Connection structure for coupling with toner cartridge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12085885-B2
Application number	US-202118025759-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2021
Priority date	Sep 10, 2020
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

An example connection structure to couple with a toner cartridge includes a connector to be located at a driving position to contact a coupler provided in a toner cartridge, or a tilting position to be tilt with respect to the driving position, and a position maintaining portion to maintain the connector at the tilting position when the connector is separate from the coupler. The connector located at the tilting position is tilted toward a direction opposite to a direction in which the coupler moves when making contact with the connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A toner cartridge connection structure, the structure comprising:
a connector to be located at a driving position to contact a coupler, or a tilting position to be tilted with respect to the driving position; and
a position maintaining portion to maintain the connector at the tilting position when the connector is separate from the coupler, wherein the connector located at the tilting position is tilted toward a direction opposite to a direction in which the coupler moves when making contact with the connector, wherein the position maintaining portion includes an elastic member to provide a restoring force to the connector to locate the connector at the tilting position when the connector is separate from the coupler, and wherein the elastic member is separate from the connector when the connector is located at the driving position.

2. The structure of claim 1 , comprising:
a frame including a coupling portion at which the connector is located, and
wherein the connector located at the tilting position is tilted in a direction in which the coupler moves when a cartridge is mounted.

3. The structure of claim 2 , comprising:
a driving wheel to transmit power to the connector,
wherein the connector, the coupler, and the driving wheel are coaxial when the connector is located at the driving position.

4. The structure of claim 3 , wherein the connector includes a locking protrusion, the driving wheel includes an engaging groove to engage with the locking protrusion, the connector is to rotate in response to rotation of the driving wheel while the locking protrusion is engaged with the engaging groove, and the connector is to engage with the driving wheel for the connector to be tilted to the tilting position at any rotational phase of the driving wheel.

5. A toner cartridge connection structure, the structure comprising:
a connector to be located at a driving position to contact a coupler, or a tilting position to be tilted with respect to the driving position;
a position maintaining portion to maintain the connector at the tilting position when the connector is separate from the coupler,
wherein the connector located at the tilting position is tilted toward a direction opposite to a direction in which the coupler moves when making contact with the connector; and
a frame,
wherein the position maintaining portion includes a maintaining protrusion to prevent the connector from moving between the tilting position and the driving position, wherein the position maintaining portion includes an elastic support to provide a restoring force to the maintaining protrusion and supported by the frame, the maintaining protrusion is supported by the elastic support so as to elastically protrude into a through-hole, and the connector is to press the maintaining protrusion for the maintaining protrusion to be inserted into the frame when the connector moves between the tilting position and the driving position.

6. The structure of claim 5 , wherein the connector is to make contact with the maintaining protrusion when located at the tilting position, and is separate from the maintaining protrusion and the frame when located at the driving position.

7. The structure of claim 5 , wherein the maintaining protrusion has elasticity, and is to be deformed by the connector when the connector moves.

8. The structure of claim 5 , wherein the frame includes a through-hole into which the connector is inserted and wherein the maintaining protrusion protrudes into the through-hole, the through-hole includes a first region and a second region, the connector is to penetrate the first region when located at the tilting position and penetrate the second region when located at the driving position, and the maintaining protrusion is located between the first region and the second region to prevent the connector from moving between the tilting position and the driving position.

9. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a toner cartridge support to support a toner cartridge having a coupler,
wherein the toner cartridge support includes:
a connector to be located at a driving position to contact the coupler when the toner cartridge is located at an operable position, or a tilting position to be tilted with respect to the driving position;
a position maintaining portion to maintain the connector at the tilting position when the connector is separate from the coupler, wherein a restoring force to the connector is reduced when the connector is located at the driving position;

wherein the connector located at the tilting position is tilted toward a direction opposite to a direction in which the coupler moves when making contact with the connector; and
a frame including a guide to guide a movement of the toner cartridge,
wherein the guide includes a guide inlet through which the toner cartridge is to enter and exit the guide, and a coupling portion at which the connector is located, and
wherein the connector located at the tilting position is tilted in a direction in which the guide extends from the coupling portion toward the guide inlet.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the position maintaining portion includes an elastic member to provide a restoring force to the connector to locate the connector at the tilting position when the connector is separate from the coupler.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the elastic member is to be pressed in a direction toward the coupling portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the connector is to make contact with the coupler at or before a time at which the elastic member is pressed.

13. A cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus having a connector, a guide inlet, and an elastic spring member, the cartridge comprising:
a coupler to contact the connector located at a driving position and to separate from the connector located at a tilting position at which the connector is tilted with respect to the driving position;
wherein when making contact with the connector, the coupler is to move in a direction opposite to a direction in which the connector located at the tilting position is tilted; and
a pressing release portion to press the elastic spring member from a guide inlet toward the connector.

14. The cartridge of claim 13 , wherein the coupler is separate from the connector when an elastic member of the image forming apparatus provides a restoring force to the connector to locate the connecter at the tilting position.

15. The cartridge of claim 14 , wherein the coupler is to make contact with the connector at or before a time at which the pressing release portion presses the elastic member.

16. The cartridge of claim 13 , wherein the coupler and the connector are coaxial when the coupler contacts the connector located at the driving position.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Yu Jaeil
• Lee Changwoo
• Kim Junhui

Classifications

• G03G21/1857

  for transmitting mechanical drive power to the process cartridge, drive mechanisms, gears, couplings, braking mechanisms · CPC title

• G03G2221/1657

  transmitting mechanical drive power · CPC title

• G03G15/0865 Primary

  Arrangements for supplying new developer · CPC title

• G03G2215/066

  Toner cartridge or other attachable and detachable container for supplying developer material to replace the used material · CPC title

• G03G21/186

  Axial couplings · CPC title