Structure to refill toner to cartridge

Abstract

A toner refill device includes a refill toner storage portion to store toner, and a toner discharge portion to protrude from a side wall of the refill toner storage portion and form a toner discharge passage. The toner refill device is mountable on a main body of an image forming apparatus to refill the toner in a toner containing portion of a cartridge mounted on the main body and is removable from the main body after toner refilling is completed.

Description

STRUCTURE TO REFILL TONER TO CARTRIDGECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023- 0137977, filed on October 16, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entiretyBACKGROUND

[0002] An electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms a visible toner image on a photoconductor by providing toner on an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor, transfers the toner image directly or via an intermediate transfer medium to a print medium, fixes the transferred toner image on the print medium, and prints an image on the print medium.

[0003] A development cartridge contains toner and supplies the toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor to form a visible toner image. When the toner contained in the development cartridge is entirely consumed, the development cartridge may be removed from a main body of an image forming apparatus, and a new development cartridge may be mounted on the main body. The development cartridge may be refilled with new toner by using a toner refill cartridge.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an example of a toner refill cartridge according to the disclosure;

[0005] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the interior of an example of the toner refill cartridge shown in FIG. 1;

[0006] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an interoperation structure between an agitation member and a conveying member;

[0007] FIG. 4 is a schematic partial cutaway perspective view of an example of a development cartridge according to the disclosure;

[0008] FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an example of the disclosure;

[0009] FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing an example of a position determination structure and a power transmission structure;

[0010] FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus according to the disclosure;

[0011] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a method of refilling toner in a toner containing portion while a development cartridge is mounted on a main body;

[0012] FIGS. 9 and 10 are schematic perspective views of examples of a toner refill cartridge according to the disclosure; and

[0013] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a toner refilling method.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES

[0014] When toner contained inside a development cartridge is completely used up, a user may replace the development cartridge with a new development cartridge. Users who are not familiar with a structure or operation of an image forming apparatus may have difficulty in separating and removing the development cartridge from the image forming apparatus and installing the new development cartridge. A method of refilling toner in the development cartridge by using a toner refill cartridge while the development cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus, without separating the development cartridge from the image forming apparatus, may be considered. When refilling is completed, the toner refill cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus.

[0015] A toner supply portion is provided in the image forming apparatus. When the toner refill cartridge is mounted on the toner supply portion, toner may be refilled from the toner refill cartridge to the development cartridge through the toner supply portion. A location of the toner supply portion is influenced by a layout of the image forming apparatus. For example, when the toner supply portion is provided at an upper portion of the image forming apparatus, there is a spatial constraint that the toner supply portion needs to be provided in a location to avoid interference with a discharge space of a print medium. In addition, in a multifunction printer (MFP) with a scanner unit such as a flatbed scanner or an ADF scanner with an automatic document feeder, the scanner unit is generally disposed on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus, and thus it is not easy to provide a toner supply portion on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus. In order to install the tonersupply portion by avoiding the discharge space of the print medium and the scanner unit, the footprint of the image forming apparatus may be increased. In addition, in a structure in which an optical scanning unit is disposed on an upper portion of the development cartridge, a path for connecting the toner supply portion and the development cartridge may become complicated.

[0016] The disclosure provides a structure capable of refilling toner in a development cartridge while the development cartridge is mounted on an image forming apparatus. The disclosure provides a toner refill structure applicable to an image forming apparatus with various layouts. The disclosure provides a toner refill structure capable of implementing a miniaturized image forming apparatus.

[0017] A toner refill cartridge according to the disclosure is a toner refill cartridge which is mounted on a main body of an image forming apparatus, refills toner in a toner containing portion of a development cartridge mounted on the main body, and is removed from the main body after toner refilling is completed. The toner refill cartridge may include a refill toner storage portion to store the toner, and a toner discharge portion to protrude from a side wall of the refill toner storage portion and form a toner discharge passage. Accordingly, a toner refilling structure connectable to a toner refill cartridge in a transverse direction provided on a side portion of the development cartridge in the transverse direction, as described below, may be implemented.

[0018] As an example, the toner discharge portion may be located adjacent to a lower wall of the refill toner storage portion. Accordingly, the amount of toner remaining in the refill toner storage portion after a refilling process is reduced, thereby improving toneruse efficiency. As an example, at least one conveying member to discharge the toner through the toner discharge portion may be provided inside the refill toner storage portion. Accordingly, the toner inside the refill toner storage portion may be smoothly discharged to the toner discharge portion. As an example, one of the at least one conveying member may extend into the toner discharge portion from the refill toner storage portion and convey the toner along the inside of the toner discharge portion. Accordingly, the toner may be smoothly discharged along the toner discharge portion. The toner refill cartridge may include a power receiving portion to receive power from the outside to transmit the power to the at least one conveying member. When the toner refill cartridge is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the at least one conveying member may be driven by receiving power from the image formingapparatus through the power receiving portion, thereby enabling efficient and rapid discharge of toner.

[0019] As an example, an agitation member to agitate the toner may be installed inside the refill toner storage portion. As an example, the agitation member may be connected to one of the at least one conveying member and driven. The agitation member may agitate the toner inside the refill toner storage portion to eliminate toner clumping. Toner fluidity is improved so that toner may be smoothly discharged to the toner discharge portion.

[0020] As an example, the toner refill cartridge may include a first position determination portion. The first position determination portion may be engaged with a second position determination portion provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus to align the toner discharge portion and a toner refill interface of the development cartridge when the toner refill cartridge is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus. Accordingly, the toner discharge portion and the toner refill interface may be smoothly connected to each other, and the risk of damage to the toner discharge portion and / or the toner refill interface during a connecting process may be reduced.

[0021] A cartridge according to the disclosure includes a toner containing portion to contain toner, a developing roller to supply the toner of the toner containing portion to a photoconductor, and a toner refill interface provided on a side wall of the toner containing portion in an axial direction of the developing roller and connectable to a toner discharge portion of a toner refill cartridge. Accordingly, toner refilling from the toner refill cartridge mounted in a transverse direction into the toner containing portion is possible. In addition, an increase in the size of the image forming apparatus in a vertical direction on which the development cartridge is mounted may be reduced or prevented.

[0022] As an example, the toner refill interface may be located adjacent to an upper wall of the toner containing portion. Accordingly, the toner loaded into the toner containing portion through the toner refill interface may fall down the toner containing portion due to gravity. As an example, at least one rotation member may be installed inside the toner containing portion. The toner refill interface may be located above the uppermost rotation member among the at least one rotation member. Accordingly, the toner loaded into the toner containing portion through the toner refill interface may be smoothly dispersed into the toner containing portion by the rotation member.

[0023] An image forming apparatus according to the disclosure includes a main body, and a development cartridge. The development cartridge may be accommodated in the main body. The development cartridge may include a toner containing portion to contain toner, a developing roller to supply the toner of the toner containing portion to a photoconductor, and a toner refill interface provided on a side wall of the toner containing portion in an axial direction of the developing roller and connectable to a toner discharge portion of a toner refill cartridge. A door may open and close a side portion of the main body in the axial direction of the developing roller so that the toner refill interface is exposed. Accordingly, toner may be refilled into the toner containing portion from the toner refill cartridge mounted through the side portion of the main body.

[0024] As an example, a second position determination portion may be provided in the main body. The second position determination portion may be engaged with a first position determination portion of the toner refill cartridge to align the toner discharge portion of the toner refill cartridge and the toner refill interface. Accordingly, the toner discharge portion and the toner refill interface may be smoothly connected to each other, and the risk of damage to the toner discharge portion and / or the toner refill interface during a connecting process may be reduced.

[0025] As an example, a power transmission portion may be provided in the main body. The power transmission portion may be connected to a power receiving portion of the toner refill cartridge when the toner refill cartridge is mounted on the main body. When the toner refill cartridge is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, at least one conveying member may be driven by receiving power from the image forming apparatus through the power receiving portion, thereby enabling efficient and rapid discharge of toner. As an example, the second position determination portion may be engaged with the first position determination portion to align the power receiving portion and the power transmission portion.

[0026] A toner refilling method of an image forming apparatus according to the disclosure is a method of refilling toner in a toner containing portion while a development cartridge including the toner containing portion, a developing roller to supply the toner of the toner containing portion to a photoconductor, and a toner refill interface provided on a side wall of the toner containing portion in an axial direction of the developing roller is mounted on a main body of the image forming apparatus. An example of the toner refilling method mayinclude exposing the toner refill interface by opening a door, connecting a toner discharge portion to the toner refill interface by mounting the toner refill cartridge including the toner discharge portion on the main body of the image forming apparatus, refilling the toner contained in the refill toner storage portion of the toner refill cartridge into the toner containing portion through the toner discharge portion and the toner refill interface, and removing the toner refill cartridge from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

[0027] As an example, the toner refilling method may include aligning the toner discharge portion and the toner refill interface by engaging a first position determination portion of the toner refill cartridge with a second position determination portion provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus. As an example, the toner refill cartridge may include at least one conveying member that convey the toner from the refill toner storage portion to the toner discharge portion, and a power receiving portion connected to the at least one conveying member. The main body of the image forming apparatus may include a power transmission portion that transmits power to the power receiving portion. When the first position determination portion and the second position determination portion are engaged with each other, the power receiving portion and the power transmitting portion may be aligned.

[0028] <Toner refill cartridge>

[0029] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, examples of a toner refill cartridge, a development cartridge, and an image forming apparatus are explained. In order to explain the features of the examples more clearly, detailed explanations are omitted regarding matters that are widely known to ordinary skilled in the art in the technical field to which the examples below pertain.

[0030] The toner refill cartridge may be referred to as a toner refill device, a toner refill kit, a toner reload kit, etc. The toner refill cartridge has a structure capable of refilling toner in a toner containing portion of a development cartridge, as described below, by being connected to the toner containing portion of the development cartridge while the development cartridge is mounted on a main body of an image forming apparatus. FIG. l is a schematic perspective view of an example of a toner refill cartridge 9 according to the disclosure. The toner refill cartridge 9 of the example is a toner refill cartridge that can be mounted on a main body (1 of FIG. 5) of an image forming apparatus to refill toner into a toner containing portion (210 of FIG. 4) of a development cartridge (2 of FIG. 5) accommodated in the main body 1 and can be removed from the main body 1 after toner refilling is completed. In this respect, the tonerrefill cartridge 9 is different from the toner refill cartridge of the related art that continuously supplies toner to a development cartridge while mounted on a main body of an image forming apparatus.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, the toner refill cartridge 9 may include a refill toner storage portion 91 that stores toner, and a toner discharge portion 92 that protrudes outward from a side wall of the refill toner storage portion 91 to form a discharge passage of the toner. The shape of the refill toner storage portion 91 is not particularly limited. The cross-sectional shape of the refill toner storage portion 91 in a transverse direction may be various, such as circular, oval, polygonal, atypical, etc. The cross-sectional shapes of the refill toner storage portion 91 in the transverse direction according to positions in a vertical direction may be the same or different. The sizes of the cross-section of the refill toner storage portion 91 in the transverse direction according to positions in the vertical direction may be the same or different. For example, in the example, the cross-sectional shape of the refill toner storage portion 91 in the transverse direction is square, and the sizes of the cross-section of the refill toner storage portion 91 in the transverse direction according to positions in the vertical direction may be the same. The vertical direction may refer to a direction of gravity when the toner refill cartridge 9 is mounted on the main body (1 of FIG. 5) of the image forming apparatus. The transverse direction refers to two directions that are orthogonal to the vertical direction and are orthogonal to each other, and one of the two directions in the transverse direction may be an axial direction of a developing roller (22 of FIG. 4) of the development cartridge (2 of FIG. 4) while the toner refill cartridge 9 is mounted on the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the 'transverse direction' refers to the axial direction of the developing roller 22. The refill toner storage portion 91 may be defined by side walls 99a, 99b, 99c, and 99d in the transverse direction, an upper wall 99e, and a lower wall 99f.

[0032] The toner discharge portion 92 is provided on one of the side walls 99a, 99b, 99c, and 99d of the refill toner storage portion 91. The toner discharge portion 92 may be provided in a position adjacent to the lower wall 99f on one of the side walls 99a, 99b, 99c, and 99d such that the toner inside the refill toner storage portion 91 may be discharged as much as possible through the toner discharge portion 92. The toner discharge portion 92 communicates with the inside of the refill toner storage portion 91. For example, the toner discharge portion 92 may extend outward in the traverse direction from a position adjacent to the lower wall 99f of the side wall 99a. The cross-sectional shape of the toner discharge portion 92 orthogonalto an extension direction may be various, such as circular, oval, polygonal, etc. For example, the toner discharge portion 92 of the example has a shape that is a combination of a cylindrical shape and a square shape, but is not limited thereto. A toner outlet 92a may be provided at an end of the toner discharge portion 92. The toner outlet 92a may be provided, for example, at an end of the toner discharge portion 92. The toner contained in the refill toner storage portion 91 may be moved along the toner discharge portion 92 in the transverse direction and discharged through the toner outlet 92a. The toner discharge portion 92 may be connected to a toner refill interface 220 provided in the toner containing portion 210 of the development cartridge 2, as described below. For example, when the toner refill cartridge 9 is mounted on the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus, the toner discharge portion 92 may be inserted into the toner refill interface 220 provided in the toner containing portion 210 of the development cartridge 2, for example, an insertion hole. Although not shown in the drawing, a toner refill structure is provided in the main body 1 to connect the toner refill interface 220 to the toner discharge portion 92, and the toner discharge portion 92 may be connected to the toner refill interface 220 with the toner refill structure disposed therebetween.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the interior of an example of the toner refill cartridge 9 shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, at least one conveying member may be installed inside the refill toner storage portion 91. The conveying member may agitate toner stored in the refill toner storage portion 91. The at least one conveying member may convey the toner stored in the refill toner storage portion 91 to the toner discharge portion 92. The at least one conveying member may be rotated. The at least one conveying member may be rotated about a rotation shaft in the transverse direction, that is, in a direction in which the toner discharge portion 92 extends. One of the at least one conveying member may extend into the toner discharge portion 92 and convey toner along the inside of the toner discharge portion 92 to the toner outlet 92a.

[0034] In the example, four conveying members 93a, 93b, 93c, and 93d are provided in the refill toner storage portion 91. Among these, the conveying member 93a extends from the inside of the refill toner storage portion 91 to the inside of the toner discharge portion 92. The conveying member 93a may be implemented by an auger including a rotation shaft 93 a- 1 extending in the direction in which the toner discharge portion 92 extends and a spiral portion 93a-2 formed along an outer circumference of the rotation shaft 93a-l. The conveying member 93 a conveys refill toner along the inside of the toner discharge portion 92 to the toner outlet 92a. Rotation axes of the at least one conveying member, for example, the conveyingmembers 93a, 93b, 93c, and 93d, may be parallel to each other. The conveying members 93a, 93b, 93c, and 93d may be disposed side by side in the transverse direction orthogonal to the rotation shaft. The conveying members 93a, 93b, 93c, and 93d may have various structures such as augers and paddles that may convey toner in a direction of the rotation shaft and in a direction perpendicular to the direction. The conveying members 93c and 93d located far from the conveying member 93a may be augers including two spiral portions having opposite spiral directions. The toner inside the refill toner storage portion 91 is conveyed in the direction of the rotation shaft by the conveying members 93c and 93d, and simultaneously, is conveyed in the transverse direction orthogonal to the rotation shaft toward the conveying members 93a and 93b. The conveying member 93b close to the conveying member 93a may be a paddle member that conveys the toner in the transverse direction orthogonal to the rotation shaft toward the conveying member 93a.

[0035] The at least one conveying member may be driven by receiving power from the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus when the toner refill cartridge 9 is mounted on the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus, as described below. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the toner refill cartridge 9 may include a power receiving portion 94 that receives power from the outside, for example, from the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus, to transmit the power to the at least one conveying member. The power receiving portion 94 may be provided outside the refill toner storage portion 91. For example, the power receiving portion 94 may be disposed on the side wall 99a where the toner discharge portion 92 is disposed so as to be exposed to the outside. When the toner refill cartridge 9 is mounted on the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus, the power receiving portion 94 may be connected to a power transmission portion (4 of FIG. 6) provided in the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus. The power receiving portion 94 may be connected to the at least one conveying member through power transmission members, for example, a power transmission shaft, a gear train, a belt, etc.

[0036] As an example, a rotation shaft 93d-l of the conveying member 93d may penetrate the side wall 99a to extend to the outside. The power receiving portion 94 may be installed on an extended end of the rotation shaft 93d-l of the conveying member 93d. The power receiving portion 94 may be implemented in various forms such as a gear and a coupler. In the example, the power receiving portion 94 is implemented by a power receiving gear 94a. The conveying member 94d may be connected to the conveying members 93c, 93b, and 93a by power transmission members, for example, a gear train 95. When the power receiving gear94a is rotated, the conveying member 93d is rotated, and the rotational force of the conveying member 94d may be transmitted to the conveying members 93c, 93b, and 93a through the gear train 95 to rotate the conveying members 93c, 93b, and 93a.

[0037] When a long period of time passes with toner contained in the refill toner storage portion 91, the toner stored in the refill toner storage portion 91 may be compacted by gravity, and toner clumping may occur. When the toner is compacted or clumped, toner fluidity is reduced, and toner may not be easily discharged from the refill toner storage portion 91, or the clumped toner may remain inside the refill toner storage portion 91 without being discharged. In this case, toner may not be refilled in the toner containing portion 210 of the development cartridge 2 to an appropriate level. In addition, the toner refill cartridge 9 may be discarded with the toner remaining inside.

[0038] In order to easily discharge the toner inside the refill toner storage portion 91 through the toner outlet 92a provided in the toner discharge portion 92, the toner refill cartridge 9 may include an agitation member 96 that agitates the toner stored inside the refill toner storage portion 91 to loosen the compacted refill toner and eliminate toner clumping. The agitation member 96 may agitate the toner inside the refill toner storage portion 91. As an example, the agitation member 96 may be installed in the refill toner storage portion 91 to vibrate in the vertical direction and / or the transverse direction. In the example, the agitation member 96 is implemented by a coil spring disposed to extend in the vertical direction inside the refill toner storage portion 91. As an example, the agitation member 96 may be driven in interoperation with the rotation of the at least one conveying member. In the example, the agitation member 96 is vibrated in interoperation with the rotation of the conveying member 93 a.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an interoperation structure between the agitation member 96 and the toner conveying member 93a. Referring to FIG. 3, an eccentric protrusion 93a-3 eccentric from the rotation shaft 93 a- 1 is provided in the conveying member 93 a. A locking portion 96a locked on the eccentric protrusion 93a-3 is provided at an end of the agitation member 96. The locking portion 96a may have, for example, a slot shape into which the eccentric protrusion 93a-3 may be inserted. The vertical length and transverse width of the locking portion 96a in the slot shape are larger than the diameter of the eccentric protrusion 93a-3. Therefore, when the conveying member 93a is rotated, the agitation member 96 is vibrated in the vertical direction with an amplitude of about twice the degree of eccentricity of the eccentric projection 93a-3, and a part of theagitation member 96 adjacent to the locking portion 96a is vibrated in the transverse direction by about twice the degree of eccentricity of the eccentric protrusion 93a-3. Accordingly, the toner inside the refill toner storage portion 91 is agitated, and thus, the fluidity of the toner may be improved, and the toner may be easily discharged to the outside through the toner discharge portion 92. The shape of the agitation member 96 is not limited to forming a coil spring. The agitation member 96 may have various shapes that may loosen compacted toner and eliminate toner clumping, as long as the agitation member 96 includes the locking portion 96a on which the eccentric protrusion 93a-3 may be locked. The structure in which the agitation member 96 is vibrated in interoperation with the rotation of the conveying member 93a is not limited to the interoperation structure shown in FIG. 3. Although not shown in the drawing, the agitation member 96 may agitate the toner inside the refill toner storage portion 91 while being connected to the gear train 95 and rotated.

[0040] Referring again to FIG. 1, the toner refill cartridge 9 may include a first position determination portion 97. The first position determination portion 97 is omitted in FIG. 2. When the toner refill cartridge 9 is mounted on the main body 1 to refill the toner containing portion 210 of the development cartridge 2 with toner, the first position determination portion 97 may be engaged with a second position determination portion (51 of FIG. 6), as described below, provided in the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus to align a toner refill interface (220 of FIG. 4) and the toner discharge portion 92. The first position determination portion 97 may have a complementary shape that may be engaged with a second position determination portion 51. As an example, the first position determination portion 97 may have a protrusion shape protruding from the side wall 99a where the toner discharge portion 92 is provided. Accordingly, the toner discharge portion 92 may be easily connected to the toner refill interface 220, and the risk of damage to the toner discharge portion 92 may be reduced during the connecting process.

[0041] <Development cartridge>

[0042] The development cartridge may also be referred to as a 'cartridge'. FIG. 4 is a schematic partial cutaway perspective view of an example of the development cartridge 2 according to the disclosure. Referring to FIG. 4, the development cartridge 2 may include the toner containing portion 210 that contains toner, the developing roller 22 that supplies the toner in the toner containing portion 210 to a photoreceptor, for example, a photosensitive drum 21, and the toner refill interface 220 provided on a side wall 201 of the toner containingportion 210 in a transverse direction, that is, in an axial direction of the developing roller 22. The toner refill interface 220 is connectable to the toner discharge portion 92 of the toner refill cartridge 9. As an example, although not shown in the drawing, a toner refill structure is provided in the main body 1 to connect the toner refill interface 220 to the toner discharge portion 92, and the toner discharge portion 92 may be connected to the toner refill interface 220 with the toner refill structure disposed therebetween.

[0043] The development cartridge 2 may include a photosensitive unit 100 and a developing unit 200. The development cartridge 2 of the example is an integrated development cartridge in which the photosensitive unit 100 and the developing unit 200 are integrated. The photosensitive unit 100 may include the photosensitive drum 21. The photosensitive drum 21 is an example of a photoconductor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed on its surface by light emitted from an optical scanner. A charging roller 23 charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 to a uniform electric potential. A cleaning blade 24 removes waste toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 after intermediate transfer.

[0044] The developing unit 200 may include the toner containing portion 210. The developing roller 22 is disposed in the toner containing portion 210. The development cartridge 2 of the example is a type in which the toner containing portion 210 and the developing unit 200 are integrated. The developing roller 22 is located within the toner containing portion 210, adjacent to a lower wall 202 of the toner containing portion 210. The developing roller 22 is partially exposed to the outside of the toner containing portion 210 and faces the photosensitive drum 21. The developing roller 22 may be in contact with the photosensitive drum 21 to form a developing nip. A supply member 25 is located adjacent to the developing roller 22 to convey toner in the toner containing portion 210 in the axial direction of the developing roller 22 and supply the toner to the developing roller 22 simultaneously. The regulating member 26 regulates the amount of toner attached to the surface of the developing roller 22 and supplied to the developing nip. As an example, one end of the regulating member 26 may elastically contact the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller 22. An agitator 27 agitates the toner inside the toner containing portion 210.

[0045] The toner refill interface 220 may be provided on the side wall 201 of the toner containing portion 210 in the transverse direction, that is, of the developing roller 22 in the axial direction. The toner refill interface 220 may have a structure to which the toner dischargeportion 92 of the toner refill cartridge 9 may be connected. The toner refill interface 220 may have various structures that form a toner inflow passage so that the toner discharged from the toner discharge portion 92 of the toner refill cartridge 9 may flow into the toner containing portion 210. As an example, the toner refill interface 220 may be in the shape of an insertion hole formed by penetrating the side wall 201 of the toner containing portion 210 in the axial direction of the developing roller 22 such that the toner discharge portion 92 of the toner refill cartridge 9 may be inserted into the toner containing portion 210. Although not shown in the drawing, the toner refill interface 220 may have a shutter structure that may be opened and closed. With such a configuration, a structure capable of refilling the toner containing portion 210 with toner by being coupled with the toner refill cartridge 9 in the transverse direction may be implemented.

[0046] The toner refill interface 220 may be located on the side wall 201 of the toner containing portion 210 adjacent an upper wall 206 of the toner containing portion 210. The toner that flows into the toner containing portion 210 from the toner refill cartridge 9 through the toner refill interface 220 may naturally fall down the toner containing portion 210 due to gravity. When the toner refill interface 220 is provided on the upper wall 206 of the toner containing portion 210, the toner discharge portion 92 of the toner refill cartridge 9 needs to be connected to the toner refill interface 220 from an upper side of the development cartridge 2 such that the toner discharge portion 92 of the toner refill cartridge 9 is connected to the toner refill interface 220. In this case, space needs to be secured in a vertical direction for the toner discharge portion 92 to access the toner refill interface 220 on an upper portion of the development cartridge 2, which may increase the size of an image forming apparatus in the vertical direction to which the development cartridge 2 is applied. In addition, in an image forming apparatus having a layout in which an optical scanner is disposed on the upper portion of the development cartridge 2, it is not easy to secure the space in the vertical direction between the development cartridge 2 and the optical scanner for the toner discharge portion 92 to access the toner refill interface 220. When the space in the vertical direction between the development cartridge 2 and the optical scanner for the toner discharge portion 92 to access the toner refill interface 220 is secured, a focal length of the optical scanner increases, which may need a change in the optical design of the optical scanner. According to the example, because the toner refill interface 220 is located on the side wall 201 of the toner containing portion 210, the toner discharge portion 92 of the toner refill cartridge 9 may access and connect to the toner refill interface 220 in the transverse direction. Therefore, anincrease in the size of the image forming apparatus in the vertical direction due to the toner refill structure may be reduced or prevented. In addition, the toner refill interface 220 is located on the side wall 201 of the toner containing portion 210 adjacent to the upper wall 206 of the toner containing portion 210, and thus, the refilled toner may naturally fall into the toner containing portion 210.

[0047] At least one rotation member may be provided in the toner containing portion 210. The rotation member may agitate the toner inside the toner containing portion 210. The rotation member may disperse the toner inside the toner containing portion 210. The rotation member may supply the toner inside the toner containing portion 210 to the developing roller 22. The toner refill interface 220 may be located above the uppermost rotation member among the at least one rotation member. Here, ‘above’ means above in the direction of gravity. The location of the rotation member is based on the location of a rotation shaft. Accordingly, the toner flowing into the toner containing portion 210 through the toner refill interface 220 may be dispersed inside the toner containing portion 210 by the rotation member.

[0048] As an example, the rotation member may include the agitator 27 that agitates the toner inside the toner containing portion 210. The agitator 27 may include, for example, a rotation shaft 27a and an agitation blade 27b provided in the rotation shaft 27a to extend in a radial direction. The toner refill interface 220 may be located above the agitator 27. The rotation member may include the supply member 25 located below the agitator 27 adjacent to the developing roller 22. The supply member 25 may include, for example, an auger that conveys the toner inside the toner containing portion 210 in the axial direction of the developing roller 22. The toner may be uniformly distributed in the axial direction of the developing roller 22 by the supply member 25, and the amount of toner attached to the surface of the developing roller 22 may be uniform in the axial direction.

[0049] <Image forming apparatus>

[0050] FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an example of the disclosure. In Figure 5, the side frame 5 shown in Figure 6, as described later, is omitted. Referring to FIG. 5, the image forming apparatus may include a main body 1, a development cartridge 2 accommodated in the main body 1, and a door 3 that opens and closes the side of the main body 1. The door 3 may at least partially open a side portion of the main body 1 in the axial direction of the developing roller 22 such that the toner refill interface 220 of the toner containing portion 210 is exposed.

[0051] The development cartridge 2 is the same as described with reference to FIG. 4. The development cartridge 2 may be mounted / removed on / from the main body 1. For example, when the lifespan of the development cartridge 2 has expired, the development cartridge 2 may be removed from the main body 1, and a new development cartridge 2 may be mounted on the main body 1. The image forming apparatus of the example is a color image forming apparatus with a plurality of, for example, four development cartridges 2. The four development cartridges 2 respectively form, for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black toner images.

[0052] Although not shown in FIG. 5, an optical scanner, an intermediate transfer unit, a transfer unit, and a fixing unit may be disposed in the main body 1. The optical scanner irradiates light modulated according to image information onto a photoconductor, for example, the photosensitive drums 21 of the four development cartridges 2 to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drums 21. The development cartridge 2 supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image to form a visible toner image. The intermediate transfer unit may include an intermediate transfer belt onto which toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 21 of the four development cartridges 2 are temporarily transferred. The transfer unit transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt to the print medium P. The fixing unit fixes the toner image to the print medium P. For example, the optical scanner may be disposed above the development cartridge 2. The intermediate transfer unit may be disposed below the development cartridge 2.

[0053] The door 3 is provided in the main body 1. The door 3 at least partially opens and closes a side portion of the main body 1, for example, in the axial direction of the developing roller 22. For example, the door 3 may be supported on the main body 1 so as to be pivotable to an open position and a closed position.

[0054] The toner refill cartridge 9 may be attached to or detached from the main body 1 so that the toner discharge portion 92 may be connected to the toner refill interface 220. Four toner refill cartridges 9 in which toner of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors are respectively contained may be attached to and detached from the main body 1. The description with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 is applied to the toner refill cartridge 9. When the door 3 is opened, the toner refill cartridge 9 may be mounted on the main body 1 so that the toner discharge portion 92 is connected to the toner refill interface 220 of the toner refill containing portion 210. The image forming apparatus may have a position determinationstructure to align the toner discharge portion 92 and the toner refill interface 220 so as to be engaged with each other. The image forming apparatus may have a power transmission structure to transmit power to the toner refill cartridge 9 through the power receiving portion 94 of the toner refill cartridge 9 when the toner refill cartridge 9 is mounted on the main body 1. FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing an example of a position determination structure and a power transmission structure.

[0055] First, the example of the position determination structure is described. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the toner refill cartridge 9 may include a first position determination portion 97. For example, the first position determination portion 97 may be provided on the side wall 99a of the refill toner storage portion 91. The main body 1 of the image forming apparatus may include the second position determination portion 51 engaged with the first position determination portion 97. The first position determination portion 97 and the second position determination portion 51 may have complementary shapes that may be engaged with each other. The first position determination portion 97 and the second position determination portion 51 may have various structures in which the toner discharge portion 92 and the toner refill interface 220 may be aligned and connected to each other when the toner refill cartridge 9 is mounted on and engaged with the main body 1. As an example, the first position determination portion 97 may be a protrusion protruding from the side wall 99a of the refill toner storage portion 91, and the second position determination portion 51 may be a hole into which the first position determination portion 97 in the shape of the protrusion may be inserted. However, the first position determination portion 97 and the second position determination portion 51 are not respectively limited to the protrusion and the hole, and may have various shapes capable of engaging with each other such that the toner discharge portion 92 and the toner refill interface 220 are aligned with each other.

[0056] A side frame 5 may be provided in the main body 1. The side frame 5 is located between the door 3 and a side portion of the development cartridge 2, and supports the development cartridge 2. When the toner refill cartridge 9 is mounted on the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus, the side wall 99a and the side frame 5 face each other. The second position determination portion 51 may be provided in the side frame 5, for example, in the form of a hole. A connecting opening 52 opened to expose the toner refill interface 220 in the transverse direction may be provided in the side frame 5 so that the toner discharge portion 92 of the toner refill cartridge 9 may be connected to the toner refill interface 220.

[0057] The toner refill cartridge 9 is mounted on the main body 1 such that the first position determination portion 97 is engaged with the second position determination portion 51. Then, the toner discharge portion 92 is aligned with the toner refill interface 220. The toner discharge portion 92 may pass through the connecting opening 52 provided in the side frame 5 and be connected to the toner refill interface 220 of the toner containing portion 210. Although not shown in the drawing, a toner refill structure to connect the toner refill interface 220 to the toner discharge portion 92 may be provided in the main body 1, and the toner discharge portion 92 may be connected to the toner refill interface 220 with the toner refill structure disposed therebeteen.

[0058] Next, an example of the power transmission structure is described. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the power receiving portion 94 is provided in the toner refill cartridge 9. The power transmission portion 4 is provided in the main body 1. The power receiving portion 94 and the power transmission portion 4 may have a shape to be engaged with each other and to be rotatable together. When the toner refill cartridge 9 is mounted on the main body 1 such that the first position determination portion 97 is engaged with the second position determination portion 51, the power receiving portion 94 and the power transmission portion 4 are engaged with each other. Accordingly, the position determination structure may have additionally a function of aligning the power receiving portion 94 and the power transmission portion 4 to be engaged with each other when the toner refill cartridge 9 is mounted on the main body 1.

[0059] As an example, the power receiving portion 94 may be a power receiving gear 94a, and the power transmission portion 4 may be a power transmission gear 4a capable of being engaged with the power receiving gear 94a. For example, the power transmission gear 4a may be provided on the side frame 5. As an example, the power transmission gear 4a may be connected to a gear 21a connected to the photosensitive drum 21. The photosensitive drum 21 is rotated by a main driving unit that is not shown. Accordingly, when the photosensitive drum 21 is rotated by the main driving unit, the rotational force of the main driving unit may be transmitted to the power receiving gear 94a through the gear 21a and the power transmission gear 4a. As described above, the rotational force of the power receiving gear 94a may be transmitted to at least one conveying member and the agitation member 96 of toner refill cartridge 9 through the gear train 95.

[0060] FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus.Referring to FIG. 7, a controller 6 controls an operation of the image forming apparatus. Asan example, the controller 6 may include a processor 61. The processor 61 may include a central processing unit (CPU). A memory 62 may include volatile memory and / or non-volatile memory. The memory 62 may store a control program for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus and control parameters. The processor 61 controls the image forming apparatus by driving the control program.

[0061] Atoner remaining amount sensor 101 detects the remaining amount of toner contained in the toner containing portion 210 of the development cartridge 2. The toner remaining amount sensor 101 may be installed inside the toner containing portion 210, or may be provided in the main body 1 so as to access the toner containing portion 210 when the development cartridge 2 is mounted on the main body 1. A door sensor 102 may detect whether the door 3 is open or closed. A communicator 103 communicates with a communicator (not shown) of the development cartridge 2 and a communicator 98 of the toner refill cartridge 9. The controller 6 may determine whether the development cartridge 2 and the toner refill cartridge 9 are mounted on the main body 1 according to whether the communicator 103 is connected to the communicator (not shown) of the development cartridge 2 and the communicator 98 of the toner refill cartridge 9. A main driving unit 104 drives components of the image forming apparatus, such as the development cartridge 2, an intermediate transfer unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, etc. The main driving unit 104 may include at least one motor and power transmission members such as a gear train, a belt, etc.

[0062] The toner refill cartridge 9 may include the communicator 98. When the toner refill cartridge 9 is mounted on the main body 1, the communicator 98 may be electrically connected to the communicator 103 of the main body 1 to transmit information of the toner refill cartridge 9 to the main body 1. The communicator 98 may include a circuit portion monitoring or managing the status of the toner refill cartridge 9. A customer replaceable unit monitor (CRUM) including a central processing unit (CPU) that performs at least one of authentication and / or encryption data communication with the main body 1 by using, for example, its own operating system (O / S) may be provided in the circuit portion. The circuit portion may include memory. Various types of information about the toner refill cartridge 9 may be stored in the memory. For example, the memory may store information about a manufacturer, information about a date of manufacture, unique information such as a serial number and a model name, various programs, electronic signature information, and information about a usage status (e.g., how much toner remains), etc. In addition, the circuit portion may include functional blocks that may perform various functions forcommunication, authentication, encryption, etc. with the main body 1. The circuit portion may be implemented in the form of a chip including a CPU, a chip including a memory and a CPU, or a printed circuit board on which a chip and circuit elements implementing various functional blocks are mounted.

[0063] <Toner refilling method>

[0064] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a method of refilling toner in the toner containing portion 210 while the development cartridge 2 is mounted on the main body 1. An example of the toner refilling method may include exposing the toner refill interface 220 of the development cartridge 2 provided on the side wall 201 of the toner containing portion 210 in the axial direction of the developing roller 22 by opening the door 3, connecting the toner discharge portion 92 to the toner refill interface 220 by mounting the toner refill cartridge 9 on the main body 1, refilling the toner stored in the refill toner storage portion 91 of the toner refill cartridge 9 into the toner containing portion 210 of the development cartridge 2 through the toner discharge portion 92 and the toner refill interface 220, removing the toner refill cartridge 9 from the main body 1, and closing the door 3. The example of the toner refilling method is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

[0065] When an operation of an image forming apparatus is initiated, the controller 6 may use the toner remaining amount sensor 101 to detect whether the toner contained in the toner containing portion 210 of the development cartridge 2 is empty (S 121). For example, when detecting that a toner level inside the toner containing portion 210 is below a reference level using the toner remaining amount sensor 101, the controller 6 may output a display indicating lack of the remaining amount of toner through a user interface provided in the main body 1 or a host connected to the image forming apparatus. When detecting that the toner level inside the toner containing portion 210 reaches a toner empty level using the toner remaining amount sensor 101, the controller 6 may stop a printing operation and output a display indicating toner empty through the user interface provided in the main body 1 or the host connected to the image forming apparatus (S122).

[0066] A user may switch, for example rotate the door 3 to an open position (S123). Accordingly, a side portion of the main body 1 in the axial direction of the developing roller 22 may be at least partially opened. The toner refill interface 220 provided on the side wall 201 of the toner containing portion 210 of the development cartridge 2 may be exposed through the open side portion of the main body 1. Although not shown in the drawing, a tonerrefill structure to connect the toner refill interface 220 to the toner discharge portion 92 is provided on the main body 1, and when the door 3 is switched to the open position, the toner refill structure may be exposed through the open side portion of the main body 1. An opening signal of the door 3 may be transmitted to the controller 6 by the door sensor 102.

[0067] Next, the toner refill cartridge 9 may be mounted on the main body 1 (S124). The toner refill cartridge 9 is mounted on the main body 1 so that the toner discharge portion 92 is connected to the toner refill interface 220 of the toner containing portion 210. For example, when the first position determination portion 97 of the toner refill cartridge 9 is engaged with the second position determination portion 51 provided in the main body 1, the toner discharge portion 92 and the toner refill interface 220 may be aligned and connected to each other. As described above, in a process of mounting the toner refill cartridge 9 on the main body 1 by the first and second position determination portions 97 and 51, the risk of damage to the toner discharge portion 92 and the toner refill interface 220 due to the misalignment between the toner discharge portion 92 and the toner refill interface 220 may be reduced. In addition, the toner discharge portion 92 and the toner refill interface 220 may be easily connected to each other, and thus, user convenience may be improved. Although not shown in the drawing, a toner refill structure to connect the toner discharge portion 92 to the toner refill interface 220 is provided in the main body 1, and the toner discharge portion 92 may be connected to the toner refill interface 220 with the toner refill structure disposed therebetween. In this case, the first and second position determination portions 97 and 51 may align the toner discharge portion 92 and the toner refill structure.

[0068] When the toner refill cartridge 9 is mounted on the main body 1, the power receiving portion 94 of the toner refill cartridge 9 is connected to the power transmission portion 4 of the main body 1. Accordingly, at least one conveying member and the agitation member 96 of the toner refill cartridge 9 may be driven by the main driving unit 104. In a process of mounting the toner refill cartridge 9 on the main body 1 by the first and second position determination portions 97 and 51, the risk of damage to the power receiving portion 94 and the power transmission portion 4 due to the misalignment between the power receiving portion 94 and the power transmission portion 4 may be reduced.

[0069] When the toner refill cartridge 9 is mounted on the main body 1, the communicator 103 of the main body 1 and the communicator 98 of the toner refill cartridge 9 are electrically connected to each other. When the communicator 103 of the main body 1 and thecommunicator 98 of the toner refill cartridge 9 are connected to each other, the controller 6 may determine that the toner refill cartridge 9 is correctly mounted on the main body 1. Through communication between the communicator 103 and the communicator 98, the controller 6 may perform a process of authenticating whether the toner refill cartridge 9 is genuine, whether the toner refill cartridge 9 has already been used, and whether the toner refill cartridge 9 is in a state available for toner refilling.

[0070] When authentication is completed, the controller 6 drives the main driving unit 104 to initiate toner refilling from the toner refill cartridge 9 to the toner containing portion 210 of the development cartridge 2 (S125). The toner contained in the toner refill cartridge 9 is conveyed toward the conveying member 93a by the conveying member 93d, 93c, and 93b, and is conveyed into the toner discharge portion 92 by the conveying member 93a. The toner may be refilled into the toner containing portion 210 of the development cartridge 2 through the toner outlet 92a and the toner refill interface 220.

[0071] The controller 6 may detect whether toner refilling has been completed (S126). The controller 6 may detect whether toner refilling has been completed from a toner level inside the toner containing portion 210 detected by the toner remaining amount sensor 101. The controller 6 may detect whether toner refilling has been completed from a toner empty signal of the toner refill cartridge 9 transmitted from the communicator 98 of the toner refill cartridge 9 to the communicator 103 of the main body 1. When it is detected that toner refilling is completed, the controller 6 may stop driving the main driving unit 104. When toner refilling is completed, the controller 6 may output a display indicating completion of toner refilling through the user interface provided in the main body 1 or the host connected to the main body 1.

[0072] Next, the toner refill cartridge 9 is removed from the main body 1. The toner discharge portion 92 is separated from the toner refill interface 220. The power receiving portion 94 is separated from the first power transmission portion 4. When the toner refill cartridge 9 is removed from the main body 1, communication between the communicator 98 of the toner refill cartridge 9 and the communicator 103 of the main body 1 is disconnected, and the controller 6 may determine that the toner refill cartridge 9 has been removed.

[0073] Next, the door 3 may be closed. When closing of the door 3 is detected by the door sensor 102, the controller 6 may maintain the image forming apparatus in a print standby state.

[0074] The color image forming apparatus includes four development cartridges. While the development cartridge is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, for example, according to the structure of coupling the toner refill cartridge to the main body from the upper portion of the main body of the image forming apparatus, four toner supply portions in which the toner refill cartridges are coupled to need to be prepared on the upper portion of the main body. An exist portion (8 of FIG. 5) where the printed print media P are discharged and loaded is provided on the upper portion of the main body, but it is not easy to provide the four toner supply portions so as not to interfere with the exist portion 8. According to the structure in which the four toner supply portions are disposed on one side of the exist portion 8 in the transverse direction, the size of the image forming apparatus in the transverse direction may be increased, which may increase the footprint of the image forming apparatus.

[0075] In addition, in a multifunction printer (MFP) with a scanner unit such as a flatbed scanner or an ADF scanner with an automatic document feeder, the scanner unit is generally spaced above the upper portion of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and thus it is not easy to provide a toner supply portion on the upper portion of the main body of the image forming apparatus. When the toner supply portion is installed without taking the discharge space of the print medium P and the scanner unit, the footprint of the image forming apparatus may be increased. In addition, in a structure in which an optical scanning unit is disposed on an upper portion of the development cartridge, a path for connecting the toner supply portion and the development cartridge may become complicated.

[0076] According to the disclosure, the toner refill interface 220 may be provided on the side wall 201 of the toner containing portion 210 in the axial direction of the developing roller 22. The door 3 exposes the toner refill interface 220 by opening at least a part of the side portion of the main body 1 in the axial direction of the developing roller 22. The toner refill cartridge 9 is mounted on the main body 1 from the open side portion of the main body 1, and the toner discharge portion 92 and the toner refill interface 220 are connected to each other, and thus, toner may be refilled into the toner containing portion 210 of the development cartridge 2. When toner refilling is completed, the toner refill cartridge 9 is removed from the main body 1. As described above, toner refilling is possible through the side portion of the main body 1 in the axial direction of the developing roller 22 while the development cartridge 2 is mounted on the main body 1, and thus, it is easy to design the MFP with the scanner unit installed at or above the upper portion of the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus. In addition, in the image forming apparatus having a layout in which an optical scanner and an intermediatetransfer unit are respectively installed at the upper and lower portions of the development cartridge 2, the structure for toner refilling does not interfere with the optical scanner and the intermediate transfer unit. Therefore, the structure for toner refilling has a very little influence on the size of the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus in the transverse direction, and thus, it is possible to implement the image forming apparatus having a relatively small installation area and capable of toner refilling while the development cartridge 2 is mounted on the main body 1. In addition, the development cartridge 2 with a relatively long lifespan may be refilled with toner and used without being replaced, and thus, waste may be reduced and the replacement cost of the development cartridge 2 may be reduced. The conveying members of the toner refill cartridge 9 are driven by receiving power from the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus, and thus, the configuration of the toner refill cartridge 9 may be simplified, and the toner refill cartridge 9, which is a consumable, may become cheaper, thereby reducing the running cost of the image forming apparatus.

[0077] <Various examples of toner refill cartridge>

[0078] The shape of the toner refill cartridge 9 may vary. FIGS. 9 and 10 are schematic perspective views of examples of the toner refill cartridge 9 according to the disclosure. The examples of the toner refill cartridge 9 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 are the same as those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 except for the shape. Accordingly, the matters described with respect to the toner refill cartridge 9 in FIGS. 1 to 3 may be applied to toner cartridges 9a and 9b shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, and the differences are mainly explained.

[0079] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, each of the toner refill cartridges 9a and 9b according to an example may have a shape in which the cross-sectional size in the transverse direction gradually decreases downward. For example, the toner refill cartridge 9a shown in FIG. 9 has a shape in which the side wall 99b is inclined such that the cross-sectional size thereof in the transverse direction decreases as it moves downward. The toner refill cartridge 9b shown in FIG. 10 has a shape in which the side walls 99b and 99d are inclined such that the cross- sectional size thereof in the transverse direction decreases as it moves downward. The examples of the toner refill cartridges 9 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 may each include, for example, one conveying member 93a. The power receiving portion 94 may be installed on a rotation shaft 94b. The rotation shaft 94b and the conveying member 93a may be connected to each other by a gear train 95a.

[0080] As described above, according to the toner refill cartridges 9a and 9b each having the cross-sectional area in the transverse direction gradually decreasing downward, toner usage efficiency may be improved by reducing the amount of toner remaining in the refill toner storage portion 91 after refilling toner, and the amount of discarded toner may be reduced.

[0081] In the above-described examples, toner is refilled in the toner containing portion 210 of the development cartridge 2 by receiving power from the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus and driving the conveying members of the toner refill cartridge, but the structure of the toner refill cartridge is not limited thereto. For example, toner may be refilled in the toner containing portion 210 while the development cartridge 2 is mounted on the main body1 through a toner refill cartridge having a structure in which the user presses a plunger to eject toner from the toner refill cartridge. FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a toner refilling method. Referring to FIG. 11, the main body 1 is the same as the main body 1 shown in FIG. 5. The toner refill cartridge 9c may include a refill toner storage portion 91c, a toner discharge portion 92c extending from one end of the refill toner storage portion 91c in the longitudinal direction, and a plunger 90c movable into the refill toner storage portion 91c to discharge toner inside the refill toner storage portion 91c to the outside through the toner discharge portion 92c. As the door 3 is opened, the side portion of the main body 1 in the axial direction of the developing roller 22 is partially opened, and the toner refill interface 220 is exposed. The toner refill cartridge 9c is mounted on the main body 1 through the open side portion of the main body 1 in the axial direction of the developing roller 22 so that the toner discharge portion 92c is connected to the toner refill interface 220. Then, the plunger 90c is pushed in the longitudinal direction of the refill toner storage portion 91c to discharge the toner inside the refill toner storage portion 91c to the refill toner storage portion 91c through the toner discharge portion 92c. The discharged toner is loaded into the toner containing portion 210 of the development cartridge 2 through the toner refill interface 220. When the plunger 90c reaches a bottom dead point, toner refilling may be completed. When toner refilling is completed, the toner refill cartridge 9c is separated from the main body 1 and the door 3 is closed.

[0082] Although a color image forming apparatus including the four development cartridges2 for printing color images is described in the examples described above, the disclosure may also be applied to a monochrome image forming apparatus including one development cartridge 2.

[0083] Although the disclosure has been described with reference to the examples shown in the drawings, it should be understood that this is merely non-limiting examples, and that various modifications and equivalent other examples are possible therefrom by those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the true technical protection scope of the disclosure should be defined by the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A toner refill device, comprising: a refill toner storage portion to store toner; and a toner discharge portion to protrude from a side wall of the refill toner storage portion and form a toner discharge passage, wherein the toner refill device is mountable on a main body of an image forming apparatus to refill the toner in a toner containing portion of a cartridge mounted on the main body and is removable from the main body after toner refilling is completed.

2. The toner refill device of claim 1, wherein the toner discharge portion is located adjacent to a lower wall of the refill toner storage portion.

3. The toner refill device of claim 1, comprising: a conveying member installed inside the refill toner storage portion and to discharge the toner through the toner discharge portion.

4. The toner refill device of claim 3, wherein the conveying member is to extend into the toner discharge portion from the refill toner storage portion and convey the toner along the inside of the toner discharge portion.

5. The toner refill device of claim 3, comprising: a power receiving portion to receive power from outside to transmit the power to the conveying member.

6. The toner refill device of claim 1, comprising: an agitation member to agitate the toner inside the refill toner storage portion.

7. The toner refill device of claim 6, comprising: a conveying member installed inside the refill toner storage portion and to discharge the toner through the toner discharge portion, wherein the agitation member is connected to the conveying member and driven.

8. The toner refill device of claim 1, comprising: a first position determination portion engaged with a second position determination portion provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus to align the toner discharge portion and a toner refill interface of the cartridge mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus when the toner refill device is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus.

9. A cartridge comprising: a toner containing portion to contain toner; a developing roller to supply the toner of the toner containing portion to a photoconductor; and a toner refill interface provided on a side wall of the toner containing portion in an axial direction of the developing roller and connectable to a toner discharge portion of a toner refill device.

10. The cartridge of claim 9, wherein the toner refill interface is located adjacent to an upper wall of the toner containing portion.

11. The cartridge of claim 9, comprising: a rotation member disposed inside the toner containing portion and to rotate, wherein the toner refill interface is located above the rotation member.

12. An image forming apparatus comprising: a main body; a cartridge comprising: a toner containing portion to contain toner; a developing roller to supply the toner of the toner containing portion to a photoconductor; and a toner refill interface provided on a side wall of the toner containing portion in an axial direction of the developing roller and connectable to a toner discharge portion of a toner refill device, and accommodated in the main body; and a door to open and close a side portion of the main body in the axial direction of the developing roller for the toner refill interface to be exposed.

13. The image forming apparatus of claim 12, comprising: a second position determination portion engaged with a first position determination portion of the toner refill device to align the toner discharge portion of the toner refill device and the toner refill interface.

14. The image forming apparatus of claim 12, comprising: a power transmission portion provided in the main body to be connected to a power receiving portion of the toner refill device when the toner refill device is mounted on the main body.

15. The image forming apparatus of claim 14, comprising: a second position determination portion engaged with a first position determination portion of the toner refill device to align the power receiving portion of the toner refill device and the power transmission portion.

Images