Segmented Toner Conveyance Blade Prevents Discharge Port Accumulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing toner conveyance devices in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses are prone to rotational failure due to toner accumulation at the discharge port, leading to unstable toner conveyance.
Innovation Solution
A toner conveyance device with a conveyance member featuring a spiral first blade part, a linear second blade part, a spiral third blade part, and a fourth blade part, where the boundaries between these blades are strategically positioned within the toner discharge port to inhibit toner accumulation and ensure efficient conveyance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a continuous spiral blade is used to convey toner, then the conveyance force is strong and efficient, but toner accumulates at the discharge port causing rotational failure
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous spiral blade is divided into multiple discrete blade parts (first spiral blade part, second linear blade part, third spiral blade part) with specific boundaries. This segmentation prevents toner accumulation at the discharge port while maintaining conveyance efficiency through the coordinated action of the blade parts.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the blade have different geometric characteristics tailored to specific functions: the first and third blade parts have spiral configurations for conveyance, the second blade part has a linear configuration to prevent accumulation at the discharge port, and the boundaries are strategically positioned within the discharge port range.
2Force
If the spiral blade extends continuously to the downstream side, then toner is conveyed with large force, but toner accumulates on the downstream side of the discharge port
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is segmented into discrete parts with the second blade part specifically positioned to end within the discharge port range. This prevents the continuous spiral configuration from causing toner accumulation while maintaining sufficient conveyance force through the spiral blade parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The problematic continuous spiral configuration is extracted and replaced with a segmented structure where the second blade part is removed from the continuous spiral form. This extraction eliminates the cause of toner accumulation while preserving the necessary conveyance function through the remaining spiral blade parts.
Data Source
AI summary
A toner conveyance device includes a housing and a conveyance member. The conveyance member includes a conveyance shaft and a conveyance blade. The conveyance blade includes a first blade part, a second blade part and a third blade part. The first blade part is formed along a predetermined spiral direction. The second blade part is connected to the first blade part on a downstream side of the first blade part in a conveyance direction and extends along the conveyance direction. The third blade part is connected to the second blade part on a downstream side of the second blade part in the conveyance direction and formed along a spiral direction opposite to the spiral direction of the first blade part. A boundary between the first blade part and the second blade part is contained within a range of a toner discharge port in the conveyance direction.