Toner Replenishing Device Sensor Cleaning Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toner replenishing devices face issues with accurate detection of toner remaining amounts in smaller containers, leading to erroneous detections due to toner adherence on detection surfaces, which affects image density and device size reduction efforts.
Innovation Solution
A toner replenishing device equipped with a toner detection sensor, a detection surface cleaning member, and a toner collecting unit, where the detection surface cleaning member rotates to clean the sensor and the toner collecting unit ensures toner is collected near the detection surface, preventing erroneous detections and maintaining accurate toner level monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the capacity of the toner container is reduced to decrease device size, then device size is reduced, but toner detection accuracy deteriorates due to toner adherence on the detection surface
Solution Approach 1:
The detection surface cleaning member performs preliminary cleaning action before toner detection occurs. By continuously or periodically cleaning the detection surface of the toner container, toner adhesion is prevented in advance, ensuring accurate toner level detection even in reduced-size containers where toner may more easily adhere to surfaces.
2Productivity
If the number of revolutions of the toner agitation member is increased to increase image formation speed, then productivity is improved, but toner flowability deteriorates due to excessive air mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the agitation speed based on operational needs. The toner agitation member's rotation speed can be varied - increased during idle periods to prevent toner aggregation, and reduced during active image formation to maintain proper toner flowability and prevent excessive air mixing, thus balancing productivity with toner quality.
3Measurement precision
If the toner detection sensor is placed to monitor toner level accurately, then measurement precision is improved, but false detection occurs due to toner adhesion on the detection surface
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning member that contacts the detection surface converts the potential harm of toner adhesion into a beneficial self-cleaning mechanism. By designing the cleaning member to rotate and contact the detection surface, any toner that adheres is automatically removed, and the cleaning action itself can be monitored to trigger appropriate responses in the control system.
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 solution enables accurate detection of toner remaining amounts even in smaller containers, preventing erroneous signals and ensuring stable image density, while allowing for the reduction of device size by improving toner management and detection precision.
Implementation Method 1
The toner detection sensor of the above piezoelectric vibration type is a sensor that detects whether a load is applied using the following principle. In the toner detection sensor, electrodes are provided on both surfaces of a plate-like piezoelectric ceramics. Then, if a load is applied in a state where an alternate signal is applied to the electrodes on both surfaces thereof to oscillate the electrodes, phase characteristics thereof change.
Data Source
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AI summary
A toner replenishing device includes a sub hopper (48) (toner container), a toner detection sensor (72), an agitator (74), and a paddle (75). The sub hopper (48) contains toner. The toner detection sensor (72) is located on a wall surface in the sub hopper (48) and detects whether toner remains at a height at which it is located. The agitator (74) rotates in the sub hopper (48) to clean the detection surface of the toner detection sensor (72). The paddle (75) serves as a toner collecting unit that collects toner to the vicinity of the detection surface of the toner detection sensor (72) in the sub hopper.