Toner Cartridge Reception Shutter for Faster Toner Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses require a significant amount of time for toner to spread evenly throughout the development container after supply, prolonging the toner supplying operation.
Innovation Solution
A cartridge design featuring a toner housing with a reception portion and a discharge port, equipped with a reception shutter that rotates between open and closed positions to facilitate efficient toner transfer from a toner container, and a development roller that rotates to distribute toner to a photosensitive drum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If an agitator is used to spread toner over the entire development container, then toner distribution is improved, but the time required for toner supply operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge port is pre-positioned on the side surface of the toner housing at a location that allows gravity to naturally guide toner flow across the entire development container. This preliminary structural arrangement eliminates the need for post-supply agitation, as toner is deposited in an optimal distribution pattern from the start
Solution Approach 2:
The agitator mechanism is completely removed from the system. Instead of using mechanical agitation to spread toner, the invention extracts this function by redesigning the discharge port location and orientation to achieve natural gravity-based distribution across the development container
2Quantity of substance
If toner is supplied to the development container, then the development container is replenished, but it takes time for the supplied toner to spread over the entire development container
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge port is positioned at a specific location on the side surface of the toner housing, creating a localized entry point that directs toner flow along the gravity vector. This localized quality of the discharge port geometry and position ensures that toner naturally spreads across the entire development container area without requiring additional time or mechanical intervention
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design significantly reduces the time required for toner to spread evenly within the development container, enhancing the efficiency of toner supply operations.
Implementation Method 1
The reception portion has a reception port for receiving toner into the toner housing. The discharge port is for discharging toner in the toner housing.
Implementation Method 2
The development roller is configured to supply toner in the toner housing to a photosensitive drum. The development roller is rotatable about a development axis extending in the first direction.
Data Source
AI summary
A toner housing includes a reception portion and a discharge port. A reception shutter is attached to the reception portion. The reception shutter is movable between a reception shutter closed position at which a reception port is closed and a reception shutter open position at which the reception port is open. The reception portion is connectable to a toner container configured to store toner that is supplied to the toner housing. The reception port is configured to receive toner from the toner container in a state where the toner container is connected to the reception portion and the reception shutter is located at the reception shutter open position. The reception shutter is rotatable, together with the toner container, between the reception shutter closed position and the reception shutter open position in a state where the toner container is connected to the reception portion.