Toner cartridge for refilling toner by using elastic force

A toner cartridge includes a container having an opening, a flexible bag in which toner is received, a sealing portion configured to seal the flexible bag, and an extension extending from an edge of the sealing portion, the flexible bag being accommodated in the container so that the sealing portion faces the opening, a rotatable member rotatably provided on the container, a movable member connected to the extension and being movable from a first position close to the opening to a second position far from the opening in a longitudinal direction of the container, a rope having a first end portion connected to the rotatable member and a second end portion connected to the movable member, and a bias member configured to elastically bias the rotatable member to rotate in a direction in which the rope is switched from an unwound state to a wound state.

BACKGROUND ART

A printer using an electrophotographic method forms a visible toner image on a photoconductor by supplying toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor, transfers the toner image to a print medium directly or through an intermediate transfer medium, and then fixes the transferred toner image on the print medium.

A development cartridge receives toner, and supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor to form a visible toner image. When the development cartridge runs out of toner, the development cartridge may be removed from a main body of a printer and a new development cartridge may be mounted on the main body. The development cartridge may also be refilled with a new toner by using a toner refill kit (toner cartridge).

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearance of an electrophotographic printer according to an example.FIG. 2is a view illustrating a configuration of the electrophotographic printer ofFIG. 1according to an example.FIG. 3is a perspective view of a development cartridge used in the electrophotographic printer ofFIG. 1, according to an example. Referring toFIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a printer may include a main body1and a development cartridge2attachable to/detachable from the main body1. A door3may be provided on the main body1. The door3opens/closes a portion of the main body1. Although the door3opens an upper portion of the main body1inFIG. 1, a door for opening a side portion of the main body1or a front portion of the main body1may be used, if necessary. The door3may be opened and the development cartridge2may be attached to/detached from the main body1.

A photosensitive drum21that is a photoconductor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed may include a cylindrical metal pipe and a photosensitive layer having photoconductivity and formed on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical metal pipe. A charging roller23is a charger for charging a surface of the photosensitive drum21to a uniform electric potential. A charging bias voltage is applied to the charging roller23. A corona charger (not shown), instead of the charging roller23, may be used. A developing roller22supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum21and develops the electrostatic latent image.

When a two-component development method using toner and a carrier as a developer is used, the developing roller22may include a rotating sleeve and a magnet fixedly located inside the rotating sleeve. The rotating sleeve may be spaced apart from the photosensitive drum21by tens to hundreds of micrometers. The carrier is attached to an outer circumferential surface of the developing roller22due to a magnetic force of the magnet, and the toner is attached to the carrier due to an electrostatic force, and thus a magnetic brush formed of the carrier and the toner is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller22. The toner is moved to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum21due to a developing bias voltage applied to the developing roller22.

When a one-component development method using toner as a developer is used, the developing roller22may contact the photosensitive drum21, or may be spaced apart from the photosensitive drum21by tens to hundreds of micrometers. In the example, a one-component development method in which a development nip is formed when the developing roller22and the photosensitive drum21contact each other is used. The developing roller22may include a conductive metal core (not shown) and an elastic layer (not shown) formed on an outer circumferential surface of the conductive metal core. When a developing bias voltage is applied to the developing roller22, the toner is moved and attached to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum21through the development nip.

A supply roller24allows toner to be attached to the developing roller22. A supply bias voltage may be applied to the supply roller24so that toner is attached to the developing roller22. Reference numeral25denotes a regulating member for regulating the amount of toner attached to a surface of the developing roller22. The regulating member25may be a regulating blade whose front end contacts the developing roller22at a predetermined pressure. Reference numeral26denotes a cleaning member for removing residual toner and a foreign material from the surface of the photosensitive drum21before a charging operation. The cleaning member26may be a cleaning blade whose front end contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum21. Hereinafter, the foreign material removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum21is referred to as waste toner.

An optical scanner4scans light modulated according to image information to the surface of the photosensitive drum21charged to a uniform electric potential. A laser scanning unit (LSU) of deflecting light emitted from a laser diode in a main scanning direction by using a polygon mirror and scanning the deflected light to the photosensitive drum21may be used as the optical scanner4.

A transfer roller5is a transfer unit facing the photosensitive drum21and configured to form a transfer nip. A transfer bias voltage for transferring the toner image developed on the surface of the photosensitive drum21to a print medium P is applied to the transfer roller5. A corona transfer unit, instead of the transfer roller5, may be used.

The toner image transferred to a surface of the print medium P by the transfer roller5is maintained on the surface of the print medium P due to electrostatic attraction. A fuser6forms a permanent print image on the print medium P by fixing the toner image onto the print medium P by applying heat and pressure.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, the development cartridge2of the example includes a developing portion210in which the photosensitive drum21and the developing roller22are provided, a waste toner container220in which waste toner removed from the photosensitive drum21is received, and a toner container230connected to the developing portion210and allowing toner to be received therein. In order to refill the toner container230with toner, the development cartridge2includes a toner refilling portion240connected to the toner container230. The toner refilling portion240provides an interface between a toner cartridge300and the development cartridge2. The development cartridge2is an integrated development cartridge including the developing portion210, the waste toner container220, the toner container230, and the toner refilling portion240.

A portion of an outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum21is exposed to the outside of a housing. The transfer roller5contacts the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum21to form a transfer nip. At least one conveying member for conveying toner to the developing roller22may be provided on the developing portion210. The conveying member may agitate the toner and may charge the toner to a predetermined electric potential.

The waste toner container220is located over the developing portion210. The waste toner container220is spaced apart from the developing portion210so that a light path250is formed between the waste toner container220and the developing portion210. Waste toner removed from the photosensitive drum21by the cleaning member26is received in the waste toner container220. The waste toner removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum21is transported into the waste toner container220by one or more waste toner transporting members221,222, and223. Shapes and the number of waste toner transporting members are not limited. An appropriate number of waste toner transporting members may be provided at appropriate positions in order to effectively disperse the waste toner in the waste toner container220in consideration of a volume or a shape of the waste toner container220.

The toner container230is connected to the toner refilling portion240and receives toner. The toner container230is connected to the developing portion210by a toner supply portion234as marked by a dashed line ofFIG. 2. As shown inFIG. 2, the toner supply portion234may vertically pass through the waste toner container220and may be connected to the developing portion210. The toner supply portion234is located outside an effective width of exposure light L in order not to interfere with the exposure light L scanned in the main scanning direction by the optical scanner4.

One or more toner supply members231,232, and233for supplying toner through the toner supply portion234to the developing portion210may be provided in the toner container230. Shapes and the number of toner supply members are not limited. An appropriate number of toner supply members may be provided at appropriate positions in the toner container230in order to effectively supply the toner to the developing portion210in consideration of a volume or a shape of the toner container230. The toner supply member233may convey the toner in the main scanning direction to the toner supply portion234.

An image forming process will now be described briefly. A charging bias voltage is applied to the charging roller23, and the photosensitive drum21is charged to a uniform electric potential. The optical scanner4forms an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the photosensitive drum21by scanning light modulated to correspond to image information to the photosensitive drum21. The supply roller24allows toner to be attached to a surface of the developing roller22. The regulating member25forms a toner 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 roller22rotates, the toner conveyed to a development nip is moved and attached to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum21due to the developing bias voltage and a visible toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum21. The print medium P picked up from a loading tray7by a pickup roller71is fed by a feed roller72to a transfer nip where the transfer roller5and the photosensitive drum21face each other. When a transfer bias voltage is applied to the transfer roller5, the toner image is transferred to the print medium P due to electrostatic attraction. The toner image transferred to the print medium P is fixed onto the print medium P due to heat and pressure applied by the fuser6, thereby completing a printing operation. The print medium P is discharged by a discharge roller73. A portion of the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum21without being transferred to the print medium P is removed by the cleaning member26.

As described above, the development cartridge2includes the toner refilling portion240for refilling toner. Accordingly, the development cartridge2may be refilled with toner in a state where the development cartridge2is mounted on the main body1, without being removed from the main body1.

Referring toFIG. 1, a communicating portion8is formed in the main body1so that the toner refilling portion240may be accessed from the outside of the main body1in a state where the development cartridge2is mounted on the main body1. For example, when the toner cartridge (e.g., a toner refill kit)300in which toner is received is inserted into the communicating portion8, the toner cartridge300may be connected to the toner refilling portion240. In this state, the toner received in the toner cartridge300may be refilled in the toner container230through the toner refilling portion240. The toner cartridge300is removed from the communicating portion8after the toner is refilled.

In this configuration, since toner may be refilled in the toner container230through the toner refilling portion240, a replacement time of the development cartridge2may be extended until a lifetime of the photosensitive drum21ends, thereby reducing printing costs per sheet. Since toner may be refilled in a state where the development cartridge2is mounted on the main body1, user convenience may be improved.

The communicating portion8may be provided at a position close to a front portion12(seeFIG. 1) of the main body1. Since the front portion12faces a user, the user may easily access the communicating portion8. Accordingly, a toner refilling operation through the communicating portion8may be easily performed.

The communicating portion8may be formed in a top surface11of the main body1. The toner refilling portion240is located under the communicating portion8. The communicating portion8and the toner refilling portion240may be vertically aligned with each other. The toner cartridge300may access the toner refilling portion240from the top of the main body1through the communicating portion8.

Examples of the toner cartridge300will now be described.

FIG. 4is a partial exploded perspective view of the toner cartridge300according to an example.FIG. 5is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XI-XI′ ofFIG. 4, illustrating a state where a movable member is located at a first position.FIG. 6is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI′ ofFIG. 4, illustrating a state where the movable member is located at a second position. Referring toFIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the toner cartridge300may include a container310having an opening301formed at a side thereof in a longitudinal direction A, a flexible bag320accommodated in the container310and configured to receive toner, a rotatable member330rotatably provided on the container310, a movable member340movable in the longitudinal direction A of the container310, a rope350configured to connect the rotatable member330and the movable member340, and a bias member360configured to elastically bias the rotatable member330so that the rotatable member330rotates in a direction to wind up the rope350thereon.

An extension323extending beyond the opening301may be provided at one end portion of the flexible bag320in the longitudinal direction A. The flexible bag320may include a receiving portion321for receiving toner and a sealing portion322for sealing the receiving portion321. The extension323may extend from an edge of the sealing portion322. The flexible bag320may be accommodated in the container310so that the sealing portion322faces the opening301.

The flexible bag320may be formed of a material that may be flexibly inverted as described below. For example, the flexible bag320may be formed of a polyethylene (PE) sheet, a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) sheet, or a polyamide (PA) sheet. Although a thickness of the flexible bag320may be, for example, 0.1 mm or less, a thickness of the flexible bag320is not limited as long as the flexible bag320may be flexibly inverted. The sealing portion322may be formed of the same material as that of the flexible bag320. After toner is refilled in the receiving portion321, an opened portion of the flexible bag320may be sealed by using, for example, ultrasound welding or thermal welding. In this case, the sealing portion322may be defined by a portion of the flexible bag320facing the opening301. The sealing portion322may be formed of a material different from that of the flexible bag320. In this case, the sealing portion322may be formed of a material that may be easily torn by a breaking member241that is described below. After toner is refilled in the receiving portion321through the opened portion of the flexible bag320, a material of the sealing portion322may be adhered to the opened portion of the flexible bag320by using, for example, ultrasound welding or thermal welding.

The movable member340is movable in the longitudinal direction A of the container310. For example, the movable member340may have a ring shape surrounding an outer surface of the container310. The extension323extends beyond the opening301and is connected to the movable member340. The movable member340is movable from a first position (seeFIG. 5) close to the opening301in the longitudinal direction A of the container310to a second position (seeFIG. 6) far from the opening301.

The rotatable member330is rotatably provided on the container310. The rotatable member330may be located opposite to the opening301. The rotatable member330may be rotatably provided on one pair of support portions315and316provided on the container310to cross the container310in a radial direction.

A first end portion351of the rope350is connected to the rotatable member330and a second end portion352is connected to the movable member340. The rope350may have an unwound state (seeFIG. 5) in which the rope350is released from the rotatable member330and the movable member340is located at the first position and a wound state (seeFIG. 6) in which the rope350is wound around the rotatable member330and the movable member340is located at the second position. The rotatable member330and the movable member340are connected to each other by two ropes350in the example. The two ropes350are spaced apart from each other in an axial direction B of the rotatable member330.

The bias member360elastically biases the rotatable member330so that the rope350rotates to be switched from the unwound state to the wound state. For example, the bias member360may include a spiral spring having a first end portion connected to the container310and a second end portion connected to the rotatable member330. The bias member360may include an elastic band (e.g., a rubber band) having a first end portion connected to the container310and a second end portion connected to the rotatable member330.

The container310may include an inner container311and an outer container312that extend in the longitudinal direction A and overlap each other with a gap302therebetween. The flexible bag320is accommodated in the inner container311. The inner container311is accommodated in the outer container312. Openings301-1and301-2are formed at sides of the inner container311and the outer container312in the longitudinal direction A. The openings301-1and301-2constitute the opening301of the container310. Each of the inner container311and the outer container312may have a hollow cylindrical shape. Reference numeral313denotes an upper cover covering an opened upper portion of the outer container312.

The rotatable member330is rotatably supported on one pair of support portions315and316provided on the inner container311. The movable member340and the rope350may be located in the gap302. The movable member340is movable in the gap302in the longitudinal direction A. The movable member340may have a ring shape surrounding an outer surface of the inner container311. The inner container311has a cross-sectional area decreasing away from the opening301so that the movable member340is easily movable in the longitudinal direction A.

Referring toFIG. 5, the movable member340is located at the first position. The rotatable member330is biased by the bias member360in a direction in which the rope350is wound around the rotatable member330. Since the flexible bag320is accommodated in the container310, that is, the inner container311, in a state where the flexible bag320is sealed by the sealing portion322, the flexible bag320is not pulled out from the inside of the inner container311. Accordingly, despite an elastic force of the bias member360, the rotatable member330does not rotate and the movable member340is maintained at the first position. Due to the bias member360, a tensile force is applied to the rope350and the flexible bag320through the rotatable member330.

When the toner cartridge300is inserted into the main body1through the communicating portion8in this state, an end portion of the container310close to the opening301is coupled to the toner refilling portion240. The breaking member241for tearing the sealing portion322of the flexible bag320is provided on the toner refilling portion240as shown inFIG. 3. The breaking member241may have any of various shapes for tearing the sealing portion322such as a pointed blade shape or a cross blade shape.

When the toner cartridge300is coupled to the toner refilling portion240, the sealing portion322is torn by the breaking member241. Toner received in the receiving portion321passes through the torn sealing portion322and is supplied to the development cartridge2. As the toner in the receiving portion321enters the development cartridge2, a free space is formed in the receiving portion321. The flexible bag320escapes to the outside of the container310through the opening301by a length corresponding to the free space. Since a tensile force is applied to the rope350through the rotatable member330by the bias member360, the movable member340is pulled toward the second position. The rotatable member330rotates in a direction in which the rope350is wound around the rotatable member330as much as the movable member340moves. The flexible bag320is inverted due to an elastic force applied by the bias member360. The inverted flexible bag320is pulled toward the opening301. Accordingly, the toner in the receiving portion321may be easily and completely supplied into the development cartridge2.

As such, since the bias member360is used to turn the flexible bag320toward the opening301, toner may be easily and completely supplied to the development cartridge2without a user's manipulation.

FIG. 7is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI′ ofFIG. 4, illustrating another state where the movable member is located at the second position. When the flexible bag320is inverted and is completely removed from the opening301, an upper wall324of the receiving portion321may be torn by the breaking member241. Then, as shown inFIG. 7, the flexible bag320may be completely inverted and may be accommodated in the gap302to surround an outer circumferential surface of the inner container311.

In a structure including the inner container311and the outer container312, since the flexible bag320is completely inverted and is accommodated in the gap302, the possibility that a user's hand is contaminated by toner when the toner cartridge300is handled may be reduced. Also, the possibility that, the inside of the main body1is contaminated with toner when the toner cartridge300is removed from the main body1may be reduced.

A structure in which the rotatable member330is locked when the rope350is in an unwound state and the rotatable member330is unlocked before or after toner is supplied to the main body1may also be used. The toner cartridge300includes a locking portion for locking the rotatable member330when the rope350is in an unwound state.

FIGS. 8 and 9are partial cross-sectional views of a locking portion according to an example. Referring toFIGS. 8 and 9, the rotatable member330is rotatably supported on one pair of support portions315and316provided on the inner container311. The locking portion may include one or more protrusions331protruding outward from the rotatable member330and grooves315aformed in the support portion315to receive the protrusions331. The grooves315apartially extend in the axial direction B. In this configuration, the rotatable member330does not rotate in a state where the protrusions331are received in the grooves315a.

The rotatable member330may be released from the locking portion by moving in the axial direction B. The rotatable member330may move in the axial direction B from a locking position (marked by a solid line ofFIG. 8) at which the rotatable member330is locked by the locking portion to a release position (marked by a dashed line ofFIG. 8) at which the rotatable member330is released from the locking portion. For example, a first end portion332of the rotatable member330outwardly protrudes beyond the container310, e.g., the outer container312. The first end portion332may function as a button for moving the rotatable member330to the release position. In this configuration, before or after the toner cartridge300is mounted on the main body1, the rotatable member330may be released from the locking portion by pushing the first end portion332of the rotatable member330in the axial direction B as marked by an arrow C ofFIG. 8and removing the protrusions331from the grooves315a.

Although the grooves315aare formed in the support portion315inFIGS. 8 and 9, the grooves315amay be formed in another portion of the container310.FIG. 10is a side view of the locking portion according to an example. Referring toFIG. 10, the protrusions331may be provided on a second end portion334of the rotatable member330, and the grooves315amay be formed in the container310, e.g., the outer container312and/or the outer container312and the upper cover313. Before or after the toner cartridge300is mounted on the main body1, the rotatable member330may be released from the locking portion by pushing the first end portion332of the rotatable member330in the axial direction B as marked by the arrow C ofFIG. 8and removing the protrusions331from the grooves315a.

FIG. 11is a partial cross-sectional view of a locking portion according to an example.FIG. 12is a side view of the locking portion ofFIG. 11, according to an example. Referring toFIGS. 11 and 12, the rotatable member330is rotatably supported on one pair of support portions315and316provided on the inner container311. At least one protrusion333protrudes outward from the second end portion334of the rotatable member330in a radial direction. The locking portion may include a lock lever317including a groove318in which the protrusion333is received. The lock lever317may be provided to be movable to a third position (marked by a solid line ofFIG. 11) at which the rotatable member330is locked on the container310, e.g., the upper cover313and a fourth position (marked by a dashed line ofFIG. 11) at which the rotatable member330is released from the container310. At the third position, the protrusion333is inserted into the groove318. Accordingly, the rotatable member330does not rotate. When the lock lever317moves to the fourth position, the protrusion333is removed from the groove318and the rotatable member330is released.

In this configuration, before or after the toner cartridge300is mounted on the main body1, the rotatable member330may be released from the locking portion by pushing the lock lever317in the axial direction B as marked by an arrow D ofFIG. 11and removing the protrusion333from the groove318.

Due to the locking portion, a tensile force applied to the rope350and the flexible bag320by the bias member360may be released. Accordingly, the risk of deformation of the extension323of the flexible bag320or the rope350during long-term storage of the toner cartridge300and the risk of malfunction of the toner cartridge300may be reduced.

FIG. 13is a perspective view of the toner cartridge300according to an example. Referring toFIG. 13, the toner cartridge300may further include an anti-pressing member370covering the first end portion332of the rotatable member330so that the first end portion332is prevented from being pressed. The anti-pressing member370may be removably coupled to the container310. In this configuration, the rotatable member330may be prevented from being pressed and being released unexpectedly when the toner cartridge300is manufactured and handled. Before or after the toner cartridge300is mounted on the main body1, the anti-pressing member370may be removed and the rotatable member330may be released by pressing the first end portion332of the rotatable member330.

Referring toFIG. 13, the toner cartridge300may include a protective cover380covering the opening301of the container310. The protective cover380may be removably coupled to the container310. The sealing portion322(seeFIG. 5) may be prevented from being exposed through the opening301by coupling the protective cover380to the container310. In this configuration, the sealing portion322may be prevented from being damaged unexpectedly when the toner cartridge300is manufactured and handled. Before the toner cartridge300is mounted on the main body1, the sealing portion322may be exposed by removing the protective cover380.

Although an electrophotographic printer to which the toner cartridge300is applied has been described with reference toFIGS. 1 through 3, a structure of a printer is not limited to that ofFIGS. 1 through 3. Although not shown, a toner container (not shown) including the toner refilling portion240and connected to the development cartridge2may be provided on the main body1, and the toner cartridge300may refill toner in the toner container. Also, even in a state where the development cartridge2is removed from the main body1, the toner cartridge300may be coupled to the toner refilling portion240and the development cartridge2may be refilled with toner. The toner cartridge300may be connected to the toner refilling portion240in a state where the toner container is removed from the main body1, and the toner container may be refilled with toner.

While the disclosure has been shown and described with reference to examples thereof, they are provided for illustration and it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and equivalent other examples may be made from the disclosure. Accordingly, the true technical scope of the disclosure is defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.