阅读说明：本技术 碳粉匣及碳粉匣防错装置 (Toner cartridge and error proofing device thereof ) 是由 蔡绍元 于 2020-05-19 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种碳粉匣及碳粉匣防错装置,碳粉匣防错装置用来限制使一特定碳粉匣绕一旋转轴心转动后始能组入一电子成像装置中,该碳粉匣防错装置包含有一导引部以及一固定部,该导引部设于该电子成像装置且具有一轴心槽以及一定位槽,该定位槽具有一圆弧段,该固定部设于该碳粉匣的一端且具有一轴柱与一侧柱,该轴柱位于该旋转轴心且伸入该轴心槽,该侧柱与该轴柱间隔且伸入该定位槽中,当该碳粉匣绕该旋转轴心旋转时,该侧柱沿着该定位槽的圆弧段移动。借此,该碳粉匣防错装置可确保使用者将预设的碳粉匣装填入正确的位置中,避免错误组装所衍生的物料浪费与清洁程序,以达节省时间与金钱的目的。(The invention provides a carbon powder box and a carbon powder box mistake proofing device, the carbon powder box mistake proofing device is used for limiting a specific carbon powder box to be assembled into an electronic imaging device after rotating around a rotating axis, the carbon powder box mistake proofing device comprises a guide part and a fixing part, the guide part is arranged on the electronic imaging device and is provided with an axis groove and a positioning groove, the positioning groove is provided with an arc section, the fixing part is arranged at one end of the carbon powder box and is provided with a shaft post and a side post, the shaft post is arranged at the rotating axis and extends into the axis groove, the side post and the shaft post are spaced and extend into the positioning groove, and when the carbon powder box rotates around the rotating axis, the side post moves along the arc section of the positioning groove. Therefore, the error-proof device of the carbon powder box can ensure that a user can fill the preset carbon powder box into the correct position, avoid material waste and cleaning procedures caused by error assembly, and achieve the purpose of saving time and money.)

1. A toner cartridge error proofing apparatus for limiting a specific toner cartridge from being assembled into an electronic imaging device after being rotated around a rotation axis, the toner cartridge error proofing apparatus comprising:

a guiding part arranged on the electronic imaging device, wherein the guiding part comprises an axis groove and a positioning groove, the axis groove is intersected with the rotating axis, the positioning groove is provided with an arc section, and the curvature center of the arc section is positioned on the rotating axis; and

the fixing part is arranged at one end of the carbon powder box and comprises a shaft column and a side column, the shaft column is positioned on the rotating axis and extends into the axis groove, the side column and the shaft column are spaced and extend into the positioning groove, and when the carbon powder box rotates, the side column moves along the arc section of the positioning groove.

2. The error proofing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said axle post and said side post are both parallel to said rotational axis.

3. The error proofing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circular arc section of the positioning slot has a narrow opening for the side post to push through.

4. The error proofing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide portion has a stop surface at its outer edge, the axial slot has a first entrance at the stop surface and a first extension extending from the first entrance and intersecting the rotational axis, the positioning slot has a second entrance at the stop surface and a second extension extending from the second entrance, and the arc segment extends from the second extension.

5. The error proofing device of claim 4, wherein said first extension extends downward from said first inlet.

6. The error proofing device of claim 4 wherein said first extension and said second extension are parallel to each other.

7. The error proofing apparatus of claim 4 wherein the cross section of the shaft is non-circular such that the outer diameter of the shaft varies with angle between a minimum outer diameter and a maximum outer diameter, the width of the first inlet is between the minimum outer diameter and the maximum outer diameter such that the shaft can enter the first extension part from the first inlet when the side post enters the second extension part from the second inlet, the intersection of the first extension part and the rotation axis has a wider mouth than the rest such that the shaft can rotate in the wider mouth.

8. A carbon powder box, is used for assembling into an electronic imaging device after rotating around a rotation axis, the electronic imaging device has a guide part, the guide part includes an axis slot and a locating slot, the axis slot intersects with the rotation axis, the locating slot has a circular arc section, the curvature center of the circular arc section locates at the rotation axis, characterized by that, the carbon powder box includes:

a housing; and

a fixing part arranged at one end of the shell, wherein the fixing part comprises a shaft column and a side column, the shaft column is positioned at the rotating axis and used for extending into the axis groove, the side column is separated from the shaft column and used for extending into the positioning groove, and when the carbon powder box rotates, the side column moves along the arc section of the positioning groove.

9. The toner cartridge of claim 8, wherein the shaft and the side posts are parallel to the rotational axis.

10. The toner cartridge of claim 8, wherein the circular arc section of the retaining groove has a narrow opening through which the side post can be pushed.

11. The toner cartridge of claim 8, wherein the guide portion of the electronic imaging device has a stop surface on an outer edge thereof, the axial slot has a first entrance at the stop surface and a first extension extending from the first entrance and intersecting the rotational axis, the positioning slot has a second entrance at the stop surface and a second extension extending from the second entrance, and the arc extends from the second extension.

12. The toner cartridge of claim 11, wherein the cross-section of the shaft is non-circular such that the outer diameter of the shaft varies with angle between a minimum outer diameter and a maximum outer diameter, the width of the first inlet is between the minimum outer diameter and the maximum outer diameter such that the shaft can enter the first extension portion from the first inlet when the side post enters the second extension portion from the second inlet, the intersection of the first extension portion and the rotational axis has a wide mouth with a width greater than the remaining portion such that the shaft can rotate in the wide mouth.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electronic imaging device, and more particularly, to a toner cartridge error proofing apparatus for an electronic imaging device.

Background

An electronic imaging device such as a photocopier, a business machine, etc. is an indispensable helper for modern work and life, and generally, four toner cartridges with different colors are required to be installed for printing color images, the toner cartridge with each color has a corresponding preset position, when a user loads or replaces the toner cartridge, if the user carelessly loads the wrong position, the user may be warned by the electronic imaging device and needs to reload the toner cartridge, or the user cannot find the wrong color until the user prints the wrong color, so that the user needs to find out the wrong loaded toner cartridge, and can clean peripheral components polluted by different colors, which is time-consuming, troublesome and wastes money.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a toner cartridge error proofing apparatus that can ensure that a user can load a predetermined toner cartridge into a correct position, thereby avoiding waste of time and money.

To achieve the above object, the present invention discloses a toner cartridge error proofing apparatus for limiting a specific toner cartridge to be assembled into an electronic imaging device after rotating around a rotation axis, the toner cartridge error proofing apparatus comprising a guiding portion and a fixing portion; the guiding part is arranged on the electronic imaging device and comprises an axis groove and a positioning groove, the axis groove is intersected with the rotating axis, the positioning groove is provided with an arc section, and the curvature center of the arc section is positioned on the rotating axis; the fixing part is arranged at one end of the carbon powder box and comprises a shaft column and a side column, the shaft column is positioned at the rotating axis and extends into the axis groove, the side column and the shaft column are spaced and extend into the positioning groove, and when the carbon powder box rotates, the side column moves along the arc section of the positioning groove.

The invention also discloses a carbon powder box which is used for being assembled into an electronic imaging device after rotating around a rotating shaft center, the electronic imaging device is provided with a guide part, the guide part comprises a shaft center groove and a positioning groove, the shaft center groove is intersected with the rotating shaft center, the positioning groove is provided with an arc section, the curvature center of the arc section is positioned on the rotating shaft center, and the carbon powder box comprises a shell and a fixing part; the fixing part is arranged at one end of the shell and comprises a shaft column and a side column, the shaft column is positioned at the rotating axis and used for extending into the axis groove, the side column is separated from the shaft column and used for extending into the positioning groove, and when the carbon powder box rotates, the side column moves along the arc section of the positioning groove.

Because the fixing portions of the toner cartridges with different characteristics (such as colors) and the guiding portions of the electronic imaging device at different positions are corresponding to each other, a specific toner cartridge can only be combined with a specific guiding portion, and other non-predetermined toner cartridges cannot be assembled. Therefore, the error-proof device of the toner cartridge can ensure that a user assembles the preset toner cartridge to the correct position of the electronic imaging device, and avoid time-consuming correction errors after error assembly, thereby achieving the purpose of saving time and money.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toner cartridge error proofing apparatus according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the error proofing apparatus of the toner cartridge according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the guiding part of the error proofing device of the toner cartridge according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a fixing portion of the error proofing apparatus of the toner cartridge according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5 to 8 are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of the error proofing apparatus of the toner cartridge according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a toner cartridge error proofing apparatus according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 10 to 14 are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of the error proofing apparatus for a toner cartridge according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[ notation ] to show

10 carbon powder box

10' toner cartridge

30 guide 32 axial groove 322 first inlet

324 first extension 325 wide mouth

34 positioning groove 341 circular arc section

342 narrow opening 343 second inlet

344 second extension 36 stop surface

38 locus of containment

30 ' guide 32 ' axial groove 324 ' first extension part

325 'wide mouth 34' positioning groove

341 'circular arc segment 342' narrow mouth

344' second extension

40 outer casing

50 fixed part 52 axle 54 side post

50 ' fixed part 52 ' axle 54 ' side post

Error-proof device for 60 carbon powder box

Error-proof device for 60' toner cartridge

A rotary axis

A' rotary axle center

D_MAXMaximum outer diameter

D_MINMinimum outer diameter

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, a toner cartridge 10 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is configured to be assembled into an electronic imaging device (not shown) after rotating around a rotation axis a, the electronic imaging device has a guiding portion 30 and an accommodating portion 38, the toner cartridge 10 has a housing 40 and a fixing portion 50 disposed at one end of the housing 40, the guiding portion 30 and the fixing portion 50 together form a toner cartridge error protection device 60, and the toner cartridge error protection device 60 is configured to limit a specific toner cartridge (i.e., the toner cartridge 10) from being assembled into the accommodating portion 38 of the electronic imaging device after rotating around the rotation axis a.

Referring to fig. 3, the guiding portion 30 has a shaft groove 32 and a positioning groove 34, the shaft groove 32 extends vertically and is spaced from the positioning groove 34 by a predetermined distance, the shaft groove 32 intersects the rotation shaft a, the positioning groove 34 has an arc section 341, the arc section 341 has a narrow opening 342 whose width is narrower than the rest of the width, and the curvature center of the arc section 341 is located on the rotation shaft a. The outer edge (i.e. top edge) of the guiding portion 30 has a stop surface 36, the axial slot 32 has a first inlet 322 located at the center of the stop surface 36, and a first extending portion 324 extending vertically downward from the first inlet 322 and intersecting with the rotation axis a, the positioning slot 34 has a second inlet 343 located at the stop surface 36, and a second extending portion 344 extending vertically downward from the second inlet 343, the arc segment 341 extends from the bottom end of the second extending portion 344, and the first extending portion 324 and the second extending portion 344 are parallel to each other.

Referring to fig. 2 and 4, the fixing portion 50 includes a shaft 52 and a side 54, the shaft 52 is located at the rotation axis a and extends into the axis groove of the guiding portion 3032, the side post 54 is spaced apart from the shaft post 52 by a predetermined distance and extends into the positioning slot 34 of the guiding portion 30, the shaft post 52 and the side post 54 are parallel to the rotation axis a, when the toner cartridge 10 rotates, the side post 54 can move along the arc section 341 of the positioning slot 34, and the narrow opening 342 of the arc section 341 can be pushed by the side post 54. The cross-section of the shaft 52 is non-circular such that the outer diameter of the shaft 52 varies angularly with a minimum outer diameter D_MINAnd a maximum outer diameter D_MAXIn the embodiment, the shaft pillar 52 has a circular cross section and two opposite flat surfaces, the maximum outer diameter D_MAXI.e. the diameter of the aforementioned circle, the minimum outer diameter D_MINThe width of the first inlet 322 of the axial slot 32 is between the minimum outer diameter D of the shaft 52, i.e., the vertical distance between the two cutting planes_MINTo the maximum outer diameter D_MAXIn this embodiment, the width of the first inlet 322 is only slightly larger than the minimum outer diameter D_MINWhen the side column 54 enters the second extending portion 344 from the second inlet 343 of the positioning slot 34, the shaft column 54 can enter the first extending portion 324 from the first inlet 322, a wide opening 325 is formed at the intersection of the first extending portion 324 and the rotation axis a, and the width of the wide opening 325 is larger than the width of the rest of the first extending portion 324 and is slightly larger than the maximum outer diameter D of the shaft column 52_MAXThe spindle post 52 is allowed to freely rotate in the wide opening 325.

Since the error proofing device 60 is used to limit the toner cartridge containing toner of a specific color or having a specific characteristic from being assembled at a predetermined position of the electronic imaging device, the following description will be given by referring to the drawings with the toner cartridge 10 containing cyan toner and the guiding part 30 that can only be combined with the fixing part 50 of the toner cartridge 10. Referring to FIG. 5, when a user wants to assemble the toner cartridge 10 to the electronic imaging apparatus, first the toner cartridge 10 is moved horizontally from the top to the bottom of the accommodating portion 38, the side post 54 enters the second extension portion 344 through the second inlet 343, and then the shaft 52 has the minimum outer diameter D_MINEnters the first extension 324 through the first inlet 322; as shown in fig. 6 and 7, when the shaft 52 moves to the wide mouth 325,the side post 54 just enters the circular arc 341 of the positioning groove 34, and then the toner cartridge 10 is rotated counterclockwise around the rotation axis a (as viewed in fig. 6 and 7), while the shaft post 52 rotates in situ around the rotation axis a in the wide opening 325, and the side post 54 moves along the circular arc 341; as shown in FIG. 8, the assembly process of the toner cartridge 10 and the electronic imaging device is completed until the side pillar 54 is pushed through the narrow opening 342 of the arc 341 by the user's continuous rotation, as shown in FIG. 1, in which case, the side pillar 54 cannot push through the narrow opening 342 in the opposite direction to disengage the toner cartridge 10 from the guiding portion 30 unless the user applies a specific force, because the side pillar 54 is restricted by the narrow opening 342.

As can be seen from the above, since the guiding portion 30 has a special design, only the toner cartridge 10 with the structure corresponding to the fixing portion 50 can be inserted, as if only a specific key can be inserted and the lock head can be opened, the error-proofing device 60 for the toner cartridge can ensure that the correct toner cartridge is inserted, and the guiding portions 30 with different structures are disposed at different positions in the electronic imaging device, so that the toner cartridges 10 with different colors can be ensured to be respectively assembled at the preset correct positions, and the following description will be given by taking a toner cartridge with other color toner as an example.

Referring to FIG. 9, a toner cartridge 10 ' containing black (black) toner according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown, the structure of the toner cartridge 10 ' is substantially the same as that of the toner cartridge 10 according to the first preferred embodiment, the toner cartridge 10 ' also has a fixing portion 50 ', the fixing portion 50 ' has a shaft 52 ' and a side 54 ', but the distance and relative position between the shaft 52 ' and the side 54 ' are different from those of the first embodiment; on the other hand, the electronic imaging device has a guiding portion 30 ', the structure of the guiding portion 30' is substantially the same as the guiding portion 30 provided in the first preferred embodiment, except that the distance between the axial slot 32 'and the positioning slot 34' is smaller, the length of the second extending portion 344 'is shorter, and the position of the narrow opening 342' is also different from that of the first embodiment; the guiding portion 30 ' and the fixing portion 50 ' together form another error-proofing device 60 ' of the toner cartridge.

When a user wants to assemble the toner cartridge 10 'with black toner to the electronic imaging device, the process is substantially the same as the first preferred embodiment, as shown in fig. 10-13, first the toner cartridge 10' is moved from top to bottom, the side post 54 'enters the second extension 344' first, then the shaft post 52 'enters the first extension 324', when the shaft post 52 'moves to the wide opening 325', the side post 54 'just enters the arc segment 341', then the toner cartridge 10 'rotates counterclockwise around the rotation axis a' (as seen in fig. 11 and 12) until the side post 54 'is pushed through the narrow opening 342' due to continuous rotation, the assembly process of the toner cartridge 10 'and the electronic imaging device is completed, as shown in fig. 13 and 14, and then the user can stop rotating the toner cartridge 10'.

As can be seen from the comparison between the first preferred embodiment and the second preferred embodiment, if the user takes the toner cartridge 10 to combine with the guiding portion 30 ', the assembly of the toner cartridge 10 and the electronic imaging device will not be able to be successfully realized because the structure of the fixing portion 50 of the toner cartridge 10 and the structure of the guiding portion 30' are not corresponding to each other, and similarly, if the user takes the toner cartridge 10 'to combine with the guiding portion 30, the assembly of the toner cartridge 10' and the electronic imaging device will not be successfully realized. In summary, the error proofing apparatus 60, 60' for toner cartridges can ensure that the user can assemble the toner cartridge with a specific color or characteristic to the correct position of the electronic image forming apparatus, thereby avoiding the waste of materials and time-consuming correction after the error assembly, and even cleaning the peripheral devices contaminated by different colors of toner, so as to achieve the purpose of saving time and money.

The configuration of the error proofing device 60, 60' of the toner cartridge may vary based on the spirit of the present invention, for example, the shaft 52 or the side 54 need not be parallel to the rotational axis A, and may have other configurations or shapes without limitation; similarly, the structure of the axial slot 32 and the positioning slot 34 can also have other variations according to the structure of the axial column 52 and the side column 54, for example, the first extension portion 324 and the second extension portion 344 can not be parallel to each other or vertically extend downward, as long as the structure of the axial slot 32 and the positioning slot 34 can match the structure of the axial column 52 and the side column 54; in other embodiments, the side posts 54 may enter the guide 30 at the same time as the axle posts 52, even though the side posts 54 may enter the guide 30 earlier than the axle posts 52; the narrow opening 342 of the arc segment 341 of the positioning slot 34 is mainly used for positioning the side pillar 54, in other embodiments, the narrow opening 342 may be changed into other structures, for example, an elastic sheet or other elements may be disposed on the arc segment 341 to achieve the same effect.

It should be noted that the detailed description provided above with reference to the drawings is only an embodiment provided for illustrating the technical contents and features of the present invention, and those having ordinary knowledge in the field of the present invention shall be within the scope of the claims of the present invention as long as they can easily modify, replace or reduce the components without departing from the spirit of the present invention.