Toner Cartridge Shutter Mechanism for Leak-Free Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toner cartridges face challenges in effectively preventing toner leakage during mounting and dismounting operations, and there is a need for improved mechanisms to ensure secure sealing and efficient toner discharge.
Innovation Solution
A toner cartridge design featuring a rotatable open/close member with an engaging portion that moves between engaging and retracted positions, allowing for controlled opening and closing of the discharge opening during mounting and dismounting, utilizing a rotating operation to manage the engaging portion's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the toner cartridge is rotated during mounting to open the shutter, then the shutter opening function is achieved, but the structure becomes more complex and the operation becomes less reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the shutter opening function with the mounting operation itself. The shutter is opened automatically when the toner cartridge is inserted into the image forming apparatus, merging two operations (mounting and shutter opening) into one unified action. This eliminates the need for separate shutter opening mechanisms and reduces overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter is positioned and prepared in advance within the toner cartridge structure, and the opening action is triggered preliminarily by the mounting operation. The engaging portion and groove are pre-configured to ensure that when the cartridge is mounted, the shutter automatically moves to the open position without requiring additional operations.
2Reliability
If the engaging portion is always engaged with the receiving device, then the toner discharge is secured, but the shutter cannot be opened during mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging portion is designed to be dynamically movable between engaged and disengaged states. During mounting, the engaging portion temporarily disengages from the groove to allow the shutter to open. After mounting is complete, the engaging portion re-engages with the groove to secure the toner discharge connection. This dynamic behavior allows the system to switch between different operational states as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The engaging portion is pre-positioned to automatically disengage at the appropriate moment during the mounting operation, allowing the shutter to open. After the mounting operation completes, the engaging portion automatically re-engages to secure the connection. This preliminary positioning and automatic switching ensures both shutter opening capability and toner discharge security without manual intervention.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the shutter remains closed during mounting, then toner leakage is prevented, but the toner cannot be discharged into the receiving device
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is designed as a dynamic component that can switch between closed and open states based on the operational phase. During the mounting operation, the shutter automatically opens to allow toner discharge. During normal operation and dismounting, the shutter remains closed to prevent toner leakage. This dynamic state switching resolves the contradiction between preventing leakage and enabling discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter is pre-positioned in the closed state to prevent toner leakage during storage and transport. When the toner cartridge is mounted into the image forming apparatus, the shutter automatically transitions to the open state as a preliminary action to enable toner discharge. This preliminary positioning and automatic transition ensure that the shutter is in the correct state for each operational phase without requiring manual control.
Data Source
AI summary
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner cartridge detachably mountable to a receiving device, the toner cartridge comprising a container including a accommodating portion for accommodating the toner and a discharge opening for discharging the toner from the accommodating portion into the receiving device; and an open/close member including a closing portion for closing the discharge opening and an engaging portion movable relative to the closing portion, the open/close member being rotatable relative to the container between (a) an opening position for causing the closing portion to open the discharge opening and (b) a closing position for causing the closing portion to close the discharge opening, wherein the engaging portion is movable relative to the closing portion between (c) a engaging position for engagement with the receiving device to receive a force for moving the open/close member from the opening position to the closing position when the toner cartridge is dismounted from the receiving device and (d) a retracted position retracted from the engaging position, and wherein the engaging portion is movable from the retracted position to the engaging position with rotation of the open/close member from the closing position to the opening position.