Waste Toner Box Triangular Obstacle for Consistent Sensor Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, the shape of waste toner piles in the collection box varies with the content and amount of carrier, leading to inconsistent detection of fullness by sensors, resulting in potential fluctuations in the amount of waste toner stored.
Innovation Solution
A waste toner collecting device with a triangular obstacle positioned near the bottom and a sensor placed lower than the collection port but higher than the obstacle, which stabilizes the shape of the waste toner pile and allows consistent detection of fullness by the sensor, regardless of the carrier content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sensor is positioned to detect waste toner fullness, then the detection function is provided, but the detection precision fluctuates due to varying waste toner pile shapes
Solution Approach 1:
A guide wall is introduced as an intermediary structure between the waste toner inlet and the sensor. This guide wall mediates the interaction by directing the waste toner to form a consistent pile shape, thereby stabilizing the detection conditions for the sensor and improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the waste toner pile by introducing a guide wall with specific geometry. This alters how the waste toner accumulates, creating a standardized pile shape with consistent height and distribution, which stabilizes the detection parameter for the sensor.
2Volume of stationary object
If the waste toner box capacity is increased, then the storage volume is improved, but the detection reliability becomes inconsistent due to varying pile shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The guide wall serves as a mediator that ensures consistent waste toner accumulation patterns regardless of the total box volume. By controlling the local pile formation area and shape, it maintains reliable sensor detection even as the overall storage capacity increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The waste toner box is effectively segmented by the guide wall, which creates a defined accumulation zone. This segmentation ensures that the sensor detects waste toner from a controlled, standardized area, maintaining detection reliability independent of the total box capacity.
3Device complexity
If no guide structure is provided, then the device complexity is reduced, but the waste toner pile shape varies causing detection errors
Solution Approach 1:
A simple guide wall is introduced as a minimal intermediary structure. It provides the necessary function of standardizing waste toner pile shape without adding significant complexity to the overall device, achieving a balance between structural simplicity and detection precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than complicating the entire waste toner box structure, the invention applies a localized guide wall only where needed to control pile formation. This local quality approach improves detection precision by focusing structural modification on the critical detection area while keeping the rest of the device simple.
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 ensures a consistent waste toner shape and reliable detection of fullness, preventing overfilling and allowing for timely replacement of the waste toner box, thereby maintaining operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an amount of the waste toner stored in the box reaches a predetermined amount
Implementation Method 2
a triangular obstacle provided in a position opposed to a falling port for the waste toner and near a bottom surface in the box
Data Source
AI summary
A waste toner collecting device includes a box that stores a waste toner unnecessary in image formation, a collection port that is provided in an upper part of a main body of the box, receives the waste toner, and drops the waste toner into the box, a triangular obstacle provided in a position opposed to a falling port for the waste toner and near a bottom surface in the box, and a sensor that is provided in a position lower than the collection port and higher than the obstacle and detects that an amount of the waste toner stored in the box reaches a predetermined amount.