Developer Cartridge Counting Mechanism with Radial Protrusions
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing developer cartridges face challenges in production precision and cost due to the requirement for high matching precision between the moving member and the rotary shaft in the counting mechanism, leading to difficulties in ensuring that the moving member does not rotate around the rotary shaft when in contact with the contact lever while still driving the information detection mechanism to rotate.
Innovation Solution
A developer cartridge with a counting mechanism that includes a rotary member and a fixed member, where the rotary member can rotate relative to the cartridge, featuring protrusions that move perpendicular to the side wall under the action of a counting mechanism driving member, utilizing an elastic component to adjust the position of the rotary member and a support pillar to prevent repeated contact with the contact lever, thus simplifying and improving the reliability of the counting mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional counting mechanism with a moving member and rotary shaft is used, then the counting function can be achieved, but high matching precision is required between the moving member and rotary shaft, leading to difficult production and high costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the moving member from the rotary shaft, allowing the protrusion to move linearly perpendicular to the side wall while the gear rotates. This separation eliminates the need for high precision matching between moving parts, as the protrusion simply needs to engage with the contact lever at specific positions during rotation, significantly simplifying manufacturing requirements while maintaining counting reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the motion dimension of the counting mechanism by making the protrusion move perpendicular to the side wall (radial direction) rather than rotating around the rotary shaft (tangential direction). This dimensional change allows the protrusion to be pushed out by the gear rotation and contact the lever without requiring precise rotational alignment, thereby reducing manufacturing precision requirements while achieving accurate counting
2Ease of operation
If the moving member is designed to rotate around the rotary shaft to drive the information detection mechanism, then the counting function works, but it is difficult to ensure the moving member does not rotate when in contact with the contact lever, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the rotary shaft from the counting mechanism structure. The protrusion is now fixed on the gear and moves linearly perpendicular to the side wall during gear rotation, eliminating the complex rotary shaft assembly and its associated alignment requirements. This simplification reduces device complexity while maintaining the ease of operation through straightforward gear-driven protrusion movement
Solution Approach 2:
The gear serves multiple functions: it drives the development process, rotates the protrusion into position, and provides the counting action through the protrusion-lever interaction. By making the gear multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate moving members and rotary shafts, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving the counting operation functionality
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 solution simplifies the structure of the counting mechanism, reduces production complexity and costs, and enhances market competitiveness by ensuring accurate counting without the need for high precision matching, thereby addressing the issues of difficult production and high precision requirements in prior art.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic component applying an elastic force to the rotary member to move the rotary member closer to the fixed member
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a developer cartridge with a counting mechanism. The developer cartridge comprises a developer and the counting mechanism, wherein the counting mechanism is provided with protrusions which come in contact with a contact lever on an electronic photographing device so as to count the developer cartridge; and each protrusion has a first position and a second position in the direction perpendicular to a side wall of the developer cartridge, and is, in the first position, in contact with the contact lever, but is not, in the second position, in contact with the contact lever. The working principle of the developer cartridge adopting the counting mechanism is greatly different from the prior art. Therefore, the structure of the counting mechanism of the developer cartridge is simpler and more convenient and reliable; the production precision and the production cost are reduced; and the market competitiveness of the developer cartridge is improved.