Flexible Toner Container Geometry for Easy Mounting and Refill
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toner containers for image forming apparatuses are limited in their versatility and usability, necessitating a more flexible and adaptable design to meet user demands.
Innovation Solution
A toner container made of flexible film material with specific geometric dimensions and a discharging member that allows for mounting and demounting, featuring a bag member with a side surface and bottom portion, and a discharging mechanism that ensures efficient toner transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a toner container is designed with a simple bag member structure, then ease of manufacture and device complexity are improved, but adaptability to different image forming apparatuses deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the toner container with standardized dimensional relationships (Y≥Z and Y≤2×Z) that allow it to be universally mounted on different image forming apparatuses. The bag member's geometric constraints create a universal interface that works across multiple device types without requiring complex customization, thus achieving multi-functionality and adaptability while maintaining simple construction.
2Manufacturing precision
If the bag member has fixed rigid dimensions, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of operation and adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible film material for the bag member that can be formed into precise geometric shapes with controlled dimensional relationships. The flexibility of the film allows the container to be easily mounted and demounted from image forming apparatuses, while the formed geometry maintains manufacturing precision for the critical Y≥Z and Y≤2×Z dimensional constraints.
3Productivity
If a complex discharging mechanism is used, then productivity of toner transfer is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The discharging member is designed with a self-aligning geometric configuration where the opposing surface and discharge opening automatically position themselves relative to the image forming apparatus's toner receiving area. This self-service mechanism ensures efficient toner transfer through gravity and geometric guidance alone, achieving high productivity without complex mechanical actuation systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A toner container is provided with a bag member made of flexible film material and a discharging member connected to the bag member and configured to discharge toner from an accommodating space to an outside. When a length from an opposing surface of the discharging member to an end portion in an opposite side of the opposing surface of the bag member in a first direction is defined as Xmax, and in a case in which a position X (0≤X≤Xmax) using the opposing surface as a reference in the first direction is given, a length of the bag member on a plane perpendicular to the first direction in a second direction is defined as Y and a length of the bag member on the plane in a third direction is defined as Z, in a case in which Z is Z0 in X=0, Xmax>Y≥Z in a range of 0≤X≤Xmax, 0.8×Z0≤Z≤1.2×Z0 in the range of 0≤X≤Xmax, and Y≤2×Z in a range of 0≤X<0.5×Xmax.