Detachable Toner Cartridge Cap for Refill and Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toner cartridges are designed as disposable and require disassembly for recycling, making the process cumbersome due to the need to replace the storage bag with new toner.
Innovation Solution
A cartridge design featuring a detachable cap for the casing opening, allowing toner refill without disassembling the casing, and a rotatable shaft to open and close the storage bag opening for easy recycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cartridge is designed as disposable with a sealed casing, then the reliability and toner containment are improved, but the ease of recycling and refilling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is divided into separable components: a reusable casing and a replaceable storage bag. The casing includes a detachable cap that can be removed to access the storage bag opening, allowing the storage bag to be replaced without disassembling the entire casing structure. This segmentation enables easy recycling while maintaining reliable toner containment during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A detachable cap serves as an intermediary element between the external environment and the storage bag opening. The cap can be attached to seal the opening for reliable toner containment, or detached to allow access for storage bag replacement, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of reliability and ease of recycling.
2Reliability
If the storage bag opening is permanently sealed, then the toner containment is improved, but the ease of refilling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The detachable cap is pre-configured on the casing before the storage bag is installed. This preliminary preparation allows the cap to be easily attached or detached during refilling operations without requiring complex disassembly, thus maintaining reliable sealing while enabling easy refilling.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing mechanism transitions from a static permanent seal to a dynamic seal that can be attached and detached. The detachable cap provides a dynamic sealing solution that maintains reliable toner containment when attached, yet allows easy access for refilling when detached, resolving the contradiction between sealing reliability and refilling ease.
3Strength
If the casing is made as a single integrated structure, then the structural strength is improved, but the device complexity for recycling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge structure is segmented into the casing and storage bag as separate components. The casing itself remains as a single integrated structure for strength, while the storage bag is a separate replaceable component. This segmentation allows the casing to maintain structural strength while reducing recycling complexity, as only the storage bag needs to be replaced rather than disassembling the entire casing.
Data Source
AI summary
A cartridge includes: a casing having a first opening; a storage bag accommodated in the casing and having a second opening; a seal for closing the second opening; a shaft rotatable; and a cap for closing the first opening. Toner is configured to be replenished through the first opening. Toner stored in the storage bag is configured to be discharged into the casing through the second opening. The shaft is rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction together with the seal such that the seal closing the second opening is peeled off to open the second opening. The cap is attachable to and detachable from the casing.