Toner Pouch Container With Reusable Supports for Cartridge Refill

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing toner containers in image forming apparatuses are limited in their versatility and require complete replacement when toner runs out, leading to increased costs and unnecessary exchange of components.

Innovation Solution

A toner container design featuring a pouch with a wider opening at one end and supported by two extending portions, allowing for easy mounting and toner supply without replacing the entire process cartridge, and incorporating sensors to monitor toner levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complete process cartridge is replaced when toner runs out, then reliable image formation is ensured, but costs increase and unnecessary components are discarded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage formation reliabilityVSAvoidtoner container material waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The toner container is divided into a reusable rigid structure (casing with mounting portions) and a consumable pouch containing toner. When toner is depleted, only the pouch is replaced while the casing remains in use, eliminating the need to discard the entire container and reducing material waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention enables recovery and reuse of the toner container casing after the toner pouch is depleted. The rigid structure with mounting portions is designed to be retained and reused for subsequent pouch installations, while only the depleted pouch is discarded, thereby recovering valuable container materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Adaptability or versatility

If a toner container with asymmetric width is used, then versatility and ease of mounting are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting flexibilityVSAvoidpouch manufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch is designed with asymmetric dimensions where the width in the second direction exceeds the width in the third direction. This asymmetric configuration enables the pouch to fit specifically into the toner container casing with corresponding mounting portions, ensuring proper orientation and secure mounting while providing versatility for different installation configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS12422765B2Toner container including a pouch and portions supporting the pouch

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 CANON KK

AI summary

A toner container includes a pouch configured to accommodate the toner therein and provided with an opening at a first end portion of the pouch with respect to a first direction, with a width of the pouch in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction being wider than a width of the pouch in a third direction that is perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction. A first supporting portion supports the pouch on a first side of the first end portion of the pouch with respect to the second direction, the first supporting portion extending in a direction from the first end portion of the pouch to a second end portion of the pouch that is opposite to the first end portion of the pouch. A second supporting portion supports the pouch on a second side of the first end portion of the pouch that is opposite to the first side of the first end portion of the pouch with respect to the second direction, the second supporting portion extending in the direction from the first end portion of the pouch to the second end portion of the pouch.