Toner Cartridge Regulating Unit Prevents Leakage During Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image forming apparatuses, such as laser printers, face issues with toner leakage due to the loosening of the feed opening during transportation, which is caused by vibration and impact, leading to inefficiencies in packaging and convenience when unpacking the printer.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus is designed with a regulating unit that engages with the toner cartridge to prevent it from departing from the holding unit, ensuring the toner cartridge remains securely in place during transportation, thus preventing toner leakage and enhancing packaging efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the feed opening is loosened by vibration and impact during delivery, then the toner cartridge can be easily installed, but toner leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a regulating unit in advance that prevents the container from departing from the holding unit during transportation. This preliminary constraint ensures that vibration and impact do not cause the feed opening to loosen, thereby preventing toner leakage while maintaining ease of installation when the regulating unit is removed after delivery.
2Productivity
If the toner cartridge is mounted on the printer before delivery, then delivery efficiency is improved, but the cartridge may depart during transportation causing toner leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by introducing a regulating unit that counteracts the harmful effect of vibration and impact during transportation. This regulating unit prevents the container from departing from the holding unit, thereby maintaining cartridge position stability while allowing the printer to be delivered with the cartridge mounted, thus preserving delivery efficiency.
3Reliability
If additional vibration prevention measures are added, then toner leakage is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the regulating unit as a multi-functional component that not only prevents the container from departing during transportation but also maintains the positional stability of the cartridge. This single regulating unit serves multiple protective functions, thereby preventing toner leakage without significantly increasing device or packaging complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a container that contains a visualizing agent consumed with an operation of forming a visual image on a recording medium; a holding unit that detachably holds the container; and a regulating unit that is disposed in a packing member for packing the image forming apparatus and engages with a part of the container so as to prevent the container from departing from the holding unit.