Toner Container Shutter Interference Mechanism for Attachment Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

In image forming apparatuses with detachable toner containers, improper attachment due to incomplete opening of the cover member can prevent toner supply and make it difficult to visually confirm correct attachment, leading to issues like insufficient image density.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an interference protrusion on the toner container's shutter that interferes with the opening/closing mechanism to prevent attachment when the cover is not fully opened, ensuring the toner container is correctly aligned and attached, and providing a mechanism to visually indicate improper attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the cover member is not turned to the normal opened position, then the toner container can still be attached to the attachment part, but the shutter member is not engaged with the gear and toner cannot be supplied

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveEase of attachmentVSAvoidToner supply reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The interference protrusion on the shutter member is designed to preemptively prevent attachment when the cover is not properly opened. By creating a mechanical conflict before attachment can occur, the system prevents the harmful state of improper attachment, ensuring the cover must be fully opened for successful attachment to proceed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The interference protrusion performs a preliminary checking function during the attachment process. Before the toner container can be fully attached, the protrusion verifies that the cover is in the correct opened position, and only when this condition is met does the attachment mechanism allow completion of the attachment operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the cover member is not turned to the normal opened position, then the toner container can be attached, but it is impossible to visually confirm whether the toner container is normally attached

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveEase of attachmentVSAvoidAttachment status detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The interference protrusion creates a visible mechanical state difference between proper and improper attachment. When the cover is not fully opened, the protrusion prevents attachment and creates a detectable visual indicator that the attachment is incomplete or incorrect, allowing users to easily identify the problem state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Reliability

If an interference protrusion is added to prevent improper attachment, then toner supply reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveToner supply reliabilityVSAvoidStructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The interference protrusion is integrated into the existing shutter member structure rather than being a separate component. This merging approach adds the prevention function to an already-necessary part of the system, avoiding additional complexity from separate mechanisms while still achieving the reliability improvement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Ensures proper toner supply by preventing attachment when the cover is not fully opened, allowing users to easily confirm correct attachment and preventing issues like insufficient image density.

Implementation Method 1

The toner container includes an interference protrusion that interferes with the opening/closing mechanism to prevent the toner container from being attached to the container storage part in a case where the cover is not moved to the opened position normally

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical interference: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS11640126B2Image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.05.02 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

An image forming apparatus includes a toner container, a storage part, a cover and an opening/closing mechanism. The toner container includes a shutter. The cover is movable between a closed position for closing the storage part and an opened position for opening the storage part. The opening/closing mechanism closes a supply port by rotating the shutter in accordance with an opening operation for moving the cover to the opened position and opens the supply port by rotating the shutter in accordance with a closing operation for moving the cover to the closed position, in a state where the toner container is attached to the storage part. The toner container includes an interference portion which interferes with the opening/closing mechanism to prevent the toner container from being attached to the storage part in a case where the cover is not moved to the opened position normally.