The present disclosure relates generally to image forming devices and more particularly to a toner cartridge having positioning features.
During the electrophotographic printing process, an electrically charged rotating photoconductive drum is selectively exposed to a laser beam. The areas of the photoconductive drum exposed to the laser beam are discharged creating an electrostatic latent image of a page to be printed on the photoconductive drum. Toner particles are then electrostatically picked up by the latent image on the photoconductive drum creating a toned image on the drum. The toned image is transferred to the print media (e.g., paper) either directly by the photoconductive drum or indirectly by an intermediate transfer member. The toner is then fused to the media using heat and pressure to complete the print.
The image forming device's toner supply is typically stored in one or more replaceable toner cartridges that have a shorter lifespan than the image forming device. It is important that the toner cartridge(s) are precisely aligned within the image forming device. If a toner cartridge is misaligned, one or more input gears on the toner cartridge may fail to maintain proper gear mesh with corresponding output gears in the image forming device and one or more electrical contacts on the toner cartridge may fail to maintain an electrical connection with corresponding electrical contacts in the image forming device. Further, if a toner cartridge is misaligned, various imaging components of the toner cartridge (such as a photoconductive drum) may be incorrectly positioned relative to the image forming device potentially resulting in toner leakage or print quality defects. The toner cartridge(s) must also be rigidly held in place after installation in the image forming device in order to prevent the positional alignment of the toner cartridge(s) from being disturbed during operation. The requirement for tight positional control must be balanced with the need to permit a user to easily load and unload the toner cartridge(s) into and out of the image forming device. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that precise alignment of the toner cartridge(s) and relatively simple insertion and removal of the toner cartridge(s) into and out of the image forming device is desired.
A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side positioned between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end of the housing. The housing has a reservoir for holding toner. A first drive coupler and a second drive coupler are positioned on the first longitudinal end of the housing for mating with a first corresponding drive coupler in an image forming device and a second corresponding drive coupler in the image forming device for receiving rotational motion from the first corresponding drive coupler in the image forming device and the second corresponding drive coupler in the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The first drive coupler of the toner cartridge is positioned higher than the second drive coupler of the toner cartridge. The first drive coupler of the toner cartridge has a first rotational axis and the second drive coupler of the toner cartridge has a second rotational axis, An engagement member is positioned on the first longitudinal end of the housing. A contact surface of the engagement member is unobstructed from above permitting the contact surface of the engagement member to contact a corresponding hold-down in the image forming device and receive a downward hold-down force from the corresponding hold-down in the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The contact surface of the engagement member is positioned lower than the first rotational axis of the first drive coupler of the toner cartridge and higher than the second drive coupler of the toner cartridge. In some embodiments, the contact surface of the engagement member is positioned lower than the first drive coupler of the toner cartridge. In some embodiments, the contact surface of the engagement member is positioned directly above the second drive coupler of the toner cartridge.
Some embodiments include a photoconductive drum rotatably positioned on the housing and a developer roll rotatably positioned on the housing and positioned to supply toner from the reservoir to the photoconductive drum. A portion of an outer surface of the photoconductive drum is exposed along the bottom of the housing. The first drive coupler of the toner cartridge is operatively connected to the developer roll to transfer rotational motion to the developer roll and the second drive coupler of the toner cartridge is operatively connected to the photoconductive drum to transfer rotational motion to the photoconductive drum.
Embodiments include those wherein the contact surface of the engagement member overlaps with the second drive coupler of the toner cartridge along a lateral dimension of the housing that runs from the first side to the second side. The contact surface of the engagement member is positioned closer to the first side of the housing than the first rotational axis is to the first side of the housing. The first rotational axis is positioned closer to the second side of the housing than to the first side of the housing.
Some embodiments include a boss protruding outward from the first longitudinal end of the housing surrounding at least a portion of the second drive coupler of the toner cartridge. A bottom surface of the boss is unobstructed from below permitting the bottom surface of the boss to contact a corresponding frame in the image forming device for controlling a position of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The engagement member is formed integrally with the boss.
A toner cartridge according to another example embodiment includes a housing having a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side positioned between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end of the housing. The housing has a reservoir for holding toner. A first electrical contact and a second electrical contact are positioned on the first longitudinal end of the housing for contacting a first corresponding electrical contact in an image forming device and a second corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The first electrical contact of the toner cartridge is electrically connected to processing circuitry positioned on the housing. The second electrical contact of the toner cartridge is electrically connected to an imaging component positioned on the housing. The first electrical contact of the toner cartridge is positioned higher than the second electrical contact of the toner cartridge. An engagement member is positioned on the first longitudinal end of the housing. A contact surface of the engagement member is unobstructed from above permitting the contact surface of the engagement member to contact a corresponding hold-down in the image forming device and receive a downward hold-down force from the corresponding hold-down in the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The contact surface of the engagement member is positioned lower than at least a portion of the first electrical contact of the toner cartridge and higher than at least a portion of the second electrical contact of the toner cartridge. In some embodiments, the contact surface of the engagement member is positioned directly above at least a portion of the second electrical contact of the toner cartridge.
Embodiments include those wherein the contact surface of the engagement member overlaps with at least a portion of the first electrical contact of the toner cartridge and at least a portion of the second electrical contact of the toner cartridge along a lateral dimension of the housing that runs from the first side to the second side.
Some embodiments include a photoconductive drum rotatably positioned on the housing and a boss protruding outward from the first longitudinal end of the housing at least partially surrounding a rotational axis of the photoconductive drum. A portion of an outer surface of the photoconductive drum is exposed along the bottom of the housing. A bottom surface of the boss is unobstructed from below permitting the bottom surface of the boss to contact a corresponding frame in the image forming device for controlling a position of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The contact surface of the engagement member is positioned higher than the boss. in some embodiments, the contact surface of the engagement member overlaps with the boss along a lateral dimension of the housing that runs from the first side to the second side.
In some embodiments, the engagement member is formed integrally with a portion of the housing that protrudes outward away from the first longitudinal end of the housing and that supports the second electrical contact of the toner cartridge.
A toner cartridge according to another example embodiment includes a housing having a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side positioned between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end of the housing. The housing has a reservoir for holding toner. A first drive coupler and a second drive coupler are positioned on the first longitudinal end of the housing for mating with a first corresponding drive coupler in an image forming device and a second corresponding drive coupler in the image forming device for receiving rotational motion from the first corresponding drive coupler in the image forming device and the second corresponding drive coupler in the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The first drive coupler of the toner cartridge is positioned higher than the second drive coupler of the toner cartridge. The first drive coupler of the toner cartridge has a first rotational axis and the second drive coupler of the toner cartridge has a second rotational axis. A first electrical contact and a second electrical contact are positioned on the second longitudinal end of the housing for contacting a first corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device and a second corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The first electrical contact of the toner cartridge is electrically connected to processing circuitry positioned on the housing. The second electrical contact of the toner cartridge is electrically connected to an imaging component positioned on the housing. The first electrical contact of the toner cartridge is positioned higher than the second electrical contact of the toner cartridge. A first latch-receiving shelf is positioned on the first longitudinal end of the housing and a second latch-receiving shelf is positioned on the second longitudinal end of the housing. Contact surfaces on top portions of the first and second latch-receiving shelves are positioned to contact corresponding first and second latches in the image forming device and to receive downward hold-down forces from the corresponding first and second latches in the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The contact surface of the first latch-receiving shelf is positioned lower than the first rotational axis of the first drive coupler of the toner cartridge and higher than the second drive coupler of the toner cartridge. The contact surface of the second latch-receiving shelf is positioned lower than at least a portion of the first electrical contact of the toner cartridge and higher than at least a portion of the second electrical contact of the toner cartridge. In some embodiments, the contact surface of the first latch-receiving shelf is positioned lower than the contact surface of the second latch-receiving shelf. In some embodiments, the contact surface of the first latch-receiving shelf is positioned lower than the first drive coupler of the toner cartridge. In some embodiments, the contact surface of the first latch-receiving shelf is positioned directly above the second drive coupler of the toner cartridge. In some embodiments, the contact surface of the second latch-receiving shelf is positioned directly above at least a portion of the second electrical contact of the toner cartridge.
Some embodiments include a photoconductive drum rotatably positioned on the housing and a developer roll rotatably positioned on the housing and positioned to supply toner from the reservoir to the photoconductive drum. A portion of an outer surface of the photoconductive drum is exposed along the bottom of the housing. The first drive coupler of the toner cartridge is operatively connected to the developer roll to transfer rotational motion to the developer roll and the second drive coupler of the toner cartridge is operatively connected to the photoconductive drum to transfer rotational motion to the photoconductive drum.
Embodiments include those wherein the contact surface of the first latch-receiving shelf overlaps with the second drive coupler of the toner cartridge along a lateral dimension of the housing that runs from the first side to the second side. The contact surface of the first latch-receiving shelf is positioned closer to the first side of the housing than the first rotational axis is to the first side of the housing. The first rotational axis is positioned closer to the second side of the housing than to the first side of the housing.
Embodiments include those wherein the contact surface of the second latch-receiving shelf overlaps with at least a portion of the first electrical contact of the toner cartridge and at least a portion of the second electrical contact of the toner cartridge along a lateral dimension of the housing that runs from the first side to the second side.
In some embodiments, the second latch-receiving shelf is formed integrally with a portion of the housing that protrudes outward away from the second longitudinal end of the housing and that supports the second electrical contact of the toner cartridge.
Some embodiments include a photoconductive drum rotatably positioned on the housing, a first boss protruding outward from the first longitudinal end of the housing at least partially surrounding a third rotational axis of the photoconductive drum and a second boss protruding outward from the second longitudinal end of the housing at least partially surrounding the third rotational axis of the photoconductive drum. A portion of an outer surface of the photoconductive drum is exposed along the bottom of the housing. Bottom surfaces of the first and second bosses are positioned to contact corresponding first and second frames in the image forming device for controlling a position of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device. The contact surfaces of the first and second latch-receiving shelves are positioned higher than the first and second bosses. In some embodiments, the contact surface of the first latch-receiving shelf overlaps with the first boss along a lateral dimension of the housing that runs from the first side to the second side and the contact surface of the second latch-receiving shelf overlaps with the second boss along the lateral dimension of the housing. In some embodiments, the first latch-receiving shelf is formed integrally with the first boss.
The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.
In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings where like numerals represent like elements. The embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present disclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that process, electrical, and mechanical changes, etc., may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Examples merely typify possible variations. Portions and features of some embodiments may be included in or substituted for those of others. The following description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense and the scope of the present disclosure is defined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to
In the example embodiment shown in
Controller 28 includes a processor unit and associated electronic memory 29. The processor unit may include one or more integrated circuits in the form of a microprocessor or central processing unit and may include one or more Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). Memory 29 may be any volatile or non-volatile memory or combination thereof, such as, for example, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory and/or non-volatile RAM (NVRAM). Memory 29 may be in the form of a separate memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, and/or NVRAM), a hard drive, a CD or DVD drive, or any memory device convenient for use with controller 28. Controller 28 may be, for example, a combined printer and scanner controller.
In the example embodiment illustrated, controller 28 communicates with print engine 30 via a communications link 50. Controller 28 communicates with toner cartridge 100 and processing circuitry 44 thereon via a communications link 51. Controller 28 communicates with media feed system 38 via a communications link 52. Controller 28 communicates with scanner system 40 via a communications link 53. User interface 36 is communicatively coupled to controller 28 via a communications link 54. Controller 28 communicates with power supply 42 via a communications link 55. Controller 28 processes print and scan data and operates print engine 30 during printing and scanner system 40 during scanning. Processing circuitry 44 may provide authentication functions, safety and operational interlocks, operating parameters and usage information related to toner cartridge 100. Processing circuitry 44 includes a processor unit and associated electronic memory. As discussed above, the processor may include one or more integrated circuits in the form of a microprocessor or central processing unit and/or may include one or more Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). The memory may be any volatile or non-volatile memory or combination thereof or any memory device convenient for use with processing circuitry 44.
Computer 24, which is optional, may be, for example, a personal computer, including electronic memory 60, such as RAM, ROM, and/or NVRAM, an input device 62, such as a keyboard and/or a mouse, and a display monitor 64. Computer 24 also includes a processor, input/output (I/O) interfaces, and may include at least one mass data storage device, such as a hard drive, a CD-ROM and/or a DVD unit (not shown). Computer 24 may also be a device capable of communicating with image forming device 22 other than a personal computer such as, for example, a tablet computer, a smartphone, or other electronic device.
In the example embodiment illustrated, computer 24 includes in its memory a software program including program instructions that function as an imaging driver 66, e.g., printer/scanner driver software, for image forming device 22. Imaging driver 66 is in communication with controller 28 of image forming device 22 via communications link 26. Imaging driver 66 facilitates communication between image forming device 22 and computer 24. One aspect of imaging driver 66 may be, for example, to provide formatted print data to image forming device 22, and more particularly to print engine 30, to print an image. Another aspect of imaging driver 66 may be, for example, to facilitate collection of scanned data from scanner system 40.
In some circumstances, it may be desirable to operate image forming device 22 in a standalone mode. In the standalone mode, image forming device 22 is capable of functioning without computer 24. Accordingly, all or a portion of imaging driver 66, or a similar driver, may be located in controller 28 of image forming device 22 so as to accommodate printing and/or scanning functionality when operating in the standalone mode.
Print engine 30 includes a laser scan unit (LSU) 31, toner cartridge 100 and a fuser 37, all mounted within image forming device 22. Toner cartridge 100 is removably mounted in image forming device 22. Power supply 42 provides an electrical voltage to various components of toner cartridge 100 via an electrical path 56. Toner cartridge 100 includes a developer unit 102 that houses a toner reservoir and a toner development system. In one embodiment, the toner development system utilizes what is commonly referred to as a single component development system. In this embodiment, the toner development system includes a toner adder roll that provides toner from the toner reservoir to a developer roll. A doctor blade provides a metered, uniform layer of toner on the surface of the developer roll. In another embodiment, the toner development system utilizes what is commonly referred to as a dual component development system. In this embodiment, toner in the toner reservoir of developer unit 102 is mixed with magnetic carrier beads. The magnetic carrier beads may be coated with a polymeric film to provide triboelectric properties to attract toner to the carrier beads as the toner and the magnetic carrier beads are mixed in the toner reservoir. In this embodiment, developer unit 102 includes a developer roll that attracts the magnetic carrier beads having toner thereon to the developer roll through the use of magnetic fields. Toner cartridge 100 also includes a photoconductor unit 104 that houses a charge roll, a photoconductive drum and a waste toner removal system. Although the example image forming device 22 illustrated in
The electrophotographic printing process is well known in the art and, therefore, is described briefly herein. During a print operation, a rotatable charge roll 122 of photoconductor unit 104 charges the surface of a rotatable photoconductive drum 120. The charged surface of photoconductive drum 120 is then selectively exposed to a laser light source 124 from LSU 31 through a slit 126 (
Developer unit 102 includes toner reservoir 112 having toner stored therein and a rotatable developer roll 128 that supplies toner from toner reservoir 112 to photoconductive drum 120. In the example embodiment illustrated, a rotatable toner adder roll 130 in developer unit 102 supplies toner from toner reservoir 112 to developer roll 128. A doctor blade 132 disposed along developer roll 128 provides a substantially uniform layer of toner on developer roll 128 for transfer to photoconductive drum 120. As developer roll 128 and photoconductive drum 120 rotate, toner particles are electrostatically transferred from developer roll 128 to the latent image on photoconductive drum 120 forming a toned image on the surface of photoconductive drum 120. In one embodiment, developer roll 128 and photoconductive drum 120 rotate in opposite rotational directions such that their adjacent surfaces move in the same direction to facilitate the transfer of toner from developer roll 128 to photoconductive drum 120. One or more movable toner agitators 134 may be provided in toner reservoir 112 to distribute the toner therein and to break up any clumped toner. Developer roll 128 and toner adder roll 130 are each electrically charged to a respective predetermined voltage by power supply 42 in order to attract toner from reservoir 112 to toner adder roll 130 and to electrostatically transfer toner from toner adder roll 130 to developer roll 128 and from developer roll 128 to the latent image on the surface of photoconductive drum 120. Doctor blade 132 may also be electrically charged to a predetermined voltage by power supply 42 as desired.
The toned image is then transferred from photoconductive drum 120 to the print media (e.g., paper) either directly by photoconductive drum 120 or indirectly by an intermediate transfer member. In the example embodiment illustrated. the surface of photoconductive drum 120 is exposed along the bottom 115 of housing 110 where the toned image transfers from photoconductive drum 120 to the print media or intermediate transfer member. Fuser 37 (
With reference to
With reference to
Electrical contacts 144 and 146 are unobstructed on end 119 of housing 110 permitting electrical contacts 144 and 146 to mate with corresponding electrical contacts in image forming device 22 upon installation of toner cartridge 100 into image forming device 22. In the example embodiment illustrated, electrical contacts 144 and 146 are each exposed and unobstructed from below (in a direction from bottom 115 to top 114 of housing 110) permitting the corresponding electrical contacts in image forming device 22 to contact electrical. contacts 144 and 146 from below upon installation of toner cartridge 100 into image forming device 22. In the example embodiment illustrated, electrical contacts 144 are positioned higher than electrical contacts 146, such as directly above electrical contacts 146 as shown. In this embodiment, electrical contacts 144 and 146 extend outward, away from end 119, along an axial dimension of photoconductive drum 120. In the example embodiment illustrated, electrical contacts 144 are positioned adjacent to the top 114 of housing 110, higher than rotational axes 141, 143 of drive couplers 140, 142 and higher than rotational axis 121 of photoconductive drum 120. In this embodiment, electrical contacts 146 are positioned approximately midway up end 119 of housing 110, higher than rotational axis 143 of drive coupler 142 and higher than rotational axis 121 of photoconductive drum 120, but lower than rotational axis 141 of drive coupler 140. In the example embodiment illustrated, electrical contacts 144 and 146 are positioned adjacent to side 116 of housing 110. Electrical contacts 144 are aligned with electrical contacts 146 along a lateral dimension 148 of housing 110 that runs from side 116 to side 117, orthogonal to longitudinal dimension 113, such that electrical contacts 144 overlap with electrical contacts 146 along lateral dimension 148. Electrical contacts 144, 146 are spaced toward side 116 of housing 110 from rotational axis 141 of drive coupler 140, which is positioned closer to side 117 of housing 110 than to side 116 of housing 110 in the embodiment illustrated.
With reference to
In the example embodiment illustrated, toner cartridge 100 includes a pair of rotational stops 154, 156 that prevent rotation of toner cartridge 100 about an axis parallel to longitudinal dimension 113 of housing 110 when toner cartridge 100 is installed in image forming device 22. Each rotational stop 154, 156 is positioned along the bottom 115 of housing 110 at side 117 of housing 110 at a respective end 118, 119 of housing 110. In the embodiment illustrated, rotational stops 154, 156 are formed by members, such as extensions or feet, that protrude downward from the bottom 115 of housing 110 at ends 118, 119 of housing 110. Each rotational stop 154, 156 is unobstructed from below permitting each rotational stop 154, 156 to contact a corresponding portion of a frame in image forming device 22 in order to define a rotational position of toner cartridge 100 as discussed in greater detail below. In the embodiment illustrated, each rotational stop 154, 156 is formed integrally with a respective end 118, 119 of housing 110 and corresponding boss 150, 152.
Toner cartridge 100 also includes a pair of hold-down engagement members 160, 170 that each contact a corresponding hold-down in image forming device 22 and receive a corresponding bias force to maintain contact between bosses 150, 152 of toner cartridge 100 and the corresponding V-blocks in image forming device 22 and between rotational stops 154, 156 of toner cartridge 100 and the corresponding portions of the frame in image forming device 22 during operation of toner cartridge 100 in image forming device 22 as discussed in greater detail below. Each engagement member 160, 170 is unobstructed from above permitting the corresponding hold-downs in image forming device 22 to contact engagement members 160, 170 from above in order to apply a downward force on engagement members 160, 170, including, for example, a primarily downward force on engagement members 160, 170.
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
Although the example embodiment discussed above includes a single replaceable unit in the form of toner cartridge 100 for each toner color, it will be appreciated that the replaceable unit(s) of the image forming device may employ any suitable configuration as desired. For example, in one embodiment, the main toner supply for the image forming device is provided in a first replaceable unit and the developer unit and photoconductor unit are provided in a second replaceable unit. In another embodiment, the main toner supply for the image forming device and the developer unit are provided in a first replaceable unit and the photoconductor unit is provided in a second replaceable unit. Other configurations may be used as desired.
Further, it will be appreciated that the architecture and shape of toner cartridge 100 illustrated in
The foregoing description illustrates various aspects of the present disclosure. It is not intended to be exhaustive. Rather, it is chosen to illustrate the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the present disclosure, including its various modifications that naturally follow. All modifications and variations are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure as determined by the appended claims. Relatively apparent modifications include combining one or more features of various embodiments with features of other embodiments.
This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/369,247, filed Jul. 7, 2021, entitled “Toner Cartridge Having Positioning Features,” which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/997,010, filed Aug. 19, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,086,268, issued Aug. 10, 2021, entitled “Toner Cartridge Having Positioning Features,” which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/180,286, filed Nov. 5, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,782,643, issued Sep. 22, 2020, entitled “Toner Cartridge Having Positioning Features.”
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 16180286 | Nov 2018 | US |
Child | 16997010 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 17369247 | Jul 2021 | US |
Child | 17968051 | US | |
Parent | 16997010 | Aug 2020 | US |
Child | 17369247 | US |