Developer Cartridge Sheet Member Seal Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing developer cartridges for image-forming devices, such as laser printers, require high accuracy and significant work to mount multiple seal members correctly, as incorrect positioning of one seal member can prevent proper mounting of others, leading to potential developer leakage.
Innovation Solution
A developer cartridge design featuring a casing with a sheet member between the casing and the developing roller, where multiple seal members are attached to the sheet member to prevent developer leakage, allowing for accurate and efficient mounting by reducing the complexity of individual seal placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple seal members are individually mounted in the developer cartridge, then developer leakage prevention is improved, but mounting complexity and work required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple seal members (side seals and blade seal) onto a single sheet member that is mounted as one unit between the developing roller and the casing. This merging approach maintains the leakage prevention function of multiple seals while dramatically reducing mounting complexity from individual seal installation to a single unit installation.
2Reliability
If multiple seal members are individually mounted with high accuracy, then sealing reliability is improved, but time and work required for mounting increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seal members are pre-assembled onto the sheet member before the sheet member is installed into the developer cartridge. This preliminary assembly action allows the seals to be positioned and secured in advance, eliminating the need for time-consuming individual seal positioning and mounting during cartridge installation, while maintaining high sealing reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If individual seal members are mounted with high accuracy, then sealing performance is improved, but difficulty of mounting increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet member serves as an intermediary carrier that holds multiple seal members in their correct positions. By mounting the seals onto the sheet member first, the sheet member acts as a mediator that transfers the pre-positioned seals to their final locations between the developing roller and casing, eliminating the difficulty of individually positioning multiple seals while maintaining high positioning accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A developer cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller, a sheet member, and a plurality of seal members. The casing accommodates developer and is formed with an opening for communicating inside of the casing with outside thereof. The developing roller is disposed on the opening and is rotatably supported on the casing. The sheet member is disposed between the casing and the developing roller. The plurality of seal members is attached to the sheet member in order to prevent the developer from leaking through the opening.