Toner Container Shutter Segmentation for Sealing Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing toner containers in image forming devices often experience interruptions and potential damage during shutter movement due to the edge of the shutter getting caught by the seal member, leading to incomplete sealing and toner leakage.
Innovation Solution
A toner container design featuring a shutter with a base portion and a folded portion that is opposite to the seal member when closed, ensuring smooth movement and preventing damage by eliminating burrs and ensuring proper sealing through sliding contact with the seal member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the shutter is moved to close the toner discharge port, then the toner leakage is prevented, but the edge of the shutter may be caught by the seal member causing movement interruption or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is divided into a base portion and a folded portion, with the folded portion positioned away from the seal member to prevent edge contact while maintaining sealing effectiveness through the base portion's sliding contact with the seal member
Solution Approach 2:
The folded portion extends in a direction away from the seal member, utilizing spatial dimensionality to position the edge away from the sealing interface, thereby preventing contact while maintaining the sealing function through the base portion
2Reliability
If the shutter edge contacts the seal member during movement, then sealing may be ensured, but damage to the shutter and/or seal member may occur
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the shutter into base and folded portions with different functions, the base portion handles sealing contact while the folded portion is positioned to avoid contact, preventing damage to both the shutter and seal member
Solution Approach 2:
The base portion acts as an intermediary between the shutter mechanism and the seal member, providing controlled sliding contact for sealing while the folded portion's positioning prevents direct edge contact that would cause damage
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
This design ensures smooth shutter movement and prevents damage to the shutter and seal member, maintaining effective toner containment and preventing leakage during the opening and closing operations.
Implementation Method 1
The base portion is in sliding contact with the seal member when the shutter moves between the open position and the closed position
Data Source
AI summary
A toner container includes a main casing, a shutter, and a seal member. The main casing accommodates toner and is formed with a communication hole through which an interior and an exterior of the casing communicate. The shutter is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position for opening and closing the communication hole, respectively, and in either one of an opening direction and a closing direction. A shutter base portion includes edges, one positioned downstream of the other in the closing direction; and a folded portion. The seal member, configured to encircle the communication hole, is disposed between the casing and the shutter in the closed shutter position. The base portion slidingly contacts the seal member when the shutter moves between the open and closed positions. The folded portion is folded at one edge to be positioned opposite to the seal member relative to the base portion.