Developer Container Sealing Mechanism for Toner Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing developer containers for image forming apparatuses face challenges in securely sealing the discharge port during attachment and removal, leading to potential toner leakage and scattering.
Innovation Solution
A developer container design featuring a container body with a discharge port that is sealed by an opening-and-closing member, utilizing a first elastic member to surround the port and a second elastic member that contacts the opening-and-closing member to prevent toner leakage, with a scraping member to remove excess toner and reduce sliding resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple opening-and-closing member is used to seal the discharge port, then the device complexity is reduced, but toner leakage and scattering occur during attachment and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an elastic member (flexible element) that deforms to seal between the container body and the opening-and-closing member. This flexible sealing approach prevents toner leakage while maintaining structural simplicity, as the elastic material naturally conforms to the sealing interface without requiring complex mechanical sealing components.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member acts as an intermediary element between the container body and the opening-and-closing member. This mediator provides the sealing function, allowing the two rigid components to connect while preventing toner escape, thus resolving the contradiction between simple structure and reliable sealing.
2Ease of operation
If the opening-and-closing member moves freely to open and close the discharge port, then the ease of operation is improved, but toner scattering occurs during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member provides continuous sealing during the movement of the opening-and-closing member. As the member moves to open or close the discharge port, the flexible seal maintains contact and prevents toner from scattering, allowing free movement without harmful effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member is positioned to seal the discharge port before the opening-and-closing member moves. This pre-sealing action prevents toner scattering that would otherwise occur during the movement process, cushioning against the harmful effect before it can manifest.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a scraping member is added to remove excess toner, then the harmful factors are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scraping member is integrated with the opening-and-closing member, combining the sealing function and the toner removal function into a single component. This merging approach reduces excess toner while minimizing the increase in device complexity, as the scraping function is added to an existing moving part rather than requiring a separate mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively seals the discharge port during attachment and removal, preventing toner leakage and scattering, and enhances the ease of operation by reducing resistance during the closing process.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic member that is provided so as to surround the discharge port and seals between the container body and the opening-and-closing member
Implementation Method 2
a second elastic member that comes into contact with a leading end of the opening-and-closing member in a direction in which the opening-and-closing member moves when the discharge port is closed
Data Source
AI summary
A developer container including: a container body that contains developer to be supplied to an apparatus body and is capable of being attached to and removed from the apparatus body, the container body having a discharge port through which the developer is discharged; an opening-and-closing member that opens and closes the discharge port in response to relative attachment and removal of the container body to and from the apparatus body; a first elastic member that is provided so as to surround the discharge port and seals between the container body and the opening-and-closing member; and a second elastic member that comes into contact with a leading end of the opening-and-closing member in a direction in which the opening-and-closing member moves when the discharge port is closed.