Developing cartridge, image forming apparatus having the same, and printing method for an image forming apparatus
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsJoo-Hwan NOH, Jong-Moon Eun, Jean-Man Sur
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A developing cartridge usable with an image forming apparatus includes a housing having a developing member, a developer storing portion storing developer supplied to the developing member, and a mounting portion allowing at least one developer cartridge storing supplementary developer to be detachably mounted. Printing operations can be performed using the developer available in the developer-storing portion even in the absence of a developer cartridge.
Claims39
A developing cartridge usable with an image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a developing member supported in a housing of the developing cartridge, the developing member being configured to develop an electrostatic latent image into a visible developer image;
- a mounting portion formed in the housing, the mounting portion being configured to accommodate therein a removable developer cartridge containing a supplemental amount of developer;
- and
- a developer storing portion provided in the housing, the developer storing portion being configured to store a first quantity of developer, the developing cartridge being configured to supply the developing member with developer from the first quantity of developer even when the removable developer cartridge is not mounted in the mounting portion.
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a photosensitive member configured to support thereon an electrostatic latent image;
- a developing cartridge comprising:
- a developing member supported in a housing of the developing cartridge, the developing member being configured to develop the electrostatic latent image into a visible developer image;
- a mounting portion formed in the housing, the mounting portion being configured to accommodate therein a removable developer cartridge containing a supplemental amount of developer;
- and
- a developer storing portion provided in the housing, the developer storing portion being configured to store a first quantity of developer;
- and
- a controller configured to determine whether the removable developer cartridge is mounted in the mounting portion, and to cause the developing member to be supplied with developer from the first quantity of developer of the developer storing portion if it is determined that the removable developer cartridge is not mounted in the mounting portion.
A method of controlling an image forming apparatus, comprising:
- determining whether a removable developer cartridge is mounted in a developing unit of the image forming apparatus, the developing unit including a developing member configured to use developer to develop an electrostatic latent image into a visible developer image during a printing operation;
- and
- if it was determined that the removable developer cartridge is not mounted, performing a printing operation using developer available in a developer storing portion provided in the developing unit.
A developer cartridge capable of being detachably received into a mounting portion provided in a developing cartridge detachably supported in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a developer receiving portion formed inside the developer cartridge to store an amount of supplemental developer;
- an outlet formed in the developer cartridge, the outlet, when the developer cartridge is mounted in the mounting portion of the developing cartridge, being in fluid communication with a developer storing portion of the developing cartridge, the developer storing portion providing a storage for a quantity of developer, and
- a developer conveying member rotatably disposed inside the developer receiving portion, the developer conveying member, when the developer cartridge is mounted in the mounting portion of the developing cartridge, being controlled by a controller of the image forming apparatus to convey the supplementary developer to the developing cartridge through the outlet after the quantity of developer stored in the developer storing portion of the developing cartridge is exhausted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.