KR100873443B1 - Toner cartridge locking apparatus, image forming apparatus having the same, toner cartridge, method for mounting and separating a toner cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

A toner cartridge fixing apparatus, an image forming apparatus having the same, a toner cartridge, and a method for mounting and separating the toner cartridge are provided to fix the toner cartridge by a fixing wing of rotation handle and a hook unit installed in a developing unit, thereby easily mounting/separating the toner cartridge at/from the developing unit. A rotation handle(120) is rotatably installed in one end of a toner tank(130). A fixing wing is in an outer circumference of the rotation handle. A hook unit(150) is installed in a developing unit(200) in which the toner tank is mounted. The fixing wing of the rotation handle is inserted into the hook unit if the rotation handle is rotated at a predetermined angle.

Description

A toner cartridge fixing apparatus, an image forming apparatus having the same, a toner cartridge, a method for mounting and detaching a toner cartridge, and a method for mounting and separating a toner cartridge

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a toner cartridge detachably installed in an image forming apparatus, a toner cartridge fixing apparatus for fixing the same, and an image forming apparatus having the same.

In general, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, a copying machine, or the like forms an image using a toner, and transfers the image onto a print medium to perform printing.

Therefore, since the toner is consumed when printing, the toner needs to be replenished. In recent years, an image forming apparatus using a removable toner cartridge has been widely used so that a user can easily replenish the toner. At this time, it is necessary to fix the toner cartridge to prevent the toner cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus from being separated during printing. To this end, a toner cartridge fixing device for fixing the toner cartridge to the image forming apparatus is used.

Figure 1 shows an example of such a conventional toner cartridge fixing device.

Referring to FIG. 1, the toner cartridge fixing device 1 of the image forming apparatus according to the related art includes a fixing protrusion 3 installed in the toner cartridge mounting unit 10 and a protrusion receiving groove 5 provided in the toner cartridge 12. Include.

The fixing protrusion 3 is supported by the elastic member 4 so as to be mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion 10 so that the fixing protrusion 3 can be sunk, and the tip of the fixing protrusion 3 is formed in a hemispherical shape. The protrusion receiving groove 5 is formed to accommodate the fixing protrusion 3 at a position corresponding to the fixing protrusion 3 of the toner cartridge 12.

Therefore, when the toner cartridge 12 is inserted into the toner cartridge mounting portion 10, the fixing projection 3 is pressed by the toner cartridge 12. When the toner cartridge 12 is fully inserted so that the projection receiving groove 5 of the toner cartridge 12 is positioned above the fixing projection 3, the fixing projection 3 is inserted into the projection receiving groove 5 so that the toner cartridge ( 12) to be fixed.

However, the toner cartridge fixing device 1 according to the related art fixes the toner cartridge 12 by using the projection receiving groove 5 and the fixing projection 3 formed by molding, and thus the molded toner cartridge 12 If there is a dimensional deviation between the projection receiving groove 5 and the fixing projection 3 of the toner cartridge 12 there is a problem that difficulty occurs in mounting and detachment.

That is, when the toner cartridge fixing device 1 does not completely fix the toner cartridge 12, when the toner cartridge 12 receives the driving force to supply the toner, the toner cartridge 12 causes the toner cartridge loading portion 10 by the driving force. ) Can be pushed out. On the contrary, if the fixing projection 3 of the toner cartridge mounting portion 10 is too tightly caught in the projection receiving groove 5 of the toner cartridge 12, the toner cartridge 12 may not be removed from the toner cartridge mounting portion 10. Can be.

In addition, since the fixing device 1 of the conventional toner cartridge 1 cannot see the fixing projection 3 and the projection receiving groove 5 by the user, the user knows whether the toner cartridge 12 is securely fixed. There is also a problem that is difficult.

The present invention was devised in view of the above problems, and since it is not affected by the variation in the molding dimensions of the toner cartridge, it is easy to install and detach the toner cartridge, and the user can easily know whether the toner cartridge is fixed. An object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device for a toner cartridge, an image forming apparatus having the same, and a method for mounting and detaching the toner cartridge.

Another object of the present invention is a toner cartridge and a toner that can be used in a fixing device of a toner cartridge, which is easy to install and detach and can be easily fixed by a user because it is not affected by variations in the molding dimensions of the toner cartridge. It is to provide a toner tank and a rotary handle of the cartridge.

The object of the present invention as described above, rotatably installed on one end of the toner tank, the outer handle is formed with a fixed blade; It is installed in the developing unit to which the toner tank is mounted, the toner cartridge fixing device comprising a; engaging portion is inserted into the fixed blade of the rotating handle when the rotary handle rotates by a predetermined angle.

In this case, it is preferable that one end of the toner tank is formed with a ring-shaped rotational support, and the rotation handle is formed with a rotational part which is inserted into the rotational support of the toner tank and rotates with respect to the rotational support.

In addition, the rotary part of the rotary handle is formed to be inserted into the inner or outer rotation support of the toner tank.

In addition, at least one guide groove or guide protrusion is formed on the rotation support of the toner tank, and the rotation handle of the at least one guide protrusion or guide is inserted into at least one guide groove or guide protrusion formed on the rotation support. It is preferable to include a groove.

In addition, it is preferable that the at least one guide groove and the guide protrusion formed on the rotating support and the rotating part are formed to rotate within the range of 45 degrees.

At this time, the rotating part of the rotary handle is formed in a ring shape, it may be formed by cutting in at least two parts in the longitudinal direction.

In addition, the rotating handle may be formed to include a skirt surrounding the rotating portion from the outside, it is preferable that the fixing blade is installed on the skirt.

In addition, the rotary handle preferably includes a handle.

In addition, the toner cartridge fixing device according to the present invention is installed in the toner tank, and when the toner tank is not mounted in the developing unit, the rotation handle does not rotate, and the toner tank is mounted in the developing unit. When the rotating handle may further include a handle fixing member to rotate.

The handle fixing member may include a fixed end fixed to the toner tank and a free end elastically supported away from the toner tank, and a fixing groove into which the free end of the handle fixing member is inserted is formed inside the rotating handle. desirable.

In addition, the developing unit, it is preferable to further include a pressing projection for pressing the handle fixing member toward the toner tank when the toner tank is mounted.

In addition, the toner tank may further include a pair of protective protrusions formed on both sides of the handle fixing member.

In addition, the fixed blade of the rotary handle may further include an insertion protrusion protruding toward the toner tank.

In another aspect of the present invention, the object of the present invention as described above is rotatably installed at one end of the toner tank, the outer handle is formed with a fixed blade; A catching part installed in the developing unit to which the toner tank is mounted, and the fixed blade of the rotating handle is inserted when the rotating handle is rotated by a predetermined angle; And fixed to the rotation handle when the toner tank is not mounted to the developing unit, so that the rotating handle does not rotate, and when the toner tank is mounted to the developing unit, the rotating handle to rotate. It can be solved by providing a toner cartridge fixing device comprising a handle fixing member.

In another aspect of the present invention, the object of the present invention as described above, is provided in the main body, the print medium supply unit for supplying the print media one by one; An exposure unit for emitting a laser beam corresponding to the print data; A photosensitive medium on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by a laser beam emitted from the exposure unit, and a toner cartridge mounting unit on which at least one toner cartridge is mounted to supply toner to the photosensitive medium to develop the electrostatic latent image into a toner image; unit; A toner cartridge fixing device having any one of the above-mentioned features for fixing the at least one toner cartridge mounted on at least one toner cartridge mounting portion of the developing unit; A transfer unit provided to face the photosensitive medium, and transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive medium to a print medium; And a front cover installed in the main body to cover the front surface of the developing unit in which the at least one toner cartridge mounting portion is formed.

Further, the developing unit includes four toner cartridges and four toner cartridge mounting portions, and one toner cartridge of the four toner cartridges is preferably larger in size than the other three toner cartridges.

The toner cartridge having a larger size includes an expansion part, and one of the four toner cartridge mounting parts into which the large size toner cartridge is inserted is provided with the other three toner cartridges corresponding to the extension part of the toner cartridge. Preferably, the expansion groove is formed in a direction that does not interfere with the three toner cartridge mounting portions to be mounted.

In another aspect of the present invention, the above object is a step of inserting the toner cartridge into the toner cartridge mounting portion of the developing unit; And rotating the rotary handle provided in the toner cartridge so that the fixed blade of the rotary handle is caught by the catching part of the developing unit.

The width of the rotation handle is preferably formed to be wider than the width of the fixed blade.

In this case, when the rotary handle rotates 45 degrees, it is preferable that the fixed blade of the rotary handle is caught by the engaging portion of the developing unit.

In another aspect of the present invention, the above object is a step of inserting the toner cartridge having a rotary handle to the toner cartridge mounting portion of the developing unit; Pressing the handle fixing member of the toner cartridge so that the handle fixing member is removed from the fixing groove of the rotary handle by the push protrusion provided in the toner cartridge mounting unit; And rotating the rotating handle of the toner cartridge so that the fixed blade of the rotating handle is caught by the catching part of the developing unit.

When inserting the toner cartridge into the toner cartridge mounting portion, it is preferable to insert the reference protrusion formed in the toner cartridge in accordance with the reference groove formed in the toner cartridge mounting portion.

In another aspect of the present invention, the above object is, by rotating the rotary handle of the toner cartridge mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion of the developing unit to remove the fixed blade of the rotating handle from the locking portion of the developing unit; And removing the toner cartridge from the toner cartridge mounting portion of the developing unit.

When the rotary handle rotates 45 degrees, it is preferable that the fixed blade of the rotary handle to be released from the locking portion of the developing unit.

When removing the toner cartridge from the toner cartridge mounting portion, it is preferable that the handle fixing member of the toner cartridge is inserted into the fixing groove of the rotary handle.

In another aspect of the present invention, the above object is a toner cartridge detachably installed in a developing unit of an image forming apparatus, wherein the toner cartridge is rotatable at one end of the toner tank and a toner tank in which toner is stored. It is installed and the outer periphery includes a rotary handle formed with a fixed blade, if the rotary handle rotates by a predetermined angle, the fixed blade can be solved by providing a toner cartridge that is caught in the engaging portion installed in the developing unit.

In another aspect of the present invention, the above object is a toner tank of a toner cartridge that is detachably installed in a developing unit of an image forming apparatus, wherein the toner tank stores toner and has a fixed wing at one end of the toner tank. When the rotating handle is rotatably installed and the toner tank is mounted to the developing unit, and the rotating handle is rotated by an angle, the fixing blade is caught by a catching part installed in the developing unit, and the toner tank is developed. This can be solved by providing a toner tank of the toner cartridge fixed to the unit.

In another aspect of the present invention, the above object is a rotation handle of a toner cartridge detachably installed in a developing unit of an image forming apparatus, the rotation handle being rotatably installed at one end of the toner tank, After the toner cartridge is mounted on the developing unit, and the rotary handle is rotated by an angle, the fixing blade is caught by a catching part provided in the developing unit so that the toner cartridge is fixed to the developing unit. This can be solved by providing a rotating handle of the toner cartridge.

The rotating handle further includes a fixing groove into which the handle fixing member installed in the toner tank is inserted, and when the toner tank is not mounted in the developing unit, the handle fixing member is inserted into the fixing groove so that the rotating handle is inserted. When the toner tank is mounted to the developing unit without rotation, the handle fixing member is formed to be out of the fixing groove so that the rotating handle can rotate.
In another aspect of the present invention, the object of the present invention as described above, is provided in the developing unit, the toner tank including any one of a fixed blade and the engaging portion; And a rotation handle installed at the toner tank and including the other one of the fixed blade and the locking portion. When the rotating handle rotates in one direction, the fixed blade is caught by the locking portion. Rotation in this other direction can be achieved by providing a toner cartridge fixing device for an image forming apparatus, wherein the fixing blade is out of the locking portion.
In another aspect of the present invention, an object of the present invention as described above is to rotate a rotating handle of a toner cartridge installed in a toner cartridge mounting portion of a developing unit in one of a mounting direction and a detachable direction, wherein the rotary handle is detachable. Direction, when any one of the fixed blade and the locking portion provided on the rotating handle is out of the other one of the fixed blade and the locking portion installed on the developing unit, if the rotating handle rotates in the mounting direction, the rotating handle It can be achieved by providing a fixing / releasing method of the toner cartridge of the image forming apparatus in which any one of the fixing blade and the locking portion of the developing unit is caught by the other of the fixing blade and the locking portion of the developing unit.

As described above, according to the toner cartridge fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, an image forming apparatus having the same, and a mounting method and a detaching method of the toner cartridge, the rotary handle is rotatably installed in the toner tank. Since it is fixed by the fixing blade and the engaging portion provided in the developing unit, the mounting and dismounting of the toner cartridge are not affected by the variation in the molding dimension of the toner cartridge. Therefore, it is easy to attach or remove the toner cartridge to the developing unit.

In addition, the toner cartridge fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, an image forming apparatus having the same, and a mounting method and a detaching method of the toner cartridge are exposed to the outside of the developing unit by a rotating handle and a locking portion for mounting or detaching the toner cartridge. The user can easily determine whether the toner cartridge is fixed.

Hereinafter, a fixing apparatus of a toner cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

However, in the following description of the present invention, if it is determined that the detailed description of the related known functions or components may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description and the detailed illustration will be omitted.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a toner cartridge fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, the toner cartridge fixing device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a toner cartridge 110 and a catching part 150.

The toner cartridge 110 supplies toner to the developing unit 200 of the image forming apparatus 300 (refer to FIG. 13) and is detachably installed in the toner cartridge mounting unit 201 of the developing unit 200. As shown in the drawing, the toner tank 130 and the rotation handle 120 are included.

The toner tank 130 stores a predetermined amount of toner, and is formed in a substantially hollow cylindrical shape with both ends blocked. At one end 131 of the toner tank 130, a rotation support part 133 is formed to support the rotation handle 120 to rotate. The rotation support part 133 is formed in a substantially ring shape. The other end 140 of the toner tank 130 is provided with a gear 141 that receives power from the developing unit 200 and a toner supply unit 142 for supplying the toner of the toner tank 130 to the developing unit 200. (See Figure 16).

The rotating handle 120 is rotatably installed at one end 131 of the toner tank 130, and a fixed blade 121 is formed at an outer circumference thereof. In the present embodiment, the rotary handle 120 is inserted into the rotary support 133 of the toner tank 130 so that the rotary handle 120 can rotate with respect to the toner tank 130 and rotates with respect to the rotary support 133. ) Is formed on the rotation handle 120. Therefore, the rotating part 123 of the rotating handle 120 is formed in a ring shape corresponding to the rotating support part 133 of the toner tank 130. The rotating part 123 of the rotating handle 120 may be formed to be inserted into the inside or the outside of the rotation support part 133 of the toner tank 130. In the present embodiment, the rotating part 123 of the rotating handle 120 is formed in a substantially ring shape that can be inserted into the outer side of the rotating support part 133 of the toner tank 130 as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the rotation handle 120 may be coupled to the toner tank 130 to rotate with respect to the toner tank 130. However, it is preferable that the toner tank 130 is formed so as not to rotate even when the rotation handle 120 rotates.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rotating part 123 of the rotating handle 120 formed in a ring shape is preferably cut into at least two parts 123a and 123b in the longitudinal direction. As such, when the rotating part 123 is formed of at least two parts 123a and 123b, it is possible to couple the rotating part 123 of the rotating handle 120 to the rotating support part 133 of the toner tank 130 using elasticity. It is easy.

In addition, at least one guide groove in the rotary support 133 of the toner tank 130 to guide the rotation of the rotary handle 120 to the toner tank 130 stably and to limit the rotation range of the rotary handle 120. 134 or guide protrusions (not shown), and at least one guide groove 134 or guide protrusion formed on the rotation support part 133 of the toner tank 130 in the rotation part 123 of the rotation handle 120. It is preferable to form at least one guide protrusion 124 or a guide groove (not shown) to be inserted.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the rotating protrusion 124 is formed on the rotating part 123 of the rotating handle 120, and the outer circumferential surface of the rotating support part 133 of the toner tank 130 is illustrated in FIG. 3. As described above, the guide protrusion 134 into which the rotation protrusion 124 is inserted was formed. Therefore, when the rotating handle 120 is coupled to the toner tank 130, as shown in FIG. 6, the two rotating protrusions 124 formed on the rotating part 123 of the rotating handle 120 are connected to the toner tank 130. It is inserted into two guide grooves 134 formed in the rotation support 133. In the present embodiment, the guide groove 134 of the rotary support 133 of the toner tank 130 is rotated so that the guide protrusion 124 of the rotary part 123 of the rotary handle 120 rotates within a range of approximately 45 degrees. Limit the angle Therefore, the rotation handle 120 is rotatable with respect to the toner tank 130 within a range of 45 degrees. Such a limitation of the rotation angle of the rotation handle 120 is only one example, and the angle of rotation of the rotation handle 120 can be appropriately changed by adjusting the size of the guide groove 134 and the guide protrusion 124 as necessary. .

In addition, as another embodiment, although not shown, a guide groove is formed in the rotating part 123 of the rotating handle 120, and the rotating part 123 of the rotating handle 120 is formed in the rotating support part 133 of the toner tank 130. It is also possible to form a guide protrusion is inserted into the guide groove of the guide.

The fixed blade 121 is formed on the outer circumference of the rotating handle 120, and when the rotating handle 120 rotates by a predetermined angle, it is formed to be caught by the engaging portion 150 installed in the developing unit 200. Width W1 of the fixed blade 121 is preferably formed to be narrower than the width (W2) of the rotary handle (120). The fixed blade 121 is to rotate integrally with the rotary handle 120 around the center of rotation of the rotary handle 120, the rotary handle 120 is to be rotated by the user to turn the fixed blade 121, When the width W2 of the rotary handle 120 is wider than the width W1 of the fixed blade 121, the width W2 of the rotary handle 120 is equal to or smaller than the width W1 of the fixed blade 121. The rotation handle 120, that is, the fixed blade 121 can be rotated with a smaller force than the case.

Here, the width (W1) of the fixed blade 121 refers to the length of the fixed blade 121 in the circumferential direction of the rotary handle 120 as shown in FIG. If the fixed blade 121 of the rotary handle 120 is formed of a plurality of protrusions 121a and 121b, this refers to the distance between the outer surfaces of the protrusions 121a and 121b formed on the outermost side. For example, as shown in FIG. 19, when the fixed blade 121 'is formed of two protrusions 121a and 121b, the width W1 of the fixed blade 121' is equal to the two protrusions 121a and 121b. The distance between the outer sides of the In addition, the width W2 of the rotary handle 120 means the longest portion in the cross section of the rotary handle 120. 6 and 19, when the cross-section of the rotary handle 120 is circular means the diameter.

It is preferable to form the insertion protrusion 170 on the lower surface of the fixed blade 121. When the toner cartridge 110 is not completely inserted into the toner cartridge mounting portion 201, the insertion protrusion 170 may be positioned above the locking portion 150. In the case of this embodiment, the insertion protrusion 170 is formed on the lower surface of the fixing blade 121 in parallel with the side of the toner tank 130, approximately half the length of the fixing blade 121. The height H of the insertion protrusion 170 is the handle 128 and the developing unit 200 of the toner cartridge 110 when the toner cartridge 110 is completely mounted in the toner cartridge mounting unit 201 of the developing unit 200. Is larger than the distance G between the front cover 303 of the image forming apparatus 300 (see Fig. 17). For example, when the distance G between the handle 128 of the toner cartridge 110 and the front cover 303 covering the developing unit 200 is 3 mm, the height H of the insertion protrusion 170 is It is preferable to set it as 5 mm.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a skirt 126 may be formed on the outer circumference of the rotation handle 120 concentrically with the rotation part 123 so as to surround the rotation part 123 from the outside. The skirt 126 prevents the rotation 123 of the rotation handle 120 coupled to the rotation support part 133 of the toner tank 130 from being visible from the outside. The fixed blade 121 may be installed on the skirt 126.

In addition, the rotary handle 120 may further include a handle 128 so that the user can easily rotate the rotary handle 120 as shown in FIG. The handle 128 is formed on the rotation handle 120 opposite to the rotation part 123 as shown in FIG. 4. The handle 128 of the rotary handle 120 is level when the fixed blade 121 is inserted into the engaging portion 150 of the developing unit 200, and the fixed blade 121 to remove the toner cartridge 110. When it is to be out of the locking portion 150 is preferably formed to be in an inclined position.

In addition, the toner cartridge 110 may further include a handle fixing member 160 to prevent the rotation handle 120 from rotating. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the handle fixing member 160 is installed close to the rotation handle 120 on the side of the toner tank 130 of the toner cartridge 110. The handle fixing member 160 is formed as a fixed end at which one end 160b is fixed to the toner tank 130, and the other end 160a is formed as a free end that is elastically supported to open from the side of the toner tank 130. Therefore, when a pressing force is applied to the handle fixing member 160, the free end 160a approaches the toner tank 130, and when the pressing force is lost, the free end 160a is opened from the toner tank 130. In the present embodiment, the handle fixing member 160 is formed of a leaf spring, the free end (160a) is bent to be inserted into the fixing groove 161 of the rotary handle 120 to be described later. The fixing end 160b of the handle fixing member 160 is fixed to the fixing part 163 formed on the side surface of the toner tank 130. In addition, it is preferable to form a pair of protective protrusions 164 on both sides of the handle fixing member 160 on the side of the toner tank 130. That is, it is preferable to install the handle fixing member 160 between the pair of protective projections (164). The pair of protection protrusions 164 block the space between the handle fixing member 160 and the side surface of the toner tank 130 at both sides of the handle fixing member 160, so that the handle fixing member 160 can operate smoothly. To help.

An inner surface of the skirt 126 of the rotary handle 120 may be formed with a fixing groove 161 into which the handle fixing member 160 is inserted. Fixing groove 161 is preferably formed so that the free end (160a) of the handle fixing member 160 is inserted when the handle 128 of the rotating handle 120 is inclined. In the present embodiment, when the handle 128 of the rotary handle 120 is inclined approximately 45 degrees, the free end 160a of the handle fixing member 160 is formed to be inserted into the fixing groove 161. The fixing groove 161 is the free end (160a) of the handle fixing member 160 is pushed out of the fixing groove 161 when the pressing protrusion 162 of the toner cartridge mounting unit 201 to be described later presses the handle fixing member 160 ( When the pressing force is not applied to the handle fixing member 160, the free end 160a of the handle fixing member 160 is inserted into the fixing groove 161 (see FIG. 7). In the state where the free end 160a of the handle fixing member 160 is inserted into the fixing groove 161 of the rotating handle 120, the rotating handle 120 does not rotate with respect to the toner tank 130.

On the side of the toner tank 130, the reference protrusion 139 may be further formed toward the other end 140 on which the rotary handle 120 is not installed. Further, a reference groove 205 corresponding to the reference protrusion 139 is formed in the toner cartridge mounting portion 201 of the developing unit 200. Therefore, when the toner cartridge 110 is mounted in the toner cartridge mounting unit 201, the toner cartridge 110 may be inserted into the toner cartridge mounting unit 201 after the reference protrusion 139 is inserted into the reference groove 205. . In the case of the image forming apparatus 300 using a plurality of toner cartridges 110 having different colors, when the phase of the reference protrusion 139 installed in the toner cartridge 110 is changed for each color, the user may toner of a specific color. Can be prevented from being mounted on the toner cartridge mounting unit 201 to which the toner cartridge 110 of a different color is mounted.

The catching part 150 is installed in the developing unit 200 in which the toner cartridge 110 is mounted. The developing unit 200 has at least one toner cartridge mounting unit 201 in which the toner cartridge 110 is mounted. The locking unit 150 is installed at the inlet of the toner cartridge mounting unit 201 formed in the developing unit 200, and is formed to allow the fixing blade 121 of the rotating handle 120 to be inserted thereinto. Therefore, when the fixing blade 121 of the rotary handle 120 is inserted into the locking portion 150, the toner cartridge 110 is fixed to the developing unit 200. The locking unit 150 may be formed as a separate member and installed in the developing unit 200. Alternatively, as another embodiment, the catching part 150 may be integrally formed with a part forming the toner cartridge mounting part 201 of the developing unit 200.

The toner cartridge mounting unit 201 is formed as a circular hole corresponding to the toner tank 130 of the toner cartridge 110, and an inner side of the toner receiving unit (not shown) corresponding to the toner supply unit 142 of the toner cartridge 110. Is formed. Since the toner accommodating portion communicates with the developing roller 220 (see FIG. 12), the toner of the toner cartridge 110 is supplied to the developing roller 220. At the inlet of the toner cartridge mounting unit 201, a stator blade guide groove for preventing the stator blade 121 of the rotation handle 120 from protruding outward from the developing unit 200 and guiding the rotation of the stator blade 121 ( 203 may be formed. When the insertion protrusion 170 is formed on the fixed blade 121, the fixed wing guide groove 203 is formed to accommodate the insertion protrusion 170. The locking unit 150 may be installed to cover a part of the fixed wing guide groove 203 toward the front of the fixed wing guide groove 203. At this time, when the rotary handle 120 is rotated in one direction, the fixed blade 121 is inserted between the fixed blade guide groove 203 and the locking portion 150 so that the toner cartridge 110 is the toner cartridge of the developing unit 200. It is fixed to the mounting portion 201. In addition, when the rotating handle 120 is rotated in the opposite direction, the fixing blade 121 is released from the catching portion 150 so that the toner cartridge 110 can be separated from the toner cartridge mounting portion 201 of the developing unit 200. It becomes a state.

In addition, a push protrusion 162 may be installed at an inlet of the toner cartridge mounting unit 201 to press the handle fixing member 160 of the toner cartridge 110 described above. Therefore, when the toner cartridge 110 is mounted on the toner cartridge mounting unit 201, the pusher 162 presses the handle fixing member 160 to free end 160a of the handle fixing member 160 as shown in FIG. 8. ) Is released from the fixing groove 161 formed on the inner surface of the rotary handle (120). Then, the rotation handle 120 is free to rotate with respect to the toner tank 130.

In addition, the locking unit 150 and the developing unit 200 may be marked to indicate a position where the toner cartridge 110 is fixed and a position where the toner cartridge 110 is separable. 9 and 10, the locked lock mark 152 indicates the position where the toner cartridge 110 is fixed to the toner cartridge mounting portion 201 by the catching portion 150, and the unlocked lock mark 153 indicates the toner cartridge ( The position at which the 110 is detached from the toner cartridge mounting portion 201 is shown. In addition, the reference mark 151 is displayed on the rotation handle 120 of the toner cartridge 110. When the reference mark 151 of the rotary handle 120 coincides with the locked lock mark 152, the toner cartridge 110 is fixed to the toner cartridge mounting unit 201.

Hereinafter, the operation of the toner cartridge fixing device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 9. At this time, the mounting method and the detaching method of the toner cartridge 110 will be described together.

First, when the toner cartridge 110 is mounted on the developing unit 200 of the image forming apparatus 300 (see FIG. 13), the toner cartridge 110 is held by the rotary handle 120 and the toner tank 130. The tank 130 is inserted into the toner cartridge mounting portion 201 of the developing unit 200. At this time, the fixing blade 121 of the rotary handle 120 of the toner cartridge 110 is aligned so that the toner cartridge 110 can be inserted into the fixing blade guide groove 203 without interfering with the locking portion 150. Insert it. When the reference protrusion 139 is formed in the toner cartridge 110 and the reference groove 205 is formed in the toner cartridge mounting unit 201 as in the present embodiment, the reference protrusion 139 is aligned with the reference groove 205 after the reference protrusion 139 is formed. The toner cartridge 110 may be inserted into the toner cartridge mounting unit 201. In addition, when the handle fixing member 160 is installed in the toner cartridge 110, the free end 160a of the handle fixing member 160 is inserted into the fixing groove 161 of the rotating handle 120. ) Is fixed to the toner tank 130 without rotation. Therefore, the rotation handle 120 does not rotate when the toner cartridge 110 is mounted.

When the fixed blade 121 of the rotary handle 120 of the toner cartridge 110 is placed in the fixed blade guide groove 203 of the developing unit 200, the pressing projection 162 formed in the toner cartridge mounting portion 201 As a result, the handle fixing member 160 of the toner cartridge 110 is pressed. When the handle fixing member 160 is pressed, the free handle 160a of the handle fixing member 160 is out of the fixing groove 161 of the rotating handle 120 as shown in FIG. 8 so that the rotating handle 120 rotates. It becomes possible state. When the toner cartridge 110 is mounted in the toner cartridge mounting portion 201, the user rotates the rotation handle 120 approximately 45 degrees clockwise as shown by arrow A shown in FIG. Then, as shown in Figure 10, the fixed blade 121 of the rotary handle 120 is inserted into the locking portion 150, the handle 128 of the rotary handle 120 is in a horizontal state.

At this time, in the toner cartridge 110 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the guide protrusion 124 formed on the rotating part 123 of the rotating handle 120 is connected to the rotating support part 133 of the toner tank 130. Since the guide groove 134 is formed, the rotation handle 120 can be rotated in a stable 45 degree range with respect to the toner tank 130. When the fixed blade 121 of the rotary handle 120 is inserted into the locking portion 150, when the handle 128 of the toner cartridge 110 is pulled, the fixed blade 121 of the rotary handle 120 is locked ( The toner cartridge 110 is not caught by the toner cartridge mounting unit 201. Thus, the toner cartridge 110 is fixed to the developing unit 200.

When the toner cartridge 110 is detached from the developing unit 200 of the image forming apparatus 300, hold the handle 128 of the rotary handle 120 and rotate the rotary handle 120 counterclockwise approximately 45 degrees. Rotating so that the fixed blade 121 of the rotary handle 120 is completely off the locking portion 150 as shown in FIG. When the rotation handle 120 rotates approximately 45 degrees, the fixing groove 161 formed inside the rotation handle 120 is positioned in front of the free end 160a of the handle fixing member 160. In this state, when the handle 128 of the rotating handle 120 is pulled out, the fixing blade 121 of the rotating handle 120 does not catch the catching part 150, so the toner cartridge 110 is removed from the toner cartridge mounting part 201. Will fall out. When the toner cartridge 110 is pulled out to some extent, the handle fixing member 160 is released from the push protrusion 162. When the handle fixing member 160 is out of the pressing protrusion 162, the free end 160a of the handle fixing member 160 is fixed by the elastic groove of the handle fixing member 160. Is inserted into the 161 to fix the rotary handle (120). Therefore, the rotation handle 120 is in a state that can not rotate with respect to the toner tank 130.

As described above, in the toner cartridge fixing device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the toner cartridge 110 is fixed to the developing unit 200 by rotating the rotating handle 120 rotatably installed in the toner tank 130. It can be made detachable. Therefore, it is convenient to attach and detach the toner cartridge 110 to the developing unit 200.

In addition, when the handle fixing unit 160 is installed in the toner cartridge 110, since the rotation handle 120 rotates only when the toner cartridge 110 is mounted in the toner cartridge mounting unit 201, the toner cartridge 110 may be rotated. When mounting or detaching, the rotation handle 120 does not rotate left and right, so the operation is convenient.

Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus 300 having a toner cartridge fixing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

11 and 12, an image forming apparatus 300 including a toner cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 301, a print medium supply unit 310, an exposure unit 320, and a developing unit. 200, a transfer unit 340, a fixing unit 350, and a discharge unit 360.

The main body 301 forms an appearance of the image forming apparatus 300, and includes a print medium supply unit 310, an exposure unit 320, a developing unit 200, a transfer unit 340, a fixing unit 350, and a discharge medium. Support unit 360. The front cover 303 is hinged on the front surface of the main body 301 to selectively open and close the surface on which the toner cartridge mounting portion 201 of the developing unit 200 is formed.

The print medium supply unit 310 stores a predetermined amount of the print medium P, picks up the print medium P one by one, and supplies the print medium P to the transfer unit 340. The print medium supply unit 310 includes a pickup roller 311 for picking up the print medium P, and a transfer roller 313 for transferring the picked up print medium P.

The exposure unit 320 emits a laser beam corresponding to the print data to form a predetermined electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive medium 210 of the developing unit 200.

The developing unit 200 develops a predetermined electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive medium 210 into a toner image, and includes four developing rollers 220 and four installed around the photosensitive medium 210 and the photosensitive medium 210. Toner supply means 230 for supplying toner to the developing roller 220 is included.

The photosensitive medium 210 is rotatably installed in the developing unit 200, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive medium 210 by a laser beam emitted from the exposure unit 320. The four developing rollers 220 respectively supply toners of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow on the electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive medium 210 to form color images. The toner supply means 230 supplies toners of different colors to the four developing rollers 220, and includes a toner cartridge mounting unit 201 to which the four toner cartridges 110 are mounted.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the front cover 303 of the main body 301 is opened to show the toner cartridge mounting unit 201 formed in the developing unit 200 and the toner cartridge 110 mounted thereon. A perspective view showing a developing unit 200 in which toner cartridges 110 and 110 'are not mounted.

Referring to FIG. 14, four toner cartridge mounting portions 201 and 201 ′ are formed in the developing unit 200. The three toner cartridge mounting portions 201 are formed with circular holes corresponding to the toner cartridge 110 to be inserted. Further, one toner cartridge mounting portion 201 'is formed non-circularly. The non-circular toner cartridge mounting portion 201 'is provided with an expansion groove 201' extending in a direction in which three toner cartridge mounting portions 201 are not formed so as to maximize the toner storage capacity of the toner cartridge 110 'to be inserted. It is preferable to form a). In this configuration, the capacity of the toner cartridge 110 'can be increased without increasing the size of the image forming apparatus 300.

The toner tank of the toner cartridge 110 'mounted on the non-circular toner cartridge mounting portion 201' is formed in a non-circular cross section corresponding to the toner cartridge mounting portion 201 '. An example of such a non-circular toner cartridge 110 ′ is shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. The toner tank of the non-circular toner cartridge 110 'includes an extension 130'a extending upward from the cylindrical body 130'. The extension 130'a of the toner cartridge 110 'is formed in a shape corresponding to the expansion groove 201'a of the non-circular toner cartridge mounting portion 201'. Accordingly, the non-circular toner cartridge 110 ′ may store more toner by the size of the extension 130 ′ a than the toner tank 130 of the circular cartridge 110. Inside the non-circular toner cartridge 110 ′, a stirrer 145 for stirring the received toner T and a toner transfer member 144 for transferring the toner T to the toner supply unit 142 are provided. The stirrer 145 and the toner transport member 144 are rotated by receiving power from the gear 141 installed on the outside of the toner cartridge 110 '. In general, since the image forming apparatus 300 uses more black toner than toner of another color, in the present embodiment, the black toner cartridge 110 'that stores the toner of black is formed as a non-circular cartridge. Toner cartridge 110 is formed in the same size as a circular cartridge having a circular cross section.

Inside the toner cartridge mounting unit 201, a toner receiving unit (not shown) for accommodating toner discharged from the toner cartridge 110 is provided. The toner introduced into the toner accommodating part is supplied to the developing roller 220 through the toner supply means 230. Therefore, it is preferable that the expansion groove 201'a of the non-circular toner cartridge mounting portion 201 'is formed on the side opposite to the toner accommodating portion.

In addition, the developing unit 200 is provided with four toner cartridge fixing devices 100 for fixing the four toner cartridges 110 and 110 '. That is, the engaging portion 150 is formed at the inlet of each of the toner cartridge mounting portions 201 and 201 ′, and the fixed blade 121 is installed at the rotation handle 120 of the toner cartridges 110 and 110 '. Therefore, when the toner cartridges 110 and 110 'are inserted into the toner cartridge mounting parts 201 and 201', and the rotating handle 120 is rotated, the fixing blade 121 is inserted into the catching part 150 so that the toner cartridges 110 and 110 'are inserted. It is fixed to the developing unit 200.

When the fixing blade 121 of the rotary handle 120 is inserted into the catching part 150 and the toner cartridge 110 ', that is, the toner tank 130' is fixed to the developing unit 200, the fixing blade 121 is fixed. Is formed at the same height (L) as the toner supply portion 142 of the toner tank 130 ', so as to be located opposite to the toner supply portion 142 in the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the toner tank 130'. Do. That is, as shown in FIG. 16, the center line 121c of the stator blade 121 is preferably equal to or below the height L at which the toner supply unit 142 is located. When the fixing blade 121 is formed such that the fixing blade 121 is positioned at approximately the same height L as the toner supply unit 142 when the toner tank 130 'is mounted on the developing unit 200, the toner cartridge 110 Toner tank 130 'is intended to move in the X direction (see FIG. 16) by the force generated when the toner tank 130' is supplied with the toner to the developing unit 200 through the toner supply unit 142. Can be effectively blocked. In addition, the toner supply unit 142 of the toner tank 130 'is deformed due to prolonged use, and the toner supplied from the toner tank 130' to the developing unit 200 is supplied to the toner tank 130 'and the toner cartridge. Leakage between the mounting portions 201 can be prevented.

In addition, the toner tank 130 'of the toner cartridge 110' that stores the most toner T includes an extension 130'a as described above. The expansion portion 130'a of the toner tank 130 'is formed in a direction substantially opposite to the toner supply portion 142 in the height direction (Y direction) of the toner cartridge 110', as shown in FIG. The expansion unit 130'a is preferably formed in a substantially vertical direction so that the toner T can be well supplied to the toner supply unit 142 and the toner transport unit 144 of the toner cartridge 110 '. In the case of this embodiment, referring to Fig. 15, the extension 130'a is formed so as to be located on the upper right side of the toner cartridge 110 '.

In addition, when the expansion unit 130'a is formed in the toner tank 130 ', a force generated when the toner tank 130' of the toner cartridge 110 'supplies the toner T to the developing unit 200. As a result, the force per unit area received by the toner tank 130 'in the Y direction can be reduced. In particular, when the cross-section of the expansion portion 130'a is formed in a shape similar to a part of the ellipse, the contact area with the toner cartridge mounting portion 201 'can be made wider than when the cross-section of the toner tank 110' is circular. have. Therefore, the size per unit area of the force that the toner tank 130 'receives in the Y direction during toner supply is reduced than when the cross section is circular. As such, when the force per unit area that the toner tank 130 'receives in the Y direction is reduced, the lifespan of the toner tank 130' and the developing unit 200 can be extended. In particular, since the image forming apparatus 300 using four colors uses more black toner than toners of different colors, the toner cartridge 110 'supplying black toner is more frequently used than the toner cartridges 110 of different colors. Since the toner is supplied and the time to supply the toner is also long, it receives more force than the toner cartridge 110 of other colors. Therefore, when the black toner cartridge 110 'is formed to have the extension 130'a as described above, the force per unit area applied to the toner cartridge 110' in the vertical direction (Y direction) can be reduced, and thus the black It is possible to prevent the toner cartridge 110 'from being deformed or reduced in life.

In the above, the case where the black toner cartridge 110 'of the developing unit 200 is formed in a non-circular shape is described, but it is natural that a circular cartridge may be used as the black toner cartridge 110'.

The transfer unit 340 transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive medium 210 to the print medium P. The transfer belt 341 and the transfer belt 341 to which the toner image formed on the photosensitive medium 210 are first transferred. A transfer roller 343 for transferring the toner image transferred to the printing medium onto the printing medium P.

The fixing unit 350 applies a high temperature and a high pressure to the toner image transferred by the transfer unit 340 to fix the printing medium P, and includes a pressing roller and a heating roller.

The discharge unit 360 discharges the print medium P on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 350 to the outside of the image forming apparatus 300. Between the discharge unit 360 and the fixing unit 350, a discharge feed roller 361 for guiding the transfer of the print medium P is provided.

When the image forming apparatus 300 having the above structure receives the printing command, the image forming apparatus 300 controls the exposure unit 320 to emit the laser beam corresponding to the printing data. The electrostatic latent image corresponding to the print data is formed on the photosensitive medium 210 of the developing unit 200 by the laser beam emitted from the exposure unit 320. The four developing rollers 220 respectively supply toners of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow to the photosensitive medium 210 to develop an electrostatic latent image into a toner image. The toner image formed on the photosensitive medium 210 is transferred to the transfer belt 341 of the transfer unit 340.

In addition, when the image forming apparatus 300 receives the print command, the image forming apparatus 300 controls the print medium supply unit 310 to pick up one print medium P and supply it to the transfer unit 340.

The toner image transferred to the transfer belt 341 is transferred by the transfer roller 343 from the developing medium supply unit 310 to the print medium P introduced between the transfer belt 341 and the transfer roller 343. The print medium P on which the toner image is transferred passes through the fixing unit 350, and the toner image is fixed to the print medium P. As shown in FIG. The print medium P on which the toner image has been fixed is discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus 300 by the medium transport roller 361 and the discharge unit 360.

As the image forming apparatus 300 performs printing, the toner T of the toner cartridge 110 is consumed. When the toner in the toner cartridge 110 is exhausted, the user must replace the toner cartridge 110 in which the toner has run out with a new toner cartridge 110.

When replacing the toner cartridge 110, first open the front cover 303 of the image forming apparatus 300. Thereafter, when the rotary handle 120 of the toner cartridge 110 in which the toner is dropped is turned counterclockwise and pulled out, the fixing blade 121 of the rotary handle 120 is released from the catching portion 150, thereby toner cartridge ( The toner cartridge mounting unit 201 of the developing unit 200 may be separated.

The new toner cartridge 110 is inserted into the toner cartridge mounting portion 201 of the developing unit 200. In this case, the reference protrusion 139 of the toner cartridge 110 may be inserted into the reference groove 205 of the toner cartridge mounting unit 201, and then the forward handle 120 may be pushed forward to mount the toner cartridge 110 easily. . After the toner cartridge 110 is completely inserted into the toner cartridge mounting unit 201, the rotating handle 120 is rotated to place the fixed blade 121 behind the catch 150 and the front cover 303 is closed. The mounting of the 110 is completed.

As shown in FIG. 17, when the toner cartridge 110 is normally mounted in the toner cartridge mounting unit 201, the handle 128 and the front cover () of the rotary handle 120 are completely closed with the front cover 303 closed. A predetermined interval G is formed between the 303. However, when the user rotates the rotary handle 120 in a state where the toner cartridge 110 is not completely attached to the toner cartridge mounting unit 201, the insertion protrusion 170 of the fixing blade 121 is shown in FIG. 18. Since the riding unit 150 is mounted, the handle 128 of the rotation handle 120 is protruded by the height H of the insertion protrusion 170. Thus, the front cover 303 does not close completely. Therefore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the front cover 303 is closed while the user does not fully install the toner cartridge 110, that is, the toner cartridge 110 is less inserted into the toner cartridge mounting unit 201. It is possible to prevent the image forming apparatus 300 from operating.

Although the image forming apparatus 300 using the four toner cartridges 110 has been described as an example, the toner cartridge fixing apparatus 100 according to the present invention uses the at least one toner cartridge 110 as an image forming apparatus. Naturally, it can be applied.
20 is a flowchart illustrating a method of fixing / releasing a toner cartridge of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 and 20, the rotating handle 120 of the toner cartridge 110 mounted on the toner cartridge mounting unit 201 of the developing unit 200 is rotated in one of a mounting direction and a detaching direction (S210). ). When the rotary handle 120 is rotated in a detachable direction, any one of the fixed blade 121 and the locking portion (not shown) installed on the rotary handle 120 is caught with the fixed blade (not shown) installed in the developing unit 200. Out of the other one of the units 150 (S220). That is, the fixed blade 121 and the fixed blade 121 of the locking portion 121 is installed on the rotary handle 120, the developing unit 200 of the fixed blade and the fixed blade installed on the rotary handle 120 of the locking portion 150 When the engaging portion 150 corresponding to the 121 is installed, when the rotating handle 120 is rotated in the detachable direction, the fixing blade 121 of the rotating handle 120 is the engaging portion 150 of the developing unit 200. Get out of the way. On the contrary, although not shown, when the locking portion is installed in the rotary handle 120 and the fixed blade is installed in the developing unit 200, the locking portion is removed from the fixed blade by turning the rotary handle 120 in a detachable direction. When the rotating handle 120 is rotated in the mounting direction, any one of the fixed blade 121 and the locking portion installed on the rotating handle 120 is connected to the other of the fixed blade and the locking portion 150 installed on the developing unit 200. It is caught (S230). That is, the fixed blade 121 and the fixed blade 121 of the locking portion 121 is installed on the rotary handle 120, the developing unit 200 of the fixed blade and the fixed blade installed on the rotary handle 120 of the locking portion 150 When the engaging portion 150 corresponding to the 121 is installed, when the rotating handle 120 is rotated in the mounting direction, the fixing blade 121 of the rotating handle 120 is locked to the developing unit 200. Is caught. On the contrary, when the locking part is installed on the rotary handle 120 and the fixed blade is installed on the developing unit 200, the locking part is caught by the fixed blade when the rotating handle 120 is turned in the mounting direction.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described specific embodiments, and simple components that can be carried out by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention described in the claims below. Substitutions, additions, deletions, and alterations of are within the scope of the claims.

1 is a sectional view schematically showing a toner cartridge fixing device according to the prior art;

2 is a perspective view showing a toner cartridge fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is an exploded perspective view of the toner cartridge of the toner cartridge fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a perspective view illustrating a rotation handle of the toner cartridge of FIG. 3;

5 is a partial perspective view showing a handle fixing member of the toner cartridge of FIG. 3;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the coupling of the guide groove of the rotary support and the rotating projection of the toner cartridge fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the handle fixing member is fixed to the rotating handle in the toner cartridge fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the handle fixing member is removed from the fixing groove of the rotating handle in the toner cartridge fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

9 is a front view showing an open state of the toner cartridge fixing device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

10 is a front view showing a locked state of the toner cartridge fixing device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

11 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus having a toner cartridge fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state where a toner cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 11; FIG.

14 is a perspective view showing a developing unit according to another embodiment of the present invention in which a toner cartridge is not mounted;

15 is a perspective view showing a non-circular toner cartridge mounted to the developing unit of FIG. 14;

16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 16-16 of the toner cartridge of FIG. 15;

17 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which a toner cartridge is fully mounted in a toner cartridge mounting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the toner cartridge according to one embodiment of the present invention is not completely attached to the toner cartridge mounting portion; FIG.

19 is a front view showing a fixed blade of the rotary handle according to another embodiment of the present invention,
20 is a flowchart illustrating a method of fixing / releasing a toner cartridge of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

100; Toner cartridge holder 110; Toner cartridge

120; Rotary handle 121; Fixed wing

123; Rotating part 124; Guide protrusion

126; Skirt 128; handle

130; Toner tank 133; Rotating support

134; Guide groove 141; Gear

142; Toner supply unit 150; Hang

160; A handle fixing member 161; Fixing groove

162; Push protrusion 164; Protective projection

170; Insertion protrusion 200; Developing Unit

201; Toner cartridge mounting portion 203; Fixed wing guide groove

205; Reference groove 210; Photosensitive media

220; Developing roller 230; Toner supply means

300; An image forming apparatus 301; main body

303; Front cover 310; Print Media Supply Unit

340; Transfer unit 350; Fusing Unit

Claims (56)

A rotatable handle rotatably installed at one end of the toner tank and having a fixed blade formed at an outer circumference thereof; And And a catching part installed in a developing unit to which the toner tank is mounted, and a locking portion into which the fixed blade of the rotating handle is inserted when the rotating handle is rotated by a predetermined angle. The method of claim 1, One end of the toner tank is formed with a ring-shaped rotating support, And a rotating part rotatably formed on the rotating support of the toner tank. The method of claim 2, And a rotating part of the rotating handle is inserted into an inner side or an outer side of the rotating support of the toner tank. The method of claim 2, At least one guide groove or guide protrusion is formed in the rotatable support of the toner tank. The method of claim 4, wherein And a rotation part of the rotation handle comprises at least one guide protrusion or guide groove inserted into at least one guide groove or guide protrusion formed on the rotation support part. The method of claim 5, wherein At least one guide groove and the guide projection formed on the rotating support and the rotating portion is characterized in that the rotating handle is formed to rotate within the range of 45 degrees. The method of claim 2, The rotating part of the rotary handle is formed in a ring shape, characterized in that cut in at least two parts in the longitudinal direction. The method of claim 2, And the rotating handle includes a skirt surrounding the rotating part from the outside. The method of claim 8, Toner cartridge fixing device, characterized in that the fixing blade is installed on the skirt. The method of claim 1, And the rotating handle comprises a handle. The method of claim 1, A handle fixed to the toner tank, wherein the rotation handle does not rotate when the toner tank is not mounted on the developing unit, and the rotation handle rotates when the toner tank is mounted on the developing unit. A toner cartridge fixing device further comprising a member. The method of claim 11, The handle fixing member includes a fixed end fixed to the toner tank and a free end elastically supported away from the toner tank, Toner cartridge fixing device characterized in that the fixing groove is formed inside the rotating handle is inserted into the free end of the handle fixing member. The method of claim 12, And a pusher that is installed in the developing unit and presses the handle fixing member toward the toner tank when the toner tank is mounted. The method of claim 12, And the toner tank further comprises a pair of protective protrusions formed on both sides of the handle fixing member. The method of claim 1, The fixing blade of the rotating handle further comprises an insertion protrusion protruding toward the toner tank. A rotatable handle rotatably installed at one end of the toner tank, the outer blade having a fixed blade formed thereon; A catching part installed in the developing unit to which the toner tank is mounted, and the fixed blade of the rotating handle is inserted when the rotating handle is rotated by a predetermined angle; And A handle fixed to the toner tank, wherein the rotation handle does not rotate when the toner tank is not mounted on the developing unit, and the rotation handle rotates when the toner tank is mounted on the developing unit. Toner cartridge fixing device comprising a member. The method of claim 16, One end of the toner tank is formed with a ring-shaped rotating support, And a rotating part which is inserted into the rotating support of the toner tank and rotates with respect to the rotating support, and a fixing groove into which the handle fixing member is inserted. The method of claim 16, The fixing blade of the rotating handle further comprises an insertion protrusion protruding toward the toner tank. The method of claim 16, And a developing protrusion for pressing the handle fixing member toward the toner tank in the developing unit. A print medium supply unit installed in the main body and supplying print media one by one; An exposure unit for emitting a laser beam corresponding to the print data; At least one toner cartridge mounting unit having a photosensitive medium on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by a laser beam emitted from the exposure unit, and at least one toner cartridge for supplying toner to the photosensitive medium to develop the electrostatic latent image into a toner image; A developing unit comprising a; The toner cartridge fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 19, which fixes the at least one toner cartridge mounted on at least one toner cartridge mounting portion of the developing unit; A transfer unit provided to face the photosensitive medium, and transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive medium to a print medium; And And a front cover installed on the main body to cover the front surface of the developing unit in which the toner cartridge mounting portion is formed. The method of claim 20, And the developing unit includes four toner cartridges and four toner cartridge mounting units, wherein one toner cartridge of the four toner cartridges is larger in size than the other three toner cartridges. The method of claim 21, The toner cartridge having a larger size includes an expansion portion, and one toner cartridge mounting portion of the four toner cartridge mounting portions into which the large size toner cartridge is inserted, corresponds to the other three toner cartridges corresponding to the expansion portion of the large toner cartridge. And the expansion groove is formed in a direction that does not interfere with the three toner cartridge mounting units to which the toner is mounted. Inserting the toner cartridge into the toner cartridge mounting portion of the developing unit; And And rotating the rotating handle provided in the toner cartridge so that the fixed blade provided in the rotating handle rotates in the same direction as the rotating direction of the rotating handle so as to be caught by the catching part of the developing unit. How to Load Toner Cartridges. The method of claim 23, The width of the rotating handle is wider than the width of the fixed blade, the toner cartridge mounting method. The method of claim 23, And the fixed blade of the rotating handle is caught by the catching part of the developing unit when the rotating handle is rotated by 45 degrees. Inserting a toner cartridge having a rotary handle into the toner cartridge mounting portion of the developing unit; Pressing the handle fixing member of the toner cartridge so that the handle fixing member is removed from the fixing groove of the rotary handle by the push protrusion provided in the toner cartridge mounting unit; And And rotating the rotating handle of the toner cartridge so that the fixed blade of the rotating handle is caught by the engaging portion of the developing unit. The method of claim 26, And inserting the reference protrusion formed in the toner cartridge in accordance with the reference groove formed in the toner cartridge mounting portion when inserting the toner cartridge into the toner cartridge mounting portion. Turning the rotating handle of the toner cartridge mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion of the developing unit to remove the fixed blade of the rotating handle from the locking portion of the developing unit; And And removing the toner cartridge from the toner cartridge mounting portion of the developing unit. The method of claim 28, And the fixing blade of the rotating handle is removed from the catching part of the developing unit when the rotating handle is rotated by 45 degrees. The method of claim 28, And a handle fixing member of the toner cartridge is inserted into the fixing groove of the rotary handle when the toner cartridge is removed from the toner cartridge mounting portion. A toner cartridge detachably installed in a developing unit of an image forming apparatus, The toner cartridge, A toner tank storing toner and a rotating handle rotatably installed at one end of the toner tank and having a fixed blade formed on an outer circumference thereof; And the fixed blade is caught by a locking portion provided in the developing unit when the rotating handle is rotated by a predetermined angle. The method of claim 31, wherein One end of the toner tank is formed with a ring-shaped rotating support, And a rotating part inserted into the rotating support of the toner tank and rotatable with respect to the rotating support. The method of claim 32, And a rotating part of the rotating handle is inserted into the inner or outer side of the rotating support of the toner tank. The method of claim 33, wherein At least one guide groove or guide protrusion is formed on the rotation support of the toner tank. And a rotation part of the rotation handle includes at least one guide protrusion or guide groove inserted into at least one guide groove or guide protrusion of the rotation support part. The method of claim 34, wherein At least one guide groove and the guide projection formed on the rotating support and the rotating portion is characterized in that the rotating handle is formed to rotate within the range of 45 degrees. The method of claim 32, The rotating part of the rotating handle is formed in a ring shape, characterized in that cut in at least two parts in the longitudinal direction. The method of claim 32, And the rotating handle includes a skirt surrounding the rotating part from the outside. The method of claim 37, wherein The fixing blade is installed in the skirt, characterized in that the toner cartridge. The method of claim 31, wherein And the rotary handle includes a handle. The method of claim 31, wherein A handle fixed to the toner tank, wherein the rotation handle does not rotate when the toner tank is not mounted on the developing unit, and the rotation handle rotates when the toner tank is mounted on the developing unit. A toner cartridge further comprising a member. The method of claim 40, The handle fixing member includes a fixed end fixed to the toner tank and a free end elastically supported away from the toner tank, Toner cartridges, characterized in that the fixing groove is formed inside the rotating handle is inserted into the free end of the handle fixing member. The method of claim 40, A toner cartridge installed in the developing unit, the pusher pressing the handle fixing member toward the toner tank when the toner tank is mounted. The method of claim 40, The toner tank further comprises a pair of protective protrusions formed on both sides of the handle fixing member. The method of claim 31, wherein The fixed blade of the rotary handle further comprises an insertion protrusion protruding toward the toner tank. A toner tank of a toner cartridge detachably installed in a developing unit of an image forming apparatus, The toner tank stores the toner, and one end of the toner tank is rotatably provided with a rotating handle having a fixed blade. A toner cartridge, wherein the toner tank is fixed to the developing unit when the towing tank is mounted to the developing unit and the rotary handle is rotated by a predetermined angle. Toner tank. The method of claim 45, A handle which is installed in the toner tank and fixed so that the rotating handle does not rotate when the toner tank is not mounted in the developing unit, and that the rotating handle rotates when the toner tank is mounted in the developing unit. A toner tank of the toner cartridge, further comprising a fixing member. A rotating handle of a toner cartridge detachably installed in a developing unit of an image forming apparatus, The rotating handle is rotatably installed at one end of the toner tank of the toner cartridge, and has a fixed blade at its outer periphery, The toner cartridge is fixed to the developing unit after the toner cartridge is mounted to the developing unit and the rotating handle is rotated by a predetermined angle so that the fixing blade is caught by a locking portion installed in the developing unit. Rotary handle. The method of claim 47, The rotating handle further includes a fixing groove into which the handle fixing member installed in the toner tank of the toner cartridge is inserted. When the toner cartridge is not mounted in the developing unit, the handle fixing member is inserted into the fixing groove so that the rotating handle does not rotate. When the toner cartridge is mounted in the developing unit, the handle fixing member is fixed in the fixing groove. The rotating handle of the toner cartridge, characterized in that the rotating handle can be rotated out of. A toner tank installed in a developing unit of an image forming apparatus and storing toner therein, The toner tank includes a toner supply unit for discharging toner, a fixed blade and a rotating handle installed on an opposite side of the toner supply unit in the longitudinal direction of the toner tank, The toner tank is fixed to the developing unit after the toner tank is mounted to the developing unit and the rotating handle is rotated in one direction so that the fixing blade is caught by a catching part installed in the developing unit. Tank. The method of claim 49, And the fixing blade is located at the same level as or below the height at which the toner supply unit is located. The method of claim 49, Toner tank, characterized in that the width of the fixed blade is narrower than the width of the rotary handle. The method of claim 49, And a toner tank, when the toner tank is mounted to the developing unit, an extension part formed to protrude to the upper right side in the height direction of the toner tank opposite to the toner supply part of the toner tank. The method of claim 52, wherein The expanded portion of the toner tank is formed in an elliptical partial cross section thereof, And a plurality of toner tanks are installed in the developing unit of the image forming apparatus, wherein the extension part is formed in a toner tank that stores the most toner of the plurality of toner tanks. A toner tank installed in the developing unit, the toner tank including any one of a fixed blade and a catching part; And It is installed in the toner tank, the rotating handle including the other one of the fixed blade and the locking portion; includes; When the rotating handle is rotated in one direction, the fixed blade is caught in the locking portion, when the rotating handle rotates in the other direction, the fixed blade is fixed to the image forming apparatus toner cartridge fixed, characterized in that Device. A toner cartridge fixing / releasing method for fixing or releasing the toner cartridge to or from the developing unit by rotating the rotary handle of the toner cartridge installed in the toner cartridge mounting portion of the developing unit in one of a mounting direction and a detaching direction. Any one of the fixed blade and the engaging portion is installed on the rotary handle and the other is installed on the developing unit, and when the rotary handle rotates in a detachable direction, any one of the fixed blade and the engaging portion installed on the rotary handle Step of deviating from the other one of the fixed blade and the engaging portion installed in the developing unit; And And when the rotating handle rotates in the mounting direction, any one of the fixed blade and the engaging portion of the rotating handle is caught by the other of the fixed blade and the engaging portion of the developing unit. How to fix / release the toner cartridge of the device. The method of claim 49, The developing unit is provided with another toner tank in the vicinity of the toner tank, And the toner tank includes an extension protruding upward in a direction that does not interfere with the other toner tank.

Images