Toner cartridge and electrophotographic apparatus adopting the same

• US 20030068174A1
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: S-Printing Solution Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Ando, Takashi, Hashimoto, Toshifumi
• Granted Patent: US 6,804,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/120
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0844 Arrangements for purging used developer from the developing unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0855 the concentration being measured by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying new developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0875 cartridges having a box like shape
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0877 Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0827 Augers
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/1647 Cleaning of transfer member
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/1657 of transfer drum
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 222/01 Xerography

Abstract

A toner cartridge which is detachably loaded in a predetermined loading portion and has a new toner containing space where new toner is contained and a waste toner containing space where waste toner is contained, the toner cartridge including a supply hole for supplying new toner and a receiving hole for receiving waste toner, which are installed at a predetermined position of a main body of the toner cartridge, and an open and shut mechanism for opening and shutting the supply hole and the receiving hole by a single shutter. An electrophotographic apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by adhering toner to a photoreceptive body where an electrostatic latent image is formed and transferring the toner to the recording medium from the photoreceptive body, in which the electrophotographic apparatus includes a loading portion where the toner cartridge is detachably installed the toner cartridge. The toner cartridge comprises a new toner containing space where new toner is contained and a waste toner containing space where waste toner is contained, a supply hole for supplying new toner and a receiving hole for receiving waste toner, which are installed at a predetermined position of a main body of the toner cartridge, and an open and shut mechanism for opening and shutting the supply hole and the receiving hole by a single shutter.

Claims

1. A toner cartridge which is detachably loaded in a predetermined loading portion and has a new toner containing space where new toner is contained and a waste toner containing space where waste toner is contained, the toner cartridge comprising:

a supply hole for supplying new toner and a receiving hole for receiving waste toner, which are installed at a predetermined position of a main body of the toner cartridge; and

an open and shut mechanism for opening and shutting the supply hole and the receiving hole by a single shutter.

2. The toner cartridge as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one of a first transfer unit for transferring the new toner from the new toner containing space to the supply hole and a second transfer unit for transferring the waste toner from the receiving hole to the waste toner containing space.

3. The toner cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the open and shut mechanism opens and shuts the supply hole and the receiving hole by operating the shutter, in engagement with installation and detaching operations with respect to the loading portion.

4. The toner cartridge as claimed in claim 3, wherein the open and shut mechanism comprises:

a driven portion installed at the shutter; and

a guide groove formed in the loading portion so that the driven portion moves when the toner cartridge is installed at or detached from the loading portion, for guiding the movement of the shutter through the driven portion.

5. The toner cartridge as claimed in claim 3, further comprising at least one of a first transfer unit for transferring the new toner from the new toner containing space to the supply hole and a second transfer unit for transferring the waste toner from the receiving hole to the waste toner containing space.

6. The toner cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein every elements including the open and shut mechanism is formed of resin.

7. An electrophotographic apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by adhering toner to a photoreceptive body where an electrostatic latent image is formed and transferring the toner to the recording medium from the photoreceptive body, the electrophotographic apparatus comprising:

a loading portion where the toner cartridge is detachably installed the toner cartridge,

wherein the toner cartridge comprises;

a new toner containing space where new toner is contained and a waste toner containing space where waste toner is contained;

a supply hole for supplying new toner and a receiving hole for receiving waste toner, which are installed at a predetermined position of a main body of the toner cartridge; and

an open and shut mechanism for opening and shutting the supply hole and the receiving hole by a single shutter.

8. The electrophotographic apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the toner cartridge comprises at least one of a first transfer unit for transferring the new toner from the new toner containing space to the supply hole and a second transfer unit for transferring the waste toner from the receiving hole to the waste toner containing space.

9. The electrophotographic apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the open and shut mechanism opens and shuts the supply hole and the receiving hole by operating the shutter, in engagement with installation and detaching operations with respect to the loading portion, and comprises:

a driven portion installed at the shutter; and

a guide groove formed in the loading portion so that the driven portion moves when the toner cartridge is installed at or detached from the loading portion, for guiding the movement of the shutter through the driven portion.

10. The electrophotographic apparatus as claimed in claim 9, where the toner cartridge further comprises at least one of a first transfer unit for transferring the new toner from the new toner containing space to the supply hole and a second transfer unit for transferring the waste toner from the receiving hole to the waste toner containing space.