Sequential Toner Path Shutter Mechanism for Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large image forming apparatuses, the existing toner path opening and closing mechanisms lead to toner contamination and malfunction due to toner accumulation and scattering during the mounting and dismounting of developing units, causing image contamination.
Innovation Solution
A toner path opening and closing apparatus with a first shutter elastically supported by a first elastic member and a second shutter supported by a second elastic member with a lower elastic modulus, where the second toner path is opened before the first, ensuring simultaneous communication and preventing toner leakage through the use of sealing members and a rotating lever mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the first shutter and second shutter are opened simultaneously when mounting the developing unit, then the toner path connection is established quickly, but toner leakage and contamination occur during the transition period
Solution Approach 1:
The second shutter is opened in advance before the first shutter is opened. This preliminary action ensures that the toner injecting port is already open and ready to receive toner before the toner supplying pipeline is connected, preventing toner leakage during the transition period when shutters are being opened.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter opening process is divided into two sequential stages: first opening the second shutter (toner injecting port), then opening the first shutter (toner supplying pipeline). This segmentation of the opening process allows controlled toner flow and prevents simultaneous opening issues that cause contamination.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the developing unit is detached and remounted repeatedly, then maintenance and replacement are facilitated, but toner accumulates in the pipeline section causing contamination and malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
Before the developing unit is detached, the shutters are closed in advance to seal the toner paths. This preliminary closing action prevents toner from leaking or accumulating in the pipeline section during the detachment and remounting process, maintaining reliability despite repeated unit replacements.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic members are pre-compressed to store elastic energy that automatically closes the shutters when external force is removed during unit detachment. This beforehand cushioning ensures the shutters are reliably closed without requiring additional actuation mechanisms, preventing toner accumulation during maintenance operations.
3Manufacturing precision
If the first shutter is made rigid for precise control, then the toner path opening is controlled accurately, but the second shutter cannot be opened first due to force distribution issues
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic members are designed with different local qualities: the first elastic member has higher rigidity for precise control of the first shutter, while the second elastic member has lower rigidity to allow the second shutter to open first with less force. This local differentiation of elastic properties enables sequential opening while maintaining precision where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic modulus of the elastic members is changed as a key parameter: the first elastic member has a higher elastic modulus for precise positioning, while the second elastic member has a lower elastic modulus to facilitate earlier opening. This parameter change allows the system to achieve both precision and ease of sequential operation.
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 contamination and malfunction by ensuring controlled toner flow during unit mounting and dismounting, maintaining device integrity and image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a first shutter (103) elastically supported by a first elastic member (105) to open and close a first toner path (102), and a second shutter (112) elastically supported by a second elastic member (115) having an elastic modulus smaller than the first elastic member (105) to open and close a second toner path (111)
Data Source
AI summary
A toner path opening and closing apparatus of an image forming device includes a first shutter elastically supported by a first elastic member to open and close a first toner path, and a second shutter elastically supported by a second elastic member having an elastic modulus smaller than the first elastic member to open and close a second toner path by the first shutter. After the second toner path is opened by the first shutter, the first is opened, so that the first and second toner paths communicate with each other. The first toner path is a toner supplying pipeline to which a toner is supplied from a toner cartridge, and the second toner path is a toner injecting port disposed in a developing unit. In mounting of the developing unit, after the toner injecting port disposed in the developing unit is first opened, the toner supplying pipeline is opened, and in dismounting of the developing unit, after the toner supplying pipeline is first closed, the toner injecting port is closed, so that in mounting and dismounting of the developing unit, toner is prevented from being leaked through the toner paths.