and scrape the inner top surface, allowing adaptive movement to reach developer residues in hard-to-access areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The swing member is divided into distinct functional portions: a fixed portion for attachment to the storage body, a swing portion for contacting and scraping the inner surface, and a contact portion that interfaces with the agitation member. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function efficiently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the swing member contacts the agitation member to swing, then the scraping effect is enhanced, but the reliability of operation decreases due to potential contact issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescraping efficiencyVSAvoidoperation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The swing member acts as an intermediary between the agitation member and the inner wall surface. It translates the rotational motion of the agitation member into swinging motion that effectively contacts and scrapes the inner top surface, enhancing the scraping effect while maintaining operational reliability through its flexible design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The swing member changes its operational parameters (position, angle, contact force) dynamically as it swings. This allows it to adapt to varying conditions during operation, maintaining effective scraping while avoiding excessive forces that could cause reliability issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2680086B1Developer storage body, image forming unit and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2020.04.22 OKI DATA CORP

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AI summary

A developer storage body includes a storage portion for storing a developer, an agitation member for agitating the developer stored in the storage portion, and a swing member that swings in the storage portion by contact with the agitation member. A contact portion is provided at a first end portion of the swing member. The contact portion contacts the agitation member. A fixed portion and a swing portion are provided at a second end portion of the swing member. The fixed portion is fixed to the storage portion. The swing portion swings in the storage portion.