Detachable Unit Toner Collection Shutter Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

In image forming apparatuses, toner leakage occurs when detachable units are separated, leading to contamination and functional abnormalities due to toner adhering to or falling from openings and shutters during detachment.

Innovation Solution

A collecting member is integrated into the detachable unit to contact and collect toner falling from openings and shutters during detachment, preventing it from adhering to or falling onto other devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a shutter is provided to close the opening to prevent toner leakage, then toner leakage prevention is improved, but the shutter scrapes off adhered toner during detachment causing contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoner leakage preventionVSAvoidtoner contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the toner containment function into two separate components: the shutter that closes the opening for leakage prevention, and a dedicated collecting member that captures falling toner during detachment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without the shutter being responsible for both sealing and preventing contamination during detachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The collecting member acts as an intermediary between the shutter and the external environment during detachment. It intercepts toner particles that fall from the opening or shutter, preventing them from contaminating other devices. The collecting member serves as a buffer zone that captures harmful particles before they can cause damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the unit is detached from the other unit, then unit replaceability is improved, but toner falls onto devices causing functional abnormalities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunit replaceabilityVSAvoiddevice function stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The collecting member is pre-positioned and ready to capture toner before the detachment process completes. By having the collecting member in place beforehand, the system proactively prevents toner contamination rather than reacting to it after the fact. This preliminary preparation ensures that unit replacement can occur without compromising device function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the shutter closes the opening to prevent toner leakage, then sealing performance is improved, but toner adhered at the opening falls during detachment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidtoner falling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the toner collection function from the shutter mechanism and assigns it to a separate collecting member. This allows the shutter to focus solely on sealing performance while the collecting member handles the task of capturing falling toner, thereby resolving the conflict between effective sealing and preventing toner fallout during detachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3204827B1Unit and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2020.06.17 RICOH CO LTD

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AI summary

A unit includes a part that is detachably attachable relative to an other unit, wherein the other unit includes an opening through which image forming powder is supplied from or received by the other unit, and a shutter that opens and closes the opening, and a collecting member that collects the image forming powder falling from at least one of the opening and the shutter by making contact with the shutter when detaching the unit from the other unit.