Device to supply printing material

A device is to supply printing material to a printing material container in a printing apparatus. The device includes a first container to contain printing material, a first piston movable in the first container to exert first pressure to discharge the printing material contained in the first container from the first container, a second container having an opening to the first container, and a second piston movable in the second container to exert second pressure higher than the first pressure to form a pressure gradient based on the first pressure and the second pressure through the opening. The pressure gradient is to disperse the printing material in the first container.

BACKGROUND

A printing apparatus performs printing using printing material such as toner. A printing apparatus includes a solution that may hold, store and/or contain printing material and supply or distribute/emit print material to be used by the printing apparatus in creating visual or tactile and/or three-dimensional prints or structures. For example, a printing apparatus may include a printing material container such as a printing cartridge that contains and supplies the printing material to be used by the printing apparatus to perform printing. When the printing material contained in the printing material container or the printing cartridge is exhausted, the printing cartridge may be decoupled and removed from a body of the printing apparatus, and a new printing cartridge may be inserted or coupled to the printing apparatus. The printing cartridge may also be supplied, resupplied, reloaded, or refilled with additional printing material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The printing cartridge may also be refilled with new printing material by using a device to supply printing material as a printing material refill kit.

In this disclosure, when the specification states that one constituent element is “connected to” another constituent element, it includes a case in which the two constituent elements are connected to each other with another constituent element intervened therebetween as well as a case in which the two constituent elements are directly connected to each other. Further, the expression “printing apparatus” as used herein includes an apparatus that processes printing data generated at a terminal such as a computer communicating through a wired connection or wirelessly, which may be a computer for personal and/or business use, a remote server communicating data across a network or the internet, and/or a wireless mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet, to perform printing on or in a medium or in a space. Examples of the printing apparatus may include particulate-based and liquid-based printers and 2D and 3D printing apparatuses. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list.

Printing material is material used to print an image or an object using 2D and 3D printing technologies. Different types and forms of materials may be used as printing material. For example, printing material may be in a solid, liquid, colloidal, or gaseous form, or a combination thereof. The printing material may be non-biologic or biologic material, which may be living cells or any other biological compounds. For example, a solid or particulate form of printing material may include printing toner or metallic particulates, and a liquid form of printing material may include liquid-based ink such as ink for ink-jet printing. For example, printing material may be in a liquid form that may be curable to a different form such as a solid.

Reference will now be made in detail to examples, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. According to an example, a device to supply printing material to a printing material container fora printing device, which may be as a printing material refill solution/kit, printing material replenishment solution/kit, and/or a printing material refill kit, which is to supply printing material to a printing material container with the printing apparatus such as a printing cartridge installable in and coupleable to a printing apparatus, may be implemented for different types of printing materials, printing cartridges, printing apparatuses and printing principles. According to an example, a device to supply printing material to a development cartridge for an electric charge-based printing is disclosed. However, according to an example, such a device as toner refill solution/kit, toner replenishment solution/kit, and/or a printing material refill kit may be implemented for different types of printing materials, printing principles and printing apparatuses. For example, a device as a printing material refill kit may be implemented for a continuous toner supply.

The printing apparatus1000may include some or all of the features described in this disclosure.

According to an example, referring toFIG.1, the printing apparatus1000may include a printing device500to perform printing and printing material container to contain printing material. The printing material in the printing material container may be supplied and/or transported to the printing device500, such that the printing device500may process the supplied/transported printing material to perform printing. The device9containing printing material may be coupled to the printing material container2to supply printing material in the printing material container2. The printing material container2may be filled, or refilled, or replenished with printing material supplied from the device9. The printing material container2may include a printing material inlet portion10or a printing material refilling portion10to receive the supplied printing material from the device9. The device9may be coupled directly to the printing material inlet portion10or printing material refilling portion10to supply printing material, when the printing material container2is placed in the printing apparatus1000or out of the printing apparatus1000. According to an example, when the device9is coupled to the printing material inlet portion10or printing material refilling portion10, the printing material refilling portion10may have some or all of the features of the communication portion8or the refill port8described in this disclosure, and may function as the communication portion8or the refill port8. The device9may be coupled indirectly to the printing material refilling portion10. For example, the printing apparatus1000may include a communication portion8, and the device may be coupled to the communication portion8to supply printing material to the printing material container2through the printing material refilling portion10connected to the refill port8. Different types of printing apparatuses and printing principles may be implemented to perform printing using printing material. According to an example, printing device500may perform printing, which may include an electric charge-based printing, an ink-jet based printing such as ink-jet printing with a moving nozzle or a static nozzle and high-speed or high-throughput ink-jet printing, printing based on thermal bonding, printing based on chemical bonding, 2D printing, 3D printing, and a combination thereof. Different types of printing apparatuses and materials may include printing apparatuses for personal use, office use, business use, and/or industrial scale and high volume-based printing applications.

For example,FIG.1ais a perspective view of the exterior of a printing apparatus1000according to an example.

Referring toFIGS.1a, and3, the printing apparatus1000may include a body1and a printing material container2as a printing cartridge2that is attachable to/detachable from the body1. A door3may be provided in the body1. The door3opens or closes an opening of the body1and may cover a portion of the body1. While the door3opening and closing an upper portion of the body1is illustrated inFIG.1a, different arrangements of the door3may be implemented. For example, a door opening and closing a portion of the body, such as a side portion or a front portion of the body1, may be included as needed. The printing material container2may be coupled to or removed from the body1through an opening by the door3.

According to an example, the device9may be directly coupleable and/or connectable to the printing material refilling portion10of the printing material container2, for example, if the printing material refilling portion10is exposed to the outside and accessible directly. According to an example, the printing material container2may be coupled to the printing apparatus1000and enclosed within the body1of the printing apparatus1000. According to an example, the body1may include a communication portion8to communicate printing material through the body1. The communication portion8may be a form of a refill port8through which a printing material refilling portion10of the printing material container2can be accessed from the outside the body1while the printing material container2is coupled to the body1. According to an example, a refill port8may be provided at a position of the body1, such as a top portion or a side portion of the body1. For example, the refill port8may be provided at a position close to a front surface1-2of the body1. When the front surface1-2faces the user, the user may access the refill port8. A printing material supply or refill operation using a device9may be performed through the refill port8. For example, the refill port8may be provided on an upper surface1-1of the body1. When the printing material container2as a printing cartridge2couples to the printing apparatus1000, the printing material refilling portion10may be provided to be aligned with the refill port8. For example, the printing material refilling portion10may be provided under the refill port8. According to an example, the refill port8and the printing material refilling portion10may be aligned with respect to different directions, such as vertical, horizontal or at an angled direction. The device9may access the printing material refilling portion10from above the body1through the refill port8.

FIG.2aillustrates an example of a printing apparatus1000to perform printing using liquid-based printing material. Referring toFIG.2a, a printing apparatus1000to perform printing may include a printing device500to selectively deposit liquid-based printing material. The printing device500may include a variety of different suitable liquid application systems, such as ink-jet based system, which may include a thermal printing system which involves use of heat for achieving the ejection of liquid-based printing material. According to another example, the printing device500may include a charge controlled printing system in which electrostatic attraction is used for ejecting liquid-based printing material. As another example, the printing device500may include a printing system that can use vibration pressure generated by a piezoelectric element for ejecting liquid-based printing material. For example, the printing device500may adopt an acoustic technique for the ejection of liquid-based printing material. In the acoustic technique, an electric signal is transformed into an acoustic beam and the compositions are irradiated by the acoustic beam so as to be ejected by radiation pressure.

According an example, a variety of different suitable liquid-based printing material application systems as the printing device500may include liquid-based printing material application systems employing those that are stationary during printing and span to form a printing zone, or a reciprocating printhead or nozzle, which, for diagrammatic purposes, may also be illustrated by the printing device500.

According to an example, the printing device500may be implemented using one or any combination of the above mentioned examples of different suitable liquid-based printing material application systems.

FIG.2billustrates an example of a printing apparatus1000for an electric charge-based printing. Referring toFIG.2b, a photosensitive drum21is an example of a photoconductor on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed. For example, the photosensitive drum may include a cylindrical drum and a photoconductive photosensitive layer formed on an outer circumference of the drum. A charging roller23is an example of a component or material that charges a surface of the photosensitive drum21to have a uniform electric potential. A charge bias voltage may be applied to the charging roller23. Instead of the charging roller23, a corona charger (not shown) may be used. A developing roller22supplies printing material to an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of the photosensitive drum21with beams or radiation of power or light to develop the electrostatic latent image.

According to an example, a two-component developing method may be used, in which printing material and a carrier are used as a developer. A carrier, which may be a substance that has specific magnetic or electrical properties, is commonly formed as spheres or hedrons or other geodesic shape that serve to be attracted to a magnetized substance and stack one upon another until the magnetic attraction to the magnetized substance is too weak to attract another carrier. The carrier may natively have an attractive property to print materials and serve to “carry” or collect and transfer the print material from one place to the electrostatically produced latent image where the print material is released from the carrier and temporarily attached to latent image until transferred to its intended substrate.

The developing roller22may be in the form of a sleeve inside of which a magnet is fixed. The sleeve may be located apart from the photosensitive drum21by tens to hundreds of micrometers. The carrier is attached to an outer circumference of the developing roller22via a magnetic force of a magnet, and printing material is attached to the carrier via an electrostatic force, which may form a form of a magnetic brush including the carrier and printing material on the outer circumference of the developing roller22. According to a developing bias applied to the developing roller22, only printing material is moved to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum21.

In a one-component developing method in which printing material is used as a developer, the developing roller22may be in contact with the photosensitive drum21, and may be located apart from the photosensitive drum21by a small measure, such as tens to hundreds of micrometers. In the example, a one-component contact developing method in which the developing roller22and the photosensitive drum21contacts each other to form a developing nip is used. The developing roller22may be in the form of an elastic layer (not shown) formed on an outer circumference of a conductive metal core (not shown). When a developing bias voltage is applied to the developing roller22, printing material is moved via the developing nip, to the electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of the photosensitive drum21to be attached to the electrostatic latent image.

A supplying roller24attaches printing material to the developing roller22. A supply bias voltage may be applied to the supplying roller24to attach printing material to the developing roller22. A regulating member25regulating a printing material amount may be provided to be attached to the surface of the developing roller22. The regulating member25may be, for example, a regulating blade having a front end that contacts the developing roller22at a certain pressure. A cleaning member26may be provided to remove residual printing material and foreign substances from the surface of the photosensitive drum21before charging. The cleaning member26may be, for example, a cleaning blade having a front end that contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum21at a certain pressure. Hereinafter, foreign substances removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum21will be referred to as waste printing material.

An optical projector4may be provided to project light modulated according to image information, onto a surface of the photosensitive drum21charged to a uniform electric potential. As the optical projector4, for example, a laser or a laser unit that projects light radiated from a laser diode onto the photosensitive drum21by deflecting the light by using a polygon mirror, in the main scanning direction, may be used.

A transfer roller5is an example of a transfer unit that is located to face the photosensitive drum21to form a transfer nip. A transfer bias voltage used to transfer a printing material image developed on the surface of the photosensitive drum21to a print medium P is applied to the transfer roller5. Instead of the transfer roller5, a corona transfer unit may be used.

The printing material image transferred to a surface of the print medium P via the transfer roller5is maintained on the surface of the print medium P due to an attractive electrostatic force. A fusing or fixing unit6fuses the printing material image on the print medium P by applying heat and pressure to the printing material image, thereby forming a permanent print image on the print medium P.

Referring toFIGS.2band3, the printing material container2as a printing cartridge2according to the example includes a developing portion210in which the photosensitive drum21and the developing roller22are mounted, a waste container220receiving waste printing material removed from the photosensitive drum21, and a printing material containing portion230connected to the developing portion210and containing printing material. In order to refill printing material in the printing material containing portion230, the printing material container2as a printing cartridge2includes a printing material refilling portion10connected to the printing material containing portion230. The printing material refilling portion10provides an interface with respect to the printing material container2as a printing cartridge2. According to an example, the printing material container2as a printing cartridge2may be an integrated type printing cartridge including the developing portion210, the waste container220, the printing material containing portion230, and the printing material refilling portion10.

A portion of an outer circumference of the photosensitive drum21is exposed outside a housing. A transfer nip is formed as the transfer roller5contacts an exposed portion of the photosensitive drum21. At least one conveying member conveying printing material towards the developing roller22may be installed in the developing portion210. The conveying member may also perform a function of charging printing material to a certain electric potential by agitating the printing material.

The waste container220may be located above the developing portion210. The waste container220is spaced apart from the developing portion210in an upward direction to form a light path250therebetween. Waste printing material removed from the photosensitive drum21by using the cleaning member26is received in the waste container220. The waste printing material removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum21is fed into the waste container220. The shape and number of waste printing material feeding members are not limited. An appropriate number of waste printing material feeding members may be installed at appropriate locations to distribute waste printing material effectively in the waste container220by considering a volume or shape of the waste container220.

The printing material containing portion230is connected to the printing material refilling portion10to receive printing material. The printing material containing portion230may be connected to the developing portion.

According to an example, a material supplying member may be used to supply printing material to the developing portion210from the printing material containing portion230.

Referring toFIG.2b, a charge bias is applied to the charging roller23, and the photosensitive drum21is charged to a uniform electric potential. The optical projector4projects light modulated in accordance with image information, onto the photosensitive drum21, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the photosensitive drum21. The supplying roller24supplies printing material to a surface of the developing roller22. The regulating member25may be provided to help to form a printing material layer having a uniform thickness on the surface of the developing roller22. A developing bias voltage is applied to the developing roller22. As the developing roller22is rotated, printing material conveyed to a developing nip is moved and adhered to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum21via the developing bias voltage, thereby forming a visible printing material image with the adhered printing material on the surface of the photosensitive drum21. The print medium P may be withdrawn from a loading tray7by a pickup roller71, transported and fed by a feeding roller72to the transfer nip where the transfer roller5and the photosensitive drum21face each other. When a transfer bias voltage is applied to the transfer roller5, the adhered printing material in a form of the printing material image is transferred to the print medium P via an attractive electrostatic force. As the printing material image transferred to the print medium P receives heat and pressure from the fusing unit6, the printing material image is fused to the print medium P. The print medium P may be discharged by using a discharge roller73. The printing material that is not transferred to the print medium P but remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum21may be removed by using the cleaning member26.

As described above, according to an example, referring toFIG.2b, the printing material container2as a printing cartridge2supplies the printing material contained in the printing material containing portion230to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum21to form a visible printing material image, and is attachable to/detachable from the body1. In addition, the printing material container2as a printing cartridge2includes the printing material refilling portion10used to refill printing material. The printing material refilling portion10may be integrated with the printing material container2as a printing cartridge2and thus may be exposed to the outside for accessibility or attachable to/detachable from the body1together with the printing material container2as a printing cartridge2. According to the printing apparatus1000of the example, without removing the printing material container2as a printing cartridge2from the body1, printing material may be refilled in the printing material container2as a printing cartridge2while the printing material container2as a printing cartridge2is mounted in the body1. as printing material is refilled in the printing material containing portion230by using the printing material refilling portion10, a replacement time of the printing material container2as a printing cartridge2may be extended, for example, until the lifetime of the photosensitive drum21ends, thereby reducing printing costs. In addition, printing material may be refilled while the printing material container2as a printing cartridge2is mounted in the body1.

Referring toFIG.3, according to an example, the printing material container2as a printing cartridge2may be an integration-type printing cartridge2in which the printing material refilling portion10is integrated, as illustrated inFIG.3. The printing material container2as a printing cartridge2may be distributed during the product distribution stage while being mounted in the body1. The printing material container2as a printing cartridge2may be a consumable item that is replaceable and is to be replaced when the life of the printing material container2as a printing cartridge2ends, and may be distributed separately from the body1.

The printing material container2such as a printing cartridge2and the device9may be consumables removable from the printing apparatus1000, and the printing material refilling portion10in the printing material container2such as a printing cartridge2may utilize the same interface as that of the printing material container2such as a printing cartridge2to connect the printing cartridge2and the device9to the body1of the printing apparatus1000.

The printing apparatus1000may include the body1, the printing material container2such as a printing cartridge2removable from the body1, the printing material refilling portion10in the printing material container2, and the controller300. The printing material container2such as a printing cartridge2supplies printing material accommodated in the printing material containing portion230to an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor to form a printing material image, the printing material container2such as a printing cartridge2being removable from the body1. The printing material refilling portion10may be on the printing material container2, and the device9for refilling printing material in the printing material containing portion230may be coupled to the printing material refilling portion10. The controller300may control operations of the printing apparatus1000based on a connection between the printing material container2coupled to the body1and the device9coupled to the printing material refilling portion10. The printing material refilling portion10may connect the device9coupled to the printing material refilling portion10to the body1through the interface between the printing material container2and the body1. The printing material refilling portion10may be formed integrally with the printing material container2.

According to an example, the device9may be coupled to the printing material refilling portion10through the refill port8from the outer surface of the body1of the printing apparatus1000when the device9is inserted into the refill port8from above the body1, the device9may be coupled to the printing material refilling portion10as shown inFIG.3. When the first piston93of the device9moves in the direction A1of the first container9toward a portal940in a state in which the device9is coupled to the printing material refilling portion10, printing material accommodated in the first container91may be discharged through a portal940such as a plug940or a port assembly940and supplied to the printing material containing portion230of the printing material container such as the printing material container2through the printing material refilling portion10. The device9may be removed from the refill port8after completion of the printing material transfer.

FIGS.4aand4bare a structural diagram of the device, which is a perspective view of an example of the device. The term “refill” is used for convenience in understanding the disclosure, and the term “refill” is not limited to a refill operation but to be construed as a printing material supply operation.

FIGS.5aand5bare diagrams of operation of the device according to an example.

Hereinafter, according to an example, a direction A1and a direction A2may be used to indicate, respectively, the direction of the movement of the first piston93and the movement of the second piston973. According to an example, directions A1and A2, respectively, may be any directions and may be different directions from each other, may be the same direction, may be the opposite directions, or may be angled directions. The directions A1and A2, respectively, may be any directions with respect to a reference point, such as the location of the portal940. For example, the drawings of the disclosure indicate the directions A1and A2to be directions toward the portal940and parallel to each other. According to an example, many other direction arrangements may be implemented other than the directions illustrated in the disclosure and the drawings of the disclosure.

According to an example, referring toFIG.4b, the device9may include a first hollow body91as a first chamber91, as a first container91, to contain printing material. The device9may include a portal940that is couplable to the printing material refilling portion10of the printing material container2, to discharge or transfer printing material in the first container91through the portal940, and to transfer and supply printing material from the device9to the printing material container2. The portal940may be coupled to the printing material refilling portion10through the refill port8. The portal940may be coupled to the first container91or integrated with the first container91as a part of the first container91. According to an example, the first container91may be in a form of a hopper91. For example, the first container91may have a portion where its cross-sectional area with respect to the portal940decreases toward the portal940, to merge a flow of printing material toward the portal940. According to an example, the device9may include a first piston93which is movable in the first container91. The first piston93may be movable to move printing material contained in the first container91, to plunge, discharge and/or transfer the printing material through the portal940. According to an example, the first piston93may move to force the printing material to be discharged through the portal940, for example, through a discharge port943included in the portal940. For example, referring toFIGS.5aand5b, the first piston93may be movable in the direction A1toward the portal940, to push and discharge printing material out of the first container91through the portal940. The portal940may be provided at a tip portion of the first container91.

According to an example, the device9may include a second hollow body971as a second chamber971, as a second container971, which is coupled to the first container91of the printing material container2. The second container971may have an opening975to the first container91connecting the inner space of the first chamber91and the second chamber. For example, the second container971may have a plurality of openings975to the first container91. According to an example, opening975may be disposed to be adjacent to the discharge port943. According to an example, the device9may include a second piston973. The second piston973may be movable in the second container971to create pressure higher than the pressure in the first container, such that a pressure gradient forms through the opening975. The pressure gradient as a pressure differential formed through the opening may be used to move and disperse printing material contained in the first container91. For example, referring toFIGS.5aand5b, the first piston93may be movable in a direction A2, for example, toward the portal940, to push a medium in the second container971, such as air, out of the second container971and discharge the medium into the first container91. The discharging medium such as air may create a pressure gradient between the first container91and the second container971. The discharging medium such as air may move and disperse printing material contained in the first container91.

According to an example, referring toFIGS.4a-4band5a-5b, a device9to supply printing material to a printing material container2in a printing apparatus1000may include a first container91to contain printing material, a first piston93movable in the first container91to exert first pressure to discharge printing material contained in the first container91from the first container19, a second container971having an opening to the first container91, and a second piston973movable in the second container971to exert second pressure higher than the first pressure to form a pressure gradient based on the first pressure and the second pressure through the opening975, the pressure gradient to disperse printing material in the first container91.

According to an example, referring toFIGS.4a-4band5a-5b, a device9couplable to a printing material cartridge2may include a first container91to contain printing material, a second container971coupled to the first container and having an opening975to the first container91, a first piston93movable in the first container91to exert first pressure to move the printing material contained in the first container91to be discharged from the first container91, and a second piston973movable in the second container971to exert second pressure higher than the first pressure to form a pressure gradient based on the first pressure and the second pressure through the opening975to disperse the printing material in the first container91.

According to an example, the portal940may be coupled to the first container91or integrated with the first container91as a part of the first container91. According to an example, the portal940may include a discharge port943through which the printing material is transferrable from the first container91. According to an example, referring toFIG.9, the portal940may include a plurality of discharge ports943. According to an example, when printing material is transferred out of the first container91and discharged through the portal940, printing material may be discharged through the discharge port943included in the portal940. According to an example, when the portal940couples to the refill port8and aligned to discharge printing material through the portal940, the discharge port943may connect to the printing material inlet902in the refill port8, to transfer the printing material discharged through the discharge port943, through the printing material inlet902, and to the printing material container2.

According to an example, the portal940may include a discharge port943through which the printing material is transferrable from the first container91. According to an example, referring toFIGS.9and11, the portal940may include a plurality of discharge ports943. According to an example, when printing material is transferred out of the first container91and discharged through the portal940, printing material may be discharged through the discharge port943included in the portal940. According to an example, when the portal940couples to the refill port8and aligned to discharge printing material through the portal940, the discharge port943may connect to the printing material inlet902in the refill port8, to transfer the printing material discharged through the discharge port943through the printing material inlet902, and to the printing material container2.

According to an example, the device9may include a shaft97. A shaft97may be rotatably disposed and may be coupled to the first piston93. For example, a shaft97may be rotatable to move the first piston93toward the discharge port943, to cause the transfer of the printing material. The first piston93may be movable by a rotation of the shaft. For example, referring toFIGS.4aand4b, the device9may comprise a shaft97rotatable to move the first piston93toward the discharge port943, to cause the transfer of the printing material. According to an example, the first piston93may move along the shaft97to discharge printing material contained in the first container91from the first container91. According to an example, referring toFIGS.4a,4b,5a, and5b, the shaft97may be disposed through the first container91parallel to the direction A1, and the first piston93may move along the shaft97and in the direction A1. For example, the first piston93may be movable by a rotation of the shaft97.

According to an example, referring toFIGS.6aand6b, the shaft97may include an engaging portion98to engage the first piston93, such as a threaded portion98, a thread98or a variety of possible structure for such engagement, and the first piston93may be to engage with the engaging portion98to be movable by rotating of the shaft97along the engaging portion98, to cause the transfer of the printing material. For example, referring toFIGS.6aand6b, the shaft97may include a threaded portion98, and the first piston93may rotate along the thread portion98to move along the shaft97in the direction A1by the rotation R of the shaft97. When the first piston93of the device9is moved in the direction A1of the first container91toward the portal940in a state the device9is coupled to the printing material refilling portion10, printing material accommodated in the first container91is discharged through the portal940and supplied to the printing material containing portion230of the printing material container2through the printing material refilling portion10.

According to an example, a shaft97may be rotatably disposed and may be coupled to the second piston973. For example, a shaft97may be rotatable to move the second piston973toward the portal940, to create the pressure gradient between the first container91and the second container971through the opening975. For example, referring toFIG.4b, the device9may include a shaft97including the second container971, or the shaft being the second container971. According to an example, referring toFIGS.5aand5b, the second container971is a shaft97coupled to the first piston93and the second piston973, the shaft97rotatable to move the first piston93to exert the first pressure and the second piston to exert the second pressure. According to an example, the shaft97may be rotatable to move the first piston93in the first container91and the second piston973in the second container971toward the portal940, to move the printing material toward the portal940and create the pressure gradient between the first container91and the second container971through the opening975. For example, the shaft97may be rotatable to move the first piston93in the first container91to move the printing material toward the portal940, and to move the second piston973to move in the second container971to create the pressure gradient between the first container91and the second container971through the opening975, to disperse the printing material being moved toward the portal940by the first piston93in the first container91. According to an example, referring toFIGS.4a,4b,5a,5b, the shaft97may be disposed through the first container91parallel to the direction A1, and the first piston93and the second piston973may move along the shaft97and in the directions A1and A2, respectively. For example, the first piston93and the second piston973may be movable by a rotation of the shaft97.

According to an example, the shaft97may be rotatable to move the first piston93in the first container91and the second piston973in the second container971by different displacements or at different speeds, with respect to, for example, the discharge port943. For example, the first piston93and the second piston973may move, respectively, at different speeds or by different displacements, with respect to the discharge port943, by a rotation of the shaft97. For example, the second piston973may move by a greater displacement or at a faster speed than the first piston93per a rotation of the shaft. According to an example, referring toFIGS.5aand5b, the second piston973may be to move a greater distance than the first piston93with respect to the shaft97, to exert the second pressure in the second container971higher than the first pressure in the first container91.

According to an example, referring toFIGS.6aand6b, the shaft97may include a threaded portion98to engage the first piston93, and the first piston93may be to engage with the threaded portion98to be movable by rotating of the shaft97along the threaded portion98, to cause the transfer of the printing material. For example, referring toFIGS.6aand6b, the shaft97may include a threaded portion98, and the first piston93may rotate along the thread portion98to move along the shaft97in the direction A1by the rotation R of the shaft97. When the first piston93of the device9is moved in the direction A1of the first container91in a state the device9is coupled to the printing material refilling portion10, printing material accommodated in the first container91is discharged through the portal940and supplied to the printing material containing portion230of the printing material container2through the printing material refilling portion10.

According to an example, referring toFIGS.6aand6b, the shaft97may have a first engaging portion98along a first side of the shaft97, such as a first threaded portion98, a first thread98or a variety of possible structure for such first engagement, and a second engaging portion976along a second side of the shaft, such as a second threaded portion976, a second thread976or a variety of possible structure for such second engagement. For example, the first piston93may be movable along the first threaded portion98. The second piston973may be movable along the second threaded portion976. According to an example, the second threaded portion976may be coarser than the first threaded portion98, to move the second piston973to a greater distance than the first piston93per a rotation of the shaft97. According to an example, the first threaded portion98may have a finer thread than the second threaded portion976has. According to an example, the second threaded portion976may have a more coarse thread than the first threaded portion98has. For example, referring toFIG.6a, the shaft97having a hollow body as the second container971may have a first threaded portion98on an external surface of the shaft97, and, referring toFIG.6b, a second threaded portion976along an internal surface of the shaft97. The second threaded portion976may be coarser than the first threaded portion98. The first threaded portion98may be finer than the second threaded portion976. The first piston93may be movable along the first threaded portion98. The second piston973may be movable along the second threaded portion976. Accordingly, per a rotation of the shaft97, the second piston973moving along the second threaded portion976that is more coarse may move along the direction A2(parallel to the direction A1) faster and by a greater distance than the first piston93moving in the direction A1parallel to the direction A2).

According to an example, because the second piston973in the second container971moves a greater distance in the direction A2than the first piston93in the first container91moving in the direction A1, a second pressure in the second container may be created by the movement of the second piston973to be higher than the first pressure in the first container91, which may be created by the movement of the first piston93in the first container91.

According to an example, as the first piston93moves in the first container91, pressure P1in the first container91may become pressure P1′, which may be higher than the pressure P1. According to an example, as the second piston973moves in the second container971, pressure P2in the second container971may become pressure P2′, which may be higher than the pressure P2. According to an example, when the second piston973moves along the direction A1by a greater distance than the first piston93along the direction A2, the pressure P1in the first container91may become the pressure P1′, and the pressure P2in the second container971may become the pressure P2′ higher than the pressure P1′ in the first container91. For example, referring toFIG.7a, when the distance between the portal940and the first piston93is L1, the pressure in the first container may be the pressure P1. When the distance between the portal940and the second piston973is L2, the pressure in the second container may be the pressure P2. The pressures P1and P2in this condition may be at about the same level. For example, the pressures P1and P2in this condition may be at about ambient pressure P0. Referring toFIG.7b, when the first piston93moves toward the portal940, the distance between the portal940and the first piston93may become L1′, and the pressure may be increased to the pressure P1′, due to the reduced volume by the movement of the first piston93in the first container91. When the second piston973moves toward the portal940, the distance between the portal940and the second piston973may become L2′, and the pressure may be increased to the pressure P2′, due to the reduced volume by the movement of the second piston973in the second container971. The pressure P1′ may satisfy the following mathematical relationship (1):

P⁢1′=P⁢1⁢L⁢1L⁢1′
The pressure P2′ may satisfy the following mathematical relationship (2):

P⁢2′=P⁢2⁢L⁢2L⁢2′
The degree of pressure change in the first chamber91by the movement of the first piston93can be notated as ΔP1. ΔP1may satisfy the following mathematical relationship (3):
P1′−P1=ΔP1
The degree of pressure change in the second chamber971by the movement of
P2′−P2=ΔP2
the second piston973can be notated as ΔP2. ΔP2may satisfy the following mathematical relationship (4):
Based on the mathematical relationships (1)-(4), the following mathematical relationship (5) may be set:
For example, when the pressures P1and P2in this condition may be at about the same pressure level, such as the ambient pressure P0, the mathematical

if⁢L⁢1L⁢1′<L⁢2L⁢2′⁢then⁢Δ⁢P⁢1<Δ⁢P⁢2
relationship (5) is set to be true.

According to an example, the device9may include a gas-permeable membrane covering the opening975and having channels that allows the air/gas to escape, while the size of channel is fine enough to not allow printing material, such as a particle having a size 5 micron or greater, to egress back into the second chamber.

According to an example, the device9may include a first valve977provided to selectively open and close the opening975. According to an example, various types of valves can be implemented to selectively open and close the opening975, For example, the first valve977may be a valve openable by pressure exerted to the valve, such as a check valve. According to an example, the device9may include a first valve977to close the opening975and openable by the second pressure. For example, a first valve977may include a spring979, and the spring force from the spring979may hold the first valve977closed, for example under pressure P1, P2or ambient pressure P0. For example, the first valve977may have a check valve stiffness (k), such as an air check valve stiffness. When the pressure exerted to a second chamber side of the first valve does not overcome the pressure from the first chamber and the force of the first valve based on the check valve stiffness (k) and a valve displacement distance (x), the first valve977may be closed. When the pressure exerted to the second chamber side of the first valve overcomes the pressure from the first chamber and the force based on the check valve stiffness (k) and the valve displacement distance (x), the first valve977may be open. According to an example, referring toFIG.4a, the opening975may include a first valve977provided to selectively open and close the opening975. According to an example, the first valve977may be provided inside the second container971, to selectively close and open the opening975. For example, the first valve977may be provided outside of the second container971to close and open the portal940from the outside. For example, the first valve977may be provided at the external side of second container971. According to an example, referring toFIG.8, the pressures P1and P2may satisfy the following mathematical relationship (6):

P2′A2>P1′A1+k⁢x
where, A2is the area of the second chamber side of the first valve and A1is the area of the first chamber side of the first valve.
When the mathematical relationship (6) is satisfied according to an example, the first valve977may open, allowing the first pressure P1′ and the second pressure P2′ to create a pressure gradient between the first container91and the second container971through the opening975opened by the first valve977.

According to an example, a seal to close the discharge port943that is mechanically breakable, or can be broken or torn to open the discharge port943may be provided.

According to an example, the device9may include a second valve95provided to selectively open and close the portal940, for example, by selectively opening and closing the discharge port943included in the portal940. According to an example, the device9may include a second valve95provided to selectively open and close the portal940, for example, by selectively blocking and unblocking the discharge port943, to allow containment of printing material in the device9until the device9is interfaced with the printing cartridge for transferring printing material from the first container91to the printing material container2. For example, referring toFIG.4b, the device9may include a portal940coupleable to a refill port8of the printing material container2, and to couple the first container91with the printing material container2, wherein the portal940includes a discharge port943through which the printing material is dischargeable from the first container91and a second valve95to close the discharge port and openable by pressure.

According to an example, the device9may include a portal940connectable to a printing cartridge, wherein the portal may include a discharge port943through which the printing material is dischargeable from the first container91, and at least one of a breakable seal to close the discharge port, or a second valve95to close the discharge port and openable by pressure.

According to an example, various types of valves can be implemented to selectively open and close the discharge port943, For example, the second valve95may be a valve openable by pressure exerted to the second valve95, such as a check valve. For example, a second valve95may include a spring951, and the spring force from the spring951may hold the second valve95closed. For example, the second valve95may have a check valve stiffness (k0), such as an air check valve stiffness. When the pressure exerted to the second valve95does not overcome the force based on the check valve stiffness (k0) and a valve displacement distance (x0), the second valve95may be closed, for example, by force exerted by the spring951. When the pressure exerted to the second valve95overcomes the force based on the check valve stiffness (k0) and the valve displacement distance (x0), the second valve95may be open, for example, by the first pressure pushing against the spring951. For example, referring toFIG.4a, the discharge port943may include a second valve95provided to selectively open and close the portal940, by selectively opening and closing the discharge port943. According to an example, the second valve95may be provided at a location with respect to the portal940. For example, the second valve95may be provided inside the first container91, to selectively close and open the discharge port943. For example, the second valve95may be provided outside of the first container91to close and open the portal940and/or the discharge port943from the outside. For example, the second valve95may be provided at the external side of discharge port943. According to an example, referring toFIGS.7aand7b, the pressure P1and the ambient pressure P0outside the device9may satisfy the following mathematical relationship (7):

P1′A1>PoAo+ko⁢xo
When the mathematical relationship (7) is satisfied according to an example, the second valve95may open, allowing printing material in the first container91to be discharged through the discharge port943open by the second valve95.

According to an example, the printing apparatus1000may include a power supply400to supply the power to the device9through the power outlet901to move the first piston93to exert the first pressure and the second piston973to exert the second pressure. According to an example, the first piston93may be movable by a manual operation or by power received from a power supply400. For example, the shaft97may be manually rotated or may be rotated by power received from a power supply400. According to an example, different forms of power may drive the device9. For example, forms of power may include mechanical power or electrical power. According to an example, in an example of electrical power, the device9may include an electrical actuator, such as an electrical motor, to move the first piston93or to rotate the shaft97. According to an example, a power supply400may be included in the device9, the printing apparatus1000or printing cartridge2. According to an example, a power supply400may be a separate power supply400directly or indirectly coupleable and/or connectable to the device9, the printing apparatus1000or the printing material container2. For example, referring toFIGS.10athrough10c, the printing apparatus1000may include a power supply400to supply power to the device9through the power outlet901to drive the device9to supply printing material to the printing material container2.

According to an example, referring toFIGS.1,3, and11, the printing apparatus1000to include a printing material container2as a printing cartridge2coupleable to a device9may include a refill port8through which the device9including printing material is couplable to the printing material container2, wherein the device includes a first container91to contain printing material, a second container971coupled to the first container91and having an opening975to the first container91, a first piston93movable in the first container91to exert first pressure to move the printing material contained in the first container91to be discharged from the first container91, and a second piston973movable in the second container971to exert second pressure higher than the first pressure to form a pressure gradient based on the first pressure and the second pressure through the opening975to disperse the printing material in the first container, wherein the device9is to receive power through the refill port8to move the first piston93to exert the first pressure and the second piston973to exert the second pressure.

FIG.9is a structural diagram of the portal940of the device9according to an example. The portal940may be coupled to the first container91or integrated with the first container91as a part of the first container91. According to an example, the portal940may be disposed adjacent to a connector9400to receive power. According to an example, the portal940may include a connector9400. For example, referring toFIGS.4aand4b, the device9may include the portal940couplable to the refill port8of the printing material container2, and to couple the first container91with the printing material container2such as a printing cartridge2. For example, the portal940may include a discharge port943through which the printing material is transferrable from the first container91. According to an example, the device9may include a connector9400to receive power to move the first piston93to exert the first pressure and the second piston973to exert the second pressure. According to an example, the device9may include a connector9400to receive power to rotate the shaft97, to move the first piston93to exert the first pressure and the second piston973to exert the second pressure For example, the portal940may include a connector9400to receive power to move the first piston93, to cause a transfer of the printing material contained in the first container91to the printing material container2through the discharge port943. Through the connector9400, power may be supplied to drive the device9to discharge printing material. According to an example, the connector9100may include a first power transfer medium9401to receive power to drive the device9. According to an example, the refill port8may include a power outlet901, a power transference medium901, a power take-off solution910, or transference solution901, through which power is supplied to drive the device9. For example, referring toFIG.11, the refill port8may include a power transference medium901through which the device9is to receive the power to drive the device9. For example, the refill port8may include a power transference medium901through which the device9is to receive the power to move the first piston93to exert the first pressure and the second piston973to exert the second pressure. For example, referring toFIG.11, the refill port8includes a power transference medium901through which the device9is connected to a power supply400, to receive power to drive the device9. According to an example, the refill port8may include printing material inlet902to be connected to the portal940to receive printing material.

According to an example, the power supply400may supply power through the refill port8of the printing apparatus1000. A variety of power transferring mechanism may be implemented to transfer power. For example, the power transferring mechanism may include a Dog, Friction-clutch, Pressure-clutch, and other types of clutch to transfer power to move the first piston93and the second piston973.

According to an example, the device9may include a connector9400to receive power. Referring toFIGS.4band9, for example, the connector9400may be disposed to be adjacent to the portal940. For example, the portal940may include the connector9400.

According to an example, the connector9400may include a first power transfer medium9401to receive power to drive the device9. The refill port8may include a second power transfer medium1001to receive power from the power supply400and couple to the first power transfer medium9401to transfer power from the power supply400.FIGS.10athrough10cshows an example process of power supply400. According to an example, referring toFIG.13athrough13c, the second power transfer medium1001couples to the extension shaft1005. According to an example, referring toFIG.10a, the second power transfer medium1001may couple to the extension shaft1005and separated from the first power transfer medium9401. Referring toFIG.10b, the extension shaft1005may move the second power transfer medium1001to couple to the first power transfer medium9401. Referring toFIG.13c, the extension shaft1005may move the second power transfer medium1001to be separated from the first power transfer medium9401.

According to an example, the device9may include a first gear9401-1rotatable to deliver power to move the first piston93to exert the first pressure and the second piston973to exert the second pressure, and the printing apparatus1000may include a second gear1001-1to contact the first gear9401-1through the power transference medium901as the power outlet901to engage with the first gear9401-1to supply the power. For example, referring toFIG.11, the connector9400may include a gear rotatable by the power, to rotate the shaft97to move the first piston93and the second piston973. For example, the connector9400may include a first gear9401-1as the first power transfer medium to contact a second gear1001-1disposed at the refill port8to engage with the second gear1001-1as the second power transfer medium, to be rotatable by the second gear1001-1receiving the power, to rotate the shaft97to move the first piston93. According to an example, the connector9400may include a first gear9401-1as an activation gear to engage a second gear1001-1provided at the refill port8. The connector9400may include an opening through which the first gear9401-1is accessible. The second gear1001-1may be provided at the refill port8, and as the device9is coupled to the refill port and aligned to discharge and transfer printing material through the portal940at the refill port8, the first gear9401-1may contact the second gear to engage with the second gear1001-1, to receive power via the second gear1001-1. According to an example, a power supply400may be an activation motor and supply rotational power to rotate the second gear1001-1.

According to an example,FIGS.10a-10c, the printing apparatus1000may comprise a power supply400to supply the power to the device through the power transference medium901as the power outlet901to drive the device to supply printing material to the printing cartridge For example, referring toFIG.11, the device9may include a first gear9401-1rotatable to deliver power to drive the device9to supply printing material to the printing material container2, and the power supply includes a second gear1001-1to contact the first gear9401-1through the power transference medium901as the power outlet901to engage with the first gear9401-1to supply power.

Referring toFIGS.9and11, the connector9400may include a first gear9401-1as an activation gear to engage a second gear1001-1provided at the refill port8. The second gear may be provided at a position at the refill port8, and as the device9is coupled to the refill port8and aligned to discharge and transfer printing material through the portal940at the refill port8, the first gear9401-1may engage to the second gear1001-1, to receive power via the second gear1001-1.

The first gear9401-1may be connected to the shaft97, so as to rotate the shaft97with the delivered rotational power. According to an example, the first gear9401-1may be directly coupled to the shaft97or indirectly connected to the shaft97, to drive the shaft97by rotating. According to an example, the first gear9401-1may be included in the shaft97, for example, by being integrated on a surface of the shaft97. As the first gear9401-1is engaged to the second gear and rotates, the shaft97may be rotated by the first gear to move the first piston93along the threaded portion of the shaft97and in the direction A1toward the portal940, to plunge and transfer the printing material through the portal940.

According to an example, the second gear1001-1may be movable to contact the first gear9401-1to engage with the first gear9401-1and be separated from the first gear9401-1to disengage with the first gear9401-1. Referring toFIGS.11a,11band11c, the second gear1001-1may be provided to be movable to a first position to contact the first gear9401-1to engage with the first gear9401-1and to a second position to disengage from the first gear9401-1. The extension shaft may couple to the second gear1001-1to move the second gear1001-1to the first position and the second position. When the first gear9401-1engages the second gear1001-1, the second gear1001-1may rotate the engaged first gear9401-1to deliver rotational power.

The printing apparatus1000may have an electrical structure, which may be for detecting whether the device9is coupled to the printing material refilling portion10, and/or, through which information associated with the device9may be obtainable.

According to an example, referring toFIG.14, the device9may include a communication interface96for communication between the device9and the controller300. According to an example, the communication interface96may communicate with the controller wirelessly or through a wired connection. For example, the communication interface96may communicate with the controller300via a wired connection through the portal940. When the device9is coupled to the printing material refilling portion10, the communication interface96may be electrically connected to transfer information of the device9. According to an example, when the device9is coupled to the printing material refilling portion10of the printing apparatus1000, the communication interface96may be electrically connected to the controller via the refill port8. According to an example, a controller300provided in the body1may obtain information to perform a control process. For example, the controller300may determine whether or not the device9is mounted based on information on the connection status of the device9to the refill port8or the printing material refilling portion10.

According to an example, the device9may signal completion signal generator92to indicate completion of the transfer of printing material through the communication interface96.

The printing material refilling portion10or the refill port8may be electrically connected to the device9coupled to the printing material refilling portion10and the body1and may transmit the information about the device9and the information about the printing material container2to the controller300through the interface between the printing material container2and the body1. The information about the device9may include information for authentication of the device9and the information about the printing material container2may include information for authentication of the printing material container2. The controller300may control operations of the printing apparatus1000based on signals or information received through a plurality of electrical contacts. The controller300may be a controller for a printing apparatus1000. The controller300may be a controller implemented in the printing apparatus, for example, as a separate controller or integrated with the controller of the printing apparatus1000. The controller300may be physically separated from the printing apparatus, such as an independent remote controller, a client device or a server in communication with the printing apparatus.

FIG.14is a block diagram of a printing apparatus1000according to an example. With reference toFIG.10, the printing apparatus1000may also include a user interface1010which provides a user with information regarding whether the device9is coupled to the printing material refilling portion10. By providing such information to a user, the user can know whether the device9is successfully or unsuccessfully coupled to the printing material refilling portion10. When the device9is coupled to the printing material refilling portion10and ready or aligned to discharge and transfer printing material to the printing material container2, power can be delivered to the device9to perform a plunging operation to discharge the printing material from the device9to the printing material container2. When the device9is not fully coupled to the printing material refilling portion10or not aligned to discharge printing material to the printing material container2, power may not be delivered to the device9to avoid an erroneous operation.

When the device9is coupled to the printing material refilling portion10, the device9may be connected to the controller300. The controller300may read information about the device9from the device9. The information about the device9may include information for authentication of the device9. Therefore, the controller300may receive the information about the device9. The controller may also receive the information about the printing material container2through the interface between the printing material container2and the controller300.

According to an example, the printing material refilling portion10may include an alignment detection sensor to detect that the device9coupled to the printing material refilling portion10enters a certain position depending on the alignment of the device9. The printing material refilling portion10may transmit whether or not the mounted device9has reached a certain position by rotation to the controller300, based on a result of the detection of the device9. For example, the printing material refilling portion10may transmit a signal indicating that the device9is improperly coupled to the printing material refilling portion10or not aligned to discharge printing material to the printing material container2, that the device9is arranged to discharge and transport printing material, and/or that the printing material refilling portion10is ready to receive printing material from the device9when the device9is aligned to discharge printing material.

According to an example, the controller300may communicate with at least one among the printing material container2including the printing material refilling portion10, the refill port8, the device9, and the power supply400. According to an example, a controller to meter, detect or measure an amount of printing material supplied by the device. For example, the controller may control power supply400to control the device9to supply printing material to the printing material container2, based on information received from at least one among the printing material container2including the printing material refilling portion10, the refill port8, the device9, and the power supply400.

According to an example, referring toFIGS.15aand15b, the first piston93may be to move based on an amount of printing material contained in the printing material container2before the transfer of the printing material contained in the first container91. According to an example, the controller300may control a process of printing material refill process, such as initiation and completion of the printing material refill process. For example, referring toFIGS.14and15a-15b, the printing apparatus1000may include a controller300to control an amount of printing material supplied by the device9, based on an amount of printing material in the printing material container2. The controller300may be to control the amount of printing material supplied by the device9, based on the amount of printing material in the device9. According to an example, various types of sensors may be provided. For example, a sensor310to detect an amount of toner in the printing material container2may be provided. Different types of sensors to detect the amount of toner may be implemented, including a weight sensor and an optical sensor. According to an example, the controller may calculate an amount of printing material consumed by the printing apparatus1000based on a printing task of the printing apparatus1000. For example, the controller may calculate an amount of printing material consumed by the printing apparatus1000based on the printing data used to perform the printing task. For example, the controller300may calculate how much printing material in the printing material container2is consumed by counting the number of pixels of an image indicated in an image data used for printing an image on a printing medium. According to an example, the device9may provide information to indicate an amount of toner that can be discharged and transferred to the printing material container2. Based on such various information and detections by the sensor310, the controller300may determine an amount of printing material to be discharged and transferred from the device9to the printing material container2, and may control the printing apparatus according to a result of the detection. For example, the controller300may control to initiate and stop supply power to the device9.

In order to remove the device9, the device9may be rotated in a direction opposite to a direction in which the device9is rotated after being coupled to the printing material refilling portion10.

The printing apparatus1000may be controlled to output information regarding the device9being separated from the printing material refilling portion10. For example, a message may be presented on a screen of the user interface1010regarding a status of alignment or separation of the device9, or a light indication may be provided. Further the output may be in the form of haptic feedback presented through the user interface1010, or a sound generated by an output device1020such as a speaker, which may also provide a user information regarding separation of the device9from the printing material refilling portion10. The user interface1010and output device1020may be combined as a single device where the user interface1010includes the output device1020or vice versa.

While various examples have been described with reference to the drawings, it will be understood that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by the following claims.