Toner Filling Apparatus Pneumatic Fluidization Stress Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toner filling methods, such as screw filling apparatuses, subject toner to high stress leading to property changes, and previous methods that minimize stress, like JP 3547730B, are limited by slow filling speed and long cycle times due to reliance on free fall and air suction for filling and clearing suspended toner.
Innovation Solution
A toner filling apparatus that includes a filling tank, a toner fluidizing unit, a filling path opening/closing unit, a container room sucking unit, and a control unit, which fluidizes toner using air, regulates the filling path to minimize stress, and uses a suction pipe to efficiently draw toner into a container while maintaining airtight connections to enhance filling speed and density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a screw is rotated at high speed to fill containers with toner, then filling speed is improved, but toner is subjected to large stress causing property changes such as thermal aggregates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical screw conveying system with a pneumatic system. Toners are fluidized using air and conveyed through a conveying pipe using air flow, eliminating the mechanical stress and thermal aggregates caused by high-speed screw rotation while maintaining efficient filling speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles throughout the filling process. Air is used to fluidize toners in the storage container, convey them through the conveying pipe, and control the filling process. This pneumatic approach replaces mechanical action with gas-based transport, reducing stress on toner particles.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If toner is loaded only by free fall to minimize stress, then toner properties are maintained, but filling speed is limited and cycle time increases due to air suction requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pneumatic pressure to accelerate toner particles through the conveying pipe. By controlling air flow pressure and velocity, the system achieves high filling speed while maintaining low stress on toners through gentle pneumatic transport rather than rapid free fall followed by slow air suction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous pneumatic flow throughout the filling process. Air continuously fluidizes and conveys toners from storage through the conveying pipe into containers, eliminating the intermittent stop-start nature of free fall methods and reducing the time needed to clear suspended toner.
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
The apparatus improves filling speed and density while preserving toner properties by fluidizing toner, reducing stress through elastomer components, and using a controlled suction process to manage air pressure and toner flow efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
a toner fluidizing unit configured to fluidize the toner in the storing room
Implementation Method 2
uses a suction pipe to efficiently draw toner into a container while maintaining airtight connections
Implementation Method 3
regulates the filling path to minimize stress
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4B
Figure 5~6B
AI summary
A toner filling apparatus includes a filling tank (10), a toner filling path (22) forming member, a toner fluidizing unit (30), a filling path opening/closing unit (40) and a container room sucking unit (50). The toner filling path forming member is in communication with the filling tank and forms a toner filling path connected to the toner container (2). The container room sucking unit sucks air from the toner container through a filter member which is impermeable to the toner but permeable to air. When the toner fluidizing unit fluidizes the toner in the filling tank and the filling path opening/closing unit opens the toner filling path so as to load the toner to the toner container, the container room sucking unit reduces a pressure in the toner container to a negative pressure so as to draw in the toner into the toner container (2).