Toner detection device of waste toner container

• US 10,642,215 B1
• Filed: 06/11/2019
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Plastic Industrial Company Limited
• Original Assignee: General Plastic Industrial Company Limited
• Inventors: Li, Kuan-Tung
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Joseph S
• Application Number:
  US16/438,019
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0856 Detection or control means for the developer level
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0858 the level being measured by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/10 Collecting or recycling waste developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/105 Arrangements for conveying toner waste
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/12 Toner waste containers
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1647 Mechanical connection means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1654 Locks and means for positioning or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1657 transmitting mechanical drive power

Abstract

A toner detection device of a waste toner container having a housing includes a rotational wheel, a transmission member and a resilient member. The rotational wheel is rotatably disposed to the housing and provided with a first abutment portion. The transmission member including a second abutment position is connected with the rotational wheel in a way that the transmission member is rotatable with the rotational wheel and moveable relative to the rotational wheel between a first position and a second position. Two ends of the resilient member are respectively abutted against the first and second abutment portions in a way that the second abutment portion approaches the first abutment portion and the transmission member is rotatable relative to the rotational wheel with the transmission member moving from the first position to the second position.

Claims

1. A toner detection device of a waste toner container having a housing, the toner detection device comprising:

a rotational wheel for being rotatably installed in the housing, the rotational wheel including a first abutment portion;

a transmission member connected with the rotational wheel in a way that the transmission member is rotatable with the rotational wheel and moveable relative to the rotational wheel between a first position and a second position, the transmission member including a second abutment portion; and

a resilient member disposed between the rotational wheel and the transmission member and having two ends abutted respectively against the first and second abutment portions in a way that the resilient member imparts a biasing force exerting on the transmission member towards the first position;

wherein the second abutment portion approaches the first abutment portion and the transmission member is rotatable relative to the rotational wheel while the transmission member is moving from the first position to the second position.

2. The toner detection device of the waste toner container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotational wheel comprises an axial sliding groove;

the transmission member comprises a protrusion block inserted into the axial sliding groove, such that the transmission member is rotatable along with the rotational wheel.

3. The toner detection device of the waste toner container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the axial sliding groove of the rotational wheel has a stop portion adjacent to the transmission member, and an exit remote from the transmission member;

the protrusion block escapes from the axial sliding groove via the exit when the transmission member is moved from the first position to the second position.

4. The toner detection device of the waste toner container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rotational wheel comprises a hollow portion located by the axial sliding groove;

the transmission member comprises an arm extending into the hollow portion and being provided with the protrusion block.

5. The toner detection device of the waste toner container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rotational wheel comprises a contact portion located by the hollow portion;

the protrusion block of the transmission member is contactable with the contact portion of the rotational wheel to retain the transmission member at the second position.

6. The toner detection device of the waste toner container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rotational wheel comprises a stop wall located by the hollow portion and configured to be abutted by the transmission member in a way that the transmission member is rotatable along with the rotational wheel when the transmission member is located at the second position.

7. The toner detection device of the waste toner container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission member comprises an axial sliding groove;

the rotational wheel comprises a protrusion block inserted into the axial sliding groove, such that the transmission member is rotatable along with the rotational wheel.

8. The toner detection device of the waste toner container as claimed in claim 7, wherein the axial sliding groove of the transmission member has a stop portion adjacent to the rotational wheel, and an exit remote from the rotational wheel;

the protrusion block escapes from the axial sliding groove via the exit when the transmission member is moved from the first position to the second position.

9. The toner detection device of the waste toner container as claimed in claim 8, wherein the transmission member comprises a hollow portion located by the axial sliding groove;

the rotational wheel comprises an arm extending into the hollow portion and being provided with the protrusion block.

10. The toner detection device of the waste toner container as claimed in claim 9, wherein the transmission member comprises a contact portion located by the hollow portion;

the protrusion block of the rotational wheel is contactable with the contact portion of the transmission member to retain the transmission member at the second position.

11. The toner detection device of the waste toner container as claimed in claim 10, wherein the transmission member comprises a stop wall located by the hollow portion and configured to be abutted by the rotational wheel in a way that the transmission member is rotatable along with the rotational wheel when the transmission member is located at the second position.

12. The toner detection device of the waste toner container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a stirring shaft;

when the transmission member is located at the first position, the stirring shaft is engaged with the transmission member, such that the stirring shaft is rotatable by the transmission member;

when the stirring shaft receives a resistance force and the resistance force gradually increases, the transmission member is pushed to gradually move toward the second position in a way that the stirring shaft is still engaged with the transmission member;

when the transmission member is located at the second position, the stirring shaft is disengaged with the transmission member such that the stirring shaft is not rotatable by the transmission member.

13. The toner detection device of the waste toner container as claimed in claim 12, wherein the stirring shaft comprises an axially extending tooth;

the transmission member comprises an engagement notch;

when the transmission member is located at the first position, the axially extending tooth is engaged into the engagement notch such that the stirring shaft is rotatable with the transmission member.