Waste Toner Collector with Variable Conveyance Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional waste toner collectors with complicated shapes and limited space face challenges in distributing waste toner evenly, leading to accumulation and inefficient containment, despite securing a large volume.
Innovation Solution
A waste toner collector design featuring a container main body with protruding containing portions and recesses, where a conveyance member with varying waste toner conveyance force along a rotary shaft directs waste toner towards protruding portions, effectively distributing it across the container's space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the waste toner collecting container has a complicated outer shape with recesses and protrusions to secure large volume, then the storage capacity is improved, but the waste toner distribution becomes poor and accumulation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance member has non-uniform conveyance force along its length, with stronger conveyance force at regions corresponding to recesses and weaker force at regions corresponding to protrusions. This local variation in conveyance force compensates for the complicated container shape, ensuring uniform waste toner distribution throughout the container volume.
2Volume of moving object
If the waste toner collecting container is downsized to meet space constraints, then the device size is reduced, but the waste toner distribution becomes even more poor
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance member's conveyance force parameter is varied along its rotary shaft direction. By adjusting the conveyance force at different positions (stronger at recesses, weaker at protrusions), the system achieves uniform waste toner distribution even in compact container designs, effectively decoupling container size from distribution quality.
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 design enhances waste toner containment efficiency by utilizing empty space in image forming apparatuses, ensuring even distribution and improved storage capacity within the container's complex shape, while reducing the number of parts and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a conveyance member configured to convey the waste toner in the container main body
Data Source
AI summary
A waste toner collector of the present invention includes: a container main body configured to collect and store waste toner; and a conveyance member configured to convey the waste toner in the container main body. The container main body is provided with, on one side wall, a plurality of protruding containing portions that protrude outward from the container main body and are disposed along a longitudinal direction of the container main body, and a plurality of recesses each positioned between adjacent ones of the protruding containing portions. The conveyance member extends along the longitudinal direction of the container main body and is rotatably disposed in the container main body. Waste toner conveyance force of the conveyance member in a rotary shaft direction varies in such a manner that, at border portions between the protruding containing portions and the recesses, the waste toner is pushed toward the protruding containing portions.