Foldable Cover Member for Toner Spill and Noise Control
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently managing toner or ink during replacement and storage, leading to potential spills and operational noise from the light scanning device.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a detachable toner cartridge with a rotating opening and closing cover and a cover member that folds to cover the manual feed tray, reducing toner spillage and noise by using a nonwoven fabric cover member that intercepts toner and provides a toner-receiving surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the opening and closing member is opened to replace the containing member, then the containing member can be replaced, but toner may spill outside the housing
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible cover member made of nonwoven fabric is disposed between the housing and the opening and closing member. This flexible film structure covers the manual feed tray and contains the toner, preventing spillage while allowing the opening and closing member to rotate freely for cartridge replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member acts as an intermediary element between the housing and the opening and closing member. It provides a toner-receiving surface that intercepts any toner that might spill during operation, and its flexible nature allows it to accommodate the movement of the opening and closing member.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the cover member is made rigid to provide structural support, then structural stability is improved, but the cover member cannot fold to cover the manual feed tray effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is constructed from flexible nonwoven fabric material that can fold and conform to the space between the housing and the opening and closing member. This flexibility allows the cover to adapt to different positions of the opening and closing member while maintaining coverage of the manual feed tray.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member is designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing it to fold and unfold as the opening and closing member moves. This dynamic configuration enables the cover to maintain effective coverage throughout the range of motion of the opening and closing member.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the cover member material is chosen for toner reception properties, then toner spillage is reduced, but the light scanning device noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible nonwoven fabric cover member absorbs and dampens vibrations and noise from the light scanning device while maintaining its toner-containing function. The flexible structure acts as a noise barrier without compromising the coverage of the manual feed tray.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member serves as an intermediary that simultaneously addresses both toner containment and noise reduction. Its positioning between the light scanning device and the external environment allows it to dampen noise while its folded configuration ensures effective toner containment.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a containing member that is detachably disposed in an interior space of the housing and that contains a color material, an opening and closing member that opens and closes an opening of the housing by rotating about an axis, which is formed in a lower portion of the housing, when the containing member is replaced, and a cover member that includes surface portions, a first end attached to the housing, and a second end attached to the opening and closing member and that forms a color-material-receiving surface by covering a region between the housing and the opening and closing member from above when the opening and closing member opens the opening, the cover member being formed to be folded such that one of the surface portions and the other surface portions face one another when the opening and closing member closes the opening.