Rotating Developer Supply Container for Low-Force Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The operation force required for mounting and dismounting developer supply containers in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses is high, making the process cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A developer supply container design featuring a rotatable developer accommodating portion, a discharging portion with a discharge opening, and an engaging portion with a recess that rotates to align the receiving and discharge openings, reducing the operational force needed for mounting by facilitating fluid communication between them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the developer supply container is mounted using a conventional structure, then the developer receiving portion can be displaced toward the discharge opening, but the operation force required for mounting is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging portion is designed to rotate during the mounting operation, transforming the static engagement process into a dynamic rotational movement. This rotation allows the engaged portion to be guided smoothly into the recess, reducing the linear force required for mounting while maintaining effective engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The recess in the engaging portion acts as an intermediary element that guides and facilitates the engagement between the developer supply container and the developer receiving apparatus. By providing a rotational path through the recess, the mounting operation requires less force compared to direct linear engagement.
2Ease of operation
If the engaging portion is made rotatable to reduce mounting force, then the operational ease is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging portion is integrated with the developer supply container body, combining the container structure with the engagement mechanism. This merging reduces the need for separate complex components while maintaining the rotational engagement functionality, thereby limiting the increase in overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable engaging portion introduces dynamic movement to simplify the mounting operation. By allowing rotation during engagement, the system achieves easier operation without requiring additional complex mechanisms, as the rotation is inherent to the engaging portion's design.
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer, a discharge portion formed with a discharge opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion, and an engaging portion 30. The engaging portion 30 is engaged with an engaged portion 11b with a mounting operation of a developer supply container 1 to displace a developer receiving portion 11 in an upward direction U so that the receiving opening communicates with the discharge opening. The engaging portion 30 has a holding portion 31 which is provided rotatably about a rotation shaft 41 and is provided with holding portion 21 to be engaged with the engaged portion 11b to hold the engaged portion 11b. With the mounting operation, the engaging portion 30 rotates about the rotation shaft 41 so that the engaged portion 11b held by the holding portion 31 moves upward U.