Toner Cartridge Tray Interlock for Mounting Status Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face issues with the forgetting of mounting cartridges to trays, leading to operational inefficiencies and user inconvenience during cartridge exchange.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a rotatable rotary with detachable toner cartridges supported by movable trays, allowing for easy mounting and demounting through a side opening, and a moving member that restricts or permits movement based on the cartridge's position, ensuring proper alignment and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cartridge is mounted to and demounted from an apparatus main assembly by using a tray, then the cartridge exchange operation is simplified, but the user may forget to mount the cartridge to the tray, leading to operational errors
Solution Approach 1:
The moving member provides tactile feedback to the user during the cartridge mounting process. When the cartridge is not properly mounted, the moving member remains in the second position (protruding outside the opening), giving the user immediate feedback that the mounting is incomplete. This prevents the user from forgetting to mount the cartridge properly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-checking through the moving member mechanism. The moving member automatically detects whether the cartridge is properly mounted and adjusts its position accordingly, eliminating the need for separate verification steps or user memory reliance.
2Shape
If the moving member is positioned inside the opening when the cartridge is mounted, then the structure appears compact, but it becomes difficult to detect whether the cartridge is properly mounted
Solution Approach 1:
The moving member changes its positional state (analogous to color change in visual indicators) to indicate mounting status. When the cartridge is properly mounted, the moving member moves to the first position (inside the opening); when not mounted, it protrudes to the second position, providing a clear visual and tactile indicator of mounting status.
Solution Approach 2:
The moving member acts as an intermediary indicator between the cartridge mounting state and the user. It translates the internal mounting status into an externally visible state, allowing users to easily detect whether the cartridge is properly mounted without disassembling or closely inspecting the internal structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a rotary, a main assembly frame, a first supporting member, and a first moving member. The first supporting member is movable from a first taking-out position to a first accommodating portion in a first movement direction through an opening. The first moving member is positioned in a first position when the first toner cartridge is mounted to the first supporting member and is positioned in a second position when the first toner cartridge is demounted from the first supporting member. In a state in which the first supporting member is in the first taking-out position, as viewed in the first movement direction, a whole of the first moving member in the first position is positioned inside the opening and at least a part of the first moving member in the second position projects to an outside of the opening.