Toner cartridge movable to detachment direction by reverse rotation of coupler

An example toner cartridge includes a housing to accommodate toner and having a toner discharge port at one side, a conveying member inside the housing to rotate to convey the toner toward the toner discharge port, a driven coupler to rotate by a rotational force, and an ejector to rotate by the driven coupler. Either one of the driven coupler and the ejector is rotatably supported by a side wall of the housing in the longitudinal direction and connected to the conveying member to rotate the conveying member. The other one of the driven coupler and the ejector moves in a direction spaced apart from the side wall with respect to either one of the driven coupler and the ejector when the driven coupler rotates in a reverse direction which is an opposite direction to a forward direction in which the toner is conveyed toward the toner discharge port.

BACKGROUND

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus may form a visible toner image on a photoconductor by supplying toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor, transfer the toner image through an intermediate transfer medium or directly to a printing medium, and fix the transferred toner image to the printing medium.

Toner, as a developer, is accommodated in a toner cartridge. The toner cartridge is a consumable that may be replaced, such as when the toner accommodated therein is exhausted. The toner cartridge includes a conveying member that conveys the toner accommodated therein to a toner discharge port. The conveying member is driven by receiving power from a main body of an image forming apparatus when the toner cartridge is mounted on the main body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES

Hereinafter, various examples will be described with reference to the drawings. Like reference numerals in the specification and the drawings denote like elements, and thus a redundant description may be omitted.

FIG. 1is a schematic configuration diagram of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to an example.FIG. 2is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state of replacing a toner cartridge according to an example.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a main body1and a toner cartridge20that is attachable to/detachable from the main body1. The main body1includes a printing portion2that prints an image on a printing medium P by using an electrophotographic method. The toner cartridge20accommodates toner to be supplied to the printing portion2. The printing portion2receives the toner from the toner cartridge20and prints the image on the printing medium P by using the electrophotographic method. The toner cartridge20is attachable to/detachable from the main body1by opening a door9and may be replaced individually. When the toner accommodated in the toner cartridge20is exhausted, the toner cartridge20may be replaced with a new toner cartridge20. According to a developing method, toner and a carrier may be accommodated in the toner cartridge20. The toner cartridge20may also be referred to as a “developer cartridge”.

In the illustrated example, the printing portion2prints a color image on the printing medium P. The printing portion2may include a plurality of developing devices10, an exposure device50, a transfer unit, and a fuser80. The image forming apparatus may include a plurality of toner cartridges20. The plurality of toner cartridges20are respectively connected to the plurality of developing devices10, and toner accommodated in the plurality of toner cartridges20is supplied to the plurality of developing devices10, respectively. A toner supply unit30may be interposed between the toner cartridge20and the developing device10. The toner supply unit30may receive toner from the toner cartridge20and supply the toner to the developing device10through a supply duct40. Although not shown, the toner supply unit30may be omitted, and the supply duct40may directly connect the toner cartridge20and the developing device10.

The plurality of developing devices10may include a plurality of developing devices10C,10M,10Y, and10K for respectively forming toner images of cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, and black K colors. In addition, the plurality of toner cartridges20may include a plurality of toner cartridges20C,20M,20Y, and20K respectively accommodating toners of the cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, and black K colors that are to be supplied to the plurality of developing devices10C,10M,10Y, and10K. Hereinafter, a printer including the plurality of developing devices10C,10M,10Y, and10K and the plurality of toner cartridges20C,20M,20Y, and20K will be described. Unless otherwise noted, reference numerals including C, M, Y, and K refer to components for developing the toners of the cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, and black K colors, respectively.

The developing device10may include a photoconductive drum14having a surface on which a latent electrostatic image may be formed and a developing roller13to supply toner to the electrostatic latent image to develop a visible toner image. A charging roller15may be an example of a charger that charges the photoconductive drum14to have a uniform surface electric potential. Instead of the charging roller15, a charging brush, a corona charger, etc. may be employed. The developing device10may further include a charging roller cleaner (not shown) to remove foreign substances such as toner and dust adhered to the charging roller15, a cleaning member17to remove toner remaining on a surface of the photoconductive drum14after an intermediate transferring process that will be described later, a regulating member (not shown) to regulate an amount of toner supplied to a developing region where the photoconductive drum14and the developing roller13oppose each other, etc. The cleaning member17may be, for example, a cleaning blade that contacts the surface of the photoconductive drum14to scrape the toner.

The exposure device50irradiates light modulated in correspondence with image information onto the photoconductive drum14to form the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum14. Examples of the exposure device50include a laser scanning unit (LSU) using a laser diode as a light source, a light emitting diode (LED) exposure device using an LED as the light source, etc.

Toner may be supplied to the photoconductive drum14by a developing bias voltage applied between the developing roller13and the photoconductive drum14such that the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductive drum14may be developed into a visible toner image.

The transfer unit transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductive drum14onto the printing medium P. In an example, an intermediate transfer-type transfer unit is employed. As an example, the transfer unit may include an intermediate transfer belt60, an intermediate transfer roller61, and a transfer roller70. A plurality of intermediate transfer rollers61may be disposed at positions respectively opposing the photoconductive drums14of the plurality of developing devices10C,10M,10Y, and10K with the intermediate transfer belt60therebetween. An intermediate transfer bias voltage for intermediately transferring the toner image developed on the photoconductive drum14to the intermediate transfer belt60may be applied to the plurality of intermediate transfer rollers61. Instead of the intermediate transfer roller61, a corona transfer unit or a pin scorotron transfer unit may be employed.

The transfer roller70may be positioned to oppose the intermediate transfer belt60. A transfer bias voltage for transferring the toner image intermediately transferred to the intermediate transfer belt60to the print medium P may be applied to the transfer roller70.

The fuser80applies heat and/or pressure to the toner image transferred to the printing medium P to fix the toner image on the printing medium P. A shape of the fuser80is not limited to the example shown inFIG. 1.

According to the example described above, the exposure device50scans light that is modulated corresponding to image information of each color to the photoconductive drum14of the plurality of developing devices10C,10M,10Y, and10K to form the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum14. The electrostatic latent image of the photoconductive drum14of the plurality of developing devices10C,10M,10Y, and10K may be developed into the visible toner image by the C, M, Y, and K toner supplied from the plurality of toner cartridges20C,20M,20Y, and20K to the plurality of developing devices10C,10M,10Y, and10K. The developed toner images may be intermediately transferred to the intermediate transfer belt60sequentially. The printing medium P loaded on a paper feeding tray90may be transported along a paper feeding path91and transported between the transfer roller70and the intermediate transfer belt60. The toner image intermediately transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt60may be transferred to the printing medium P by the transfer bias voltage applied to the transfer roller70. When the printing medium P passes the fuser80, the toner image is fixed to the printing medium P by heat and pressure. The printing medium P on which fixing is completed may be discharged by a discharge roller92.

As shown inFIG. 2, the toner cartridge20may be attached/detached to/from the main body1. As an example, the toner cartridge20may be slid in an axial direction of the developing roller13to be attached/detached to/from the main body1.

FIG. 3is a schematic plan view illustrating an interior of a toner cartridge according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 3, the toner cartridge20may include a housing100, a conveying member200, a driven coupler300, and an ejector400.

A toner may be accommodated in the housing100. A toner discharge port101, through which the toner may be discharged, is provided at one side of the housing100in a longitudinal direction B. The longitudinal direction B may be an attachable/detachable direction of the toner cartridge20. The housing100includes side walls110and120spaced apart in the longitudinal direction B. The side wall110may be a side wall in a mounting direction A1, and the side wall120may be a side wall in a removal direction A2. The toner discharge port101may be provided at a position adjacent to either of the side walls110and120. In the illustrated example, the toner discharge port101is located adjacent to a downstream end with respect to a toner conveying direction of the conveying member200among the side walls110and120. In the illustrated example, the toner discharge port101is located adjacent to the side wall120. The toner cartridge20may be provided with a shutter (not shown) to selectively open and close the toner discharge port101.

The conveying member200is located inside the housing100and rotates to convey toner toward the toner discharge port101. The conveying member200may convey toner in the longitudinal direction B. In an example, the conveying member200may be in the form of a spiral coil extending in the longitudinal direction B. The conveying member200may include a spiral portion230extending in a spiral shape between one end portion210and the other end portion220. This type of conveying member200may be referred to as a spring auger.

The driven coupler300rotates by receiving a rotational force from an external source. As an example, the main body1may be provided with a driving coupler3. The driving coupler3rotates by a driving motor that is not shown. When the toner cartridge20is mounted on the main body1, the driven coupler300is connected to the driving coupler3provided on the main body1. The driven coupler300provides a rotational force to the conveying member200.

When it is necessary to replace the toner cartridge20, a user may remove the toner cartridge20from the main body1by holding the side wall120of the toner cartridge20and pulling the side wall120in the removal direction A2. In that case, the side wall120of the toner cartridge20may be provided with a structure that the user may hold. However, such a holding structure may cause a decrease in the toner storage capacity of the toner cartridge20.

When the toner cartridge20is attached/detached, contamination of the toner cartridge20and/or the main body1may occur due to scattering of toner in an attachment/detachment process. In addition, when the toner cartridge20normally operates in a state where the toner cartridge20is mounted on the main body1, the toner is mainly present in a peripheral region102of the toner discharge port101. When the toner cartridge20is removed and remounted during use, the toner may be collected in a region103that is away from the toner discharge port101. In that case, the supply of toner may become unstable at the initial stage of remounting the toner cartridge20, which may adversely affect image quality, and a toner remaining amount detection error of the toner cartridge20may occur.

The toner cartridge20may have a structure in which the toner cartridge20slides in the removal direction A2by rotation of the driven coupler300when it is necessary to remove the toner cartridge20. As shown inFIG. 2, when the toner cartridge20slightly slides in the removal direction A2, a portion21of the toner cartridge20slightly protrudes from the main body1, and the user may remove the toner cartridge20from the main body1by holding the protruding portion21. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a holding structure in the toner cartridge20so that a reduction of the toner storage capacity of the toner cartridge20may be avoided, and the removal of the toner cartridge20and a problem caused by this may be addressed.

Hereinafter, an example of a structure in which the toner cartridge20slides in the removal direction A2by the rotation of the driven coupler300will be described.

The toner cartridge20includes the ejector400. The ejector400rotates by the driven coupler300. Either one of the driven coupler300and the ejector400is rotatably supported by the side wall110of the housing100in the longitudinal direction B and connected to the conveying member200to rotate the conveying member200. The other one of the driven coupler300and the ejector400moves in a direction spaced apart from the side wall110with respect to either one of the driven coupler300and the ejector400when the driven coupler300rotates in a reverse direction (e.g., RB inFIG. 4) opposite a forward direction (e.g., RF inFIG. 4) in which the driven coupler300conveys toner toward the toner discharge port101. For convenience, a member (e.g., either one of the driven coupler300and the ejector400) supported by the side wall110is referred to as a first member, and a member not supported by the side wall110is referred to as a second member. When the driven coupler300rotates in the forward direction RF by the driving coupler3, the first member rotates in the forward direction RF. When the driven coupler300rotates in the reverse direction RB by the driving coupler3, the second member is to move away from the side wall110, that is, in the mounting direction A1, but the second member may not move in the mounting direction A1because it is blocked by the driving coupler3or a blocking wall4provided in the main body1. In that case, the first member relatively moves in the removal direction A2with respect to the second member. The first member is supported by the side wall110. Thus, the toner cartridge20except for the second member moves together with the first member in the removal direction A2. By such a configuration, the portion21of the toner cartridge20may be slightly projected from the main body1.

FIG. 4is a partially exploded perspective view of the toner cartridge shown inFIG. 3according to an example.FIG. 5is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connection relationship between a driven coupler and an ejector in the toner cartridge shown inFIG. 3according to an example.FIG. 6is a diagram illustrating a rotation limiting member according to an example.FIG. 7illustrates a connection relationship between a driven coupler and an ejector when the driven coupler rotates in a forward direction in the toner cartridge shown inFIG. 3according to an example.FIG. 8illustrates a connection relationship between a driven coupler and an ejector when the driven coupler rotates in a reverse direction in the toner cartridge shown inFIG. 3according to an example.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, in the toner cartridge20, the ejector400is supported to be rotatable by the side wall110of the housing100and is connected to the conveying member200to rotate the conveying member200. When the driven coupler300rotates in the reverse direction RB, the driven coupler300moves in a direction to be spaced apart from the side wall110with respect to the ejector400, that is, the mounting direction A1. Because the driven coupler300is blocked by the drive coupler3in a state where the toner cartridge20is mounted on the main body1, the driven coupler300may not move in the mounting direction A1. Therefore, the ejector400and the housing100move in the removal direction A2with respect to the driven coupler300.

The ejector400includes an inner diameter portion410and a connection portion420. The connection portion420extends from the inner diameter portion410and may be inserted into the housing100through a mounting hole112provided in the side wall110. As a result, the ejector400is supported to be rotatable by the side wall110. The connection portion420may be coupled to the inner diameter portion410and may be integrally formed with the inner diameter portion410.

The conveying member200may be connected to the connection portion420. The one end portion210of the conveying member200extends in a radial direction. The connection portion420is provided with a slit421cut in the radial direction. The one end portion210of the conveying member200may be inserted into the slit421. When the ejector400rotates, the slit421pushes the one end portion210in the radial direction to rotate the conveying member200. When the conveying member200rotates, the spiral portion230of the conveying member200contacts a bottom104of the housing100and pushes toner inside the housing100in the longitudinal direction B to convey the toner toward the toner discharge port101.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, the driven coupler300may be inserted into the inner diameter portion410of the ejector400. The outer circumference of the driven coupler300is opposed to the inner diameter portion410. A gap exists between the outer circumference of the driven coupler300and the inner diameter portion410, and the ejector400may move in the radial direction with respect to the driven coupler300. The driven coupler300is rotatably supported by the ejector400. In addition, the driven coupler300is supported by the ejector400to move in the mounting direction A1and the removal direction A2. An amount of movement in a direction spaced apart from the side wall110of the driven coupler300, that is, the mounting direction A1, may be limited by a regulating member500.

The driven coupler300may include a regulating plate320and a through hole321provided in the regulating plate320. The regulating member500may include a fixing portion511fixed to the ejector400, an extension portion513extending in the longitudinal direction B from the fixing portion511and inserted into the through hole321, and a regulating portion512provided at an end opposite to the fixing portion511of the extension portion513and engaged with the regulating plate320. The extension portion513may be cylindrical. A diameter of the regulating portion512may be larger than the diameter of the extension portion513. For example, the fixing portion511may be screw-shaped to be screwed to the ejector400. The regulating portion512may have a screw head shape. Accordingly, the regulating member500may be a special screw including the cylindrical extension portion513between the screw-shaped fixing portion511and the screw head-shaped regulating portion512. By such a configuration, the regulating plate320may engage with the regulating portion512so that the amount of movement in the direction spaced apart from the side wall110of the driven coupler300may be limited, and the driven coupler300is not separated from the ejector400.

The ejector400rotates by the driven coupler300. In the example ofFIGS. 4 and 5, a driving transmission portion310is provided on the outer circumference of the driven coupler300. A first driving receiving portion411is provided at the inner diameter portion410of the ejector400. The first driving receiving portion411may engage with the driving transmission portion310such that the ejector400may rotate in the forward direction RF when the driven coupler300rotates in the forward direction RF. In an example, the driving transmission portion310may have a spiral shape protruding from the outer circumference of the driven coupler300. The driving transmission portion310may have a spiral shape wound in the forward direction RF on the outer circumference of the driven coupler300. The first driving receiving portion411may have a spiral shape wound in the forward direction RF such that the first driving receiving portion411may be engaged with the driving transmission portion310when the driven coupler300rotates in the forward direction RF. For example, an extension angle of the first driving receiving portion411may be about 180 degrees or less. As shown inFIG. 7, the driving transmission portion310is located on the side wall110, that is, the removal direction A2, with respect to the first driving receiving portion411. By such a configuration, when the driven coupler300rotates in the forward direction RF, the driving transmission portion310and the first driving receiving portion411are engaged with each other, and a force in a direction in which the driven coupler300and the ejector400are away from each other is applied therebetween. Because the ejector400is supported by the side wall110, the ejector400may not move in a direction away from the driven coupler300. Because the driving transmission portion310is engaged with the first driving receiving portion411in the removal direction A2, the driven coupler300may not be away from the ejector400. Accordingly, the driven coupler300and the ejector400rotate together in the forward direction RF.

The toner cartridge20includes a rotation limiting member that allows rotation of the ejector400in the forward direction RF and does not allow rotation of the ejector400in the reverse direction RB. The rotation limiting member may be implemented by, for example, a one-way bearing (not shown) installed in the mounting hole112provided in the side wall110to rotatably support the ejector400. As another example, referring toFIGS. 4 and 6, the rotation limiting member may include a first stopper430provided in the ejector400and a second stopper105provided in the housing100to have the first stopper430caught when the ejector400rotates in the reverse direction RB. For example, the first stopper430may protrude outward from an outer circumference of the inner diameter portion410. The first stopper430may have a shape having an amount of protrusion gradually decreasing toward the forward direction RF. As a result, a first opposing surface431in the radial direction and a first inclination surface432inclined in the forward direction RF with respect to the first opposing surface431may be defined. The second stopper105may have a shape symmetrical with the first stopper430. The second stopper105may include a second opposing surface105aand a second inclination surface105b.

By such a configuration, when the ejector400rotates in the forward direction RF, the first inclination surface432and the second inclination surface105bcontact each other. The first inclination surface432is pushed by the second inclination surface105b. The first inclination surface432is spaced apart from the second inclination surface105bwhen the ejector400is slightly pushed in the radial direction. The ejector400may continue to rotate in the forward direction RF. When the ejector400rotates in the reverse direction RB, the first opposing surface431and the second opposing surface105aare in contact with each other, as shown inFIG. 6. The first opposing surface431and the second opposing surface105aextend in the radial direction and are positioned to face each other. Thus, the ejector400may no longer rotate in the reverse direction RB.

When the driven coupler300rotates in the reverse direction RB, the driven coupler300moves in the direction away from the side wall110. Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, a second driving receiving portion412is provided in the inner diameter portion410of the ejector400. The second driving receiving portion412may engage with the driving transmission portion310such that the driven coupler300moves in the direction spaced apart from the side wall110when the driven coupler300rotates in the reverse direction RB. As an example, the second driving receiving portion412may have a spiral shape wound in the forward direction RF having a rotational phase difference from the first driving receiving portion411. For example, the phase difference of the second driving receiving portion412with respect to the first driving receiving portion411may be about 180 degrees. The winding angle of the second driving receiving portion412may be about 180 degrees or less. The second driving receiving portion412may be spaced apart from an opposite side of the side wall110, that is, the mounting direction A1, with respect to the first driving receiving portion411. When the driven coupler300rotates in the reverse direction RB, the driving transmission portion310is positioned in the mounting direction A1of the second driving receiving portion412.

When the driven coupler300rotates in the reverse direction RB, the ejector400may also rotate in the reverse direction RB. When the first opposing surface431is in contact with the second opposing surface105a, the rotation of the ejector400stops and only the driven coupler300rotates in the reverse direction RB. When only the driven coupler300rotates in the reverse direction RB as shown inFIG. 8, the driving transmission portion310gradually moves toward the mounting direction A1of the second driving receiving portion412, and may engage with the second driving receiving portion412. Because rotation of the ejector400in the reverse direction RB is not allowed, a force in a direction in which the driving transmission portion310and the second driving receiving portion412are away from each other is applied therebetween. Because the ejector400is supported by the side wall110, the ejector400may not move toward the side wall110. Therefore, the driven coupler300needs to move away from the side wall110, i.e. in the mounting direction A1. Because the driven coupler300is in engagement with the driving coupler3, the driven coupler300may not move in the mounting direction A1. Therefore, the ejector400moves together with the housing100in the removal direction A2.

An example process of mounting and removing the toner cartridge20to the main body1will be described. The toner cartridge20is mounted in the main body1by sliding the toner cartridge20in the mounting direction A1. In that case, the driven coupler300is connected to the drive coupler3. When the driven coupler300rotates in the forward direction RF by the driving coupler3, the driving transmission portion310is engaged with the first driving receiving portion411, and the ejector400rotates in the forward direction RF. The conveying member200rotates inside the housing100to convey toner toward the toner discharge port101.

When it is detected that the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge20is in a toner empty state, an image forming apparatus may generate a toner empty signal through a user interface that is not shown. For example, the toner empty signal may be visually displayed through a display of the image forming apparatus, or may be displayed as an audio signal. The toner empty signal may also be displayed on a display of a host connected to the image forming apparatus.

The user may transmit a replacement command of the toner cartridge20to the image forming apparatus through the input means of the image forming apparatus or through the host. In that case, the image forming apparatus may drive a driving motor to rotate the driven coupler300in the reverse direction RB. When the first opposing surface431is in contact with the second opposing surface105a, the rotation of the ejector400stops and only the driven coupler300rotates in the reverse direction RB. The driving transmission portion310and the second driving receiving portion412are engaged with each other. Because the ejector400does not rotate, a force in the direction away from the side wall110, that is, the mounting direction A1, is applied to the driven coupler300. Because the driven coupler300is in engagement with the driving coupler3, the driven coupler300may not move in the mounting direction A1. Therefore, the ejector400moves together with the housing100in the removal direction A2, and when rotation of the driving motor stops, the toner cartridge20stops at a position where the portion21in the removal direction A2partially protrudes from the main body1as shown inFIG. 2. The user may hold the protruding portion21in the removal direction A2and remove the toner cartridge20from the main body1by pulling the toner cartridge20in the removal direction A2.

FIG. 9is a partially exploded perspective view of a toner cartridge according to an example.FIG. 10illustrates a connection relationship between a driven coupler and an ejector when the driven coupler rotates in a forward direction in the toner cartridge shown inFIG. 9according to an example.FIG. 11illustrates a connection relationship between a driven coupler and an ejector when the driven coupler rotates in a reverse direction in the toner cartridge shown inFIG. 9according to an example.

Referring toFIG. 9, a toner cartridge20adiffers from the example of the toner cartridge20shown inFIGS. 4 to 8in that the driven coupler300ais rotatably supported by the side wall110of the housing100and connected to the conveying member200to rotate the conveying member200, and, when the driven coupler300arotates in the reverse direction RB, the ejector400amoves in a direction away from the side wall110with respect to the driven coupler300a, that is, the mounting direction A1. Hereinafter, differences between the toner cartridge20aand the toner cartridge20will be mainly described. Among components of the toner cartridge20a, a component that performs the same function as that of the component of the toner cartridge20uses the same reference numeral as that of the component of the toner cartridge20.

The ejector400ais rotatably supported by the driven coupler300a. The ejector400aincludes the inner diameter portion410. The driven coupler300aincludes an outer circumferential portion330and a connection portion340. The connection portion340passes through the inner diameter portion410and the mounting hole112provided in the side wall110and is inserted into the housing100. As described above, the driven coupler300ais rotatably supported by the side wall110. The connection portion340may be the same as or similar to the connection portion420illustrated inFIGS. 4 to 8. The connection structure of the connection portion340and the conveying member200is the same or similar to as the connection structure of the connection portion420and the conveying member200described in the toner cartridge20above.

A gap exists between the outer circumferential portion330of the driven coupler300aand the inner diameter portion410, and the ejector400amay move in a radial direction with respect to the driven coupler300a. In addition, the ejector400ais movably supported by the driven coupler300ain the mounting direction A1and the removal direction A2.

The toner cartridge20aincludes a rotation limiting member that allows rotation of the ejector400ain the forward direction RF and does not allow rotation of the ejector400ain the reverse direction RB. The rotation limiting member may be implemented by, for example, the first stopper430including the first opposing surface431and the first inclination surface432, and the second stopper105including the second opposing surface105aand the second inclination surface105b.

The ejector400arotates in the forward direction RF by the driven coupler300a. When the driven coupler300arotates in the reverse direction RF, the ejector400amoves away from the side wall110, that is, in the mounting direction A1. To this end, the driving transmission portion310is provided on the outer circumferential portion330of the driven coupler300a. The first driving receiving portion411and the second driving receiving portion412are provided in the inner diameter portion410of the ejector400a.

The first driving receiving portion411is engaged with the driving transmission portion310such that the ejector400amay rotate in the forward direction RF when the driven coupler300rotates in the forward direction RF. In an example, the driving transmission portion310may protrude from the outer circumferential portion330of the driven coupler300and have a spiral shape wound in the forward direction RF. The first driving receiving portion411may protrude inwardly from the inner diameter portion410and have a spiral shape wound in the forward direction RF. When the driven coupler300arotates in the forward direction RF, as shown inFIG. 10, the driving transmission portion310is located opposite to the side wall110with respect to the first driving receiving portion411, that is, the mounting direction A1. By such a configuration, when the driven coupler300rotates in the forward direction RF, the driving transmission portion310and the first driving receiving portion411are engaged with each other, and the ejector400rotates together with the driven coupler300in the forward direction RF.

The second driving receiving portion412is in a spiral shape that may engage with the driving transmission portion310such that the ejector400amoves in a direction spaced apart from the side wall110when the driven coupler300arotates in the reverse direction RB. In an example, the second driving receiving portion412may have a spiral shape wound in the forward direction RF having a rotational phase difference from the first driving receiving portion411. For example, the phase difference of the second driving receiving portion412with respect to the first driving receiving portion411may be about 180 degrees. When the driven coupler300arotates in the reverse direction RB, the driving transmission portion310is positioned on the removal direction A1with respect to the second driving receiving portion412.

When the driven coupler300arotates in the reverse direction RB, the ejector400amay also rotate in the reverse direction RB. In that case, when the first opposing surface431is in contact with the second opposing surface105a, the rotation of the ejector400astops and only the driven coupler300arotates in the reverse direction RB. As shown inFIG. 11, when only the driven coupler300continues to rotate in the reverse direction RB, the driving transmission portion310gradually moves in the removal direction A2of the second driving receiving portion412, and is engaged with the second driving receiving portion412. Because the rotation of the ejector400ain the reverse direction RB is not allowed, a force in a direction in which the driving transmission portion310and the second driving receiving portion412are away from each other is applied therebetween. Because the driven coupler300ais supported by the side wall110, the driven coupler300amay not move in a direction spaced apart from the ejector400a. Thus, the ejector400amoves in the direction away from the side wall110, that is, in the mounting direction A1.

The ejector400ais in contact with the blocking wall4provided inside the main body1in a state where the toner cartridge20ais mounted in the main body1. Therefore, the ejector400amay not move in the mounting direction A1. Instead, as the driven coupler300arotates in the reverse direction RB by a driving motor, the driven coupler300amoves together with the housing100in the removal direction A2. When the rotation of the driving motor stops, the toner cartridge20astops at a position where the portion21in the removal direction A2partially protrudes from the main body1as shown inFIG. 2. The user may hold the protruding portion21in the removal direction A2and pull the toner cartridge20afrom the main body1by pulling the toner cartridge20ain the removal direction A2.