Shutter Mechanism Positioning and Sealing for Toner Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shutter mechanisms for image forming apparatuses, particularly in electrophotography, face challenges in precisely positioning and securely sealing the powder container to prevent toner leakage during attachment and detachment.
Innovation Solution
A shutter mechanism with a pair of fitting parts (first and second fitting parts) that are detachably attached to a powder container, allowing for precise positioning in a direction intersecting with the open direction of the shutter mechanism, and featuring a butt face that contacts the container to ensure secure engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shutter mechanism is provided downstream from the connecting portion to block the port for toner supply, then toner leakage is prevented during detachment, but the positioning precision and secure engagement between the shutter mechanism and powder container cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the positioning function and sealing function into a single integrated shutter mechanism. The shutter mechanism includes both a positioning portion that engages with the powder container and a shutter portion that seals the toner supply port, merging multiple functions into one component to achieve both positioning precision and leakage prevention simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a positioning portion as an intermediary element between the shutter mechanism and the powder container. This positioning portion includes engagement protrusions and engagement recesses that mediate the connection, ensuring precise positioning and secure engagement while maintaining the sealing function of the shutter
2Ease of operation
If the shutter mechanism is detachably attached to the powder container, then ease of installation and removal is improved, but positioning precision and secure engagement are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connection interface into distinct engagement protrusions and engagement recesses, allowing the shutter mechanism to be detachably attached to the powder container. This segmentation enables easy installation and removal while maintaining positioning precision through the complementary geometric shapes of the engagement features
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning portion employs asymmetric engagement features where the protrusions and recesses are positioned at specific asymmetric locations. This asymmetric design ensures that the shutter mechanism can only be attached in the correct orientation, guaranteeing positioning precision while still allowing easy attachment and detachment
Data Source
AI summary
A shutter mechanism includes an opening, an opening and closing part attached to the opening and openable and closable, a first fitting part disposed at one end with reference to a center of the opening in an open direction of the opening and closing part to move in the open direction to make engagement, a second fitting part disposed at another end opposite the one end with reference to the center of the opening to move in the open direction to make engagement, the first fitting part and the second fitting part detachably attached to a powder container containing a powder used to form an image, the first fitting part and the second fitting part used for positioning in a direction intersecting with the open direction, and a butt face orthogonal to the open direction.