阅读说明：本技术 具有位置控制特征的墨粉盒 (Toner cartridge with position control feature ) 是由 詹森·保罗·赫尔 凯乐·布拉德利·马丁 杰里米·基思·佩恩 马修·李·罗杰斯 爱德华·林恩· 于 2018-04-11 设计创作，主要内容包括：根据一个实施例的墨粉盒包括壳体,该壳体具有分别从壳体的第一侧和第二侧向外延伸的第一和第二对准导向件,并且这些对准导向件沿着壳体的前后维度延伸。第三和第四对准导向件从壳体的第一侧向外延伸。第三对准导向件朝向壳体的前部与第四对准导向件间隔开。第三和第四对准导向件的底表面不受阻碍,以便位于图像形成装置中相应的导向件表面之上,从而控制墨粉盒在图像形成装置中的垂直位置。第三和第四对准导向件的底表面在壳体的垂直维度上彼此对准,并且定位成高于第一和第二对准导向件。(A toner cartridge according to one embodiment includes a housing having first and second alignment guides extending outwardly from first and second sides of the housing, respectively, and extending along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing. Third and fourth alignment guides extend outwardly from the first side of the housing. The third alignment guide is spaced from the fourth alignment guide toward the front of the housing. The bottom surfaces of the third and fourth alignment guides are unobstructed to overlie the corresponding guide surfaces in the image forming device to control the vertical position of the toner cartridge in the image forming device. The bottom surfaces of the third and fourth alignment guides are aligned with each other in the vertical dimension of the housing and are positioned higher than the first and second alignment guides.)

1. A toner cartridge for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a top, a bottom, a front, and a back between a first side and a second side of the housing, the housing having a reservoir for containing toner;

an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir and facing downward at the front of the housing for egress of toner from the toner cartridge;

a toner delivery system for transferring toner from the reservoir out of the outlet port, the toner delivery system including a main input gear for providing rotational power to the toner delivery system, a top of the main input gear being exposed at a first side of the housing for mating with a corresponding drive gear in the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device, the main input gear including an axis of rotation;

a first alignment guide extending outwardly from a first side of the housing and extending along a fore-aft dimension of the housing;

a second alignment guide extending outwardly from a second side of the housing and extending along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing, the second alignment guide being parallel to the first alignment guide and aligned with the first alignment guide in a vertical dimension of the housing; and

a third alignment guide and a fourth alignment guide extending outwardly from the first side of the housing, the third alignment guide spaced apart from the fourth alignment guide toward the front of the housing, each of the third alignment guide and the fourth alignment guide including a respective unobstructed bottom surface to allow the respective bottom surface to be positioned above a corresponding guide surface in the image forming device to control a vertical position of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device, the bottom surface of the third alignment guide aligned in a vertical dimension of the housing with the bottom surface of the fourth alignment guide, the bottom surfaces of the third alignment guide and the fourth alignment guide positioned higher than the first alignment guide and the second alignment guide, the bottom surfaces of the third alignment guide and the fourth alignment guide positioned higher than a rotational dimension of the main input gear An axis and is located closer to a rear of the housing than the rotational axis of the main input gear is to the rear of the housing.

2. The toner cartridge of claim 1, further comprising an engagement member on the first side of the housing, the engagement member including an angled front surface facing upward and toward the front of the housing and an angled rear surface facing upward and toward the rear of the housing, the angled front and rear surfaces being positioned higher than the axis of rotation of the main input gear and being positioned closer to the rear of the housing than the axis of rotation of the main input gear is to the rear of the housing, the angled front and rear surfaces being positioned higher than bottom surfaces of the third and fourth alignment guides.

3. The toner cartridge of claim 2, wherein the third alignment guide is aligned with the engagement member along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing, and the fourth alignment guide is spaced from the engagement member toward a rear of the housing.

4. The toner cartridge of claim 2, wherein the engagement member comprises a horizontal surface at a top end of the engagement member between the angled front surface and the angled rear surface.

5. The toner cartridge of claim 1, further comprising:

a channel extending along the front of the housing between the first side and the second side, the channel in fluid communication with the outlet port, at least a portion of the channel being open to the reservoir; and

an auger located in the channel and extending along the front of the housing between the first side and the second side, the auger being rotatably connected to the main input gear to move toner in the channel toward the outlet port when the main input gear rotates in an operating direction,

wherein the first and second alignment guides are aligned with the channel in a vertical dimension of the housing.

6. The toner cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a fifth alignment guide extending outwardly from the first side of the housing, the fifth alignment guide including an unobstructed front surface and top surface to allow the front surface of the fifth alignment guide to provide a forward stop and the top surface of the fifth alignment guide to provide an upward rotational stop when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device, the fifth alignment guide positioned lower than the third and fourth alignment guides, the fifth alignment guide spaced from the third alignment guide toward the rear of the housing.

7. The toner cartridge of claim 6, wherein the fifth alignment guide is positioned higher than the first and second alignment guides.

8. A toner cartridge for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a top, a bottom, a front, and a back between a first side and a second side of the housing, the housing having a reservoir for containing toner;

an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir and facing downward at the front of the housing for egress of toner from the toner cartridge;

a toner delivery system for transferring toner from the reservoir out of the outlet port, the toner delivery system including a main input gear for providing rotational power to the toner delivery system, a top of the main input gear being exposed at a first side of the housing for mating with a corresponding drive gear in the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device, the main input gear including an axis of rotation;

a first alignment guide extending outwardly from the second side of the housing and along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing, the first alignment guide including an unobstructed bottom surface to allow the bottom surface of the first alignment guide to be positioned above a corresponding first guide surface in the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device to control a vertical position of the toner cartridge;

a second alignment guide and a third alignment guide extending outwardly from the first side of the housing, the second alignment guide being spaced apart from the third alignment guide toward the front of the housing, each of the second and third alignment guides including a respective unobstructed bottom surface to allow the respective bottom surfaces of the second and third alignment guides to be positioned above a corresponding second guide surface in the image forming device to control a vertical position of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device, the bottom surface of the second alignment guide being aligned with the bottom surface of the third alignment guide in the vertical dimension of the housing, the bottom surfaces of the second and third alignment guides being positioned higher than the first alignment guide, a bottom surface of the second and third alignment guides is positioned higher than the rotational axis of the main input gear and is positioned closer to the rear of the housing than the rotational axis of the main input gear is to the rear of the housing; and

a fourth alignment guide extending outwardly from the first side of the housing, the fourth alignment guide including an unobstructed front surface and top surface to allow the front surface of the fourth alignment guide to provide a forward stop and the top surface of the fourth alignment guide to provide an upward rotational stop when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device, the fourth alignment guide positioned lower than the second and third alignment guides, the fourth alignment guide spaced from the second alignment guide toward the rear of the housing.

9. The toner cartridge of claim 8, further comprising an engagement member on the first side of the housing, the engagement member including an angled front surface facing upward and toward the front of the housing and an angled rear surface facing upward and toward the rear of the housing, the angled front and rear surfaces being positioned higher than the axis of rotation of the main input gear and being positioned closer to the rear of the housing than the axis of rotation of the main input gear is to the rear of the housing, the angled front and rear surfaces being positioned higher than bottom surfaces of the second and third alignment guides.

10. The toner cartridge of claim 9, wherein the second alignment guide is aligned with the engagement member along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing, and the third alignment guide is spaced from the engagement member toward a rear of the housing.

11. The toner cartridge of claim 9, wherein the engagement member comprises a horizontal surface at a top end of the engagement member between the angled front surface and the angled rear surface.

12. The toner cartridge of claim 8, further comprising a fifth alignment guide extending outwardly from the first side of the housing and along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing, the fifth alignment guide being parallel to the first alignment guide and aligned with the first alignment guide in a vertical dimension of the housing.

13. The toner cartridge of claim 12, further comprising:

a channel extending along the front of the housing between the first side and the second side, the channel in fluid communication with the outlet port, at least a portion of the channel being open to the reservoir; and

an auger positioned in the channel and extending along the front of the housing between the first side and the second side, the auger rotatably connected to the main input gear to move toner in the channel toward the outlet port when the main input gear rotates in an operating direction,

wherein the first and fifth alignment guides are aligned with the channel in a vertical dimension of the housing.

14. The toner cartridge of claim 12, wherein the fourth alignment guide is positioned higher than the first and fifth alignment guides.

15. A toner cartridge for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a top, a bottom, a front, and a back between a first side and a second side of the housing, the housing having a reservoir for containing toner;

an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir and facing downward at the front of the housing for egress of toner from the toner cartridge;

a toner delivery system for transferring toner from the reservoir out of the outlet port, the toner delivery system including a main input gear for providing rotational power to the toner delivery system, a top of the main input gear being exposed at a first side of the housing for mating with a corresponding drive gear in the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device, the main input gear including an axis of rotation;

an engagement member on a first side of the housing, the engagement member including an angled front surface facing upward and toward a front of the housing and an angled rear surface facing upward and toward a rear of the housing, the angled front surface and the angled rear surface being unobstructed from the top to receive a pressing force when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device, the angled front surface and the angled rear surface being positioned higher than a rotational axis of the main input gear and being positioned closer to the rear of the housing than the rotational axis of the main input gear is to the rear of the housing; and

a first alignment guide and a second alignment guide extending outwardly from the first side of the housing, the first alignment guide being spaced apart from the second alignment guide toward the front of the housing, each of the first alignment guide and the second alignment guide including a respective unobstructed bottom surface to allow the respective bottom surface to be positioned above a corresponding guide surface in the image forming device to control a vertical position of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device, the bottom surface of the first alignment guide being aligned with the bottom surface of the second alignment guide in a vertical dimension of the housing, the bottom surfaces of the first alignment guide and the second alignment guide being positioned higher than the axis of rotation of the main input gear and being positioned closer to the rear of the housing than the axis of rotation of the main input gear is to the rear of the housing, bottom surfaces of the first and second alignment guides are positioned lower than the angled front and rear surfaces of the engagement member, the second alignment guide being spaced from the engagement member toward a rear of the housing.

16. The toner cartridge of claim 15, wherein the engagement member comprises a horizontal surface at a top end of the engagement member between the angled front surface and the angled rear surface.

17. The toner cartridge of claim 15, wherein the first alignment guide is aligned with the engagement member along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing.

18. The toner cartridge of claim 15, further comprising:

a third alignment guide extending outwardly from the first side of the housing and extending along a fore-aft dimension of the housing;

a fourth alignment guide extending outwardly from the second side of the housing and along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing, the fourth alignment guide being parallel to the third alignment guide and aligned with the third alignment guide in a vertical dimension of the housing,

wherein bottom surfaces of the first and second alignment guides are positioned higher than the third and fourth alignment guides.

19. The toner cartridge of claim 18, further comprising:

a channel extending along the front of the housing between the first side and the second side, the channel in fluid communication with the outlet port, at least a portion of the channel being open to the reservoir; and

an auger positioned in the channel and extending along the front of the housing between the first side and the second side, the auger rotatably connected to the main input gear to move toner in the channel toward the outlet port when the main input gear rotates in an operating direction,

wherein the third and fourth alignment guides are aligned with the channel in a vertical dimension of the housing.

20. The toner cartridge of claim 15, further comprising a third alignment guide extending outwardly from the first side of the housing, the third alignment guide including an unobstructed front surface and top surface to allow the front surface of the third alignment guide to provide a forward stop and the top surface of the third alignment guide to provide an upward rotational stop when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device, the third alignment guide positioned lower than the first and second alignment guides, the third alignment guide spaced from the first alignment guide toward the rear of the housing.

21. A toner cartridge for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a top, a bottom, a front, and a back between a first side and a second side of the housing, the housing having a reservoir for containing toner;

an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir and facing downward at the front of the housing for egress of toner from the toner cartridge;

a toner delivery system for transferring toner from the reservoir out of the outlet port, the toner delivery system including a main input gear for providing rotational power to the toner delivery system, a top of the main input gear being exposed at a first side of the housing for mating with a corresponding drive gear in the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device, the main input gear including an axis of rotation;

an engagement member on a first side of the housing, the engagement member including an angled front surface facing upward and toward a front of the housing and an angled rear surface facing upward and toward a rear of the housing, the angled front surface and the angled rear surface being unobstructed from the top to receive a pressing force when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device, a top end of the engagement member positioned between the angled front surface and the angled rear surface being positioned higher than a topmost portion of the main input gear and being positioned closer to the rear of the housing than a rotational axis of the main input gear is to the rear of the housing;

a first alignment guide extending outwardly from the first side of the housing, the first alignment guide including an unobstructed bottom surface to allow the bottom surface of the first alignment guide to be positioned above a corresponding guide surface in the image forming device to control a vertical position of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device, the bottom surface of the first alignment guide being positioned higher than the axis of rotation of the main input gear and closer to the rear of the housing than the axis of rotation of the main input gear is to the rear of the housing, the bottom surface of the first alignment guide being positioned lower than a top end of the engagement member; and

a second alignment guide extending outwardly from the first side of the housing, the second alignment guide including an unobstructed front surface and top surface to allow the front surface of the second alignment guide to provide a forward stop and the top surface of the second alignment guide to provide an upward rotational stop when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device, the second alignment guide positioned lower than the first alignment guide, the second alignment guide spaced from the engagement member toward the rear of the housing.

22. The toner cartridge of claim 21, further comprising a third alignment guide extending outwardly from the first side of the housing, the first alignment guide being spaced apart from the third alignment guide toward the front of the housing, the third alignment guide including an unobstructed bottom surface, to allow a bottom surface of the third alignment guide to be positioned above a corresponding guide surface in the image forming device when the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device, to control a vertical position of the toner cartridge, a bottom surface of the first alignment guide being aligned with a bottom surface of the third alignment guide in a vertical dimension of the housing, a bottom surface of the third alignment guide is closer to a rear of the housing than a rotational axis of the main input gear is to the rear of the housing, the third alignment guide being spaced from the engagement member toward the rear of the housing.

23. The toner cartridge of claim 22, wherein the first alignment guide is aligned with the engagement member along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing.

24. The toner cartridge of claim 21, wherein the engagement member comprises a horizontal surface at a top end of the engagement member.

25. The toner cartridge of claim 21, further comprising:

a third alignment guide extending outwardly from the first side of the housing and extending along a fore-aft dimension of the housing;

a fourth alignment guide extending outwardly from the second side of the housing and along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing, the fourth alignment guide being parallel to the third alignment guide and aligned with the third alignment guide in a vertical dimension of the housing,

wherein a bottom surface of the first alignment guide is positioned higher than the third and fourth alignment guides.

26. The toner cartridge of claim 25, further comprising:

a channel extending along the front of the housing between the first side and the second side, the channel in fluid communication with the outlet port, at least a portion of the channel being open to the reservoir; and

an auger positioned in the channel and extending along the front of the housing between the first side and the second side, the auger rotatably connected to the main input gear to move toner in the channel toward the outlet port when the main input gear rotates in an operating direction,

wherein the third and fourth alignment guides are aligned with the channel in a vertical dimension of the housing.

27. The toner cartridge of claim 25, wherein the second alignment guide is positioned higher than the third and fourth alignment guides.

28. The toner cartridge of claim 21, wherein the second alignment guide is closer to the rear of the housing than the first alignment guide is to the rear of the housing.