Perpendicular Shutter Mechanism for Toner Cartridge Mounting Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing shutter mechanisms in toner cartridges for electrophotographic image forming apparatuses are complex and restricted in design freedom, especially when the cartridges are mounted at angles other than parallel to the recording medium, and become even more complex when the cartridges are reduced in size.
Innovation Solution
A simple and flexible shutter unit design that allows movement in a direction perpendicular to the mounting direction of the toner cartridge, utilizing a lever unit and a shutter unit connected by a movement guide and pin system, enabling the shutter to open and close the toner outlet effectively regardless of the mounting orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the shutter operates in a direction parallel to the mounting direction of the toner cartridge, then the operating structure is simple, but the design is restricted and cannot accommodate non-parallel mounting orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movement guide that redirects the shutter's motion from a parallel direction (relative to cartridge mounting) to a perpendicular direction. This dimensional transformation allows the shutter to operate effectively regardless of the cartridge's mounting orientation, thereby achieving both structural simplicity and mounting flexibility simultaneously
2Volume of moving object
If the toner cartridge is reduced in size, then the cartridge becomes more compact, but the shutter operating structure becomes even more complex
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the shutter's motion direction to be perpendicular to the mounting direction through the movement guide, the patent achieves a compact cartridge design without increasing structural complexity. This dimensional approach allows efficient space utilization while maintaining simple operational mechanics
3Adaptability or versatility
If the shutter movement direction is changed to be perpendicular to the mounting direction, then mounting flexibility is improved, but the shutter mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the shutter mechanism into two functional components: the shutter blade itself and the movement guide. This segmentation allows the shutter blade to remain simple while the movement guide handles the directional transformation, achieving mounting flexibility without significantly increasing overall mechanism complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The movement guide acts as an intermediary element between the shutter actuation force and the shutter blade. It transforms the actuation motion into the required perpendicular movement direction, enabling mounting flexibility while keeping the shutter blade design simple and the overall mechanism manageable
Data Source
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AI summary
A cartridge unit to discharge toner via a toner outlet and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus are provided. The cartridge unit includes a shutter unit movable between an opening position in which the toner outlet is opened and a closing position in which the toner outlet is closed in a first direction, and a lever unit movable in a second direction across the first direction, and connected to the shutter unit such that the shutter unit moves in the first direction when the lever unit moves in the second direction.