Delivery nozzle receiving device and toner cartridge

A toner cartridge and a delivery nozzle receiving device, the latter includes a fixture bracket, a closer, and an elastic element. A guiding slot is formed in the fixture bracket along a length direction of the fixture bracket, and one end of the guiding slot is provided with a delivery nozzle receiving opening. The closer is mounted inside the fixture bracket and can move along the guiding slot between a closed location and an opened location. The elastic element is sleeved outside the fixture bracket and pushes the closer towards the closed location, a first end of the elastic element is limited on an end of the fixture bracket close to the delivery nozzle receiving opening, and a second end of the elastic element is connected to an end of the closer away from the delivery nozzle receiving opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of printing supplies, and more particularly, to a delivery nozzle receiving device and a toner cartridge.

2. Description of the Related Art

An electrophotographic imaging device generally includes an image processing unit and a developing unit. Developer, for example, toner, provided by the developing unit is used to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image processing unit, to form a visible image on a medium such as a paper. As consumables, the toner needs to be constantly supplied to the electrophotographic imaging device. Usually, a toner container detachably mounted onto the developing unit in the electrophotographic imaging device and containing a particular amount of toner is used to provide toner for the developing unit.

Referring toFIG. 1, known or existing toner cartridge includes a cylinder body11, a delivery nozzle receiving device12fixed inside an axial end of the cylinder body11, and a side cover13and an outer cover14buckled outside the axial end of the cylinder body11. The cylinder body11passes through the side cover13and is fixed to the outer cover14by screw thread. The delivery nozzle receiving device12includes a closer121, a fixture bracket122, and a spring123. The fixture bracket122extends towards the inside of the cylinder body11along an axial direction of the cylinder body11, and a guiding slot1221is formed in the fixture bracket122along a length direction of the fixture bracket122. One end of the guiding slot1221is provided with a delivery nozzle receiving opening1222, and the closer121is mounted inside the fixture bracket122and can move along the guiding slot1221between a closed location at which the delivery nozzle receiving opening1222is closed and an opened location at which the delivery nozzle receiving opening1222is opened. The spring123is sleeved on the closer121, one end of the spring abuts against an end wall of the fixture bracket122, and the other end of the spring abuts against an end wall of the closer121. The outer cover14is in threaded connection to the cylinder body11and covers the delivery nozzle receiving opening1222.

Referring toFIG. 2toFIG. 4, during mounting of the existing toner cartridge, the outer cover14is removed, the closer121of the toner cartridge is aligned with a delivery nozzle10on the electrophotographic imaging device, and during a process of pushing the toner cartridge forward, the delivery nozzle10pushes the closer121backwards, the closer121moves towards the inside of the toner cartridge, to open the delivery nozzle receiving opening1222, and toner in the toner cartridge enters the electrophotographic imaging device through a toner inlet101of the delivery nozzle10.

The existing toner cartridge can deliver only toner having good fluidity, and if toner having poor fluidity is used, a case of insufficient toner supply easily occurs, affecting normal working of the electrophotographic imaging device. In addition, the spring123of the existing toner cartridge is disposed inside the fixture bracket122, which does not facilitate replacement.

In addition, before the existing toner cartridge is mounted onto a printer, the closer121abuts against an external port of the fixture bracket122under elastic force of the spring123, and if the spring123has small elastic force, the closer121possibly may move towards the inside of the existing toner cartridge when the existing toner cartridge vibrates or shakes during transportation, and further, a case of toner leakage occurs. Therefore, a spring123having large elastic force needs to be used. However, when the spring123has large elastic force, a user needs to push the existing toner cartridge into the printer with a large force when mounting the existing toner cartridge onto the printer, leading to hand discomfort during mounting of the toner cartridge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A main objective of the present invention is to provide a delivery nozzle receiving device that is compatible with different types of toner and can prevent toner leakage.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a toner cartridge having the delivery nozzle receiving device.

To implement the foregoing main objective, the present invention provides a delivery nozzle receiving device, including a fixture bracket, a closer, and an elastic element. A guiding slot is formed in the fixture bracket along a length direction of the fixture bracket, and one end of the guiding slot is provided with a delivery nozzle receiving opening. The closer is mounted inside the fixture bracket and can move along the guiding slot between a closed location at which the delivery nozzle receiving opening is closed and an opened location at which the delivery nozzle receiving opening is opened. The elastic element is sleeved outside the fixture bracket and pushes the closer towards the closed location, a first end of the elastic element is limited on an end of the fixture bracket close to the delivery nozzle receiving opening, and a second end of the elastic element is connected to an end of the closer away from the delivery nozzle receiving opening.

As can be seen from the foregoing solution, after thrust force is exerted on the closer, the closer moves in a direction away from the delivery nozzle receiving opening relative to the cylinder body, to open the delivery nozzle receiving opening, and the elastic element is stretched under the thrust force of the closer and pushes the closer in a direction of closing the delivery nozzle receiving opening. After the thrust force exerted on the closer is cancelled, under elastic restoring force of the elastic element, the closer moves in a direction close to the delivery nozzle receiving opening relative to the cylinder body, to close the delivery nozzle receiving opening. The elastic element can be replaced according to requirements.

In a preferable solution, the elastic element is a tension spring, a first end of the tension spring is fixed to the end of the fixture bracket close to the delivery nozzle receiving opening, and a second end of the tension spring is connected to the end of the closer away from the delivery nozzle receiving opening.

As can be seen, the tension spring has a simple structure and is easy to fix and mount.

In a preferable solution, a non-circular hole is formed in an end portion of the fixture bracket away from the delivery nozzle receiving opening, and the closer is in clearance fit with the non-circular hole and moves along the non-circular hole in an axial direction of the fixture bracket.

As can be seen, it is ensured that the closer and the fixture bracket cannot rotate relatively in a circumferential direction of the fixture bracket.

To implement the another objective, the present invention provides a toner cartridge, including a cylinder body used for accommodating developer and a delivery nozzle receiving device disposed on a first axial end of the cylinder body. The delivery nozzle receiving device includes a fixture bracket, a closer, and an elastic element. The fixture bracket is fixed to the first axial end of the cylinder body and is located inside the cylinder body. A guiding slot is formed in the fixture bracket along a length direction of the fixture bracket, the guiding slot is communicated with the inside of the cylinder body, and a side of the guiding slot close to the first axial end of the cylinder body is provided with a delivery nozzle receiving opening. The closer is mounted inside the fixture bracket and can move along the guiding slot between a closed location at which the delivery nozzle receiving opening is closed and an opened location at which the delivery nozzle receiving opening is opened. The elastic element is sleeved outside the fixture bracket and pushes the closer towards the closed location, a first end of the elastic element is limited on an end of the fixture bracket close to the delivery nozzle receiving opening, and a second end of the elastic element is connected to an end of the closer away from the delivery nozzle receiving opening.

As can be seen from the foregoing solution, during mounting of the toner cartridge, the closer is aligned with a delivery nozzle of an electrophotographic imaging device, the toner cartridge is pushed forward, the delivery nozzle pushes the closer backwards, and the closer moves towards the inside of the toner cartridge relative to the cylinder body, to open the delivery nozzle receiving opening. The elastic element is stretched under thrust force of the closer and pushes the closer in a direction of closing the delivery nozzle receiving opening. When the toner cartridge is taken out from the electrophotographic imaging device, the thrust force exerted by the delivery nozzle on the closer is cancelled, and under elastic restoring force of the elastic element, the closer moves in a direction close to the delivery nozzle receiving opening relative to the cylinder body, to close the delivery nozzle receiving opening. The elastic element can be replaced according to requirements of performance of toner such as fluidity.

In a preferable solution, the elastic element is a tension spring, a first end of the tension spring is fixed to the end of the fixture bracket close to the delivery nozzle receiving opening, and a second end of the tension spring is connected to the end of the closer away from the delivery nozzle receiving opening of the cartridge.

As can be seen, the tension spring has a simple structure and is easy to fix and mount.

In a preferable solution, a conveying component is disposed on the cylinder body, the conveying component is a helical protrusion that projects from an inner peripheral wall of the cylinder body in a helical manner, and the conveying component conveys the developer in a first conveying direction from an inner side of the cylinder body to the delivery nozzle receiving opening; and a direction of turning of the tension spring is the same as or opposite to a direction of turning of the helical protrusion.

As can be seen, the conveying component is disposed, so that it is ensured that toner in the cylinder body can be smoothly conveyed to the delivery nozzle receiving opening.

In a further solution, the direction of turning of the tension spring is the same as the direction of turning of the helical protrusion, and the tension spring conveys the developer in the first conveying direction.

As can be seen, when the direction of turning of the tension spring is the same as the direction of turning of the helical protrusion, the tension spring can convey the developer in the first conveying direction from the inner side of the cylinder body to the delivery nozzle receiving opening, to increase a toner feeding amount. This is applicable to toner with poor fluidity.

In a further solution, the direction of turning of the tension spring is opposite to the direction of turning of the helical protrusion, and the tension spring conveys the developer in a second conveying direction from the delivery nozzle receiving opening to the inner side of the cylinder body.

As can be seen, when the direction of turning of the tension spring is opposite to the direction of turning of the helical protrusion, the tension spring can convey the developer in a direction away from the delivery nozzle receiving opening, so that the developer is prevented from blocking a toner inlet of the delivery nozzle. This is applicable to toner with good fluidity.

In a preferable solution, the toner cartridge further includes an outer cover. The outer cover is mounted on the first axial end of the cylinder body, the closer is in threaded connection to the outer cover, and the fixture bracket and the closer are fixed in a circumferential direction of the fixture bracket.

As can be seen, the closer and the cylinder body both are fixedly connected to the outer cover. Therefore, when collision occurs on the toner cartridge during transportation, toner leakage caused by the movement of the closer towards the inside of the toner cartridge can be prevented.

In a preferable solution, a toner feeding opening is formed in a second axial end of the cylinder body, and a toner feeding opening cover is disposed on the toner feeding opening.

As can be seen, when the toner in the toner cartridge is used up, toner can be filled into the toner cartridge through the toner feeding opening, thereby implementing recycling use of the toner cartridge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following further describes the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

Referring toFIG. 5, a toner cartridge in an embodiment includes a cylinder body2, a delivery nozzle receiving device3, a side cover5, an outer cover4, and a toner feeding opening cover6.

The cylinder body2is used for accommodating developer. The delivery nozzle receiving device3, the side cover5, and the outer cover4all are disposed on a first axial end of the cylinder body2, the side cover5is located between the outer cover4and the cylinder body2, the side cover5is buckled on the cylinder body2, and the side cover5and the cylinder body2are detachably fixed by using a buckle. A toner feeding opening22(shown inFIG. 7) is formed in a second axial end of the cylinder body2, and the toner feeding opening cover6is mounted on the toner feeding opening22. A conveying component24is disposed on the cylinder body2, and the conveying component24is a helical protrusion that projects from an inner peripheral wall of the cylinder body2in a helical manner. A direction of turning of the helical protrusion is clockwise. The conveying component24conveys the developer in a first conveying direction from an inner side of the cylinder body2to the delivery nozzle receiving device3.

Referring toFIG. 6toFIG. 10, the delivery nozzle receiving device3includes a fixture bracket31, a closer32, an elastic element, and a seal34. The fixture bracket31is fixed to the first axial end of the cylinder body2and is located inside the cylinder body2. A guiding slot311is formed in the fixture bracket31along a length direction of the fixture bracket31, the guiding slot311is communicated with the inside of the cylinder body2, and a delivery nozzle receiving opening312is disposed at a side of the guiding slot311close to the first axial end of the cylinder body2. The closer32is mounted inside the fixture bracket31and can move along the guiding slot311between a closed location at which the delivery nozzle receiving opening312is closed and an opened location at which the delivery nozzle receiving opening312is opened.

Referring toFIG. 11toFIG. 14, the fixture bracket31includes a fixture portion314, a first limiting protrusion313, and a guiding portion315. The fixture bracket31is of a hollow structure. The fixture portion314is fixed to the first axial end of the cylinder body2by using a buckle3141. An opening3152is disposed on each of upper and lower sides of the guiding portion315. In this way, the guiding portion315not only has a function of guiding the closer32to move along an inner wall of the fixture bracket31, but also has a function of dispersing toner in a radial direction. A non-circular hole3151is formed in an end wall of the guiding portion315away from the delivery nozzle receiving opening312, and a cross section of the non-circular hole3151is non-circular. In other words, the cross section of the non-circular hole3151may be encircled by multiple curved line segments or multiple straight line segments or multiple straight line segments and curved line segments. In this embodiment, the cross section of the non-circular hole3151is encircled by two parallel straight line segments and two arc line segments between the two parallel straight line segments. When the cross section of the non-circular hole3151is non-circular, it may be limited that the closer32cannot rotate in a circumferential direction of the fixture bracket31relative to the fixture bracket31, so that when the toner cartridge is in a working state, the closer32and the fixture bracket31can rotate together with the cylinder body2. The closer32is in clearance fit with the non-circular hole3151and moves along the non-circular hole3151in an axial direction of the fixture bracket31.

Referring toFIG. 13andFIG. 14, the closer32includes a closing portion322, a guiding rod323, and a stopping portion324. The guiding rod323is connected between the closing portion322and the stopping portion324, the closing portion322is located at a location close to the delivery nozzle receiving opening312, and the closing portion322is in clearance fit with the inner wall of the fixture bracket31. An end of the guiding rod323close to the stopping portion324is separated into a pair of cantilevers325, the stopping portion324is a pair of hooks extending towards the outside of the guiding rod323, and the two hooks are respectively disposed on axial ends of the cantilevers325. The stopping portion324is disposed, so that the closer32can be prevented from being separated from the fixture bracket31. On the delivery nozzle receiving opening312, a mounting slot is disposed between the fixture bracket31and the closing portion322, and the seal34is mounted inside the mounting slot. Preferably, the seal34is leakage prevention foam, to prevent the toner leakage from a gap between the fixture bracket31and the closing portion322.

The elastic element is sleeved outside the fixture bracket31and pushes the closer32towards the closed location, a first end of the elastic element is limited on an end of the fixture bracket31close to the delivery nozzle receiving opening312, and a second end of the elastic element is connected to an end of the closer32away from the delivery nozzle receiving opening312. Preferably, the elastic element is a tension spring33. Optionally, the first end of the elastic element may be fixed to the end of the fixture bracket31close to the delivery nozzle receiving opening312, or the first end of the elastic element may be fixed to an end of an inner wall of the cylinder body2close to the delivery nozzle receiving opening312of the fixture bracket31.

In this embodiment, the first limiting protrusion313is disposed on an outer peripheral wall of the end of the fixture bracket31close to the delivery nozzle receiving opening312and multiple third limiting protrusions316are evenly arranged in a circumferential direction of the outer peripheral wall. Thickness of the first limiting protrusion313in a radial direction of the fixture bracket31is greater than thickness of the third limiting protrusions316in the radial direction of the fixture bracket31. A second limiting protrusion23is disposed on an inner peripheral wall of the cylinder body2close to the first axial end of the cylinder body2. The first limiting protrusion313, the second limiting protrusion23, the inner peripheral wall of the cylinder body2, and the outer peripheral wall of the fixture bracket31together encircle a limiting slot7(shown inFIG. 6). A first end331of the tension spring33is sleeved on the third limiting protrusions316and is fixed inside the limiting slot7. A free end332on a second end of the tension spring33is of a bending structure, the free end332extends towards the inside of the tension spring33along a central axis of the tension spring33, a mounting hole321extending in an axial direction of the closer32is formed at a location on the closer32close to the cantilevers325, and an end portion of the free end332is disposed inside the mounting hole321.

Optionally, a direction of turning of the tension spring33is opposite to a direction of turning of the helical protrusion on the cylinder body2. In a process of rotating together with the fixture bracket31, the tension spring33can convey the developer in a second conveying direction from the delivery nozzle receiving opening312to the inner side of the cylinder body2. Therefore, a toner feeding amount can be reduced in a use process of the tension spring33, this is applicable to toner having relatively good fluidity, and blocking a toner inlet901of the delivery nozzle90is prevented. The direction of turning of the tension spring33may alternatively be the same as the direction of turning of the helical protrusion on the cylinder body2. In a process of rotating together with the fixture bracket31, the tension spring33can convey the developer in the first conveying direction from the inner side of the cylinder body2to the delivery nozzle receiving opening312. Therefore, a toner feeding amount can be increased in a use process of the tension spring33, and this is applicable to toner having relatively poor fluidity. In addition, a size of a screw pitch of the tension spring33may be controlled to change a toner feeding amount.

Referring toFIG. 6andFIG. 15toFIG. 17, the outer cover4is mounted on the first axial end of the cylinder body2. The outer cover4includes an integrally formed cover body41, a stud42, and a cylindrical extension portion43. The cylindrical extension portion43is disposed on a side wall411of a side of the cover body41close to the cylinder body2, and the cylindrical extension portion43is perpendicular to the side wall411. A thread is disposed on an inner wall of the cylindrical extension portion43. The first axial end of the cylinder body2is located inside the cylindrical extension portion43, and the cylindrical extension portion43is fixed to the cylinder body2by using the thread. In addition, because the fixture bracket31is fixed inside the cylinder body2, before the toner cartridge is used, the cover body4can be fixed relative to the fixture bracket31. The stud42is perpendicular to the side wall411of the cover body41and is located at a location corresponding to the closer32, a thread is disposed on an end of the stud42close to the cylinder body2, a threaded hole3221is formed in an outer end portion of the closing portion322, and the stud42is in fit connection to the threaded hole3221.

Because the fixture bracket31and the closer32are fixed in the circumferential direction of the fixture bracket31, in other words, the fixture bracket31and the closer32cannot rotate relatively in the circumferential direction, when the outer cover4is rotated and mounted on the cylinder body2, the thread on the inner wall of the cylindrical extension portion43fits the thread on the outer wall of the first axial end of the cylinder body, and meanwhile, the thread on the stud42fits the threaded hole3221on the closer322, so that the closer32and the cylinder body2can be fixed to the outer cover4at the same time, thereby preventing toner leakage caused by the fact that the closer32moves towards the inside of the cylinder body2.

In addition, a brim44is disposed on an outer peripheral wall of an end of the side wall411of the cover body41, the brim44extends in a radial direction of the cover body41, a reinforcing rib45is further disposed on the outer peripheral wall of the cover body41, and the reinforcing rib45is perpendicular to both the brim44and the outer peripheral wall of the cover body41. An antiskid stripe is further disposed on the outer peripheral wall of the cover body41, to prevent a difficult mounting and disassembling process caused by skid when the outer cover4is disassembled from the cylinder body2or the outer cover4is mounted on the cylinder body2.

The following describes, with reference toFIG. 8toFIG. 10, a process of connecting the delivery nozzle receiving device3to the delivery nozzle90of the electrophotographic imaging device in a process of mounting the toner cartridge onto the electrophotographic imaging device.

FIG. 8is a status view before the toner cartridge is connected to the delivery nozzle,FIG. 9is a status view in a process of connecting the toner cartridge to the delivery nozzle, andFIG. 10is a status view after the toner cartridge is connected to the delivery nozzle.

Before the toner cartridge is connected to the delivery nozzle90, under elastic force of the tension spring33, the closer32is pushed to enable the closing portion322of the closer32to be located at the closed location of the delivery nozzle receiving opening312of the fixture bracket31. In this case, the closer32is located at the closed location, and the toner in the cylinder body2is not leaked before the toner cartridge is mounted onto the electrophotographic imaging device.

As the toner cartridge is further pushed towards the inside of the electrophotographic imaging device, the delivery nozzle90of the electrophotographic imaging device abuts against the closer32and exerts force on the closer32, so that the closer32no longer moves. When the cylinder body2continues to be pushed forward, the delivery nozzle90enters the inside of the cylinder body2, the closing portion322is away from the delivery nozzle receiving opening312, the closer32is located at the opened location, and the toner inside the cylinder body2enters the electrophotographic imaging device from the toner inlet901of the delivery nozzle90.

Because one end of the tension spring33is connected to the closer32, as the toner cartridge is further pushed forward, the tension spring33is stretched constantly. When the toner in the toner cartridge is used up, and toner is filled into the cylinder body2, the toner cartridge is pulled outwards, the closer32keeps abutting against the delivery nozzle90under the elastic force of the tension spring33, and the toner cartridge continues to be pulled outwards until the closing portion322is located at the location of the delivery nozzle receiving opening312, the closer32is at the closed location, and the delivery nozzle90is separated from the closer32.

As can be seen from the foregoing solution, during mounting of the toner cartridge, the closer is aligned with the delivery nozzle of the electrophotographic imaging device, the toner cartridge is pushed forward, the delivery nozzle pushes the closer backwards, the closer moves towards the inside of the toner cartridge relative to the cylinder body, to open the delivery nozzle receiving opening, and the elastic element is stretched under the thrust force of the closer and pushes the closer towards a direction of closing the delivery nozzle receiving opening. When the toner cartridge is taken out from the electrophotographic imaging device, the thrust force exerted by the delivery nozzle on the closer is cancelled, and under elastic restoring force of the elastic element, the closer moves in a direction close to the delivery nozzle receiving opening relative to the cylinder body, to close the delivery nozzle receiving opening. The elastic element can be replaced according to requirements of performance of the toner such as fluidity. In addition, the stud is disposed on the outer cover, so that the sealing performance of the toner cartridge is improved, and leakage of the toner in the cylinder body during transportation is prevented.

Finally, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments. Changes such as changes of a manner of fixing the tension spring and the fixture bracket and a manner of fixing the tension spring and the closer, a change of the direction of turning of the tension spring, a change of the thread pitch of the tension spring, and a change of the direction of turning of the helical protrusion on the cylinder body shall fall within the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.