Toner Refill Cartridge with Outlet-Integrated Drive Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toner refilling cartridges that automatically discharge toner often have complex structures and increased size due to a separate connection opening for a driving force receiver, making them inconvenient for users and inefficient in space utilization.
Innovation Solution
A toner refilling cartridge design where the driving force is transmitted through the toner outlet, allowing the shutter member to move along the central axis during installation, simplifying the structure and reducing size by exposing the driving force receiver through the toner outlet, thus enabling automatic toner discharge without additional openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a separate connection opening is provided for the driving force receiver, then automatic toner discharge is enabled, but the structure becomes complex and size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the driving force receiver with the shutter member into a single integrated component. The driving force receiver is positioned at the center of the shutter member's inner surface, allowing the shutter member to serve dual functions: controlling toner discharge and receiving driving force for automatic discharge. This integration eliminates the need for a separate connection opening, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining automation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter member is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both a closure component for controlling toner discharge and as a driving force receiver for enabling automatic discharge. By making the shutter member universal in its functionality, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated separate components and openings, thus simplifying the overall structure while preserving the automatic discharge feature.
2Extent of automation
If a separate connection opening is provided for the driving force receiver, then automatic toner discharge is enabled, but the cartridge size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the driving force receiver with the shutter member into a single integrated component. The driving force receiver is positioned at the center of the shutter member's inner surface, allowing the shutter member to serve dual functions: controlling toner discharge and receiving driving force for automatic discharge. This integration eliminates the need for a separate connection opening, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining automation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The driving force receiver is nested within the shutter member structure, specifically positioned at the center of the shutter member's inner surface. This nesting arrangement allows the driving force receiver to be housed within the existing shutter member volume rather than requiring additional external space, thus preventing an increase in overall cartridge size while enabling automatic discharge functionality.
3Device complexity
If the driving force receiver is exposed through the toner outlet, then structure is simplified and size is reduced, but the shutter member must move along the central axis during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter member is designed with asymmetric features including an inclined surface and a protrusion that interact with corresponding features on the refilling cartridge. The inclined surface allows the shutter member to move along the central axis during installation, while the protrusion and groove engagement ensures proper alignment. This asymmetric design guides the installation process and enables the driving force receiver to be exposed through the toner outlet without increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter member is pre-configured with an inclined surface and protrusion features that automatically guide its movement along the central axis during installation. The inclined surface facilitates smooth axial movement, and the protrusion-groove engagement pre-establishes proper alignment between the shutter member and refilling cartridge, making the installation process straightforward despite the unconventional exposure arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
A toner cartridge includes: a body to contain toner and including a toner outlet to discharge the toner to the outside; an agitating member to rotate about a central axis of the body and agitate the toner contained in the body; a shutter member to move along the central axis with respect to the body, and having an open position to open the toner outlet and a blocked position to block the toner outlet; a driving force receiver exposed to the outside through the toner outlet when the shutter member is in the blocked position, and to rotate by receiving a driving force from the outside; and a driving shaft to transmit a rotational force of the driving force receiver to the agitating member.