Connection structure for coupling with toner cartridge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12085886-B2
Application number	US-202118027742-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2021
Priority date	Sep 25, 2020
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

An example connection structure includes a connector and a connector support body. The connector is to engage with a coupler of a toner cartridge at a driving position when the toner cartridge is located at an operable position. The connector support body is rotatable about a rotation axis. The connector is also to support the connector to allow the connector to be inclined toward one side or another side with respect to the rotation axis while moving along the rotation axis with respect to the driving position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connection structure comprising:
a connector to engage with a coupler at a driving position; and
a connector support body, rotatable about a rotation axis, to support the connector to allow the connector to be inclined toward one side or another side with respect to the rotation axis about a first axis, and to prevent the connector from being inclined about a second axis, wherein the first axis and the second axis are perpendicular to the rotation axis, while moving along the rotation axis with respect to the driving position.

2. The connection structure of claim 1 ,
wherein the connector support body includes a connector guide to guide a movement of the connector along the rotation axis,
wherein the connector includes a rotation portion movably accommodated in the connector guide, and
wherein the connector is to be rotatable toward the one side or the other side about the rotation portion.

3. The connection structure of claim 2 , comprising:
a plurality of guide followers protruding from the rotation portion,
wherein the connector guide has a plurality of engaging slots having a groove shape and extending in a direction of the rotation axis to respectively engage the plurality of guide followers, and
wherein the plurality of guide followers are movable in the direction of the rotation axis along the plurality of engaging slots while being engaged with the plurality of engaging slots.

4. The connection structure of claim 2 , wherein the connector support body includes an elastic member to, when the connector is removed from the driving position, provide a restoring force to the connector to move the connector to the driving position.

5. The connection structure of claim 4 ,
wherein the connector guide includes an elastic member support portion to receive the elastic member, and
wherein the connector includes a buckling prevention portion protruding from the rotation portion in an extension direction of the rotation axis to couple to the elastic member.

6. The connection structure of claim 1 ,
wherein the connector includes a connector head to contact the coupler,
wherein the connector head includes a seating surface having a recessed shape, and
wherein the seating surface has an inclination to align a position of the coupler with respect to the connector.

7. The connection structure of claim 6 , wherein, when the connector and the coupler are engaged, the connector and the connector support body are coaxial with each other.

8. An image forming device, comprising:
a toner cartridge support to support a toner cartridge having a coupler,
wherein the toner cartridge support includes:
a connector to engage with the coupler at a driving position; and
a connector support body, rotatable about a rotation axis, to support the connector to allow the connector to be inclined toward one side or another side with respect to the rotation axis about a first axis, and to prevent the connector from being inclined about a second axis, wherein the first axis and the second axis are perpendicular to the rotation axis, while moving along the rotation axis with respect to the driving position.

9. The image forming device of claim 8 ,
wherein the connector support body includes a connector guide to guide a movement of the connector along the rotation axis,
wherein the connector includes a rotation portion movably accommodated in the connector guide, and
wherein the connector is to be rotatable toward the one side or the other side about the rotation portion.

10. The image forming device of claim 8 ,
wherein the connector includes a connector head to contact with the coupler,
wherein the connector head includes a seating surface having a recessed shape, and
wherein the seating surface has an inclination to align a position of the coupler with respect to the connector.

11. The image forming device of claim 10 ,
wherein the connector head includes a guide surface to contact the coupler,
wherein the seating surface extends in a direction deviated from the rotation axis, and
wherein the connector is to rotate toward the one side when the coupler moves while remaining in contact with the guide surface and to rotate toward the other side when the coupler moves while remaining in contact with the seating surface.

12. The image forming device of claim 11 ,
wherein the guide surface includes a first inclined portion extending to form a first angle with respect to the rotation axis, and a second inclined portion extending so as to form a second angle, smaller than the first angle, with respect to the rotation axis, and
wherein the coupler is to contact the first inclined portion when the coupler moves while remaining in contact with the guide surface.

13. The image forming device of claim 10 ,
wherein the connector head includes a fixing recess located on the seating surface,
wherein the coupler includes a coupler head and a locking portion protruding from the coupler head, and
wherein the connector head is to rotate about the rotation axis while the fixing recess and the locking portion are engaged with each other.

14. A cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus having a connector, the cartridge comprising:
a coupler to engage with the connector at a driving position when the cartridge is located at an operable position;
wherein the connector is to be supported by a connector support body rotatable about a rotation axis and is to be inclined toward one side or another side with respect to the rotation axis about a first axis, and to prevent the connector from being inclined about a second axis, wherein the first axis and the second axis are perpendicular to the rotation axis.

15. The cartridge of claim 14 , wherein the coupler is to contact a connector head of the connector, the connector head including a seating surface with a recessed shape to align a position of the coupler with respect to the connector.

16. The cartridge of claim 14 , wherein the coupler is to contact a guide surface of the connector head, and the connector is to rotate toward the one side when the coupler remains in contact with the guide surface.

17. The cartridge of claim 14 , wherein the coupler is coaxial with the connector and the connector support body at the driving position.

18. The cartridge of claim 17 , wherein when moving to engage with the connector, the coupler is to insert the connector into a connector guide.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Lee Changwoo
• Yu Jaeil
• Kim Junhui

Classifications

• G03G21/186

  Axial couplings · CPC title

• G03G2215/068

  having a box like shape · CPC title

• G03G21/1676

  for the developer unit · CPC title

• G03G15/0875

  cartridges having a box like shape · CPC title

• G03G2215/066

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