Cartridge assembly and closure assembly for image-generating device

Abstract

Cartridge assembly for an image-generating device, with: a drum unit equipped with waste toner conveying devices that move waste toner collected from the surface of a photosensitive drum to one side; a developer unit connected to the drum unit, designed to receive the residual toner collected by the drum unit, and having developer removal means for conveying the developer contained therein to the outside; and a developer collection unit which is integrally formed with the drum unit on one side of the drum unit and is designed to collect the developer discharged from the developer removal media of the developer unit, wherein the drum unit has toner feed means which connect the waste toner conveying means, a new toner supply unit and the developer unit, so that the waste toner conveyed by the waste toner conveying means and new toner supplied by the new toner supply unit are fed together into the developer unit.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cartridge assembly and a shutter assembly for an image forming apparatus.

[0002] An image-forming device such as a copier, printer, or multifunction printer is classified according to the method of image formation into inkjet devices, electrophotographic devices, and thermal transfer devices. In an electrophotographic image-forming device, an image is created on a printing medium through a series of processing steps such as charging, exposing, developing, transferring, and fixing.

[0003] A conventional electrophotographic type image forming apparatus is equipped with a cartridge assembly in which a drum unit and a developing unit are integrally formed, the drum unit including a photosensitive drum, a charging roller, a transfer roller, etc., and the developing unit containing developer and including a developing roller and a supply roller.

[0004] The cartridge assembly contains a developer consisting of toner and a carrier for one printing process. The developer should be refilled or replaced according to toner consumption during printing processes.

[0005] Traditionally, developer replacement or replenishment was performed by simultaneously collecting and discharging developer residues (i.e., toner residue and carrier residue), followed by replenishment with new developer. However, such developer replenishment or replacement wastes a large amount of developer, and requires a separate part to collect the toner residue.

[0006] Japanese Patent Publication No. JP H05-66659 A (Patent Document 1) discloses an image forming apparatus in which toner is collected and reused while taking into account conventional developer consumption. Patent Document 1 discloses a process cartridge in which a waste toner tank is integrally mounted on a photosensitive drum and in which a discharge system is installed for conveying toner residues from the waste toner tank into the developer machine.

[0007] According to Patent Document 1, toner consumption can be reduced by collecting and reusing toner, but there is a problem that image quality deteriorates over time due to carrier degradation and developer deterioration as a result of long-term use.

[0008] Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2001-194908 A (Patent Document 2) discloses an image forming apparatus that collects and reuses toner and monitors the amount of carrier supply. This solves the carrier depletion problem of Patent Document 1.

[0009] However, since Patent Document 2 does not have a separate developer discharge mechanism except for a mechanism for scraping out the developer remaining in the drum and collecting the developer, there is a problem that the image quality decreases due to deterioration of the developer as a result of long-term use, and therefore a separate toner and carrier receiving part is required.

[0010] In the image forming apparatuses of the above-described patent documents, when it is necessary to detach or disassemble a drum unit, a developing unit, a developer collecting unit, and a main body of the image forming apparatus, which are formed independently or integrally, a shutter is attached to a developer conveying path. At this time, a developer collecting unit is disassembled or detached along the length of a developer discharging unit or from a bottom side. At this time, the shutter is opened and closed, causing some developer to drop downward. Therefore, a conventional image forming apparatus has a problem that developer leaks when the units or the unit and the main body are detachable from each other.

[0011] The present invention is directed to providing a cartridge assembly for an imaging device that can recycle collected toner together with new toner and at the same time discharge developer, thereby reducing toner consumption and also preventing the quality of the printed image from deteriorating.

[0012] The present invention is also directed to providing a shutter assembly for an image forming apparatus which can prevent the shutter from opening during assembly and disassembly of a cartridge assembly and thus prevent leakage of developer.

[0013] One aspect of the present invention provides a cartridge assembly for an image forming apparatus having a drum unit.The drum unit has residual toner conveying means for conveying toner residues collected from the surface of a photosensitive drum to one side; a developing unit connected to the drum unit and configured to receive the residual toner collected by the drum unit, and developer discharging means for discharging developer contained therein to the outside; and a developer collecting unit formed integrally with the drum unit on one side of the drum unit and configured to collect the developer discharged by the developer discharging means of the developing unit. The drum unit has toner feeding means connecting the residual toner conveying means, a new toner supply unit, and the developing unit, so that the toner residues conveyed by the residual toner conveying means and new toner supplied from the new toner supply unit are fed together into the developing unit.

[0014] The developer discharging means may include a first conveying screw mounted inside the developing unit in a longitudinal direction of the developing unit, a developer discharging passage communicating with the developing unit and the developer collecting unit at an upper portion of one side of the developing unit, and a second conveying screw mounted inside the developer discharging passage in a longitudinal direction of the developer discharging passage.

[0015] The drum unit may also contain cleaning agents that collect toner that remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum.

[0016] The developer collecting unit may have a guide groove on a side surface facing the developer unit, which guide groove corresponds to the shape of a side surface of the developer unit.

[0017] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a shutter assembly mounted on the cartridge assembly for controlling the inlet of developer. The shutter assembly includes a developer collecting member formed on an inner surface of the developer collecting unit and having a developer collecting hole, a developer discharging member rotatably disposed at one end of the developer discharging means and having a developer discharging hole on a side surface, and a rotary member rotatably mounted on a side surface of the developer collecting unit and configured to selectively allow the developer discharging hole of the developer discharging member to communicate with the developer collecting hole.

[0018] The developer collecting member may include a first seat portion concave toward the developer collecting unit, and the developer collecting hole may be formed in a lower portion of the first seat portion and communicate with the first seat portion in the longitudinal direction. The first seat portion and the developer collecting hole may have a quarter-circle shape.

[0019] The rotary member may include a disc-shaped base with a rotating shaft rotatably inserted into a side surface of the developer collecting unit, and a second seat portion having a shape matching the first seat portion. An opening may be formed in one end side of the second seat portion.

[0020] The developer discharge member may be seated on the second seat portion such that it has a shape that matches the second seat portion. Due to the rotation of the rotary member, the developer discharge hole may be closed by the first seat portion or deviate from the first seat portion to be opened.

[0021] The rotary member may further comprise a first elastic member connected to the rotating shaft and returning the rotary member to its initial position.

[0022] The developer removal member may further comprise a second elastic member connected to the developer removal means and returning the developer removal means to its original position.

[0023] The shutter assembly may further include a lever portion connected to the rotary member and urged by an imaging device to rotate the rotary member when the cartridge assembly is installed in the imaging device.

[0024] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce toner consumption and prevent deterioration in printed image quality. Furthermore, since the developer collection unit is integrally formed with the drum unit, the overall size of the image forming apparatus can be reduced, and developer residue can be easily controlled. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cartridge assembly according to the present invention for an image forming apparatus. Fig. 2 is an exploded view showing the cartridge assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention from another direction. Fig. 3 is a side view of the cartridge assembly for the imaging apparatus according to the invention. Fig. 4 is a side view showing an enlarged internal structure of the cartridge assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the cartridge assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention from another direction. Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing, in an enlarged manner, a developer discharging means of the cartridge assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Fig. 7 is an exploded view showing a drum unit and a developing unit of the cartridge assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Fig. 8 is an exploded view of a cartridge assembly in which a shutter assembly for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is installed. Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the shutter assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the shutter assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention from another direction. Fig. 11A is an exploded sectional view showing a closed state of the shutter assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Fig. 11B is a sectional view showing the closed state of the shutter assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Fig. 12A is an exploded sectional view showing an opened state of the shutter assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Fig. 12B is a sectional view showing the opened state of the shutter assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention,

[0025] As the Fig. 1 to 3, a cartridge assembly for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a drum unit 100 and a developing unit 200 that are installed on an inside of the image forming apparatus to form an image, and a developer collecting unit 300 that collects developers in the developing unit 200.

[0026] The drum unit 100 includes components such as a photosensitive drum, a charging roller, and a transfer roller for forming a latent image. The drum unit 100 also includes waste toner conveying means 120 that convey toner collected from the surface of the photosensitive drum 100 to one side of the drum unit 100.

[0027] The developer unit 200 is equipped with a developing roller 210 that applies the developer to a latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 110. The developing roller 210 is coupled to the drum unit 100 so that the developing roller 210 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 110 of the drum unit 100. The developer unit 200 is also designed to receive toner residue collected by the drum unit 110. Furthermore, the developer unit 200 is provided with developer removal means 220 that remove the developer contained therein to the outside.

[0028] The developer collecting unit 300 is formed integrally with the drum unit 100 at one side of the drum unit 100, that is, at an end of the drum unit 100 located in a direction in which toner residues are collected from the drum unit 100. The developer collecting unit 300 serves to collect the developer discharged from the developer discharging means 200 opposite the developer unit 200.

[0029] As the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the toner residue conveying means 120 provided on the drum unit 100 are equipped with a conveying screw arranged inside the drum unit 100 in the longitudinal direction of the drum unit 100. The toner residue conveying means 120 conveys toner residues collected by the photosensitive drum 110 to the developer collecting unit 300. The drum unit 100 has toner feeding means 130 for feeding collected toner residues into the developer unit 200. The toner feeding means 130 are configured to feed toner residues together with new toner into the developer unit 200.

[0030] In particular, the toner supply means 130 are connected to a new toner supply unit 400 arranged outside the drum unit 100. More specifically, the toner supply means 130 are connected to a feed opening 410 of the new toner supply unit 400 and to the toner residue conveying means 120 as well as to the developer unit 200 (see Fig. 4). The new toner supply unit 400 includes a supply container 420 that discharges the new toner to the outside, a new toner conveying passage 430 through which the new toner discharged to the supply container 420 is conveyed, and the feed opening 410 connected to the toner supplying means 130 for feeding new toner conveyed through the new toner conveying passage 430 into the toner supplying means 130.

[0031] The residual toner conveyed by the toner supply means 130 from the residual toner conveying means 120 and the new toner supplied by the new toner supply unit 400 can be fed together into the developer unit. Fig. 4, a yellow arrow A indicates a conveying path of the residual toner, an arrow D indicates a conveying path of new toner and a blue arrow C indicates mixed toner in which the new toner and the residual toner are mixed.

[0032] Although not specifically shown in the drawings, cleaning means (not shown) are arranged on one side of the drum unit 100 to scrape and collect residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 100. The cleaning means may be equipped with a cleaning blade. The residual toner conveying means 120 conveys the residual toner collected by the cleaning means to the toner supplying means 130.

[0033] How Fig. 6, the developer discharge means 220 includes a first conveying screw 221, a developer discharge channel 222, and a second conveying screw 223. The first conveying screw 221 is arranged inside the developer unit 200 in the longitudinal direction of the developer unit 200. The developer discharge channel 222 communicates with the developer unit 200 and the developer collecting unit 300 at an upper portion of one side (namely, the developer collecting unit 300 side) of the developer unit 200. A lower portion of one end of the developer discharge channel 222 communicates with the developer unit 200, and a lower portion of the other end is connected to the developer collecting unit 300. The second conveying screw 223 is arranged inside the developer discharge channel 222 in a longitudinal direction of the developer discharge channel 222. Fig. 6, a blue arrow D indicates a conveying path of the developer conveyed by the first conveying screw 221. An arrow E indicates a conveying path of the developer conveyed by the second conveying screw 223.

[0034] By means of the developer removal means 220, developer disposed in the developer unit 200 is conveyed by the first conveying screw 221 to the developer removal channel 222. When the developer in the developer unit 200 exceeds a predetermined fill level, the developer is brought into the developer removal channel 222 by the second conveying screw 223 and then collected in the developer collection unit 300.

[0035] As described above, the cartridge assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can reduce toner consumption by collecting toner residues through the toner supply means 130 and supplying the toner residues together with new toner. Furthermore, deteriorated developer in the developer unit 200 can be discharged to the developer collection unit 300, thereby solving the problem of deteriorating printed image quality.

[0036] As also described above, the developer collection unit 300 is integrally formed with the drum unit 100. When the life of the drum unit 100 (life of the cleaning agents) ends and the drum unit 100 is therefore replaced, the developer collection unit 300 is replaced together with the drum unit 100. Therefore, the developer residue can be treated according to the life of the drum unit 100. Since the replacement intervals of the drum unit 100 and the developer collection unit 300 are consistent, the developer residue can be easily handled.

[0037] In addition, the integral structure of the drum unit 100 and the developer collecting unit 300 has the effect of reducing the overall size of the device.

[0038] How Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the developer collecting unit 300, which is formed integrally with the drum unit 100, has a guide groove 310 that corresponds to the shape of a side surface of the developer unit 200. A guide groove (not shown) that corresponds to the shape of the side surface of the developer unit 200 is also formed on a side surface of the drum unit 100 facing the developer collecting unit 300.

[0039] In this way, the developer unit 200 can be easily coupled to the drum unit 100 by means of the guide groove 310 of the developer collecting unit 300.

[0040] The operation of the cartridge assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0041] First, residual toner collected from the photosensitive drum 110 by the cleaning means is conveyed to the toner supplying means 130 of the drum unit 100 by the residual toner conveying means 120 of the drum unit 100. At the same time, new toner from the new toner supply unit 400 is supplied to the toner supplying means 130 via the supply container 420, the new toner conveying passage 430, and the supply opening 410. The collected residual toner and the new toner are thus simultaneously supplied to the toner supplying means 130. A mixture of residual toner and new toner from the toner supplying means 130 is then supplied to the developer unit 200 by a conveying screw (a different conveying screw than the first conveying screw 221) arranged inside the developer unit 200. Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, the yellow arrow A shows the transport path of the residual toner and the arrow B shows the transport path of the new toner.

[0042] According to the present invention, since the new toner and the waste toner are mixed by the toner supplying means 130 and then used, the toner consumption can be reduced.

[0043] The developer in the developer unit 200 is conveyed to the developer discharge channel 222 by the first conveying screw 221. When the developer in the developer unit 200 exceeds a predetermined level, the developer is conveyed to the developer discharge channel 222 by the second conveying screw 222 and then collected in the developer collecting unit 300.

[0044] Since a part of the developer deteriorated in the developing unit 200 is discharged to the developer collecting unit 300, the problem that the image quality deteriorates can be solved.

[0045] The developer collected in the developer collection unit 300 remains in the developer collection unit 300 until the life of the drum unit 100 is reached and is then discarded when the drum unit 100 is replaced. Thus, the handling of used developer can be easily performed.

[0046] How Fig. As shown in Figure 8, the cartridge assembly on which a shutter assembly for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is mounted includes a drum unit 100 and a developer unit 200 that are installed inside the image forming apparatus to form an image. A developer collecting unit 300 that collects developer in the developer unit 200 is installed on one side of the drum unit 100.

[0047] The drum unit 100 includes components such as a photosensitive drum, a charging roller, and a transfer roller for forming a latent image. The drum unit 100 also includes a residual toner conveying channel (not shown) for conveying residual toner collected therein from a surface of the photosensitive drum 110 to one side of the drum unit 100.

[0048] The developer unit 200 also includes a developer roller 210 that applies developer to the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 110. The developer roller 210 is coupled to the drum unit 100 such that the developer roller 210 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 110 of the drum unit 100.

[0049] The developer unit 200 is also designed to collect residual toner collected from the drum unit 100 inside the developer unit 200. The developer unit 200 is provided with developer removal means 220 that remove the developer to the outside. The developer removal means 220 are connected to a conveyor screw 221 (see Fig. 9 and Fig. 10).

[0050] The developer collection unit 300 is formed integrally with the drum unit 100 on one side of the drum unit 100, namely, at the end of the drum unit 100 located in the direction in which residual toner is collected from the drum unit 100. The developer collection unit 300 serves to collect the developer discharged from the developer discharge means 220 of the developer unit 200.

[0051] As the Fig. 9 to 12b, the shutter assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is arranged between the developing unit 200 and the developer collecting unit 300 to selectively open and close a developer return passage between the developing unit 200 and the developer collecting unit 300 to supply and collect developer.

[0052] In particular, the shutter assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a developer collecting member 410, a developer discharging member 420, and a rotating member 430.

[0053] The developer collecting member 410 is formed on a side surface 310 of the developer collecting unit 300. More specifically, on a side surface facing the developer unit 200. The developer collecting member 410 has a developer collecting hole 411 through which developer of the developer unit 200 is collected.

[0054] The developer discharge member 420 is rotatably disposed at one end of the developer discharge means 220, more specifically, at an end facing the developer collection unit 300. The developer discharge member 420 has a developer discharge hole 420 formed on one of its side surfaces. The developer discharge member 420 is inserted into the developer collection hole 411 of the developer collection member 410 to selectively discharge developer from the developer unit 200 to the developer collection unit 300.

[0055] The rotary member 430 is rotatably mounted on a side surface 301 of the developer collecting unit 300. The rotary member 430 serves to allow the developer discharge hole 421 of the developer discharge member 420 to selectively communicate with the developer collecting hole 411 while rotating. Thus, due to the rotation of the rotary member 430, the developer discharge hole 421 and the developer collecting hole 411 are selectively aligned with each other to control the discharge of the developer.

[0056] The developer collecting member 410 includes a first seat portion 412 that is concave toward the developer collecting unit 300. The first seat portion 412 has a groove shape with its upper surface and side surfaces closed and its lower surface open. Furthermore, the developer collecting hole 411 is formed at a lower portion of the first seat portion 412 to communicate with the first seat portion 412 in the longitudinal direction.

[0057] The first seat part 412 and the developer collection hole 411 have a substantially quarter-circle shape. Such a shape of the developer collection member 410 serves to smoothly rotate the rotary member 430 and selectively open and close the developer discharge member 420.

[0058] The rotary member 430 includes a disc-shaped base 431 and a second seat portion 432. The base 431 has a rotating shaft 433 disposed at its center. The rotating shaft 433 is rotatably fitted into a side surface 301 of the developer collecting unit 300, specifically, into a coupling hole 413 of the first seat portion 412. Furthermore, an arm 434 extending in the opposite direction of the rotating shaft 433 is disposed on an outer peripheral side of the base 431. The second seat portion 432 is formed in a shape that matches the first seat portion 412. Thus, when the rotary member 430 is attached to the developer collecting member 410, the first and second seat portions 412 and 432 are overlapped with each other. An opening 432a, which communicates with the outside, is formed at one side end of the second seat part 432.The opening 432a is aligned with the developer discharge hole 421 of the developer discharge member 420 and serves to discharge developer.

[0059] The developer discharge member 420 has a shape matching the second seat portion 432 and is seated on the second seat portion 432. When the rotary member 430 rotates while the developer discharge member 420 is seated on the second seat portion 432, the developer discharge member 420 rotates together with the rotary member 430. Thus, the developer discharge hole 421 and the opening 432a are brought to the lower portion of the first seat portion 412. Due to the rotation of the rotary member 430, the developer discharge hole 421 can be closed by the first seat portion 412 or deviate from the first seat portion 412 to be opened. The developer discharge hole 421 then communicates with the developer collection hole 411. Consequently, the developer return passage formed between the developer unit 200 and the developer collection unit 300 is selectively opened and closed.

[0060] The shutter assembly according to the invention also includes a lever part 440 connected to the rotary member 430 to rotate the rotary member 430. The lever part 440 has a pressing surface 441 that contacts an arm 434 of the rotary member 430. The lever part 440 has a pressing lever 442 that extends from a pressing surface 441 to one side and contacts an internal component (not shown) of the image-forming device. When the cartridge assembly is inserted into the image-forming device, the pressing lever 442 contacts the internal component of the image-forming device, which presses on it. Thus, the pressing surface 441 presses the arm 434 of the rotary member 430 to rotate the rotary member 430.

[0061] The developer discharge hole 421 of the developer discharge member 420 and the opening 432a of the rotary member 430 are configured to be arranged in a lateral direction, that is, a horizontal direction, when the drum unit 100 and the developer unit 200 are assembled. When the drum unit 100 and the developers 200 are assembled, the developer return channel is blocked by a side surface of the first seat part 412 and thus in a closed state. Thus, developer leakage is prevented.

[0062] When the cartridge assembly is then inserted into the image forming apparatus, the rotary member 430 is rotated by the lever part 440, and the developer discharge hole 421 of the developer discharge member 420 and the opening 432a of the rotary member 430 move downward to the developer collecting hole 441 of the developer collecting member 410, that is, to the lower portion of the first seat part 412. The developer return passage is therefore opened.

[0063] As described above, the shutter assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can close the developer return passage before the cartridge assembly is inserted and open the developer return passage after the cartridge assembly is inserted. Therefore, unwanted developer leakage can be prevented.

[0064] The rotary member 430 preferably additionally includes a first elastic member 435 connected to the rotating shaft 433 and moving the rotary member 430 back to its original position. The first elastic member 435 may be a torsion spring that exerts a spring force such that the opening 432a of the rotary member 430 is arranged in the horizontal direction when the cartridge assembly is not inserted into the image forming apparatus.

[0065] The developer discharge member 420 also includes a second elastic member 422 connected to the developer discharge means 220 and returning the developer discharge member 420 to its original position. The second elastic member 422 may be a torsion spring that exerts a spring force such that the developer discharge hole 421 is arranged in the horizontal direction when the cartridge assembly is not inserted into the image forming apparatus.

[0066] The operation of the shutter assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0067] When the drum unit 100 and the developer unit 200 are assembled, first, the developer discharge member 420 is placed on the second seat portion 432 of the rotary member 430, while the first seat portion 412 of the developer collecting member 410 and the second seat portion of the rotary member 430 overlap with each other. Then, the developer discharge hole 421 of the developer discharge member 420 and the opening 432a of the rotary member 430 do not communicate with the developer collecting hole 411 of the developer collecting member 410, but are arranged in the horizontal direction. The developer discharge hole 421 of the developer discharge member 420 and the opening 432a of the rotary member 430 are blocked by a side surface of the first seat portion 412 and are thus in a closed state. Consequently, the developer in the developer unit 200 cannot discharge through the developer discharge hole 421 (see Fig. 11A and Fig. 11B).

[0068] When the drum unit 100 and the developer unit 200 are assembled and thus the complete cartridge assembly is installed in the image forming device, the push lever 442 of the lever part 440 is pushed by the internal component of the image forming device, thus turning the lever part 440 to one side. Then, the push surface 441 of the lever part 440 pushes the arm 434 of the rotary member 430. Consequently, the rotary member 430 is turned to one side. The lever part 440 and the rotary member 430 are designed to be rotated downward by an angle of 90 degrees when the cartridge assembly is inserted (see Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B).

[0069] Accordingly, the developer discharge hole 421 of the developer discharge member 421 and the opening 432a of the rotary member 430 are moved downward and communicate with the developer collection hole 411 of the developer collection member 410. Therefore, the developer of the developer unit 100 can be conveyed to the developer collection unit 300 through the developer return passage.

[0070] When the installed cartridge assembly is separated from the image forming apparatus, the rotary member 430 and the developer discharge member 420 are rotated in one direction by the spring force of the first and second elastic members 435 and 423. The developer discharge hole 421 of the developer discharge member 420 and the opening 432a of the rotary member 430 are then no longer connected to the developer collection hole 411, but are again arranged horizontally. Therefore, the developer in the developer unit 200 does not leak out through the developer discharge hole 421.

[0071] When the cartridge assembly is inserted into or removed from the image forming apparatus, the shutter assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can close the developer return channel as described above, thus preventing developer from leaking from the developer unit. Furthermore, the shutter assembly for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can be opened and closed without any separate user action when the cartridge assembly is inserted or removed.

[0072] Although some embodiments of the above invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments may be modified without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

[1] Cartridge assembly for an imaging device, comprising: a drum unit equipped with waste toner conveying means that moves waste toner collected from a surface of a photosensitive drum to one side; a developer unit connected to the drum unit, designed to receive the residual toner collected by the drum unit, and having developer discharge means for discharging developer contained therein to the outside; and a developer collecting unit formed integrally with the drum unit on one side of the drum unit and designed to collect the developer discharged from the developer removal means of the developer unit, wherein the drum unit has toner feeding means connecting the waste toner conveying means, a new toner supply unit and the developing unit, so that the waste toner conveyed by the waste toner conveying means and new toner supplied by the new toner supply unit are fed together into the developing unit. [2] The cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the developer discharging means includes a first conveying screw disposed inside the developing unit in the longitudinal direction of the developing unit, a developer discharging passage communicating with the developing unit and the developer collecting unit at an upper collecting portion of one side of the developing unit, and a second conveying screw disposed inside the developer discharging passage in the longitudinal direction of the developer discharging passage. [3] The cartridge assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drum unit further comprises cleaning means that collect remaining toner from the surface of the photosensitive drum. [4] Cartridge assembly according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the developer collecting unit has a guide groove on a side surface facing the developer unit, which guide groove corresponds to the shape of a side surface of the developer unit. [5] A shutter assembly mounted on a cartridge assembly according to claim 1 for controlling the supply of developer, comprising a developer collecting member formed on a side surface of the developer collecting unit and having a developer collecting hole; a developer discharging member rotatably disposed at one end of the developer discharging means and having a developer discharging hole on a side surface; and a rotary member rotatably disposed on a side surface of the developer collecting unit and configured to allow the developer discharge hole of the developer discharge member to selectively communicate with the developer collecting hole. [6] The shutter assembly according to claim 5, wherein the developer collecting member has a first seat part concave to the developer collecting unit, and the developer collecting hole is formed in a lower portion of the first seat part and longitudinally communicates with the first seat part, and the first seat part and the developer collecting hole have a quarter-circle shape. [7] A shutter assembly according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the rotary member comprises a disc-shaped base having a rotating shaft rotatably fitted in a side surface of the developer collecting unit, and a second seat portion having a shape matching the first seat portion and an opening formed in a side end of the second seat portion. [8] The shutter assembly according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the developer discharge member is fitted to the second seat part and has a shape matching the second seat part, and wherein due to the rotation of the rotary member, the developer discharge hole is closed by the first seat part or deviates from the first seat part to be opened. [9] The closure assembly of claim 7, wherein the rotary member further comprises a first elastic member connected to the rotating shaft and returning the rotary member to its initial position. [10] A shutter assembly according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the developer removal member further includes a second spring member connected to the developer removal means and returning the developer removal means to its original position. [11] A shutter assembly according to any one of claims 5 to 10, comprising a lever member connected to the rotary member and on which an image forming device presses when the cartridge assembly is inserted into the image forming device to rotate the rotary member.

Images