US3840156A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tuner supply device
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1972-12-26
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Granted: 1974-10-08
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Expires: 1992-12-26
Abstract
Abstract A toner supply device comprising a hopper containing a quantity of toner and having a downwardly facing toner supply opening which is blocked by a rotating roller having on its periphery a plurality of axial grooves. As the roller rotates, the toner powder which is packed into the peripheral grooves is carried through the toner supply opening of the hopper and is supplied at a uniform rate to a developing device of a copying machine. Means are provided for scraping off toner powder which may adhere to the groove walls, and for selectively varying the rate at which toner is discharged from the hopper.
Inventors
- 👤 S Fujimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:15
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822; G03G15/0877
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A toner supply device comprising a hopper for containing a quantity of toner, said hopper having a closed and continuous bottom except for a toner discharge opening in it, a toner supply roller rotatably mounted within said toner discharge opening of the hopper and having a portion disposed within the hopper and a portion extending outwardly of the hopper, said outwardly extending hopper portion being exposed and freely accessible from outside the hopper, said roller having a plurality of axial peripheral grooves which are sawtooth shaped in transverse section, means for supporting the roller at an operating position in which the roller at least partially blocks said toner discharge opening in the hopper, means for rotating the roller for discharging toner from the hopper, and means for scraping off discharged toner which may have adhered in the grooves of the exposed portion of the toner supply roller, at the roller portion which eXtends outwardly of the hopper.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A toner supply device comprising a hopper for containing a quantity of toner, said hopper having a closed and continuous bottom except for a toner discharge opening in it, a toner supply roller rotatably mounted within said toner discharge opening of the hopper and having a portion disposed within the hopper and a portion extending outwardly of the hopper, said outwardly extending hopper portion being exposed and freely accessible from outside the hopper, said roller having a plurality of axial peripheral grooves which are sawtooth shaped in transverse section, means for supporting the roller at an operating position in which the roller at least partially blocks said toner discharge opening in the hopper, means for rotating the roller for discharging toner from the hopper, and means for scraping off discharged toner which may have adhered in the grooves of the exposed portion of the toner supply roller, at the roller portion which eXtends outwardly of the hopper.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
A toner supply device as in claim 1, wherein the scraping means comprise a resilient sheet secured at one end to the hopper and extending therefrom toward the roller, substantially tangentially of the roller, with the end of the sheet opposite the secured end thereof being bent toward the roller to extend substantially radially toward the roller to form a scraping edge for scraping off toner which may have adhered within said grooves, in the portion of the toner supply roller which extends outwardly of the hopper, said resilient sheet being biased to maintain said scraping edge in pressing engagement with the toner supply roller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
132 words
A toner supply device as in claim 1, wherein the scraping means comprise: an elongated scraper having axially opposite ends, two arms each having an end pivotally connected to the hopper to pivot the arm in a plane perpendicular to the roller axis of rotation, means for connecting the opposite ends of the scraper to the ends of the arms that are opposite their pivoted ends to support the scraper parallel to the roller axis of rotation, and spring means for urging the arms toward the roller to thereby urge the scraper into a pressing engagement with the toner supply roller, said scraper having an edge facing the toner supply roller and sufficiently small to enter the axial peripheral grooves therein for scraping off toner than may have adhered to said grooves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A toner supply device as in claim 3, wherein said scraper is in the form of a wire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A toner supply device as in claim 3, wherein said scraper is in the form of a bar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
A toner supply device as in claim 1, wherein said hopper has a bottom wall sloping toward the opening, and including a sheet mounted in the hopper and disposed in close proximity to said bottom wall of the hopper, said sheet extending along said bottom wall, toward the opening, but terminating before the opening, and means for vibrating said sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A toner supply device as in claim 6, wherein said sheet is perforated and has one end disposed in close proximity to the toner supply roller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A toner supply device as in claim 1 wherein the means for rotating the roller comprise means for selectively rotating the roller at a fast and a slow rate to thereby selectively discharge toner at a high and low rate respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
102 words
A toner supply device as in claim 8 wherein the rotating means comprise a ratchet wheel affixed coaxially to the roller to rotate therewith, a pawl, means for reciprocating the pawl along a defined path, said pawl engaging the ratchet wheel when moving along a selected direction of said reciprocating path to thereby rotate the ratchet wheel and the roller by an amount corresponding to the length of the path, and means for selectively preventing the pawl from engaging the ratchet for a selected portion of the reciprocating path, to thereby selectively rotate the roller at a fast and a slow rate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
A toner supply device as in claim 9 wherein the means for selectively preventing the pawl from engaging the ratchet wheel for a portion of the pawl path comprise a cam having a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion, means for supporting the cam in a position in which said pawl engages the ratchet wheel when riding over the small diameter portion of the cam, but does not engage the ratchet wheel when riding over the large diameter portion of the cam, and manually operable setting means selecting the position of the minor and major diameter portions of the cam with respect to the pawl path.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-07 | 1978-04-08 | 1978-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-07 | 1982-04-08 | 1982-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-07 | 1986-04-08 | 1986-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |