Toner Supply Pipe Layout Around Laser Paths in Image Forming Units
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently supplying toner from detachable containers while avoiding interference with the laser beam path, leading to potential blockages and assembly errors.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus is designed with flexible toner supply pipes that are bendable and positioned to avoid the laser beam path, using guide members to regulate their position, and integrated with a laser scanner unit to minimize interference and assembly errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the toner supply pipe is positioned to supply toner from the toner container to the developing container, then the toner supply function is achieved, but the pipe may block the laser beam path to the photosensitive drum
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the toner supply pipe in the second direction (vertical direction intersecting with the first direction) such that it passes through a region outside the light path of the laser beam. By utilizing the vertical dimension and arranging the pipe to pass through the wall of the developing container from the front side, the pipe routing is separated from the laser beam path in the first direction, thereby avoiding blockage while maintaining toner supply function.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall of the developing container serves as an intermediary structure. The toner supply pipe passes through this wall, which regulates the pipe's position and ensures it remains outside the laser beam path. The wall acts as a mediator that separates the toner supply function (pipe) from the laser exposure function (light path), preventing interference between these two functions.
2Ease of manufacture
If the pipe is made rigid for structural stability, then positioning is easier, but the pipe cannot accommodate the movement of developing rollers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that the toner supply pipe is made of flexible material. This flexibility allows the pipe to accommodate the movement of the developing roller while maintaining its functional position for toner supply. The flexible material enables the pipe to bend and adapt to positional changes without compromising its ability to deliver toner from the toner container to the developing container.
3Volume of moving object
If the pipe length is minimized for compact design, then the device size is reduced, but assembly precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wall of the developing container serves as an intermediary structure that regulates the position of the toner supply pipe. By passing the pipe through the wall, the system achieves compact design with minimized pipe length while the wall provides the necessary positional regulation and guidance, thereby reducing the impact of assembly precision requirements.
4Volume of moving object
If the pipe passes close to the laser beam path to reduce pipe length, then compact design is achieved, but the risk of blocking the light path increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension (second direction) to route the toner supply pipe through the wall of the developing container. By positioning the pipe in this vertical dimension rather than closely alongside the laser beam path in the horizontal plane, the system achieves compact pipe length while maintaining sufficient separation from the light path, thereby minimizing blockage risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall of the developing container acts as an intermediary barrier that separates the toner supply pipe from the laser beam path. The pipe passes through the wall, which provides a physical separation and regulates the pipe's position, ensuring it remains outside the light path even when the pipe is positioned close to the developing container where the laser beam operates.
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 configuration ensures seamless toner supply without blocking the laser beam path, reducing assembly errors, and allows for a compact design by minimizing pipe length and using flexible materials to accommodate the developing rollers' movement.
Implementation Method 1
a laser scanner, a first photosensitive drum configured to be irradiated with a laser beam by the laser scanner to form an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the first photosensitive drum
Implementation Method 2
a first developing unit including a first developing roller configured to supply a first toner to the first photosensitive drum to develop a first toner image
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus is configured such that a second photosensitive drum is disposed between a first toner container and a first developing container in a first direction, a part of a first pipe is disposed to pass a region outside a light path of a laser beam radiated from a laser scanner to the second photosensitive drum in a second direction, and at least a part of a wall is a region between the part of the first pipe and the light path in the second direction and is disposed in a region overlapping with the light path when viewed in a direction of a rotational axis of the second photosensitive drum.