CN115793420A - Toner filling device and toner box - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a toner filling device and a toner cartridge, wherein the toner filling device is detachably inserted into an input port, the input port comprises an input port, and the toner filling device comprises: the toner filling device comprises a main body, a limiting part and a fixing part, wherein the main body is provided with an accommodating cavity for accommodating toner, an output port and the limiting part, and the limiting part is arranged at one end of the toner filling device close to the output port; a restricted portion movable between an initial position and a restricted position relative to the restricting portion; the restricted portion moves from the initial position to the restricted position with rotation of the toner filling device and abuts against the stopper portion, thereby restricting the rotation angle of the toner filling device. The toner filling device can add more carbon powder into the toner box, so that the service life of the toner box is prolonged, and the customer experience is better.

Description

Toner filling device and toner box

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of image forming apparatuses, and more particularly, to a toner filling apparatus and a toner cartridge.

Background

After the toner is consumed, the electronic image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, a copier, etc. needs to directly replace the toner cartridge (a cartridge having a developing roller, etc.) or the ink cartridge, so that the old toner cartridge or the ink cartridge is directly discarded and cannot be reused, thereby causing resource waste.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, there is an external toner cartridge 9 that can replenish toner for a toner cartridge 2 in an electronic image forming apparatus 1 (laser printer), and after the toner cartridge 2 in the electronic image forming apparatus 1 is used up, the external toner cartridge can directly inject the toner into the toner cartridge 2 installed in the electronic image forming apparatus 1 through a communication port 8, so as to increase the service life of the toner cartridge 2. The specific use mode is that the toner box 2 is installed in the electronic imaging device 1, when the carbon powder in the toner box 2 is consumed to a low carbon powder amount, the electronic imaging device 1 prompts the addition of the carbon powder, at this time, a user can add the carbon powder through the powder adding box 9, and meanwhile, the electronic imaging device 1 records the number of the carbon powder boxes added by the user.

When the number of the toner cartridges 9 added to the toner cartridge 2 by the user exceeds a preset value of the electronic image forming apparatus 1, for example, the number of the allowed added preset values is 3, and when the 4 th toner cartridge 9 is added, the electronic image forming apparatus 1 locks the input port 10 of the toner cartridge 2, preventing the user from continuing to fill the toner cartridges 9 and prompting to replace the toner cartridge 2. At this time, when the toner in the toner cartridge 2 is exhausted, the user cannot continue to fill the toner cartridge 2 with toner, and thus the toner cartridge is forcibly discarded.

Due to different printing conditions of the printer used by a user and the difference of the carbon powder capacity of each toner cartridge, the toner cartridges cannot continuously add the carbon powder when the service lives of the developing roller, the photosensitive drum and other parts of most of the toner cartridges are not over, so that the toner cartridges cannot be reused, resource waste is caused, and the user experience is poor; therefore, how to improve the service life of the toner cartridge has been one of the hot issues studied by those skilled in the art.

Disclosure of Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner filling device detachably inserted into an input port including an input port, the toner filling device including: a main body having an accommodating chamber for accommodating toner and an output port; a limiting part arranged at one end of the toner filling device close to the output port; a restricted portion movable between an initial position and a restricted position relative to the restricting portion; the restricted portion moves from an initial position to a restricted position along with the rotation of the toner filling device and abuts against the stopper portion, thereby restricting the rotation angle of the toner filling device.

In some embodiments, the input port includes a rotating seat, the rotating seat has a preset rotation angle, and a circle center angle corresponding to a moving path of the limited portion is smaller than the preset rotation angle.

In some embodiments, in the initial position, the output port does not overlap the input port; in the restricted position, the output port at least partially overlaps the input port.

In some embodiments, the toner filling device further includes a shutter and a movable member movable relative to the shutter, the stopper portion is provided on the shutter, and the stopper portion is provided on the movable member.

In some embodiments, the toner filling device further includes a sealing member fixedly connected to the shutter, and the stopper is provided on the sealing member.

In some embodiments, one of the limiting portion and the restricted portion comprises a groove and the other comprises a protrusion.

In some embodiments, the stop portion is located at a distal end of the groove.

In some embodiments, the groove is an arcuate groove.

In some embodiments, the input port includes a stationary base, the stop portion being disposed on the stationary base; the toner filling device includes a main body, and the restricted portion is provided outside the main body.

In some embodiments, the moving path of the limited part corresponds to a circle center angle of 120-175 degrees.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner cartridge including a powder hopper and an input port communicating with the powder hopper, a toner filling device being detachably inserted into the input port to fill the powder hopper with toner; the input port comprises a static base, and a limiting part is arranged on the static base; the toner filling device is provided with a restricted portion which is movable between an initial position and a restricted position relative to the restricting portion; the restricted portion moves from an initial position to a restricted position along with the rotation of the toner filling device and abuts against the stopper portion, thereby restricting the rotation angle of the toner filling device.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner filling device including: a main body having an accommodating chamber accommodating toner; the pushing component comprises a piston part and a rod part, the piston part is inserted into the accommodating cavity, and the rod part and the piston part are arranged in a split mode.

In some embodiments, the piston portion is provided at an upper end thereof with a coupling portion, and the rod portion is provided at one end thereof with a coupled portion engaged with the coupling portion.

In some embodiments, one of the combining part and the combined part is a groove, and the other is a protrusion matched with the groove.

In some embodiments, the engaging portion and the engaged portion are snap structures.

In some embodiments, the side wall of the body is provided with a receiving portion, and the rod portion is detachably mounted in the receiving portion.

In some embodiments, the main body includes an inner cylinder containing toner and an outer cylinder fitted around an outer side of the inner cylinder, the accommodating portion is provided on a circumferential side wall of the outer cylinder, and the rod portion is detachably mounted in the accommodating portion.

In some embodiments, the receptacle is a groove.

In some embodiments, the accommodating portion is provided with a clamping portion, and the rod portion is provided with a clamped portion.

In some embodiments, one of the clamping portion and the clamped portion is a groove, and the other is a protrusion adapted to the groove.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner filling device including: a main body having an accommodating chamber accommodating toner and an output passage communicating with the accommodating chamber, the output passage being provided with a discharge port; a pushing member movable from a first position close to the discharge port to a second position distant from the discharge port to cause the toner in the accommodating chamber to be discharged from the discharge port.

In some embodiments, one end of the output channel communicates with the upper end of the receiving cavity.

In some embodiments, the output channel is disposed on an outer wall of the body, the output channel extending along a length of the body.

In some embodiments, the main body comprises an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, the lower end of the outer cylinder is provided with a movable member and a shield, and the movable member is provided with an outer output channel.

In some embodiments, the output channel is located between the inner barrel and the outer barrel.

In some embodiments, the outlet port is located at a lower end of the output channel.

In some embodiments, the pushing member includes a piston portion and a rod portion, the piston portion is connected with the inner wall of the accommodating cavity in a sealing mode, and the rod portion can drive the piston portion to move from the first position to the second position.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner cartridge comprising: the developing device comprises a developing bin, a toner container, a waste toner container and a toner receiving component, wherein a developing roller is arranged in the developing bin, the toner container is communicated with the toner receiving component and the developing bin, and at least one part of the toner container is positioned on the lower side of the waste toner container.

In some embodiments, the toner container is provided with a communication inlet communicating with the developing hopper, the communication inlet being located at a lower side of the waste toner container.

In some embodiments, the communication inlet extends from a first end to a second end of the toner container along a length direction of the developing roller.

In some embodiments, the developing hopper and the toner container are located at a lower side of the waste toner container.

In some embodiments, a first conveying member capable of conveying the toner entering from the toner assembly in a length direction of the developing roller is provided in the toner container.

In some embodiments, a second conveying member for conveying the toner located at the rear of the toner container into the developing hopper located at the front side is provided in the toner container.

In some embodiments, the toner container is integrally formed with the developing hopper.

In some embodiments, the waste toner container includes a first bin located at a front side of the toner cartridge and a second bin located at a rear side of the toner cartridge, the first bin and the second bin being in communication.

In some embodiments, a third transfer member is provided in the waste toner container, the third transfer member being at least partially located in the second hopper to transfer the toner located in the first hopper to the second hopper.

The invention has the beneficial effects that: the toner filling device can add more carbon powder into the toner box, so that the service life of the toner box is prolonged, and the customer experience is better.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional powder adding box and an electronic imaging device;

fig. 2 is a schematic structural view of a conventional toner cartridge;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an output port;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of another angle of the output port;

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural view of a toner filling apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial exploded view of an output assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial exploded perspective view of an output assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a structure of a shielding plate according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the fitting relationship between the toner filling device and the input port when the restricting section is at the initial position according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 is a schematic view showing a fitting relationship between the toner filling device and the input port when the restricted portion is at the restricted position according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing an overall configuration of a toner filling apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a toner filling apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a toner filling apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention with a lever removed;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of the structure of the second embodiment of the present invention when the rod portion is assembled to the piston portion;

fig. 15 is an overall configuration diagram of a toner cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 16 is a schematic structural view of the toner receiving assembly when the shutter of the second embodiment of the present invention is in the closed position;

fig. 17 is a schematic structural view of a toner receiving assembly in a state where the shutter of the second embodiment of the present invention is in the open position;

fig. 18 is a sectional view of a toner cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 19 is a sectional view of a toner filling device of a second embodiment of the present invention with the input port closed when filling toner;

fig. 20 is a sectional view of a toner filling device of a second embodiment of the present invention with an input port opened when filling toner;

fig. 21 is a schematic view showing the overall configuration of a toner filling device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is an exploded view of a part of a toner filling apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is an exploded view of another part of a toner filling device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a sectional view of a toner filling device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 25 is an overall configuration diagram of a toner cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 26 is a sectional view of a conventional toner cartridge;

fig. 27 is a schematic perspective view of a toner cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 28 is a sectional view of a toner cartridge provided in a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 29 is a schematic perspective view of a toner filling apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which it is apparent that the described embodiments are illustrative of some, but not all embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implying any number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of the present invention, "a plurality" means at least two, e.g., two, three, etc., unless specifically limited otherwise.

In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly stated or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "secured," and the like are to be construed broadly and can, for example, be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integral; may be mechanically coupled, may be electrically coupled or may be in communication with each other; they may be directly connected or indirectly connected through intervening media, or they may be connected internally or in any other suitable relationship, unless expressly stated otherwise. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific situations by those of ordinary skill in the art.

In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly stated or limited, the first feature "on" or "under" the second feature may be directly contacting the first and second features or indirectly contacting the first and second features through an intermediate. Also, a first feature "on," "above," and "over" a second feature may be directly on or obliquely above the second feature, or simply mean that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. A first feature being "under," "below," and "beneath" a second feature may be directly under or obliquely under the first feature, or may simply mean that the first feature is at a lesser elevation than the second feature.

In the description above, references to the description of the term "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "an example," "a specific example," or "some examples," etc., mean that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the terms used above are not necessarily intended to refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. Furthermore, various embodiments or examples and features of different embodiments or examples described in this specification can be combined and combined by one skilled in the art without contradiction.

Example one

As shown in fig. 1 to 2, the toner cartridge 2 is detachably mounted to the electronic image forming apparatus 1, and the electronic image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a circuit detecting device (not shown in the drawings) and a processing unit.

Fig. 3 and 4 are schematic views of an input port 10 connected to a toner cartridge, as shown in the drawings, the input port 10 includes a stationary base 51, a rotating base 52, a cover 53, and a first switch (not shown), wherein the stationary base 51 is provided with an input port 511 and a communication port 512, the input port 511 is used for receiving toner (a kind of toner), and the communication port 512 communicates with a powder bin of the toner cartridge to allow the toner to be transferred to the inside of the powder bin of the toner cartridge.

The rotary base 52 is provided on the stationary base 51 to be rotatable with respect to the stationary base 51. The rotary base 52 further includes a shutter 521 for opening or closing the input port 511, and the shutter 521 of the present embodiment can rotate along with the rotation of the rotary base 52, and as shown in fig. 4, the shutter 521 rotates along with the rotary base 52 by a preset angle.

The cover 53 covers the outside of the rotary base 52 to protect the first switch (not shown), the rotary base 52, and the like. A first switch (not shown) may be disposed on the stationary base 51, and a corresponding first triggering portion (not shown) for triggering the first switch (not shown) may be disposed on the rotating base 52, and after the rotating base 52 rotates a predetermined angle (e.g. 180 degrees), the first triggering portion (not shown) triggers the first switch (not shown), for example, the first switch (not shown) is turned off, so as to change the voltage output by the electronic imaging device circuit.

The toner filling device may be used to contain and fill a variety of toners, which may be printing particles such as toner or ink.

As shown in fig. 5 to 7, the present embodiment provides a toner cartridge 4 containing carbon powder as an example of a toner filling device, the toner cartridge 4 of the present embodiment includes a main body 41, a pushing member 41, an output port 611, and a second trigger (not shown in the drawings), the main body 41 has a containing cavity for containing carbon powder inside, the pushing member 42 is used for pushing carbon powder, the pushing member 42 includes a piston rod 421 inserted inside the main body 41, the piston rod 421 can move up and down to push carbon powder out of the main body 41 from the output port 611, and the output port 611 is located at a lower end of the toner cartridge 4; the second trigger portion is capable of triggering a second switch (not shown in the figures) when the piston rod 421 moves to the bottom of the main body 41.

The lower end of the toner box 4 is provided with an output assembly 6, the output assembly 6 comprises a movable member 61, a shielding plate 62 and a storage medium terminal 63, wherein the movable member 61 is connected with the main body 41 and can rotate together with the main body 41, the movable member 61 is provided with an output port 611 deviating from the rotation center line of the output assembly 6 and a notch 612 deviating from the rotation center line of the output assembly 6, the output port 611 can be communicated with the inside of the main body 41, and the notch 612 extends towards the outer edge of the movable member 61. The shield 62 is located at the lower side of the movable member 61, the shield 62 is mounted at the lower end of the main body 41, the shield 62 and the main body 41 may be in an interference fit, the shield 62 can be held at a stationary position relative to the rotation of the movable member 61, and the shield 62 is provided with an engaging structure 621, the engaging structure 621 is deviated from the rotation center line of the output member 6 and can be engaged with the outer edge portion 511a of the input port 511 of the stationary base 51 when the powder adding box 4 is inserted into the input port 10.

The toner cartridge 4 is also provided with a stopper portion 43 and a restricted portion 44 to restrict the rotation angle of the toner cartridge 4. Both the stopper portion 43 and the restricted portion 44 are located at one end of the toner cartridge 4 near the output port 611 (i.e., at the lower end of the toner cartridge 4). The restricted portion 44 is movable between an initial position and a restricted position relative to the restricting portion 43. Specifically, the restricted portion 44 is movable between an initial position separated from the restricting portion 43 and a restricted position abutting against the restricting portion 43, the output port 611 of the hopper 4 is not opened in the initial position, at least a part of the output port 611 of the hopper 4 is opened in the restricted position, the central angle a of the path through which the restricted portion 44 moves from the initial position to the restricted position is smaller than the preset rotation angle B of the rotary base 52, and the first switch (not shown in the figure) is not triggered. The restricted portion 44 moves from the initial position to the restricted position as long as the first switch (not shown) is not activated during the movement and the output port 611 of the output member 6 at the restricted position at least partially overlaps the input port 511 of the input port 10.

For example, in the embodiment, after the rotary seat 52 is rotated by 180 degrees, the first switch (not shown) is closed, and the output port 611 of the powder adding box 4 is aligned with the input port 511, and the value of the embodiment a may be between 120 degrees and 175 degrees according to the sizes of the output port 611 and the input port 511.

Preferably, the stopper portion 43 is provided on the shutter 62, and the restricted portion 44 is provided on the movable member 61. In the present embodiment, the inner side surface of the shielding plate 62 is provided with a groove 622, the groove 622 may preferably have an arc shape, and the restricted portion 44 is provided on the end side wall of the arc groove 622; the corresponding restricted portion 44 is a protrusion provided on the hinge 61, the protrusion being provided on a surface of the hinge 61 opposite to the inner side surface of the cover 62, the protrusion being inserted into the arc-shaped groove 622 to provide a close fit between the cover 62 and the hinge 61.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 8, the arc-shaped recess 622 is disposed on a side away from the engaging structure 621, and a central angle corresponding to the arc-shaped recess 622 is 155 degrees. The recess 622 includes a stopper 43 provided at the end of the recess 622 to restrict the movement of the projection, thereby enabling to restrict the rotation angle of the entire compact 4.

The conventional toner cartridge 9 is filled with toner by the following procedure.

Referring to fig. 1 to 3, when the existing toner cartridge 9 is inserted into the input port 10, the storage medium on the toner cartridge 9 is connected to the electronic imaging device 1, the voltage value output by the electronic imaging device circuit is changed from V0 to V1, and the processing unit of the electronic imaging device 1 determines that the toner cartridge 9 is in the inserted state according to the output voltage value, so that the locking of the rotary seat 52 is released, and the rotary seat 52 is rotatable.

When the powder adding box 9 rotates by a preset angle (such as 180 degrees), the first switch (not shown in the figure) is triggered (for example, the circuit switch is turned on or off), the voltage output value of the circuit is changed from V1 to V2, the electronic imaging device 1 recognizes that the powder adding box 9 rotates by the preset angle, and then the rotating seat 52 is locked to indicate that carbon powder can be added.

The user can push the piston rod to add carbon powder, when the powder adding is completed, the second switch (not shown in the figure) is triggered (for example, the switch is turned off), the voltage output value of the circuit is changed from V2 to V3, the values of V1, V2 and V3 are different, the electronic imaging device 1 judges that the powder adding box 9 completes the powder adding according to the preset voltage value V3, and the quantity is recorded (for example, record +1 when 1 is added, record +2 when 2 are added). When the number of the added powder adding boxes reaches a preset value, the rotating base 52 is locked, and the rotating base 52 cannot be rotated even if the powder adding boxes are inserted, so that a user cannot continuously add the carbon powder.

The operation of adding carbon powder to the powder loading box 4 will be described with reference to fig. 6-10.

As shown in fig. 9, a new toner cartridge 4 is inserted into the input port 10, and at this time, the shutter 521 is in a position to close the input port 511, the notch 612 of the shutter 61 is engaged with the outer edge of the shutter 521, the engagement structure 621 of the shutter 62 is engaged with the outer edge portion 511a of the input port 511 of the stationary base 51 without interfering with the shutter 521, the restricted portion 44 is in the initial position, the circuit output voltage value of the electrophotographic apparatus is changed from V0 to V1, and the electrophotographic apparatus releases the locking of the rotary base 52. In the initial position, the input port 511 on the input port 10 is non-overlapping with the output port 611 on the breading box 4.

When the user rotates the loading container 4 in a clockwise direction (which may be set to a counterclockwise direction), the movable member 61 rotates the opening/closing member 521 relative to the shutter 62, and the shutter 62 remains stationary due to the engagement structure 621 of the shutter 62 engaging with the outer edge of the input port 511 of the stationary base 51. The restricted portion 44 moves along the arc-shaped groove 622, and along with the movement of the restricted portion 44, the restricted portion 44 rotates by 155 degrees and finally abuts against the restricting portion 43, the movement restriction of the movable member 61 is restricted, the restricted portion 44 reaches the restricted position, at this time, the first switch (not shown in the figure) is not triggered by the first trigger portion (not shown in the figure), the voltage value output by the circuit is still V1, and the electronic imaging device does not lock the rotary base 52 because the voltage value does not accord with the preset voltage value, and the rotary base 52 can rotate.

As shown in fig. 10, in the restricted position, a part of the output port 611 of the loading box 4 is covered by the shielding plate 62, a part of the output port overlaps with the input port 511 of the stationary base 51, the user presses the piston rod 421 to complete the filling of the toner, the second trigger part turns off the second switch (not shown), the output voltage of the circuit changes from V1 to V4, V4 is different from the preset voltage value V3, and the electronic imaging device does not count.

After the toner cartridge 4 with such a structure is filled with toner, since the first switch (not shown in the figure) is not triggered, the voltage value output by the electronic imaging device 1 is V4, the voltage value V4 is not consistent with the voltage value V3 preset by the electronic imaging device 1, and the electronic imaging device 1 does not record the filling amount, so that a user can fill more toner, and the service life of the toner cartridge is prolonged.

Specifically, for example, the electronic imaging device allows for 3 refill cartridges, and the user may refill the cartridges 4 after adding two cartridges 9, and then refill the cartridges 9 with the last cartridge until the cartridge becomes defective.

Alternatively, the user may use only the toner cartridge 4 to perform the toner application, and the toner application is terminated when a print defect occurs in the toner cartridge, so that the toner cartridge is fully used.

Alternatively, the shape structure of the recess 622 is not strictly limited as long as the projection is not interfered with by the recess 622 on the way from the initial position to the restricted position.

In some embodiments, the limiting portion 43 may be a protrusion disposed on the cover 62, and the corresponding limiting portion 44 may be a groove disposed on the movable member 61.

In some embodiments, the stop 43 may be an end of a channel or a protrusion disposed on the shield 62 and the corresponding stop 44 may be a protrusion disposed on the moving member 61.

In some embodiments, the output assembly 6 further includes a sealing member connected to the shielding plate 62, and similarly, the position-limiting portion 43 may be disposed on the sealing member in the same manner as the position-limiting portion disposed on the shielding plate 62, which is not described herein again.

In some embodiments, the limiting portion 43 is disposed on the stationary base 51, and the limiting portion 44 is correspondingly disposed on the outer side of the main body of the toner box, so as to limit the rotation angle of the toner box.

In some embodiments, the output member 6 may be separate from the body of the compact and may be inserted into the body after rotation of the output member to perform the powder loading operation.

In some embodiments, the compact outlet 611 may be made smaller, and after rotation, into the range of the inlet 511 of the input port 10.

By adopting the technical scheme of the embodiment, more toner cartridges can be added, more toner is added to the toner cartridges, and the service life of the toner cartridges is prolonged.

Example two

In the conventional toner filling device (toner cartridge), the pushing member includes a rod portion and a piston portion, and the rod portion occupies a large volume of the toner filling device, and occupies a large space, which increases packaging cost and transportation cost.

The present embodiment provides a toner filling device 4, which corresponds to the toner cartridge 4 in the first embodiment, and compared to the first embodiment, the piston 421 and the rod 422 of the pushing member 42 of the toner filling device 4 of the present embodiment are provided separately.

As shown in fig. 11 to 14, the toner filling device 4 of the present embodiment includes a main body 41 for containing toner and a pushing member 42 for pushing the toner, wherein the pushing member 42 includes a piston portion 421 and a rod portion 422, and the piston portion 421 can be sealingly connected at an inner wall of the main body 41 and moves to push the toner out of the main body 41. In this embodiment, the rod portion 422 can be used to push the piston portion 421 so as to force the piston portion 421 to move. Preferably, the rod portion 422 is provided separately from the piston portion 421, and the rod portion 422 is detachably attached to the side wall of the main body 41.

In some embodiments, the main body 41 further includes an inner cylinder 411 and an outer cylinder 413, the inner cylinder 411 is provided with an accommodating chamber for accommodating toner and an inner output passage 71, and the piston portion 421 is inserted into the accommodating chamber 412. The outer cylinder 413 has a cylindrical shape, and a circumferential side wall thereof is provided with an accommodating portion 45 for accommodating the rod portion 422. Preferably, the accommodating portion 45 is provided with a clamping portion 451, a clamped portion (not shown in the figure) is provided on the corresponding rod portion 422, and the rod portion 422 is detachably installed in the accommodating portion 45 through the matching of the clamping portion 451 and the clamped portion. The design of this structure facilitates taking and placing of the rod portion 422, and is advantageous for miniaturization of the toner filling device. Preferably, the receiving portion 45 may be provided as a groove. Alternatively, the body 41 may include only the inner tube 411 or the outer tube 413, and the corresponding receiving portion 45 is provided on a circumferential sidewall of the inner tube 411 or the outer tube 413. Preferably, the clamping portion 451 may be a protrusion disposed in the accommodating portion 45, and the clamped portion may be a groove disposed on the rod portion 422 and adapted to the protrusion; alternatively, the engaging portion 451 may be a groove and the engaged portion may be a protrusion.

In some embodiments, the upper end of the piston portion 421 is provided with a coupling portion 4211, and one end of the corresponding rod portion 422 is provided with a coupled portion 4222, so that the rod portion 422 and the piston portion 421 are connected to the coupled portion 4222 through the coupling portion 4211 during use, and the rod portion 422 can stably push the piston portion 421 to perform a filling operation. Preferably, one of the combining part 4211 and the combined part 4222 is a groove, and the other is a protrusion fitting with the groove. Preferably, the combining part 4211 and the combined part 4222 may be provided in a snap structure, and the two are connected by a snap.

In some embodiments, the outer cylinder 413 is further provided with a movable element 61 and a shielding plate 62, and the movable element 61 is connected with the outer cylinder 413 and can rotate together with the outer cylinder 413. The movable member 61 is provided with an outer output passage 72 deviated from the rotation center line of the outer cylinder 413 and a notch 612 extending toward the outward edge of the movable member 61, and the outer output passage 72 can constitute the output passage 7 of the toner filling device 4 together with the inner output passage 71 to guide the output of the toner.

The shutter 62 is rotatable relative to the movable piece 61 to be held at a stationary position, and the shutter 62 is provided with an engagement structure 621, the engagement structure 621 being offset from the rotational axis of the outer cylinder 413.

As shown in fig. 15 to 18, the present embodiment provides a toner cartridge A2 detachably mountable to an electrophotographic apparatus, the toner cartridge A2 including a developing hopper 21, a waste toner container 22, a toner container 23, and a toner receiving assembly a10 (corresponding to the input port 10 in the first embodiment), wherein the developing hopper 21 is provided with a developing roller (not shown in the figure), and the waste toner container 22 is provided with a photosensitive drum 221 contacting the developing roller (not shown in the figure). The toner container 23 is for containing toner, and the toner container 23 is located above the waste toner container 22 and communicates with the developing hopper 21 to be able to supply toner to the developing hopper 21.

The toner receiving assembly a10 communicates with the toner container 23, and includes a stationary base 51, a rotary base 52, and a cover portion 53, wherein the stationary base 51 is provided with an input port 511, a communication port 512, and a passage 513 connecting the input port 511 and the communication port 512, wherein the input port 511 is for receiving toner (such as carbon powder, ink, and the like), the communication port 512 communicates with the toner container 23 of the toner cartridge A2 to allow the filled toner to be transferred to the toner container 23 of the toner cartridge A2, and the communication port 512 may be formed at the bottom of the passage 513. The toner entering from the communication port 512 can be conveyed to the toner container 23 side via the screw.

The rotary base 52 is provided on the stationary base 51 to be rotatable relative to the stationary base 51. The rotary base 52 further includes a shutter 521 for opening or closing the input port 511, the shutter 521 of the present embodiment can rotate along with the rotation of the rotary base 52, as shown in fig. 17, the shutter 521 rotates along with the rotary base 52 by a preset angle, and the shutter 521 is in an open state. The cover 53 covers the outside of the rotary base 52 to protect the rotary base 52 and the like.

Referring to fig. 11, 14, 16 to 20, when the toner filling device 4 is used, the rod portion 422 may be detached and assembled to the piston portion 421, and then the toner filling device 4 is inserted into the toner receiving assembly a10, with the opening/closing member 521 at a position to close the input port 511, the recess 612 of the movable member 61 is engaged with the outer edge of the opening/closing member 521, the engaging structure 621 of the shutter 62 is engaged with the outer edge portion 511a of the input port 511 of the stationary base 51 without interfering with the opening/closing member 521, and referring to fig. 19 and 20, when the user rotates the toner filling device 4, the movable member 61 rotates the opening/closing member 521 relative to the shutter 62, and since the engaging structure 621 of the shutter 62 is engaged with the outer edge portion 511a of the shutter 511 of the stationary base 51, the shutter 62 maintains a stationary state, and the output passage 7 communicates with the input port 511 of the stationary base 51 as the movable member 61 rotates. The user pushes the pushing member 42 so that the toner is discharged from the toner filling device 4 into the toner receiving assembly a10 through the output passage 7, and finally into the toner cartridge A2.

By adopting the technical scheme of the embodiment, the volume of the toner filling device can be greatly reduced, the toner filling device is miniaturized, and the transportation and packaging cost is reduced.

EXAMPLE III

The existing toner filling device comprises a main body and a pushing member, wherein the pushing member comprises a rod part and a piston part, most of the rod part is positioned outside the main body, the rod part occupies a larger volume proportion of the toner filling device, the occupied space is large, and the packaging and transportation cost is increased.

As shown in fig. 21 to 23, the present embodiment provides a toner filling device capable of achieving miniaturization, the toner filling device 4 including a main body 41 for containing toner, a pushing member 42 for pushing toner, and a delivery passage B7, wherein the main body 41 is provided with a containing chamber 412 for containing toner, and the delivery passage B7 is in communication with the containing chamber 412 and communicable with the outside. Specifically, the output passage B7 may be provided on an outer wall of the main body 41, a length direction thereof extending along a length direction of the main body 41; the output passage B7 is provided with a discharge port B73 and a passage port B71, the discharge port B73 being located at the lower end of the output passage B7, and the toner can be discharged from the discharge port B73 to the outside. The passage port B71 is provided at the upper end of the output passage B7, and the passage port B71 communicates with the upper end of the accommodating chamber 412. In the process of the pushing member 42 moving from the first position to the second position, the toner in the accommodating chamber 412 flows into the output passage B7 from the passage port B71 of the output passage B7, then flows toward the discharge port B73, and flows out of the main body 41 through the discharge port B73.

The pushing member 42 includes a piston portion 421 and a rod portion 422, and the piston portion 421 can be sealingly connected with the inner wall of the accommodating chamber 412 and moves to push the toner out of the main body 41 from the output passage B7.

In this embodiment, the rod portion 422 can drive the piston portion 421 to move upward, and the toner is pushed in the process of the upward movement of the piston portion 421. Preferably, the pushing member 42 is movable from a first position close to the discharge port B73 to a second position away from the discharge port B73, and before filling, the pushing member 42 is in the first position (the position shown in fig. 24).

In some embodiments, the main body 41 includes an inner cylinder 411 and an outer cylinder 413, the outer cylinder 413 is cylindrical, the inner cylinder 411 is located inside the outer cylinder 413, an internal cavity of the inner cylinder 411 is an accommodating chamber 412, the piston 421 is inserted into the accommodating chamber 412, and the output channel B7 is disposed on an outer wall of the inner cylinder 411 and located between the inner cylinder 411 and the outer cylinder 413. The outer cylinder 413 is further provided with a movable element 61 and a shutter 62, and the movable element 61 is connected to the outer cylinder 413 so as to be rotatable together with the outer cylinder 413. The movable piece 61 is provided with an outer output channel B72 deviated from the rotation center line of the outer cylinder 413 and a notch 612 extending towards the outer edge of the movable piece 61, and the outer output channel B72 can be communicated with the output channel B7 to guide the output of the toner; in some embodiments, the outer output channel B72 can be combined with the output channel B7 to form an output channel, and the outer output channel B72 can be used as a discharge port.

The shutter 62 is rotatable relative to the movable piece 61 to be held at a stationary position, and the shutter 62 is provided with an engagement structure 621, the engagement structure 621 being offset from the rotational axis of the outer cylinder 413.

As shown in fig. 25, the present embodiment provides a toner cartridge A2 detachably mountable to an electrophotographic apparatus, the toner cartridge A2 including a developing hopper 21, a waste toner container 22, a toner container 23, and a toner receiving assembly a10, wherein the developing hopper 21 is provided with a developing roller (not shown in the figure), and the waste toner container 22 is provided with a photosensitive drum 221 contacting the developing roller (not shown in the figure). The toner container 23 is for containing toner, and the toner container 23 is located above the waste toner container 22 and communicates with the developing hopper 21 to be able to supply toner to the developing hopper 21. The toner receiving unit a10 communicates with the toner container 23 and can transfer the received toner into the toner container 23.

Referring to fig. 24 and 25, when the toner filling device 4 is used, the toner filling device 4 is inserted into the toner receiving assembly a10, the toner filling device 4 is rotated to open the discharge port B73, and the user pulls the pushing member 42 upward to discharge the toner in the toner filling device 4 into the toner receiving assembly a10 through the output passage B7 and finally into the toner container 23.

By adopting the technical scheme of the embodiment, under the condition that the capacity of the carbon powder is not changed, the toner filling device is miniaturized, and the transportation and packaging cost is reduced.

Example four

As shown in fig. 26, the conventional toner cartridge 02 includes a developing bin 021, a waste toner container 022, and a toner container 023 stacked in this order in a vertical direction, and in a state where the toner cartridge 02 is mounted to the electrophotographic apparatus, the developing bin 021 is located at a lower side, the toner container 023 is located at an uppermost side, and the waste toner container 022 is located between the developing bin 21 and the toner container 023. The developing hopper 21 is provided with a developing roller 0211, the waste toner container 022 is provided with a photosensitive drum 0221, and the photosensitive drum 0221 and the developing roller 0211 face each other. The toner container 023 communicates with the developing chamber 021 through two supply passages 0231 penetrating through the waste toner container 022 to be able to convey the toner toward the developing chamber 021.

However, the toner cartridge with such a structure is easily blocked at the outlet or inlet of the toner supply passage, so that the toner cannot enter the developing chamber, and the printing is affected. Therefore, a technical solution to the above problems is needed.

As shown in fig. 27 and 28, the present embodiment provides a toner cartridge A2 detachably mountable to an electrophotographic apparatus, the toner cartridge A2 including a developing hopper 21, a waste toner container 22, a toner container 23, and a toner receiving member a10; among them, the developing hopper 21 is provided with a rotatable developing roller 211, and the waste toner container 22 is provided with a photosensitive drum 221 which is in contact with the developing roller 211.

The toner container 23 is for containing toner (e.g., toner), and is provided with a communication inlet 231 communicating with the developing hopper 21, the communication inlet 231 extending from a first end to a second end of the toner container 23 along a length direction of the developing roller 211. The toner container 23 is also connected to the toner receiving assembly a10, and the communication port 512 of the toner receiving assembly a10 communicates with the toner container 23 to allow the toner filled into the toner receiving assembly a10 from the outside to enter the toner container 23. The toner receiving member a10 is located at one end of the toner container 23 in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller.

Referring to fig. 28, in some embodiments, in a state where the toner cartridge A2 is mounted to the electrophotographic apparatus, the communication inlet 231 is located on the lower side of the waste toner container 22, and this structure is designed such that the communication inlet 231 does not need to cross the waste toner container 22 before communicating with the developing hopper 21.

Referring to fig. 28, it is preferable that at least a part of the toner container 23 is positioned at a lower side of the waste toner container 22 in a state where the toner cartridge A2 is mounted to the electrophotographic apparatus. Preferably, the developing hopper 21 and the toner container 23 are located on the lower side of the waste toner container 22, and this structure is designed without providing a passage penetrating the waste toner container 23, thereby preventing the passage from being clogged.

In some embodiments, the toner container 23 and the developing chamber 21 are integrally formed, or may be a separate structure.

Referring to fig. 28, in some embodiments, a first conveying member 234 and a second conveying member 235 are further disposed in the toner container 23, the first conveying member 234 is capable of conveying the toner entering from the toner receiving assembly a10 in a length direction of the developing roller 211, and the first conveying member 234 may be a conveying screw. The second conveying member 235 is for conveying the toner located at the rear of the toner container 23 into the developing hopper 21 located at the front side, and the second conveying member 235 may be a conveying belt or the like.

In some embodiments, the waste toner container 22 includes a first bin 222 located at the front side of the toner cartridge a10 and a second bin 223 located at the rear side, the first bin 222 is provided with components such as a photosensitive drum 221 and a cleaning blade 224, the cleaning blade 224 is used to remove the waste toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 221, and the second bin 223 is used to contain the waste toner. The waste toner container 22 further includes a third transfer member 225, and the third transfer member 225 is at least partially located in the second bin 223 to transfer the waste toner located at the front side of the toner cartridge a10 to the second bin 223 located at the rear side.

As shown in fig. 29, the present embodiment also provides a toner filling device 4 containing toner, the toner filling device 4 of the present embodiment includes a main body 41 for containing toner and a pushing member 42 for pushing the toner, an output port 611 is provided below the main body 41, the pushing member 42 is inserted inside the main body 41, and the pushing member 42 moves downward to push the carbon toner from the output port 611 to the outside of the main body 41.

When it is necessary to fill the toner, the toner filling device 4 is inserted into the toner receiving unit a10, and the user holds the toner filling device 4 and rotates it 180 degrees, and then pushes the pushing member 42 to complete the filling operation.

After the technical scheme of the embodiment is adopted, the blockage of the toner in the toner box can be avoided, and the toner can stably circulate.

What has been described above are merely some embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the inventive concept thereof, and these changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. A toner filling device detachably inserted into an input port including an input port, characterized by comprising:

a main body having an accommodating chamber for accommodating toner and an output port;

a limiting part arranged at one end of the toner filling device close to the output port;

a restricted portion movable between an initial position and a restricted position relative to the restricting portion;

the restricted portion moves from an initial position to a restricted position along with the rotation of the toner filling device and abuts against the stopper portion, thereby restricting the rotation angle of the toner filling device.

2. The toner filling device according to claim 1, wherein the input port includes a rotary base having a preset rotation angle, and a center angle corresponding to a movement path of the restricted portion is smaller than the preset rotation angle.

3. The toner filling device according to claim 1, wherein the output port does not overlap with the input port in an initial position; in the restricted position, the output port at least partially overlaps the input port.

4. The toner filling device according to claim 2, further comprising a shutter and a movable member movable relative to the shutter, wherein the restricting portion is provided on the shutter, and the restricted portion is provided on the movable member.

5. The toner filling device according to claim 4, further comprising a sealing member fixedly connected to the shutter, wherein the stopper is provided on the sealing member.

6. The toner filling device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein one of the restricting portion and the restricted portion includes a groove, and the other includes a protrusion.

7. The toner filling device according to claim 6, wherein the stopper is located at a tip of the groove.

8. The toner filling device according to claim 6, wherein the groove is an arc-shaped groove.

9. The toner filling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a center angle corresponding to a moving path of the restricted portion is between 120 degrees and 175 degrees.

10. A toner cartridge characterized by comprising a powder hopper and an input port communicating with the powder hopper, a toner filling device being detachably inserted into the input port to fill the powder hopper with toner;

the input port comprises a static base, and a limiting part is arranged on the static base;

the toner filling device is provided with a limited part which can move between an initial position and a limited position relative to the limiting part;

the restricted portion moves from an initial position to a restricted position along with the rotation of the toner filling device and abuts against the stopper portion, thereby restricting the rotation angle of the toner filling device.

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