EP1548520A2 - Tonercartridge with unique reloading and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

• une cartouche (1) comprenant un réceptacle (10) surmonté d'un cadre (11 ),
• une recharge de toner (2) apte à être insérée dans le réceptacle de la cartouche et comportant un container (22) contenant le toner,

   dans lequel la recharge comporte un châssis (20) s'emboítant dans le réceptacle de la cartouche et en ce que le container (22) de la recharge est monté pivotant autour d'un axe de rotation (3) fixé sur le châssis.A toner refill cartridge system, comprising:

• a cartridge (1) comprising a receptacle (10) surmounted by a frame (11),
• a toner refill (2) adapted to be inserted into the cartridge receptacle and having a container (22) containing the toner,

wherein the refill comprises a frame (20) fitting into the receptacle of the cartridge and in that the container (22) of the refill is pivotally mounted about an axis of rotation (3) fixed on the frame.

The invention also relates to a method of implementing this system.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a refillable toner cartridge system unique for use in a printing device of the type printer or fax machine. This cartridge system has a toner cartridge which, when empty, can be reloaded only once times by a refill adapted to this cartridge. The invention also relates to a method for implementing this system.

In general, the invention finds applications in the field of digital printing. In particular, it finds applications in the field of printing by devices such as printers, photocopiers or fax.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, most type printing devices computers use dry ink, colored or black, reduced to fines particles and containing a heat-sensitive resin, which attaches by heating on the print medium used, for example, paper. This ink is generally called toner.

For effective use, this toner is placed in a cartridge located inside the device. Each toner cartridge is intended for a limited number of printed pages, for example 3000 or 5000 pages. When the cartridge is empty, there are two possibilities for the user to the device: either it replaces the empty cartridge with a new cartridge full, or it refills the cartridge with bottled toner.

The change of a cartridge has the disadvantage of presenting a cost relatively high. Indeed, an entire cartridge has a significantly higher cost important than bottled toner. Also, most users choose to fill the cartridge with toner sold in bottle. In this case, to fill the cartridge, the user must open the cartridge, open the toner bottle and pour the toner directly into the cartridge. Now, the Toner is a fine powder that flakes easily, especially when is transferred from one container to another container. In addition, this fine powder is colored. So it messes up the elements around the cartridge to fill as well as the hands and clothes of the user. In addition, the fact to open the cap of the cartridge also causes dirt on the user's hands and toner vapor inhalations that can affect the health of the user. the opening of the cap can, in addition, deteriorate the plug. This technique is therefore not only messy, but in addition it is relatively long to implement.

Moreover, this technique does not make it possible to control the duration of life of the cartridge components and, in particular, rollers of the cartridge that can get dirty and deteriorate the print quality, even make the printing device unusable.

To solve these problems, there are toner refills to be placed in the empty toner cartridge. US-5 594 535 discloses a refillable toner cartridge using plastic bags. soft plastics containing toner. The plastic bag containing the toner is placed, upside down, in the cartridge and, when opening the cap from this bag, the toner flows into the cartridge. This cartridge can receive several stacked toner bags, that is, placed one above the other others as the previous bag is empty. However, to open each of these bags, it is necessary to pull on a tab sealing (called seal, in English terms). Now, one side of this tongue is in direct contact with the toner. This tongue is toner and can make the user dirty when the user removes it. Of Moreover, such tongues are relatively fragile and they are often break when the user pulls it to open the refill. The user is then obliged to remove the refill from the cartridge, with all the disadvantages that this entails, in particular if the recharge has been part opened by the tongue.

US-A-5,907,747 describes another type of refill for toner cartridge. This refill has a shape substantially identical to the shape of the cartridge and it fits into the receptacle of the cartridge. The lid of the cartridge is then fixed above the refill to seal the whole. When the cartridge is closed, with the charging inside, the user has to pull a tab to open the refill. This recharge therefore has the same disadvantages than those previously stated.

Moreover, when the user has opened the recharge, he finds himself with a tongue, covered with toner, which he does not know what to do. Generally, the user then puts this tab in a bin. Gold, In France and in many countries, legislation imposes on manufacturers of toner cartridges and toner refills, to recover the dirty packages, that is to say containing toner, for recycling. In As a result, the manufacturers of toner cartridges and refills ask users to return the cartridge and / or the recharge a once it has been used. However, if most users usually return the main elements, they do not return the tongue covered with toner for the simple reason that they would be forced to store the dirty tab as long as the cartridge or refill is not empty.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the invention is precisely to remedy the drawbacks of techniques previously discussed. For this purpose, the invention proposes single toner refill cartridge system having a cartridge full of toner and a refill to insert into the cartridge, so simple and clean, when the cartridge is empty. This cartridge system recharging makes it possible to reload a toner cartridge without having to pull a tab or other element that may be toner-filled. For this purpose, the toner refill comprises a container inside which find, initially, the toner. This container is rotatable in the cartridge of so that, in a closed position, the toner is contained within the container and, in an open position, the toner is evacuated to the receptacle of the cartridge. The transition from the closed position to the open position of container is realized by simple support, by the user, on the container.

This single-refill cartridge system recharges the cartridge in a clean way, without the user being in any moment in direct contact with the toner. It also ensures a complete recycling of the cartridge and refill assembly since, when the recharge has been introduced into the cartridge, it can no longer be removed from the cartridge. Also, when the refill is empty, the user returns the cartridge and refill assembly to the manufacturer who has at his disposal all "dirty" items requiring recycling.

This system also has the advantage of allowing the manufacturer to check the service life of the components and, in particular, their clogging by limiting the possible number of printed pages. In other words, if the manufacturer knows that the components have a life of 10000 pages it adapts the amount of toner in the cartridge and recharges it so that the number of pages does not exceed 10000.

This system also has the advantage of being less expensive for the user only two cartridges, for the same number of pages with a good guarantee of printing.

• une cartouche comprenant un réceptacle surmonté d'un cadre,
• une recharge de toner apte à être insérée dans le réceptacle de la cartouche et comportant un container contenant le toner,

   caractérisé en ce que la recharge comporte un châssis s'emboítant dans le réceptacle de la cartouche et en ce que le container de la recharge est monté pivotant autour d'un axe de rotation fixé sur le châssis.More specifically, the invention relates to a toner refill cartridge system, comprising:

• a cartridge comprising a receptacle surmounted by a frame,
• a toner refill suitable for insertion into the receptacle of the cartridge and comprising a container containing the toner,

characterized in that the recharge comprises a frame fitting into the receptacle of the cartridge and in that the container of the refill is pivotally mounted about an axis of rotation fixed on the frame.

The refill container has a closed position in which the toner is contained in the container and an open position in which the container is empty, the toner being in the receptacle of the cartridge.

• enlèvement d'un couvercle de la cartouche,
• insertion de la recharge dans la cartouche jusqu'à ce que la partie supérieure du châssis de la recharge soit en appui sur le cadre de la cartouche,
• appui sur la paroi supérieure du container de la recharge pour faire pivoter ledit container de la position fermée à la position ouverte.

The invention also relates to a method for implementing the refill cartridge system of the invention. This process is characterized by the fact that it comprises the following operations:

• removing a lid from the cartridge,
• insertion of the refill in the cartridge until the upper part of the frame of the refill bears on the frame of the cartridge,
• pressing on the upper wall of the container of the refill to rotate said container from the closed position to the open position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures 1A and 1B show a perspective view, respectively, of a cartridge and a refill of the the invention.

FIG. 2 represents a sectional view of a refill inserted into a cartridge, when the container of the refill is in the closed position.

FIG. 3 represents a sectional view of the refill inserted into a cartridge, when the container of the refill is in the open position.

FIG. 4A represents a device for anti-opening of the refill when the refill is not fully inserted into the cartridge.

FIG. 4B represents the anti-opening device of the refill when the refill is fully loaded into the cartridge.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The system of the invention comprises a toner cartridge which, empty, can be refilled using a suitable toner refill. The FIG. 1A represents a perspective view of the cartridge of the the invention. This cartridge 1 comprises a receptacle 10 intended to receive toner. This receptacle 10 is surmounted by a frame 11 fixed on the receptacle.

At the origin, that is to say when the cartridge is new, a lid close the cartridge. This lid is removably attached to the frame 11 of the cartridge 1. It is easily removable by the user. Indeed, this cover must be removed from the cartridge when a refill is square. Therefore, this lid is not shown in Figure 1 A.

Figure 1B shows a refill of the system of the invention. This refill 2 of Figure 1 B is adapted to be inserted into the cartridge of Figure 1 A. It comprises a frame 20 and a rotating container 22 in the chassis 20.

The frame 20 of the refill 2 comprises a collar 21 forming a recess on the upper part of the chassis. This collar 21 serves as stop at refill 2, when it is inserted into the cartridge 1.

The container 22 is pivotally mounted about an axis of rotation longitudinal, fixed on the chassis. An example of shape of the container 22 will be described later. This container 22 may comprise a notch 23, made on the opposite side to the axis of rotation, to indicate to the user the location where the support must be to open the container.

FIG. 2 represents a side view in section of the system of cartridge and refill of the invention. This figure shows the cartridge 1 with its receptacle 10 at the bottom of which are one or more rollers 4 spreading toner output 5 of the receptacle 10. These rollers are identical to those of conventional printing devices.

The receptacle 10 contains the toner. When the cartridge is new, this receptacle is initially filled with toner. When the cartridge is reloaded, it is filled with the toner initially contained in the container. In other words, the toner contained in the container 22 of the recharge is intended to be poured into the receptacle 10 of the cartridge 1.

The receptacle 10 is surmounted by a frame 11 fixed to the receptacle by any known means, such as glue. It can also be overmolded on the 10. Initially, when the cartridge is new, the frame 11 is closed by a cover placed and fixed on said frame 11. In the second using the cartridge, ie when the cartridge is refilled, the cover is removed and it is the refill that is supported on the frame 11.

Figure 2 shows the preferred shape for the container 22 of the 2. In this embodiment, the container has a section substantially triangular. In other words, the container has three sides 22a, 22b and 22c. The side 22a forms the base of the triangle, opposite the top 22. The sides 22b and 22c meet around the axis of rotation 3. In the In the case of FIG. 2, the side 22c forms an arc 22d around the axis 3 to facilitate the rotation of the container in the cartridge. In the mode of embodiment of FIG. 2, the container side 22b forms an angle of approximately 45 ° with the chassis surface; it is understood that this angle may vary, in function, in particular, the shape of the container, while remaining lower than 90 °.

The base 22a is partially open, along the entire length of the refill. In other words, the base 22a does not close the container completely 22. The container 22 is closed by the frame 20 of the refill. So, as it will be seen in more detail later, the container 22 has a position closed, which is the one shown in FIG. 2, in which the toner is contained entirely in the container closed by the chassis. A position open, which will be described later, makes it possible to rotate the container around the axis 3 and thus to tilt said container so that the opening in the base 22a is facing the receptacle of the cartridge.

The frame 20 of the refill 2 has vertical walls 20a and 20b can be of different lengths. The walls 20a and 20b end, at their upper end, by a collar 21. This collar 21 may be uniform over the entire outline of the refill. She can also have different shapes depending on the considered faces of the refill. By for example, the flange 21 may form a right angle with the wall 20a of the chassis, as shown by reference 21 a. She can also form a half U with the wall 20b of the frame, as shown by reference 21 b. What whatever its shape, the collar 21 has the role of providing abutment support on the frame of the cartridge. Charging can not be introduced too much deep in the cartridge by the user.

As can be seen in this FIG. 2, the wall 20a of the frame can be covered with a waterproof material 26, for example a foam, ensuring the tightness of the container, when the latter is in the closed position. Of this way, the toner is contained inside the container, tightly.

In Figure 2, there is shown an example of anti-disassembly device recharge. This antidemontage device 12, 27, called also anti-return, comprises at least one lug 12 located inside the receptacle 10 of the cartridge and at least one orifice 27 made in the wall 20b of the frame 20 of the refill. The lug 12 is intended to fit into the orifice 27 so as to prevent disassembly of the refill once that it has been inserted into the cartridge. Only one recharge can be introduced into the cartridge. Once the toner of the refill has been fully used, it is mechanically impossible for the user to take the refill out of the cartridge.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the lug 12 is a rack, molded on the inside of the receptacle and directed towards the the bottom of the receptacle 10. Thus, the rack 12 is easily introduced into orifice 27 when the refill is pushed towards the bottom of the receptacle. By against, the rack 12 is in abutment against the part of the wall 20b surrounding orifice 27, which prevents the recharge from being drawn to the top of the cartridge.

In the embodiment that has just been described, the container 22 has a shape whose section is substantially triangular. However, as we can see it in figure 2, to allow a greater capacity storing of toner, the base 22a of the container is convex which allows to increase the interior volume of the container. It is understood that other forms may be envisaged for the container, such as example a straight base.

Similarly, in FIG. 2, the top 22e of the container 22 is shown with a partially rounded shape, in half U, which is inserted in the flange 21 around the axis of rotation 3. It should be noted that the shape of the top 22d and collar 21b may differ depending on modes of realization.

FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows a side view in cutting the system of the invention, when the container of the refill is in open position. In this position, the side 22b of the container 22 forms, with the surface of the flange 21, a flat angle. The side 22c of the container 22 is then parallel to the wall 20b of the frame. The base 22a is inside the frame. The convex shape of the base 22a ensures a good flow of the toner to the receptacle 10 without any toner hold.

To move from the closed position of the container 22, shown on the FIG. 2, at the open position of the container, shown in FIG. 3, the user simply has to push on the side 22b of the container, notch on the notch 23. This pressure has the effect of rotating the container down, putting the open part of the base 22a facing the receptacle 10 of the cartridge. The toner then escapes from the container 22 following the arrow shown in Figure 3.

Moving from the closed position to the open position, the toner escapes over the entire length of the container. So, it breaks down so homogeneous in the receptacle. So there is no need, before positioning refill in the cartridge, shake the refill to distribute the toner. Indeed, the refill is usually full. Also, when it evacuates container, the toner is evenly and evenly distributed in the receptacle at the moment of opening of the container.

In the open position, the container 22 is fully inserted into the cartridge and the outer shape of the cartridge is identical to the shape a new cartridge. The cartridge can therefore be reused, for the user, just like a new cartridge.

The user has thus reloaded his cartridge without getting dirty because he is not never in direct contact with the toner. In other words, the system of refill cartridge of the invention is clean since there is no contact with emanation of toner when transferring it from the refill to the cartridge.

To ensure even better protection against fumes toner and to avoid dirtying the lid, the new cartridge may have a protective film sealed on the frame of the cartridge. When the cartridge is new, this film is located under the cover of the cartridge. So when the user removes the lid of the cartridge, especially before the cartridge is completely empty, it can not be in contact with no residual toner. This protective film can be realized in a plastic material, such as a very thin polycarbonate, or in aluminum. At the beginning of inserting the refill into the cartridge, the film is pierced by the chassis of the refill. For easier drilling, the edges of the frame can be beveled, facilitating the cutting of the film. The protective film may also have reduced areas easy to pierce, so that when it is placed in the cartridge, the recharge pierces this protective film at predetermined locations, for example in the center of the film. Once the film pierced, the pieces of the film are distributed around the recharge so as not to interfere the evacuation of the toner.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a locking device the container of the refill. Indeed, it is interesting that the recharge does not can not be opened until it is fully inserted in the cartridge, that is to say before the collar of the refill is in support on the frame of the cartridge. According to one embodiment, this device for locking comprises a deformable locking finger 6. This finger of locking 6 can be made in the same material as the refill, that is, ABS or PS.

In the vicinity of this locking finger, the container 22 forms a recess 22 '. In other words, the side 22c of the container is locally perpendicular to the foam 26, as shown by the reference 22 '. The dotted lines show the general shape of container 22, out of proximity locking finger.

The locking finger 6 is fixed and deforms as the passage of the refill in the cartridge receptacle. It can have two positions: an external position in which it is partly outside the receptacle and an inner position in which it is entirely housed in the receptacle.

In FIG. 4A, the locking finger 6 has been shown, when it is in its outer position, that is to say, partly out of the receptacle of the cartridge. In this position, the locking finger has a curved shape which has the effect that the finger retains the side 22c of the container. The container does not can not open. As long as the recharge is not installed correctly in the cartridge, the locking finger holds the container in its closed position. There is therefore no possible evacuation of the toner.

When the refill is properly inserted into the cartridge, that is to say that the side 22c of the container reaches the receptacle, as shown in FIG. 4B, then the locking finger is pushed into a housing 7 of the receptacle. The container can then open.

With the refill cartridge system just described, the cartridge can be reloaded without being removed from its slot in the printing device. Indeed, like most printing device open at the top, by a hood to open or a part of the device to remove, reloading the cartridge from the top allows the reloading can be done in place in the device, without necessarily take the cartridge out of its slot.

With the system that has just been described, a user who commands a cartridge receives both a new cartridge and a refill. In one first time, he uses the cartridge alone to make his impressions. When the cartridge is empty of any toner, it can fill it by means of the refill. He must then remove the cover of the cartridge, easy to disassemble. As there is no more toner in the cartridge, the lid is clean, in particularly if the cartridge has a protective film. The lid can so be thrown into the trash without any difficulty. Then the user introduce the refill into the cartridge and press the refill until the frame comes to rest on the frame of the cartridge. At this moment recharge is in its correct position and the user can press the prominent part of the container thus passing the container of its closed position in its open position. The toner then evacuates homogeneous, as and when the container is opened in the receptacle of the cartridge. The user then only has to use the cartridge as a new cartridge. Indeed, the dimensions of the refill are planned for the refill to fit in the cartridge and that it retains the same dimension as a new cartridge, the thickness of the chassis flange then replacing the thickness of the lid of the new cartridge.

Once this cartridge with its refill has been used, the user returns the whole thing, that is to say the cartridge with the refill to inside, to the manufacturer who can then recycle it. This cartridge system recharge has the advantage of being simple and quick to implement.

Claims (14)

A toner refill cartridge system, comprising: a cartridge (1) comprising a receptacle (10) surmounted by a frame (11), a toner refill (2) adapted to be inserted into the cartridge receptacle and having a container (22) containing the toner, characterized in that the refill comprises a frame (20) fitting into the receptacle of the cartridge, and the container (22) of the refill is pivotally mounted about an axis of rotation (3) fixed to the frame so that the container has a closed position in which the toner is contained in the container and an open position in which the container is empty, the toner being in the receptacle of the cartridge. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the container has a substantially triangular section, with a vertex (22e) pivoting about the axis of rotation and a base (22a) partly open. System according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that , in the closed position, the container has a side (22b) forming a non-flat angle, less than 90 °, with the upper surface of the frame. System according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that , in the open position, the container has a side (22b) forming a flat angle with the upper surface of the frame. System according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that , in the closed position of the container, the open portion of the base (22a) is closed by a wall (20a) of the frame (20) of the container. System according to claim 5, characterized in that at least the wall (20a) of the frame closing the container is covered with a layer of a waterproof material. System according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the frame of the refill comprises a flange (21) resting on the frame (1 1) of the cartridge. System according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the receptacle (10) of the cartridge comprises an anti-disassembly device of the refill. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the anti-disassembly device comprises a retaining lug (12) and the frame of the refill comprises at least one orifice (27) into which the retaining lug is inserted. System according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the cartridge comprises a locking finger (6) holding the container in the closed position until the refill is properly inserted into the cartridge. System according to claim 10, characterized in that the locking finger is made of a deformable material. System according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the cartridge comprises a protective film sealed to the surface of the frame. A method of operating the toner refill cartridge system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it comprises the following operations: removing a lid from the cartridge, inserting the refill (2) in the cartridge (1) until the flange (21) of the refill bears against the frame (1 1) of the cartridge, pressure on one side (22b) of the container of the refill to move said container from the closed position to the open position. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the refill is inserted into the cartridge when said cartridge is empty of any toner.

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