# US 2021/0240104 A1 · Toner cartridge > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0240104 A1 - Document ID: US20210240104A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/165,501 - Filed: 2021-02-02 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-04 - Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Shintaro FUKUOKA; Shougo SATO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210240104A1 ## CPC - G03G 15/0886: {by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug} - G03G 15/0875: {cartridges having a box like shape} - G03G 21/105: {Arrangements for conveying toner waste} - G03G 21/1814: {Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing (G03G21/1835 takes precedence)} - G03G 21/1817: {having a submodular arrangement} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A toner cartridge includes a housing capable of accommodating toner and having six peripheral walls, a first shutter, and a second shutter. The housing includes (i) a first surface formed on a first peripheral wall and having a first circumferential surface and (ii) a second surface and having a second circumferential surface, the first peripheral wall having a first hole, the second peripheral wall having a second hole. The first shutter is movable relative to the housing along the first circumferential surface between a first closed position at which the first opening is closed and a first open position at which the first opening is opened. The second shutter is movable relative to the housing along the second circumferential surface between a second closed position at which the second opening is closed and a second open position at which the second opening is opened. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A toner cartridge, comprising: a housing capable of accommodating toner and having six peripheral walls, the housing including (i) a first surface formed on a first peripheral wall of the six peripheral walls and having a first circumferential surface and (ii) a second surface formed on a second peripheral wall of the six peripheral walls and having a second circumferential surface, the first peripheral wall having a first hole, the second peripheral wall having a second hole; a first shutter movable relative to the housing along the first circumferential surface between a first closed position at which the first opening is closed and a first open position at which the first opening is opened; and a second shutter movable relative to the housing along the second circumferential surface between a second closed position at which the second opening is closed and a second open position at which the second opening is opened. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a first toner container communicating with the first opening and a second toner container communicating with the second opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The toner cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the housing extends in a second direction intersecting a first direction as a direction in which the first surface and the second surface are spaced apart from each other, and wherein the first toner container and the second toner container are aligned in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the housing extends in a second direction intersecting a first direction as a direction in which the first surface and the second surface are spaced apart from each other, and wherein a dimension of the housing in the second direction is greater than a dimension of the housing in the first direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first shutter is rotatable about a rotation axis between the first closed position and the first open position, the rotation axis extending in a second direction intersecting a first direction in which the first surface and the second surface are spaced apart from each other, and wherein the second shutter is rotatable about the rotation axis between the second closed position and the second open position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a center of curvature of the first circumferential surface is identical with a center of curvature of the second circumferential surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The toner cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a first arm connecting one end of the first shutter in a second direction and one end of the second shutter in the second direction, the second direction intersecting a first direction as a direction in which the first surface and the second surface are spaced apart from each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The toner cartridge according to claim 7, further comprising a second arm connecting the other end of the first shutter in the second direction and the other end of the second shutter in the second direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The toner cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the housing includes a first flat surface formed on a third peripheral wall of the six peripheral walls and a second flat surface formed on a fourth peripheral wall of the six peripheral walls and spaced apart from the first flat surface in the second direction, wherein the first arm is movable along the first flat surface, and wherein the second arm is movable along the second flat surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the toner cartridge is mountable on a process unit having a photoconductive drum, and wherein the toner cartridge comprises at least one protrusion configured to engage with the process unit in a state in which the toner cartridge is mounted on the process unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The toner cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the process unit comprises a guide configured to guide mounting of the toner cartridge, wherein the toner cartridge comprises a guided portion guided by the guide when the toner cartridge is mounted on the process unit, and wherein, in a state in which the toner cartridge is mounted on the process unit and the guided portion is in contact with the guide, the housing is rotatable together with the guide between a first position in which the first shutter is positioned at the first closed position and the second shutter is positioned at the second closed position and a second position in which the first shutter is positioned at the first open position and the second shutter is positioned at the second open position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The toner cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the process unit comprises: a conveying tube configured to convey waste toner which is removed from the photoconductive drum to the second opening, the conveying tube including a third opening communicating with the second opening in a state in which the toner cartridge is mounted on the process unit and the housing is positioned at the second position; a third shutter movable between a third closed position at which the third opening is closed and a third open position at which the third opening is opened; and a first gear configured to move the third shutter, wherein the housing includes a second gear configured to engage with the first gear in the state in which the toner cartridge is mounted on the process unit, and wherein the third shutter is configured to move from the third closed position to the third open position when the housing moves from the first position to the second position in a state in which the second gear is engaged with the first gear. ### Claim 13 A process unit, comprising: a toner cartridge comprising a housing capable of accommodating toner and having six peripheral walls, the housing including (i) a first surface formed on a first peripheral wall of the six peripheral walls and having a first circumferential surface and (ii) a second surface formed on a second peripheral wall of the six peripheral walls and having a second circumferential surface, the first peripheral wall having a first hole, the second peripheral wall having a second hole, a first shutter movable relative to the housing along the first circumferential surface between a first closed position at which the first opening is closed and a first open position at which the first opening is opened, and a second shutter movable relative to the housing along the second circumferential surface between a second closed position at which the second opening is closed and a second open position at which the second opening is opened; and a photoconductive drum, wherein the toner cartridge is mountable on the process unit, and wherein the toner cartridge comprises at least one protrusion configured to engage with the process unit in a state in which the toner cartridge is mounted on the process unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The process unit according to claim 13, wherein the process unit comprises a guide configured to guide mounting of the toner cartridge, wherein the toner cartridge comprises a guided portion guided by the guide when the toner cartridge is mounted on the process unit, and wherein, in a state in which the toner cartridge is mounted on the process unit and the guided portion is in contact with the guide, the housing is rotatable together with the guide between a first position in which the first shutter is positioned at the first closed position and the second shutter is positioned at the second closed position and a second position in which the first shutter is positioned at the first open position and the second shutter is positioned at the second open position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The process unit according to claim 14, wherein the process unit comprises: a conveying tube configured to convey waste toner which is removed from the photoconductive drum to the second opening, the conveying tube including a third opening communicating with the second opening in a state in which the toner cartridge is mounted on the process unit and the housing is positioned at the second position; a third shutter movable between a third closed position at which the third opening is closed and a third open position at which the third opening is opened; and a first gear configured to move the third shutter, wherein the housing includes a second gear configured to engage with the first gear in the state in which the toner cartridge is mounted on the process unit, and wherein the third shutter is configured to move from the third closed position to the third open position when the housing moves from the first position to the second position in a state in which the second gear is engaged with the first gear.