Developer Container Guide Mechanism for Toner Leakage Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently mounting and dismounting developer containers, leading to potential toner leakage and operational inefficiencies due to complex shutter mechanisms and orientation requirements.

Innovation Solution

The image forming apparatus incorporates a developer container with a container shutter and guide mechanism that allows for guided mounting and rotation to expose the toner discharge port, ensuring secure closure and easy operation by aligning the toner discharge port with the supply port through a specific rotational direction, utilizing a guide mechanism and shutter system to prevent leakage and facilitate easy handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional shutter mechanism is used to control toner discharge, then the toner supply can be controlled, but the mounting and dismounting process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoner supply controlVSAvoidshutter mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the shutter mechanism from the toner container, allowing the container to be simply mounted and dismounted without complex shutter operations. The shutter is separated into a stationary component in the main body, while the container only needs to provide a discharge port that aligns with the supply port during mounting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The toner supply system is segmented into independent components: the toner container with discharge port, the main body with supply port and stationary shutter, and the guide mechanism. This segmentation allows the container to be handled independently without manipulating the shutter, simplifying the mounting process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the toner container is designed with a simple mounting structure, then the mounting process is simplified, but toner leakage may occur during handling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting simplicityVSAvoidtoner leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide mechanism acts as an intermediary between the toner container and the main body during mounting. It guides the container into the correct position, ensuring the discharge port aligns with the supply port before the container is fully inserted, thereby preventing toner leakage while maintaining simple mounting operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide mechanism performs preliminary alignment of the discharge port with the supply port before the container is fully mounted. This preliminary action ensures that toner will not leak during the mounting process, as the ports are already positioned correctly to receive toner flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the container shutter is made movable to expose the discharge port, then toner discharge is enabled, but the risk of accidental toner release and stains increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoner discharge capabilityVSAvoidtoner stains

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shutter mechanism is extracted from the movable container and placed as a stationary component in the main body. The container itself remains simple and fixed-structure, eliminating the risk of accidental shutter movement and toner release during handling, while still enabling toner discharge through proper alignment with the supply port.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Manufacturing precision

If a guide mechanism is added to ensure proper mounting orientation, then toner discharge alignment is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveport alignment precisionVSAvoidguide mechanism structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide mechanism uses simple geometric features (guide rails, positioning pins, or shaped interfaces) rather than complex mechanical systems. These features passively guide the container into the correct orientation through its own weight and shape, eliminating the need for motors, sensors, or active control mechanisms, thus achieving precise alignment with minimal added complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9785088B2Image forming apparatus including developer container, and the developer container

Publication Date: 2017.10.10 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing roller, a transfer section, a developer container, and a main unit. The image carrier has a surface for allowing an electrostatic latent image to be formed thereon, and carries a developed image. The developer container includes a container body having a side wall extending in a first direction, a container shutter, and a developer discharge port. The container shutter covers or exposes the developer discharge port. The main unit includes a housing and a guide mechanism. The developer container is mounted into the mounting section while being guided by the guide mechanism, and subsequently the container body of the developer container is rotated in a first rotational direction so that the developer discharge port communicates with the developer supply port and the side wall of the developer container is oblique to the vertical plane at an angle.