Toner Container Shutter Asymmetry and Merging for Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently attaching and detaching toner containers, leading to potential toner leakage or incorrect operation when the toner container is not properly aligned with the process cartridge.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a powder container with a discharge port, container shutters, rotation portions, and an operation device that engage with the image forming apparatus and process cartridge, ensuring secure attachment and detachment while preventing accidental opening of cartridge shutters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the toner container is made detachable for easy replacement, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential misalignment and toner leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The container shutter and cartridge shutter are designed with asymmetric engagement features including protrusions and recesses that only fit together in the correct orientation. The container shutter has a protrusion that engages with a recess in the cartridge shutter, while the cartridge shutter has a protrusion that engages with a recess in the container shutter, creating a unique fit that prevents incorrect installation
Solution Approach 2:
The container shutter acts as an intermediary component between the toner container and the process cartridge. It transfers the rotational motion from the operation lever through the engagement portion to open or close the inlet port, while also serving as a positioning element that ensures proper alignment through its engagement features
2Reliability
If the container shutter is added to control powder flow, then reliability is improved by preventing leakage, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container shutter mechanism is merged with the attachment/detachment operation itself. The same engagement portion that couples the container to the cartridge also controls the opening and closing of the container shutter through rotational movement. The first rotation portion and second rotation portion are integrated into the engagement portion, eliminating the need for separate shutter control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement portion serves multiple functions: it couples the toner container to the process cartridge, controls the opening and closing of the container shutter, and ensures proper alignment through its asymmetric features. The operation lever simultaneously controls both the attachment state and the shutter state, making a single component perform multiple critical functions
3Ease of operation
If the engagement portion is made rotatable for shutter control, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability worsens due to accidental rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The restriction member is designed to preemptively prevent accidental rotation of the engagement portion. When the toner container is detached, the restriction member engages with the engagement portion to lock it in place. The contact portion on the engagement portion interacts with the restriction member to cancel the restriction during proper attachment, but the restriction remains active during detachment to prevent unintended shutter operation
Data Source
AI summary
A powder container includes a toner storage disposed at an upper portion of the powder container and a powder collection portion disposed at a lower portion of the powder container. There is a conveying rotator inside the powder collection portion, the conveying rotator including a shaft portion and one of a screw blade and a coil wound around the shaft portion. There is further a flexible sheet to contact the conveying rotator and swing in a flow path from the outlet port to the conveying rotator. The flexible sheet includes a contact portion that contacts one of the screw blade and the coil; and a tip that does not contact the screw blade and does not contact the coil, the tip having a greater width than the contact portion.