Patent Description:
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. <CIT> describes "A toner cartridge includes a toner container, a rotatory coupler, and a transport coil having a first and second coil". <CIT> describes "a toner cartridge case (<NUM>) where a toner cartridge is set and a toner transport means (<NUM>) to transport toner fed from the toner cartridge are arranged orthogonal to each other.

Various examples will be described below by referring to the following figures.

The present disclosure provides a toner cartridge according to claim <NUM> and an image forming apparatus according to claim <NUM>. 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> is a schematic configuration diagram of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to an example. <FIG> is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state of replacing a toner cartridge according to an example.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a main body <NUM> and a toner cartridge <NUM> that is attachable to/detachable from the main body <NUM>. The main body <NUM> includes a printing portion <NUM> that prints an image on a printing medium P by using an electrophotographic method. The toner cartridge <NUM> accommodates toner to be supplied to the printing portion <NUM>. The printing portion <NUM> receives the toner from the toner cartridge <NUM> and prints the image on the printing medium P by using the electrophotographic method. The toner cartridge <NUM> is attachable to/detachable from the main body <NUM> by opening a door <NUM> and may be replaced individually. When the toner accommodated in the toner cartridge <NUM> is exhausted, the toner cartridge <NUM> may be replaced with a new toner cartridge <NUM>. According to a developing method, toner and a carrier may be accommodated in the toner cartridge <NUM>. The toner cartridge <NUM> may also be referred to as a "developer cartridge".

In the illustrated example, the printing portion <NUM> prints a color image on the printing medium P. The printing portion <NUM> may include a plurality of developing devices <NUM>, an exposure device <NUM>, a transfer unit, and a fuser <NUM>. The image forming apparatus may include a plurality of toner cartridges <NUM>. The plurality of toner cartridges <NUM> are respectively connected to the plurality of developing devices <NUM>, and toner accommodated in the plurality of toner cartridges <NUM> is supplied to the plurality of developing devices <NUM>, respectively. A toner supply unit <NUM> may be interposed between the toner cartridge <NUM> and the developing device <NUM>. The toner supply unit <NUM> may receive toner from the toner cartridge <NUM> and supply the toner to the developing device <NUM> through a supply duct <NUM>. Although not shown, the toner supply unit <NUM> may be omitted, and the supply duct <NUM> may directly connect the toner cartridge <NUM> and the developing device <NUM>.

The plurality of developing devices <NUM> may include a plurality of developing devices 10C, <NUM>, 10Y, and <NUM> for respectively forming toner images of cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, and black K colors. In addition, the plurality of toner cartridges <NUM> may include a plurality of toner cartridges 20C, <NUM>, 20Y, and <NUM> 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 devices 10C, <NUM>, 10Y, and <NUM>. Hereinafter, a printer including the plurality of developing devices 10C, <NUM>, 10Y, and <NUM> and the plurality of toner cartridges 20C, <NUM>, 20Y, and <NUM> 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 device <NUM> may include a photoconductive drum <NUM> having a surface on which a latent electrostatic image may be formed and a developing roller <NUM> to supply toner to the electrostatic latent image to develop a visible toner image. A charging roller <NUM> may be an example of a charger that charges the photoconductive drum <NUM> to have a uniform surface electric potential. Instead of the charging roller <NUM>, a charging brush, a corona charger, etc. may be employed. The developing device <NUM> may further include a charging roller cleaner (not shown) to remove foreign substances such as toner and dust adhered to the charging roller <NUM>, a cleaning member <NUM> to remove toner remaining on a surface of the photoconductive drum <NUM> after 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 drum <NUM> and the developing roller <NUM> oppose each other, etc. The cleaning member <NUM> may be, for example, a cleaning blade that contacts the surface of the photoconductive drum <NUM> to scrape the toner.

The exposure device <NUM> irradiates light modulated in correspondence with image information onto the photoconductive drum <NUM> to form the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum <NUM>. Examples of the exposure device <NUM> include 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 drum <NUM> by a developing bias voltage applied between the developing roller <NUM> and the photoconductive drum <NUM> such that the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductive drum <NUM> may be developed into a visible toner image.

The transfer unit transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductive drum <NUM> onto 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 belt <NUM>, an intermediate transfer roller <NUM>, and a transfer roller <NUM>. A plurality of intermediate transfer rollers <NUM> may be disposed at positions respectively opposing the photoconductive drums <NUM> of the plurality of developing devices 10C, <NUM>, 10Y, and <NUM> with the intermediate transfer belt <NUM> therebetween. An intermediate transfer bias voltage for intermediately transferring the toner image developed on the photoconductive drum <NUM> to the intermediate transfer belt <NUM> may be applied to the plurality of intermediate transfer rollers <NUM>. Instead of the intermediate transfer roller <NUM>, a corona transfer unit or a pin scorotron transfer unit may be employed.

The transfer roller <NUM> may be positioned to oppose the intermediate transfer belt <NUM>. A transfer bias voltage for transferring the toner image intermediately transferred to the intermediate transfer belt <NUM> to the print medium P may be applied to the transfer roller <NUM>.

The fuser <NUM> applies 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 fuser <NUM> is not limited to the example shown in <FIG>.

According to the example described above, the exposure device <NUM> scans light that is modulated corresponding to image information of each color to the photoconductive drum <NUM> of the plurality of developing devices 10C, <NUM>, 10Y, and <NUM> to form the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum <NUM>. The electrostatic latent image of the photoconductive drum <NUM> of the plurality of developing devices 10C, <NUM>, 10Y, and <NUM> may be developed into the visible toner image by the C, M, Y, and K toner supplied from the plurality of toner cartridges 20C, <NUM>, 20Y, and <NUM> to the plurality of developing devices 10C, <NUM>, 10Y, and <NUM>. The developed toner images may be intermediately transferred to the intermediate transfer belt <NUM> sequentially. The printing medium P loaded on a paper feeding tray <NUM> may be transported along a paper feeding path <NUM> and transported between the transfer roller <NUM> and the intermediate transfer belt <NUM>. The toner image intermediately transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt <NUM> may be transferred to the printing medium P by the transfer bias voltage applied to the transfer roller <NUM>. When the printing medium P passes the fuser <NUM>, 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 roller <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the toner cartridge <NUM> may be attached/detached to/from the main body <NUM>. As an example, the toner cartridge <NUM> may be slid in an axial direction of the developing roller <NUM> to be attached/detached to/from the main body <NUM>.

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

Referring to <FIG>, the toner cartridge <NUM> may include a housing <NUM>, a conveying member <NUM>, a driven coupler <NUM>, and an ejector <NUM>.

A toner may be accommodated in the housing <NUM>. A toner discharge port <NUM>, through which the toner may be discharged, is provided at one side of the housing <NUM> in a longitudinal direction B. The longitudinal direction B may be an attachable/detachable direction of the toner cartridge <NUM>. The housing <NUM> includes side walls <NUM> and <NUM> spaced apart in the longitudinal direction B. The side wall <NUM> may be a side wall in a mounting direction A1, and the side wall <NUM> may be a side wall in a removal direction A2. The toner discharge port <NUM> may be provided at a position adjacent to either of the side walls <NUM> and <NUM>. In the illustrated example, the toner discharge port <NUM> is located adjacent to a downstream end with respect to a toner conveying direction of the conveying member <NUM> among the side walls <NUM> and <NUM>. In the illustrated example, the toner discharge port <NUM> is located adjacent to the side wall <NUM>. The toner cartridge <NUM> may be provided with a shutter (not shown) to selectively open and close the toner discharge port <NUM>.

The conveying member <NUM> is located inside the housing <NUM> and rotates to convey toner toward the toner discharge port <NUM>. The conveying member <NUM> may convey toner in the longitudinal direction B. In an example, the conveying member <NUM> may be in the form of a spiral coil extending in the longitudinal direction B. The conveying member <NUM> may include a spiral portion <NUM> extending in a spiral shape between one end portion <NUM> and the other end portion <NUM>. This type of conveying member <NUM> may be referred to as a spring auger.

The driven coupler <NUM> rotates by receiving a rotational force from an external source. As an example, the main body <NUM> may be provided with a driving coupler <NUM>. The driving coupler <NUM> rotates by a driving motor that is not shown. When the toner cartridge <NUM> is mounted on the main body <NUM>, the driven coupler <NUM> is connected to the driving coupler <NUM> provided on the main body <NUM>. The driven coupler <NUM> provides a rotational force to the conveying member <NUM>.

When it is necessary to replace the toner cartridge <NUM>, a user may remove the toner cartridge <NUM> from the main body <NUM> by holding the side wall <NUM> of the toner cartridge <NUM> and pulling the side wall <NUM> in the removal direction A2. In that case, the side wall <NUM> of the toner cartridge <NUM> may 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 cartridge <NUM>.

When the toner cartridge <NUM> is attached/detached, contamination of the toner cartridge <NUM> and/or the main body <NUM> may occur due to scattering of toner in an attachment/detachment process. In addition, when the toner cartridge <NUM> normally operates in a state where the toner cartridge <NUM> is mounted on the main body <NUM>, the toner is mainly present in a peripheral region <NUM> of the toner discharge port <NUM>. When the toner cartridge <NUM> is removed and remounted during use, the toner may be collected in a region <NUM> that is away from the toner discharge port <NUM>. In that case, the supply of toner may become unstable at the initial stage of remounting the toner cartridge <NUM>, which may adversely affect image quality, and a toner remaining amount detection error of the toner cartridge <NUM> may occur.

The toner cartridge <NUM> may have a structure in which the toner cartridge <NUM> slides in the removal direction A2 by rotation of the driven coupler <NUM> when it is necessary to remove the toner cartridge <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, when the toner cartridge <NUM> slightly slides in the removal direction A2, a portion <NUM> of the toner cartridge <NUM> slightly protrudes from the main body <NUM>, and the user may remove the toner cartridge <NUM> from the main body <NUM> by holding the protruding portion <NUM>. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a holding structure in the toner cartridge <NUM> so that a reduction of the toner storage capacity of the toner cartridge <NUM> may be avoided, and the removal of the toner cartridge <NUM> and a problem caused by this may be addressed.

Hereinafter, an example of a structure in which the toner cartridge <NUM> slides in the removal direction A2 by the rotation of the driven coupler <NUM> will be described.

The toner cartridge <NUM> includes the ejector <NUM>. The ejector <NUM> rotates by the driven coupler <NUM>. Either one of the driven coupler <NUM> and the ejector <NUM> is rotatably supported by the side wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM> in the longitudinal direction B and connected to the conveying member <NUM> to rotate the conveying member <NUM>. The other one of the driven coupler <NUM> and the ejector <NUM> moves in a direction spaced apart from the side wall <NUM> with respect to either one of the driven coupler <NUM> and the ejector <NUM> when the driven coupler <NUM> rotates in a reverse direction (e.g., RB in <FIG>) opposite a forward direction (e.g., RF in <FIG>) in which the driven coupler <NUM> conveys toner toward the toner discharge port <NUM>. For convenience, a member (e.g., either one of the driven coupler <NUM> and the ejector <NUM>) supported by the side wall <NUM> is referred to as a first member, and a member not supported by the side wall <NUM> is referred to as a second member. When the driven coupler <NUM> rotates in the forward direction RF by the driving coupler <NUM>, the first member rotates in the forward direction RF. When the driven coupler <NUM> rotates in the reverse direction RB by the driving coupler <NUM>, the second member is to move away from the side wall <NUM>, that is, in the mounting direction A1, but the second member may not move in the mounting direction A1 because it is blocked by the driving coupler <NUM> or a blocking wall <NUM> provided in the main body <NUM>. In that case, the first member relatively moves in the removal direction A2 with respect to the second member. The first member is supported by the side wall <NUM>. Thus, the toner cartridge <NUM> except for the second member moves together with the first member in the removal direction A2. By such a configuration, the portion <NUM> of the toner cartridge <NUM> may be slightly projected from the main body <NUM>.

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

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in the toner cartridge <NUM>, the ejector <NUM> is supported to be rotatable by the side wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and is connected to the conveying member <NUM> to rotate the conveying member <NUM>. When the driven coupler <NUM> rotates in the reverse direction RB, the driven coupler <NUM> moves in a direction to be spaced apart from the side wall <NUM> with respect to the ejector <NUM>, that is, the mounting direction A1. Because the driven coupler <NUM> is blocked by the drive coupler <NUM> in a state where the toner cartridge <NUM> is mounted on the main body <NUM>, the driven coupler <NUM> may not move in the mounting direction A1. Therefore, the ejector <NUM> and the housing <NUM> move in the removal direction A2 with respect to the driven coupler <NUM>.

The ejector <NUM> includes an inner diameter portion <NUM> and a connection portion <NUM>. The connection portion <NUM> extends from the inner diameter portion <NUM> and may be inserted into the housing <NUM> through a mounting hole <NUM> provided in the side wall <NUM>. As a result, the ejector <NUM> is supported to be rotatable by the side wall <NUM>. The connection portion <NUM> may be coupled to the inner diameter portion <NUM> and may be integrally formed with the inner diameter portion <NUM>.

The conveying member <NUM> may be connected to the connection portion <NUM>. The one end portion <NUM> of the conveying member <NUM> extends in a radial direction. The connection portion <NUM> is provided with a slit <NUM> cut in the radial direction. The one end portion <NUM> of the conveying member <NUM> may be inserted into the slit <NUM>. When the ejector <NUM> rotates, the slit <NUM> pushes the one end portion <NUM> in the radial direction to rotate the conveying member <NUM>. When the conveying member <NUM> rotates, the spiral portion <NUM> of the conveying member <NUM> contacts a bottom <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and pushes toner inside the housing <NUM> in the longitudinal direction B to convey the toner toward the toner discharge port <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the driven coupler <NUM> may be inserted into the inner diameter portion <NUM> of the ejector <NUM>. The outer circumference of the driven coupler <NUM> is opposed to the inner diameter portion <NUM>. A gap exists between the outer circumference of the driven coupler <NUM> and the inner diameter portion <NUM>, and the ejector <NUM> may move in the radial direction with respect to the driven coupler <NUM>. The driven coupler <NUM> is rotatably supported by the ejector <NUM>. In addition, the driven coupler <NUM> is supported by the ejector <NUM> to move in the mounting direction A1 and the removal direction A2. An amount of movement in a direction spaced apart from the side wall <NUM> of the driven coupler <NUM>, that is, the mounting direction A1, may be limited by a regulating member <NUM>.

The driven coupler <NUM> may include a regulating plate <NUM> and a through hole <NUM> provided in the regulating plate <NUM>. The regulating member <NUM> may include a fixing portion <NUM> fixed to the ejector <NUM>, an extension portion <NUM> extending in the longitudinal direction B from the fixing portion <NUM> and inserted into the through hole <NUM>, and a regulating portion <NUM> provided at an end opposite to the fixing portion <NUM> of the extension portion <NUM> and engaged with the regulating plate <NUM>. The extension portion <NUM> may be cylindrical. A diameter of the regulating portion <NUM> may be larger than the diameter of the extension portion <NUM>. For example, the fixing portion <NUM> may be screw-shaped to be screwed to the ejector <NUM>. The regulating portion <NUM> may have a screw head shape. Accordingly, the regulating member <NUM> may be a special screw including the cylindrical extension portion <NUM> between the screw-shaped fixing portion <NUM> and the screw head-shaped regulating portion <NUM>. By such a configuration, the regulating plate <NUM> may engage with the regulating portion <NUM> so that the amount of movement in the direction spaced apart from the side wall <NUM> of the driven coupler <NUM> may be limited, and the driven coupler <NUM> is not separated from the ejector <NUM>.

The ejector <NUM> rotates by the driven coupler <NUM>. In the example of <FIG> and <FIG>, a driving transmission portion <NUM> is provided on the outer circumference of the driven coupler <NUM>. A first driving receiving portion <NUM> is provided at the inner diameter portion <NUM> of the ejector <NUM>. The first driving receiving portion <NUM> may engage with the driving transmission portion <NUM> such that the ejector <NUM> may rotate in the forward direction RF when the driven coupler <NUM> rotates in the forward direction RF. In an example, the driving transmission portion <NUM> may have a spiral shape protruding from the outer circumference of the driven coupler <NUM>. The driving transmission portion <NUM> may have a spiral shape wound in the forward direction RF on the outer circumference of the driven coupler <NUM>. The first driving receiving portion <NUM> may have a spiral shape wound in the forward direction RF such that the first driving receiving portion <NUM> may be engaged with the driving transmission portion <NUM> when the driven coupler <NUM> rotates in the forward direction RF. For example, an extension angle of the first driving receiving portion <NUM> may be about <NUM> degrees or less. As shown in <FIG>, the driving transmission portion <NUM> is located on the side wall <NUM>, that is, the removal direction A2, with respect to the first driving receiving portion <NUM>. By such a configuration, when the driven coupler <NUM> rotates in the forward direction RF, the driving transmission portion <NUM> and the first driving receiving portion <NUM> are engaged with each other, and a force in a direction in which the driven coupler <NUM> and the ejector <NUM> are away from each other is applied therebetween. Because the ejector <NUM> is supported by the side wall <NUM>, the ejector <NUM> may not move in a direction away from the driven coupler <NUM>. Because the driving transmission portion <NUM> is engaged with the first driving receiving portion <NUM> in the removal direction A2, the driven coupler <NUM> may not be away from the ejector <NUM>. Accordingly, the driven coupler <NUM> and the ejector <NUM> rotate together in the forward direction RF.

The toner cartridge <NUM> includes a rotation limiting member that allows rotation of the ejector <NUM> in the forward direction RF and does not allow rotation of the ejector <NUM> in the reverse direction RB. The rotation limiting member may be implemented by, for example, a one-way bearing (not shown) installed in the mounting hole <NUM> provided in the side wall <NUM> to rotatably support the ejector <NUM>. As another example, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the rotation limiting member may include a first stopper <NUM> provided in the ejector <NUM> and a second stopper <NUM> provided in the housing <NUM> to have the first stopper <NUM> caught when the ejector <NUM> rotates in the reverse direction RB. For example, the first stopper <NUM> may protrude outward from an outer circumference of the inner diameter portion <NUM>. The first stopper <NUM> may have a shape having an amount of protrusion gradually decreasing toward the forward direction RF. As a result, a first opposing surface <NUM> in the radial direction and a first inclination surface <NUM> inclined in the forward direction RF with respect to the first opposing surface <NUM> may be defined. The second stopper <NUM> may have a shape symmetrical with the first stopper <NUM>. The second stopper <NUM> may include a second opposing surface 105a and a second inclination surface 105b.

By such a configuration, when the ejector <NUM> rotates in the forward direction RF, the first inclination surface <NUM> and the second inclination surface 105b contact each other. The first inclination surface <NUM> is pushed by the second inclination surface 105b. The first inclination surface <NUM> is spaced apart from the second inclination surface 105b when the ejector <NUM> is slightly pushed in the radial direction. The ejector <NUM> may continue to rotate in the forward direction RF. When the ejector <NUM> rotates in the reverse direction RB, the first opposing surface <NUM> and the second opposing surface 105a are in contact with each other, as shown in <FIG>. The first opposing surface <NUM> and the second opposing surface 105a extend in the radial direction and are positioned to face each other. Thus, the ejector <NUM> may no longer rotate in the reverse direction RB.

When the driven coupler <NUM> rotates in the reverse direction RB, the driven coupler <NUM> moves in the direction away from the side wall <NUM>. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a second driving receiving portion <NUM> is provided in the inner diameter portion <NUM> of the ejector <NUM>. The second driving receiving portion <NUM> may engage with the driving transmission portion <NUM> such that the driven coupler <NUM> moves in the direction spaced apart from the side wall <NUM> when the driven coupler <NUM> rotates in the reverse direction RB. As an example, the second driving receiving portion <NUM> may have a spiral shape wound in the forward direction RF having a rotational phase difference from the first driving receiving portion <NUM>. For example, the phase difference of the second driving receiving portion <NUM> with respect to the first driving receiving portion <NUM> may be about <NUM> degrees. The winding angle of the second driving receiving portion <NUM> may be about <NUM> degrees or less. The second driving receiving portion <NUM> may be spaced apart from an opposite side of the side wall <NUM>, that is, the mounting direction A1, with respect to the first driving receiving portion <NUM>. When the driven coupler <NUM> rotates in the reverse direction RB, the driving transmission portion <NUM> is positioned in the mounting direction A1 of the second driving receiving portion <NUM>.

When the driven coupler <NUM> rotates in the reverse direction RB, the ejector <NUM> may also rotate in the reverse direction RB. When the first opposing surface <NUM> is in contact with the second opposing surface 105a, the rotation of the ejector <NUM> stops and only the driven coupler <NUM> rotates in the reverse direction RB. When only the driven coupler <NUM> rotates in the reverse direction RB as shown in <FIG>, the driving transmission portion <NUM> gradually moves toward the mounting direction A1 of the second driving receiving portion <NUM>, and may engage with the second driving receiving portion <NUM>. Because rotation of the ejector <NUM> in the reverse direction RB is not allowed, a force in a direction in which the driving transmission portion <NUM> and the second driving receiving portion <NUM> are away from each other is applied therebetween. Because the ejector <NUM> is supported by the side wall <NUM>, the ejector <NUM> may not move toward the side wall <NUM>. Therefore, the driven coupler <NUM> needs to move away from the side wall <NUM>, i.e. in the mounting direction A1. Because the driven coupler <NUM> is in engagement with the driving coupler <NUM>, the driven coupler <NUM> may not move in the mounting direction A1. Therefore, the ejector <NUM> moves together with the housing <NUM> in the removal direction A2.

An example process of mounting and removing the toner cartridge <NUM> to the main body <NUM> will be described. The toner cartridge <NUM> is mounted in the main body <NUM> by sliding the toner cartridge <NUM> in the mounting direction A1. In that case, the driven coupler <NUM> is connected to the drive coupler <NUM>. When the driven coupler <NUM> rotates in the forward direction RF by the driving coupler <NUM>, the driving transmission portion <NUM> is engaged with the first driving receiving portion <NUM>, and the ejector <NUM> rotates in the forward direction RF. The conveying member <NUM> rotates inside the housing <NUM> to convey toner toward the toner discharge port <NUM>.

When it is detected that the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge <NUM> is 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 cartridge <NUM> to 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 coupler <NUM> in the reverse direction RB. When the first opposing surface <NUM> is in contact with the second opposing surface 105a, the rotation of the ejector <NUM> stops and only the driven coupler <NUM> rotates in the reverse direction RB. The driving transmission portion <NUM> and the second driving receiving portion <NUM> are engaged with each other. Because the ejector <NUM> does not rotate, a force in the direction away from the side wall <NUM>, that is, the mounting direction A1, is applied to the driven coupler <NUM>. Because the driven coupler <NUM> is in engagement with the driving coupler <NUM>, the driven coupler <NUM> may not move in the mounting direction A1. Therefore, the ejector <NUM> moves together with the housing <NUM> in the removal direction A2, and when rotation of the driving motor stops, the toner cartridge <NUM> stops at a position where the portion <NUM> in the removal direction A2 partially protrudes from the main body <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The user may hold the protruding portion <NUM> in the removal direction A2 and remove the toner cartridge <NUM> from the main body <NUM> by pulling the toner cartridge <NUM> in the removal direction A2.

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

Referring to <FIG>, a toner cartridge 20a differs from the example of the toner cartridge <NUM> shown in <FIG> in that the driven coupler 300a is rotatably supported by the side wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and connected to the conveying member <NUM> to rotate the conveying member <NUM>, and, when the driven coupler 300a rotates in the reverse direction RB, the ejector 400a moves in a direction away from the side wall <NUM> with respect to the driven coupler 300a, that is, the mounting direction A1. Hereinafter, differences between the toner cartridge 20a and the toner cartridge <NUM> will be mainly described. Among components of the toner cartridge 20a, a component that performs the same function as that of the component of the toner cartridge <NUM> uses the same reference numeral as that of the component of the toner cartridge <NUM>.

The ejector 400a is rotatably supported by the driven coupler 300a. The ejector 400a includes the inner diameter portion <NUM>. The driven coupler 300a includes an outer circumferential portion <NUM> and a connection portion <NUM>. The connection portion <NUM> passes through the inner diameter portion <NUM> and the mounting hole <NUM> provided in the side wall <NUM> and is inserted into the housing <NUM>. As described above, the driven coupler 300a is rotatably supported by the side wall <NUM>. The connection portion <NUM> may be the same as or similar to the connection portion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. The connection structure of the connection portion <NUM> and the conveying member <NUM> is the same or similar to as the connection structure of the connection portion <NUM> and the conveying member <NUM> described in the toner cartridge <NUM> above.

A gap exists between the outer circumferential portion <NUM> of the driven coupler 300a and the inner diameter portion <NUM>, and the ejector 400a may move in a radial direction with respect to the driven coupler 300a. In addition, the ejector 400a is movably supported by the driven coupler 300a in the mounting direction A1 and the removal direction A2.

The toner cartridge 20a includes a rotation limiting member that allows rotation of the ejector 400a in the forward direction RF and does not allow rotation of the ejector 400a in the reverse direction RB. The rotation limiting member may be implemented by, for example, the first stopper <NUM> including the first opposing surface <NUM> and the first inclination surface <NUM>, and the second stopper <NUM> including the second opposing surface 105a and the second inclination surface 105b.

The ejector 400a rotates in the forward direction RF by the driven coupler 300a. When the driven coupler 300a rotates in the reverse direction RF, the ejector 400a moves away from the side wall <NUM>, that is, in the mounting direction A1. To this end, the driving transmission portion <NUM> is provided on the outer circumferential portion <NUM> of the driven coupler 300a. The first driving receiving portion <NUM> and the second driving receiving portion <NUM> are provided in the inner diameter portion <NUM> of the ejector 400a.

The first driving receiving portion <NUM> is engaged with the driving transmission portion <NUM> such that the ejector 400a may rotate in the forward direction RF when the driven coupler <NUM> rotates in the forward direction RF. In an example, the driving transmission portion <NUM> may protrude from the outer circumferential portion <NUM> of the driven coupler <NUM> and have a spiral shape wound in the forward direction RF. The first driving receiving portion <NUM> may protrude inwardly from the inner diameter portion <NUM> and have a spiral shape wound in the forward direction RF. When the driven coupler 300a rotates in the forward direction RF, as shown in <FIG>, the driving transmission portion <NUM> is located opposite to the side wall <NUM> with respect to the first driving receiving portion <NUM>, that is, the mounting direction A1. By such a configuration, when the driven coupler <NUM> rotates in the forward direction RF, the driving transmission portion <NUM> and the first driving receiving portion <NUM> are engaged with each other, and the ejector <NUM> rotates together with the driven coupler <NUM> in the forward direction RF.

The second driving receiving portion <NUM> is in a spiral shape that may engage with the driving transmission portion <NUM> such that the ejector 400a moves in a direction spaced apart from the side wall <NUM> when the driven coupler 300a rotates in the reverse direction RB. In an example, the second driving receiving portion <NUM> may have a spiral shape wound in the forward direction RF having a rotational phase difference from the first driving receiving portion <NUM>. For example, the phase difference of the second driving receiving portion <NUM> with respect to the first driving receiving portion <NUM> may be about <NUM> degrees. When the driven coupler 300a rotates in the reverse direction RB, the driving transmission portion <NUM> is positioned on the removal direction A1 with respect to the second driving receiving portion <NUM>.

When the driven coupler 300a rotates in the reverse direction RB, the ejector 400a may also rotate in the reverse direction RB. In that case, when the first opposing surface <NUM> is in contact with the second opposing surface 105a, the rotation of the ejector 400a stops and only the driven coupler 300a rotates in the reverse direction RB. As shown in <FIG>, when only the driven coupler <NUM> continues to rotate in the reverse direction RB, the driving transmission portion <NUM> gradually moves in the removal direction A2 of the second driving receiving portion <NUM>, and is engaged with the second driving receiving portion <NUM>. Because the rotation of the ejector 400a in the reverse direction RB is not allowed, a force in a direction in which the driving transmission portion <NUM> and the second driving receiving portion <NUM> are away from each other is applied therebetween. Because the driven coupler 300a is supported by the side wall <NUM>, the driven coupler 300a may not move in a direction spaced apart from the ejector 400a. Thus, the ejector 400a moves in the direction away from the side wall <NUM>, that is, in the mounting direction A1.

Claim 1:
A toner cartridge (<NUM>) comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) to accommodate a toner and comprising a toner discharge port (<NUM>) at one side in a longitudinal direction (B);
a conveying member (<NUM>) installed inside the housing (<NUM>) to rotate to convey the toner toward the toner discharge port (<NUM>); and
a driven coupler (<NUM>) to rotate by a rotational force;
characterised by comprising an ejector (<NUM>) to rotate by the driven coupler (<NUM>),
wherein either one of the driven coupler (<NUM>) and the ejector (<NUM>) is rotatably supported by a side wall (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the housing (<NUM>) in the longitudinal direction (B) and connected to the conveying member (<NUM>) to rotate the conveying member (<NUM>), and
wherein the other one of the driven coupler (<NUM>) and the ejector (<NUM>) moves in a direction spaced apart from the side wall (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the housing (<NUM>) with respect to either one of the driven coupler (<NUM>) and the ejector (<NUM>) when the driven coupler (<NUM>) 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 (<NUM>).