Developer Container Seal Peeling Mechanism for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing developer containers require high peeling-off forces for seal member removal, leading to increased power source requirements and costs in image forming apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A developer container design featuring a rotatable member with a varying outer configuration along its axis, allowing for differential peeling of the seal member, reducing the peeling-off load by ensuring earlier peeling of end portions over central portions, and utilizing a bonding mechanism that slows the tension increase and peeling speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal member is used to block the toner supply opening, then toner leakage during transportation and replacement is prevented, but a large peeling-off force is required to remove the seal member
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is divided into multiple peeling portions (first, second, third, and fourth peeling portions) that peel off in different directions. This segmentation allows the peeling force to be distributed across multiple smaller forces applied in different directions, reducing the peak peeling-off force required while maintaining reliable sealing during transport and replacement.
2Reliability
If the peeling-off force for seal member removal is increased, then the seal member can be reliably removed, but the capacity of the power source and the strength of the driving system must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is divided into multiple peeling portions that can be peeled off in different directions. This segmentation reduces the peak force required, allowing the use of a smaller power source and driving system while still achieving reliable seal member removal.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the seal member have different peeling characteristics, with each peeling portion designed to peel in a specific direction. This local differentiation in peeling properties allows for more efficient force distribution and reduces the overall power requirements for the driving system.
3Device complexity
If the seal member is peeled off in one direction, then the structure is simple, but the peeling-off force required is large
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is divided into multiple peeling portions that peel in different directions. While this increases structural complexity compared to a single-direction peel design, the increase is minimal and the benefit of significantly reduced peeling-off force makes the added complexity worthwhile.
Data Source
AI summary
A developer container includes: a developer accommodating chamber, provided with an opening, for accommodating a developer; a sealing member including end portion sealing portions each for sealing an end portion of the opening and a central portion sealing portion for sealing a central portion of the opening; and a rotatable member, connected with the sealing member, for peeling off the sealing member from the opening by rotation thereof to expose the opening. With respect to a rotational axis direction of the rotatable member, an outer configuration of the rotatable member is different between a sealing-member-connected end thereof and a sealing-member-connected center thereof so that one of the end portion sealing portions is peeled earlier than the central portion sealing portion and so that the central portion is peeled earlier than the other one of the end portion sealing portions.