EP4600756A1

EP4600756A1 - Waste toner collection bag connector mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP4600756A1
Application number: EP24156284.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael John Fazakarley; Robert Farr; David Jeffrey Moule
Original assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date: 2024-02-07
Filing date: 2024-02-07
Publication date: 2025-08-13

Abstract

The present invention relates to a collar which is part of a waste toner collection bag connector mechanism for a waste toner collection bag having an aperture in a wall of the bag. The waste toner collection bag is provided with a flange body comprising a neck portion defining an axial toner flow passage, a flange portion extending radially from the neck portion and sealed around the periphery of the aperture in the toner collection bag, and an attachment element on the neck portion. The collar comprises a surface including a screw thread whereby the collar is configured to be attached to an orifice portion of a waste toner tank by rotation of the collar, using rotational engagement between the screw thread of the collar and a screw thread provided on the orifice portion. The collar also comprises one or more elements configured to engage with the attachment element on the neck portion, whereby the collar is connectable to the flange body via an attachment mechanism, including the element(s) of the collar and the attachment element of the flange body. The attachment mechanism permits relative rotation of the flange body and the collar. This allows the waste toner collection bag to be connected to the orifice portion without mutual rotation of the waste toner tank and the waste toner collection bag.

Description

[Technical field]

The present invention relates to a collar for a connector mechanism suitable for a waste toner collection bag, to a connector mechanism suitable for a waste toner collection bag, and to combinations of the connector mechanism with a waste toner collection bag, with a waste toner tank and with a plug.

[Background]

Image forming apparatuses that use toner often have a waste toner tank. Such a tank is used to store excess toner that is removed from rollers in the imaging apparatus or from the printing medium during the image forming process. When the waste toner tank is full, it is necessary to empty or replace the waste toner tank to allow regular functioning of the image forming apparatus to proceed.
Replacing the waste toner tank every time it is full is costly. Therefore, it is desirable instead to empty the waste toner tank when it is full by using a waste toner collection bag to collect toner from the waste toner tank. The waste toner collection bag is typically fastened to the waste toner tank, and then waste toner is emptied from the tank to the collection bag. However, if the connection between the bag and the tank is not secure, then toner particles can escape and become airborne, creating mess.
JP1993303313 discloses a waste toner collection tank with an agitator that can be externally operated so that when the waste toner collection bag is connected to the waste toner tank, the agitator can be turned to mechanically break up solidified toner and increase its flowability, making it easier for the waste toner to flow from the tank to the bag. When not being emptied, the toner discharge port of the waste toner collection tank is closed by a plug that is press-fitted into the port. When the tank is being emptied, the connection between the collection tank and the bag is secured by a fastener such as a resin tape containing a wire, or an elastic band.
JP2005156721 discloses a toner collecting device in an electrophotographic device that stops a toner transporting coil from rotating in the absence of toner to prevent an unpleasant abnormal sound. A waste toner collection bag is described, but it is not described how this is attached to the toner collecting device. In both cases, if the connection between the toner collecting device and the plug or bag is not tightly sealed, emptying the tank can result in toner particles becoming airborne.

[Summary of invention]

The invention is set out in the appended claims in which there is provided a collar for a waste toner collection bag connector mechanism, a waste toner collection bag connector mechanism, a plug for use with the claimed waste toner collection bag connector mechanism and a waste toner tank for use with the waste toner collection bag connector mechanism.
In general terms, a collar is proposed for a connector mechanism for a waste toner collection bag having an aperture into the interior of the waste toner bag. The waste toner bag is provided with a flange body comprising a neck portion defining an axial toner flow passage, a flange portion extending radially from the neck portion and sealed around the periphery of the aperture in the toner collection bag, and at least one attachment element on the neck portion. The collar comprises a surface including a screw thread whereby the collar is configured to be attached to an orifice portion of a waste toner tank by rotation of the collar, using rotational engagement between the screw thread of the collar and a screw thread provided on the orifice portion.
The collar may comprise one or more elements of the collar configured to engage with the attachment element on the neck portion of the flange body, whereby the collar is connectable to the flange body via an attachment mechanism including the element(s) of the collar and the attachment element of the flange body. The attachment mechanism permits relative rotation of the flange body and the collar. Thus, the collar makes it possible to attach the flange body and waste collection bag to the waste toner tank, without relatively rotating the flange body and the waste toner tank.
Optionally, the provided at least one attachment element is a lip extending radially from the neck portion of the flange body and axially spaced from the flange portion of the flange body. The element(s) of the collar may include one or more retents configured to engage the lip. The element(s) may be configured to slide on a surface of the flange body as the collar rotates relative to the flange body.
The attachment mechanism may be a snap fit mechanism in which the plurality of retents on the collar engage with the lip of the flange body in a process in which the collar is attached to the flange. Preferably, the collar comprises one or more retention arms, each of the retent(s) being formed on a surface, e.g. an inwardly-facing surface, of a corresponding one of the retention arm(s). In an example, the attachment mechanism may be a snap fit mechanism which comprises one or more retents on the collar (e.g. on resilient retention arms extending axially from the collar) which, when the collar is connected to the flange body, engage with a lip of the flange body which extends radially from the neck portion. In one form, the lip is axially displaced from the flange portion, and the retent(s) enter a gap between the lip and a radially-extending flange portion of the flange body. As the collar rotates relative to the flange body, the retent(s) may slide on the exterior surface of the neck portion of the flange body and/or the retention arms may slide on the lip.
The collar is configured to be attached to an orifice portion of a waste toner tank by rotation of the collar, using rotational engagement between the screw thread of the collar and a screw thread provided on the orifice portion. This allows the collar to be securely connected to the orifice portion while the collar is also attached to the flange body, without requiring relative rotation of the waste toner tank and the waste toner collection bag.
Additionally, a waste toner collection bag connector mechanism is proposed for a waste toner collection bag having an aperture into the interior of the waste toner bag. The connector mechanism comprises a combination of a flange body and a collar. The flange body has a flange portion for connection to the waste toner collection bag around the periphery of the aperture, and a neck portion defining an axial toner flow passage into the interior of the waste toner collection bag. The collar has a surface including a screw thread. The collar is connected, or connectable, to the flange body via an attachment mechanism which allows the collar to rotate relative to the flange body. When the collar is connected to the flange body by the attachment mechanism, the attachment mechanism permits relative rotation of the flange body and the collar, to allow the collar to be attached to an orifice portion of a waste toner tank by rotational engagement between the screw thread of the collar and a screw thread provided on a surface of the orifice portion. This allows the waste toner collection bag to be securely connected to the orifice portion without requiring relative rotation of the waste toner tank and the waste toner collection bag, which can be inconvenient for a user to perform.
The attachment mechanism may be a snap fit mechanism which comprises a plurality of retents on the collar (e.g. on resilient retention arms extending axially from the collar) which engage with a lip of the flange body which extends radially from the neck portion. In one form, the lip is axially displaced from the flange portion, and the retents enter a gap between the lip and a flange portion of the flange body. As the collar rotates relative to the flange body, the retents may slide on the exterior surface of the neck portion of the flange body and/or the retention arms may slide on the lip.
Alternatively, either of the collar and flange body may be fabricated in a configuration in which it is already attached to the other of the collar and flange body; or the collar and flange may be fabricated together in a configuration in which they are connected. In either of these possibilities, the connection between the collar and flange body may be present as soon as both are in existence. In other words, the collar and flange body may be not connected to each other by a connection process performed after they are formed (e.g. by a snap fit mechanism); rather, they may be connected by the fabrication process of the collar or flange body. The attachment mechanism may comprise one or more elements of the collar and flange body which connect the collar to the flange body as soon as those element(s) are formed. In this case too, the collar may include retent(s) which are located in an axial gap between a radially-extending lip of the flange body and a radially-extending flange portion of the flange body. The flange body and/or collar be formed of rigid material, rather than resilient material, e.g. such that they can only be separated by breaking one of the flange body and/or collar. Once formed, the collar and the flange body may be mutually rotatable from the outset. Alternatively, the collar and flange body may be formed as a single body, which is subsequently partially partitioned (e.g. cut or torn), to separate the collar and flange body into respective integral components which, while still connected to each other, are mutually rotatable.
When the collar and orifice portion of the tank are sufficiently relatively rotated, the orifice portion is pressed against the neck portion of the flange body (or, in a version described below, in which a sealing element is provided on the neck portion, against a sealing surface of the sealing element). This provides a seal between the orifice portion of the tank and the connector mechanism, making it harder for toner to leak.
The engagement between the orifice portion and the collar urges the collar away from the flange portion of the flange body, and presses the retents of the collar against the lip. Possible rotation of the collar about the neck portion of the flange body is restricted or prevented due to friction between the lip of the neck portion and the retents of the collar.
Once toner has been transferred from the waste toner tank to the waste toner collection bag through the axial flow passage, the collar is rotated in the opposite direction, which unscrews the orifice portion from the collar of the connector, so that the connector mechanism can be separated from the waste toner tank.
The axial flow passage can now be sealed by screwing a plug into the collar. The plug has a screw thread (e.g. on an outwardly-facing surface) which engages the screw-thread on the collar, so that the plug is attached to the collar blocking the axial flow passage in the neck portion of the flange body.
When the plug and collar are sufficiently relatively rotated, the plug is pressed against the neck portion of the flange body, to provide a seal to stop toner leakage from the bag. The engagement between the plug and the collar urges the collar in the axial direction away from the flange portion of the flange body, and thereby presses the retent(s) of the collar against the lip. Possible rotation of the collar about the neck portion of the flange body is restricted or prevented due to friction between the lip of the neck portion and the retent(s) of the collar.
The screw thread on the collar may be provided on an inwardly-facing surface of the collar, for rotational engagement with the screw threads of the plug and the orifice portion being provided on an outwardly-facing surface of the plug or orifice portion.
Gripping elements, such as axially-extending ridges, may be provided on an external surface of the collar and/or plug, for assisting manual rotation of the collar and/or plug.
The connector may further comprise a sealing element. The sealing element is connected to the neck portion (e.g. inserted into the neck portion or provided surrounding the neck portion). If it is present, the orifice portion of the tank, or the plug, can be pressed by the rotational engagement of its screw thread with the screw thread of the connector, against a sealing surface of the sealing element, rather than against an end of the neck portion. This means that the dimensions of the orifice portion of the tank do not have to match the dimensions of the neck portion of the flange body. That is, the sealing element provides flexibility in the relative dimensions of (i) the neck portion of the flange body, and (ii) the orifice portion to which the neck portion is connected when transferring toner from the tank to the bag.

[Brief description of the drawings]

Figure 1 is an exploded view of a waste toner collection bag connector mechanism according to a first embodiment;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the waste toner collection bag connector mechanism according to the first embodiment from another direction;
Figure 3 is a cutaway view of the waste toner collection bag connector mechanism according to the first embodiment, defined by a plane including an axis shown in figure 2;
Figures 4A and 4B are perspective views of a combination of a waste toner collection bag and the first embodiment of the waste toner collection bag connector mechanism, respectively during and after manufacture;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a waste toner tank attached to the combination of a waste toner collection bag and the first embodiment of the waste toner collection bag connector mechanism;
Figure 6 is a cutaway view of part of the waste toner tank of figure 5 and part of the combination of a waste toner collection bag and the first embodiment of the waste toner collection bag connector mechanism;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a combination of the waste toner collection bag connector mechanism according to the first embodiment and a plug;
Figure 8 is a cutaway view of the plug of figure 7 attached to the waste toner collection bag connector mechanism of the first embodiment in a plane including the axis shown in figure 7;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a sealing element of a second embodiment of the waste toner collection bag connector mechanism;
Figure 10 is a cutaway view of a combination of the waste toner collection bag connector mechanism according to the second embodiment and a waste toner tank;
Figure 11 is a cutaway view of a combination of the waste toner collection bag connector mechanism according to the second embodiment and a plug;
Figure 12 is a perspective view of a sealing element of a third embodiment of the waste toner collection bag connector mechanism;
Figure 13 is a cutaway view of a combination of the waste toner collection bag connector mechanism according to the third embodiment and a waste toner tank;
Figure 14 is a cutaway view of a combination of the waste toner collection bag connector mechanism according to the third embodiment and a plug; and
Figure 15 is a cutaway view of a further embodiment of a waste toner collection bag connector mechanism which includes both the sealing elements of Figures 9 and 12, in combination with a waste toner tank.

When the same element is shown in multiple ones of the figures, it is given the same reference numeral in each figure.

[Detailed description]

A connector mechanism 100 suitable for attachment to a waste toner collection bag will now be described with reference to figures 1, 2 and 3. The connector mechanism 100 is made of two parts: a flange body 1 and a collar 3. The flange body 1 and collar 3 can each be made of any suitable material, such as a plastics material (that is "plastic"), particularly injection-molded plastic, or, in principle, another material such as a metal.
As seen in figures 1 to 3, the flange body 1 has two portions. A first portion of the flange body is a neck portion 11. The neck portion 11 is tubular, and a line in the tube defines an axis 2 of the flange body 1. The neck portion 11 may include a generally cylindrical wall (that is, the wall may have translational symmetry in the direction parallel to the axis 2), and in particular it may be generally circular-cylindrical. That is, it appears generally circular in any cross-section transverse to the axis 2; in other words, it has rotational symmetry about the axis 2.
A second portion of the flange body 1 is an annular flange portion 13 extending radially outwardly from the neck portion 11 (that is, away from the axis 2, and in a direction transverse to the axis 2). The flange portion 13 may be substantially planar, and its outer periphery may be circular. It may extend radially from a first end portion of the neck portion 11; that is, a portion of the neck portion 11 which is furthermost along the axis 2 in one axial direction.
The (e.g. circular) surface 17 of the neck portion 11 furthest from the flange portion 13 may be transverse to the axis 2. A lip 15 extends radially outwardly from the neck portion 11. The lip 15 may extend from a second end portion of the neck portion 11 which is opposite from the first end portion along the axis. Thus, the flange portion 13 and the lip 15 are axially spaced apart from one another, with an exterior surface of the neck portion 11 lying between them. The lip 15 is illustrated as extending continuously around the axis 2. However, in variants there may be one or more gaps in the lip 15, e.g. the lip 15 may be made up of multiple circumferentially-spaced lip portions.
The collar 3 includes an annular end wall 31, encircling an opening at a center of the end wall 31. In use, and as shown in figures 1-3, a plane of the end wall 31 is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the axis 2 of the flange body 1, with the axis 2 passing through the center of the opening in the end wall 31. In the rest of the description of figures 1-3, it will be assumed that the flange body 1 and connector 3 are positioned such that the axis 2 of the flange body 1 passes through the center of the central opening of the end wall 31.
An outer skirt 33 and inner skirt 35 extend from the end wall 31 transverse to the plane of the end wall 31, i.e. in a direction which in use is parallel to the axis 2 of the flange body 1.
Each of the outer skirt 33 and the inner skirt 35 may be generally circular-cylindrical. Axially-extending ridges 34 may be provided on an outwardly-facing surface of the outer skirt 33, to assist a user in rotating the collar 3 with respect to the flange body 1 about the axis 2.
A screw thread 37 is provided on an inwardly-facing surface of the inner skirt 35. The axis 2 is coincident with the axis of the (helical) screw-thread 37. A number of circumferentially-spaced slots 36 are formed in the portion of the inner skirt 35 which is furthermost from the end wall 31, thereby dividing the portion of the inner skirt 35 which is furthermost from the end wall 31 into a plurality of retention arms 38. An inwardly-projecting retent 39 is defined on each of the retention arms 38, e.g. at an end of the retention arm 38 furthermost from the end wall 31.
The retaining arms 38, the retents 39, and the lip 15 collectively provide a snap-fit mechanism for connecting the collar 3 to the flange body 1. This is most easily visible in figure 3. The retaining arms are resilient. As the collar 3 is brought close to the flange body 1, the neck portion 11 of the flange body 1 is inserted into an aperture encircled by the inner wall 35 and having the retents 39 on its circumference. The outer diameter of the lip (i.e. its extent transverse to the axis 2) is greater than the diameter of the aperture (e.g. a distance from each retent 39 to an opposed retent 39 on the other side of the axis 2), so that the ends of the retention arms 38 engage the lip 15 of the flange body 1. The engagement between the ends of the retention arms 38 and the lip 15 urges the retention arms 38 outwardly. The retention arms 38 flex radially outwardly, allowing the retents 39 to pass over the lip 15 of the flange body 1. Once the retents 39 have passed the lip 15 of the flange body 1, resilience in the retention arms 38 causes the retention arms 38 to "snap" back into a configuration in which they extend axially. This results in each retent 39 being on a respective axial line (that is, a line parallel to the axis 2) between the lip 15 and the flange portion 13 of the flange body 1. Each of the retents 39 may, in this configuration, be lightly pressed by the resilience of the corresponding retention arm 38 against the outwardly-facing surface of the neck portion 11 of the flange body 1 (in a variant, the retents 39 may extend a shorter distance from the corresponding retention arms 38, such that retents are not pressed against the outwardly-facing surface of the neck portion of the flange body; resilience of each retention arm 38 may lightly press the inwardly-facing surface of the retention arm 38 against the lip 15, but the retents 39 do not extend far enough radially inwardly to contact the outwardly-facing surface of the neck portion 11).
The resilience of the retention arms 38 opposes outward movement of the corresponding retents 39, which would allow them to ride over the lip 15. If the collar 3 is urged in the axial direction away from the flange body 1, the retents 39 collide with the lip 15. Thus, interaction between the retents 39 and the lip 15 prevents the collar 3 from being easily pulled off of the flange body 1, e.g. by an axial force on one of the flange body 1 and the collar 3. The retents 39 and the lip 15 may be shaped so that engagement of the retents 39 and the lip 15 does not produce a force urging the retents 39 outwardly. For example, the retents 39 and the lip 15 may have substantially planar opposed respective engagement surfaces transverse to the axis 2, which are brought into abutment against each other by an axial force urging the collar 3 away from the flange body 1. This axial force urges the retents 39 against the lip 15, but does not produce an outward force on the retents 39.
The axial space between the lip 15 of the flange body 1 and the flange portion 13 is greater than the axial extent of the retents 39. Thus, when there is no axial force urging the collar 3 away from the flange portion 13 of the flange body 1, the collar 3 can be positioned in any of a range of axial positions relative to the flange body 1. Furthermore, the collar 1 can rotate easily around the exterior surface of the neck portion 11 of the flange body 1. During this motion, as noted, the retents 39 may slide on the cylindrical outwardly-facing surface of the neck portion 11 of the flange body 1 (in the variant with shorter retents 39 mentioned above, the inwardly facing surface of the retention arm 38 may slide on the lip 15).
As seen in figures 1 to 3, the flange body 1 and collar 3 are both one-piece units. Thus, the retention arms 38 are integral with the collar 3, while the lip 15 and flange portion 13 are integral with the neck 11 of the flange body 1, e.g. formed by a continuous body of a plastics material formed in a single molding operation. Although plastic is a suitable resilient material for producing the collar 3, or at least the resilient arms 38, any other material that provides suitable resilience to the retention arms 38 can be used instead. In variants, the flange body 1 and collar 3 may each be formed from multiple subelements joined together.
The snap fit mechanism is not limited to the form described above, and in other embodiments other attachment mechanisms are used to connect the collar 3 and the flange body 1 to each other, while allowing the collar 3 to rotate around the flange body 1 after the collar 3 is connected to the flange body 1.
For example, one of the flange body 1 and the collar 3 may be formed (e.g. by additive manufacturing (3-D printing)) around the other, when the other is in existence, or the flange body 1 and the collar 3 may be formed together (e.g. by additive manufacturing). In either case, as soon as the collar 3 and flange body 1 both exist, they may be connected. The collar 3 may be formed of rigid material, such that the retention arms 38 are not resilient, and the collar 3 can only be separated from the flange body 1 by breaking the collar 3 or the flange body 1.
Turning to Fig. 4A, a combination is shown of the flange body 1 described above and a waste toner collection bag 400 during an assembly process. At the time depicted, the waste toner collection bag 400 includes four side walls 41, 42, 43, 44. The side walls 41, 42, 43, 44 may be formed from one or more sheets of material (e.g. a plastics material). The sheet(s) may be joined (e.g. by a heat and/or pressure treatment) at seam lines 48 to form a tube, and at seam line 49 to close an end 46 of the tube. The side walls 41, 42, 43, 44 may be either flexible or rigid.
The side wall 41 includes an aperture, e.g. a circular aperture, with a diameter smaller than the flange portion 13 of the flange body 1. The flange body 1 is positioned with respect to the side wall 41, with the toner flow passage of the neck portion 11 of the flange body 1 in register with the aperture in the side wall 41, so that the toner flow passage through the neck portion 11 leads to the interior of the bag 400. The flange portion 13 is sealed (e.g. by a heat and/or pressure treatment such as heat welding) to the side wall 41 around the periphery of the aperture.
For example, the flange body 1 may be inserted into the bag 400, and the neck portion 11 of the flange body 1 may be threaded through the aperture in the side wall 43, until the flange portion 13 lies against the "inner" face of the side wall 41 which faces into the interior of the bag 400. As a result, the flange portion 13 of the flange body 1 is located within the bag 400, while the lip 15 of the flange body 1 is located outside of the bag. The flange portion 13 may then be sealed to the side wall 41 around the periphery of the aperture.
The "upper" end 45 of the bag 400 is then sealed by joining the side walls 41, 42, 43, 44, e.g. at a seal line 47. Before or after this, the collar 3 is attached to the flange body 1 using the snap fit mechanism, as shown in figure 4B. Thus, figure 4B shows a combination of the waste toner collection bag 400 and the connector mechanism 100 of figures 1-3 at the end of the assembly process.
In a variation which is not shown in Fig. 4A, the flange body 1 may be positioned on the exterior of the bag, with the flange portion 13 against the "outer" face of the side wall 41 which faces away from the interior of the bag 400, and the neck portion 3 projecting away from the bag 400. The flange portion 13 may then be sealed to outer face of the side wall 41. In this case, the upper end 45 of the waste toner collection bag may optionally be sealed before the flange body 1 is attached to the side wall 41.
In either case, due to respective central openings in the neck portion 11 of the flange body 1 and the collar 3, a toner flow passage exists through the connector 100, and into the interior of the bag 400. This provides a conduit for toner material.
Turning now to figures 5 and 6, the operation of removing waste toner from a waste toner tank 500 will now be described.
As shown in figure 5, the waste toner tank 500 has tank portion 52 for storing waste toner. It may include an interface portion 53 for cooperating with a corresponding interface portion of an image forming apparatus, and for receiving waste toner from the image forming apparatus through openings (not shown) in the interface portion 53 which lead into the tank portion 52.
The waste toner tank 500 also includes a waste toner outlet orifice portion 51 for connection to the connector mechanism 100 when it is attached to the waste toner collection bag 400. The orifice portion 51 is tubular, e.g. generally cylindrical and defining a central opening. When the orifice portion is connected to the connector mechanism 100, the central opening of the orifice portion 51 is in communication with the axial toner passage of the neck portion 11, leading into the interior of the bag 100. The axis 2 of the screw thread 37 may then pass through a center of the orifice portion 51.
Figure 6 is a cutaway view, in a plane including the axis 2, of a part of a combination of the waste toner tank 500, the connector mechanism 100 and the waste toner collection bag 400. The flange portion 13 of the flange body 11 is sealed to the inner surface of the wall 41 in an annular region 61 encircling the axis 2 of the flange body 1.
As shown in Fig. 6, the orifice portion 51 includes a wall 54 defining a tube, the interior of the tube being an opening of the orifice portion 51 which defines an outlet of the waste toner tank 500. A screw thread 55 is provided on the exterior surface of the wall 54. The screw thread 55 is dimensioned to cooperate with the screw thread 37 on the inner skirt 35 of the collar 3 when the two screw threads 37, 55 are in axial register (i.e. at overlapping positions along the axis 2) and they are rotated relative to each other.
The process of emptying waste toner from the waste toner tank 500 may be as follows. Initially, the orifice portion 51 of the waste toner tank may be covered by a cap (not shown), e.g. one with a screw thread which engages the screw thread 55. The waste toner tank 500 is oriented such that its end furthest from the orifice portion 51 is lower than the orifice portion 51, so the waste toner in the waste toner tank 500 flows away from the orifice portion 51. The cap is then removed. The orifice portion 51 is inserted into the central opening of the collar 3, with the central passage of the orifice portion 51 in register with the axis 2. Respective axes defined by the screw threads 37 and 35 coincide with the axis 2.
The collar 3 is rotated about the axis 2, without the orifice portion 51 or the flange body 1 being rotated. This causes the screw threads 37, 55 to engage with each other to an increasing extent. As this rotation continues, the orifice portion 51 is drawn towards the neck portion 11 of the flange body 1 and/or the collar 3 is drawn away from the flange portion 13 of the flange body 1. Eventually, an (e.g. circular) end surface 56 of the orifice portion 51 contacts the (e.g. circular) end surface 17 of the neck portion 11 of flange body 1. Further rotation of the collar 3 causes the screw threads 37, 55 to develop an axial force on the collar 3 which urges the collar 3 in the direction away from the flange portion 13 of the flange body 1. As this process continues, the retents 39 are drawn towards the lip 15, and then pressed against it. As described above, this inhibits rotational motion of the collar 17, causing the connection between the collar 3 and the flange body 1 to be firm, and the end surface 56 of the outlet portion 51 to be pressed against the end surface 17 of the neck portion 11. There is substantially no gap between the end surfaces 17, 56 (e.g. they are both substantially planar), so a seal is created between them, and substantially no toner can escape between them. Even if any toner escapes between the end surfaces 17, 56, it is inhibited by the screw threads 37, 55 from escaping from the collar in the direction away from the flange body, and by the interaction of the lip 15 and the collar 3 from escaping from the collar 3 in the direction towards the flange body 1.
The waste toner tank 500 and the bag 400 are then tipped together (e.g. in a clockwise motion in Fig. 5) to make the outlet portion 51 of the tank 500 lower than the opposite end of the tank 500. This pours toner in the tank portion 52 into the bag 400. Thus, the waste toner can be transferred safely from the tank portion 52 into the bag 400. This is achieved without rotation of the waste toner tank 500 (which may be bulky or heavy), and without rotation of the waste toner collection bag 400. This is advantageous because the waste toner tank 500 may be bulky and heavy. The bag 400 too may be heavy to rotate when it is full. Furthermore, it may be damaged (e.g. torn) in this process, e.g. because it puts a mechanical strain on the seal between the flange portion 13 of the flange body 1 and the bag 400.
When the toner has been transferred to the bag 400, the collar 3 (or possibly the now empty waste toner tank 500) is rotated in the opposite direction relative to the flange body 1, to undo the screw thread connection between the waste toner tank 500 and the collar 3. At this time, the aperture in the side wall 41 of the bag 400 is above the level of the toner in the bag 400, so toner cannot escape.
After this, a plug 700 can be connected to the connector mechanism 100, as shown in figures 7-8, to seal the toner flow passage provided by the connector mechanism 100. For simplicity, figures 7-8 omit the bag 400. The plug 700 includes a (e.g. generally circular-cylindrical) wall 71 having a screw thread 73 on its outer surface. At one axial end of the wall 71, a wall 75 may be provided extending, in a plane transverse to a central axis of the wall 71, to an outer skirt 76, which is another (e.g. generally circular-cylindrical) axially extending wall. A plurality of ridges 77 may be formed on the exterior surface of the outer skirt 76, to make it easier to rotate the plug 700.
In contrast to the flange body 1 and collar 3 which are annular, the plug 700 comprises a wall surface 78 for closing the toner flow passage in the connector mechanism 100.
The screw thread 73 is dimensioned for rotational engagement with the screw thread 37 of the collar 3. The plug 700 is inserted into the collar 3, and either one of the plug 700 and the collar 3 is rotated to engage the screw thread 37 on the inner wall of the collar 3 with the screw thread 73 on the outer surface of the wall 71 of the plug 700. Because the collar 3 can rotate relative to the flange body 1, rotation (if any) of the collar 3 does not require rotation of the bag 400.
The dimensions of the plug 700 are such that when the plug 700 is inserted into the collar 3, and the wall surface 78 lies against the end surface 17 of the flange body 1, the screw thread 73 of the plug 700 is in axial register with (i.e. at an overlapping position along the axis 2 with) the axial position which the screw thread 37 of the collar 3 has when the lip 15 of the flange body 1 is pressed against the retents 39.
As the plug 700 is screwed into the collar 3 (by relative rotation between them), the wall 78 contacts the end surface 17 of the flange body 1. The plug 700 can move no further relative to the flange body 1. Thus, further relative rotation of the plug 700 and collar 3, urges the collar 3 in the axial direction away from the flange portion 15 of the flange body 1. Eventually, this presses the retents 39 of the collar 3 against the lip 15 of the flange body 1. Further rotation of the plug 700 relative to the collar 3 tightens the retents 3 against the lip 15, so that relative motion of the collar 3 and the flange 1 is strongly inhibited, and also presses the wall 78 against the end surface 17 of the neck portion 11 of the flange body 1, forming a tight seal between them. Thus, toner cannot leak from the bag 400.
In the first embodiment of the connector mechanism 100, described with reference to figures 1-8, the neck portion 11 has a diameter roughly equal to that of the orifice portion 51, so that, as shown in figure 6, the surface 56 is at the same distance from the axis 2 as the end surface 17 of the neck portion 11, such that a seal can be formed between them.
In some cases, though, it may be desirable to use an already existing flange body as part of the connector mechanism, and if so the size of the neck portion 11 may not match that of the orifice portion 51. However, if the neck portion 11 of the flange body 1 is narrower than the orifice portion 51, then when the orifice portion 51 is inserted into the connector mechanism 100, there may be a radial gap between the orifice portion 51 and the neck portion 11, resulting in potential leakage of toner particles through the gap.
To resolve this issue, further embodiments of the connector mechanism include an additional sealing element. Specifically, figure 9 shows a sealing element 850 which is included in a second embodiment of the connector mechanism 800. The sealing element 850 includes a tubular wall 851, e.g. a generally circular-cylindrical tube, having an internal diameter (measured transverse to an axis of the tube) which is greater than the diameter of the neck portion 11 of the flange body 1.
In figure 10, the flange body of the second embodiment of the collector mechanism 800 is denoted 801 and the collar is denoted 803. Elements of the second embodiment 800 which correspond to elements of the first embodiment 100 shown in figures 1-3 are denoted by reference numerals which are 800 higher. The flange body 801 includes an annular flange portion 813 which is sealed to a waste toner collection bag (not shown). This may be done in the same manner as the first embodiment of the connector mechanism, as described above with reference to figures 4A and 4B. The flange portion 813 projects radially outwardly from one end portion of a neck portion 811 of the flange body 801. The neck portion 811 may be threaded through an aperture in the bag. The neck portion 811 defines a toner flow passage into the interior of the bag. The neck portion 811 of the flange body 801 includes, compared to the neck portion 11 of the first embodiment, an additional skirt portion 820 which is a wall encircling the axis 802 of the flange body 801 and projecting away from the flange portion 813 and the bag (not shown). The skirt portion 820 is threaded through the sealing element 850. A screw thread 823 is formed on the outwardly-facing surface of the skirt portion 820 for engaging a screw thread 852 on the inwardly-facing surface of the sealing element 850, and fixing the sealing element 850 to the skirt portion 820. Note that in a variant, the engagement between the sealing element 850 and the skirt portion 820 may be different, such as a friction fitting.
The collar 803 has a similar form to the collar 3 of the first embodiment. Like the collar 3, the collar 803 has an inner skirt 835 positioned to encircle the axis 802 with a central axis of the inner skirt 835 coinciding with the axis 802 of the flange body 803. Retents 839 extend inwardly from corresponding resilient retention arms 838 defined by slots 836 in the inner skirt 835, and provide a snap-fit attachment mechanism by riding over a lip 815 projecting outwardly from the neck portion 811. In the connector mechanism 800, when the collar 803 is initially attached by the snap-fit mechanism to the flange body 803 the retents 839 enter an axial gap 821 between the lip 815 and another flange 824 projecting outwardly from the neck portion 811 of the flange body 801. While the retents 839 are in the axial gap 821 between the lip 815 and the flange 824, the collar 803 can rotate about the axis 802, e.g. with the retents 839 sliding on a cylindrical portion of the outer surface of the neck portion 811.
Figure 10 shows the orifice portion 51 of a waste toner tank 500 shown in Figures 5 and 6 connected to the connector mechanism 800. The orifice portion 51 (shown in figure 6) can be screwed into the collar 803 by relative rotation of the orifice portion 51 and the collar 803 (in particular, by rotation of the collar 803 around the orifice portion), to cause rotational engagement between the screw thread 55 projecting outwardly from the neck 54 of the orifice portion 51 with a screw thread 837 projecting inwardly from the inner skirt 835 of the collar 803. As the orifice portion 51 is screwed in, the circular end surface 56 of the orifice portion 51 comes to abut an end surface 857 of the sealing element 850 and/or an end surface 817 of the neck portion 811, depending upon the distances of the inner and outer circular edges of the circular end surface 56 of the orifice portion from the axis 802. Thus, if the circular end surface 56 has substantially the same diameter and radial extent as the end surface 857 (as illustrated), the circular end surface 56 comes to abut the end surface 857. If the circular end surface 56 has substantially the same diameter and radial extent as the end surface 817, it comes to abut that end surface (as illustrated). If the inner circular edge of the circular end surface 56 has a smaller radius than the outer circular edge of the end surface 817, and the outer circular edge of the circular end 56 has a larger radius than the inner circular edge of the end surface 857, and if the end surfaces 817, 857 are in axial register, i.e. at the same position along the axis 802, then the circular end surface 56 may come to abut both of them; alternatively, if one of the end surfaces 817, 857 is further from the flange portion 813 of the flange body 801 than the other, then the end surface 56 of the orifice portion 51 would come to abut that end surface only.
Further rotation of the collar 803 relative to the orifice portion 51 urges the collar 803 in the axial direction away from the flange portion 813 of the flange body 801. Eventually, rotation of the collar 803 forces the retents 839 against the lip 815, and tightens the end surface 56 against the end surfaces 817 and/or 857. Frictional resistance between the retents 839 and the lip 815 then inhibits the collar 803 from rotating relative to the flange body 801 about the axis 802, and the engagement of the end surface 56 with the end surface 817 and/or 857, provides a seal which prevents toner in the waste collector bag (not shown) or the waste toner tank 500 from leaking out, by toner passing along the toner passage at the center of the neck portion 811 of the flange body 801 (i.e. in the upward direction as shown in Fig. 10). Thus, a reliable seal is provided between the orifice portion 51 of the waste toner tank 500 and the connector mechanism 800 irrespective of whether the orifice portion has the same diameter as the end surface 817 of the neck portion 811, or the same diameter as the end surface 857 of the sealing element 850, or a diameter such that it is partially in radial register with both of them. Thus, the sealing element 850 has, in effect, increased the effective diameter of the neck portion 811 of the sealing body 801, and made the connector mechanism 800 suitable for waste toner tanks 800 having a wider orifice portion 51.
Although figure 10 shows the orifice portion 51 of the waste toner tank being connected to the connector mechanism 800, it is to be understood that the connector mechanism 800 could also be connected to the plug 700 of figures 7 and 8 in the same way. As shown in figure 11, a plug 700 identical to the one described above with reference to figures 7 and 8, can be screwed into the collar 803 by relative rotation of the plug 700 and the collar 803, to cause rotational engagement between the screw thread 73 projecting outwardly from the plug 700 with a screw thread 837 projecting inwardly from the inner skirt 835 of the collar 803. As the plug is screwed in, the end wall 78 of the plug 700 comes to abut an end surface 857 of the sealing element 850 and an end surface 817 of the neck portion 811. This is provided that the end surfaces 817, 857 are in axial register, i.e. at the same position along the axis 802. Note that if one of the end surfaces 817, 857 is further from the flange portion 813 of the flange body 801 than the other, then the end wall 78 of the plug 700 would come to abut that end surface only.
Further rotation of the plug 700 relative to the collar 803 urges the collar 803 in the axial direction away from the flange portion 813 of the flange body 801. Eventually, rotation of the plug 700 forces the retents 839 against the lip 815, and tightens the end wall 78 against the end surfaces 817 and/or 857. Frictional resistance between the retents 839 and the lip 815 then inhibits the collar 803 from rotating relative to the flange body 801 about the axis 802, and the engagement of the end wall 78 with the end surfaces 817 and/or 857, provides a seal which prevents toner in the waste collector bag (not shown) from leaking out, by toner passing along the toner passage at the center of the neck portion 811 of the flange body 801 (i.e. in the upward direction as shown in Fig. 11).
Figures 12, 13 and 14 illustrate a third embodiment of the connector mechanism 900. This comprises a flange body 801 and collar 803 identical to those of the second embodiment 800 described above. As in the second embodiment of the collar mechanism 800, the flange body 801 includes an annular flange portion 813 sealed to a waste toner collection bag (not shown) in the same manner as the first embodiment of the connector mechanism 100, as described above in relation to figures 4A and 4B. The flange portion 813 projects radially outwardly from one end portion of a neck portion 811 of the flange body 801. The neck portion 811 may be threaded through an aperture in the bag. The neck portion 811 defines a toner flow passage into the interior of the bag. However, the sealing element 950 of the third embodiment of the connector mechanism 900 is different from in the sealing element 850 of the connector mechanism 800 in the second embodiment. The sealing element 950 is shown in Figure 12.
The sealing element 950 includes a planar annular ring 955 having a central opening. A generally-cylindrical skirt 951 ("insertion portion") projects from an inner rim of the ring 955 transversely to the plane of the ring 955. Thus the annular ring 955 can be regarded as a radially outwardly extending lip provided at one end of the skirt 951. A plurality of slots 952 are defined in the skirt 951 extending transverse to the plane of the ring 955, and divide the skirt 951 (or at least a portion of the skirt 951 which is furthest from the ring 955) into a plurality of resilient fingers. One or more ridges 953 may be provided on the exterior surface of the skirt 951.
The connector mechanism 900 is formed by inserting the skirt 951 of the sealing element 950 into the neck portion 811 of the flange body 801, so that the center of the annular ring 955 lies on the axis 802 of the flange body 801. The skirt 951 may have an external diameter which is substantially the same as the inner surface of the neck portion 811. To accommodate the ridges 953, the resilient fingers may be slightly flexed radially inwardly during the insertion. Due to their resilience, the fingers press outwardly on the inner surface of the neck 811 of the flange body 801, and hold the sealing element 950 firmly in the neck portion 811. Toner cannot leak between the inner surface of the neck portion 811 and the outer surface of the sealing element 950.
As shown in figure 13 the orifice portion 51 of a waste toner tank 500 shown in Figures 5 and 6 can be can be screwed into the collar 803 of the connector mechanism 900 by relative rotation of the orifice portion 51 and the collar 803, to cause rotational engagement between the screw thread 55 projecting outwardly from the neck 54 of the orifice portion 51 with the screw thread 837 projecting inwardly from the inner skirt 835 of the collar 803. As the collar 803 is screwed, the circular end surface 56 of the orifice portion 51 comes to abut a planar, annular end surface 957 of the ring 955 of the sealing element 950. Further rotation of the orifice portion 51 relative to the collar 803 urges the collar 803 in the axial direction away from the flange portion 813 of the flange body 801. Eventually, rotation of the collar 803 forces the retents 839 against the lip 815, and tightens the circular end surface 56 against the end surface 957 of the sealing element 950. Frictional resistance between the retents 839 and the lip 815 then inhibits the collar 803 from rotating relative to the flange body 801 about the axis 802, and the engagement of the circular end surface 56 with the end surface 957 of the sealing element 950 provides a seal which prevents toner in the waste collector bag (not shown) from leaking out. Thus, a reliable seal is provided between the orifice portion 51 of the waste toner tank 500 and the connector mechanism 900 irrespective of whether the orifice portion has the same diameter as the end surface 817 of the neck portion 811. Thus, the sealing element 950 has, in effect, increased the effective diameter of the neck portion 811 of the sealing body 801, and made the connector mechanism 800 suitable for waste toner tanks 500 having a wider orifice portion 51.
As shown in Figure 14, a plug 700 identical to the one described above with reference to figures 7 and 8, can be screwed into the collar 803 of the connector mechanism 900 by relative rotation of the plug 700 and the collar 803, to cause rotational engagement between the screw thread 73 projecting outwardly from the plug 700 with the screw thread 837 projecting inwardly from the inner skirt 835 of the collar 803. As the plug 700 is screwed in, the end wall 78 of the plug 700 comes to abut a planar, annular end surface 957 of the ring 955 of the sealing element 950. Further rotation of the plug 700 relative to the collar 803 urges the collar 803 in the axial direction away from the flange portion 813 of the flange body 801. Eventually, rotation of the plug 700 forces the retents 839 against the lip 815, and tightens the end wall 78 against the end surface 957 of the sealing element 950. Frictional resistance between the retents 839 and the lip 815 then inhibits the collar 803 from rotating relative to the flange body 801 about the axis 802, and the engagement of the end wall 78 with the end surface 957 of the sealing element 950 provides a seal which prevents toner in the waste collector bag (not shown) from leaking out.
The sealing element 850, 950 in either of the connector mechanisms 800, 900 can be made of plastic, metal or any other suitable material.
All of the first, second and third embodiments of the connector mechanism, 100, 800, 900 provide a mechanism for connecting a waste toner bag 400 to a waste toner tank 500, for transfer of waste toner from the tank 500 to the bag 400, without requiring relative rotation of the bag 400 and the tank 500. In all three cases, rotation of the collar 3, 803 forms a secure seal between the orifice portion 51 of the tank 500 and the connector mechanism 100, 800, 900, i.e. either between the orifice portion 51 and the neck portion 11, 811 of the flange body 1, 801, or between the orifice portion 51 and the sealing element 850, 950. Once the toner has been transferred from the tank 500 to the bag 400, rotation of the collar 3, 803 in the opposite direction allows the tank 500 to be disengaged from the bag 400. The plug 700 can then be connected to the connector mechanism 100, 800, 900, with the end wall 78 of the plug 700 blocking the flow passage of the toner, and with a secure seal formed between the end wall 78 of the plug 700 and an end surface 17, 817, 857, 957 of the flange body 1, 801 and/or the sealing element 850, 950.
Figure 15 shows a configuration in which the connection mechanism includes both the sealing element 850 of the second embodiment and the sealing element 950 of the third configuration. The connection mechanism is depicted attached to the orifice portion 51 of waste toner tank 500. The presence of the sealing element 850 of the second embodiment is optional, since the sealing element 950 of the third embodiment can provide a seal without the sealing element 850 of the second embodiment.
As a result of the invention, there is no need to replace waste toner tanks every time they are full, resulting in significant reductions in cost and environmental impact of image processing apparatuses. Additionally, it is harder for waste toner particles to become airborne, reducing any mess resulting from emptying the waste toner.
While the above example has been given for use of the connector mechanism with a waste toner collection bag, it is not limited to this use. A similar connector could be used for any scenario when transferring liquids and powders from one container to another. However, the described application of the connector mechanism is particularly appropriate, in view of the toxicity of toner particles, and the inconvenience of mutually rotating a waste toner tank (which may involve removing it from a printer device) and a waste toner collection bag.

Claims

A collar for a connector mechanism for a waste toner collection bag having an aperture into the interior of the waste toner bag, wherein the waste toner bag is provided with a flange body comprising:
a neck portion defining an axial toner flow passage,

a flange portion extending radially from the neck portion and sealed around the periphery of the aperture in the toner collection bag,

an attachment element on the neck portion,
the collar comprising:
a surface including a screw thread, whereby the collar is configured to be attached to an orifice portion of a waste toner tank by rotation of the collar, using rotational engagement between the screw thread of the collar and a screw thread provided on the orifice portion, and

one or more elements of the collar configured to engage with the attachment element on the neck portion, whereby
the collar is connectable to the flange body via an attachment mechanism including the one or more elements of the collar and the attachment element of the flange body, the attachment mechanism permitting relative rotation of the flange body and the collar.
The collar of claim 1, in which
the attachment element comprises a lip extending radially from the neck portion of the flange body and axially spaced from the flange portion of the flange body,

the one or more elements of the collar are one or more retents on the collar, and

the attachment mechanism is a snap fit mechanism in which the one or more retents on the collar engage with the lip of the flange body, and

wherein optionally there are a plurality of said retents,

and preferably the collar comprises a plurality of retention arms, each of the retents being formed on a surface of a corresponding one of the retention arms.
A connector mechanism for a waste toner collection bag having an aperture into the interior of the waste toner bag, the connector mechanism comprising:
a flange body and a collar,

wherein the flange body comprises:
a neck portion defining an axial toner flow passage,

a flange portion extending radially from the neck portion and sealable around the periphery of the aperture in the toner collection bag, the collar having a surface including a screw thread, and

the collar being connected, or connectable, to the flange body via an attachment mechanism,

wherein, when the collar is connected to the flange body by the attachment mechanism, the attachment mechanism permits relative rotation of the flange body and the collar, to allow the collar to be attached to an orifice portion of a waste toner tank by rotation of the collar, using rotational engagement between the screw thread of the collar and a screw thread provided on the orifice portion.
A connector according to claim 3, in which the screw thread on the collar is provided on an inward-facing surface of the collar, for rotational engagement with a screw thread of the orifice portion of the waste toner tank provided on an outward-facing surface of the orifice portion.
A connector according to claim 3 or 4 in which the attachment mechanism comprises one or more retents on the collar configured to engage a lip of the flange body which extends radially from the neck portion, the lip being axially spaced from the flange portion of the flange body.
The connector mechanism of claim 5, wherein, when the collar is connected to the flange body by the attachment mechanism, the one or more retents of the collar are located in an axial space defined by the flange body between the lip and the flange portion, the axial space being longer than the axial extent of the one or more retents on the collar.
The connector mechanism of claim 5 or 6, wherein the attachment mechanism is a snap fit mechanism, and the snap fit mechanism comprises one or more retention arms, each of the one or more retents being formed on a surface of a corresponding one of the one or more retention arms.
The connector mechanism of claim 7, wherein
for the one or more retents to engage the lip of the flange body, the retention arms deform to allow the one or more retents to pass over the lip, after which resilience of the arms urges the one or more retents radially inward to a position between the lip and the flange portion of the flange body.
The connector mechanism of any of claims 3 to 8, further comprising a sealing element configured to be fitted at the end of the neck portion distal from the flange portion, the sealing element providing a sealing surface against which the orifice portion of the waste toner tank is pressed by rotational engagement between the screw thread of the collar and the screw thread of the orifice portion.
The connector mechanism of claim 9, wherein the sealing element is tubular with an internal diameter larger than the neck portion of the flange body, and is positioned around the neck portion of the flange body, or
wherein the sealing element has an insertion portion inserted into toner flow passage of the neck portion of the flange body, and a sealing element lip extending radially outwardly from one end portion of the sealing insertion portion, the sealing surface of the sealing element being a surface of the sealing element lip facing away from the insertion portion.
A combination of a waste toner collection bag having an aperture, and the connector mechanism of any one of claims 3 to 10,
the flange portion of the flange body being sealed to the waste toner collection bag around the periphery of the aperture, the neck portion of the flange body extending away from the bag, and the axial flow passage of the neck portion opening into the interior of the toner collection bag.
The combination of claim 11, further comprising a plug comprising a screw thread, the plug being rotationally engaged with the screw thread of the collar to block the axial flow passage.
A combination of a waste toner tank and the connector mechanism of any one of claims 3 to 8, the waste toner tank comprising an orifice portion with a screw thread that cooperates with the screw thread of the collar, so that the orifice can be screwed into the connector to a position in which an end surface of the orifice is pressed against an end surface of the neck, and engagement between the orifice and the connector presses the one or more retents of the collar against the lip.
A combination of a waste toner tank and the connector mechanism of any one of claims 9 or 10, the waste toner tank comprising an orifice portion with a screw thread that cooperates with the screw thread of the collar, so that the orifice can be screwed into the connector to a position in which an end surface of the orifice is pressed against an end surface of the sealing element, and engagement between the orifice and the connector presses the one or more retents of the collar against the lip.
A method of removing waste toner from a waste toner tank, the method employing a waste toner collection bag having an aperture, and a connector mechanism sealed to the waste toner collection bag, the connector mechanism comprising:
a flange body and a collar,

wherein the flange body comprises:
a neck portion defining an axial toner flow passage,

a flange portion extending radially from the neck portion and sealed to the waste toner collection bag around the periphery of the aperture in the waste toner collection bag,

the collar having a surface including a screw thread, and the collar being connected to the flange body via an attachment mechanism,

the method comprising:
rotating the collar relative to the flange body and to an orifice portion of the tank, to attach the connector mechanism to the orifice portion of the tank using rotational engagement between the screw thread of the collar and a screw thread provided on the orifice portion;

causing waste toner to pass from the tank to the bag through the toner flow passage;

disconnecting the tank from the connector mechanism; and

blocking the toner flow passage by engagement of the connector with a plug.