Patent Publication Number: US-11036164-B2

Title: Toner cartridge for refilling toner by using elastic force

Description:
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). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearance of an electrophotographic printer according to an example; 
         FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a configuration of the electrophotographic printer of  FIG. 1  according to an example; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a development cartridge used in the electrophotographic printer of  FIG. 1 , according to an example; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial exploded perspective view of a toner cartridge according to an example; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XI-XI′ of  FIG. 4 , illustrating a state where a movable member is located at a first position; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI′ of  FIG. 4 , illustrating a state where the movable member is located at a second position; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI′ of  FIG. 4 , illustrating another state where the movable member is located at the second position; 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are partial cross-sectional views of a locking portion of  FIG. 9  according to an example; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the locking portion according to an example; 
         FIG. 11  is a partial cross-sectional view of a locking portion according to an example; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the locking portion of  FIG. 11 , according to an example; and 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the toner cartridge according to an example. 
     
    
    
     MODE FOR THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearance of an electrophotographic printer according to an example.  FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a configuration of the electrophotographic printer of  FIG. 1  according to an example.  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a development cartridge used in the electrophotographic printer of  FIG. 1 , according to an example. Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 , a printer may include a main body  1  and a development cartridge  2  attachable to/detachable from the main body  1 . A door  3  may be provided on the main body  1 . The door  3  opens/closes a portion of the main body  1 . Although the door  3  opens an upper portion of the main body  1  in  FIG. 1 , a door for opening a side portion of the main body  1  or a front portion of the main body  1  may be used, if necessary. The door  3  may be opened and the development cartridge  2  may be attached to/detached from the main body  1 . 
     A photosensitive drum  21  that 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 roller  23  is a charger for charging a surface of the photosensitive drum  21  to a uniform electric potential. A charging bias voltage is applied to the charging roller  23 . A corona charger (not shown), instead of the charging roller  23 , may be used. A developing roller  22  supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum  21  and develops the electrostatic latent image. 
     When a two-component development method using toner and a carrier as a developer is used, the developing roller  22  may include a rotating sleeve and a magnet fixedly located inside the rotating sleeve. The rotating sleeve may be spaced apart from the photosensitive drum  21  by tens to hundreds of micrometers. The carrier is attached to an outer circumferential surface of the developing roller  22  due 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 roller  22 . The toner is moved to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum  21  due to a developing bias voltage applied to the developing roller  22 . 
     When a one-component development method using toner as a developer is used, the developing roller  22  may contact the photosensitive drum  21 , or may be spaced apart from the photosensitive drum  21  by tens to hundreds of micrometers. In the example, a one-component development method in which a development nip is formed when the developing roller  22  and the photosensitive drum  21  contact each other is used. The developing roller  22  may 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 roller  22 , the toner is moved and attached to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum  21  through the development nip. 
     A supply roller  24  allows toner to be attached to the developing roller  22 . A supply bias voltage may be applied to the supply roller  24  so that toner is attached to the developing roller  22 . Reference numeral  25  denotes a regulating member for regulating the amount of toner attached to a surface of the developing roller  22 . The regulating member  25  may be a regulating blade whose front end contacts the developing roller  22  at a predetermined pressure. Reference numeral  26  denotes a cleaning member for removing residual toner and a foreign material from the surface of the photosensitive drum  21  before a charging operation. The cleaning member  26  may be a cleaning blade whose front end contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum  21 . Hereinafter, the foreign material removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum  21  is referred to as waste toner. 
     An optical scanner  4  scans light modulated according to image information to the surface of the photosensitive drum  21  charged 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 drum  21  may be used as the optical scanner  4 . 
     A transfer roller  5  is a transfer unit facing the photosensitive drum  21  and configured to form a transfer nip. A transfer bias voltage for transferring the toner image developed on the surface of the photosensitive drum  21  to a print medium P is applied to the transfer roller  5 . A corona transfer unit, instead of the transfer roller  5 , may be used. 
     The toner image transferred to a surface of the print medium P by the transfer roller  5  is maintained on the surface of the print medium P due to electrostatic attraction. A fuser  6  forms 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 to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the development cartridge  2  of the example includes a developing portion  210  in which the photosensitive drum  21  and the developing roller  22  are provided, a waste toner container  220  in which waste toner removed from the photosensitive drum  21  is received, and a toner container  230  connected to the developing portion  210  and allowing toner to be received therein. In order to refill the toner container  230  with toner, the development cartridge  2  includes a toner refilling portion  240  connected to the toner container  230 . The toner refilling portion  240  provides an interface between a toner cartridge  300  and the development cartridge  2 . The development cartridge  2  is an integrated development cartridge including the developing portion  210 , the waste toner container  220 , the toner container  230 , and the toner refilling portion  240 . 
     A portion of an outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum  21  is exposed to the outside of a housing. The transfer roller  5  contacts the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum  21  to form a transfer nip. At least one conveying member for conveying toner to the developing roller  22  may be provided on the developing portion  210 . The conveying member may agitate the toner and may charge the toner to a predetermined electric potential. 
     The waste toner container  220  is located over the developing portion  210 . The waste toner container  220  is spaced apart from the developing portion  210  so that a light path  250  is formed between the waste toner container  220  and the developing portion  210 . Waste toner removed from the photosensitive drum  21  by the cleaning member  26  is received in the waste toner container  220 . The waste toner removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum  21  is transported into the waste toner container  220  by one or more waste toner transporting members  221 ,  222 , and  223 . 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 container  220  in consideration of a volume or a shape of the waste toner container  220 . 
     The toner container  230  is connected to the toner refilling portion  240  and receives toner. The toner container  230  is connected to the developing portion  210  by a toner supply portion  234  as marked by a dashed line of  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the toner supply portion  234  may vertically pass through the waste toner container  220  and may be connected to the developing portion  210 . The toner supply portion  234  is 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 scanner  4 . 
     One or more toner supply members  231 ,  232 , and  233  for supplying toner through the toner supply portion  234  to the developing portion  210  may be provided in the toner container  230 . 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 container  230  in order to effectively supply the toner to the developing portion  210  in consideration of a volume or a shape of the toner container  230 . The toner supply member  233  may convey the toner in the main scanning direction to the toner supply portion  234 . 
     An image forming process will now be described briefly. A charging bias voltage is applied to the charging roller  23 , and the photosensitive drum  21  is charged to a uniform electric potential. The optical scanner  4  forms an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the photosensitive drum  21  by scanning light modulated to correspond to image information to the photosensitive drum  21 . The supply roller  24  allows toner to be attached to a surface of the developing roller  22 . The regulating member  25  forms a toner layer having a uniform thickness on the surface of the developing roller  22 . A developing bias voltage is applied to the developing roller  22 . As the developing roller  22  rotates, the toner conveyed to a development nip is moved and attached to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum  21  due to the developing bias voltage and a visible toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum  21 . The print medium P picked up from a loading tray  7  by a pickup roller  71  is fed by a feed roller  72  to a transfer nip where the transfer roller  5  and the photosensitive drum  21  face each other. When a transfer bias voltage is applied to the transfer roller  5 , 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 fuser  6 , thereby completing a printing operation. The print medium P is discharged by a discharge roller  73 . A portion of the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum  21  without being transferred to the print medium P is removed by the cleaning member  26 . 
     As described above, the development cartridge  2  includes the toner refilling portion  240  for refilling toner. Accordingly, the development cartridge  2  may be refilled with toner in a state where the development cartridge  2  is mounted on the main body  1 , without being removed from the main body  1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a communicating portion  8  is formed in the main body  1  so that the toner refilling portion  240  may be accessed from the outside of the main body  1  in a state where the development cartridge  2  is mounted on the main body  1 . For example, when the toner cartridge (e.g., a toner refill kit)  300  in which toner is received is inserted into the communicating portion  8 , the toner cartridge  300  may be connected to the toner refilling portion  240 . In this state, the toner received in the toner cartridge  300  may be refilled in the toner container  230  through the toner refilling portion  240 . The toner cartridge  300  is removed from the communicating portion  8  after the toner is refilled. 
     In this configuration, since toner may be refilled in the toner container  230  through the toner refilling portion  240 , a replacement time of the development cartridge  2  may be extended until a lifetime of the photosensitive drum  21  ends, thereby reducing printing costs per sheet. Since toner may be refilled in a state where the development cartridge  2  is mounted on the main body  1 , user convenience may be improved. 
     The communicating portion  8  may be provided at a position close to a front portion  12  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the main body  1 . Since the front portion  12  faces a user, the user may easily access the communicating portion  8 . Accordingly, a toner refilling operation through the communicating portion  8  may be easily performed. 
     The communicating portion  8  may be formed in a top surface  11  of the main body  1 . The toner refilling portion  240  is located under the communicating portion  8 . The communicating portion  8  and the toner refilling portion  240  may be vertically aligned with each other. The toner cartridge  300  may access the toner refilling portion  240  from the top of the main body  1  through the communicating portion  8 . 
     Examples of the toner cartridge  300  will now be described. 
       FIG. 4  is a partial exploded perspective view of the toner cartridge  300  according to an example.  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XI-XI′ of  FIG. 4 , illustrating a state where a movable member is located at a first position.  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI′ of  FIG. 4 , illustrating a state where the movable member is located at a second position. Referring to  FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 , the toner cartridge  300  may include a container  310  having an opening  301  formed at a side thereof in a longitudinal direction A, a flexible bag  320  accommodated in the container  310  and configured to receive toner, a rotatable member  330  rotatably provided on the container  310 , a movable member  340  movable in the longitudinal direction A of the container  310 , a rope  350  configured to connect the rotatable member  330  and the movable member  340 , and a bias member  360  configured to elastically bias the rotatable member  330  so that the rotatable member  330  rotates in a direction to wind up the rope  350  thereon. 
     An extension  323  extending beyond the opening  301  may be provided at one end portion of the flexible bag  320  in the longitudinal direction A. The flexible bag  320  may include a receiving portion  321  for receiving toner and a sealing portion  322  for sealing the receiving portion  321 . The extension  323  may extend from an edge of the sealing portion  322 . The flexible bag  320  may be accommodated in the container  310  so that the sealing portion  322  faces the opening  301 . 
     The flexible bag  320  may be formed of a material that may be flexibly inverted as described below. For example, the flexible bag  320  may be formed of a polyethylene (PE) sheet, a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) sheet, or a polyamide (PA) sheet. Although a thickness of the flexible bag  320  may be, for example, 0.1 mm or less, a thickness of the flexible bag  320  is not limited as long as the flexible bag  320  may be flexibly inverted. The sealing portion  322  may be formed of the same material as that of the flexible bag  320 . After toner is refilled in the receiving portion  321 , an opened portion of the flexible bag  320  may be sealed by using, for example, ultrasound welding or thermal welding. In this case, the sealing portion  322  may be defined by a portion of the flexible bag  320  facing the opening  301 . The sealing portion  322  may be formed of a material different from that of the flexible bag  320 . In this case, the sealing portion  322  may be formed of a material that may be easily torn by a breaking member  241  that is described below. After toner is refilled in the receiving portion  321  through the opened portion of the flexible bag  320 , a material of the sealing portion  322  may be adhered to the opened portion of the flexible bag  320  by using, for example, ultrasound welding or thermal welding. 
     The movable member  340  is movable in the longitudinal direction A of the container  310 . For example, the movable member  340  may have a ring shape surrounding an outer surface of the container  310 . The extension  323  extends beyond the opening  301  and is connected to the movable member  340 . The movable member  340  is movable from a first position (see  FIG. 5 ) close to the opening  301  in the longitudinal direction A of the container  310  to a second position (see  FIG. 6 ) far from the opening  301 . 
     The rotatable member  330  is rotatably provided on the container  310 . The rotatable member  330  may be located opposite to the opening  301 . The rotatable member  330  may be rotatably provided on one pair of support portions  315  and  316  provided on the container  310  to cross the container  310  in a radial direction. 
     A first end portion  351  of the rope  350  is connected to the rotatable member  330  and a second end portion  352  is connected to the movable member  340 . The rope  350  may have an unwound state (see  FIG. 5 ) in which the rope  350  is released from the rotatable member  330  and the movable member  340  is located at the first position and a wound state (see  FIG. 6 ) in which the rope  350  is wound around the rotatable member  330  and the movable member  340  is located at the second position. The rotatable member  330  and the movable member  340  are connected to each other by two ropes  350  in the example. The two ropes  350  are spaced apart from each other in an axial direction B of the rotatable member  330 . 
     The bias member  360  elastically biases the rotatable member  330  so that the rope  350  rotates to be switched from the unwound state to the wound state. For example, the bias member  360  may include a spiral spring having a first end portion connected to the container  310  and a second end portion connected to the rotatable member  330 . The bias member  360  may include an elastic band (e.g., a rubber band) having a first end portion connected to the container  310  and a second end portion connected to the rotatable member  330 . 
     The container  310  may include an inner container  311  and an outer container  312  that extend in the longitudinal direction A and overlap each other with a gap  302  therebetween. The flexible bag  320  is accommodated in the inner container  311 . The inner container  311  is accommodated in the outer container  312 . Openings  301 - 1  and  301 - 2  are formed at sides of the inner container  311  and the outer container  312  in the longitudinal direction A. The openings  301 - 1  and  301 - 2  constitute the opening  301  of the container  310 . Each of the inner container  311  and the outer container  312  may have a hollow cylindrical shape. Reference numeral  313  denotes an upper cover covering an opened upper portion of the outer container  312 . 
     The rotatable member  330  is rotatably supported on one pair of support portions  315  and  316  provided on the inner container  311 . The movable member  340  and the rope  350  may be located in the gap  302 . The movable member  340  is movable in the gap  302  in the longitudinal direction A. The movable member  340  may have a ring shape surrounding an outer surface of the inner container  311 . The inner container  311  has a cross-sectional area decreasing away from the opening  301  so that the movable member  340  is easily movable in the longitudinal direction A. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the movable member  340  is located at the first position. The rotatable member  330  is biased by the bias member  360  in a direction in which the rope  350  is wound around the rotatable member  330 . Since the flexible bag  320  is accommodated in the container  310 , that is, the inner container  311 , in a state where the flexible bag  320  is sealed by the sealing portion  322 , the flexible bag  320  is not pulled out from the inside of the inner container  311 . Accordingly, despite an elastic force of the bias member  360 , the rotatable member  330  does not rotate and the movable member  340  is maintained at the first position. Due to the bias member  360 , a tensile force is applied to the rope  350  and the flexible bag  320  through the rotatable member  330 . 
     When the toner cartridge  300  is inserted into the main body  1  through the communicating portion  8  in this state, an end portion of the container  310  close to the opening  301  is coupled to the toner refilling portion  240 . The breaking member  241  for tearing the sealing portion  322  of the flexible bag  320  is provided on the toner refilling portion  240  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The breaking member  241  may have any of various shapes for tearing the sealing portion  322  such as a pointed blade shape or a cross blade shape. 
     When the toner cartridge  300  is coupled to the toner refilling portion  240 , the sealing portion  322  is torn by the breaking member  241 . Toner received in the receiving portion  321  passes through the torn sealing portion  322  and is supplied to the development cartridge  2 . As the toner in the receiving portion  321  enters the development cartridge  2 , a free space is formed in the receiving portion  321 . The flexible bag  320  escapes to the outside of the container  310  through the opening  301  by a length corresponding to the free space. Since a tensile force is applied to the rope  350  through the rotatable member  330  by the bias member  360 , the movable member  340  is pulled toward the second position. The rotatable member  330  rotates in a direction in which the rope  350  is wound around the rotatable member  330  as much as the movable member  340  moves. The flexible bag  320  is inverted due to an elastic force applied by the bias member  360 . The inverted flexible bag  320  is pulled toward the opening  301 . Accordingly, the toner in the receiving portion  321  may be easily and completely supplied into the development cartridge  2 . 
     As such, since the bias member  360  is used to turn the flexible bag  320  toward the opening  301 , toner may be easily and completely supplied to the development cartridge  2  without a user&#39;s manipulation. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI′ of  FIG. 4 , illustrating another state where the movable member is located at the second position. When the flexible bag  320  is inverted and is completely removed from the opening  301 , an upper wall  324  of the receiving portion  321  may be torn by the breaking member  241 . Then, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the flexible bag  320  may be completely inverted and may be accommodated in the gap  302  to surround an outer circumferential surface of the inner container  311 . 
     In a structure including the inner container  311  and the outer container  312 , since the flexible bag  320  is completely inverted and is accommodated in the gap  302 , the possibility that a user&#39;s hand is contaminated by toner when the toner cartridge  300  is handled may be reduced. Also, the possibility that, the inside of the main body  1  is contaminated with toner when the toner cartridge  300  is removed from the main body  1  may be reduced. 
     A structure in which the rotatable member  330  is locked when the rope  350  is in an unwound state and the rotatable member  330  is unlocked before or after toner is supplied to the main body  1  may also be used. The toner cartridge  300  includes a locking portion for locking the rotatable member  330  when the rope  350  is in an unwound state. 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  are partial cross-sectional views of a locking portion according to an example. Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the rotatable member  330  is rotatably supported on one pair of support portions  315  and  316  provided on the inner container  311 . The locking portion may include one or more protrusions  331  protruding outward from the rotatable member  330  and grooves  315   a  formed in the support portion  315  to receive the protrusions  331 . The grooves  315   a  partially extend in the axial direction B. In this configuration, the rotatable member  330  does not rotate in a state where the protrusions  331  are received in the grooves  315   a.    
     The rotatable member  330  may be released from the locking portion by moving in the axial direction B. The rotatable member  330  may move in the axial direction B from a locking position (marked by a solid line of  FIG. 8 ) at which the rotatable member  330  is locked by the locking portion to a release position (marked by a dashed line of  FIG. 8 ) at which the rotatable member  330  is released from the locking portion. For example, a first end portion  332  of the rotatable member  330  outwardly protrudes beyond the container  310 , e.g., the outer container  312 . The first end portion  332  may function as a button for moving the rotatable member  330  to the release position. In this configuration, before or after the toner cartridge  300  is mounted on the main body  1 , the rotatable member  330  may be released from the locking portion by pushing the first end portion  332  of the rotatable member  330  in the axial direction B as marked by an arrow C of  FIG. 8  and removing the protrusions  331  from the grooves  315   a.    
     Although the grooves  315   a  are formed in the support portion  315  in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the grooves  315   a  may be formed in another portion of the container  310 .  FIG. 10  is a side view of the locking portion according to an example. Referring to  FIG. 10 , the protrusions  331  may be provided on a second end portion  334  of the rotatable member  330 , and the grooves  315   a  may be formed in the container  310 , e.g., the outer container  312  and/or the outer container  312  and the upper cover  313 . Before or after the toner cartridge  300  is mounted on the main body  1 , the rotatable member  330  may be released from the locking portion by pushing the first end portion  332  of the rotatable member  330  in the axial direction B as marked by the arrow C of  FIG. 8  and removing the protrusions  331  from the grooves  315   a.    
       FIG. 11  is a partial cross-sectional view of a locking portion according to an example.  FIG. 12  is a side view of the locking portion of  FIG. 11 , according to an example. Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the rotatable member  330  is rotatably supported on one pair of support portions  315  and  316  provided on the inner container  311 . At least one protrusion  333  protrudes outward from the second end portion  334  of the rotatable member  330  in a radial direction. The locking portion may include a lock lever  317  including a groove  318  in which the protrusion  333  is received. The lock lever  317  may be provided to be movable to a third position (marked by a solid line of  FIG. 11 ) at which the rotatable member  330  is locked on the container  310 , e.g., the upper cover  313  and a fourth position (marked by a dashed line of  FIG. 11 ) at which the rotatable member  330  is released from the container  310 . At the third position, the protrusion  333  is inserted into the groove  318 . Accordingly, the rotatable member  330  does not rotate. When the lock lever  317  moves to the fourth position, the protrusion  333  is removed from the groove  318  and the rotatable member  330  is released. 
     In this configuration, before or after the toner cartridge  300  is mounted on the main body  1 , the rotatable member  330  may be released from the locking portion by pushing the lock lever  317  in the axial direction B as marked by an arrow D of  FIG. 11  and removing the protrusion  333  from the groove  318 . 
     Due to the locking portion, a tensile force applied to the rope  350  and the flexible bag  320  by the bias member  360  may be released. Accordingly, the risk of deformation of the extension  323  of the flexible bag  320  or the rope  350  during long-term storage of the toner cartridge  300  and the risk of malfunction of the toner cartridge  300  may be reduced. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the toner cartridge  300  according to an example. Referring to  FIG. 13 , the toner cartridge  300  may further include an anti-pressing member  370  covering the first end portion  332  of the rotatable member  330  so that the first end portion  332  is prevented from being pressed. The anti-pressing member  370  may be removably coupled to the container  310 . In this configuration, the rotatable member  330  may be prevented from being pressed and being released unexpectedly when the toner cartridge  300  is manufactured and handled. Before or after the toner cartridge  300  is mounted on the main body  1 , the anti-pressing member  370  may be removed and the rotatable member  330  may be released by pressing the first end portion  332  of the rotatable member  330 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , the toner cartridge  300  may include a protective cover  380  covering the opening  301  of the container  310 . The protective cover  380  may be removably coupled to the container  310 . The sealing portion  322  (see  FIG. 5 ) may be prevented from being exposed through the opening  301  by coupling the protective cover  380  to the container  310 . In this configuration, the sealing portion  322  may be prevented from being damaged unexpectedly when the toner cartridge  300  is manufactured and handled. Before the toner cartridge  300  is mounted on the main body  1 , the sealing portion  322  may be exposed by removing the protective cover  380 . 
     Although an electrophotographic printer to which the toner cartridge  300  is applied has been described with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a structure of a printer is not limited to that of  FIGS. 1 through 3 . Although not shown, a toner container (not shown) including the toner refilling portion  240  and connected to the development cartridge  2  may be provided on the main body  1 , and the toner cartridge  300  may refill toner in the toner container. Also, even in a state where the development cartridge  2  is removed from the main body  1 , the toner cartridge  300  may be coupled to the toner refilling portion  240  and the development cartridge  2  may be refilled with toner. The toner cartridge  300  may be connected to the toner refilling portion  240  in a state where the toner container is removed from the main body  1 , 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.