阅读说明：本技术 墨粉料斗加热装置 (Powdered ink hopper heating device ) 是由 D·J·费森 于 2019-04-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：示例性实施方式涉及墨粉颗粒存储。示例性的墨粉存储装置包括墨粉颗粒料斗和加热装置,所述加热装置联接到所述料斗以加热在所述墨粉颗粒料斗处接收的墨粉颗粒,从而压缩所述墨粉颗粒。(Example embodiments relate to toner particle storage. An exemplary toner storage device includes a toner particle hopper and a heating device coupled to the hopper to heat toner particles received at the toner particle hopper to compress the toner particles.)

1. A toner storage device comprising:

a toner particle hopper; and

a heating device coupled to the hopper to heat toner particles received at the toner particle hopper to compress the toner particles.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the toner particle hopper is part of a toner cartridge of a printing apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the toner particle hopper is part of an intermediate transfer belt of a printing apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heating means is periodically energized to compress the toner particles.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the heating apparatus heating the toner particles until a threshold amount of heat has been applied to the toner particles.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the toner hopper is a waste toner hopper.

7. A system, comprising:

a waste toner particle hopper having a heating device contained therein; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the heating device to:

activating the heating device to a threshold level to compress a threshold amount of waste toner particles received at the waste toner particle hopper in response to the threshold amount of waste toner particles.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said heating device is mounted approximately vertically within said hopper of waste toner particles.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said heating means is mounted obliquely within said waste toner particle hopper.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising the controller to activate the heating device in response to completion of a print job.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising the controller to energize the heating device at times other than when a print job fusing heating device is energized.

12. A method for waste toner storage comprising:

periodically applying heat to a first plurality of toner particles received at a toner particle hopper via a first heating device within the toner particle hopper until the first plurality of toner particles reaches a first threshold volume level within the toner particle hopper; and

periodically applying heat to a second plurality of toner particles received at the toner particle hopper via a second heating device within the toner particle hopper until the second plurality of toner particles reaches a threshold second volume level within the toner particle hopper.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

in response to a print job being completed, periodically applying heat via the first heating device until the first plurality of toner particles reaches the first threshold volume level within the toner particle hopper; and

periodically applying heat via the second heating device in response to a print job being completed until the second plurality of toner particles reaches the second threshold volume level within the toner particle hopper.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising ceasing the application of heat via the first heating device in response to the first plurality of toner particles reaching the first threshold volume level within the toner particle hopper.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein periodically applying heat to the first plurality of toner particles comprises periodically applying heat to the approximate glass transition temperature of the first plurality of toner particles.

Background

Printing devices, such as printers, copiers, and the like, may be used to form indicia, such as text, images, and the like, on physical media. In some examples, a printing device may form a mark on a physical medium by executing a print job. A print job may include forming indicia, such as text and/or images, by transferring printed material onto physical media.

Drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus for heating toner particles of a toner particle hopper according to one example;

FIG. 2 illustrates another apparatus for heating toner particles of a toner particle hopper, including a heating apparatus and a controller;

FIG. 3 illustrates yet another apparatus for heating toner particles of a toner particle hopper, including a plurality of heating devices and a controller;

FIG. 4 illustrates a system for heating toner particles of a toner particle hopper, including a processor and a non-transitory Machine Readable Medium (MRM);

FIG. 5 shows a diagram of a controller including a processor, memory resources, and an engine, according to an example; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a method for heating toner particles of a toner particle hopper according to one example.

Detailed Description

The printing device may include a supply of toner in a hopper (e.g., a reservoir) that includes toner particles. As used herein, the terms "toner" and "toner particles" refer to a substance that, when applied to media during a print job, can form graphic(s) on the media. For example, toner particles may include toner materials, powdered semi-crystalline thermoplastic materials, powdered metal materials, powdered plastic materials, powdered composite materials, powdered ceramic materials, powdered glass materials, powdered resinous materials, and/or powdered polymeric materials, as well as other types of powder or particulate materials. When deposited, the toner particles may melt to complete the print job. The toner particles may be deposited on a physical medium. As used herein, the term "printing device" refers to any hardware device having the functionality to physically produce the illustration(s) on media. An exemplary printing device that uses toner particles is a laser printing device (e.g., a printer/scanner/copier, either alone or in combination), although examples of the disclosure are not limited to laser printing devices.

Printing devices that use toner particles (e.g., dry toner particles) generate waste toner particles (e.g., after a print job is completed), which are stored in a waste toner particle hopper that is different from the hopper that stores new toner particles. The waste toner particles are stored in the waste toner particle hopper until the waste toner particle hopper is replaced or emptied.

Since the waste toner particles are fine and a soot of the waste toner particles is generated, the removal or replacement of the waste toner particle hopper is very dirty. Particles may also leak from the storage container if inverted or opened. Thus, the waste toner particle hopper may comprise a special recyclable or disposable container. Further, while some waste toner particle hoppers are replaceable, others may not, resulting in the end of life of the printing device if the waste toner particle hopper becomes full.

Some other methods of storing waste toner particles include heating the waste toner particles before moving the waste toner particles to a waste toner particle hopper. This method may cause clogging inside the printing apparatus; in particular, clogging may occur in the extruder (or a heating element near the extruder) for moving the heated waste toner particles.

In contrast, examples of the present disclosure provide for increasing the capacity of a waste toner particle hopper by: the waste toner particles are heated after they have reached the waste toner particle hopper to reduce the air gaps between the waste toner particles and to reduce the volume consumed by the waste toner particles. By using a heating device in the waste toner particle hopper to compress the waste toner particles, the amount of waste toner particles allowed in the waste toner particle hopper is increased. This can reduce the frequency of replacement of the waste toner particle hopper and increase the life of the waste toner particle hopper and/or the printing apparatus. Because the waste toner particles enter the waste toner particle hopper in their particulate form (and are heated after entering), clogging can be reduced. In some examples, because the waste toner particles remain compressed in the waste toner particle hopper after heating, the waste toner particles are in the form of a more solid mass, and thus waste toner particle smear may be reduced. This more solid mass form can be removed and/or recycled without the smearing of fine waste toner particles. Furthermore, the more robust form may not leak from the storage container.

FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus for heating toner particles 108 of a toner particle hopper 102 according to one example. For example, the apparatus may be within a printing apparatus. In some examples, the apparatus may include a toner storage device 100 that includes a toner particle hopper 102, such as a waste toner particle hopper. Within toner particle hopper 102 may be a heating device 104 (e.g., a nichrome wire arrangement) to heat toner particles 108 reaching toner particle hopper 102, thereby compressing toner particles 108. Toner particles 108 may be received at toner particle hopper 102, such as at region 106.

The toner particle hopper 102 may be located in different areas of the printing apparatus. For example, in some examples, toner particle hopper 102 is part of a toner cartridge of a printing device or part of a separate toner bin in a printing device. In other examples, toner particle hopper 102 is part of an Intermediate Transfer Belt (ITB) of a printing device. For example, having a toner particle hopper 102 (particularly a waste toner particle hopper) within the ITB may reduce the size of the printing apparatus, as additional space for the toner particle hopper 102 may be avoided.

Upon receiving toner particles 108 (shown in the particulate state in fig. 1), heating device 104 may be activated (e.g., turned on, heated, etc.) to compress toner particles 108. For example, toner particles 108 may be received after cleaning an Organic Photoconductor (OPC) of a printing device. The heating device 104 may be mounted vertically or obliquely so that the toner particles 108 are heated after falling to the bottom of the toner particle hopper 102. In some examples, this can reduce clogging in the toner particle hopper 102.

In some cases, the heating device 104 may be periodically energized. In such examples, the heating device 104 may be activated after the print job is completed or after a certain period of time has elapsed, and so on. In some cases, periodically activating includes activating the heating device 104 when other elements (e.g., the fuser heating device) are not in use to avoid increasing the peak power consumption of the printing device.

The heating device 104 may apply heat to the toner particles 108 until a threshold amount of heat has been applied. For example, the toner particles 108 may be heated to approximately the glass transition temperature. Doing so can soften and compress the toner particles 108 without melting them. After heating/compression, the toner particles 108 may become a firmer mass of toner particle material. The compressed toner particles occupy less space in the toner particle hopper 102 than the loose, fluffy particle form of the toner particles 108.

As used herein, "approximately" may include values within certain tolerances, ranges and/or thresholds. For example, heating to approximately the glass transition temperature may include heating the toner particles 108 to a temperature within a threshold value above or below the glass transition temperature. In some examples, the threshold amount of heat applied is a value different from the approximate glass transition temperature.

FIG. 2 shows another apparatus for heating toner particles of toner particle hopper 202, which includes heating apparatus 204 and controller 214. For example, the apparatus may be within a printing apparatus. In the example shown in fig. 2, the toner particle hopper 202 is a waste toner particle hopper that is part of (e.g., inside) the ITB 210. As used herein, an ITB comprises a belt that passes in front of a toner cartridge within a printing device, and each layer of toner is applied to the belt during a print job. The combined layers are then applied to the media in a single step that is uniform. By housing the toner particle hopper 202 within the ITB 210, the printing apparatus can be smaller because the use of additional space for the waste toner particle hopper is avoided. The leftward arrow indicates the direction of belt movement, and the upward arrow indicates the direction of print medium movement.

Waste toner particles can enter the toner particle hopper 202 at opening 212. The controller 214 can be communicatively coupled to the heating device 204 to energize the heating device 204 to a threshold level to compress a threshold amount of waste toner particles in response to the threshold amount of waste toner particles received at the toner particle hopper 202. As used herein, "communicatively coupled" may include coupling via various wired and/or wireless connections between devices such that data may be transmitted in various directions between the devices. The coupling need not be a direct connection, and in some examples, may be an indirect connection.

For example, the controller 214 may include a device such as a semiconductor device to control Alternating Current (AC) into a resistor (e.g., the heating device 204), such as a triode for alternating current (TRIAC) device controlled by a processor, or may include a processor in communication with a memory resource that includes executable instructions to control energization of the heating device 204, among other example controllers.

The heating device 204 may be mounted obliquely within the toner particle hopper 202 as shown in fig. 2, or may be mounted approximately vertically within the toner particle hopper 202. This mounting configuration of the heating device 204 can be used to reduce clogging of waste toner particles within the toner particle hopper 202. Other heating device mounting configurations that reduce clogging may be used.

Energizing heating device 204 to the threshold level may include, for example, energizing heating device 204 to approximately the glass transition temperature. For example, the stimulus may be performed when a threshold amount of waste toner particles are received at the toner particle hopper 202. For example, the heating device 204 may be activated after a print job is completed, and the controller 214 may identify the completion of the print job as a particular weight, height, or amount of waste toner particles in the toner particle hopper 202. In other examples, the heating device 204 may be activated in response to cleaning of the OPC. In some examples, a sensor may be used to determine a threshold amount of waste toner particles in the toner particle hopper 202 or completion of a print job, but in some examples a sensor may not be used to reduce costs. In some cases, the heating device 204 is activated by the controller 214 at times other than when the print job fusing heating device is activated to reduce the peak power consumption of the printing device.

FIG. 3 illustrates yet another apparatus for heating toner particles of a toner particle hopper 302, which includes a plurality of heating devices 304-1, 304-2 (hereinafter collectively referred to as heating devices 304) and a controller 314. In the example shown in fig. 3, the toner particle hopper 302 is a waste toner particle hopper that is part of (e.g., within) an ITB, such as the ITB 210 shown in fig. 2.

The controller 314 may include a device, such as a semiconductor device, to control AC into a resistor (e.g., the heating device 304), such as a TRIAC device as shown in fig. 3. In some examples, the controller 314 may be a processor in communication with a memory resource that includes executable instructions to control activation of the heating device 304, as well as other example controllers.

Toner particles, such as waste toner particles, may enter toner particle hopper 302 at opening 312. The heating device 304 may be periodically energized (e.g., via the controller 314) as toner particles enter the toner particle hopper 302. The heating device 304 may be activated based on the amount of toner particles in the toner particle hopper 302. For example, toner particles entering at opening 312 may settle near heating device 304-1 due to gravity (e.g., toner particle hopper 302 is tilted toward heating device 304-1). When toner particles fall into this region, heating device 304-1 may be activated to heat the toner particles. As toner particle hopper 302 fills and toner particles reach the area of heating device 304-2, heating device 304-2 may be activated to heat the toner particles.

In such an example, which heating device 304 is to be activated may be determined based on the number of pages printed. For example, based on the number of pages printed, the amount of waste toner particles entering the toner particle hopper 302 can be determined. In some examples, sensors may be used to make the determination. When it is determined to switch from first heating device 304-1 to second heating device 304-2, second heating device 304-2 is activated and first heating device 304-1 is deactivated. Although two heating devices 304 are shown in fig. 3, more or fewer heating devices may be present in toner particle hopper 302.

In some examples, heating device 304 may be submerged in the heated toner particles as the toner particles are heated and form a more solid mass. For example, when toner particles completely cover heating device 304-1, heating device 304-1 may be encapsulated by the heated toner particles and recycled along with waste toner when removing/recycling toner particle hopper 302. Although the toner particle hopper 302 is shown within the ITB in fig. 3, the toner particle hopper having a plurality of heating devices therein may be part of a printing device cartridge or other printing device component.

Fig. 4 shows a system 418 for heating toner particles of a toner particle hopper, which includes a processor 422 and a non-transitory Machine Readable Medium (MRM) 416. In some examples, system 418 may be a computing device and may include a processor 422. System 418 may also include a non-transitory MRM 416 on which instructions, such as instructions 420, may be stored. Although the following description refers to one processor and one memory resource, the descriptions may also be applied to a system having multiple processors and multiple memory resources. In such an example, the instructions may be distributed (e.g., stored) across multiple non-transitory MRMs, and the instructions may be distributed across multiple processors (e.g., executed by multiple processors).

Non-transitory MRM 416 may be an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical storage device that stores executable instructions. Thus, non-transitory MRM 416 may be, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM), electrically erasable programmable rom (eeprom), a storage drive, an optical disk, or the like. Non-transitory MRM 416 may be provided within the printing device. In this example, the executable instructions 420 may be "installed" on the device. Additionally and/or alternatively, non-transitory MRM 416 may be, for example, a portable, external, or remote storage medium that allows system 418 to download instructions 420 from the portable/external/remote storage medium. In this case, the executable instructions may be part of an "installation package". As described herein, non-transitory MRM 416 may be encoded with executable instructions for vulnerability status report creation.

The instructions 420, when executed by a processor such as the processor 422, can include instructions to energize a heating device to a threshold level to compress a threshold amount of waste toner particles in response to receiving the threshold amount of waste toner particles at the waste toner particle hopper. For example, when a specific amount of waste toner particles enters the waste toner particle hopper, the heating device in the waste toner particle hopper may be heated to a specific temperature. For example, the particular temperature may be a temperature that causes a desired phase change of the waste toner particles (e.g., from fine particles to more solid or soft solid materials). The particular amount can be a certain physical level within the waste toner particle hopper (e.g., a certain height within the waste toner particle hopper) or an amount of waste toner particles that enter the waste toner particle hopper upon completion of a print job. In some examples, multiple heating devices are energized (e.g., individually or together). The one or more heating means may comprise heating wires, heating coils or nichrome wire arrangements or the like. When multiple heating devices are used, the same or different heating devices may be present.

Fig. 5 shows a diagram of a controller 514 including a processor 522, memory resources 524, and an engine 526, according to an example. For example, the controller 514 can be a combination of hardware and instructions for heating the waste toner particles in the waste toner hopper. The hardware may include, for example, processors 522 and/or memory resources 524 (e.g., MRMs, computer-readable media (CRMs), data storage, etc.).

As used herein, processor 522 may include a plurality of processing resources capable of executing instructions stored by memory resource 524. The instructions (e.g., machine-readable instructions (MRI)) can include instructions stored on the memory resource 524 and executable by the processor 522 to perform a desired function (e.g., heating waste toner particles in a waste toner hopper). As used herein, memory resources 524 may include a plurality of memory components capable of storing non-transitory instructions that may be executed by processor 522. The memory resource 524 may be integrated in a single device or distributed across multiple devices. Further, the memory resource 524 may be fully or partially integrated in the same device as the processor 522, or the memory resource 524 may be separate but accessible to the device and the processor 522. Thus, it is noted that controller 514 may be implemented on an electronic device and/or a collection of electronic devices, among other possibilities.

Memory resource 524 may communicate with processor 522 via a communication link (e.g., path) 523. Communication link 523 may be local or remote to the electronics associated with processor 522. The memory resources 524 include an engine (e.g., a heating engine 526). Memory resources 524 may include more engines than shown to perform the various functions described herein.

The engine 526 can include a combination of hardware and instructions to perform a number of functions described herein (e.g., heating waste toner particles in a waste toner hopper). Instructions (e.g., software, firmware, etc.) may be downloaded and stored in memory resources (e.g., MRM) as well as hardwired programs (e.g., logic), among other possibilities.

The heating engine 526 can energize a heating device to heat the waste toner particles received at the waste toner particle hopper, thereby compressing the waste toner particles. The capacity of the waste toner particle hopper can be increased by heating the waste toner particles to reduce the air gap between the toner particles (e.g., to reduce the volume consumed by the waste toner particles). By increasing the capacity of the waste toner particle hopper, the life of the waste toner particle hopper is extended, which reduces the frequency of replacement if the waste toner particle hopper is replaceable, or which increases the life of the printing apparatus if the waste toner particle hopper is not replaceable. Such an example can also reduce down time due to the time it takes to replace the waste toner particle hopper or printing device.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method 640 for heating toner particles of a toner particle hopper, according to one example. The method 640 may be performed by the system 418 and/or the controllers 214, 314, and 514 as described with reference to fig. 2-5. In some cases, the system 418 and/or the controllers 214, 314, and 514 may be located on a printing device.

Method 640 can include using a plurality of heating devices that can be activated based on a level of toner particles (e.g., waste toner particles) within a toner particle hopper (e.g., waste toner particle hopper). The method 640 may allow for reduced power consumption because smaller heating devices may be used. When a heating device is consumed or its level is exceeded by heated toner particles, the next heating device may be activated to heat subsequently received toner particles.

At 642, method 640 includes periodically applying heat to a first plurality of toner particles received at the toner particle hopper via a first heating device within the toner particle hopper until the first plurality of toner particles reaches a first threshold volume level within the toner particle hopper. For example, heat may be periodically applied for a plurality of print jobs (e.g., upon completion of each print job) until a first plurality of toner particles reaches a first threshold volume level within the toner particle hopper. For example, the first threshold volume may include reaching an end of the first heating device, or a volume of toner particles remaining after a certain number of print jobs are completed. In some examples, heat is applied to approximately the glass transition temperature. In response to the first plurality of toner particles reaching a first threshold volume level within the toner particle hopper, application of heat via the first heating device may be stopped.

At 644, method 640 includes periodically applying heat to a second plurality of toner particles received at the toner particle hopper via a second heating device within the toner particle hopper until the second plurality of toner particles reaches a threshold second volume level within the toner particle hopper. For example, heat may be periodically applied for a plurality of print jobs (e.g., upon completion of each print job) until a second plurality of toner particles reaches a second threshold volume level within the toner particle hopper. For example, the second threshold volume may include reaching an end of the second heating device, or a volume of toner particles remaining after a certain number of print jobs are completed. In some examples, heat is applied to approximately the glass transition temperature. In response to the second plurality of toner particles reaching a second threshold volume level within the toner particle hopper, application of heat via the second heating device may be stopped. Although two heating devices are described with respect to method 640, more or less than two heating devices may be used in some examples.

In the foregoing detailed description of the present disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration examples of how the disclosure may be practiced. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the examples of this disclosure, and it is to be understood that other examples may be employed and that process, electrical and/or structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit corresponds to the figure number of the drawing and the remaining digits represent an element or component in the drawing. Elements shown in the various figures herein may be added, exchanged, and/or eliminated so as to provide several additional examples of the present disclosure. Additionally, the proportion and the relative scale of the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate examples of the present disclosure, and should not be taken in a limiting sense. Further, as used herein, "a number of" an element and/or feature may refer to one or more of such elements and/or features.