Toner Container with Swingable Loosening Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing toner supply methods in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses are inefficient and require costly replacements, leading to increased operational costs and reduced usability.

Innovation Solution

A toner container with a storage portion, nozzle portion, and a loosening member that is swingable relative to the storage portion, allowing for improved toner discharge and supply efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If a conventional toner supply method is used, then the entire process unit must be replaced when toner is depleted, but this leads to increased operational costs and waste of components like rollers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste of componentsVSAvoidtoner supply process
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the toner container into separable components: a reusable container body with rollers and a replaceable toner cartridge. This segmentation allows only the toner cartridge to be replaced when depleted, while the container body remains in use, reducing waste of components and lowering operational costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the toner container structure is simplified for easier operation, then usability improves, but toner discharge performance may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveusabilityVSAvoidtoner discharge performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a loosening member as an intermediary component between the toner cartridge and the container body. This loosening member actively loosens toner before discharge, ensuring consistent toner supply performance. The mediator compensates for potential performance losses from simplified container structure, maintaining both ease of operation and reliable toner discharge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enhances toner discharge performance, reduces operational costs, and improves usability by allowing direct toner supply without replacing the entire process unit, thereby minimizing the need for replacing rollers and other parts.

Implementation Method 1

the loosening member is swingable relative to the storage portion about a swing axis extending in a second direction crossing the first direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSwing motion:

Data Source

PatentUS12416880B2Toner container
Publication Date: 2025.09.16 CANON KK
  • US12416880B2 patent drawing
  • US12416880B2 patent drawing
  • US12416880B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided a toner container having: a storage portion configured to store toner; a nozzle portion having a discharging port configured to discharge, outside the toner container, toner stored in the storage portion, the nozzle portion being fixed to the storage portion such that the nozzle portion and the storage portion are aligned in a first direction; and a loosening member configured to loose toner, the loosening member including at least a portion provided in the storage portion, wherein the loosening member is swingable relative to the storage portion about a swing axis extending in a second direction crossing the first direction.