Developer Supply Container With Rotatable Engagement for Lower Mounting Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
The operation force required for mounting and dismounting developer supply containers in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses is high, making the process cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A developer supply container with a rotatable developer accommodating portion, a gear for transmitting driving force, a rotatable engaging portion, and a shaft portion that supports the engaging member, along with a restricting portion to facilitate the displacement of the developer receiving portion, reducing the operational force needed for mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the developer supply container is mounted to the developer receiving apparatus, then the developer receiving portion is displaced toward the discharge opening, but the operation force required for mounting is high
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging portion is designed to rotate about a shaft portion during the mounting process, transitioning from an initial position to a final engaged position. This dynamic rotation mechanism allows the container to be guided into place with reduced force, as the rotational motion facilitates smoother engagement compared to rigid linear insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft portion acts as an intermediary element between the engaging portion and the container body. It provides a pivot point that enables the engaging portion to rotate and guide the container into the correct position, reducing the direct force required between the user's hand and the container during mounting.
2Ease of operation
If the engaging portion is provided to engage with the portion-to-be-engaged, then the developer receiving portion is displaced to bring the receiving opening in fluid communication with the discharge opening, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging portion serves multiple functions: it engages with the portion-to-be-engaged on the container, rotates about the shaft portion to guide positioning, and simultaneously facilitates the displacement of the developer receiving portion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The engaging portion and the shaft portion are integrated into a unified rotational mounting mechanism. The engagement action, positioning guidance, and receiving portion displacement are merged into a single rotational motion sequence, simplifying the control system and reducing the number of independent components required.
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided a rotatable developer accommodating portion accommodating a developer, a discharge end portion provided at a bottom side with a discharge opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion, an engaging portion 30 engageable with a portion-to-be-engaged 11b with a mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 to displace the portion-to-be-engaged 11b in an upward direction U to bring the receiving opening into fluid communication with the discharge opening, and a swing shaft 41 rotatably supporting engaging portion 30 provided at such a position that opposite end portions of the engaging portion 30 a rotatable.