Developer Container Sealing Member with Non-Welded Sandwiching Portion

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing toner sealing mechanisms in image forming apparatuses require high torque to peel off the toner sealing member, which is energy inefficient and difficult to handle in terms of downsizing, as they rely on welded portions for sealing, leading to potential toner leakage.

Innovation Solution

A developer container design featuring a sealing member with a folded-back portion that is sandwiched by a non-welded sandwiching portion, reducing the torque required for unsealing while maintaining effective toner containment through a combination of temporary sealing and potential welding at specific regions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a welded portion is used to seal the opening of the developer accommodating portion, then toner leakage is prevented, but the torque required to peel off the toner sealing member becomes large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoner leakage preventionVSAvoidtorque for unsealing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing structure is divided into multiple functional zones: a welded portion for reliable sealing, a non-welded sandwiching portion for easy unsealing, and a folded-back portion for structural support. This segmentation allows different regions to serve different purposes, resolving the contradiction between strong sealing and easy unsealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the sealing member have different properties: the welded portion provides strong adhesion for toner leakage prevention, while the non-welded sandwiching portion provides low resistance for easy unsealing. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between strong sealing and easy unsealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a welded portion is used to seal the opening, then sealing reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases due to high unsealing torque

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidenergy for unsealing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing member is segmented into welded and non-welded portions, allowing the unsealing operation to occur only at the non-welded sandwiching portion while the welded portion maintains sealing integrity. This reduces the energy required for unsealing while preserving sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The non-welded sandwiching portion provides a localized low-resistance path for unsealing, concentrating the unsealing action in a specific region rather than requiring forceful peeling across the entire welded perimeter. This local quality differentiation reduces energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Force

If the toner sealing member is completely non-welded, then unsealing torque is reduced, but toner leakage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunsealing torqueVSAvoidtoner containment

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing member is segmented into welded portions for toner containment and non-welded sandwiching portions for unsealing. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both low unsealing torque and reliable toner containment by distributing different functions to different segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the sealing member have different bonding characteristics: welded regions provide strong adhesion for toner containment, while non-welded regions provide easy unsealing. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between strong sealing and easy unsealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of operation

If the sealing member is made flexible to reduce unsealing torque, then ease of operation is improved, but structural stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of unsealingVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing member is segmented into flexible non-welded portions for easy unsealing and stable welded portions for structural integrity. This segmentation allows the flexible portions to be easily peeled while the welded portions maintain structural stability during toner filling and storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the sealing member have different mechanical properties: the non-welded sandwiching portion is flexible for easy unsealing, while the welded portion is rigid for structural stability. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between flexibility and stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9897970B2Developer container, developing device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2018.02.20 CANON KK

AI summary

A developer container includes a frame, provided with an opening, for accommodating a developer; a sealing member, including a folded-back portion, for sealing the opening; and a sandwiching portion for sandwiching the folded-back portion of the sealing member. In a plane perpendicular to the opening, the sealing member is nonwelded in the sandwiching portion.