Detachable Toner Shutter Seal Holder for Easier Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The removal of seals from shutter units in toner containers is difficult, leading to challenges in recycling and maintenance, as the seals deteriorate and are not easily reusable.
Innovation Solution
A shutter unit design with a shutter holder and seal holder that allows the seal to be detachably attached, enabling easy removal and integration with the toner container, facilitating its detachment and attachment to the image forming apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the seal is stuck to the shutter unit to prevent toner leakage, then sealing reliability is improved, but seal removal difficulty increases during recycling
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter unit is divided into separate components: the shutter holder and the seal holder are detachably connected. This allows the seal to remain attached to the shutter holder for reliable sealing during operation, while enabling easy separation for seal removal during recycling. The segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing the seal to be firmly fixed during use but easily removable when needed.
2Reliability
If the seal is firmly attached to the shutter unit, then sealing performance is improved, but recycling operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the shutter holder and seal holder with detachable connection, the system maintains firm seal attachment for performance while simplifying recycling operations. The detachable design allows workers to easily separate components and replace seals without complex disassembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between shutter holder and seal holder transitions from a static fixed state during operation to a dynamic detachable state during recycling. This dynamic characteristic allows the system to adapt between requiring firm attachment for sealing and easy separation for maintenance, reducing operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A shutter unit to be installed in a toner container attachable to and detachable from an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus includes: a shutter to be pushed by a nozzle disposed in the apparatus body, with movement of the container in an insertion direction into the apparatus body, to insert the nozzle into the container and communicate the nozzle and the container via an opening of the nozzle; a shutter holder holding the shutter movable in the insertion direction; a seal to contact a circumferential surface of the shutter in a closed state and slide on the circumferential surfaces of the shutter and the nozzle during an opening operation in which the shutter is pressed by the nozzle; and a seal holder detachably holding the seal at an inner portion of the seal holder. The shutter holder and the seal holder are integrated in a detachable manner.