TONER PORT SHUTTER INTERFACE FOR A TONER CONTAINER
A system for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a first replaceable unit having a first shutter movable between a closed position blocking an outlet port of the first replaceable unit and an open position unblocking the outlet port. A second replaceable includes an inlet port that is configured to receive toner from the outlet port of the first replaceable unit. The second replaceable unit includes a second shutter movable between a closed position blocking the inlet port and an open position unblocking the inlet port. A portion of the first shutter of the first replaceable unit is positioned to contact and move the second shutter of the second replaceable unit from the closed position of the second shutter to the open position of the second shutter during insertion of the first replaceable unit into the image forming device.
1 . A system for an electrophotographic image forming device, comprising:
a first replaceable unit removably installable in the image forming device, the first replaceable unit includes a reservoir for storing toner and an outlet port for exiting toner from the reservoir, the first replaceable unit includes a first shutter movable between a closed position blocking the outlet port and an open position unblocking the outlet port; and
a second replaceable unit removably installable in the image forming device, the second replaceable unit includes an inlet port that is configured to receive toner from the outlet port of the first replaceable unit when the first and second replaceable units are installed in the image forming device, the second replaceable unit includes a second shutter movable between a closed position blocking the inlet port and an open position unblocking the inlet port,
wherein a portion of the first shutter of the first replaceable unit is positioned to contact and move the second shutter of the second replaceable unit from the closed position of the second shutter to the open position of the second shutter during insertion of the first replaceable unit into the image forming device.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first shutter includes a projection that is movable with the first shutter between the open position of the first shutter and the closed position of the first shutter, the projection is unobstructed to contact and push the second shutter in a direction of insertion of the first replaceable unit into the image forming device from the closed position of the second shutter to the open position of the second shutter during insertion of the first replaceable unit into the image forming device.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the projection extends downward from a bottom surface of the first shutter.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first replaceable unit includes at least one first biasing member biasing the first shutter in a first direction towards the closed position of the first shutter, and the second replaceable unit includes at least one second biasing member biasing the second shutter in a second direction opposite the first direction towards the closed position of the second shutter.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein a biasing force of the at least one first biasing member is greater than a biasing force of the at least one second biasing member such that the biasing force of the at least one first biasing member keeps the first shutter from unblocking the outlet port of the first replaceable unit when the portion of the first shutter of the first replaceable unit receives a reaction force from contact with the second shutter of the second replaceable unit as the portion of the first shutter of the first replaceable unit moves the second shutter from the closed position of the second shutter to the open position of the second shutter during insertion of the first replaceable unit into the image forming device.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first replaceable unit includes an extension from the first shutter that is positioned to contact an engagement surface in the image forming device during insertion of the first replaceable unit into the image forming device and receive an actuation force from the engagement surface to move the first shutter from the closed position of the first shutter to the open position of the first shutter.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the extension of the first shutter is positioned to receive the actuation force from the engagement surface after the first shutter contacts and moves the second shutter of the second replaceable unit from the closed position of the second shutter to the open position of the second shutter.
8 . A system for an electrophotographic image forming device, comprising:
a first replaceable unit removably installable in the image forming device, the first replaceable unit includes a reservoir for storing toner, an outlet port for exiting toner from the reservoir and a first shutter positioned at the outlet port, the first shutter is translatable between a closed position blocking the outlet port and an open position unblocking the outlet port; and
a second replaceable unit removably installable in the image forming device, the second replaceable unit includes an inlet port for receiving toner from the outlet port of the first replaceable unit when the first and second replaceable units are installed in the image forming device, a second shutter is positioned at the inlet port and is translatable between a closed position blocking the inlet port and an open position unblocking the inlet port,
wherein a portion the first shutter of the first replaceable unit is positioned to contact and move the second shutter of the second replaceable unit in a direction of insertion of the first replaceable unit into the image forming device from the closed position of the second shutter to the open position of the second shutter during insertion of the first replaceable unit into the image forming device.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the first shutter includes a projection that is movable with the first shutter between the open position of the first shutter and the closed position of the first shutter, the projection is unobstructed to contact and push the second shutter in the direction of insertion of the first replaceable unit into the image forming device from the closed position of the second shutter to the open position of the second shutter during insertion of the first replaceable unit into the image forming device.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the projection extends downward from a bottom surface of the first shutter.
11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the first replaceable unit includes at least one first biasing member biasing the first shutter in a first direction towards the closed position of the first shutter, and the second replaceable unit includes at least one second biasing member biasing the second shutter in a second direction opposite the first direction towards the closed position of the second shutter.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein a biasing force of the at least one first biasing member is greater than a biasing force of the at least one second biasing member such that the biasing force of the at least one first biasing member keeps the first shutter from unblocking the outlet port of the first replaceable unit when the portion of the first shutter of the first replaceable unit receives a reaction force from contact with the second shutter of the second replaceable unit as the portion of the first shutter of the first replaceable unit moves the second shutter from the closed position of the second shutter to the open position of the second shutter during insertion of the first replaceable unit into the image forming device.
13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the first replaceable unit includes an extension from the first shutter that is positioned to contact an engagement surface in the image forming device during insertion of the first replaceable unit into the image forming device and receive an actuation force from the engagement surface to move the first shutter from the closed position of the first shutter to the open position of the first shutter.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the extension of the first shutter is positioned to receive the actuation force from the engagement surface after the first shutter contacts and moves the second shutter of the second replaceable unit from the closed position of the second shutter to the open position of the second shutter.
15 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the first shutter of the first replaceable unit is translatable in a first direction from the closed position of the first shutter toward the open position of the first shutter, and the second shutter of the second replaceable unit is translatable in a second direction opposite the first direction from the closed position of the second shutter toward the open position of the second shutter.
16 . A method of opening port shutters in an image forming device, comprising:
receiving, by the image forming device, a toner cartridge matable with a developer unit while the developer unit is installed in the image forming device, the toner cartridge having a cartridge shutter positioned at an outlet port thereof and the developer unit having a developer shutter positioned at an inlet port thereof;
pushing open the developer shutter, by a portion of the cartridge shutter, in a direction of insertion of the toner cartridge into the image forming device to unblock the inlet port during insertion of the toner cartridge into the image forming device; and
receiving, by the cartridge shutter, an actuation force to move the cartridge shutter from a closed position blocking the outlet port to an open position unblocking the outlet port during insertion of the toner cartridge into the image forming device.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising biasing the cartridge shutter in the direction of insertion of the toner cartridge into the image forming device towards the closed position of the cartridge shutter and biasing the developer shutter opposite the direction of insertion of the toner cartridge into the image forming device towards a closed position of the developer shutter.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein receiving the actuation force by the cartridge shutter includes receiving the actuation force opposite the direction of insertion of the toner cartridge into the image forming device.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the biasing cartridge shutter in the direction of insertion of the toner cartridge into the image forming device includes biasing the cartridge shutter with a first biasing force that is greater than a second biasing force biasing the developer shutter opposite the direction of insertion of the toner cartridge into the image forming device.
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein receiving the actuation force by the cartridge shutter includes receiving the actuation force after the cartridge shutter has pushed open the developer shutter.
21 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising aligning a first window of the cartridge shutter with a second window of the developer shutter prior to the portion of the cartridge shutter pushing open the developer shutter and receiving the actuation force by the cartridge shutter.
22 . The method of claim 16 , wherein receiving the actuation force by the cartridge shutter includes receiving the actuation force by the cartridge shutter from a portion of the image forming device.
23 . The method of claim 16 , wherein receiving the actuation force by the cartridge shutter includes receiving the actuation force by the cartridge shutter from the developer shutter.