Waste Toner Solidification Apparatus Using External Heater
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophotographic printing, residual or waste toner accumulates on the photosensitive medium and printing surface, potentially reducing image quality by adhering to subsequent prints.
Innovation Solution
A waste toner solidification apparatus that collects and solidifies powderized waste toner into pellets using an external heating source, allowing for convenient and clean removal without the need for complex mechanical systems or additional agents, and enabling the reuse of the waste container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If waste toner is removed using conventional mechanical systems, then waste toner removal is achieved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical waste toner removal systems with a thermal processing system. An external heater applies heat to melt waste toner, and a plunger pushes the melted toner through a nozzle to form removable pellets. This substitution of mechanical scraping or brushing mechanisms with thermal processing simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining effective waste toner removal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of waste toner from solid to liquid through heating, enabling easier removal. By controlling temperature parameters, the system melts waste toner to facilitate its extrusion through the nozzle as cohesive pellets. This parameter change approach eliminates the need for complex mechanical scraping systems.
2Loss of energy
If waste toner is solidified using the fuser's waste heat, then energy utilization is improved, but waste toner solidifies in feed tubes requiring complex mechanical systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heating function from the fuser assembly and implements it as a separate external heater positioned near the waste toner collection chamber. This external heater independently melts waste toner without relying on the fuser's waste heat, thereby avoiding the problem of waste toner solidifying in feed tubes while still achieving energy-efficient waste toner processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary external heater as a mediator between the waste toner collection chamber and the melting process. This external heater serves as an intermediate heating device that processes waste toner separately from the main printing pathway, preventing solidification issues in feed tubes while enabling effective waste toner pellet formation.
3Ease of operation
If powderized waste toner is directly collected, then collection simplicity is maintained, but waste toner adheres to printing surfaces reducing image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of waste toner from powder to liquid through heating, then to solid pellets through controlled cooling and extrusion. This parameter transformation prevents the waste toner from remaining in a fine powder state that could easily adhere to printing surfaces and degrade image quality, while the pelletized form is easier to handle and remove.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of waste toner material - melting from solid to liquid state, then cooling and solidifying into pellets. This phase transition process transforms loose powderized waste toner into cohesive solid pellets that are contained and removed systematically, preventing them from scattering and adhering to printing surfaces where they would compromise image 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
The apparatus effectively removes waste toner by forming solid pellets, reducing power consumption and simplifying design, while allowing the waste container to be reused, thus maintaining printing device efficiency and image quality.
Implementation Method 1
The external heater is configured to heat the powderized waste toner in the nozzle to a temperature sufficient to melt the waste toner and solidify the melted waste toner to form a plurality of waste toner pellets
Implementation Method 2
heating the waste toner using the external heater, wherein the heating is sufficient to melt the waste toner in the nozzle
Implementation Method 3
solidify the melted waste toner substantially when exiting the nozzle to form a plurality of solid waste toner pellets
Data Source
AI summary
A waste toner solidification apparatus for a printing device includes a nozzle configured to receive waste toner from a hopper. A heater is configured to heat the waste toner in a manner sufficient to liquefy the waste toner within the nozzle. Substantially when exiting the nozzle, the liquefied waste toner solidifies and forms a plurality of solid waste toner pellets.