Developer Container Protruding Portion Prevents Spillage
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing image formation apparatuses, developer containers often spill developer when detached, leading to contamination of the surroundings due to adherence to opening/closing members and improper sealing.
Innovation Solution
A developer supply device with a developer container featuring a protruding portion on its opening/closing member and an engagement portion on the holder, which engages before the supply and reception ports align, preventing spillage and reducing adherence during detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the developer container is detached from the holder, then the developer can be supplied to the reception port, but the developer adheres to the opening/closing member and spills out contaminating the surroundings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protruding portion on the opening/closing member as an intermediary element that catches and retains developer during detachment. This mediator prevents direct contact between the developer and the external environment, allowing the container to be removed without spilling developer onto the surroundings.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement portion is positioned to engage with the protruding portion before the supply port and reception port are aligned. This preliminary engagement action ensures that the opening/closing member is already in place to contain any developer that might spill during the detachment process, preventing contamination before it occurs.
2Reliability
If the opening/closing member is positioned close to the supply port for effective sealing, then sealing is improved, but developer adheres more to the opening/closing member during detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The protruding portion serves as a mediator that intercepts developer during detachment. By positioning this intermediary element strategically, the patent allows the opening/closing member to remain close to the supply port for effective sealing while the protruding portion catches any developer that might adhere, preventing it from spilling outward.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the developer-retention function from the opening/closing member body by adding a separate protruding portion. This extracted element specifically handles the developer adherence issue, allowing the main opening/closing member to focus on sealing without compromise.
Data Source
AI summary
A developer supply device according to an embodiment may include: a developer container; and a developer container holder to which the developer container is to be attached in a first direction. The developer container includes: a shutter movable between a closing position to close a supply port of a housing thereof and an opening position to open the supply port; and a sealing member provided between the housing and the shutter. The shutter includes: a cover portion including a cover surface configured to close the supply port; and a protruding portion projected in the first direction from the cover portion and provided at a position spaced apart from the cover surface to a side of the developer container holder. The developer container holder includes an engagement portion to be engaged with the protruding portion in a state where the developer container is attached to the developer container holder.