Process cartridge, toner supply container and toner supply method

Claim 2

A container according to Claim 1, wherein said toner supply container has a substantially triangular column.

Claim 3

A container according to Claim 1, wherein said toner supply container has an engaging portion for engageable with a curved guide in said toner supply container when the toner supply container to said toner accommodating container.

Claim 4

A container according to Claim 1, wherein said container has a substantially sector cross-section, and has a toner supply opening extended along a longitudinal direction thereof in a circular portion of the cross-section and a sealing member for sealing said toner supply opening.

Claim 5

A container according to Claim 1, wherein said third and fourth portions are provided with thin portions constituting a foldable portions.

Claim 6

A container according to Claim 1, wherein said container remains in said toner accommodating container in a compressed state after the toner is supplied to said toner accommodating container.

Claim 7

A container according to Claim 1 or 4, wherein said sealing member is in the form of a thin film having a such a length that it extends out of said toner container when said toner supply container is mounted to said toner accommodating container.

Claim 8

A container according to Claim 1, wherein said toner container is provided in a process cartridge which contains as an unit an electrophotographic photosensitive member, process means actable on said photosensitive member, and which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

Claim 9

A container according to Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein said toner supply container is of plastic resin material integrally molded.

Claim 10

A container according to Claim 8, wherein said container is of paper.

Claim 11

A toner supply method for supplying toner into a toner accommodating container for accommodating the toner usable for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising the steps of; supplying the toner into said toner accommodating container from said toner supply container by mounting to said toner accommodating container said toner supply container containing the toner; compressing said toner supply container in a direction crossing with its longitudinal direction without removing said toner supply container; and supplying the toner into said toner accommodating container from a fresh toner accommodating container by mounting a fresh toner supply container to said toner accommodating container.

Claim 13

A method according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein said toner supply container is inserted into said toner accommodating container through an opening which opens upwardly and along a curved path in said toner accommodating container.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein when a fresh toner supply container is mounted into said toner accommodating container, the toner container already accommodated in said toner accommodating container is compressed by the fresh toner container, wherein t fresh toner supply container is accommodated in said toner accommodating container in a space provided by the compression.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 11, wherein said compressing step compresses t toner supply container already accommodated in said toner accommodating container by the fresh toner supply container.

Claim 16

A method according to claim 11, wherein said supplying step is carried out by pulling, while said toner supply container is accommodated in said toner accommodating container, a toner seal extending out of said toner accommodating container to open a supply opening of said toner supply container.

Claim 17

a method according to claim 11, wherein upon mounting of said toner supply container to said toner accommodating container, a cover of said toner accommodating container at its top is opened, and then said toner supply container is mounted in said toner accommodating container, and thereafter, t cover is closed.

Claim 18

A method according to claim 11, wherein said toner accommodating container is provided in a process cartridge which has as a unit a photosensitive member and process means actable on said photosensitive member and which is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, wherein said process cartridge is supplied with the toner from said toner supply container.

Claim 19

A toner supply container for supplying toner into a process cartridge which has an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means actable thereon and a toner accommodating container for accommodating the toner usable for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and which is detachably mountable relative to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: a guide portion for guiding the toner supply container into said toner accommodating container with engagement with said toner accommodating container; a first portion and a second portion which are opposed to each other; a third portion connecting one longitudinal ends of said first portion and second portion, wherein the third portion are foldable; a fourth portion connecting the other longitudinal ends of said first portion and second portion, wherein the fourth portion are foldable; a toner supply opening, provided along a longitudinal direction between the first portion and the second portion, for supplying into said toner accommodating container the toner accommodated in the toner accommodation portion U structured by said first portion, second portion, third portion and fourth portion; a sealing member for openably sealing said toner supply opening, wherein said sealing member has such a length as extends out of said toner accommodating container when said toner supply container is mounted in said toner accommodating container; wherein a volume of said toner accommodation portion is reduced in a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction of said first portion and said second portion by the folding of said third portion and said fourth portion, and said first, second, third and fourth portions are integrally molded with a plastic resin material.

Claim 20

A container according to Claim 19, wherein said toner supply container has a substantially triangular column.

Claim 21

A container according to Claim 19, wherein said toner supply container has an engaging portion for engageable with a curved guide in said toner supply container when the toner supply container to said toner accommodating container.

Claim 22

A container according to Claim 19, wherein said container has a substantially sector cross-section, and has a toner supply opening extended along a longitudinal direction thereof in a circular portion of the cross-section and a sealing member for sealing said toner supply opening.

Claim 23

A container according to Claim 19, wherein said third and fourth portions are provided with thin portions constituting a foldable portions.

Claim 24

A container according to Claim 19, wherein said container remains in said toner accommodating container in a compressed state after the toner is supplied to said toner accommodating container.

Claim 25

A container according to Claim 19, wherein said process means includes a charging member for charging said photosensitive member.

Claim 26

A container according to Claim 19, wherein said process means includes a developing roller for developing the latent image with the toner accommodated in said toner accommodating container.

Claim 27

A container according to Claim 19, wherein said process means includes cleaning means for cleaning the toner remaining on said photosensitive member.

Claim 28

A toner supply method for supplying toner into a process cartridge which has an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means actable thereon and a toner accommodating container for accommodating the toner usable for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and which is detachably mountable relative to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of: opening a cover of said toner accommodating container, said opening opens upwardly; mounting said toner supply container in said toner accommodating container through said opening; closing said cover to close said opening; supplying the toner into said toner accommodating container from said toner supply container by pulling, while said toner supply container is in said toner accommodating container, a toner seal extended outside said toner accommodating container to open a supply opening of said toner supply container; opening said cover; compressing said toner supply container in a direction crossing with its longitudinal direction without removing said toner supply container; and mounting a fresh toner supply container through said opening into a space provided by said compressing step in said toner accommodating container; closing said cover; supplying the toner into said toner accommodating container from said toner supply container by pulling, while said toner supply container is in said toner accommodating container, a toner seal extended outside said toner accommodating container to open a supply opening of said toner supply container.

Claim 30

A method according to claim 28 or 29, wherein said toner supply container is inserted into said toner accommodating container through an opening which opens upwardly and along a curved path in said toner accommodating container.

Claim 31

A method according to claim 28 or 29, wherein said compressing step compresses t toner supply container already accommodated in said toner accommodating container by the fresh toner supply container.

Claim 32

A process cartridge detachably mountable relative to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said process cartridge can be supplied with toner by a toner supply container, said process cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; process means actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive member; a toner accommodating container for accommodating toner for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member; an accommodation container opening, formed in said toner accommodating container, for mounting said toner supply container into said toner accommodating container; an openable cover for open ably closing said accommodation container opening; a cartridge guide, in said toner accommodating container, for guiding said toner supply container; a keeping portion, in said toner accommodating container, for keeping said toner supply container having a toner accommodation portion U, a volume of which is reduced in a direction crossing with its longitudinal direction.

Claim 33

A process cartridge according to Claim 32, wherein said toner supply container comprising: a guide portion, engageable with a cartridge guide of said toner accommodating container, for guiding the toner supply container into said toner accommodating container with engagement with said toner accommodating container; a first portion and a second portion which are opposed to each other; a third portion connecting one longitudinal ends of said first portion and second portion, wherein the third portion are foldable; a fourth portion connecting the other longitudinal ends of said first portion and second portion, wherein the fourth portion are foldable; a toner supply opening, provided along a longitudinal direction between the first portion and the second portion, for supplying into said toner accommodating container the toner accommodated in the toner accommodation portion U structured by said first portion, second portion, third portion and fourth portion; a sealing member for openably sealing said toner supply opening; wherein a volume of said toner accommodation portion is reduced in a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction of said first portion and said second portion by the folding of said third portion and said fourth portion.

Claim 34

A process cartridge according to Claim 32, wherein said opening of said toner accommodating container opens upwardly.

Claim 35

A process cartridge according to claim 32 or 34, wherein said cartridge guide is curved to guide said toner supply container inclined-downwardly.

Claim 36

A process cartridge according to claim 32, 34 or 35, wherein said process cartridge permits and end of said sealing member outside said process cartridge when said toner supply container is accommodated in said toner accommodating container.

Claim 37

A process cartridge according to claim 36, wherein said process cartridge permits and end of said sealing member outside said process cartridge by an opening, when said toner supply container is accommodated in said toner accommodating container.

Claim 38

A process cartridge according to claim 32, wherein a plurality of toner supply containers having volumes reduced in a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction are kept in said keeping portion.

Claim 39

A container according to Claim 32, wherein said process means includes a charging member for charging said photosensitive member.

Claim 40

A container according to Claim 32, wherein said process means includes a developing roller for developing the latent image with the toner accommodated in said toner accommodating container.

Claim 41

A container according to Claim 32, wherein said process means includes cleaning means for cleaning the toner remaining on said photosensitive member.

Claim 42

A process cartridge detachably mountable relative to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said process cartridge can be supplied with toner by a toner supply container, said process cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a charging member for charging said photosensitive member; a developing roller for developing a latent image on said photosensitive member; a toner accommodating container for accommodating toner for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member with said developing roller; an accommodation container opening, formed in said toner accommodating container, for mounting said toner supply container into said toner accommodating container, wherein said opening opens upwardly; an openable cover for open ably closing said accommodation container opening; a cartridge guide, in said toner accommodating container, for guiding said toner supply container, wherein said cartridge guide is curved to guide said toner supply container inclined-downwardly; a keeping portion, in said toner accommodating container, for keeping said toner supply container having a toner accommodation portion, a volume of which is reduced in a direction crossing with its longitudinal direction.

Claim 43

A process cartridge detachably mountable relative to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said process cartridge can be supplied with toner by a toner supply container, said process cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a charging member for charging said photosensitive member; a developing roller for developing a latent image on said photosensitive member; a toner accommodating container for accommodating toner for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member with said developing roller; an accommodation container opening, formed in said toner accommodating container, for mounting said toner supply container into said toner accommodating container, wherein said opening opens upwardly; an openable cover for open ably closing said accommodation container opening; a cartridge guide, in said toner accommodating container, for guiding said toner supply container, wherein said cartridge guide is curved to guide said toner supply container inclined-downwardly; a keeping portion, in said toner accommodating container, for keeping said toner supply container having a toner accommodation portion U, a volume of which is reduced in a direction crossing with its longitudinal direction, wherein said keeping portion is capable of keeping a plurality of toner supply containers having a volume reduced in a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction; wherein said toner supply container comprises: a guide portion, engageable with the cartridge guide of said toner accommodating container, for guiding the toner supply container into said toner accommodating container with engagement with said toner accommodating container; a first portion and a second portion which are opposed to each other; a third portion connecting one longitudinal ends of said first portion and second portion, wherein the third portion are foldable; a fourth portion connecting the other longitudinal ends of said first portion and second portion, wherein the fourth portion are foldable; a toner supply opening, provided along the longitudinal direction between the first portion and the second portion, for supplying into said toner accommodating container the toner accommodated in the toner accommodation portion U structured by said first portion, second portion, third portion and fourth portion; a sealing member for openably sealing said toner supply opening; wherein a volume of said toner accommodation portion is reduced in a direction crossing with the longitudinal direction of said first portion and said second portion by the folding of said third portion and said fourth portion.

Claim 44

A toner supply container for supplying toner into a toner accommodating container for accommodating the toner usable for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein said toner accommodating container is detachably mountable relative to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the improvement residing in that: a toner containing portion of said toner supply container has a volume which reducible in a direction crossing with its longitudinal direction.

Claim 45

A toner supply method for supplying toner into a toner accommodating container for accommodating the toner usable for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, the improvement residing in that: a toner containing portion of said toner supply container has a volume which reducible in a direction crossing with its longitudinal direction.

Claim 46

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, cm: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; process means actable on said photosensitive member; a keeping portion for keeping a toner supply container in a toner accommodating container, said toner supply container having a volume reduced in a direction crossing with a longitudinal direction of the toner accommodating container.

Claim 47

A toner container for filling or refilling a toner reservoir, the container containing toner for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and being openable so that the toner can be emptied from the container, the container being sufficiently strong before being opened and sufficiently weak when opened and emptied that it can be collapsed when opened and empty by pressing an identical fresh toner container there against without the fresh toner container rupturing.

Claim 48

A toner reservoir for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the reservoir being arranged to support a first toner container and to collect toner released therefrom when the first toner container is opened, and the reservoir being arranged to receive a second toner container, to support the first toner container in a collapsed state and the second toner container, and to collect toner released from the second toner container when the second toner container is opened.

Claim 49

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, or a process cartridge therefor, having a toner reservoir as claimed in claim 48.

Claim 51

A process cartridge for an electrographic printing apparatus, the cartridge including a reservoir for toner and a toner container insertable into or contained in the reservoir, the toner container being collapsible when empty.