Toner Container Connector Layout for Correct Color Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming devices face challenges in accurately positioning replaceable toner units, particularly color toner containers, to ensure proper installation and prevent cross-contamination, as existing keying features may not reliably prevent incorrect installation.
Innovation Solution
The toner container is designed with an electrical connector positioned in a specific orientation or angle relative to the body, corresponding to the toner color, and includes positioning guides to ensure correct installation, preventing misalignment and cross-contamination by allowing the connector to mate only with its designated receptacle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a tab and mating slot keying feature is used to prevent incorrect installation, then installation accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional mechanical features
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connector is positioned asymmetrically relative to the toner container body, creating a unique orientation that corresponds to the toner color. This asymmetric positioning serves as a keying feature that prevents incorrect installation without requiring additional mechanical tabs or slots, thus improving installation accuracy while avoiding increased device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the electrical connector positioning function with the keying feature function into a single integrated solution. The electrical connector's fixed position relative to the body simultaneously serves as both the electrical contact point and the installation guide, merging two functions into one element and avoiding additional mechanical features
2Reliability
If multiple positioning features are added to ensure correct installation, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to more complex alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric positioning of the electrical connector creates a natural alignment guide that intuitively directs the user to insert the toner container in the correct orientation. The unique position of the connector relative to the body serves as a visual and physical cue, making it obvious where the container should be installed without requiring complex alignment procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical connector's fixed position automatically provides alignment guidance during installation. As the user inserts the toner container, the connector's position relative to the body self-aligns with the corresponding receptacle, eliminating the need for additional positioning features or complex alignment steps
Data Source
AI summary
A toner container for use in an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a body having a reservoir for holding toner. The toner container includes an electrical connector having an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device when the toner container is installed in the image forming device. The electrical connector is positioned in one of a plurality of predetermined positions relative to the body corresponding to at least one of a toner color and a toner type of the toner container for limiting installation of the toner container to one of a plurality of toner container receptacles in the image forming device corresponding to at least one of the toner color and the toner type of the toner container.