Toner Container with Interlocked Spiral and Stirring Mechanisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toner containers for image forming apparatuses lack efficient mechanisms for conveying and storing toner, leading to issues with toner supply and waste toner management.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus incorporates a toner container design with separate upper and lower storage portions, equipped with spiral members for conveying toner and waste toner, and a gear transmission mechanism for interlocking the rotation of the spiral members and stirring members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single storage chamber is used for toner, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity of toner supply and waste management deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container is divided into two separate chambers: a first storage chamber for storing unused toner and a second storage chamber for storing waste toner. This segmentation allows independent management of toner supply and waste collection, improving productivity by enabling simultaneous operation of toner dispensing and waste storage without interference, while the modular design keeps the overall structure manageable.
2Productivity
If spiral members are added for conveying toner, then the productivity of toner conveyance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral member is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it conveys unused toner from the first storage chamber to the dispensing region, and also conveys waste toner from the developing device to the second storage chamber. This merging of conveyance functions into a single component improves productivity while minimizing the increase in device complexity by reducing the number of separate conveyance mechanisms needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The spiral member acts as a universal conveyance element that operates in both the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber, handling both unused toner and waste toner. This multi-functional design enhances productivity by ensuring efficient toner supply and waste management through a single versatile component, rather than requiring separate specialized mechanisms for each function.
3Reliability
If separate storage chambers are used for unused and waste toner, then the reliability of toner management is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container is divided into two separate chambers: a first storage chamber for storing unused toner and a second storage chamber for storing waste toner. This segmentation ensures that unused and waste toner are kept completely separate, preventing contamination and ensuring reliable toner management throughout the operation of the image forming apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
Both storage chambers are integrated into a single storage container that can be collectively replaced in the image forming apparatus. This merging at the container level simplifies the replacement process and maintains reliability by ensuring that both chambers are always in synchronized condition, while the internal separation provides the necessary functional distinction.
4Reliability
If a gear transmission mechanism is added to interlock spiral members, then the reliability of coordinated operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gear transmission mechanism couples the spiral member with the stirring member, making their operations interlocked and coordinated. This merging of control functions ensures that when the stirring member rotates to agitate toner in the second storage chamber, the spiral member simultaneously rotates to convey waste toner, and vice versa. This coordination improves reliability by preventing operational conflicts and ensuring synchronized function of multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The gear transmission mechanism serves as a universal coordination system that links multiple rotating components (spiral member and stirring member) into a single synchronized system. This multi-functional transmission mechanism ensures reliable coordinated operation across different functional areas of the toner management system without requiring separate control mechanisms for each component.
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
This design ensures efficient supply of unused toner to the developing device and effective storage and conveyance of waste toner, improving the overall operation and maintenance of the image forming apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a spiral member that has a spiral blade and conveys toner in one direction by being rotated while the blade is in contact with the toner
Implementation Method 2
a stirring member that stirs waste toner stored in the lower storage portion by being rotated
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An image forming apparatus (10) includes an apparatus main body (11), a developing device (33), a drum unit (31), a cleaning portion (42), a toner container (3). The toner container (3) includes a first toner storage portion (71), a first rotation member (95), a second toner storage portion (72), a second rotation member (108), a flat plate-like lid member (76), a rib member (771), a film member (127). The second rotation member (108) is rotatably provided in the second toner storage portion (72) and extends in a depth direction of the toner container (3). The lid member (76) closes an opening portion (81) of a first housing (78) of the first toner storage portion (71) and an opening portion (82) of a second housing (79) of the second toner storage portion (72). The rib member (771) is provided on an inner surface of the lid member (76) in such a way as to be located adjacent to the second rotation member (108) with a predetermined gap from the second rotation member (108), and positions the lid member (76) with respect to the opening portion (82). The film member (127) is attached to the partition wall and extending from the partition wall toward the gap such that one surface of the film member (127) contacts the rib member (771) and an opposite surface of the film member (127) contacts an outer circumferential surface of the second rotation member (108).