Toner Supply Device Vibration Mechanism for Discharge Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toner supplying devices face issues with toner discharge failure due to adhesion to the inner walls of the container, leading to increased costs and complexity, as well as inefficient vibration methods that do not effectively address the problem.
Innovation Solution
A toner supplying device with a tubular toner bottle featuring a spiral groove and depressions at one end, where a projection with an inclined face is used to apply vibrations to the toner bottle during rotational driving, ensuring effective toner discharge without the need for additional vibration driving units, thus reducing toner discharge failure while maintaining low costs and space efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a driving unit is used to vibrate the toner container, then toner discharge failure is reduced, but cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The toner container itself generates vibrations through its rotational motion interacting with the spiral groove, eliminating the need for external vibration driving units. The container's rotation naturally creates vibrational effects that prevent toner adhesion and ensure discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes mechanical vibrations generated by the rotational motion of the toner container within the spiral groove structure. This vibration mechanism prevents toner from adhering to the container walls and ensures complete discharge without requiring additional vibration devices.
2Ease of operation
If vibrations are applied to the toner container near the toner discharge opening, then local vibration effect is achieved, but the vibration effect on the whole container is small and toner discharge failure persists
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral groove is divided into multiple sections along the length of the container, creating multiple vibration zones. As the container rotates, different sections of the groove engage with the container wall at different positions, distributing vibration effects throughout the entire container rather than concentrating them at one location.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from applying vibrations at a single point (near the discharge opening) to distributing vibrations along the entire length of the container by utilizing the spiral groove's extended structure. This dimensional extension ensures comprehensive vibration coverage.
3Productivity
If the toner container is rotated to convey toner, then toner discharge is achieved, but toner adheres to the inner wall and remains inside the container
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational motion of the toner container interacting with the spiral groove generates mechanical vibrations that prevent toner from adhering to the container walls. This vibration effect ensures that toner is continuously discharged completely rather than remaining stuck inside the container.
Solution Approach 2:
The spiral groove's curved geometry creates continuous contact and vibration along the container's inner wall as it rotates. This curved structure ensures that toner is constantly moved and vibrated along the entire length of the container, preventing adhesion and ensuring complete discharge.
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 effectively reduces toner discharge failure by applying vibrations to the entire toner bottle, ensuring efficient toner discharge and minimizing rotational resistance, thereby enhancing the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the toner supply process.
Implementation Method 1
a projection with an inclination in which the projection amount increases toward downstream in the rotational direction of the toner bottle is provided at an interior portion for installing the toner bottle and is formed to fall in the depression of the toner bottle
Data Source
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AI summary
A toner supplying device (1) includes: a toner container (2) that is tubular, includes a spiral groove (21) at an outer circumferential face (2d), a toner discharge opening (22) at one end (2a) in a longitudinal direction (D), and a depression (23) at the other end (2b) in the longitudinal direction (D), and is rotationally driven to convey toner contained in the toner container (2) along the spiral groove (21) in the longitudinal direction (D) to discharge the toner from the toner discharge opening (22); a rotational driving unit (200) that engages with the one end (2a) of the toner container (2) to rotationally drive the toner container (2) to cause the toner container (2) to discharge the toner; and a projection (52, 152) provided at an interior portion (50) at which the toner container (2) is installed, and having an inclination (52a, 152a) in which a projection amount increases toward downstream in a rotational direction of the toner container (2). The projection (52, 152) is formed to fall in the depression (23) of the toner container (2).