Image Forming Agent Storage Container With Three-Position Operating Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming agent storage containers lack efficient mechanisms for mounting, detaching, filling, and refilling, leading to operational complexities and potential toner spills or misalignment during the process.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a container body with a discharge hole and a filling hole, an operating part that moves between three positions to control the discharge hole's openness, and a sealing mechanism to prevent toner spills, facilitating easy mounting, operation, and refilling while ensuring proper alignment with the image forming apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the discharge hole and filling hole are both formed on the container body, then the functionality is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The container body is divided into distinct functional zones with the discharge hole and filling hole positioned at opposite sides, allowing independent access and operation of each hole without interfering with the other, thus managing structural complexity while maintaining versatility
2Ease of operation
If the operating part moves between multiple positions to control the discharge hole, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The operating part is designed to move dynamically between three distinct positions (first position for opening, second position for closing, third position for sealing), allowing flexible control of the discharge hole and facilitating easy operation during mounting, detaching, filling, and refilling processes
Solution Approach 2:
The operating part's movement is segmented into discrete positional states rather than continuous motion, with each position corresponding to a specific operational mode, simplifying control logic while maintaining ease of operation
3Reliability
If the sealing part is attached to seal the filling hole, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing part is pre-configured and attached to the container body in advance, ready to seal the filling hole when needed, ensuring reliability during filling and refilling operations without requiring complex real-time sealing mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A storage container includes a container body formed with a discharge hole and a filling hole, an opening and closing part opening and closing the discharge hole, a lid member sealing the filling hole, and an operating member having a facing portion facing the filling hole and used to operate the opening and closing part. The operating member moves between a first position where the discharge hole is brought into an opened state, a second position where the discharge hole is brought into a closed state, and where the facing portion is arranged at a position which overlaps the container body, and a third position where the discharge hole is brought into a closed state, and where the facing portion is arranged at a position which does not overlap the container body in the direction of gravity in which the sealing part is attached to the container body.