Movable Waste Developer Container for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, the waste developer container often interferes with the developing cartridge when attaching or detaching it from the apparatus body due to limited space, making the process cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
The waste developer container is designed to be movable between a first position within the installment passage and a second position away from it, allowing easy access and reducing interference during cartridge installation and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the waste developer container is arranged above the developing cartridge to save space, then the space utilization is improved, but the developing cartridge cannot be easily attached or detached due to interference from the waste developer container
Solution Approach 1:
The waste developer container is made movable between a first position (within the installment passage) and a second position (away from the installment passage). This dynamic repositioning allows the container to clear the path for developing cartridge installation and removal, resolving the interference problem while maintaining compact space utilization when the container is in the first position.
Solution Approach 2:
The waste developer container is automatically moved to the second position (away from the installment passage) in advance before the developing cartridge installation or removal operation begins. This preliminary action prevents interference with the cartridge handling process, ensuring smooth operation without requiring manual intervention to clear the path.
2Device complexity
If the waste developer container is fixed in position to simplify structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the developing cartridge installation and removal become difficult due to interference
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a completely fixed structure, the waste developer container employs a simple movable mechanism that transitions between two discrete positions. This dynamic design maintains relative structural simplicity while enabling the container to clear the installment passage when needed, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and operational ease.
3Ease of operation
If the waste developer container is positioned away from the installment passage to avoid interference, then the ease of operation is improved, but the space utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The waste developer container dynamically transitions between a first position (within the installment passage for compact arrangement) and a second position (away from the passage for easy cartridge handling). This dynamic repositioning resolves the space utilization issue by allowing compact packaging while maintaining operational ease through automatic clearance during installation and removal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically moves the waste developer container to the second position (away from the installment passage) in advance before cartridge installation or removal begins. This preliminary action ensures the container does not interfere with cartridge handling, maintaining operational ease without requiring permanent separation that would waste space.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus is provided with: an apparatus body; a photosensitive member; a developing cartridge configured to have a developer supporting body; a cleaner configured to collect developer remaining on the photosensitive member; and a waste developer container configured to contain developer collected by the cleaner. The apparatus body is configured to have an installment passage, through which the developing cartridge passes when the developing cartridge is installed into and removed from the apparatus body. The waste developer container is configured to be movable between a first position at which at least a part of the waste developer container is located within the installment passage and a second position at which the waste developer container is located away from the installment passage.