TW201731705A - Image forming agent storage member - Google Patents

Abstract

An image forming agent storage member which is available to be resupplied image forming agent is disclosed. The image forming agent storage member comprises a housing, an image forming agent entrance, and a fluid-discharge mechanism. The housing is for carrying an image forming agent. The image forming agent entrance is disposed at a side of a short side of the housing. The fluid-discharge mechanism is disposed at a long side of the housing. Wherein, when an image forming agent is added inside the housing by the image forming agent entrance, a fluid inside the housing is discharged by the fluid-discharge mechanism. Wherein, the fluid-discharge mechanism comprises a shielding member which is not located corresponded with the location of the image forming agent entrance on the housing.

Description

Image forming agent storage unit capable of supplementing image forming agent

The present invention relates to an image forming agent storage unit and a transaction machine using the image forming agent storage unit, and more particularly to an image forming agent storage unit that can supplement an image forming agent and a transaction machine using the image forming agent storage unit.

Transaction machines such as printers, copiers, etc. are indispensable for the office. This type of printer has a printing module that is coated on a medium (such as paper) with an image forming agent such as toner or ink to form a predetermined pattern. The image forming agent is a consumable item relative to the transaction machine body and must be replaced or replenished at regular intervals. It is common practice to replace it with a storage unit (toner, ink cartridge, etc.) containing an image forming agent. However, this method is costly, the storage unit cannot be reused, and the unused image forming agent is wasteful, which is not conducive to environmental protection. In recent years, there has been a practice of directly injecting a supplemental image forming agent into an existing storage unit without replacing the storage unit. For the user, it is not necessary to be limited to the image forming agent and the storage unit of a specific brand, but the high-preparity image forming agent replenishing package can be directly purchased, thereby reducing the cost and improving the convenience.

However, the injection of the image forming agent will be encountered in the original storage unit. Great difficulty. The structure of the conventional supplementary image forming agent is as shown in FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b. The image forming agent replenishing bottle 13 replenishes the image forming agent from the image forming agent injection port 11 into the image forming agent storage unit 10. The bottle mouth is designed to be sharp and long. The image forming agent enters the storage unit 10; however, as the image forming agent enters the storage unit 10, a flow L1 from the replenishing bottle to the image forming agent storage unit is formed; correspondingly, the internal air is injected into the image forming agent 11 is discharged from the gap of the bottle mouth, and the air path L2 discharged from the image forming agent storage unit and the refill bottle opening is scattered at the opening along with the image forming agent.

If another hole in which the auxiliary gas flows is designed, the image forming agent is also easily discharged from the hole. If the image forming agent enters the human body through the skin and respiratory tract, it will cause harm to the human body; it will also cause damage to the business machine.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming agent storage unit that can supplement an image forming agent and a transaction machine using the image forming agent storage unit, which can easily supplement the image forming agent and prevent the image forming agent from leaving the image forming agent storage unit. Therefore, it has the effects of environmental protection, convenience, and safety.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming agent storage unit that can supplement an image forming agent, comprising a casing, an image forming agent injection port, and a fluid discharge mechanism. The housing carries an image forming agent. The image forming agent injection port is disposed on a side of the short side of the casing. The fluid discharge mechanism is disposed on a long side of the housing. Wherein, when the image forming agent injection port receives the image forming agent and is added to the inside of the casing, a fluid inside the casing is discharged through the fluid discharging mechanism; The fluid discharge mechanism includes a shielding unit, and the shielding unit is not opposite to the position where the image forming agent injection port is disposed on the casing.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention will be further understood from the following examples and drawings.

S‧‧Media

X, Y, Z‧‧‧ coordinate axis

100‧‧‧Business Machine

10‧‧‧Image Forming Agent Storage Unit

10S‧‧‧ side

11‧‧‧Image Forming Agent Injection

12‧‧‧ housing

13‧‧‧Supplement bottle

L1‧‧‧Airflow from the replenishing bottle to the image forming agent storage unit L1

L2‧‧‧Air path from the image forming agent storage unit and the refill bottle opening

L3‧‧‧ Path

20‧‧‧Chassis

22‧‧‧Storage paper

23‧‧‧Supplement bottle

233‧‧‧ Buffer layer

235‧‧‧stop

24‧‧‧Image Forming Agent Injection

25‧‧‧Output tray

26‧‧‧ Fluid discharge mechanism

261‧‧‧Export

262‧‧‧Drainage channel

263‧‧‧blocking element

264‧‧‧shading unit

266‧‧‧ pores

267‧‧‧Filter layer

30‧‧‧ imaging unit

40‧‧‧Fixing unit

Figure 1a is a schematic diagram of the mechanism of a prior art image forming agent storage unit.

Figure 1b is a schematic illustration of the mechanism of the prior art image forming agent storage unit in use.

2 is a perspective view of a transaction machine that can supplement an image forming agent in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a schematic view of the inside of the image forming agent storage unit and the transaction machine of FIG. 2.

4 is a schematic view showing the separation of the imaging unit, the image forming agent storage unit and the casing of FIG. 2.

Figure 5a is a top plan view of an image forming agent storage unit in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5b is a left side elevational view of an image forming agent storage unit in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5c is a semi-perspective view of an image forming agent storage unit in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

6a and 6b are schematic diagrams of controlling the shielding unit in the fluid discharge mechanism, wherein FIG. 6a shows the shielding unit in a closed state, and FIG. 6b shows the shielding unit in a communicating state.

7a, 7b and 7c are schematic views showing the use of an image forming agent storage unit.

2 is a supplemental image forming agent in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the image forming agent storage unit and the transaction machine of FIG. 2 . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the printer 100 has a casing 20, an image forming agent storage unit 10, an image forming unit 30, and a fixing unit 40. The imaging unit 30 is mounted inside the casing 20 to form a predetermined image on the medium S (for example, paper, transparent sheet). Although the photosensitive drum of the laser printer is illustrated as an example in the present embodiment, it is not limited thereto. The imaging unit 30 can also be an inkjet head of an inkjet printer, or other imaging unit that can form a solid image on the medium S. The image forming agent storage unit 10 is disposed on one side of the imaging unit 30. The fixing unit 40 is also mounted inside the casing 20 for fixing the image formed by the imaging unit 30 to the medium S. For example, in the present embodiment, the hot-pressing roller group is taken as an example, and an image forming agent such as carbon powder is melted on the surface of the medium S by high temperature and high pressure. However, the invention is not limited thereto. The transaction machine 100 also includes a paper cassette 22 that carries the media S. The medium S is imaged via the image forming unit 30, the image is fixed by the fixing unit 40, and finally discharged to the paper discharge tray 25.

4 is a schematic view showing the separation of the imaging unit, the image forming agent storage unit and the casing of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the image forming agent storage unit 10 can be detached from the casing 20.

5a-5c are schematic views of an image forming agent storage unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5a is a plan view of an image forming agent storage unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5b is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5c is a perspective view of the image forming agent storage unit in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 5a to 5c, the image forming agent storage unit 10 includes a casing 12, an image forming agent injection port 24, and a fluid discharge mechanism 26. For housing 12 The image forming agent may be a substance capable of being applied to the medium S such as carbon powder or ink to carry an image forming agent (not shown). The image forming agent injection port 24 is provided at one end of the casing 12, and the image forming agent can be injected from the image forming agent injection port 24 into the inside of the casing 12. The image forming agent injection port 24 may further include a plug cover that normally closes the opening of the image forming agent injection port 24. When the image forming agent is to be added, the cap is removed. The fluid discharge mechanism 26 is provided on the surface of the other end of the casing 12 with respect to the image forming agent injection port 24, away from the image forming agent injection port 24. This is because if the distance between the fluids passing between the two holes is too close, it is difficult for the image forming agent to sufficiently fill the image forming agent storage unit 10, so that in addition to the distance between the two holes, the casing 12 or the block can be utilized. The block elongates the fluid path.

As shown in FIG. 5b, when the image forming agent is filled, the image forming agent injection port 24 is located on the side of the short side of the image forming agent storage unit 10 (or is located on the side 10S of the image forming agent storage unit 10 of FIG. When the user replenishes the toner, the image forming agent storage unit 10 assumes an upright state, and at the same time, the image forming agent injection port 24 is located above, and the carbon powder is injected from the upper end of the long side of the casing 12, for the user. In terms of ergonomics, the force to be consumed is small, and such a toner injection method can inject the required toner into the casing 12 at a time.

As shown in Figure 5c, Figure 5c is a semi-perspective view of an image forming agent storage unit in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The fluid discharge mechanism 26 is located on the long side of the image forming agent storage unit 10, and the image forming agent can be naturally deposited downward by gravity without leaving the image forming agent storage unit 10 during the filling process. When the image forming agent injection port 24 receives the image forming agent and is added to the inside of the casing 12, the fluid inside the casing 12 is discharged through the fluid discharge mechanism 26. Wherein the fluid discharge mechanism 26 includes a cover The shielding unit 264 is disposed at one end of the fluid discharge mechanism 26, and the shielding unit 264 does not correspond to the position where the image forming agent injection port 24 is disposed on the casing 12; the shielding unit 264 and the image forming agent injection port 24 are in the casing 12 The upper surface may be disposed on the same side or two adjacent surfaces (such as the side and the top), and the distance on the housing 12 is not limited. The fluid may comprise any flowable gas, liquid or solid present within the interior of the housing 12. In addition, the fluid discharge mechanism 26 also restricts the image forming agent in the fluid from leaving the image forming agent storage unit 10. The mechanism is as follows.

Preferably, the length of the fluid discharge mechanism is longer than one half of the long side of the housing 12. Wherein, the fluid discharge mechanism restricts the image forming agent from leaving the image forming agent storage unit.

The fluid discharge mechanism 26 further includes a discharge port 261, a discharge passage 262, and a blocking member 263. An aperture 266 is provided at the end of the passage of the fluid discharge mechanism 26. 6a and 6b are schematic diagrams of controlling the shielding unit in the image forming agent storage unit, wherein the shielding unit 264 of FIG. 6a assumes a closed state, and the shielding unit 264 of FIG. 6b assumes a communicating state. As shown in the closed state of FIG. 6a, the discharge port 261 is provided in the shielding unit 264, and the discharge port 261 and the discharge passage 262 are disposed in parallel, so that the fluid inside the casing 12 cannot be separated from the inside of the casing 12 via the discharge port 261. As shown in the communicating state of FIG. 6b, the discharge port 261 is disposed in the shielding unit 264, and the discharge port 261 and the discharge channel 262 are disposed vertically, so that the inside of the casing 12 communicates with the discharge passage 262, so that the fluid inside the casing 12 is discharged through the row. The outlet 261 exits the interior of the housing 12. One end of the discharge passage 262 is connected to the outer side of the discharge port 261 to provide fluid passage therethrough. The blocking member 263 is disposed in the discharge passage 262 for restricting the image forming agent from leaving the image forming agent storage unit 10 and discharging The path of the track 262 is more curved and elongated. In the present embodiment, the blocking member 263 is represented in a fence shape for blocking the image forming agent mixed in the fluid discharged from the discharge port 261, forcing the image forming agent to be deposited in the discharge passage 262 without being diffused to the image forming agent storage unit. 10 outside. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and the blocking member 263 may also be a mesh, a sheet, or any mechanism that facilitates preventing the image forming agent from leaving the image forming agent storage unit.

Referring to FIG. 6a, when the shielding unit 264 is in the closed state, the fluid inside the blocking housing 12 is discharged through the discharge port 261. When the user wants to supplement the image forming agent, as long as the shielding unit 264 is in the communicating state (as shown in FIG. 6b), the inside of the casing 12 communicates with the discharge passage 262, and the image forming agent 24 can be smoothly injected into the image forming port. Agent. After the addition is completed, it is returned to the off state, blocking any fluid or image forming agent from leaving the image forming agent storage unit 10.

The opening and closing of the fluid inside the casing through the discharge port of the shielding unit 264 controls the fluid to leave the interior of the casing.

Preferably, the opening and closing manner of the discharge port of the shielding unit 264 can be controlled by clockwise or counterclockwise operation, that is, can be controlled by rotation.

Preferably, the shielding unit 264 is a knob.

Preferably, the blocking elements 263 are staggered in a left-right direction.

Preferably, the blocking elements 263 are staggered up and down.

5a-5c and 6a-6b, the fluid moves along the dotted arrow from the discharge opening 261 of the shielding unit 264 to the discharge passage 262, and the blocking member 263 blocks the image forming agent mixed in the fluid, and the fluid passes through the curved discharge passage 262. ,At last The image forming agent storage unit 10 exits the aperture 266 (shown in phantom). Blocked by the blocking element 263, the image forming agent that can reach the end of the discharge channel 262 to the aperture 266 is relatively small, thus achieving a safe, clean, and the like, and making the aperture 266 less susceptible to clogging without frequent cleaning or replacement. In the present embodiment, the aperture 266 is a vent hole formed by the upper cover of the image forming agent storage unit 10, but the invention is not limited thereto, and the aperture may be in the form of any narrow hole capable of discharging fluid, for example, disposed in the aperture. 266 or the screen of the housing 12, or a combination of a screen and a vent.

That is, the fluid discharge mechanism 26 is provided for the purpose of allowing the image forming agent to be smoothly injected from the image forming agent injection port 24 to the image forming agent storage unit 10 by discharging the fluid existing inside the image forming agent storage unit 10. Moreover, by the blocking member 263 disposed in the discharge passage 262, the image forming agent which may be discharged in the fluid can be restricted and deposited on the fluid discharge mechanism 26 without being diffused to the outside to affect the human body and the environment. With such a mechanism, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect of facilitating the addition of an image forming agent, a light structure, safety, and environmental protection.

Fig. 7a also shows an enlarged view of the position of the refill bottle 23 and the image forming agent injection port 24 and the structure of the refill bottle opening. The position of the refill bottle 23 port and the image forming agent injection port 24 to replenish the image forming agent is also shown in FIG. 7a; the outer dimension of the refill bottle 23 mouth is approximately equal to the inner circumference of the image forming agent injection port 24, so that the replenishment A bottle of 23 bottles can be placed in the image forming agent injection port 24. The bottle mouth of the refill bottle 23 further includes a stopper portion 235 for limiting the depth at which the bottle opening of the refill bottle 23 is placed in the image forming agent injection port 24. Wherein, the junction of the stopping portion 235 and the image forming agent injection port 24 further comprises a buffer layer 233 for blocking the image forming agent from the joint. overflow. The stop portion 235 and the supplementary bottle 23 may be integrally formed or snapped; wherein the buffer layer 233 may be foam. In another example, the buffer layer 233 is formed on the image forming agent storage unit 10, and may be sealingly bonded to the replenishing bottle 23 or may be in sealing engagement with the cap of the image forming agent injection port 24. Therefore, the combination of the image forming agent storage unit 10 and the supplemental bottle 23 provided by the present invention is also advantageous for the user to perform the supplementary operation. Further, the fluid discharge mechanism 26 further includes a shielding unit 264 having a exposed state to expose the discharge port 261 and a shielding state to shield the discharge port 261. 7a-7c are schematic views showing the use of the image forming agent storage unit. The image forming agent replenishing bottle 23 replenishes the image forming agent from the image forming agent injection port 24 in the negative X direction to the image forming agent storage unit 10. The image forming agent injection port 24 is closely sealed to prevent the image forming agent from entering the storage unit 10, and the internal air is discharged in the gap between the image forming agent injection port 24 and the bottle mouth; as the image forming agent enters the storage unit 10, it is redundant The air volume may overflow from the discharge port 261 of the shielding unit 264 exhibiting the communication state, as shown by the path L3, to prevent unnecessary loss of image forming agent, and also to effectively reduce the frequency of the cleaning fluid discharge mechanism 26 and extend Service life.

Wherein, at the opening 266 of the discharge passage 262, a filter layer 267 is further provided for filtering the image forming agent in the discharge passage 262 to clean the air discharged by the supplementary image forming agent. The filter layer 267 may be a filter, a foam, a non-woven fabric, a gauze, an activated carbon, a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA), or the like. Therefore, the gas flow L1 flows in the negative X direction, the gas is discharged from the discharge port 261 to the discharge passage 262 in the negative Y direction, and finally along the Z direction. The path L3 is discharged from the filter layer 267. In other examples, the ejected path L3 may also face positive or negative X, or toward the positive or negative Y direction.

In summary, the present invention provides an image forming agent storage unit that can supplement an image forming agent and a transaction machine using the image forming agent storage unit, which can easily supplement the image forming agent and prevent the image forming agent from leaving the image forming agent storage unit. The structure is light, the consumption of consumables is reduced, and it has many effects such as environmental protection, convenience, and safety. It is a rare invention.

The specific embodiments of the present invention are intended to be illustrative only and not to limit the scope of the present invention to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims. The circumstances in which various changes are made are within the scope of the invention.

10‧‧‧Image Forming Agent Storage Unit

261‧‧‧Export

262‧‧‧Drainage channel

263‧‧‧blocking element

264‧‧‧shading unit

267‧‧‧Filter layer

Claims (14)

An image forming agent storage unit capable of supplementing an image forming agent, comprising: a casing for carrying an image forming agent; an image forming agent injection port disposed on a side of a short side of the casing; and a fluid discharge The mechanism is disposed on the long side of the casing; wherein when the image forming agent injection port receives the image forming agent and is added to the inside of the casing, a fluid inside the casing is discharged through the fluid discharging mechanism; wherein The fluid discharge mechanism includes a shielding unit, and the shielding unit does not correspond to a position where the image forming agent injection port is disposed on the housing. The image forming agent storage unit of claim 1, wherein the fluid discharge mechanism has a length longer than one half of the long side of the housing. The image forming agent storage unit of claim 1 or 2, wherein the fluid discharge mechanism restricts the image forming agent from leaving the image forming agent storage unit. The image forming agent storage unit of claim 1 or 2, wherein the shielding unit is disposed at one end of the fluid discharge mechanism. The image forming agent storage unit of claim 4, wherein the fluid discharge mechanism further comprises: a discharge passage, one end of the discharge passage is connected to the shielding unit; and a plurality of blocking members disposed in the discharge passage For limiting the image forming agent from leaving the image forming agent storage unit. The image forming agent storage unit of claim 5, wherein the blocking element extends the path of the discharge passage. The image forming agent storage unit of claim 4, wherein the fluid inside the casing is controlled to open and close by a discharge port of the shielding unit to control the fluid to leave the interior of the casing. The image forming agent storage unit of claim 7, wherein the opening and closing of the discharge port of the shielding unit is rotatable. The image forming agent storage unit of claim 5, wherein the blocking element is staggered up and down. The image forming agent storage unit of claim 6, wherein the blocking element is staggered in a left-right direction. The image forming agent storage unit of claim 8, wherein the shielding unit is a knob. The image forming agent storage unit of claim 1, wherein the shielding unit has a exposed state to expose the discharge port, and a shielding state to shield the discharge port; and the shielding unit is in the shielding state. The fluid blocking the inside of the casing is discharged through the discharge port. The image forming agent storage unit of claim 1, wherein the fluid discharge mechanism further comprises a filter layer for filtering the image forming agent in the fluid discharge mechanism. The image forming agent storage unit according to claim 13, wherein the filter layer comprises a filter, a foam, a non-woven fabric, a gauze, an activated carbon or a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA).