Developer Cartridge Movable Contact and Synchronized Shutter

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing developer cartridges for electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face issues with contamination and damage of the contact portion, leakage of developers, and improper operation of the shutter mechanism, which affect communication and toner supply efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A developer cartridge design that includes a movable contact portion, a rotary or sliding knob for switching the contact portion between hidden and protruding positions, and a shutter mechanism that synchronizes with the contact portion's movement to prevent leakage and ensure proper toner supply, featuring a stopper that restricts or permits shutter operation based on attachment status.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the contact portion is always protruding outside the developer cartridge for electrical connection, then communication with the main body is ensured, but the contact portion is susceptible to contamination and damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidcontact portion contamination and damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The contact portion is designed to be movable between a protruding position (for electrical connection) and a retracted position (for protection). The operating portion enables the contact portion to dynamically change its position, allowing it to protrude when needed for communication and retract when not in use to avoid contamination and damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The operating portion is configured to move the contact portion to the protruding position in advance before the developer cartridge is attached to the main body, ensuring that the contact portion is ready for electrical connection upon attachment. This preliminary action prevents communication failures and ensures reliable data transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the shutter is always open to allow developer discharge, then toner supply efficiency is improved, but developer leakage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoner supply efficiencyVSAvoiddeveloper leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shutter is designed as a movable component that can switch between an open position (for developer discharge) and a closed position (for preventing leakage). The operating portion synchronizes the shutter's movement with the contact portion's position, ensuring the shutter is open when the contact portion is protruding and closed when the contact portion is retracted, thus preventing developer leakage while maintaining supply efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The operating portion acts as a feedback mechanism that coordinates the positions of both the contact portion and the shutter. When the operating portion moves the contact portion to the protruding position, it simultaneously triggers the shutter to open, and when the contact portion retracts, the shutter closes. This feedback mechanism ensures proper toner supply while preventing unwanted leakage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the contact portion and shutter operate independently, then each component can function optimally, but improper operation and malfunction occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent function reliabilityVSAvoidoperation coordination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The operating portion integrates the control functions for both the contact portion and the shutter into a single unified mechanism. By combining these controls, the system ensures that both components operate in proper coordination without requiring separate control mechanisms, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The operating portion serves multiple functions: it moves the contact portion between positions, controls the shutter opening/closing, and ensures proper coordination between these two components. This multi-functional design simplifies the overall system by using a single component to manage multiple operations that would otherwise require separate mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3101483B1Developer cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus including the same

Publication Date: 2018.03.14 HP PRINTING KOREA CO LTD

Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

Provided is a developer cartridge (20) attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus. The developer cartridge includes: a memory unit including a circuit (111) and a contact portion (112) on a moving member (210) moved to a first position hidden inside the developer cartridge (20) and a second position protruding outside the developer cartridge; an operating portion (200, 201, 211, 202, 22d) configured to move the contact portion (112) to the first position and the second position; an outlet configured to discharge a developer; and a first shutter (22) having an opening position and a closing position for opening and closing the outlet and moved to the closing position and the opening position simultaneously, by the operating portion (200, 201, 211, 202, 22d), when the contact portion is moved to the first position and the second position.