Angled Toner Container Connector for Color-Specific Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming devices face challenges in ensuring accurate alignment and communication between replaceable toner containers and the device, particularly in multi-color setups, leading to potential misinstallation and cross-contamination of toner colors.
Innovation Solution
The toner container design includes angled electrical connectors with movable circuit boards and retainer mechanisms that allow for flexible positioning, ensuring unique alignment with corresponding receptacles based on toner color, preventing incorrect installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical contacts are positioned in a fixed alignment on the toner container, then manufacturing and assembly are simplified, but accurate alignment with corresponding receptacles in multi-color setups cannot be ensured, leading to misinstallation
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connector is designed with a movable circuit board that can shift position relative to the toner container body. The circuit board is retained by a retainer mechanism that allows it to move between different positions, enabling dynamic adjustment to achieve accurate alignment with corresponding receptacles during installation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Productivity
If multiple toner containers with identical constructions are used for different colors, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but incorrect installation and cross-contamination of toner colors can occur
Solution Approach 1:
While the overall toner container construction remains identical across different colors for manufacturing efficiency, the electrical connector is designed with asymmetric positioning capabilities. The movable circuit board can be positioned at different angles or locations depending on the specific container type, creating an asymmetric connection interface that prevents incorrect installation of wrong-colored toner containers while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the electrical connector is rigidly fixed to the toner container body, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptation to varying receptacle positions in different device configurations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connector employs a movable circuit board retained by a retainer mechanism that allows the connector to adapt its position dynamically. This dynamic design enables the connector to accommodate varying receptacle positions in different device configurations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, avoiding the need for complex adjustable mechanisms.
4Reliability
If tab and slot keying features are used to prevent incorrect installation, then installation correctness is ensured, but the electrical contact alignment may still be imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connector uses the tab and slot keying features to ensure correct installation orientation, while the movable circuit board provides additional precision for electrical contact alignment. The circuit board can shift position within the retainer mechanism to achieve precise alignment with the receptacle contacts, complementing the coarse orientation guidance provided by the keying features and resulting in both correct installation and precise electrical contact alignment.
Data Source
AI summary
A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a plurality of electrical contacts for contacting corresponding electrical contacts in an image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device. The electrical contacts of the toner container are accessible from below at the bottom of the body by the corresponding electrical contacts in the image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device. The electrical contacts of the toner container are spaced from each other along a horizontal dimension that is orthogonal to a vertical dimension of the toner container. A nominal position of the horizontal dimension along which the electrical contacts are spaced from each other is angled relative to a front-to-rear dimension of the toner container and a side-to-side dimension of the toner container.