Integrated Waste Toner Storage Unit with Snap Fitting and Check Window
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face challenges with waste toner storage units that are not visually appealing, occupy excessive space, and increase costs due to larger sizes, leading to defective assembly and environmental concerns from disposable units.
Innovation Solution
A waste toner storage unit with an integrally attached inner cover that functions as both a storage container and an inner cover, featuring a snap fitting mechanism and a check window for easy assembly verification and recyclability, reducing part count and enhancing product appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the waste toner bottle size is increased to extend replacement cycle, then the replacement cycle is extended, but the occupying volume space in the image forming apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the waste toner bottle with the inner cover into a single integrated structure. The waste toner bottle serves dual functions: storing waste toner and acting as the inner cover that provides visual shielding when the outer cover is opened. This merging eliminates the need for a separate inner cover component and allows the waste toner bottle to be designed with optimized volume that extends the replacement cycle while maintaining acceptable space occupation within the apparatus.
2Ease of manufacture
If the waste toner bottle is designed as a functional component only, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the product appearance quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The waste toner bottle is merged with the inner cover to create a unified component that serves both functional and aesthetic purposes. The integrated structure allows the waste toner bottle to contribute to the visual appearance when the outer cover is opened, as the inner cover portion provides visual shielding of internal parts. This design maintains manufacturing efficiency by using a single molded structure while improving product appearance quality.
3Productivity
If the waste toner bottle is sealed after installing parts, then the assembly is completed, but the ability to check internal installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a check window into the waste toner bottle structure that allows visual inspection of internal parts installation before the bottle is sealed and put into service. The check window is positioned and designed to enable factory personnel to verify that distribution equalization parts and other internal components are properly installed. This preliminary checking capability prevents defective assembly from reaching customers while maintaining assembly line productivity.
4Device complexity
If the waste toner bottle is made disposable, then the assembly complexity is reduced, but the environmental friendliness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the waste toner bottle with recyclability in mind, allowing it to be recovered and processed after use. The bottle structure is designed to facilitate recycling operations, and the integrated inner cover design enables the entire assembly to be treated as a single recyclable unit. This approach reduces environmental impact by promoting material recovery and reuse rather than disposal, while maintaining relatively simple assembly complexity through the integrated design.
Data Source
AI summary
A waste toner storage unit detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a waste toner container and an inner cover integrally attached to the waste toner container. The waste toner container stores waste toner recovered after an image forming process. The inner cover is located at a region of the waste toner storage unit that does not store waste toner.