Curved Grip Contact Surface for Toner Container Noise Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in minimizing impact noise during toner container operation and ensuring efficient toner conveyance, leading to residual toner issues and increased production costs.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a tubular storage portion with a curved contact surface on the grip portion that rotates with the toner container, minimizing noise by tilting contact surfaces and utilizing scooping and guide portions to enhance toner conveyance force, reducing residual toner, and integrating a heat-resistant gear portion with ribs to prevent heat transfer and toner scattering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a protrusion is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the grip portion to contact the lever portion, then the unlocking function is achieved, but impact noise occurs during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the protruding cylindrical shape with a curved surface on the grip portion that contacts the lever portion. This curved surface extends from a first position on a reference circle to a second position on the reference circle, creating a smooth arc-shaped contact interface. The curvature allows for gradual engagement and disengagement with the lever portion, eliminating impact noise while maintaining the unlocking function.
2Productivity
If the storage portion rotates to convey developer, then toner supply is enabled, but residual toner remains in the storage portion
Solution Approach 1:
The curved surface on the grip portion extends from a first position to a second position on the reference circle, creating a scooping action during rotation. This curved geometry guides the developer flow and reduces residual toner by utilizing the scooping effect as the storage portion rotates, enabling more complete toner supply.
3Ease of operation
If the cover member is designed to open and close the insertion hole, then access is enabled, but the structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the cover member with the locking mechanism, where the cover member and locking mechanism work together as a unified system. The locking mechanism includes a lever portion that interacts with the curved surface on the grip portion, combining the covering and locking functions into an integrated structure that reduces overall complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a storage portion, a cover member, a locking mechanism, an unlocking portion, and a contact portion. The storage portion conveys developer stored therein in a conveying direction parallel to a rotation axis by being rotated around the rotation axis parallel to a horizontal plane in a first direction. The cover member opens and closes an insertion hole portion, into which the storage portion is inserted, in a side face of the apparatus body. The locking mechanism imposes a restriction on a state change of the cover member from a closed state to an open state. The unlocking portion removes the restriction on the state change imposed by the locking mechanism as a lever portion swings in a second direction opposite the first direction. The contact portion includes a curved surface and rotates integrally with the storage portion to come into contact with the lever portion.