Toner Cartridge Support Member Shutter and Locking Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing toner cartridges have complex constructions with gears that complicate mounting and demounting, provide inadequate tactile feedback, and are prone to durability issues due to frequent use, leading to potential gear breakage and toner leakage.

Innovation Solution

A toner cartridge design featuring a support member with a slidably opening outlet port shutter and a locking mechanism that uses projections and recesses for secure rotation, along with a resilient member to provide positive tactile feedback and simplify the mounting process, eliminating the need for gears and reducing the risk of toner leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If gears are used to open and close shutters in the toner cartridge, then the shutter mechanism can be actuated, but the construction becomes complex and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshutter opening and closingVSAvoidconstruction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the gear mechanism from the toner cartridge, extracting the complex actuation system and replacing it with a simple rotational movement of the support member itself that directly opens the shutters through geometric arrangement of openings and obstacles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical gear system with a direct mechanical linkage where the support member's rotation directly actuates the shutters through its structural configuration, eliminating intermediate gear components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If gears are used for shutter actuation, then the mechanism can function, but durability decreases due to frequent mounting and demounting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting and demountingVSAvoidgear durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the gear components that are prone to wear and failure during frequent mounting and demounting operations, replacing them with a robust direct-linkage mechanism that has no moving gear parts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates a resilient member that provides cushioning and absorbs impact during the mounting and demounting processes, protecting the shutter mechanism from damage before failures can occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If frequent mounting and demounting occurs, then the toner cartridge can be replaced, but gear breakage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecartridge replaceabilityVSAvoidgear breakage resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the gear components that are susceptible to breakage during frequent replacement cycles, eliminating the root cause of the reliability issue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient member provides beforehand cushioning that absorbs impact and shock during mounting and demounting operations, preventing breakage before it can occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Object-generated harmful factors

If a shutter mechanism is provided to prevent toner leakage, then toner can be contained, but the construction becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoner leakage preventionVSAvoidshutter mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the shutter mechanism with the support member structure itself, where the support member's rotation directly actuates the shutters through integrated geometric features, eliminating separate complex mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The support member serves multiple functions: it supports the toner bottle, enables rotation for toner supply, actuates the shutters through its geometric configuration, and provides positioning during mounting, reducing the need for separate components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7486915B2Toner cartridge and image forming apparatus to be mounted with the toner cartridge

Publication Date: 2009.02.03 SHARP KK

AI summary

A toner cartridge is provided, which comprises a toner bottle containing toner, and a support member supporting the toner bottle in an axially rotatable manner. The toner bottle has a toner outlet port provided in a portion thereof supported by the support member. The support member has an outlet port shutter provided slidably on an outer surface thereof for opening and closing the toner outlet port, and a projecting engagement portion for positioning the toner cartridge with respect to a cartridge insertion port of an image forming apparatus when the toner cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus. The support member and the toner bottle respectively have a projection and a recess serving as a locking portion and a to-be-locked portion for restricting rotation of the toner bottle with respect to the support member when the toner cartridge is not mounted in the image forming apparatus.