Toner Cartridge Memory Holder Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Toner cartridges with integrated toner memory face challenges in design where the memory is obstructed during rotation and may rub against contacts during attachment, leading to potential damage and size issues.
Innovation Solution
A toner cartridge design featuring a memory holder movable in the third direction relative to the toner housing, keeping the toner memory out of the way during rotation and preventing contact with the housing's electric contacts, with a protrusion positioning the shutter to align with the cover opening for toner release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the toner memory is integrated into the toner cartridge, then the cartridge can store information about itself, but the memory becomes obstructed during rotation and may rub against contacts causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the toner cartridge into functionally independent modules: the toner housing, the memory holder with toner memory, and the shutter mechanism. The memory holder is positioned separately from the rotation path of the toner housing, allowing the memory to remain stationary while the toner housing rotates. This segmentation prevents the memory from being obstructed or rubbing against contacts during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a memory holder as an intermediary component that holds the toner memory at a fixed position relative to the cartridge housing. This intermediary structure decouples the memory from the moving parts, ensuring that the memory remains stationary and protected while other components perform their functions. The memory holder acts as a mediator between the stationary housing and the moving toner housing.
2Ease of operation
If the toner memory is positioned to be accessible during attachment, then information can be exchanged, but the memory may rub against counterpart electric contacts causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the memory holder and its electric contact surface in advance at a location that will naturally align with the counterpart electric contact in the housing during the attachment process. The memory holder is pre-configured with its contact surface extending in a direction that facilitates automatic alignment and contact establishment before any rubbing can occur. This preliminary positioning ensures smooth information exchange without harmful friction.
3Reliability
If the shutter is positioned to close the cover opening, then toner can be contained, but the cartridge size increases in the second direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the shutter mechanism along the first direction (length of toner housing) rather than extending it in the second direction. The shutter extends in the first direction from the toner housing, allowing it to effectively close the cover opening while minimizing the cartridge's footprint in the second direction. This dimensional reorientation resolves the contradiction between toner containment and compact size.
Data Source
AI summary
A toner cartridge includes a toner housing, a toner conveyor unit, a first cover, a shutter, a toner memory, and a memory holder. The first cover covers a toner housing opening and is movable together with the toner housing. The shutter includes a protrusion. The memory holder holds the toner memory and is movable relative to the toner housing. When the toner cartridge is attached, the protrusion is located in place, and the toner housing is movable between a close position in which the shutter closes a cover opening of the first cover and an open position in which at least part of a shutter opening of the shutter is aligned with at least part of the cover opening to allow toner to be let out through the cover opening. The position of the memory holder is different from the position of the shutter in a first direction.