Developer Container Seal Removal Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional developer container designs require increased motor size or cost to handle higher loads during seal member removal, which can be mitigated by starting the removal at the end portion of the seal portion using a simpler configuration.
Innovation Solution
A developer container with a frame, a seal member, and an unsealing member where the seal member is bonded or welded to the unsealing member on both sides excluding the center, allowing the seal member to be removed from the frame by moving the unsealing member, thereby reducing the load during seal member removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the sealing member is removed from the opening of the container, then the developer can be supplied to the developing apparatus, but a large load is generated requiring increased motor size or cost
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is divided into multiple seal portions (first seal portion and second seal portion) that are removed at different times. The unsealing shaft has fixing portions only at its both ends excluding the center portion, so that the seal portions are removed sequentially rather than simultaneously, reducing the peak load on the motor.
2Reliability
If a larger area of seal portion is removed simultaneously, then the sealing is more effective, but the load at removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal portion is segmented into a first seal portion and a second seal portion. The unsealing shaft is configured with fixing portions only at both ends, so that when the unsealing shaft rotates, the first seal portion is removed first, followed by the second seal portion. This sequential removal maintains effective sealing while reducing the removal load.
Solution Approach 2:
The unsealing shaft is designed to remove seal portions in stages rather than all at once. By removing the first seal portion before the second, the system performs partial removal action, reducing the instantaneous load while still achieving complete unsealing and developer supply.
Data Source
AI summary
A frame including an opening and configured to store a developer, a seal member configured to seal the opening, and an unsealing member including a fixing portion to which the seal member is bonded or welded are included, and by movement of the unsealing member the seal member is removed from the frame to open the opening.