Patent Description:
Toner refill apparatuses, systems and methods are provided according to the appended claims.

Disclosed herein are toner refill apparatuses, systems, and methods in which a controller may activate an actuator to manipulate a valve mechanism and control supply of toner from the toner refill apparatus into a toner cartridge. Particularly, the actuator may engage the valve mechanism when the toner refill apparatus is properly inserted into a refill port of a printing device. In addition, the controller may activate the actuator to cause the valve mechanism to move from a position in which the valve mechanism blocks a discharge opening in the toner refill apparatus to a position in which toner may flow through discharge opening. In some examples, the controller may automatically activate the actuator based on a determination that the toner refill apparatus has properly been inserted into the refill port.

Through implementation of the features of the present disclosure, a valve mechanism of a toner refill apparatus may automatically be controlled following insertion by a user of the toner refill apparatus into the refill port. In this regard, the user may not perform other actions, such as rotating the toner refill apparatus, following insertion of the toner refill apparatus into the refill port. As such, a toner cartridge may be refilled with toner from a toner refill apparatus with a reduced or limited number of user actions, which may result in a reduced number of errors that may occur during toner refilling operations.

Reference is first made to <FIG>, which shows a block diagram of an example apparatus <NUM> that may house toner to be supplied into a toner cartridge of a printing device. It should be understood that the apparatus <NUM> depicted in <FIG> may include additional features and that some of the features described herein may be removed and/or modified without departing from the scope of the apparatus <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM>, which may also be termed a toner refill apparatus <NUM>, may house toner <NUM> and may include features to deliver the toner <NUM> to a refillable toner cartridge (not shown). Thus, for instance, the apparatus <NUM> may be employed to refill the toner cartridge of a printing device (not shown) with toner <NUM> instead of replacing the toner cartridge with a new toner cartridge. The toner <NUM> may be a powder mixture that the printing system may be used to print black and/or color text and images on media, such as paper. The printing system may be a laser printer, a photocopier, a multifunction printing device, or the like. The features of the printing system are depicted with dashed lines to denote that the printing system may not form part of the apparatus <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM> includes a chamber <NUM> to house the toner <NUM>. The chamber <NUM> may be formed of any suitable material including a plastic, a metal, a ceramic, and/or combinations thereof. In addition, the chamber <NUM> may be sized to house an amount of toner appropriate for refilling a toner cartridge and may thus vary for different types of toner cartridges. The chamber <NUM> may further include a shape that may facilitate handling by a user for movement as well as for insertion into a printing system.

As shown, the chamber <NUM> includes an insertion section <NUM> including a discharge opening <NUM> through which the toner <NUM> may flow out of the chamber <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> includes a valve mechanism <NUM> positioned at the discharge opening <NUM>. The valve mechanism <NUM> may prevent or block the flow of the toner <NUM> through the discharge opening <NUM> when the valve mechanism <NUM> is in a first (e.g., closed) position. In addition, toner <NUM> may flow past or through the valve mechanism <NUM> when the valve mechanism <NUM> is in a second (e.g., open) position.

The apparatus <NUM> further includes an electronic chip <NUM> that may, for instance, store data pertaining to the apparatus <NUM>. The data pertaining to the apparatus <NUM> may include identification information of the apparatus <NUM>, which may include manufacturer information, serial number, toner type, toner color, and/or the like. In some examples, the data may be encrypted to reduce unauthorized access to the data.

According to examples, the apparatus <NUM> may be inserted into a refill port <NUM> of the printing device when a toner cartridge is to be refilled. Particularly, the insertion section <NUM> may be inserted into the refill port <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. In addition, the refill port <NUM> may include an electrical circuit component <NUM> that may be in contact with the electronic chip <NUM> when the insertion section <NUM> is properly inserted into the refill port <NUM>. The electrical circuit component <NUM> may be an electrical contact through which electrical signals may be conveyed from the electronic chip <NUM>.

In addition, when the insertion section <NUM> is properly inserted into the refill port <NUM>, an actuator <NUM> may engage the valve mechanism <NUM>. That is, for instance, the insertion section <NUM> may be considered as being properly inserted into the refill port <NUM> when the electronic chip <NUM> is in electrical contact with the electrical circuit component <NUM> and the actuator <NUM> is engaged with the valve mechanism <NUM>. In some examples, the actuator <NUM> may include gearing or another mechanism that may be coupled to a motor such that, when the motor is activated, the actuator <NUM> may cause the valve mechanism <NUM> to move between a first position in which toner <NUM> flow is prevented and a second position in which toner <NUM> flow is enabled.

According to examples, the printing device may include a controller <NUM> that may be connected to the electrical circuit component <NUM> and the actuator <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may control operations of the actuator <NUM> based on determinations as to whether the insertion section <NUM> is properly inserted into the refill port <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may additionally or alternatively control operations of the actuator <NUM> based on other factors, such as, for instance, the apparatus <NUM> being authenticated using data stored in the electronic chip <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may be a semiconductor-based microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and/or other hardware device. In some examples, the controller <NUM> may determine that the actuator <NUM> is to be activated based on a determination that the insertion section <NUM> has properly been inserted into the refill port <NUM>.

Turning now to <FIG>, there are respectively shown block diagrams of an example system <NUM> that may include the apparatus <NUM> depicted in <FIG> and a printing device <NUM> into which the apparatus <NUM> may be inserted. It should be understood that the system <NUM> depicted in <FIG> may include additional features and that some of the features described herein may be removed and/or modified without departing from the scope of the system <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the printing device <NUM> may include a toner cartridge <NUM> and the refill port <NUM>. As discussed herein, the refill port <NUM> may receive an insertion section <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> (toner refill apparatus <NUM>), in which the apparatus <NUM> includes an electronic chip <NUM> and a valve mechanism <NUM>. When the insertion section <NUM> is properly inserted into the refill port <NUM>, the electronic chip <NUM> may contact or may otherwise be in electrical communication with an electrical circuit component <NUM> in the refill port <NUM>. That is, when the toner cartridge <NUM> is ready to be refilled with toner, a user may insert the insertion section <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> into the refill port <NUM> of the printing device <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> determines that the apparatus <NUM> has properly been inserted into the refill port <NUM> based on a detection of the electrical connection between the electrical circuit component <NUM> and the electronic chip <NUM>. That is, in some examples, the electronic chip <NUM> may complete an electrical circuit (e.g., current flow) of the electrical circuit component <NUM> with the controller <NUM> and the controller <NUM> may detect the completion of the electrical circuit. In other examples, the electronic chip <NUM> may break an electrical circuit of the electrical circuit component <NUM> with the controller <NUM> and the controller <NUM> may detect the breaking of the electrical circuit. In any of these examples, the controller <NUM> may equate the completion or breaking of the electrical circuit with the proper insertion of the insertion section <NUM> into the refill port <NUM>.

In some examples, the controller <NUM> may automatically activate the actuator <NUM> based on a determination that the insertion section <NUM> has properly been inserted into the refill port <NUM>. In other examples, the controller <NUM> may wait until a further user action is performed prior to activating the actuator <NUM>. Particularly, and as shown in <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> includes a release mechanism <NUM> that a user may manipulate, e.g., remove, rotate, flip, and/or the like, with respect to the chamber <NUM>. In these examples, the electrical circuit discussed above between the electrical circuit component <NUM> and the controller <NUM> may be completed or broken when the release mechanism <NUM> is manipulated. In addition, the controller <NUM> may equate the completion or breaking of the electrical circuit with the proper insertion of the insertion section <NUM> into the refill port <NUM> and may activate the actuator <NUM> to allow for the toner <NUM> in the chamber <NUM> to flow through the discharge opening <NUM>.

According to examples, a movable cover <NUM> may be provided in the refill port <NUM>. In these examples, the actuator <NUM> (and/or another actuator) may also engage the movable cover <NUM> and may move the movable cover <NUM> as the actuator <NUM> moves the valve mechanism <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> may move the movable cover <NUM> into a position that may enable the toner <NUM> to flow through the movable cover <NUM> and into the toner cartridge <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the release mechanism <NUM> may be manipulated, e.g., removed, in the direction denoted by the arrow <NUM>, away from the chamber <NUM>. In addition, the controller <NUM> may have activated the actuator <NUM> to open the valve mechanism <NUM> as well as to open the movable cover <NUM>. In the example shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the actuator <NUM> may cause the valve mechanism <NUM> to rotate such that an open portion of the valve mechanism <NUM> may be aligned with the discharge opening <NUM>. Likewise, the actuator <NUM> may cause the movable cover <NUM> to rotate such that an open portion of the movable cover <NUM> is aligned with the discharge opening <NUM> and/or an opening into the toner cartridge <NUM>. Once in the open positions, the toner <NUM> housed in the chamber <NUM> may flow from the chamber <NUM> and into the toner cartridge <NUM> as indicated by the arrow <NUM>.

In other examples, the valve mechanism <NUM> and/or the movable cover <NUM> may be other types of valve mechanisms, e.g., valve mechanisms that may be moved between a first vertical position that may block toner flow and a second vertical position that may enable toner flow, valve mechanisms that may slide from one position to another, and/or the like.

As further shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> may further include a plunging mechanism <NUM> positioned inside of the chamber <NUM>. In addition, the release mechanism <NUM> may hold the plunging mechanism <NUM> in a fixed position as shown in <FIG> and the plunging mechanism <NUM> may be released such that the plunging mechanism <NUM> may be movable within the chamber <NUM> when the release mechanism <NUM> is manipulated, e.g., removed, as shown in <FIG>. Additionally, a spring <NUM> may be provided in the chamber <NUM> to bias the plunging mechanism <NUM> toward the discharge opening <NUM>. As such, when the release mechanism <NUM> is manipulated and the plunging mechanism <NUM> is released, the spring <NUM> may bias the plunging mechanism <NUM> toward the discharge opening <NUM>, which may push the toner <NUM> through the discharge opening <NUM> and thus assist in the flow of the toner <NUM> into the toner cartridge <NUM>.

Following the flow of the toner <NUM> out of the apparatus <NUM> and into the toner cartridge <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may activate the actuator <NUM> again to move the valve mechanism <NUM> and the movable cover <NUM> to closed positions.

Various manners in which the controller <NUM> may operate are discussed in greater detail with respect to the method <NUM> depicted in <FIG>. Particularly, <FIG> depicts a flow diagram of an example method <NUM> for activating an actuator to manipulate a valve mechanism in a toner refill apparatus <NUM>. It should be understood that the method <NUM> depicted in <FIG> may include additional operations and that some of the operations described therein may be removed and/or modified without departing from the scope of the method <NUM>. The description of the method <NUM> is made with reference to the features depicted in <FIG> and <FIG> for purposes of illustration.

At block <NUM>, the controller <NUM> determines whether a toner refill apparatus <NUM> is properly inserted into a refill port <NUM> in fluid communication with a toner cartridge <NUM>. As discussed herein, an actuator <NUM> may contact a valve mechanism <NUM> of the toner refill apparatus <NUM> when the toner refill apparatus <NUM> is properly inserted into the refill port <NUM>. As also discussed herein, the controller <NUM> may determine that the toner refill apparatus <NUM> is properly inserted into the refill port <NUM> based on an electrical connection being established or removed between an electrical circuit component <NUM> in the refill port <NUM> and an electronic chip <NUM> on the apparatus <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, in addition or alternatively, based on a determination that the toner refill apparatus <NUM> is properly inserted into the refill port <NUM>, the controller <NUM> determines whether a release mechanism <NUM> on the toner refill apparatus <NUM> has been manipulated. The controller <NUM> may determine whether the release mechanism <NUM> has been manipulated based on a determination as to whether an electrical connection, e.g., current flow, through the chamber <NUM> has been broken or has been established as may occur when the release mechanism <NUM> is manipulated, e.g., removed.

At block <NUM>, based on a determination that the release mechanism <NUM> has been manipulated, the controller <NUM> activates the actuator <NUM> to manipulate the valve mechanism <NUM> of the toner refill apparatus <NUM> to cause toner <NUM> in the toner refill apparatus <NUM> to flow into the toner cartridge <NUM>.

According to examples, the electronic chip <NUM> on the chamber <NUM> may have stored thereon data pertaining to the toner refill apparatus <NUM>. The data pertaining to the apparatus <NUM> may include identification information of the apparatus <NUM> and/or toner <NUM> housed in the chamber <NUM> of the toner refill apparatus <NUM>. In these examples, the controller <NUM> may access the data pertaining to the toner refill apparatus <NUM> from the electronic chip <NUM> via the electrical circuit component <NUM>. In addition, the controller <NUM> may determine whether the toner refill apparatus <NUM> is authenticated based on the accessed data. That is, the controller <NUM> may determine whether the accessed data corresponds to and/or matches known data of a toner refill apparatus <NUM> that may be implemented to supply refill toner to the toner cartridge <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may also or alternatively compare the accessed data, e.g., color, type, and/or the like, of the toner <NUM> to verify that the toner refill apparatus <NUM> houses an appropriate type and/or color of toner <NUM> to be supplied into the toner cartridge <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may further, based on a determination that the toner refill apparatus <NUM> is authenticated, determine that the actuator <NUM> is to be activated. The controller <NUM> may still further, based on a determination that the actuator <NUM> is to be activated, activate the actuator <NUM> to open the valve mechanism <NUM> to cause toner <NUM> in the toner refill apparatus <NUM> to flow into the toner cartridge <NUM>.

Some or all of the operations set forth in the method <NUM> may be included as utilities, programs, or subprograms, in any desired computer accessible medium. In addition, the method <NUM> may be embodied by computer programs, which may exist in a variety of forms both active and inactive. For example, they may exist as machine readable instructions, including source code, object code, executable code or other formats. Any of the above may be embodied on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium.

Examples of non-transitory computer readable storage media include computer system RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, and magnetic or optical disks or tapes. It is therefore to be understood that any electronic device capable of executing the above-described functions may perform those functions enumerated above.

Claim 1:
A toner refill apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a chamber (<NUM>) to house a toner (<NUM>), the chamber including an insertion section (<NUM>), the insertion section to be inserted into a refill port (<NUM>) of a toner cartridge (<NUM>) and including a discharge opening (<NUM>), the refill port including an electrical circuit component (<NUM>);
a valve mechanism (<NUM>) positioned at the discharge opening to control output of the toner from the chamber through the discharge opening, wherein an actuator (<NUM>) is to engage the valve mechanism and to controllably open the valve mechanism; and
an electronic chip (<NUM>) to be in electrical communication with the electrical circuit component, wherein a controller (<NUM>) is to activate the actuator based on a detection that the electronic chip is in contact with the electrical circuit component;
the toner refill apparatus being characterized by:
a release mechanism (<NUM>), wherein manipulation of the release mechanism completes a circuit connection between the electronic chip and the electrical circuit component, and wherein completion of the circuit connection causes the controller to activate the actuator to open the discharge opening.