阅读说明：本技术 选择性地露出调色剂盒的握持部分的结构 (Structure for selectively exposing grip portion of toner cartridge ) 是由 朴晋杉 金镇弘 梁盛雄 于 2019-07-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种调色剂盒包括：容纳调色剂的本体；前盖,位于本体的前面,并提供有形成握持部分的第一开口,用以向前拉动调色剂盒；开闭构件,位于前盖内并被切换到关闭第一开口的第一位置和打开第一开口的第二位置；以及弹性构件,被配置为在位于第二位置的方向上将弹力施加到开闭构件。(A toner cartridge includes: a body containing toner; a front cover located in front of the body and provided with a first opening forming a grip portion for pulling the toner cartridge forward; an opening and closing member located in the front cover and switched to a first position closing the first opening and a second position opening the first opening; and an elastic member configured to apply an elastic force to the opening and closing member in a direction located at the second position.)

1. A toner cartridge, comprising:

a body to store toner;

a front cover located in front of the body and provided with a first opening to provide a grip portion to pull the toner cartridge in a forward direction;

an opening-closing member that is located inside the front cover and is switchable between a first position that closes the first opening and a second position that opens the first opening; and

an elastic member to apply elastic force to the opening and closing member in a direction to restore the opening and closing member to the second position.

2. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the opening-closing member is rotatable between the first position and the second position.

3. The toner cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the opening-closing member includes:

a blocking portion to block the first opening when the opening and closing member is at the first position; and

a concave portion that is aligned with the first opening when the opening-and-closing member is in the second position, and that forms at least a part of the grip portion to pull the toner cartridge in the forward direction.

4. The toner cartridge of claim 3, wherein

The front cover is provided with a second opening,

the opening and closing member includes a switching lever protruding from the front cover through the second opening, and

the switching lever is accessible from outside the front cover to switch the opening-closing member between the first position and the second position.

5. The toner cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the opening-closing member includes a blocking portion to close the first opening when the opening-closing member is in the first position, and to open the first opening to form at least a part of the grip portion when the opening-closing member is in the second position.

6. The toner cartridge of claim 5, wherein

The front cover is provided with a second opening,

when the opening-closing member is in the second position, the blocking portion protrudes from the front cover through the second opening, and

the blocking portion is to receive a force to switch the opening and closing member from the second position to the first position when the opening and closing member is in the second position and the blocking portion protrudes from the front cover through the second opening.

7. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the opening-closing member is slidable between the first position and the second position.

8. The toner cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the opening-closing member includes a blocking portion to close the first opening when the opening-closing member is in the first position, and to open the first opening to form at least a part of the grip portion when the opening-closing member is in the second position.

9. The toner cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the front cover is provided with a second opening, and

the toner cartridge further includes:

a switching lever to protrude from the front cover through the second opening when the opening and closing member is in the second position, and

the switching lever is to receive a force to switch the opening and closing member from the second position to the first position when the opening and closing member is in the second position and the switching lever protrudes from the front cover through the second opening.

10. An image forming apparatus includes:

a main body having a mounting portion;

the toner cartridge of claim 1, slidable in a rearward direction to install the toner cartridge into the mounting portion, and slidable in the forward direction to remove the toner cartridge from the mounting portion; and

a switching member provided in the main body to switch the opening-closing member from the second position to the first position when the toner cartridge is mounted in the mounting portion.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a removing member provided in the main body to push the toner cartridge forward to move the toner cartridge from a mounting position where the toner cartridge is provided in the mounting portion to an extended position where the front cover of the toner cartridge is extended from the mounting portion, and

the elastic member is configured to apply the elastic force to the opening-closing member to restore the opening-closing member from the first position to the second position when the toner cartridge is pushed from the mounting position to the protruding position by the removing member.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

The opening-closing member is rotatable between the first position and the second position, and

the opening and closing member includes:

a blocking portion to block the first opening when the opening and closing member is at the first position; and

a concave portion that is aligned with the first opening when the opening-and-closing member is in the second position, and that forms a part of the grip portion to pull the toner cartridge in the forward direction.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

The front cover is provided with a second opening, an

The opening-closing member includes a switching lever that protrudes from the front cover through the second opening when the opening-closing member is in the second position, and

when the toner cartridge is mounted in the mounting portion and the opening-closing member is in the second position, the switching lever interferes with the switching member to switch the opening-closing member from the second position to the first position.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

The opening-closing member includes a blocking portion to close the first opening when the opening-closing member is in the first position and to open the first opening to form at least a part of the grip portion when the opening-closing member is in the second position,

the front cover is provided with a second opening,

when the opening-closing member is in the second position, the blocking portion protrudes from the front cover through the second opening, and

when the toner cartridge is mounted in the mounting portion and the opening-closing member is in the second position, the blocking portion interferes with the switching member to switch the opening-closing member from the second position to the first position.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

The opening-closing member includes a blocking portion to close the first opening when the opening-closing member is in the first position and to open the first opening to form at least a part of the grip portion when the opening-closing member is in the second position,

the opening and closing member is slidable between the first position and the second position,

the front cover is provided with a second opening and a switching lever that protrudes from the front cover through the second opening when the opening-and-closing member is in the second position, and

when the toner cartridge is mounted in the mounting portion and the opening-closing member is in the second position, the switching lever interferes with the switching member to switch the opening-closing member from the second position to the first position.

Background

An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method is a printer that supplies toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive body to form a visible toner image on the photosensitive body, transfers the toner image to a printing medium via an intermediate transfer medium or directly, and then fixes the transferred toner image on the printing medium.

The toner is a consumable developer. For example, the image forming apparatus is configured to be able to replenish the developer. For example, the developer may be accommodated in a toner cartridge, and the toner cartridge may be removably mounted on a main body of the image forming apparatus. When the developer contained in the toner cartridge is exhausted, the toner cartridge is removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a new toner cartridge may be mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus;

fig. 2 is a perspective view of an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus illustrating mounting/removal of a toner cartridge;

fig. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of an example of a toner cartridge;

fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of the example of the toner cartridge shown in fig. 3, showing a state in which the opening-closing member is located at the first position;

fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of the example of the toner cartridge shown in fig. 3, showing a state in which the opening-closing member is located at the second position;

fig. 6 and 7 are sectional views of an example of a structure for switching the opening-closing member from the second position to the first position by an operation of mounting the toner cartridge of the example shown in fig. 3 to the main body, in which fig. 6 shows a state before the toner cartridge reaches the mounting position, and fig. 7 shows a state where the toner cartridge reaches the mounting position;

fig. 8 is a view of a process in which the opening-closing member returns from the first position to the second position when the toner cartridge of the example shown in fig. 3 is removed from the main body, showing a state in which the toner cartridge is located at the projecting position;

fig. 9 and 10 are sectional views of an example of a toner cartridge, in which fig. 9 shows a state in which the toner cartridge is located at a mounting position, and fig. 10 shows a state in which the toner cartridge is located at an extended position; and

fig. 11 and 12 are sectional views of an example of a toner cartridge, in which fig. 11 shows a state in which the toner cartridge is located at a mounting position, and fig. 12 shows a state in which the toner cartridge is located at an extended position.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Referring to fig. 1, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a main body 1 of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a toner cartridge 20 removably mounted on the main body 1. The toner cartridge 20 is also referred to as a "toner cartridge". The main body 1 of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a printing unit 2 for printing an image on a printing medium P by an electrophotographic method. The printing unit 2 of this example prints an image on a printing medium P by an electrophotographic method. The printing unit 2 may include a developing unit 10, an exposing unit 50, a transferring unit, and a fixing unit 80.

The image forming apparatus may include a toner cartridge 20 containing developer. The toner cartridge 20 accommodates developer to be supplied to the printing unit 2. The toner cartridge 20 is mounted on the main body 1 and connected to the developing unit 10, and the developer accommodated in the toner cartridge 20 is supplied to the developing unit 10. The toner cartridge 20 may be connected to, for example, the developing unit 10 via a supply conduit 40. Although not shown in the drawings, a supply unit for adjusting the supply amount of the developer may be interposed between the toner cartridge 20 and the developing unit 10. Although not shown in the drawings, the toner cartridge 20 may have a conveying member for conveying the developer contained therein to the supply conduit 40. When the toner cartridge 20 is mounted on the main body 1, the conveying member may be connected to a driving motor (not shown) provided in the main body 1.

The developing unit 10 supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 14 to develop the electrostatic latent image into a visible toner image. The developing unit 10 may include a photosensitive drum 14 to which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a developing roller 13 for supplying toner to the electrostatic latent image to develop the electrostatic latent image into a visible toner image. The photosensitive drum 14 is an example of a photosensitive body, and may include a conductive metal pipe and a photosensitive layer formed on the outer periphery thereof. The charging roller 15 is an example of a charger that charges the photosensitive drum 14 to have a uniform surface potential. A charging brush, a corona charger, or the like may be employed instead of the charging roller 15. Although not shown in the drawings, the developing unit 10 may further include a charging roller cleaner (not shown) for removing foreign matter such as developer or dust adhering to the charging roller 15, a cleaning member 17 for removing developer remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 after a transfer process described later, and a regulating member (not shown) for regulating the amount of developer supplied to a developing area where the photosensitive drum 14 and the developing roller 13 face each other. The cleaning member 17 may be, for example, a cleaning blade that contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 to scrape the developer. Although not shown in the drawings, the cleaning member 17 may be a cleaning brush that contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 and scrapes the developer while rotating.

One-component developing systems using toner as a developer may be classified into a contact-type developing system in which the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 14 rotate in contact with each other, and a non-contact-type developing system in which the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 14 rotate and are positioned so as to be spaced apart from each other by several tens of micrometers to several hundreds of micrometers.

In the case of a two-component development system using toner and carrier as a developer, the developing roller 13 is positioned so as to be spaced from the photosensitive drum 14 by several tens to several hundreds of micrometers. Although not shown in the drawings, the developing roller 13 may include a hollow cylindrical sleeve to be rotated and a magnetic roller fixedly disposed inside the sleeve. The toner is attached to the surface of the magnetic carrier. The magnetic carrier is attached to the surface of the developing roller 13 and is carried to a developing area where the photosensitive drum 14 and the developing roller 13 face each other. By a developing bias applied between the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 14, toner is supplied to the photosensitive drum 14 to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 into a visible toner image.

In an example, a two-component development system is employed. The interior of the developing unit 10 may be divided into an agitating chamber 10a and a developing chamber 10b by a partition wall 11. The developer supplied from the toner cartridge 20 may flow into, for example, the agitation chamber 10 a. The agitator 12a axially conveys the developer in the agitation chamber 10 a. The agitator 12b conveys the developer in the developing chamber 10b in a direction opposite to the conveying direction of the agitator 12 a. The pair of agitators 12a and 12b may be implemented, for example, by augers. Openings for communicating the agitating chamber 10a and the developing chamber 10b with each other are provided on both sides of the partition wall 11 in the axial direction, respectively. Therefore, the developer is circulated in the agitating chambers 10a and 10b by the pair of agitators 12a and 12 b. While the agitators 12a and 12b carry the developer, the toner is charged by friction with the carrier. The developing roller 13 supplies toner in the developing chamber 10b to the photosensitive drum 14 to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 into a visible toner image.

In the case of the one-component developing system, the toner cartridge 20 contains toner as a developer. In the case of the two-component developing system, the toner cartridge 20 may contain toner, or may contain toner and a carrier. When the trickle development system is employed, the toner and the carrier may be accommodated in the toner cartridge 20.

The exposure unit 50 irradiates light modulated corresponding to image information onto the photosensitive drum 14 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 14. Examples of the exposure unit 50 include a Laser Scanning Unit (LSU) using a laser diode as a light source or an LED exposure unit using a Light Emitting Diode (LED) as a light source.

The transfer unit transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 14 to a printing medium P. The transfer unit may include a transfer roller 70. The transfer roller 70 is positioned facing the photosensitive drum 14. A transfer bias for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 14 to the printing medium P is applied to the transfer roller 70.

The fixing unit 80 applies heat and/or pressure to the toner image transferred to the printing medium P to fix the toner image on the printing medium P. The configuration of the fixing unit 80 is not limited to the example shown in fig. 1.

According to the above configuration, the exposure unit 50 scans the photosensitive drum 14 with light modulated corresponding to image information to be printed, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 14. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 14 is developed into a visible toner image by the developer supplied from the toner cartridge 20 to the developing unit 10. The printing medium P mounted on the sheet feeding apparatus 90 is conveyed along a sheet feeding path 91 between the transfer roller 70 and the photosensitive drum 14. The toner image on the photosensitive drum 14 is transferred to the printing medium P by a transfer bias applied to the transfer roller 70. When the printing medium P passes through the fixing unit 80, the toner image is fixed to the printing medium P by heat and pressure. The printing medium P to which the toner image is fixed is discharged by the discharge roller 92.

The toner cartridge 20 is removably mounted on the main body 1. When the developer accommodated in the toner cartridge 20 is exhausted, a new toner cartridge 20 may replace the toner cartridge 20.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an example of an image forming apparatus. Referring to fig. 2, the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus may be provided with a mounting portion 3, and the toner cartridge 20 is mounted on the mounting portion 3. The door 7 opens and closes a portion of the main body 1 to mount/remove the toner cartridge 20 to/from the main body 1. As shown in fig. 2, when the door 7 is in the open position, the mounting portion 3 is exposed, and the toner cartridge 20 can be slid in the mounting direction a and mounted on the mounting portion 3. When the mounting is completed, the toner cartridge 20 reaches the mounting position 3 a.

The process of removing the toner cartridge 20 from the main body 1 may include a process of moving the toner cartridge 20 to the projecting position 3b slightly away from the mounting portion 3. The toner cartridge 20 can be moved to the protruding position 3B that is slightly moved in the removing direction B from the mounting position 3a by a removing member 6 (in fig. 7) described later below. For example, the removing member 6 pushes the toner cartridge 20 located at the mounting position 3a to move it from the mounting position 3a to the projecting position 3 b. In this state, the toner cartridge 20 can be pulled in the removing direction B and removed from the main body 1.

A portion of the toner cartridge 20 opposite to the door 7, for example, a front portion 21, does not have a concave or convex shape so that a user can hold the toner cartridge 20 and pull the toner cartridge 20 in the removing direction B. Therefore, in a state where the toner cartridge 20 is located at the mounting position 3a, the user cannot arbitrarily remove the toner cartridge 20.

In order to remove the toner cartridge 20 from the mounting portion 3, it is necessary to move the toner cartridge 20 to the projecting position 3 b. For example, when the remaining amount of developer in the toner cartridge 20 reaches the remaining amount as a replacement reference, an output device (not shown) such as a display, a buzzer, an illumination device, or the like may output a replacement signal that a user can perceive to replace the toner cartridge 20. The replacement signal may be, for example, a video signal displayed on a display, a sound signal through a buzzer, a light signal through a lighting device, etc. The user can input an operation for requesting replacement of the toner cartridge 20 via the operation panel. A control unit (not shown) may guide a user operation flow for replacing the toner cartridge 20, for example, via a display, and the user may replace the toner cartridge 20 according to the guide. To prevent any replacement of the toner cartridge 20, the operation flow may include password input. The control unit may operate the removing member 6 according to an operation by the user to push the toner cartridge 20 to the projecting position 3B in the removing direction B. Therefore, the front portion 21 of the toner cartridge 20 facing the door 7 slightly protrudes from the mounting portion 3, and becomes a removable state. In the mounting position 3a, the toner cartridge 20 can be locked to the main body 1 so that the user cannot arbitrarily remove the toner cartridge 20. When the toner cartridge 20 is moved from the mounting position 3a to the projecting position 3b by the removing member 6, the locking of the toner cartridge 20 with the main body 1 can be released.

The toner cartridge 20 located at the projecting position 3B can be pulled in the removing direction B and removed from the mounting portion 3. As described above, the front portion 21 of the toner cartridge 20 opposite to the door 7 does not have a concave or convex shape so that the user can hold the toner cartridge 20 and pull the toner cartridge 20 in the removing direction b. Therefore, it is not easy to pull out the toner cartridge 20 located at the projecting position 3B in the removing direction B. Since the amount of protrusion of the toner cartridge 20 at the protruding position 3b is not so large, it is also difficult for the user to hold the protruding portion of the toner cartridge 20. The following methods may be considered: the amount of protrusion of the toner cartridge 20 from the mounting portion 3 at the protruding position 3b is increased so that the user can hold the protruding portion of the toner cartridge 20. In this case, however, the size of the removal member 6 becomes larger, and the structure of the removal member 6 may be complicated.

This example provides a toner cartridge 20, the toner cartridge 20 adopting a structure capable of selectively exposing a grip portion for removal. For example, when the toner cartridge 20 is located at the mounting position 3a, the grip portion may be in a hidden state, and when the toner cartridge 20 is moved from the mounting position 3a to the projecting position 3b, the grip portion may be exposed so that the user can grip the grip portion with a hand. Hereinafter, an example of the toner cartridge 20 adopting a structure capable of selectively exposing the grip portion for removal will be described.

Fig. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of an example of the toner cartridge 20. Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of the example of the toner cartridge 20 shown in fig. 3, showing a state in which the opening-closing member 240 is located at the first position. Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of the example of the toner cartridge 20 shown in fig. 3, showing a state in which the opening-closing member 240 is located at the second position.

Referring to fig. 3 to 5, the toner cartridge 20 includes: a body 210 containing toner; a front cover 220 located in front of the body 210 and provided with a first opening 230 for forming a grip portion for pulling the toner cartridge 20 forward; an opening and closing member 240 located in the front cover 220 and switched to a first position (fig. 4) closing the first opening 230 and a second position (fig. 5) opening the first opening 230; and an elastic member 250 for applying an elastic force to the opening and closing member 240 in a direction located at the second position.

The front cover 220 is located on the removing direction B side of the body 210. As an example, the first opening 230 may be provided in the front portion 21 of the front cover 220. The first opening 230 may be formed in the following sizes: so that the user can put his or her hand into the first opening 230 to pull the toner cartridge 20 in the removal direction B, as shown in fig. 5.

The opening and closing member 240 is located inside the front cover 220. The opening and closing member 240 may be installed to be rotatable to a first position and a second position on the front cover 220. As an example, a pair of support shafts 221 and 222 are provided inside the front cover 220, and holes 244 and 245 into which the support shafts 221 and 222 are inserted may be provided at both ends of the opening and closing member 240, respectively. The opening and closing member 240 may include a blocking portion 241 and a concave portion 242, the blocking portion 241 blocking the first opening 230 when located at the first position, and the concave portion 242 aligning with the first opening 230 and forming a grip portion to pull the toner cartridge 20 forward when located at the second position.

The elastic member 250 applies elastic force to the opening and closing member 240 in a direction located at the second position. As an example, the elastic member 250 may be implemented by a torsion coil spring, a wound portion of which is inserted into at least one of the support shafts 221 and 222, and two arms extending from the wound portion are supported by the opening and closing member 240 and the front cover 220, respectively.

According to the toner cartridge 20 of this example, in a state where the toner cartridge 20 is separated from the main body 1, the opening and closing member 240 is held at the second position by the elastic force of the elastic member 250. The concave portion 242 is aligned with the first opening 230, and the front portion 21 of the toner cartridge 20 is formed with a grip portion into which a user's hand can be inserted through the first opening 230 and the concave portion 242. In a state where the toner cartridge 20 is removed from the main body 1, the operational convenience of the user with respect to the toner cartridge 20 can be improved. According to the toner cartridge 20 of this example, the first opening 230 and the opening and closing member 240 forming the grip portion do not protrude to the front portion 21 of the toner cartridge 20. Therefore, damage of the grip portion can be prevented during handling of the toner cartridge 20. The packaging design of the toner cartridge 20 is easy, and the risk of damage to the grip portion during transportation can be reduced.

It is necessary that the user cannot arbitrarily remove the toner cartridge 20 in a state where the toner cartridge 20 is mounted on the main body 1. For this reason, the opening and closing member 240 will be switched to the first position. The toner cartridge 20 of this example may have a structure that is accessible from the outside to switch the opening-closing member 240 from the second position to the first position. As an example, referring to fig. 3, the front cover 220 may be provided with a second opening 260. The opening and closing member 240 is provided with a switching lever 243 protruding from the front cover 220 through the second opening 260 so that the switching lever 243 can be accessed from the outside to switch the opening and closing member 240 located at the second position to the first position. The second opening 260 may be provided on the side portion 22 of the front cover 220. The switching lever 243 may be eccentrically positioned with the holes 244 and 245 serving as the rotation center of the opening and closing member 240. The switching lever 243 may extend outward from one or both ends of the opening and closing member 240 and may protrude from the front cover 220 through the second opening 260. One arm of the elastic member 250 in the form of a torsion coil spring is supported by the switching lever 243, and can apply elastic force to the opening and closing member 240 in a direction to be held at the second position.

With this configuration, by touching the switching lever 243 from the outside and rotating the opening and closing member 240 in a direction against the elastic force of the elastic member 250, the opening and closing member 240 can be switched from the second position to the first position.

According to the image forming apparatus of this example, the opening-closing member 240 is switched from the second position to the first position by the operation of mounting the toner cartridge 20 to the main body 1. When the toner cartridge 20 is removed from the main body 1, the opening and closing member 240 returns from the first position to the second position by the elastic force of the elastic member 250.

Fig. 6 and 7 are sectional views of examples of structures for switching the opening-closing member 240 from the second position to the first position by an operation of mounting the toner cartridge 20 to the main body 1. Fig. 6 shows a state before the toner cartridge 20 reaches the mounting position 3a (in fig. 2), and fig. 7 shows a state where the toner cartridge 20 reaches the mounting position 3a (in fig. 2). Fig. 8 illustrates a state in which the opening-closing member 240 returns from the first position to the second position when the toner cartridge 20 is removed from the main body 1. Fig. 8 shows a state in which the toner cartridge 20 is located at the extended position 3 b.

Referring to fig. 6 and 7, the main body 1 is provided with a switching member 4. When the toner cartridge 20 is mounted on the mounting portion 3, the switching member 4 switches the opening-closing member 240 from the second position to the first position. When the toner cartridge 20 is mounted on the mounting portion 3, the switching lever 243 protrudes from the front cover 220 through the second opening 260 and interferes with the switching member 4, so that the opening and closing member 240 located at the second position can be switched to the first position. As described above, the switch lever 243 of this example protrudes from the side portion 22 of the front cover 220. The switching member 4 may be provided in the mounting portion 3 so as to interfere with the switching lever 243 protruding from the side portion 22 of the front cover 220.

Referring to fig. 7 and 8, the body 1 may be provided with a removal member 6. The removing member 6 moves the toner cartridge 20 from the mounting position 3a (in fig. 2) to the projecting position 3b (in fig. 2). As an example, the removing member 6 may include a cam 61 and a motor 62 for rotating the cam 61. The motor 62 may be a dedicated motor for driving the cam 61. The motor 62 may be a main motor that drives a rotating member of the image forming apparatus. In this case, a clutch (not shown) for selectively transmitting the rotational force of the motor 62 to the cam 61 may be interposed between the motor 62 and the cam 61. Although not shown in the drawings, the removing member 6 may be implemented in various forms, such as a linear actuator having a stroke that can push the toner cartridge 20 to the protruding position 3 b.

Further, as described above, the removing member 6 may have a structure capable of locking the toner cartridge 20 to the mounting position 3 a. For example, the removing member 6 may include a locking portion for locking the toner cartridge 20 to the mounting position 3a and a removing portion for pushing the toner cartridge 20 from the mounting position 3a to the projecting position 3 b. The locking portion may be implemented by a second hook that is hooked on a first hook provided in the toner cartridge 20 when, for example, the toner cartridge 20 is located at the mounting position 3 a. The second hook may be rotated, for example, from a hook position where the second hook is hooked on the first hook and a release position where the second hook is released from the first hook. When the toner cartridge 20 is located at the mounting position 3a, the removing portion may be implemented by a second inclined portion that engages with a first inclined portion provided in the toner cartridge 20. The second inclined portion may push the first inclined portion when rotated to push the toner cartridge 20 from the mounting position 3a to the projecting position 3 b.

Referring to fig. 6 and 7, a process of mounting the toner cartridge 20 on the mounting portion 3 of the main body 1 will be described.

The user inserts the body 210 of the toner cartridge 20 into the mounting portion 3. At this time, the user may hold the front cover 220 with one hand, hold the body 210 with the other hand, and may insert the body 210 into the mounting portion 3. The grip portion is formed by the first opening 230 and the concave portion 242 of the opening and closing member 240 because the opening and closing member 240 is held at the second position by the elastic force of the elastic member 250. The user can hold the grip portion formed on the front cover 220 with one hand, if necessary.

As shown in fig. 6, the toner cartridge 20 is pushed in the mounting direction a and inserted into the mounting portion 3. When the toner cartridge 20 is pushed in the mounting direction a, the toner cartridge 20 reaches the projecting position 3b, and the switching lever 243 contacts the switching member 4. When the toner cartridge 20 is further pushed in the mounting direction a in this state, the opening-closing member 240 is rotated in a direction against the elastic force of the elastic member 250 by the interaction of the switching lever 243 and the switching member 4, and the opening-closing member 240 is switched from the second position to the first position.

As shown in fig. 7, when the toner cartridge 20 reaches the mounting position 3a, the opening-closing member 240 reaches the first position. The blocking portion 241 of the opening and closing member 240 is aligned with the first opening 230 to block the first opening 230, and the grip portion disappears. Therefore, any removal of the toner cartridge 20 can be prevented.

A process of removing the toner cartridge 20 from the mounting portion 3 of the main body 1 will be described with reference to fig. 7 and 8.

Referring to fig. 7, the toner cartridge 20 is mounted on the main body 1 at the mounting position 3 a. The bottom dead center portion 61a of the cam 61 faces the toner cartridge 20. Therefore, the toner cartridge 20 can be held at the mounting position 3 a. The switching lever 243 is engaged with the switching member 4. Accordingly, the opening and closing member 240 is maintained at the first position to block the first opening 230.

To remove the toner cartridge 20, the control unit drives the motor 62 to rotate the cam 61. The cam 61 pushes the toner cartridge 20 in the removing direction B. When the toner cartridge 20 is pushed in the removing direction B, the switching lever 243 is moved in a direction away from the switching member 4, and the opening and closing member 240 is rotated from the first position to the second position by the elastic force of the elastic member 250. The switching lever 243 and the switching member 4 can be kept in contact with each other by the elastic force of the elastic member 250 until the toner cartridge 20 reaches the extended position 3 b.

When the cam 61 continues to rotate, the toner cartridge 20 continues to be pushed in the removing direction B. When the top dead center portion 61b of the cam 61 faces the toner cartridge 20, the toner cartridge 20 is located at the projecting position 3b, as shown in fig. 8. The opening and closing member 240 reaches the second position. In preparation for remounting the toner cartridge 20, the control unit may rotate the cam 61 until the bottom dead center portion 61a faces the toner cartridge 20, as shown by a dotted line in fig. 8, and may stop the cam 61 at this position.

In this state, the toner cartridge 20 can be pulled in the removing direction B and removed from the main body 1. Since the opening and closing member 240 is located at the second position, the concave portion 242 is aligned with the first opening 230 to form a grip portion. The user can easily remove the toner cartridge 20 from the mounting portion 3 by putting his or her hand into the grip portion (as shown in fig. 5) by pulling the toner cartridge 20 in the removing direction B, so that the convenience of removal can be improved.

As described above, according to the toner cartridge 20 and the image forming apparatus employing the toner cartridge 20 of the present example, when the toner cartridge 20 is located at the mounting position 3a, no grip portion is formed on the front cover 220, and therefore the toner cartridge 20 is unlikely to be pulled in the removing direction b. Therefore, any removal of the toner cartridge 20 can be prevented. When the toner cartridge 20 is located at the protruding position 3b, a grip portion is formed on the front cover 220 so that the toner cartridge 20 can be easily removed from the mounting portion 3. In the case of the large-capacity toner cartridge 20, it is inconvenient to hold the entire front shape of the toner cartridge 20 that is projected by hand. However, according to this example, since the grip portion is formed on the front cover 220, the large-capacity toner cartridge 20 can be easily pulled in the removing direction b.

Fig. 9 and 10 show another example of a structure for mounting/removing the toner cartridge 20 to/from the mounting portion 3 of the main body 1. Fig. 9 shows a state in which the toner cartridge 20 is located at the mounting position 3a, and fig. 10 shows a state in which the toner cartridge 20 is located at the projecting position 3 b.

Referring to fig. 9 and 10, the opening and closing member 240a is provided to be rotatable within the front cover 220 at a first position (fig. 9) and a second position (fig. 10). The opening-closing member 240a of this example is different from the opening-closing member 240 shown in fig. 3 to 8 in that the opening-closing member 240a is exposed to the outside of the front cover 220 when located at the second position.

The opening-closing member 240a has a blocking portion 241a, and when the opening-closing member 240a is located at the first position, the blocking portion 241a closes the first opening 230a, and when the opening-closing member 240a is located at the second position, the blocking portion 241a is disengaged from the first opening 230a to form a grip portion, thereby pulling the toner cartridge 20 forward (i.e., in the removal direction B). That is, in the first position, the blocking portion 241a blocks the first opening 230a, and in the second position, the blocking portion 241a opens the first opening 230 a. The first opening 230a may be provided in the front portion 21. The first opening 230a may be located near the upper surface 23 of the front cover 220.

The blocking portion 241a protrudes from the front cover 220 through the second opening 260a provided in the front cover 220, so that the opening and closing member 240a located at the second position is switched to the first position by touching the blocking portion 241a from the outside. For example, the second opening 260a may be provided on the upper surface 23 of the front cover 220. The main body 1 is provided with a switching member 4a for switching the opening and closing member 240a from the second position to the first position when the toner cartridge 20 is mounted on the mounting portion 3. The switching member 4a is positioned to face the upper surface 23 of the front cover 220. When the toner cartridge 20 is mounted on the mounting portion 3, the stopper 241a interferes with the switching member 4a to switch the opening and closing member 240a located at the second position to the first position.

When the toner cartridge 20 is removed from the main body 1, the opening-closing member 240a is located at the second position, as shown in fig. 10. The blocking portion 241a is disengaged from the first opening 230 a. Therefore, the front cover 220 is formed with a grip portion through the first opening 230 a. The blocking portion 241a is exposed to the outside of the front cover 220 through the second opening 260 a. In this state, when the toner cartridge 20 is inserted into the mounting portion 3 and pushed in the mounting direction a, the blocking portion 241a interferes with the switching member 4 a. As the toner cartridge 20 is pushed in the mounting direction a, the opening-closing member 240a rotates in a direction against the direction of the elastic force of the elastic member 250a to be switched from the second position to the first position. When the toner cartridge 20 reaches the mounting position 3a, the opening-closing member 240a reaches the first position. The blocking portion 241a is aligned with the first opening 230a to block the first opening 230 a. Therefore, when the toner cartridge 20 is located at the mounting position 3a, no grip portion is formed on the front cover 220, and therefore the toner cartridge 20 is unlikely to be pulled in the removing direction B, so that arbitrary removal of the toner cartridge 20 can be prevented.

The process of removing the toner cartridge 20 from the main body 1 is the same as described above. That is, the cam 61 pushes the toner cartridge 20 to move it from the mounting position 3a to the projecting position 3 b. When the toner cartridge 20 is moved to the projecting position 3b, the interference between the switching member 4a and the blocking portion 241a is terminated, and the opening-closing member 240a is switched to the second position by the elastic force of the elastic member 250 a. Since the opening and closing member 240a is located at the second position, the first opening 230a is opened to form a grip portion. The user can easily remove the toner cartridge 20 from the mounting portion 3 by putting his or her hand into the grip portion by pulling the toner cartridge 20 in the removal direction B, so that the convenience of removal can be improved.

The opening and closing member 240b may slide and move to the first position and the second position to form/remove the grip portion. Fig. 11 and 12 show another example of a structure for mounting/removing the toner cartridge 20 to/from the mounting portion 3 of the main body 1. Fig. 11 shows a state in which the toner cartridge 20 is located at the mounting position 3a, and fig. 12 shows a state in which the toner cartridge 20 is located at the projecting position 3 b.

Referring to fig. 11 and 12, the toner cartridge 20 of this example is provided such that the opening-closing member 240b can slide within the front cover 220 at a first position (fig. 11) and a second position (fig. 12). Further, the toner cartridge 20 is different from the toner cartridge 20 shown in fig. 3 to 8 in that the toner cartridge 20 includes a switching lever 270 exposed to the outside of the front cover 220 when the opening and closing member 240b is located at the second position.

The opening-closing member 240B has a blocking portion 241B that closes the first opening 230B when the opening-closing member 240B is located at the first position, and the blocking portion 241B is disengaged from the first opening 230B to form a grip portion when the opening-closing member 240B is located at the second position, thereby pulling the toner cartridge 20 forward (i.e., in the removal direction B). That is, in the first position, the blocking portion 241b blocks the first opening 230b, and in the second position, the blocking portion 241b opens the first opening 230 a. The first opening 230b may be provided in the front portion 21.

The switching lever 270 is rotatably mounted on the front cover 220. The switching lever 270 protrudes from the front cover 220 through the second opening 260b provided in the front cover 220, so that the opening and closing member 240b located at the second position is switched to the first position by reaching the switching lever 27 from the outside when located at the second position. For example, the second opening 260b may be provided on the upper surface 23 of the front cover 220. The switching lever 270 is connected to the opening and closing member 240 b.

The elastic member 250b elastically biases the opening and closing member 240b in a direction located at the second position. As an example, the elastic member 250b may be implemented by a compression coil spring having one end and the other end supported by the front cover 220 and the opening and closing member 240b, respectively. The opening and closing member 240b elastically contacts the switching lever 270 by the elastic force of the elastic member 250 b. The switching lever 270 may be elastically biased in a direction protruding outward through the second opening 260b by the elastic force of the elastic member 250 b. The toner cartridge 20 may further include an elastic member 280 for applying elastic force to the switching lever 270 to rotate the switching lever 270 in a direction protruding outward through the second opening 260 b. The elastic member 280 may be implemented by a torsion coil spring in which, for example, a winding portion is provided on the rotation shaft of the switching lever 270, and both arms of the elastic member 280 are supported by the front cover 220 and the switching lever 270, respectively.

The main body 1 is provided with a switching member 4b for switching the opening and closing member 240b from the second position to the first position when the toner cartridge 20 is mounted on the mounting portion 3. The switching member 4b is positioned to face the upper surface 23 of the front cover 220. When the toner cartridge 20 is mounted on the mounting portion 3, the switching lever 270 interferes with the switching member 4b and switches the opening-closing member 240b from the second position to the first position.

When the toner cartridge 20 is removed from the main body 1, the opening-closing member 240b is located at the second position, as shown in fig. 11. The blocking portion 241b is disengaged from the first opening 230 b. Therefore, the front cover 220 is formed with a grip portion through the first opening 230 b. The switching lever 270 is exposed to the outside of the front cover 220 through the second opening 260 b. In this case, when the toner cartridge 20 is inserted into the mounting portion 3 and pushed in the mounting direction a, the switching lever 270 interferes with the switching member 4 b. As the toner cartridge 20 is pushed in the mounting direction a, the switching lever 270 is rotated to slide the opening-closing member 240b in a direction against the elastic force of the elastic member 250b, thereby shifting the opening-closing member 240b from the second position to the first position. When the toner cartridge 20 reaches the mounting position 3a, the opening-closing member 240b reaches the first position. The blocking portion 241a is aligned with the first opening 230b to block the first opening 230 b. Therefore, when the toner cartridge 20 is located at the mounting position 3a, no grip portion is formed on the front cover 220, and therefore the toner cartridge 20 is unlikely to be pulled in the removing direction B, so that arbitrary removal of the toner cartridge 20 can be prevented.

The process of removing the toner cartridge 20 from the main body 1 is the same as described above. That is, the cam 61 pushes the toner cartridge 20 to move it from the mounting position 3a to the projecting position 3 b. When the toner cartridge 20 is moved to the extended position 3b and the switch lever 270 protrudes outward through the second opening 260b, the interference between the switch member 4b and the switch lever 270 is terminated. The opening and closing member 240b is switched to the second position by the elastic force of the elastic member 250 b. Since the opening and closing member 240b is located at the second position, the first opening 230b is opened to form a grip portion. The user can easily remove the toner cartridge 20 from the mounting portion 3 by putting his or her hand into the grip portion by pulling the toner cartridge 20 in the removal direction B, so that the convenience of removal can be improved.

It is to be understood that the disclosure of the present description is to be considered in an illustrative and not a restrictive sense. The description of features in each example should be considered as other similar features that may be used in other examples. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is not defined by the detailed description of the disclosure, but is defined by the appended claims.