Developer Storage Container with Shape Forming Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image forming apparatuses require multiple molds for manufacturing toner containers with non-compatible shapes, increasing production complexity and costs, as the non-compatible shape is integrally formed with the container body or a member attached to it.

Innovation Solution

The image forming apparatus incorporates a shape forming member that attaches to the toner container's side wall, creating a first non-compatible shape corresponding to each mounting portion, allowing for reduced mold usage by forming multiple non-compatible shapes using a single mold configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the non-compatible shape is integrally formed with the container body or a member attached to it, then the mounting portion can prevent mounting of incompatible developer storage containers, but the number of molds required for production increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting compatibility controlVSAvoidnumber of molds required

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The non-compatible shape is segmented into two parts: a base shape formed by the container body (using a standard mold) and an additional shape forming member that attaches to the container body. This segmentation allows the use of a single standard mold for all container bodies while creating different non-compatible shapes through interchangeable members, thereby reducing the number of molds required from multiple to just one.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A single container body mold is made universal by allowing it to work with multiple different shape forming members. The container body is designed with a standardized attachment structure that can accommodate various shape forming members, each creating a different non-compatible shape. This multi-functionality enables one mold to produce container bodies that can be adapted to multiple mounting portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple molds are used to produce toner containers with different non-compatible shapes, then each mounting portion can have its corresponding compatible container, but the production complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting portion compatibilityVSAvoidproduction process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The production process is segmented into two independent stages: (1) mass production of standardized container bodies using a single mold, and (2) attachment of specific shape forming members to create different non-compatible shapes. This segmentation simplifies the production process by eliminating the need for multiple complex molds while maintaining the ability to produce different compatible configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The container bodies are preliminarily formed with a standardized base structure using a single mold before the final shape differentiation step. This preliminary action allows all container bodies to be manufactured using the same mold, and the specific non-compatible shapes are added later by attaching appropriate shape forming members, thereby reducing production complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If a single mold is used to produce all container bodies, then production is simplified, but the ability to prevent mounting of incompatible containers is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction simplicityVSAvoidincompatible container prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The container is segmented into a standardized body (produced by a single mold) and a variable shape forming member (attached later). The standardized body ensures production simplicity using one mold, while the variable shape forming member restores the incompatible container prevention capability by creating different non-compatible shapes for different mounting portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shape forming member acts as an intermediary element between the standardized container body and the mounting portion. It mediates the compatibility relationship by adding the necessary non-compatible shape features to the otherwise universal container body, enabling both production simplicity and incompatible container prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11762313B2Developer storage container to reduce the number of molds and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.09.19 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A developer storage container includes a container body and a shape forming member. The developer storage container is attached to and detached from any one of three or more mounting portions provided to an image forming apparatus forming an image using a developer. The container body has a side wall portion formed in a mounting direction to the image forming apparatus. The shape forming member is attached to the side wall portion in a mode to correspond to any one of three mounting portions, forming a first non-compatible shape corresponding to this mounting portion.