Patent Publication Number: US-11385568-B2

Title: Linking mechanism for toner cartridge

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 109114732, filed May 1, 2020, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a linking mechanism. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a linking mechanism for a toner cartridge. 
     Description of Related Art 
     In recent years, because the technique has developed rapidly, electronic imaging devices such as printers, copy machines, fax machines and so on have been full of lives of modern people whether at home or at work. Furthermore, a linking mechanism disposed in the electronic imaging devices plays a main role in transmitting a toner. Hence, the linking mechanism is one of the main factors influencing the imaging effect of the electronic imaging devices. 
     In particular, how to precisely align a toner outlet of a toner cylinder to a toner inlet of the electronic imaging device and how to make the toner smoothly discharged from the toner cylinder are the goals of improving a design of the electronic imaging device. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a linking mechanism for a toner cartridge includes a cover, a horizontal sliding portion and a tilt sliding portion. The cover has an accommodating space for disposing a toner cylinder. The horizontal sliding portion is horizontally slidden when the toner cartridge is installed or disassembled, and is slidably connected to the cover. When the horizontal sliding portion is slidden, the tilt sliding portion is linked to rise or decline. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a linking mechanism for a toner cartridge according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an assembling schematic view of the linking mechanism according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partially exploded view of the linking mechanism according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a transmission module according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an assembling schematic view of the horizontal sliding portion and the tilt sliding portion according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is an assembling schematic view of the horizontal sliding portion, the tilt sliding portion and the cover body according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is an assembling schematic view of the cover and the transmission module according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is another assembling schematic view of the cover and the transmission module according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view of a sliding sheet engaged with the track main body according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional schematic view of an operation of the linking mechanism according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  is another cross-sectional schematic view of an operation of the linking mechanism according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 12  is still another cross-sectional schematic view of an operation of the linking mechanism according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a linking mechanism  11  for a toner cartridge  10  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  is an assembling schematic view of the linking mechanism  11  according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the linking mechanism  11  is the linking mechanism  11  for the toner cartridge  10 , wherein the toner cartridge  10  includes a toner cylinder  12  and the linking mechanism  11 , the toner cylinder  12  is for accommodating a toner (not shown), and the linking mechanism  11  is for linking a discharge of the toner. 
       FIG. 3  is a partially exploded view of the linking mechanism  11  according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a transmission module  150  according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . In  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the linking mechanism  11  includes a cover  110 , a horizontal sliding portion  120 , a tilt sliding portion  130 , a cover body  140  and the transmission module  150 . Moreover, in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the cover  110  has an accommodating space (its reference numeral is omitted) for disposing the toner cylinder  12 , the horizontal sliding portion  120 , the tilt sliding portion  130  and the cover body  140 . The horizontal sliding portion  120  is horizontally slidden when the toner cartridge  10  is installed or disassembled, and is slidably connected to the cover  110 . When the horizontal sliding portion  120  is slidden, the tilt sliding portion  130  is linked to rise or decline. Therefore, it is favorable for linking the discharge of the toner in the toner cylinder  12 . 
       FIG. 5  is an assembling schematic view of the horizontal sliding portion  120  and the tilt sliding portion  130  according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . In  FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 , the tilt sliding portion  130  includes at least one first engaging structure  131 , the horizontal sliding portion  120  includes at least one second engaging structure  121 , and the second engaging structure  121  is slidably connected to the first engaging structure  131 . Therefore, the horizontal sliding portion  120  can be smoothly assembled with the tilt sliding portion  130 , and the horizontal sliding portion  120  is not easily to be separated from the tilt sliding portion  130  during linking with each other. In detail, according to the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , a number of the first engaging structures  131  is three, a number of the second engaging structures  121  is three, and the number and a position of the first engaging structures  131  are corresponding to the number and a position of the second engaging structures  121 . Therefore, it is favorable for the horizontal sliding portion  120  to be assembled with the tilt sliding portion  130 . Further, a form of the first engaging structures  131  is a retaining end, and a form of the second engaging structures  121  is a track; or, the form of the first engaging structures  131  and the form of the second engaging structures  121  can be reversed or be other forms. It should be mentioned that the positions, the numbers and the forms of the first engaging structures  131  and the second engaging structures  121  are not limited thereto. 
     In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the cover  110  can include at least one track  111  disposed on the cover  110 , and the horizontal sliding portion  120  can further include at least one slideway portion  122  slidably disposed on the track  111  of the cover  110 . Therefore, it is favorable for enhancing a stability of the horizontal sliding portion  120  horizontally slidden on the cover  110 . In particular, a number of the tracks  111  is two, and the tracks  111  of the cover  110  can be disposed on two sides of the cover  110 . A number of the slideway portions  122  is two. The number and a position of the slideway portions  122  are corresponding to the number and a position of the tracks  111  of the cover  110 , but are not limited thereto. 
     Therefore, because the horizontal sliding portion  120  is slidably connected to the cover  110 , the horizontal sliding portion  120  can be horizontally slidden by the toner cartridge  10  installed or disassembled, and the tilt sliding portion  130  can be linked to rise or decline. Further, according to the aforementioned embodiment, the tracks  111  of the cover  110  are relatively connected to the slideway portions  122  of the horizontal sliding portion  120 , and the second engaging structures  121  are engaged to and connected to the first engaging structures  131 , so that it is favorable for enhancing the stability of the operation between the horizontal sliding portion  120  and the tilt sliding portion  130  when the toner cartridge  10  is installed or disassembled. 
       FIG. 6  is an assembling schematic view of the horizontal sliding portion  120 , the tilt sliding portion  130  and the cover body  140  according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . In  FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 , the cover body  140  can have a hollow tunnel portion  141  for connecting to the toner cylinder  12 . Furthermore, the cover body  140  can include a track structure  142  disposed on a top of an outer side of the cover body  140 , and the tilt sliding portion  130  can further include a sliding structure  132  slidably connected to the track structure  142  of the cover body  140 . By a relative disposition and connection between the track structure  142  and the sliding structure  132 , it is favorable for the tilt sliding portion  130  to be stably linked to rise or decline along the track structure  142  by the horizontal sliding portion  120 . According to the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the track structure  142  of the cover body  140  can be a circular track, and the sliding structure  132  of the tilt sliding portion  130  can be slidden in a tilting direction along a circular orbit of the track structure  142  of the cover body  140  (please refer to a direction B indicated on  FIG. 11 ). 
     Moreover, the cover body  140  can further include a cylindrical front end  145  disposed through an opening (its reference numeral is omitted) of the horizontal sliding portion  120 , and a spring  144  is disposed between the cylindrical front end  145  and the opening. In detail, when the toner cartridge  10  is installed, the spring  144  is compressed; when the toner cartridge  10  is disassembled, the spring  144  is restored, and it is favorable for recovering the position of the horizontal sliding portion  120 . 
     In  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the transmission module  150  is disposed on an outer side of the cover  110  for linking the horizontal sliding portion  120  to horizontally slide. In detail, the horizontal sliding portion  120  can further include at least one first abutting member  123 , the transmission module  150  can include at least one second abutting member  151  corresponding to the first abutting member  123 , and the first abutting member  123  is disposed through the cover  110 . Hence, the horizontal sliding portion  120  can be linked to horizontally slide by the first abutting member  123  of the horizontal sliding portion  120  abutted via the second abutting member  151  of the transmission module  150 . In particular, according to the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , a number of the first abutting members  123  is two, a number of the second abutting members  151  is two, and the number and a position of the first abutting members  123  are corresponding to the number and a position of the second abutting members  151 . The numbers and the positions of the first abutting members  123  and the second abutting members  151  are not limited thereto. 
       FIG. 7  is an assembling schematic view of the cover  110  and the transmission module  150  according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 8  is another assembling schematic view of the cover  110  and the transmission module  150  according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the cover body  140  along with the horizontal sliding portion  120  and the tilt sliding portion  130  are horizontally disposed in the cover  110 , and then the cover  110  along with the horizontal sliding portion  120 , the tilt sliding portion  130  and the cover body  140  are horizontally disposed on the transmission module  150 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , the transmission module  150  can further include a track main body  152 , at least one transmission member  153 , a tonner outlet passage  154  and two valves  155 . In particular, according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , a number of the transmission members  153  is two, and the transmission members  153  are disposed on two sides of the toner outlet passage  154 , but are not limited thereto. 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic view of a sliding sheet  143  engaged with the track main body  152  according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 9 , the sliding sheet  143  of the cover body  140  is engaged with the track main body  152  of the transmission module  150 , and a toner outlet (its reference numeral is omitted) of the sliding sheet  143  is corresponding to the toner outlet passage  154  of the transmission module  150 . In detail, when the cover body  140  is horizontally slidden with the horizontal sliding portion  120 , the sliding sheet  143  is not moved with the cover body  140 . Hence, a relative position between the toner outlet of the sliding sheet  143  and the toner outlet passage  154  of the transmission module  150  can be fixed. 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional schematic view of an operation of the linking mechanism  11  according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 10 , the cover  110  is horizontally disposed on the transmission module  150  with the horizontal sliding portion  120 , the tilt sliding portion  130  and the cover body  140  along a direction A, and then the sliding sheet  143  of the cover body  140  is fixed on the track main body  152  of the transmission module  150 . 
     Please further refer to  FIG. 11 , which is another cross-sectional schematic view of an operation of the linking mechanism  11  according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 11 , when the horizontal sliding portion  120 , the tilt sliding portion  130  and the cover body  140  are linked with the cover  110  to be horizontally slidden along the direction A, the first abutting members  123  of the horizontal sliding portion  120  are abutted to the second abutting members  151  of the transmission module  150  so as to open the valves  155  of the transmission module  150 . After the valves  155  of the transmission module  150  are opened, the transmission members  153  and the toner outlet passage  154  can pass the valves  155  along a direction C. 
     Please further refer to  FIG. 12 , which is still another cross-sectional schematic view of an operation of the linking mechanism  11  according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 12 , when the first abutting members  123  of the horizontal sliding portion  120  are further abutted to the second abutting members  151  of the transmission module  150 , the tilt sliding portion  130  is slidden along the track structure  142  of the cover body  140 , and the tilt sliding portion  130  is for linking the transmission members  153  and the toner outlet passage  154  to vertically move so as to link the transmission members  153  and the toner outlet passage  154  to move along the direction C. Hence, the transmission members  153  of the transmission module  150  are connected to the tilt sliding portion  130 , and the toner outlet passage  154  is connected to the toner outlet of the sliding sheet  143 . In particular, according to the embodiments of  FIGS. 10 to 12 , each of the transmission members  153  of the transmission module  150  has a bump  156 , each side of the tilt sliding portion  130  has a hook structure  133 , and the transmission members  153  are connected to the tit sliding portion  130  by a connection between the bumps  156  and the hook structures  133 . Therefore, the connection between the tilt sliding portion  130  and the transmission members  153  can be more stable by the hook structures  133  of the tilt sliding portion  130  connected to the bumps  156  of the transmission members  153 , but the connection form is not limited thereto. 
     In  FIG. 12 , by the connection between the transmission members  153  and the tilt sliding portion  130 , the toner outlet passage  154  is linked to and corresponding to the toner outlet of the sliding sheet  143  of the cover body  140 , so that the toner can be smoothly discharged from the toner cartridge  10 . 
     The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. It is to be noted that Tables show different data of the different embodiments; however, the data of the different embodiments are obtained from experiments. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The embodiments depicted above and the appended drawings are exemplary and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.