US3780914A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Developer particle supply device
Assignee: Panasonic System Solutions Japan Co Ltd
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Filing: 1972-01-26
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Granted: 1973-12-25
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Expires: 1992-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A developer particle supply device for supplying electrostatic developer particles into a developer storage chamber of an electrophotographic developing device. The supply device comprises a supply box in which the developer particles are stored and a supply roller serving as a bottom of the supply box. A space is formed between the roller and a lower end of the box to let the particles fall down therethrough. The surface of the roller is made of resilient material and a part thereof is pressed against another lower end of the box. By rotation of the roller, the particles are supplied through the space into the chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 R Nakano
- 👤 Y Fujiyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:15
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822; G03G15/0877; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S222/00; Y10S222/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
369 words
A developer particle supply device comprising a supply box for developer particles, said box having a pair of vertically directed spaced side walls the lower edges of which are spaced from one another to define an open bottom for said supply box, a developer particle supply roller mounted for rotation adjacent said open bottom to substantially close said open bottom, said roller being mounted for rotation on an axis disposed adjacent the plane defined by said lower edges, an upper portion of said roller extending above said lower edges of said side walls and into said box and being in contact with a supply of developer particles urged by gravity into engagement with said upper portion of said roller, the remainder of said roller extending below said lower edges of said side walls externally of said supply box, said roller being provided with a resilient surface having a viscosity operative to attract developer particles thereto and to retain developer particles thereon, said roller being positioned relative to said lower edges so as to define a space between the outer periphery of said roller and one of said lower edges operative to prevent any distortion of said resilient surface adjacent said one edge and through which space developer particles adherent to said resilient roller surface may pass from the interior of said box to the exterior of said box as said roller is rotated, said space being dimensioned to prevent developer particles in said supply from falling therethrough when said roller is not rotating, the other of said lower edges being in forcible pressure contact with a portion of the outer periphery of said roller to distort said resilient surface adjacent said other edge, whereby developer particles attracted to the surface of the said upper portion of said rotating roller are guided outwardly on the surface of said roller through said space, are retained on the surface of said roller as said roller surface moves externally of said box from said space toward said other edge, and are then scraped from said roller surface by said other lower edge to provide a measured supply of developer particles which drops from said resilient surface at a position adjacent said other edge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
369 words
A developer particle supply device comprising a supply box for developer particles, said box having a pair of vertically directed spaced side walls the lower edges of which are spaced from one another to define an open bottom for said supply box, a developer particle supply roller mounted for rotation adjacent said open bottom to substantially close said open bottom, said roller being mounted for rotation on an axis disposed adjacent the plane defined by said lower edges, an upper portion of said roller extending above said lower edges of said side walls and into said box and being in contact with a supply of developer particles urged by gravity into engagement with said upper portion of said roller, the remainder of said roller extending below said lower edges of said side walls externally of said supply box, said roller being provided with a resilient surface having a viscosity operative to attract developer particles thereto and to retain developer particles thereon, said roller being positioned relative to said lower edges so as to define a space between the outer periphery of said roller and one of said lower edges operative to prevent any distortion of said resilient surface adjacent said one edge and through which space developer particles adherent to said resilient roller surface may pass from the interior of said box to the exterior of said box as said roller is rotated, said space being dimensioned to prevent developer particles in said supply from falling therethrough when said roller is not rotating, the other of said lower edges being in forcible pressure contact with a portion of the outer periphery of said roller to distort said resilient surface adjacent said other edge, whereby developer particles attracted to the surface of the said upper portion of said rotating roller are guided outwardly on the surface of said roller through said space, are retained on the surface of said roller as said roller surface moves externally of said box from said space toward said other edge, and are then scraped from said roller surface by said other lower edge to provide a measured supply of developer particles which drops from said resilient surface at a position adjacent said other edge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said resilient surface comprises sponge rubber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said space has a dimension of substantially 50 Mu .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said lower edges are disposed adjacent substantially diametrically opposite portions of said roller surface respectively.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |