Methods and apparatus for cleaning toner cartridges

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for cleaning toner cartridges, comprising the following steps: (a) taking a toner cartridge having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening being located at a first end of the toner cartridge and the second opening being located at a second end of the toner cartridge; (b) connecting an air blower connector to the first opening; (c) inserting the toner cartridge into a sleeve with its second end, the sleeve having an axially extending conduit and an air nozzle connected to the conduit, the air nozzle simultaneously extending into the toner cartridge through the second opening when the toner cartridge is inserted into the sleeve; and (d) creating a negative pressure by drawing air into the sleeve, sending gas into the toner cartridge through the air blower connector, and also sending gas into the toner cartridge through the conduit and the air nozzle, using the airflow to carry residual toner in the toner cartridge through the second opening into the sleeve and where it is drawn away. Therefore, the method of this invention can effectively remove residual toner from toner cartridges without polluting the environment or harming human health.

Claims

1. A method for cleaning a toner cartridge, comprising the following steps: (a) taking a toner cartridge having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening being located at a first end of the toner cartridge and the second opening being located at a second end of the toner cartridge; (b) engaging an air blower connector with the first opening; (c) inserting the toner cartridge into a sleeve with its second end therein, the sleeve having an axially extending conduit and an air nozzle connected to the conduit, wherein when the toner cartridge is inserted into the sleeve, the air nozzle simultaneously extends into the toner cartridge through the second opening; and (d) drawing air into the sleeve to create a negative pressure, sending gas into the toner cartridge through the air blower connector, and sending gas into the toner cartridge through the conduit and the air nozzle, using the airflow to carry residual toner in the toner cartridge through the second opening into the sleeve and extracting it.

2. The method for cleaning the toner cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein steps (b) and (c) are reversed in order.

3. The method for cleaning the toner cartridge as described in claim 1, wherein steps (d) and (c) are performed simultaneously.

4. The method for cleaning a toner cartridge as described in claim 1 or 3, further comprising a step (e) of moving the toner cartridge back and forth within the sleeve.

5. The method for cleaning the toner cartridge as described in claim 4, wherein in step (e), the toner cartridge rotates about an axial direction while reciprocating.

6. In the method for cleaning a toner cartridge as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, in step (d), the nozzle sprays air toward the inner wall of the toner cartridge.

7. An apparatus for cleaning a toner cartridge having a first opening and a second opening, the apparatus comprising: a sleeve including a sleeve body for receiving at least a portion of the toner cartridge, a conduit extending axially along the sleeve body and disposed inside the sleeve body, and an air nozzle connected to the conduit and for extending into the toner cartridge through the second opening; and an air blowing connector disposed at the first opening of the toner cartridge.

8. The apparatus for cleaning toner cartridges as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sleeve further includes a stop block disposed inside the sleeve or outside the conduit for stopping the toner cartridge.

9. The device for cleaning toner cartridges as described in claim 7 or 8, wherein the sleeve further includes an air curtain ring disposed on the sleeve body, the inner side of the air curtain ring having a plurality of inward air jet holes for guiding airflow to the outer wall of the toner cartridge.

10. The apparatus for cleaning a toner cartridge as claimed in claim 7, wherein the nozzle has a plurality of outward air jets for guiding airflow to the inner wall of the toner cartridge.

11. The apparatus for cleaning toner cartridges as claimed in claim 10, wherein the outward jet holes extend in a direction that has a component parallel to the axial direction of the sleeve.

12. The apparatus for cleaning toner cartridges as claimed in claim 7, wherein the nozzle has an axial jet hole extending in a direction parallel to the axis of the sleeve.

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