Printing material container

Abstract

The utility model discloses a printing material container. The printing material container can be connected to a powder box of image forming equipment and supplies printing materials to the powder box. A printing material container of an embodiment includes an accommodating body to accommodate a printing material, a connecting body coupled to the accommodating body, and a chip having a contact portion; the connecting main body can be connected with the powder box in a first direction; the connecting main body is provided with a discharge channel for discharging the printing material in the accommodating main body to the powder box; and the contact part can be in contact with a contact pin on the powder box in a second direction different from the first direction. The printing material container has the advantages of being simple in structure and good in contact stability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of image forming devices, and particularly relates to a printing material container. Background Art

[0002] An image forming device is a device that forms an image on a recording medium or in space according to an input signal. Representative examples of image forming devices include printers, copiers, and fax machines, etc. A toner cartridge is installed on the image forming device, and the printing material in the printing material container is filled into the toner cartridge. After filling, the printing material container is pulled out.

[0003] The prior art WO2023100849A1 discloses a printing material container, the surface of whose chip contact faces downward, the contact pin of the image forming device faces upward, and the tips of the chip contact and the contact pin contact in the up and down direction; after the printing material container is filled more times, the tip of the contact pin will be worn, resulting in poor contact. Summary of the Utility Model

[0004] The main object of the utility model is to provide a printing material container with a simple structure and good contact stability.

[0005] To achieve the above main object, the first aspect of the utility model provides a printing material container that can be connected to the toner cartridge of an image forming device and supply printing material to the toner cartridge; the printing material container includes:

[0006] A receiving body for receiving the printing material;

[0007] A connecting body connected to the receiving body, the connecting body can be connected to the toner cartridge in a first direction; the connecting body has a discharge channel for discharging the printing material in the receiving body to the toner cartridge;

[0008] A chip with a contact part; wherein, the contact part can contact the contact pin on the toner cartridge in a second direction different from the first direction.

[0009] In the above technical solution of the utility model, the contact part and the contact pin do not form contact in the assembly direction (the first direction) of the printing material container, which can effectively avoid the poor contact caused by the wear of the tip of the contact pin, and is beneficial to increasing the number of times the printing material container can be used.

[0010] According to a specific embodiment of the utility model, the chip includes a substrate, and the contact part is located on the side of the substrate facing the contact pin to allow the contact part to contact the side of the contact pin.

[0011] According to a specific embodiment of the utility model, the substrate is fixedly arranged on the connecting body in a manner inclined relative to the first direction.

[0012] According to a specific embodiment of the present utility model, the substrate is fixedly arranged on the connection main body along the first direction.

[0013] According to a specific embodiment of the present utility model, a protection plate is arranged on the substrate, and the protection plate and the substrate enclose to form a groove-shaped fitting part corresponding to the contact pin; wherein, the contact part is located inside the groove-shaped fitting part.

[0014] According to a specific embodiment of the present utility model, the substrate is movably arranged on the connection main body to allow the substrate to make an adaptive position adjustment according to the position where it needs to contact the contact pin.

[0015] According to a specific embodiment of the present utility model, the contact part can be deformed when contacting the contact pin on the toner cartridge.

[0016] According to a specific embodiment of the present utility model, the toner cartridge is provided with a receiving part, the receiving part is provided with a receiving port, a holding plate and a shutter movable relative to the holding plate, the receiving port is arranged on the shutter, the receiving port can be covered by the holding plate, the discharge channel can be respectively communicated with the accommodating main body and the receiving port, and the contact pin is arranged on the holding plate.

[0017] According to a specific embodiment of the present utility model, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

[0018] According to a specific embodiment of the present utility model, there is an included angle less than 90° between the second direction and the first direction.

[0019] In order to more clearly illustrate the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present utility model, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Description of the Drawings

[0020] Figure 1 It is a structural diagram of a printing material container installed on the receiving part of an image forming apparatus;

[0021] Figure 2 It is a structural diagram of a printing material container;

[0022] Figure 3 It is an exploded view of a printing material container;

[0023] Figure 4 It is a structural diagram of the receiving part of an image forming apparatus;

[0024] Figure 5 It is a structural diagram of the receiving port on the shutter in a blocked state;

[0025] Figure 6It is a structural diagram in which the receiving port on the shutter plate is in an open state;

[0026] Figure 7 It is a structural diagram in which the discharge channel is in an open state;

[0027] Figure 8 It is a sectional view when the receiving port of the printing material container is not opened;

[0028] Figure 9 It is a sectional view when the receiving port of the printing material container is opened;

[0029] Figure 10 It is a structural diagram of the cooperation between the chip and the contact pin in Embodiment 1 of the printing material container of the present utility model;

[0030] Figure 11 It is a structural diagram of the cooperation between the chip and the contact pin in Embodiment 2 of the printing material container of the present utility model;

[0031] Figure 12 It is a structural diagram of the cooperation between the chip and the contact pin in Embodiment 3 of the printing material container of the present utility model;

[0032] Figure 13 It is a structural diagram of the cooperation between the chip and the contact pin in Embodiment 4 of the printing material container of the present utility model;

[0033] Figure 14 It is Figure 13 longitudinal sectional view;

[0034] Figure 15 It is a structural diagram of the cooperation between the chip and the contact pin in Embodiment 5 of the printing material container of the present utility model. Detailed implementation manners

[0035] In the following description, many specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present utility model. However, the present utility model may be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present utility model is not limited to the limitations of the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0036] As Figures 11 to 15 shown, the printing material container 10 of the embodiment of the present utility model is detachably connected to an image forming apparatus. Among them, a toner cartridge is installed on the image forming apparatus, and a receiving portion 20 for receiving printing material from the printing material container 10 is provided on the toner cartridge. The printing material container 10 supplies printing material to the toner cartridge installed on the image forming apparatus through the receiving portion 20; As Figures 1 - 4As shown, the printing material container 10 includes a connection body 11, a receiving body 12, and a chip 13. Among them, the connection body 11 can be connected to the receiving part 20 in the first direction. The receiving body 12 is a container-shaped body for accommodating the printing material and is connected to the connection body 11, so as to connect the receiving body 12 to the toner cartridge of the image forming device through the connection body 11. The chip 13 is installed on the connection body 11 to communicate with the image forming device and transmit the relevant information of the printing material container 10 to the image forming device.

[0037] Further, the connection body 11 has a discharge channel 111. The discharge channel 111 can be respectively communicated with the internal storage space of the receiving body 12 and the receiving port 21 on the receiving part 20 to supply the printing material in the receiving body 12 to the toner cartridge. In order to achieve the complete assembly of the connection body 11 and the conduction between the discharge channel 111 and the receiving port 21, the exemplary structure of the embodiment of the present utility model is introduced as follows. Among them, the embodiment of the present utility model does not limit this part of the structure and the cooperation relationship.

[0038] Specifically, a plug-in fit is formed between the connection body 11 and the receiving part 20. The connection body 11 is provided with a plug-in groove 112 on the end face facing the receiving part 20, and the receiving part 20 is provided with a plug-in protrusion 22 on the end face facing the connection body 11. Among them, the plug-in protrusion 22 is a non-circular protrusion (for example, a square protrusion), which restricts the relative rotation between the plug-in protrusion 22 and the plug-in groove 112, so as to only allow the connection body 11 to move relative to the receiving part 20 in the first direction to achieve assembly. It can be understood that in an alternative embodiment, the plug-in protrusion can also be provided on the connection body 11 and the plug-in groove can be provided on the receiving part 20 to achieve the plug-in fit between the connection body 11 and the receiving part 20.

[0039] Among them, the receiving part 20 is provided with a movable shutter 23, and the receiving port 21 is arranged on the shutter 23. Specifically, the shutter 23 can rotate around the first direction relative to the receiving part 20, as Figures 5 - 6 shown. By changing the position of the receiving port 21, the receiving port 21 can be made to correspond to the discharge channel 111 in position. Further, the receiving part 20 also includes a fixedly arranged holding plate 24. As Figures 4 - 5 shown, in the non-assembled state, the receiving port 21 is covered by the holding plate 24.

[0040] Further, the printing material container 10 further includes a first movable member 14 and a second movable member 15; the first movable member 14 is cylindrical and is sleeved on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting body 11; in other words, the connecting body 11 is located inside the first movable member 14, and the first movable member 14 can rotate around the first direction relative to the connecting body 11. The first movable member 14 is located between the accommodating body 12 and the second movable member 15 in the first direction and is respectively connected to the accommodating body 12 and the second movable member 15; in other words, the accommodating body 12 is connected to one end of the first movable member 14 in the first direction, and the second movable member 15 is connected to the other end of the first movable member 14 in the first direction.

[0041] like Figure 3 As shown, the second movable part 15 includes a mounting body 151, a first limiting portion 152 and a second limiting portion 153; the mounting body 151 is used to form a connection with the first movable part 14; wherein the middle portion of the mounting body 151 is formed as a through hole corresponding to the plug-in slot 112 to allow the plug-in protrusion 22 to pass through and form a matching connection with the plug-in slot 112.

[0042] The first limiting portion 152 and the second limiting portion 153 both protrude along the mounting body 151 toward the end surface of the receiving portion 20, and in the first direction, the first limiting portion 152 is closer to the mounting body 151 than the second limiting portion 153; wherein, the first limiting portion 152 is used to cooperate with the gate plate 23 and can act on the gate plate 23 when rotating around the first direction, so as to drive the gate plate 23 to rotate and enable the receiving port 21 to be aligned with the discharge channel 111 in the first direction. At the same time, the first limiting portion 152 is inserted into the side of the retaining plate 24 away from the mounting body 151, so as to limit the second movable member 15 in the first direction, thereby limiting the first movable member 14 to be connected to the receiving portion 20, and finally realizing the connection of the connecting body 11, the second movable member 15 and the accommodating body 12 to the receiving portion 20.

[0043] The second limiting portion 153 is used to block the outlet of the discharge channel 111 on the connecting body 11, so as to separate the discharge channel 111 and the receiving port 21 when the printing material container 10 is not completely loaded into the receiving portion 20, so as to prevent the printing material in the containing body 12 and the discharge channel 111 from leaking; and, by rotating the first movable member 14 and the second movable member 15 around the first direction, the second limiting portion 153 can be moved away from the discharge channel 111 and misaligned with the outlet of the discharge channel 111 in the first direction, such as Figure 7 As shown, the outlet of the discharge channel 111 can be communicated with the receiving port 21 .

[0044] Specifically, the number of the holding plates 24 is two or more, and there is a gap between adjacent holding plates 24; preferably, two or more holding plates 24 are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction with the first direction as the central axis; correspondingly, the number of the first limiting portion 152, the second limiting portion 153 and the discharge channel 111 is the same as that of the holding plates 24; when the printing material container 10 is assembled to the receiving portion 20 along the first direction, the first limiting portion 152 and the second limiting portion 153 can pass through the gap and abut against the shutter 23, as Figure 8 shown; at this time, by rotating the first movable member 14 to drive the second movable member 15 to rotate, the first limiting portion 152 drives the shutter 23 to rotate to turn the receiving port 21 to a position corresponding to the discharge channel 111, and the second limiting portion 153 is moved away from the discharge channel 111 so that the discharge channel 111 is communicated with the receiving port 21, so as to complete the assembly of the printing material container 10 and realize the transmission of the printing material contained in the accommodating body 12 to the receiving port 21 through the discharge channel 111, as Figure 9 shown.

[0045] When the printing material container 10 is disassembled from the receiving portion 20, the first movable member 14 can be rotated in the reverse direction to drive the second movable member 15 to rotate. The first limiting member 152 drives the shutter 23 to rotate and the receiving port 21 is covered by the holding plate 24, and the second limiting portion 153 is moved to a position corresponding to the discharge channel 111 to block the outlet of the discharge channel 111; at this time, in the first direction, the holding plate 24 no longer limits the first limiting portion 152; then, the printing material container 10 can be pulled out along the first direction away from the receiving portion 20. In this embodiment, the accommodating body 12 is preferably rotatably connected to the connecting body 11; as Figure 3 and Figures 8 - 9As shown, a protruding columnar connection end 113 is formed on the side of the connection body 11 away from the receiving portion 20. The inlet of the discharge channel 111 is formed at the columnar connection end 113. The accommodating body 12 is provided with an opening 121 corresponding to the columnar connection end 113. The opening 121 is connected to the columnar connection end 113 through a sealing member 16. The sealing member 16 is, for example, an annular sealing ring, which is used to prevent the printing material from leaking at the connection between the opening 121 of the accommodating body 12 and the columnar connection end 113. Further, the chip 13 includes a substrate 131 and a contact portion 132. The substrate 131 is mounted on the connection body 11, and the contact portion 132 is provided on the substrate 131. Among them, a contact pin 25 corresponding to the contact portion 132 is provided on the holding plate 24 of the receiving portion 20. When the printing material container 10 is connected to the toner cartridge of the image forming apparatus, the relevant information of the printing material container 10 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus through the electrical connection between the contact portion 132 and the contact pin 25. Specifically, information such as the amount, color, production date, and serial number of the printing material in the printing material container 10 is stored in the chip 13, for example.

[0046] In some embodiments of the present invention, the contact portion 132 can be in contact with the contact pin 25 in a second direction different from the first direction to achieve an electrical connection between the printing material container 10 and the toner cartridge of the image forming apparatus. Among them, the contact portion 132 is located on the substrate 131 and on the side adjacent to the contact pin 25 to allow the contact portion 132 to be in contact with the side surface of the contact pin 25. As Figure 10 shown in Embodiment 1, the substrate 131 is fixedly arranged on the connection body 11 in the first direction. At this time, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and the substrate 131 is vertical with respect to the contact pin 25, which can achieve miniaturization to a certain extent in the rotation direction of the printing material container 10, facilitating the installation of the chip 13.

[0047] For another example Figure 11 shown in Embodiment 2, the substrate 131 is fixedly arranged on the connection body 11 in a manner inclined with respect to the first direction. At this time, the contact portion 132 can still be in contact with the side surface of the contact pin 25. Among them, the angle between the second direction and the first direction is less than 90°, and the angle size is, for example, Figure 12 75° shown in

[0048] As a variation of Embodiment 2, in Figure 13In Embodiment 3 shown, the substrate 131 is movably arranged on the connection body 11 to allow the substrate 131 to adaptively adjust its position according to the position where it needs to contact the contact pin 25; preferably, the substrate 131 is swingably mounted on the connection body 11 through a pivot shaft 17 perpendicular to the first direction. When the printing material container 10 is installed, the contact portion 132 on the substrate 131 adaptively adjusts its position when contacting the contact pin 25 to form an optimal contact fit.

[0049] In some other embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 14 In Embodiment 4 shown, a guard plate 133 is provided on the substrate 131. The guard plate 133 and the substrate 131 enclose each other to form a groove-shaped mating portion corresponding to the contact pin 25; wherein, the contact portion 132 is located inside the groove-shaped mating portion; the advantage of such a setting is that it can protect the contact portion 132 and the contact pin 25, which is beneficial to maintaining the stability of the connection between the contact portion 132 and the contact pin 25.

[0050] In some other embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 15 In Embodiment 5 shown, the contact portion 132 can be deformed when contacting the contact pin 25; in Embodiment 5, the contact portion 132 can contact the contact pin 25 in the first direction or in a second direction different from the first direction; wherein, the contact portion 132 can be provided by a conductive sheet integrally formed or separately formed with the substrate 131; preferably, the deformation formed by the contact portion 132 is an elastic deformation. On the one hand, it can avoid the poor contact caused by the tip wear of the contact pin 25, and on the other hand, it can also increase the contact surface between the contact portion 132 and the contact pin 25 to improve the contact stability. As an extended solution, the contact portion 132 in the foregoing Embodiments 1-4 can also be deformed when contacting the contact pin 25, which will not be elaborated here. To sum up, in this embodiment, the contact formed between the contact portion 132 and the contact pin 25 can effectively avoid the poor contact caused by the tip wear of the contact pin 25, which is beneficial to increasing the number of times the printing material container 10 can be used.

[0051] Although the present invention has been depicted through the above embodiments, it should be understood that the above embodiments are only used to exemplarily describe the feasible implementation schemes of the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the protection scope of the present invention. That is, any replacement or change made by those skilled in the art in accordance with the present invention should also be covered by the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A printing material container connectable to a toner cartridge of an image forming apparatus and supplying printing material to the toner cartridge; characterized in that, The printing material container includes: a containing body for containing printing material; a connecting body connected to the containing body, the connecting body being connectable to the toner cartridge in a first direction; the connecting body has a discharge channel for discharging the printing material in the containing body to the toner cartridge; a chip having a contact portion; wherein the contact portion can contact a contact pin on the toner cartridge in a second direction different from the first direction.

2. The printing material container according to claim 1, wherein: The chip includes a substrate, and the contact portion is located on the substrate and faces the side of the contact pin, so as to allow the contact portion to contact the side of the contact pin.

3. The printing material container according to claim 2, wherein: The substrate is fixedly arranged on the connecting body in a manner inclined with respect to the first direction.

4. The printing material container according to claim 2, characterized in that: The substrate is fixedly arranged on the connecting body along the first direction.

5. The printing material container according to claim 2, characterized in that: A guard plate is provided on the substrate, and the guard plate and the substrate enclose to form a groove-shaped fitting portion corresponding to the contact pin; wherein the contact portion is located inside the groove-shaped fitting portion.

6. The printing material container according to claim 2, wherein: The substrate is movably arranged on the connecting body.

7. The printing material container according to claim 1, wherein: The contact portion can be deformed when contacting the contact pin on the toner cartridge.

8. The printing material container according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that: The toner cartridge is provided with a receiving portion, the receiving portion is provided with a receiving port, a holding plate, and a shutter movable relative to the holding plate, the receiving port is provided on the shutter, the receiving port can be covered by the holding plate, the discharge channel can be respectively communicated with the containing body and the receiving port, and the contact pin is provided on the holding plate.

9. The printing material container according to claim 8, characterized in that: The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

10. The printing material container according to claim 8, wherein: There is an angle less than 90° between the second direction and the first direction.

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