Toner Container Blocking Member Prevents Discharge Hole Cohering
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing toner containers face discharge failures due to toner cohering within the discharging holes, especially when stored in high-temperature environments, as the weight of the toner causes it to compress and block the discharge path, preventing effective replenishment in image forming apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A powder material container with a cap that includes a blocking member which can switch between blocking and non-blocking states to prevent toner from entering the discharging hole, combined with an agitating member to dislodge cohered toner, ensuring smooth discharge when mounted in the image forming apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the powder material container is stored in a high-temperature environment with the cap facing downward, then the powder material can be conveniently stored and transported, but the powder material coheres and blocks the discharge hole, causing discharge failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by providing a blocking member that proactively prevents powder material from entering and cohering in the discharge hole before discharge failure can occur. The blocking member is positioned to block the discharge hole during storage and transport, preventing the harmful cohering action from happening in the first place, rather than attempting to resolve cohering after it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by preparing the blocking member in advance to seal the discharge hole during storage. This preliminary protective action ensures that when the container is later mounted for use, the discharge hole is already clear of cohered material, enabling reliable discharge without requiring additional clearing operations.
2Productivity
If the discharge hole is kept open to allow powder material discharge, then replenishment can occur efficiently, but powder material leaks when the container is not mounted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the blocking member movable between two states: blocked and open. The blocking member can be dynamically positioned to block the discharge hole during storage/transport to prevent leakage, and then moved to an open position when the container is mounted for replenishment, allowing efficient powder material discharge without leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by providing a blocking member that specifically targets the discharge hole area. This localized blocking mechanism affects only the discharge hole region, allowing the rest of the container to remain open and accessible for mounting and replenishment operations while preventing leakage only where needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cap is designed with a discharge hole for powder material ejection, then replenishment of the image forming apparatus is enabled, but the discharge hole becomes blocked by cohered powder material during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by using the blocking member to prevent powder material from cohering in the discharge hole before discharge failure can occur. The blocking member is positioned to block the discharge hole during storage, proactively preventing the harmful cohering action that would otherwise block the replenishment pathway.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements an intermediary mechanism by introducing the blocking member as a mediator between the powder material and the discharge hole. This intermediary element controls access to the discharge hole, allowing powder material to pass through during replenishment while preventing cohering during storage, thus mediating between the competing requirements of replenishment capability and discharge reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents toner cohering inside the discharging hole, thereby preventing discharge failures and ensuring reliable toner replenishment to the image forming apparatus, even after storage in high-temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a powder material container which includes an elongated tubular container body which has formed an opening on the one side in a longitudinal direction and which is arranged such that a powder material contained inside is conveyed toward the opening; and a cap which has formed therein a temporary containing space which is communicably connected in the longitudinal direction of the container body to the opening of the container body to temporarily contain the powder material conveyed from the opening and which has formed on a side face in the longitudinal direction of the container body a discharging hole which discharges the powder material within the temporary containing space to outside, the powder material container further including a blocking member which can switch between a blocking state in which the powder material within the temporary containing space is blocked from passing through an inlet face of the discharging hole facing the temporary containing space and a non-blocking state in which the powder material within the temporary containing space is not blocked from passing through the inlet face of the discharging hole
Data Source
AI summary
A powder material container is disclosed, including an elongated tubular container body; and a cap which has formed a temporary containing space which is communicably connected in the longitudinal direction of the container body to an opening of the container body to temporarily contain a powder material conveyed from the opening and which has formed on a side face in the longitudinal direction of the container body a discharging hole which discharges the powder material within the temporary containing space. The powder material container includes a blocking member which can switch between a blocking state in which the powder material within the temporary containing space is blocked from passing through an inlet face of the discharging hole facing the temporary containing space and a non-blocking state in which the powder material within the temporary containing space is not blocked from passing through the inlet face of the discharging hole.