Reusable Toner Container Cap with Elastic Claw Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reusable toner containers in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses face issues as the cap after cutting is not reusable and the strength of the container body is reduced, limiting the number of times it can be reused.
Innovation Solution
A toner container design featuring a detachable cap with deformable claw parts, a link piece, a disk part, a closing plate, and a fixing member that allows for secure closure and easy detachment, enabling the reuse of both the container body and cap without reducing the container's strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the cap is cut off together with the filling port for reuse, then the toner container can be reused, but the cap after cutting is not reusable and much of it is discarded, and the strength and rigidity of the container body are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is divided into multiple components: a cap body, a closing plate, and a fixing member. This segmentation allows the cap body to be detached and reused while the closing plate and fixing member can be replaced or maintained separately, preserving the overall functionality without compromising the container body's strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The claw parts are designed with local elasticity, being deformable in the radial direction to engage with the cylindrical portion's edge. This localized flexibility allows secure engagement without requiring the entire cap or container body to be compromised, maintaining overall structural integrity while enabling reusable detachment.
2Ease of repair
If the cap is cut off together with the filling port for reuse, then the toner container can be reused, but the cap after cutting is not reusable and much of it is discarded
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is divided into multiple components: a cap body, a closing plate, and a fixing member. This segmentation allows the cap body to be detached and reused while the closing plate and fixing member can be replaced or maintained separately, preserving the overall functionality without compromising the container body's strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The design enables the cap body to be recovered and reused by detaching it from the closing plate through the fixing member mechanism. Instead of discarding the entire cap assembly, only the consumable closing plate is replaced while the cap body is recovered for continued use.
3Reliability
If the closing plate is securely fixed to close the filling port, then the closure is secure, but excessive load is applied to the container body
Solution Approach 1:
The claw parts are designed with local elasticity, being deformable in the radial direction to engage with the cylindrical portion's edge. This localized flexibility allows secure engagement without requiring the entire cap or container body to be compromised, maintaining overall structural integrity while enabling reusable detachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The claw parts are designed to be deformable in the radial direction, allowing dynamic engagement and disengagement. The elasticity enables the claws to flex during attachment and release during detachment, providing secure closure without applying excessive permanent load to the container body.
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
This design allows for multiple reuse cycles of the toner container without the need for cutting or altering the container body, maintaining its structural integrity and enabling secure closure without applying excessive load, thus extending its usability.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of claw parts provided deformably in a radial direction of the cylindrical portion and insertable into the cylindrical portion to be engaged with an edge of the filling port
Data Source
AI summary
A toner container includes a container body, a cylindrical portion and a cap. The container body has a toner filling port. The cylindrical portion is provided around the filling port. The cap is detachable and closes an opening of the cylindrical portion. The cap includes: claw parts provided deformably and insertable into the cylindrical portion to be engaged with an edge of the filling port; a link piece connecting tip ends of the claw parts; a disk part having an opening; a closing plate capable of closing the opening of the disk part; and a fixing member which fixes the closing plate to the disk part. The closing plate is fixed to the disk part with the fixing member and the claw parts are engaged with the edge of the filling opening, so that the opening of the cylindrical is closed by the closing plate.