Toner cartridge, process cartridge, image cartridge, and image forming apparatus to which those cartridges are attachable

Abstract

A toner cartridge and a process cartridge, individually, have a shutter which makes sliding movement by opening and closing their toner inlet and toner outlet. When those cartridges are attached to a color printer and fixed together by a fixing lever, the shutters of both cartridges and the fixing lever can move together as one. When they make sliding movement together, both of the shutters are opened and toner supply becomes available. There are thus realized a toner cartridge, a process cartridge, an imaging cartridge, and an image forming apparatus to which those cartridges are attachable, all of which can prevent toner leakage from both a toner housing portion and a process portion and enables even an unaccustomed user to attach each cartridge without making surroundings dirty.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view showing schematic structure of a color printer directed to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state that a toner cartridge and a process cartridge are attached to each other;

FIG. 3 is an outline view of the toner cartridge;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view showing a connecting portion of the toner cartridge;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the connecting portion of the toner cartridge;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view showing a connecting portion of the process cartridge;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view showing a connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view showing the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view showing the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view showing the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view showing the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view showing relation of the connecting portion and a movable cover;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view showing relation of the connecting portion and the movable cover;

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view showing relation of the connecting portion and the movable cover;

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view showing relation of the connecting portion and the movable cover;

FIG. 16 is a view for illustrating cartridge-attachment route on main body of the color printer;

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view showing a connecting portion of a toner cartridge and a process cartridge directed to a second embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view showing the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge directed to the second embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view showing the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge directed to the second embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view showing the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge directed to the second embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view showing the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge directed to the second embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a transparent view showing a connecting portion of a toner cartridge and a process cartridge directed to a third embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a view for illustrating the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge directed to the third embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a view for illustrating the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge directed to the third embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a view for illustrating the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge directed to the third embodiment;

FIG. 26 is a view for illustrating the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge directed to the third embodiment;

FIG. 27 is a view for illustrating the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge directed to the third embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing a state that the toner cartridge and the process cartridge are attached to each other;

FIG. 29 is a cross sectional view showing the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge;

FIG. 30 is a cross sectional view showing the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge;

FIG. 31 is a cross sectional view showing connecting portion of two shutters;

FIG. 32 is an outline view showing a shutter of the process unit;

FIG. 33 is an outline view showing the connecting portion of the two shutters;

FIG. 34 is a perspective view showing the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge;

FIG. 35 is a schematic side view showing movement of a fixing lever;

FIG. 36 is a schematic side view showing movement of the fixing lever;

FIG. 37 is a cross sectional view showing the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge;

FIG. 38 is a cross sectional view showing the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge; and

FIG. 39 is a cross sectional view showing the connecting portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge.

Claims

1. A toner cartridge for housing toner and supplying toner from a toner outlet for forming an image, being attached to an image forming apparatus when used, the toner cartridge comprising: a shutter which has a toner passage hole and makes sliding movement within a range including a closing position to close the toner outlet and an opening position to open the toner outlet through the toner passage hole;a first claw which is fixedly arranged; anda second claw which is arranged on the shutter and blocks the movement of the shutter to the opening position from the closing position by engaging with the first claw.

2. A process cartridge including a process portion for forming an image by receiving toner supplied from a toner inlet, being attached to an image forming apparatus when used, the process cartridge comprising: a shutter which has a toner passage hole and makes sliding movement within a range including a closing position to close the toner inlet and an opening position to open the toner inlet through the toner passage hole;a protrusion member which moves within a range including a protruding position to block the movement of the shutter to the opening position from the closing position and a retreating position not to block the movement of the shutter; andan urging member which urges the protrusion member to the protruding position.

3. An imaging cartridge divided into a toner cartridge for housing toner and supplying toner from a toner outlet for forming an image and a process cartridge including a process portion for forming an image by receiving toner supplied from a toner inlet, both the toner cartridge and the process cartridge being attached to an image forming apparatus when used, wherein the toner cartridge comprises:an upper shutter which has a toner passage hole and makes sliding movement within a range including a closing position to close the toner outlet and an opening position to open the toner outlet through the toner passage hole;a first claw which is fixedly arranged;a second claw which is arranged on the upper shutter and blocks the movement of the upper shutter to the opening position from the closing position by engaging with the first claw; anda convex portion which is arranged on the upper shutter and protrudes toward the process cartridge,wherein the process cartridge comprises:a lower shutter which has a toner passage hole and makes sliding movement within a range including a closing position to close the toner inlet and an opening position to open the toner inlet through the toner passage hole;a protrusion member which moves within a range including a protruding position to block the movement of the lower shutter to the opening position from the closing position by protruding toward the toner cartridge and a retreating position not to block the movement of the lower shutter;an urging member which urges the protrusion member to the protruding position; anda fixing lever which fixes the toner cartridge, and releases engagement of the first claw and the second claw while fixing the toner cartridge,and wherein the convex portion makes the protrusion member retreat to the retreating position by fixing the toner cartridge to the process cartridge.

4. The imaging cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the fixing lever makes sliding movement together with the lower shutter, andthe fixing lever makes sliding movement together with the upper shutter while fixing the toner cartridge.

5. The imaging cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the toner cartridge comprises:a cylindrical shutter which is arranged more upstream of toner flow than the upper shutter, has a toner passage hole, and rotates within an angular range including a closing position to close a toner passage and an opening position to open the toner passage through the toner passage hole; anda gear which rotates together with the cylindrical shutter,and wherein the fixing levermakes sliding movement together with the lower shutter,includes a rack portion provided in parallel to the sliding movement, andmakes sliding movement together with the upper shutter on condition that the rack portion gets engaged with the gear while the fixing lever fixes the toner cartridge.

6. The imaging cartridge according to claim 3 further comprising an elastic bodied packing provided on at least one of faces, namely, a face of the toner cartridge which gets in contact with the process cartridge and a face of the process cartridge which gets in contact with the toner cartridge.

7. An image forming apparatus used by attaching a toner cartridge for housing toner and supplying toner from a toner outlet for forming an image and a process cartridge including a process portion for forming an image by receiving toner supplied from a toner inlet, the image forming apparatus comprising a movable cover to open and close an attaching portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge, wherein the toner cartridge comprises:an upper shutter which has a toner passage hole and makes sliding movement within a range including a closing position to close the toner outlet and an opening position to open the toner outlet through the toner passage hole;a first claw which is fixedly arranged;a second claw which is arranged on the upper shutter and blocks the movement of the upper shutter to the opening position from the closing position by engaging with the first claw; anda convex portion which is arranged on the upper shutter and protrudes toward the process cartridge,wherein the process cartridge comprises:a lower shutter which has a toner passage hole and makes sliding movement within a range including a closing position to close the toner inlet and an opening position to open the toner inlet through the toner passage hole;a protrusion member which moves within a range including a protruding position to block the movement of the lower shutter to the opening position from the closing position by protruding toward the toner cartridge and a retreating position not to block the movement of the lower shutter;an urging member which urges the protrusion member to the protruding position; anda fixing lever which fixes the toner cartridge, and releases engagement of the first claw and the second claw while fixing the toner cartridge,wherein the convex portion makes the protrusion member retreat to the retreating position by fixing the toner cartridge to the process cartridge,wherein closing of the movable cover is prevented by the fixing lever before the toner cartridge is fixed; andwherein closing of the movable cover is prevented by at least one of three items, namely, the fixing lever, the upper shutter, and the lower shutter on condition that both the upper shutter and the lower shutter are in closing position.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the fixing lever makes sliding movement together with the lower shutter, andthe fixing lever makes sliding movement together with the upper shutter while fixing the toner cartridge.

9. A toner cartridge for housing toner and supplying toner for forming an image, being attached to an image forming apparatus when used, the toner cartridge comprising: a cylindrical shutter which has a toner passage hole, and rotates within an angular range including a closing position to close a toner path and an opening position to open the toner path through the toner passage hole;a gear which rotates together with the cylindrical shutter;a rotation blocking member which moves within a range including a rotation blocking position engaging with the gear and a retreating position not engaging with the gear; andan urging member which urges the rotation blocking member to the rotation blocking position.

10. A process cartridge including a process portion for forming an image by receiving supply of toner, being attached to an image forming apparatus when used, the process cartridge comprising: a cylindrical shutter which has a toner passage hole, and rotates within an angular range including a closing position to close a toner path and an opening position to open the toner path through the toner passage hole;a gear which rotates together with the cylindrical shutter;a rotation blocking member which moves within a range including a rotation blocking position engaging with the gear and a retreating position not engaging with the gear; andan urging member which urges the rotation blocking member to the rotation blocking position.

11. An imaging cartridge divided into a toner cartridge for housing toner and supplying toner for forming an image and a process cartridge including a process portion for forming an image by receiving supply of toner, both the toner cartridge and the process cartridge being attached to an image forming apparatus when used, wherein the toner cartridge comprises:an upper cylindrical shutter which has a toner passage hole, and rotates within an angular range including a closing position to close a toner path and an opening position to open the toner path through the toner passage hole;an upper gear which rotates together with the upper cylindrical shutter;an operation transmitting portion which receives driving force to rotate the upper cylindrical shutter;an upper rotation blocking member which moves within a range including a rotation blocking position engaging with the upper gear and a retreating position not engaging with the upper gear; andan upper-rotation-blocking-member urging member which urges the upper rotation blocking member to the rotation blocking position,wherein the process cartridge comprises:a lower cylindrical shutter which has a toner passage hole, and rotates within an angular range including a closing position to close a toner path and an opening position to open the toner path through the toner passage hole;a lower gear which rotates together with the lower cylindrical shutter;a lower rotation blocking member which moves within a range including a rotation blocking position engaging with the lower gear and a retreating position not engaging with the lower gear; anda lower-rotation-blocking-member urging member which urges the lower rotation blocking member to the rotation blocking position;a fixing lever which fixes the toner cartridge, and makes the upper rotation blocking member and the lower rotation blocking member to respective retreating positions while fixing the toner cartridge; andan operation key which is provided on the fixing lever and gets engaged with the operation transmitting portion when the toner cartridge is fixed by the fixing lever,and wherein the upper gear and the lower gear are engaged with each other on condition that the toner cartridge is fixed to the process cartridge.

12. The imaging cartridge according to claim 11 further comprising an elastic bodied packing provided on at least one of faces, namely, a face of the toner cartridge which gets in contact with the process cartridge and a face of the process cartridge which gets in contact with the toner cartridge.

13. An image forming apparatus used by attaching a toner cartridge for housing toner and supplying toner from a toner outlet for forming an image and a process cartridge including a process portion for forming an image by receiving toner supplied from a toner inlet, the image forming apparatus comprising a movable cover to open and close an attaching portion of the toner cartridge and the process cartridge, wherein the image forming apparatus further comprising:a toner cartridge rail which provides a movement path for attaching and detaching the toner cartridge, and makes the toner outlet separate from the process cartridge at a position more front than operational position for the toner cartridge;a process cartridge rail which provides a movement path for attaching and detaching the process cartridge taking an allowance in a distance direction from the toner cartridge;an elastic member which urges the process cartridge on the movement path provided by the process cartridge rail to the toner cartridge; anda fixing member which regulates the process cartridge's approaching to the toner cartridge,and wherein the process cartridge has a protrusion which intervenes with the fixing member at a position in front of the process cartridge's operational position.

14. A toner cartridge for housing toner and supplying toner from a toner outlet for forming an image, being attached to an image forming apparatus when used, the toner cartridge comprising: a shutter which has a toner passage hole and makes sliding movement within a range including a closing position to close the toner outlet and an opening position to open the toner outlet through the toner passage hole;a cylindrical shutter which is arranged more upstream of toner flow than the shutter, has a toner passage hole, and rotates within an angular range including a closing position to close a toner path and an opening position to open the toner path through the toner passage hole;a gear which rotates together with the cylindrical shutter; anda rack portion which makes sliding movement together with the shutter, is provided in parallel to direction of the sliding movement, and is engaged with the gear,wherein the shutter and the cylindrical shutter come to opening position together, and come to closing position together.

15. An imaging cartridge divided into a toner cartridge for housing toner and supplying toner from a toner outlet for forming an image and a process cartridge including a process portion for forming an image by receiving supply of toner, both the toner cartridge and the process cartridge being attached to an image forming apparatus when used, wherein the toner cartridge comprises:an upper shutter which has a toner passage hole and makes sliding movement within a range including a closing position to close the toner outlet and an opening position to open the toner outlet through the toner passage hole;an engaging portion which makes sliding movement together with the upper shutter and gets engaged with a member of the process cartridge;a cylindrical shutter which is arranged more upstream of toner flow than the upper shutter, has a toner passage hole, and rotates within an angular range including a closing position to close toner path and an opening position to open the toner path through the toner passage hole;a gear which rotates together with the cylindrical shutter; anda rack portion which makes sliding movement together with the upper shutter, is provided in parallel to direction of the sliding movement, and engaged with the gear,wherein the upper shutter and the cylindrical shutter come to opening position together, and come to closing position together,wherein the process cartridge comprises a fixing lever which fixes the toner cartridge, gets engaged with the engaging portion and makes sliding movement together with the upper shutter while fixing the toner cartridge.

16. A process cartridge including a process portion for forming an image by receiving toner supplied from a toner inlet, being attached to an image forming apparatus together with a toner cartridge for supplying toner when used, the process cartridge comprising: a shutter which has a toner passage hole and makes sliding movement within a range including a closing position to close the toner inlet and an opening position to open the toner inlet through the toner passage hole;fixing lever which fixes the toner cartridge along rotational movement; anda lever supporting shaft which is provided apart from the shutter, and supports the fixing lever in a manner that the fixing lever can rotate and make sliding movement in parallel to sliding movement of the shutter.

17. The process cartridge according to claim 16 further comprising a slide regulating member which regulates sliding movement of the fixing lever when the fixing lever is at a rotation position where the fixing lever does not fix the toner cartridge.

18. The processing cartridge according to claim 17 wherein the fixing lever includes a regulation canceling portion which clears away the slide regulating member when the fixing lever is at a rotation position where the fixing lever fixes the toner cartridge.

19. An imaging cartridge divided into a toner cartridge for housing toner and supplying toner from a toner outlet for forming an image and a process cartridge including a process portion for forming an image by receiving toner supplied from a toner inlet, both the toner cartridge and the process cartridge being attached to an image forming apparatus when used, wherein the toner cartridge comprises:an upper shutter which has a toner passage hole and makes sliding movement within a range including a closing position to close the toner outlet and an opening position to open the toner outlet through the toner passage hole; andan upper positioning-and-engaging portion which makes sliding movement together with the upper shutter and gets engaged with a member of the process cartridge,wherein the process cartridge comprises:a lower shutter which has a toner passage hole and makes sliding movement within a range including a closing position to close the toner inlet and an opening position to open the toner inlet through the toner passage hole; anda lower positioning-and-engaging portion which makes sliding movement together with the lower shutter and gets engaged with the upper positioning-and-engaging portion,wherein the upper positioning-and-engaging portion and the lower positioning-and-engaging portion get engaged with each other at a position where the toner passage hole of the upper shutter and the toner passage hole of the lower shutter meet each other,wherein the upper shutter and the lower shutter come to opening positions together and come to closing positions together when the upper positioning-and-engaging portion and the lower positioning-and-engaging portion get engaged with each other.

20. An imaging cartridge divided into a toner cartridge for housing toner and supplying toner from a toner outlet for forming an image and a process cartridge including a process portion for forming an image by receiving supply of toner, both the toner cartridge and the process cartridge being attached to an image forming apparatus when used, wherein the toner cartridge comprises:an upper shutter which has a toner passage hole and makes sliding movement within a range including a closing position to close the toner outlet and an opening position to open the toner outlet through the toner passage hole;a first engaging portion which makes sliding movement together with the upper shutter and gets engaged with a member of the process cartridge; anda second engaging portion which is arranged apart from the upper shutter and gets engaged with a member of the process cartridge,wherein the process cartridge comprises:a fixing lever which is capable of making both sliding movement in parallel to the upper shutter's sliding movement and rotational movement around slide axis of the sliding movement, and fixes the toner cartridge by rotational movement;a third engaging portion which is provided on the fixing lever, and gets engaged with the first engaging portion and enable the fixing lever and the upper shutter to make sliding movement as one when the toner cartridge is fixed by the fixing lever; anda fourth engaging portion which is provided on the fixing lever, and gets engaged with the second engaging portion and blocks rotational movement of the fixing lever when the toner cartridge is fixed by the fixing lever and the upper shutter is slid to the opening position.