WO2024091294A1

WO2024091294A1 - Printer device for preventing arbitrary toner cartridge removal

Info

Publication number: WO2024091294A1
Application number: PCT/US2023/019497
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jaeil YU; Changwoo Lee; Heonjoo KIM; Jeong-Yeon Park
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2022-10-26
Filing date: 2023-04-21
Publication date: 2024-05-02
Also published as: KR20240058564A

Abstract

A printer device can include a body comprising a mounting hole to receive a toner cartridge and an opening that extends to an outside from the mounting hole to form an access passage to the toner cartridge mounted in the mounting hole. The cover can move to a first position to close the opening and a second position to open the opening. The driving portion drives the cover to the first and second positions.

Description

PRINTER DEVICE FOR PREVENTING ARBITRARY TONER CARTRIDGE REMOVAL

BACKGROUND

[0001] A printer device using an electrophotographic method may include supplying toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor to form a visible toner image on the photoconductor, and, after transferring the toner image to the print medium through the intermediate transfer medium or directly, fixing the transferred toner image to the print medium.

[0002] The printer device may include a toner cartridge that is attachable and detachable to and from the body. The toner cartridge may be replaced when toner runs out. If the toner contained inside the toner cartridge is consumed, the toner cartridge may be removed from the body and a new toner cartridge may be mounted on the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an example of a printer device consistent with the disclosure;

[0004] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the printer device according to an example showing an example in which the cover is positioned in a first position consistent with the disclosure;

[0005] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the printer device according to an example showing an example state in which the cover is positioned in the second position consistent with the disclosure;

[0006] FIG. 4 is a partial front view of an example of the printer device consistent with the disclosure;

[0007] FIG. 5 is a partial front view of an example of the printer device consistent with the disclosure;

[0008] FIG. 6 is a partial front view of an example of the printer device consistent with the disclosure;

[0009] FIG. 7 is a schematic partial side view of the printer device according to an example showing an example in which the cover is positioned in the first position consistent with the disclosure; [0010] FIG. 8 is a schematic partial side view of the printer device according to an example showing an example in which the cover is positioned in a second position; and

[0011] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of an example of the printer device consistent with the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] A printer device that prints an image on a print medium by an electrophotographic method may include a replaceable toner cartridge. A mounting hole in which a toner cartridge is mounted may be included in a body of the printer device. In a structure in which a toner cartridge is exposed when a main door is opened, the user may replace the toner cartridge without going through an appropriate replacement procedure, thereby causing an error of the printer device. In addition, before all toners contained in the toner cartridge are consumed, the user may inappropriately (e.g., arbitrarily) replace the toner cartridge, which may cost unnecessary consumables. In some approaches, a structure in which the toner cartridge is partially pushed using a coupler which drives a transport member inside the toner cartridge to switch the toner cartridge to a replaceable state may be used. However, such a structure may use components with strong driving force to push heavy toner cartridges, and with rigidity and dimensional accuracy to withstand the force.

[0013] An examples printer device of the disclosure has a structure which may reduce or prevent inappropriate replacement of the toner cartridge by opening and closing an access passage to the toner cartridge. In such an example, the body of the printer device may include a mounting hole in which the toner cartridge may be mounted, and an opening that extends to the outside from the mounting hole to form an access passage to the toner cartridge mounted in the mounting hole. A cover may move to a first position to close the opening and a second position to open the opening. A driving portion may drive the cover to the first and second positions. In some examples, when the cover is in the first position, the access passage may be closed, and thus, there may not be space for a user to hold the toner cartridge. When the cover is in the second position, because the access passage is open, the user may hold the toner cartridge through the access passage and remove the toner cartridge from the body. Thus, inappropriate and/or abnormal replacement of the toner cartridge may be reduced.

[0014] For example, the body may include a mounting panel with a mounting hole and an opening. The front surface of the mounting panel, that is, a surface of the mounting panel exposed when the main door is opened, may be side-by-side with the front surface portion of the toner cartridge in a state in which the toner cartridge is mounted in the mounting hole. In such an instance, it may be difficult to hold the toner cartridge when the cover is in the first position.

[0015] The toner cartridge may move from a mounted position in which the toner cartridge is mounted in the mounting hole to a click position in which the toner cartridge is further inserted in a mounting direction. An image forming apparatus may include a locking member in conjunction with the click operation of the toner cartridge to selectively allow the removal of the toner cartridge. An elastic member may add elastic power to the toner cartridge in a direction returning from the click position to the mounting position. A click limit member can selectively allow the click operation of the toner cartridge. When clicking of the toner cartridge is allowed through the click limit member, removal of the toner cartridge may be allowed, and when clicking of the toner cartridge is limited, the removal of the toner cartridge may not be allowed. In such examples, inappropriate and/or abnormal replacement of the toner cartridge may be prevented.

[0016] The toner cartridge may include a holding portion which the user may hold. The holding portion may be aligned with the opening. The holding portion can be located inside the mounting hole. In such examples, by positioning the cover in the second position, the toner cartridge may be removed from the body by accessing the holding portion through the opening.

[0017] In some examples, the cover may switch to the first and second positions in various ways. For example, the cover may be slid to the first and second positions. For example, the cover may be slid in the mounting direction of the toner cartridge, that is, toward the inside of mounting hole, to move from the first position to the second position. For example, the cover may be pivoted to the first and second positions.

[0018] The driving portion, which switches the cover to the first and second positions, may be implemented in various forms. For example, the driving portion may lock the cover in the first position. According to such a configuration, because the cover is maintained in the first position even when the user applies physical force to the cover, inappropriate and/or abnormal replacement of the toner cartridge by the user may be prevented. For example, the driving portion may include a pinion, a worm gear engaged with the pinion, and a motor that rotates the worm gear. The pinion-worm gear structure itself can have a locking function.

[0019] For example, a structure in which the cover slides to the first and second positions may be used by a pinion and a rack gear provided on the cover in engagement with the pinion. For instance, a structure in which the cover rotates to the first and second positions may be used by an operation arm having an end portion eccentrically connected to the pinion and the other end portion connected to the cover.

[0020] An example printer device may include a toner cartridge including a front surface portion and a holding portion inwardly apart from the front surface portion, a mounting panel including a mounting hole into which the toner cartridge is mounted, and a front surface that is side-by-side with the front surface portion of the toner cartridge such that the toner cartridge is mounted in the mounting hole, The example printer device can include an opening that extends from the mounting hole to the outside to form an access passage to the holding portion of the toner cartridge mounted in the mounting hole and a cover movable to a first position to close the opening and a second position to open the opening.

[0021] The example printer device may include a mounting panel comprising a mounting hole to receive a toner cartridge (e.g.,the toner cartridge is mountable into the mounting hole) and an opening that extends from the mounting hole to the outside to form an access passage to the toner cartridge mounted in the mounting hole. In some instances, the example printer device can include a cover movable to a first position to close the opening, a second position to open the opening, and a driving portion to move the cover to the first position and the second position, and to lock the cover in the first position.

[0022] Hereinafter, examples of the printer device will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference sign in the drawings refers to the components with the same function, and the size of each component may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of the description.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an example of a printer device consistent with the disclosure. Referring to FIG. 1, the printer device may include a user interface 9, a door opening and closing sensor 8, a controller 200, a body 1, and a toner cartridge 2 attachable to and detachable from the body 1. The body 1 may include a mounting hole 3, an opening 4, a cover 5, a mounting panel 6 having a front surface 61, and a user interface. The toner cartridge 2 may include a front surface portion 21 and a holding portion 22 and may be mounted in the mounting hole 3. For example, the toner cartridge 2 may be mounted in the body 1 by being slid in a mounting direction Al and inserted into the mounting hole 3 such that the toner cartridge 2 is aligned with the mounting hole 3. The toner cartridge 2 may be slid in a removal direction A2 and removed from the body 1. The opening 4 may extend from the mounting hole 3 to the outside. The opening 4 may form an access passage to the toner cartridge 2 for removing the toner cartridge 2 from the mounting hole 3. The cover 5 may open and close the opening 4.

[0024] In some examples, the printer device body 1 may include a printing portion for printing an image on a print medium P using an electrophotographic approach. The printing portion may include a photoconductor, a charger, an optical scanner, a developing device, a transfer unit, and a fuser. The fuser may form an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the photoconductor by irradiating light modulated in accordance with image information on the surface of the photoconductor which is charged to a uniform surface potential. The developing device may supply a toner to the electrostatic latent image to develop the electrostatic latent image to a visible toner image. The transfer unit may transfer the toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor to the print medium P. The transferred toner image may be attached to the print medium P by an electrostatic force. The fuser may apply heat and pressure to the toner image to fix the toner image on the print medium P. The toner cartridge 2 may be connected to the developing device to supply toner therein to the developing device. If the toners contained in the toner cartridge 2 are consumed, the toner cartridge 2 may be replaced with a new toner cartridge.

[0025] The body 1 may include the mounting hole 3. The mounting hole 3 may be extend in the mounting direction Al . The main door 7 may open a portion of the main body 1. The door opening and closing sensor 8 may detect whether the main door 7 is opened or closed. When the main door 7 is open, the mounting hole 3 may be exposed, and the toner cartridge 2 may be slid to the mounting direction Al or the removal direction A2 to mount/remove the toner cartridge 2 in or from the mounting hole 3. In order to reduce a likelihood of the user inappropriately and/or abnormally removing the toner cartridge 2 from the mounting hole 3, the cover 5 may be in a first position to close the opening 4. In order to allow the removal of the toner cartridge 2, the cover 5 may switch to a second position to open the opening 4. The user may hold the toner cartridge 2 through the opened opening 4 and pull the toner cartridge 2 in the removal direction A2 to remove the toner cartridge 2 from the body 1.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing the printer device in a state in which the cover 5 is positioned in the first position, according to an example consistent with the disclosure. FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the printer device in a state in which the cover 5 is positioned in the second position, according to an example consistent with the disclosure. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the body (e.g., body 1 illustrated in FIG. 1) may include a mounting panel 6. The mounting panel 6 is a front surface portion of the body exposed when the main door (e.g., main door 7 illustrated in FIG. 1) is opened. The mounting hole 3 may be formed open in the mounting panel 6. The opening 4 may extend from the mounting hole 3 to the outside. In the present example, the opening 4 may be formed by partially extending the upper portion of the mounting hole 3 in an upward direction. The cover 5 may be slid to the first position and the second position that closes and opens the opening 4. The cover 5 may be slid in the mounting and removal directions Al and A2 of the toner cartridge 2. For example, the cover 5 may be slid in the mounting direction Al from the first position to the second position and may be slid in the removal direction A2 from the second position to the first position.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, a front surface portion 21 of the toner cartridge 2 may be side- by-side with a front surface 61 of the mounting panel 6 when the toner cartridge 2 is mounted in the mounting hole 3. Here, "side-by-side" means that there is no step between the front surface portion 21 of the toner cartridge 2 and the front surface 61 of the mounting panel 6 in the mounting direction Al or the removal direction A2, or there is not a step between the front surface portion 21 of the toner cartridge 2 and the front surface 61 of the mounting panel 6, which may be large enough to allow the user to hold the toner cartridge 2 by hand. The size of the opening 4 is not limited, however. The size of the opening 4 can be large enough for the user to hold and pull the toner cartridge 2 in the removal direction A2 through the opening 4 when the cover 5 is positioned in the second position. For example, the size of the opening

4 is large enough if the hand of the user fits in.

[0028] A driving unit 10 may drive (e.g., slide) the cover 5 to the first and second positions. The driving portion 10 may lock the cover 5 in the first position. Locking the cover 5 in the first position means that the cover 5 is not pushed to the second position even when the cover

5 positioned in the first position is pushed. For example, the driving portion 10 may include a self-locking pinion-worm gear structure. The driving portion 10 may include a pinion 101, a worm gear 102 engaged with the pinion 101, and a motor 103 that rotates the worm gear 102. The cover 5 may include a rack gear 51 engaged with the pinion 101. In some examples, drive transmission from the worm gear 102 to the pinion 101 may be possible but drive transmission from the pinion 101 to the worm gear 102 may not be possible. Thus, the pinion 101 may rotate by driving the worm gear 102, but the worm gear 102 may not rotate by driving the pinion 101. Therefore, by driving the motor 103 to rotate the worm gear 102 and the pinion 101, the cover 5 may move to the first and second positions. On the other hand, in some examples in which the cover 5 is positioned in the first position, because the pinion 101 does not rotate when the cover 5 is pushed to the second position, for example, the removal direction A2, the cover 5 may be locked and maintained in the first position. The switching of the cover 5 to the first and second positions may be implemented by forward/reverse- rotation of the motor 103. Examples of the driving portion 10 are not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The driving portion 10 may be implemented by a variety of mechanisms including an actuator, for example, a rotary motor, a linear motor, and/or a solenoid.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, a controller 200 may include a processor, for example, a central processing unit (CPU). The controller 200 may include a memory. The memory may store an application program including various instructions to control the printing process and various control parameters for control. The processor may execute instructions (e.g., machine readable instructions) to control the printing process. Although not shown, the controller 200 may include a communicator to communicate with a host. The controller 200 may include a driving circuit for driving a variety of control elements, for example, the driving portion (e.g., the driving portion 10 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0030] An example of the operation of the printer device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. First, referring to FIG. 2, the toner cartridge 2 can be mounted in the mounting hole 3. The cover 5 can be positioned in the first position. In such an example, when the main door (e.g., main door 7 illustrated in FIG. 1) is opened, the mounting panel 6 and the front surface portion 21 of the toner cartridge 2 is exposed. There may not be a step between the front surface 61 of the mounting panel 6 and the front surface portion 21 of the toner cartridge 2. In addition, because the opening 4 is blocked by the cover 5 positioned in the first position, the access passage to the toner cartridge 2 may be blocked. Because the cover 5 is locked in the first position by the driving portion 10, even if the cover 5 is pushed to the mounting direction Al, the cover 5 may remain in the first position without being pushed. Therefore, the toner cartridge 2 may not be inappropriately and/or abnormally removed from the body 1 because the toner cartridge 2 cannot be held.

[0031] Referring again to FIGS. 1 to 3, the toner cartridge 2 may be replaced, for example, when the toner remaining amount is equal to or lower than a reference remaining amount corresponding to a replacement period of the toner cartridge 2. In some examples, the toner cartridge 2 includes a front surface portion 21 and a holding portion 22. The toner cartridge 2 or the body 1 may include a sensor that detects whether the toner remaining amount in the toner cartridge 2 has reached the reference remaining amount. For example, when the toner remaining amount in the toner cartridge 2 is detected to be equal to or lower than the reference level, the controller 200 may output a message to replace the toner cartridge 2 through a user interface 9. In some examples, when the door opening and closing sensor 8 detects that the main door 7 is opened, the controller 200 may output a message requesting an input of a command to execute the replacement of the toner cartridge 2 to the user interface 9. When the command to execute the replacement of the toner cartridge 2 is input through the user interface 9, the controller 200 may execute instructions to slide the cover 5 in the mounting direction Al using the driving portion 10 from the first position to the second position. When the cover 5 reaches the second position, the opening 4 can open as shown in FIG. 3. Through the opening 4, the user may, for example, put the hand into the opening 4, hold the toner cartridge 2, and pull the toner cartridge 2 in the removal direction A2 to remove the toner cartridge 2 from the body 1.

[0032] Referring again to FIGS. 1 to 3, in some examples, the user may align the new toner cartridge 2 with the mounting hole 3 and push the toner cartridge 2 in the mounting direction Al to mount the toner cartridge 2 in the body 1. When the door opening and closing sensor 8 detects that the main door 7 is closed, the controller 200 may execute instructions to slide the cover 5 in the removal direction A2 using the driving portion 10 from the second position to the first position. The cover 5 may return to the first position and be locked in the first position. In such examples, inappropriate and/or abnormal removal of the toner cartridge 2 may be prevented.

[0033] In such examples, because the removal of the toner cartridge 2 is allowed by the operation of the user interface 9, inappropriate and/or abnormal replacement of the toner cartridge 2 may be prevented. In addition, because the structure of the toner cartridge 2 is not changed, the toner cartridge 2 may be more freely designed. In some examples, strong driving force may not be necessary, so the strength of the components of the driving portion 10 may be lower and the risk of damage reduced.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 again, the toner cartridge 2 may include a holding portion 22. The holding portion 22 may have a shape such that the user can hold by hand and remove the toner cartridge 2. For example, the holding portion 22 may be partially immersed inwardly from the outer portion of the toner cartridge 2. The holding portion 22 may be in a position aligned with the opening 4. The holding portion 22 may be located inside the mounting hole 3 when the toner cartridge 2 is mounted in the mounting hole 3. In some examples, the holding portion 22 may be immersed from the upper portion of the toner cartridge 2 in a position apart in the mounting direction Al from the front surface portion 21 of the toner cartridge 2. In such examples, because the opening 4 is blocked when the cover 5 is positioned in the first position, access to the holding portion 22 is blocked, and inappropriate and/or abnormal removal of the toner cartridge 2 may be prevented. When the cover 5 is positioned in the second position, the opening 4 is opened and access to the holding portion 22 through the opening 4 is allowed. The position and number of the opening 4 and the cover 5 are not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a partial front view of an example of the printer device consistent with the disclosure. The body (e.g., body 1 illustrated in FIG. 1) of the printer device may include a mounting panel 6. The mounting panel 6 is a front surface portion of the body exposed when the main door (e.g., main door 7 illustrated in FIG. 1) is opened. Referring to FIG. 4, openings

4-1 and 4-2 are formed at the upper and lower portions of the mounting hole 3, respectively. In some examples, the opening 4-1 is formed by partially extending the upper portion of the mounting hole 3 in an upward direction, and the opening 4-2 is formed by partially extending the lower portion of the mounting hole 3 in a downward direction. The covers 5-1 and 5-2 may move (e.g., slide) to the first position and second position to close and open each of the openings 4-1 and 4-2. The covers 5-1 and 5-2 may be slid to the first and second positions by the driving portion (e.g., driving portion 10 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). For example, the cover

5-1 and 5-2 may be connected to each other by a connection portion 5-3. In some examples, the toner cartridge 2 may be removed from the body 1 by holding and pulling the upper and lower portions of the toner cartridge 2 in the removal direction A2 through the openings 4-1 and 4-2 such that the covers 5-1 and 5-2 are positioned in the second position. In this case, the toner cartridge 2 may include the holding portion (e.g., holding portion 22 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3) on a side of the upper portion and the lower portion. The holding portion may not be provided in some examples.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a partial front view of an example of the printer device consistent with the disclosure. The body (e.g., body 1 illustrated in FIG. 1) of the printer device may include the mounting panel 6. Referring to FIG. 5, the opening 4 can be formed on a side of the mounting hole 3. The opening 4 may be formed by partially extending a side portion of the mounting hole 3 in a transverse direction. The cover 5 may move (e.g., slide) to the first position and the second position to close and open the opening 4. The cover 5 may be slid to the first and second positions by the driving portion (e.g., driving portions 10 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). In such an example, the holding portion (e.g., holding portion 22 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3) may be provided on the side of the toner cartridge 2 in the transverse direction.

[0037] FIG. 6 is a partial front view of an example of the printer device consistent with the disclosure. The body (e.g., body 1 illustrated in FIG. 1) of the printer device may include the mounting panel 6. Referring to FIG. 6, openings 4-1 and 4-2 can each be formed at both sides of the mounting hole 3. The opening 4-1 can be formed by partially and transversely extending a side portion of the transverse direction of the mounting hole 3, and the opening 4-2 can be formed by partially and transversely extending the other side portion of the transverse direction of the mounting hole 3. The covers 5-1 and 5-2 may move (e.g., slide) to the first position and second position to close and open each of the openings 4-1 and 4-2. The covers 5-1 and 5-2 may be slid to the first and second positions by the driving portion (e.g., driving portion 10 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). For example, the covers 5-1 and 5-2 may be connected to each other by the connection portion 5-3. In some examples, the toner cartridge 2 may be removed from the body by holding and pulling both sides of the transverse direction of the toner cartridge 2 in the removal direction (e.g., direction A2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) through the openings 4-1 and 4-2 in a state in which the covers 5-1 and 5-2 are positioned in the second position. The toner cartridge 2 may include the holding portion (e.g., holding portion 22 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3) on at least one side of both sides of the transverse direction of the toner cartridge 2. The holding portion 22 may not be provided in some examples. The cover 5 may rotate to the first and second positions.

[0038] FIG. 7 is a schematic partial side view showing an example in which the cover 5 is positioned in the first position consistent with the disclosure. FIG. 8 is a schematic partial side view showing the printer device in an example which the cover 5 is positioned in the second position, consistent with the disclosure. The mounting panel (e.g., mounting panel 6 illustrated in FIGS. 1-5) is omitted in FIGS. 7 and 8. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the cover 5 may be supported by the body (e.g., the mounting panel) to rotate around a hinge 5a to the first and second positions. The cover 5 may rotate to the mounting and removal directions Al and A2 of the toner cartridge 2 to switch to the first and second positions.

[0039] A driving portion 100 may rotatably drive the cover 5 to the first and second positions in some examples. The driving portion 100 may lock the cover 5 in the first position. For example, the driving portion 100 may include the pinion 101, the worm gear 102 engaged with the pinion 101, and the motor 103 that rotates the worm gear 102. The driving portion 100 may include an operating arm 104 of which an end portion is eccentrically connected to the pinion 101 and the other end portion 104b is connected to the cover 5. In such examples, drive transmission from the worm gear 102 to the pinion 101 may be possible but drive transmission from the pinion 101 to the worm gear 102 may not be possible. Therefore, by driving the motor 103 to rotate the worm gear 102 and the pinion 101, the cover 5 may move to the first and second positions. On the other hand, in an example in which the cover 5 is positioned in the first position, because the pinion 101 does not rotate when the cover 5 is pushed to the second position, for example, the removal direction A2, the cover 5 may be locked and maintained in the first position. Examples of the driving portion 100 are not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The driving portion 100 may be implemented by a variety of mechanisms including an actuator, for example, a rotary motor, a linear motor, and/or a solenoid.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 7, the toner cartridge 2 can be mounted in the mounting hole (e.g., mounting hole 3 shown in FIGS. 1-6). The cover 5 can be positioned in the first position. In this example, when the main door (e.g., main door 7 illustrated in FIG. 1) is opened, the front surface portion (e.g., front surface portion 21 shown in FIGS. 1-3) of the mounting panel and the toner cartridge 2 can be exposed. There may be no step between the front surface of the mounting panel and the front surface portion of the toner cartridge 2. In addition, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, because the opening 4 is blocked by the cover 5 positioned in the first position, the access passage to the toner cartridge 2 may be blocked. Because the cover 5 is locked in the first position by the driving portion 100, even if the cover 5 is pushed to the mounting direction Al, the cover 5 may remain in the first position without being pushed. Therefore, the toner cartridge 2 may not be inappropriately and/or abnormally removed from the body because it may not be possible to hold the toner cartridge 2.

[0041] The toner cartridge 2 may be replaced, for example, when the toner remaining amount is equal to or lower than the reference remaining amount corresponding to a replacement period of the toner cartridge 2. The toner cartridge 2 or the body may include a sensor that detects whether the toner remaining amount in the toner cartridge 2 has reached the reference remaining amount. For example, when the toner remaining amount in the toner cartridge 2 is detected to be equal to or lower than the reference level, the controller (e.g., controller 200 shown in FIG. 1) may output a message to replace the toner cartridge 2 through the user interface. When the door opening and closing sensor detects that the main door is opened, the controller may output a message requesting an input of instructions to execute the replacement of the toner cartridge 2 to the user interface. When the instructions to execute the replacement of the toner cartridge 2 are input through the user interface, the controller may execute instructions to rotate the cover 5 in the mounting direction Al using the driving portion 100 from the first position to the second position. When the cover 5 reaches the second position, the opening 4 can open as shown in FIG. 8. Through the opening 4, the user may, for example, put one's hand in the opening 4 and hold the upper portion of the toner cartridge 2 or the holding portion and pull the toner cartridge 2 in the removal direction A2 to remove the toner cartridge 2 from the body.

[0042] In some examples, the user may align the new toner cartridge 2 with the mounting hole and push the toner cartridge 2 in the mounting direction Al to mount the toner cartridge 2 in the body. When the door opening and closing sensor detects that the main door is closed, the controller 200 may execute instructions to rotate the cover 5 in the removal direction A2 using the driving portion 100 from the second position to the first position. The cover 5 may return to the first position and be locked in the first position. In such examples, inappropriate and/or abnormal removal of the toner cartridge 2 may be prevented.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 4, the opening and the cover 5 which rotates to the first and second positions may be provided in the upper portion and the lower portion of the mounting hole 3, respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, the opening 4 and the cover 5 which rotates to the first and second positions may be provided in one side of the transverse direction of the mounting hole 3. As shown in FIG. 6, the opening and the cover which rotates to the first and second positions may be provided in both sides of the transverse direction of the mounting hole 3.

[0044] Examples of the printer device above described the cases in which one toner cartridge is attached or detached to or from the body but the body may include a plurality of toner cartridges.

[0045] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of an example of the printer device consistent with the disclosure. FIG. 9 includes a structure of the mounted toner cartridge 2. Although not shown, the body 1 includes a printing portion for printing a color image on a print medium. For example, the printing portion may include four developing devices, optical scanner, transfer unit, and fuser. Each developing device may include a photoconductor, a charging roller for charging the photoconductor with a uniform electric potential, and a cleaning member for removing a waste toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor after transferring. The optical scanner may irradiate four lights corresponding to the image information of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors on the four photoconductors of the four developing devices, respectively to form electrostatic latent images on the four photoconductors of the four developing devices. A developing roller of each of the four developing devices may develop a toner image by supplying the toner on the electrostatic latent image. The transfer unit may include an intermediate transfer belt, four intermediate transfer rollers, each facing the photoconductor of each of the four developing devices, with the intermediate transfer belt therebetween, and a transfer roller facing the intermediate transfer belt to form a transfer nip. Toner images formed in the photoconductors can be transferred to the intermediate transfer belt by an intermediate transfer bias voltage applied to the intermediate transfer rollers. The toner images can be transferred to the print medium passing through the transfer nip by the transfer bias voltage applied to the transfer roller. When the print medium passes through the fuser, the toner images can be fixed on the print medium by heat and pressure. The print medium with toner images fixed thereon can be discharged from the body 1.

[0046] FIG. 9 shows four toner cartridges 2. The body 1, for example, the mounting panel 6 can have four mounting holes 3 in which four toner cartridges 2 each are mounted. The four openings 4 can extend from each of the four mounting holes 3. The four covers 5 may rotate to the first and second positions to close and open the four openings 4. The four driving portions 100 can drive the four covers 5 to selectively open and close the four openings 4. Each of the four driving portions 100 may have a structure shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The four covers 5 may slide to the first and second positions to open and close the four openings 4. In some examples, the four covers 5 may slide to the first and second positions by the driving portion shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The location and number of the openings 4 are not limited to the location shown in FIG. 9, and, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, and the openings 4 may be arranged on the upper, lower, left, and/or right side based on the mounting hole 3. The controller may individually execute instructions associated with the four driving portions (e.g., driving portions 10 shown in FIG. 3) or the driving portion 100 to switch the four covers 5 to the first and second positions individually.

[0047] Examples described herein should be considered in a descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each example should be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other examples. While examples have been described with reference to the figures, various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A printer device comprising: a body, comprising: a mounting hole to receive a toner cartridge; and an opening that extends to an outside from the mounting hole to form an access passage to the toner cartridge mounted in the mounting hole; a cover to move to a first position to close the opening and to move to a second position to open the opening; and a driving portion to drive the cover to the first position and the second position.

2. The printer device of claim 1, wherein: the toner cartridge comprises a holding portion aligned with the opening and located inside the mounting hole; and as the cover moves from the first position to the second position, access to the holding portion through the opening is allowed.

3. The printer device of claim 1, comprising the cover to slide to the first position and the second position.

4. The printer device of claim 3, comprising the cover to slide in a mounting direction, a removal direction, or both of the toner cartridge.

5. The printer device of claim 1, comprising the cover to rotate to the first position and the second position.

6. The printer device of claim 1, wherein the driving portion locks the cover in the first position.

7. The printer device of claim 6, wherein the driving portion comprises a pinion, a worm gear engaged with the pinion, and a motor to rotate the worm gear.

8. The printer device of claim 7, further comprising a rack gear provided on the cover to engage with the pinion, wherein the driving portion slides the cover to the first position and the second position.

9. The printer device of claim 7, wherein the driving portion comprises an operating arm, of which a first end is eccentrically connected to the pinion and a second end is connected to the cover to rotate the cover to the first position and the second position.

10. A printer device comprising: a toner cartridge, comprising: a front surface portion; and a holding portion inwardly apart from the front surface portion; a mounting panel, comprising: a mounting hole into which the toner cartridge is mounted; a front surface that is side-by-side with the front surface portion of the toner cartridge such that the toner cartridge is mounted in the mounting hole; and an opening that extends from the mounting hole to the outside to form an access passage to the holding portion of the toner cartridge mounted in the mounting hole; and a cover to move to a first position to close the opening and to move to a second position to open the opening.

11. The printer device of claim 10, comprising the cover to slide to the first position and the second position.

12. The printer device of claim 10, comprising the cover to rotate to the first position and the second position.

13. The printer device of claim 10, comprising a driving portion to move the cover to the first position and the second position, and to lock the cover in the first position.

14. A printer device comprising: a mounting panel, comprising: a mounting hole to receive a toner cartridge; and an opening that extends to an outside from the mounting hole to form an access passage to the toner cartridge mounted in the mounting hole; a cover to move to a first position to close the opening and to move to a second position to open the opening; and a driving portion to move the cover to the first position and the second position, and to lock the cover in the first position.

15. The printer device of claim 14, wherein the driving portion comprises a pinion, a worm gear engaged with the pinion, and a motor to rotate the worm gear.