Toner Container Shutter Boss and Guide Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing powder containers for toner in electrophotography printers face issues with powder leakage due to impact on the shutter mechanism, and the movement blocking action of the shutter can be compromised, leading to unintended opening and powder loss.
Innovation Solution
A powder container design featuring a shutter with a guide portion and a boss that prevents direct impact on the guide portions, a blocking hook to maintain the shutter in a closed position until mounted, and a boss that restricts further movement of the shutter when opened, ensuring secure powder supply and preventing leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the shutter mechanism is designed to be simple and directly connected to the guide portions, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to direct impact on the guide portions causing powder leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The boss acts as an intermediary protective element between the external impact and the guide portions. When impact occurs, the boss deforms or moves to absorb the shock, preventing direct transmission of force to the guide portions and shutter mechanism, thereby maintaining sealing reliability without requiring complex protective structures
Solution Approach 2:
The boss is strategically positioned to provide beforehand cushioning against potential impacts. Its placement between the shutter and outer wall surface creates a buffer zone that absorbs external forces before they can reach the critical guide portions, preventing powder leakage without adding complex cushioning mechanisms
2Reliability
If the blocking hook is designed to strongly prevent shutter movement, then the reliability of maintaining closed position is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates when mounting requires shutter movement
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking hook transitions from a static blocking element to a dynamic component that changes its blocking function based on operational state. During normal operation, it maintains strong engagement to prevent unintended shutter opening. During mounting, the relative movement between container and apparatus causes the blocking hook to disengage, allowing easy shutter movement without requiring complex release mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking hook is pre-positioned to engage with the shutter at the closed location before mounting occurs. This preliminary engagement ensures the shutter remains securely closed during transport and storage. During mounting, the predetermined relative movement automatically disengages the blocking hook, facilitating easy shutter operation without manual intervention
Data Source
AI summary
A powder container includes a body and a pair of walls that block one end of the body and the other end. The powder container is mountable in an apparatus. The body has an opening in a location closer to the one end to supply the powder to the apparatus. The powder container includes a shutter, a guide portion and a boss. The shutter is situated in a closed location before the powder container is mounted in the apparatus and is moved to an opened location to open the opening when the powder container is mounted in the apparatus. The guide portion maintains the shutter on the body and guides the shutter. The boss is located between the shutter and an outer wall surface of the one of walls and next to the end of the shutter at the closed location in a movement direction of the shutter.