Toner Container Projections for Conveyance Without Capacity Loss
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toner containers have reduced storable capacity due to spiral grooves, leading to increased toner accumulation and wasteful toner remnants at the end of the container's life.
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 enhancing toner conveyance without reducing storage capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a spiral groove is formed on the circumferential surface of the container body, then toner conveyance is improved, but the internal volume of the container body is reduced and storable toner capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous spiral groove is segmented into multiple discrete projections arranged along the circumferential surface. These projections are distributed in multiple rows, creating a segmented structure that reduces overall volume occupation compared to a continuous groove while maintaining effective toner conveyance through the projections' interaction with toner particles during container rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-row spiral groove configuration to a multi-row projection arrangement. By distributing projections across multiple circumferential rows, the design utilizes the circumferential dimension more effectively, reducing the radial depth required for each individual projection while maintaining conveyance functionality through the collective action of multiple rows.
2Quantity of substance
If the groove is divided in the rotation axis direction to reduce its proportion, then storable toner capacity is improved, but toner accumulates between adjacent grooves and toner remaining at end state increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the container interior are assigned different functions: the multi-row projections provide toner conveyance in specific zones, while the spaces between projection rows maintain openness to prevent accumulation. The projections themselves have localized features including inclined surfaces optimized for pushing toner toward the discharge opening, creating local quality variations that enhance overall performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple rows of projections create overlapping zones of toner interaction, ensuring continuous conveyance action throughout the container volume. As the container rotates, toner particles are continuously engaged by projections from different rows, preventing accumulation in gaps and maintaining steady-state toner flow to the discharge opening throughout the container's operational life.
3Productivity
If multiple rows of projections are provided, then toner conveyance performance is improved and toner accumulation is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple rows of projections are merged into a single integrated container body structure, with all projections formed as part of the container's internal geometry. This combining approach eliminates the need for separate components or assembly steps for each projection row, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the multi-row configuration's toner conveyance advantages.
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 accumulation, maintaining storage capacity and reducing wasteful toner remnants at the end of the container's life.
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
a plurality of projections which each protrude inward and have a slope inclined with respect to the rotation axis direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5B
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.