Apparatus and method of packaging an electrophotographic image forming apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus and method of packaging an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a keeping part to keep an image forming unit disposed in the image forming apparatus, external cushion members to wrap the image forming apparatus, and an external packaging box to package the image forming apparatus wrapped by the external cushion members. When the image forming apparatus is placed on the market, the image forming unit is packaged by a sealing bag and a plurality of internal cushion elements, and is then kept in the image forming apparatus. As a result, it is possible to protect the image forming unit from external impact and to reduce a size of the packaged image forming apparatus.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2004-33627, filed on May 12, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present general inventive concept relates to an apparatus and method of packaging an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which forms an image using an electrophotographic process.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, such as a laser printer or a copier, is provided with an image forming unit, which forms a desired image on a surface thereof using processes including, for example, exposure, development, etc., according to an input image signal. Specifically, the image forming unit supplies a portion exposed by a laser beam with a developer, such as a toner, thereby converting an electrostatic latent image created by the exposure into a visible image, so that the desired image is formed on the surface thereof. The image forming unit includes a photosensitive body on which the electrostatic latent image is formed by the exposure and a developer supplier which supplies the developer onto the photosensitive body.

The developer for the image forming unit is consumable, such as ink used in an inkjet printer, and is consumed by image forming operations repeated a certain number of times. Thus, after the image forming operations are repeated the certain number of times, the developer must be re-filled. This re-filling is not only difficult but also considerably impractical. For this reason, most middle-size and small-size image forming apparatuses used in business offices, households, etc., are constructed so that the image forming unit containing the developer therein can be replaced as a whole. Hence, when the image forming apparatus is placed on the market, the image forming unit, being a replaceable part, is packaged independently of a main body of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus packaged by a conventional packaging apparatus.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, when being placed on the market for the first time, the conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50 is multi-packaged by the conventional packaging apparatus. Specifically, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50 is packaged in a conventional manner such that a main body 10 is enclosed by internal cushion members 41 and 44, and then inserted into an external packaging box 60. One of the internal cushion members 41 and 44 that is positioned over the main body 10 is provided with an accessory reservoir 42 and an image forming unit container 43, each of which is a certain size. Thus, when the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50 is packaged, various kinds of accessories 30 including a power cable 32, an installation guide/manual 34, etc. are loaded into the accessory reservoir 42 by a user. The image forming unit 20, which is sealed with a vinyl bag 23, is separately loaded into the image forming unit container 43. In this manner, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50 is multi-packaged by the conventional packaging apparatus such that the image forming unit 20 is packaged independently of the main body 10 and the packaged electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50 is then placed on the market.

However, the conventional apparatus and method for packaging the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50 has several problems. According to the conventional apparatus and method for packaging the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50, since the image forming unit 20 is separately packaged over the main body 10, a height of the external packaging box 60 that covers the image forming unit 20 and the main body 10 is increased by a height (“H” of FIG. 1) of the image forming unit 20. Thus, there may be problems caused by separately packaging the image forming unit 20. First, the external packaging box 60 and the internal cushion members 41 and 44 require more packaging expenses in proportion to the increase in height H of the packaged electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50. Second, transportation expense of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50 is increased due to an increase in size of the external packaging box 60 used to transport the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50. Third, it may be difficult to handle the packaged electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50. Further, according to the conventional apparatus and method for packaging the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50 is packaged by the external packaging box 60 with the plurality of accessories 30 and the image forming unit 20 disposed thereon making it more likely that the plurality of accessories 30 and the image forming unit 20 are damaged during transportation. As a result, when the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50 is delivered to a user and the user opens the external packaging box 60 having the plurality of accessories 30, and the image forming unit 20 on the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50, the user may feel anxious about a condition the image forming apparatus 50.

A packaging member for a laser printer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-33972 (published on Feb. 2, 2000). According to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Publication, the packaging member of the laser printer is composed of a bottom plate placed on a bottom surface of the laser printer so that the laser printer is packaged, a top plate placed on a top surface of the laser printer, and a sheathing case receiving the two plates. A top surface of the top plate is provided with a space for loading a part case, cassettes, and a partitioning pellet. Thus, according to the disclosed packaging member for the laser printer, a user interposes the laser printer between the bottom and top plates, and then loads the part case, the cassettes, and the partitioning pellet into the space above the top plate. After the loading is completed, loaded angles, the laser printer, etc. are all received in the sheathing case, and packaging of the laser printer is complete.

According to the Japanese Patent Publication, a plurality of parts are loaded above a main body of the laser printer in order to package the laser printer. Therefore, a height of the packaged laser printer is increased by a height of these parts. As a result, when the laser printer is packaged and transported, various problems may arise. For example, packaging and transportation expenses may be increased. Additionally, the packaged laser printer may be difficult to handle because of its increased size. Further, in the method for packaging the laser printer according to the Japanese Patent Publication, the laser printer is packaged by the sheathing case with a plurality of parts disposed above the laser printer making it more likely that the plurality of parts may be damaged during transportation. As a result, a user may feel anxious when opening the sheathing case for the first time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present general inventive concept provides an apparatus and method of packaging an image forming apparatus capable of reducing a packaging size of the image forming apparatus as a whole.

The present general inventive concept provides an apparatus and method of packaging an image forming apparatus, having a simple packaging structure so that a user can feel confident when opening the packaging structure, because the image forming apparatus is stably secured therein.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing an apparatus to package an image forming apparatus, the packaging apparatus including a keeping part to keep an image forming unit disposed in the image forming apparatus, external cushion members to wrap the image forming apparatus, and an external packaging box to package the image forming apparatus wrapped by the external cushion members. The image forming apparatus may be an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

The apparatus may include a packaging part to package the image forming unit.

Further, the keeping part may have a predetermined size such that the image forming unit can be kept with the packaging part in the keeping part.

The packaging part may comprise a sealing bag to seal the image forming unit and a plurality of internal cushion elements to cover the image forming unit sealed by the sealing bag. The plurality of internal cushion elements buff the image forming unit and internal components of the image forming apparatus.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a method of packaging image forming apparatus, the method including providing a keeping part in the image forming apparatus to keep an image forming unit disposed therein, keeping the image forming unit in the keeping part, wrapping the image forming apparatus in which the image forming unit is disposed with external cushion members, and inserting the image forming apparatus wrapped with the external cushion members into an external packaging box. The image forming apparatus may be an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

The method may further include packaging the image forming unit using a packaging part before the image forming unit is kept in the keeping part.

The image forming unit may be kept in an orientation such that a developer outlet is directed upward in the image forming apparatus so that a developer is prevented from being discharged while the image forming apparatus is being transported.

Further, the image forming unit may be kept in the keeping part together with accessories associated with the image forming apparatus.

A selected one of the external cushion members may be provided with an accessory reservoir so that the accessories associated with the image forming apparatus may be kept therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus packaged by a conventional packaging apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming unit being temporarily kept in an image forming apparatus while the image forming apparatus is being transported according to an embodiment of the general inventive concept;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the image forming unit of FIG. 2 coupled in the image forming apparatus while the image forming apparatus is in an operational state;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the image forming apparatus of FIG. 2 packaged by a packaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the image forming apparatus of FIG. 2 packaged by a packaging apparatus according to another embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, a packaging apparatus is used to package an image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 comprises a main body 110 having components of the image forming apparatus 100 disposed therein. In particular, an image forming unit 120 includes a developer outlet 128, a photo sensitive medium 123, a housing 121, and a cartridge mounting portion 122. The image forming apparatus 100 may be an electrophotographic image forming apparatus further comprising a transfer roller 116, a fixing roller 117, a paper feeding roller 115, an exhausting roller 118, an exposure unit 111, a feeding part 112, a photosensitive medium shaft 113, an inclined rail portion 129, and a main body cover 119. Other components may also be included in the image forming apparatus 100. According to the present general inventive concept the packaging apparatus may include a keeping part 114 to keep the image forming unit 120 disposed in the image forming apparatus 100, and the keeping part 114 may be removably coupled to the image forming apparatus 100 and is disposed therein. External cushion members 141 and 144 wrap the image forming apparatus 100, and an external packaging box 160 packages the image forming apparatus 100 wrapped with the external cushion members 141 and 144.

More specifically, the keeping part 114 may be formed so that it can keep the image forming unit 120, which is packaged by a packaging part 124. The keeping part may be formed between the exposure unit 111 and the feeding part 112. The packaging part 124 may include various parts to protect the image forming unit 120 from external impacts and foreign materials. For instance, the packaging part 124 may include a sealing bag 127 to seal the image forming unit 120 and a plurality of internal cushion elements 125 and 126 to cover the image forming unit 120 sealed by the sealing bag 127. The plurality of internal cushion elements 125 and 126 buff the image forming unit 120 kept in the image forming apparatus 100 relative to other internal components of the image forming apparatus 100.

The external cushion members 141 and 144 serve to protect the image forming apparatus 100 from external impact by cushioning the image forming apparatus 100. Thus, the external cushion members 141 and 144 are made of a material having a predetermined damping force. Specifically, the external cushion members 141 and 144 include an upper cushion member 141 to wrap an upper portion of the image forming apparatus 100 and a lower cushion member 144 to wrap a lower portion of the image forming apparatus 100. The external cushion members 141 and 144 may be made of cotton, sponge, Styrofoam, etc. Other materials may also be used to make the external cushion members 141 and 144. One of the external cushion members 141 and 144 (e.g., the upper cushion member 141) may be provided with an accessory reservoir 142 as illustrated in FIG. 4 and/or an installation guide reservoir 143 as illustrated in FIG. 5. For example, if the accessory reservoir 142 is provided on the upper cushion member 141, various accessories 130 including, for example, a power cable 132 needed to operate the image forming apparatus 100 and/or an installation guide 134 may all be kept in the accessory reservoir 142. Alternatively, if the installation guide reservoir 143 is provided on the upper cushion member 141, the installation guide 134 is kept in the installation guide reservoir 143, and the other various accessories 130 including the power cable 132 may be packaged together in the packaging part 124 with the image forming unit 120.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the external packaging box 160 functions to enclose and contain the image forming apparatus 100 as well as the external cushion members 141 and 144 wrapping the image forming apparatus 100. Hence, the external packaging box 160 may have a predetermined size such that the image forming apparatus 100 wrapped by the external cushion members 141 and 144 can be inserted therein. The external packaging box 160 may be formed of a material such as paper, plastic, etc. Other materials may also be used to form the external packaging box16O.

Hereinafter, a method of packaging the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

The keeping part to keep the image forming unit 120 is provided in the image forming apparatus 100.

Once the keeping part 114 is provided in the image forming apparatus 100, the image forming unit 120 is packaged by the packaging part 124 including the sealing bag 127 and the plurality of internal cushion elements 125 and 126. The image forming unit 120 may be packaged using the packaging part 124 together with or apart from the various accessories 130. When the installation guide reservoir 143 is provided on a selected one of the external cushion members 141 and 144, and the installation guide 134 is kept in the installation guide reservoir 143, the other accessories 130 may be kept in the packaging part 124 with the image forming unit 120.

Once the image forming unit 120 is packaged in the packaging part 124, the image forming unit 120 and the packaging part 124 are kept in the keeping part 114, which is provided in the image forming apparatus 100. While being kept by the keeping part 114 in the image forming apparatus 100, the image forming unit 120 may be oriented such that a developer outlet 128 is directed upward in the image forming apparatus 100. As a result, a developer of the image forming unit 120 is prevented from being discharged even though the packaged image forming apparatus 100 may experience unexpected impact during transportation thereof.

Once the image forming unit 120 is packaged by the packaging part 124 and disposed in the keeping part 114 in the image forming apparatus 100, the image forming apparatus 100 in which the image forming unit 120 is kept is wrapped with the external cushion members 141 and 144 (i.e., the upper and lower cushion members 141 and 144).

When the image forming apparatus 100 is wrapped by the external cushion members 141 and 144, the packaged image forming apparatus 100 is inserted into the external packaging box 160 together with the external cushion members 141 and 144. Thus, the image forming apparatus 100 is bound together with the external cushion members 141 and 144 and is enclosed by the external packaging box 160. The external packaging box 160 may then be closed so that the packaging of the image forming apparatus 100 is complete.

As can seen from the foregoing, since the image forming unit 120 is packaged by the sealing bag 127 to seal the image forming unit 120 and the plurality of internal cushion elements 125 and 126 to cover the image forming unit 120 and then kept in the image forming apparatus 100, it is possible not only to protect the image forming unit 120 from external impact but also to make a size of the packaged image forming apparatus 100 compact. As a result, when the image forming apparatus 100 is packaged by the method of packaging the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present general inventive concept and then placed on the market, it is possible to handle the packaged image forming apparatus 100 with ease and, to save transportation expenses due to decrease in package size.

Further, since the image forming unit 120 is kept in the image forming apparatus 100, a height of the packaged image forming apparatus 100 can be reduced by a height of the image forming unit (“H” of FIG. 1). This decrease in height shifts the center of gravity of the packaged image forming apparatus 100 downward such that the packaged image forming apparatus 100 can be stably secured during transportation.

In addition, since the image forming unit 120 is kept so as to direct the developer outlet upward in the image forming apparatus 100, the developer contained in the image forming unit 120 is prevented from being discharged even though the packaged image forming apparatus 100 may experience unexpected impact during transportation thereof.

Furthermore, when the image forming apparatus 100 is delivered to a user and the external packing box 160 is opened for the first time, the user sees the installation guide 134 or the accessories 132 first, because the image forming unit 120 is stably secured in the keeping part 114 disposed in the image forming apparatus 100. Thus the user may feel confident that the image forming apparatus 100, and in particular the image forming unit 120, is in operational condition, because the image forming unit 120 is stably secured during transportation.

Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An apparatus to package an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:

a keeping part to keep an image forming unit in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus;

external cushion members to wrap the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; and

an external packaging box to package the electrophotographic image forming apparatus wrapped by the external cushion members.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a packaging unit to package the image forming unit,

wherein the keeping part has a predetermined size that enables the image forming unit to be packaged by the packaging unit and kept in the keeping part.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the packaging unit comprises a sealing bag to seal the image forming unit and a plurality of internal cushion elements to cover the image forming unit sealed by the sealing bag and to buff the image forming unit and internal components of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

4. A packaging apparatus to package an imaging forming apparatus, the packaging apparatus comprising:

a keeping part disposed in the image forming apparatus to keep an image forming unit having a developer therein;

one or more external cushion members disposed on an outside surface of the image forming apparatus and to cushion the image forming apparatus; and

an external packaging box to contain the image forming apparatus having the one or more external cushions disposed thereon.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a packaging part to package the image forming unit such that the image forming unit with the packaging part is kept in the keeping part.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the packaging part comprises a sealing bag to seal the image forming unit and one or more internal cushion elements to cushion the image forming unit sealed in the sealing bag.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the keeping part has a predetermined size so that the image forming unit with the packaging part fits therein.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the one or more internal cushion elements cushion the image forming unit from damaging contact with internal components of the image forming apparatus.

9. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the packaging part further packages one or more accessories associated with the image forming apparatus.

10. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the one or more external cushion members disposed on the outside surface of the image forming apparatus includes an upper cushion member disposed on an upper surface of the image forming apparatus and a lower cushion member disposed on a lower surface of the image forming apparatus.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the external packaging box has a predetermined size so that the image forming apparatus with the upper and lower cushion members fits into the external packaging box.

12. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the upper external cushion member includes a space disposed on a top surface of the upper external cushion member so that one or more accessories associated with the image forming apparatus are stored therein.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the one or more accessories includes at least one of: an installation guide and a power cable.

14. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus is an electrographic image forming apparatus.

15. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the keeping part orients the image forming unit such that a developer outlet of the image forming unit is directed upward and the developer is prevented from leaking when the external packaging box is transported in an upright position.

16. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the keeping part is located inside a main body of the image forming apparatus.

17. A method of packaging an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a keeping part to keep an image forming unit in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus;

keeping the image forming unit in the keeping part;

wrapping the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which the image forming unit is kept with external cushion members; and

inserting the electrophotographic image forming apparatus wrapped with the external cushion members into an external packaging box.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

packaging the image forming unit using a packaging part before the image forming unit is kept in the keeping part.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the image forming unit is kept in an orientation such that a developer outlet of the image forming unit is directed upward in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus so that a developer is prevented from being discharged while the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is being transported.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the image forming unit is kept in the keeping part together with accessories associated with the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the external cushion members is provided with an accessory reservoir so that accessories associated with the electrophotographic image forming apparatus are kept therein.

22. A method of packaging an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit having developer therein, the method comprising:

packaging the image forming unit;

providing the packaged image forming unit to a keeping part disposed in a main body of the image forming apparatus;

disposing one or more cushion members on an outer surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus; and

inserting the image forming apparatus with the one or more cushioning elements disposed thereon into a packaging box.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein packaging the image forming unit further comprises placing the image forming unit in a sealing bag and placing the sealing bag with the image forming unit therein in between one or more internal cushion elements.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein packaging the image forming unit further comprises packaging the image forming unit with one or more accessories in a packaging part to be kept together in the keeping part.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein providing the packaged image forming unit to the keeping part further comprises orienting the packaged image forming unit such that a developer outlet of the image forming unit is directed upward and the developer is prevented from leaking when the packaging box is transported in an upright position.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein disposing one or more cushion members on an outer surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus further comprises disposing an upper cushion member on an upper surface of the main body and disposing a lower cushion member on a lower surface of the main body

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising:

before inserting the image forming apparatus with the one or more cushioning elements disposed thereon into the packaging box, placing one or more accessories associated with the image forming apparatus into a space disposed on a top surface of the upper external cushion member so that the one or more accessories associated with the image forming apparatus are stored in the space.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the one or more accessories including at least one of a guide and a cable.

29. A package to transport an image forming apparatus, the package comprising:

a packaging box having an image forming apparatus disposed therein and one or more cushioning elements disposed between an outer surface of the image forming apparatus and the packaging box; and

a packaging part having an image forming unit, and disposed in a main body of the image forming apparatus.

30. The package according to claim 29, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a keeping part formed therein, and the packaging part is kept in the keeping part in the main body of the image forming apparatus.

31. The package according to claim 29, wherein the image forming unit is an electrostatic image forming apparatus comprising a photosensitive medium on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and a developer to convert the electrostatic latent image into a visible image.

32. The package according to claim 29, wherein the packaging part comprises at least one cushion member disposed between the image forming unit and the packaging box to enclose the image forming unit.

33. The package according to claim 32, wherein the packing part comprises a bag disposed between the at least one cushion member and the image forming unit to enclose the image forming unit.

34. The package according to claim 29, wherein the image forming unit is not disposed between the image forming apparatus and the packaging box.

35. The package according to claim 29, wherein the main body of the image forming apparatus comprises a paper feeding roller, a transfer roller, a fixing roller, and an exposure unit.

36. The package according to claim 35, wherein the packaging part is disposed between the exposure unit and the paper feeding part.