Abstract: A method for filling toner into a toner cartridge includes the steps of (a) taking a container, which accommodates the toner therein and has opposite first and second ends, and then forming a toner outlet at the first end, (b) sleeving the toner cartridge, which is provided at an end thereof with an opening, onto the container from the first end to the second end via the opening, (c) forming an air permeable hole at the second end, (d) withdrawing the container from the toner cartridge to enable the toner to leave the container via the toner outlet and stay inside the toner cartridge, and (e) sealing the opening of the toner cartridge by a cover. The method is simple and convenient to operate. With the method, the toner can be effectively filled without leakage and with reduced amount of residual toner.

Abstract: A waste toner detection device includes a stirring shaft for stirring waste toners, a transmission member moveable in response to a rotational load of the stirring shaft between an engaged position and a disengaged position where the transmission member does not transmit rotation to the stirring shaft, a rotary arm drivenable by the transmission member when the transmission member is located at the disengaged position, and an indication member. The indication member is restricted by the rotary arm at a retracted position when the rotary arm is located at a locked position, and the indication member is driven by a biasing force to move to an extended position when the rotary arm is located at a released position. As a result, the waste toner detection device can accurately detects whether the amount of the waste toners stored in a waste toner container has reached a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A toner detection device of a waste toner container having a housing includes a rotational wheel, a transmission member and a resilient member. The rotational wheel is rotatably disposed to the housing and provided with a first abutment portion. The transmission member including a second abutment position is connected with the rotational wheel in a way that the transmission member is rotatable with the rotational wheel and moveable relative to the rotational wheel between a first position and a second position. Two ends of the resilient member are respectively abutted against the first and second abutment portions in a way that the second abutment portion approaches the first abutment portion and the transmission member is rotatable relative to the rotational wheel with the transmission member moving from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A releasing mechanism usable for a toner supply container, includes a plate having a first groove and a second groove; a releasing member slidably sleeved on a front end of the container, and having an opening in fluid communication with the container, an urging section, and a fixing structure; an elastic member having two ends respectively urging the container and the urging section; and a hook member having a first end movably fixed to the fixing structure, a first pin slidably received in the first groove, and a second pin slidably received in the second groove. The releasing member receives a pressing force from an apparatus and an elastic force from the elastic member. The cooperation of the pressing force, the elastic force, the hook member, the first groove, and the second groove enables the first pin and the second pin moving in a one-way direction only.

Abstract: A releasing mechanism usable for a toner supply container includes a groove fixable to the toner supply container, a releasing portion slidably fixable to the toner supply container, and a hook member. The releasing portion has an opening for releasing toner, and a fixing structure disposed over the groove. The hook member is disposed between the groove and the fixing structure, and has a first hook received in the groove, and a fixing portion fixable to the fixing structure. By operations of first and second forces pushing the releasing portion toward or away from the toner supply container, the first hook is slidable along the groove and is stoppable at first and second positions of the groove that are close to or away from the toner supply container, such that the releasing portion is movable relative to the toner supply container to provide or stop providing the toner.

Abstract: A sealing member for unsealably sealing a toner opening of a toner or developer container mountable to an image forming apparatus. In one embodiment, a sealing member has a base member, a first coupling engagement portion and a second coupling engagement portion protruding away from the base member axially, a central member protruding away from the base member axially, wherein the central member has a cylindrical portion defining an opening therein, and at least one supporting member projected radially outwardly from the peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, wherein the central member is formed to be concentric with the base member axially and positioned between the first coupling engagement portion and the second coupling engagement portion.

Abstract: A sealing member for unsealably sealing a toner opening of a toner or developer container mountable to an image forming apparatus. In one embodiment, a sealing member has a base member, a first coupling engagement portion and a second coupling engagement portion protruding away from the base member axially, a central member protruding away from the base member axially, wherein the central member has a cylindrical portion defining an opening therein, and at least one supporting member projected radially outwardly from the peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, wherein the central member is formed to be concentric with the base member axially and positioned between the first coupling engagement portion and the second coupling engagement portion.

Abstract: A lid to selectively plug or unplug a discharge mouth of a toner container mountable to an image forming apparatus for replenishing a toner. In one embodiment, a lid has a body member having a bottom portion with an opening, a lug member having a body portion having a first end portion, and a base member having an opening. The body portion of the lug member is sized to be received into the opening of the bottom portion of the body member and into the opening of the base member to engage the body member with the base member. The body portion of the lug member is received into the opening of the bottom portion of the body member and into the opening of the base member, the first end portion of the body portion of the lug member snaggingly fits through the opening of the base member.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a casing provided at a bottom side thereof with an outlet, a sliding member slidably mounted on the casing, and a retaining member pivotally mounted on the casing. The sliding member is movable relative to the casing between a first position where the outlet is closed by the sliding member and a second position where the outlet is opened. The retaining member is pivotable relative to the casing between a third position where the retaining member is engaged with the sliding member to lock the sliding member at the first position, and a forth position where the retaining member is disengaged from the sliding member such that the sliding member is moveable to the second position to open the outlet. The toner cartridge has the advantage of preventing leakage of toner due to unintentional movement of the sliding member.

Abstract: A waste toner cartridge includes a housing and a plug. The housing has a recessed bottom wall and a periphery wall integrally connected with the bottom wall to define an accommodation recess therebetween and provided with a flange having an arc section and two restricting portions respectively extending from two ends of the arc section. The plug has a body portion received in the accommodation recess, and an anchor portion extending axially from the body portion. The body portion of the plug has an outer diameter larger than a distance between the restricting sections of the flange, and the anchor portion of the plug has a radius larger than a radius of curvature of the arc section of the flange such that the plug can be firmly retained in the accommodation recess of the housing when the plug is not in use.

Abstract: A powder-delivering device includes a tapered shell received in a toner cartridge near an outlet of the toner cartridge. The tapered shell has a transection area becoming smaller gradually toward the outlet of the toner cartridge. The tapered shell has an outer surface having at least one projection or at least one recess. The projection of the tapered shell has a spiral or linear shape. The projection has an end, which is remote from the outlet of the toner cartridge, stopped against an inner wall of the toner cartridge. Thus, the powder-delivering device of the invention has simple structure and low product costs.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a container defining a central axis and a toner-guiding member. The container is provided at one end thereof with an opening having a radius. The toner-guiding member is provided with an annular connecting portion connected with the container, an outlet at one end thereof, a longitudinally-extending portion at the other end thereof extending into the container through the opening, an inlet formed on the longitudinally-extending portion, and a flexible scraping piece mounted on the longitudinally-extending portion and adjacent to the inlet. The scraping piece has a distal end defining with the central axis a distance longer than the radius of the opening, such that the toner in the container can be substantially fully discharged out of the toner cartridge so as to lower the residual quantity of toner in the toner cartridge.

Abstract: A container for a toner cartridge includes a hollow main body defining a longitudinal central axis. The main body has a first section near a rear end thereof, a second section near a front end thereof, a connecting section between the first and second sections, a longitudinal rib extending from the first section to the second section via the connecting section. The radii of cross sections of the first and second sections respectively gradually increase toward the front end of the main body. The longitudinal rib has a third guiding surface defining with the central axis a distance shorter than the radius of a cross section of the connecting section. The container can effectively move the toner accommodated inside the container from the rear end toward the front end. A mold for the container is easy to manufacture, resulting in cost reduction in manufacturing.

Abstract: A container for a toner cartridge includes a hollow main body defining a longitudinal central axis. The main body has a rear end, a front end with an opening, an inner circumference, a first section with a first guiding surface at the inner circumference, a second section with a second guiding surface at the inner circumference, a connecting section between the first section and the second section, and a guiding rib disposed at the inner circumference. The first guiding surface defines with the central axis a distance gradually increasing toward the opening and the second guiding surface defines with the central axis a distance gradually increasing toward the opening. The guiding rib extends from the first section to the second section via the connecting section and is unparallel to the central axis. The container has the advantages of being easy in manufacturing and hard to deform.

Abstract: A powder-delivering device includes a tapered shell received in a toner cartridge near an outlet of the toner cartridge. The tapered shell has a transection area becoming smaller gradually toward the outlet of the toner cartridge. The tapered shell has an outer surface having at least one projection or at least one recess. The projection of the tapered shell has a spiral or linear shape. The projection has an end, which is remote from the outlet of the toner cartridge, stopped against an inner wall of the toner cartridge. Thus, the powder-delivering device of the invention has simple structure and low product costs.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a container defining a central axis and a toner-guiding member. The container is provided at one end thereof with an opening having a radius. The toner-guiding member is provided with an annular connecting portion connected with the container, an outlet at one end thereof, a longitudinally-extending portion at the other end thereof extending into the container through the opening, an inlet formed on the longitudinally-extending portion, and a flexible scraping piece mounted on the longitudinally-extending portion and adjacent to the inlet. The scraping piece has a distal end defining with the central axis a distance longer than the radius of the opening, such that the toner in the container can be substantially fully discharged out of the toner cartridge so as to lower the residual quantity of toner in the toner cartridge.

Abstract: A container for a toner cartridge includes a hollow main body defining a longitudinal central axis. The main body has a first section near a rear end thereof, a second section near a front end thereof, a connecting section between the first and second sections, a longitudinal rib extending from the first section to the second section via the connecting section. The radii of cross sections of the first and second sections respectively gradually increase toward the front end of the main body. The longitudinal rib has a third guiding surface defining with the central axis a distance shorter than the radius of a cross section of the connecting section. The container can effectively move the toner accommodated inside the container from the rear end toward the front end. A mold for the container is easy to manufacture, resulting in cost reduction in manufacturing.

Abstract: A container for a toner cartridge includes a hollow main body defining a longitudinal central axis. The main body has a rear end, a front end with an opening, an inner circumference, a first section with a first guiding surface at the inner circumference, a second section with a second guiding surface at the inner circumference, a connecting section between the first section and the second section, and a guiding rib disposed at the inner circumference. The first guiding surface defines with the central axis a distance gradually increasing toward the opening and the second guiding surface defines with the central axis a distance gradually increasing toward the opening. The guiding rib extends from the first section to the second section via the connecting section and is unparallel to the central axis. The container has the advantages of being easy in manufacturing and hard to deform.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a casing provided at a bottom side thereof with an outlet, a sliding member slidably mounted on the casing, and a retaining member pivotally mounted on the casing. The sliding member is movable relative to the casing between a first position where the outlet is closed by the sliding member and a second position where the outlet is opened. The retaining member is pivotable relative to the casing between a third position where the retaining member is engaged with the sliding member to lock the sliding member at the first position, and a forth position where the retaining member is disengaged from the sliding member such that the sliding member is moveable to the second position to open the outlet. The toner cartridge has the advantage of preventing leakage of toner due to unintentional movement of the sliding member.

Abstract: A lid to selectively plug or unplug a discharge mouth of a toner container mountable to an image forming apparatus for replenishing a toner. In one embodiment, a lid has a body member having a bottom portion with an opening, a lug member having a body portion having a first end portion, and a base member having an opening. The body portion of the lug member is sized to be received into the opening of the bottom portion of the body member and into the opening of the base member to engage the body member with the base member. The body portion of the lug member is received into the opening of the bottom portion of the body member and into the opening of the base member, the first end portion of the body portion of the lug member snaggingly fits through the opening of the base member.