US4627716A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toner handling apparatus for electro-photographic copying machines
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1984-08-08
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Granted: 1986-12-09
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Expires: 2004-08-08
Abstract
Abstract A toner handling apparatus for use in transfer-type electrophotographic copying machines, such as a toner collecting container for accommodating the toner collected from a photoconductive member by a cleaner, or an image forming unit which includes the photoconductive member and a copying element (developing device and/or cleaner) disposed around the photoconductive member and adapted to accommodate a developer therein and which is removably installable in its entirety in the main body of the copying machine, which is provided in its opening with a thermally expandable resin and a heater for expanding the resin. The resin, which is unexpanded, expands to a thickness several times to several tens of times as large as the original thickness when heated to the expanding temperature and becomes adhesive upon expansion. When the resin is heated by the heater the opening of the toner handling apparatus is sealed off, whereby the toner handling apparatus can be replaced by a new one, without permitting scattering of the toner through its opening.
Inventors
- 👤 Tateki Oka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:09
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/18; G03G21/1803; G03G21/1828; G03G21/1832; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0896; G03G15/0898; G03G21/10; G03G21/12; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1618; G03G2221/1648; G03G2221/1669; G03G2221/18; G03G2221/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
35 words
A toner handling apparatus for use in a transfer-type electrophotographic copying machine comprising an opening in said toner handling apparatus, a thermally expandable resin provided in said opening and heating means for expanding said resin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
A toner handling apparatus for use in a transfer-type electrophotographic copying machine comprising an opening in said toner handling apparatus, a thermally expandable resin provided in said opening and heating means for expanding said resin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A toner handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resin expands from an original thickness to a thickness several times to several tens of times as large as the original thickness when heated to an expanding temperature and becomes adhesive upon expansion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A toner handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heating means is connected to a power supply and a switch which is on a main body of through connectors which are attached to said apparatus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A toner handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus consists of a toner collecting container for accommodating the toner collected from a photoconductive member by a cleaner.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A toner collecting container for accommodating the toner collected from a photoconductive member by a cleaner comprising an opening in said toner collecting container, a thermally expandable resin provided in said opening, and heating means for expanding said resin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A toner collecting container for accommodating the toner collected from a photoconductive member by a cleaner comprising an opening in said toner collecting container, a thermally expandable resin provided in said opening, and heating means for expanding said resin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A toner collecting container as claimed in claim 5, wherein said resin expands from an original thickness to a thickness several times to several tens of times as large as the original thickness when heated to an expanding temperature and becomes adhesive upon expansion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A toner collecting container as claimed in claim 5, wherein said heating means is connected to a power supply and a switch which is on a main body of a copying machine through connectors which are attached to said container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A transfer-type electrophotographic copying machine comprising a toner handling apparatus having an opening therein, a thermally expandable resin provided in the opening of said apparatus, and heating means in said machine for expanding said resin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A transfer-type electrophotographic copying machine comprising a toner handling apparatus having an opening therein, a thermally expandable resin provided in the opening of said apparatus, and heating means in said machine for expanding said resin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A transfer-type electrophotographic copying machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein said resin expands from an original thickness to a thickness several times to several tens of times as large as the original thickness when heated to an expanding temperature and becomes adhesive upon expansion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A transfer-type electrophotographic copying machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein said heating means is provided in the opening adjacent to said resin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A transfer-type electrophotographic copying machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein said toner handling apparatus is a toner collecting container for accommodating the toner collected from a photoconductive member by a cleaner.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A toner collecting container for accommodating the toner collected from a photoconductive member by a cleaner, said container having at least one opening, and a thermally expandable resin provided in said opening, and heating means for expanding said resin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A toner collecting container for accommodating the toner collected from a photoconductive member by a cleaner, said container having at least one opening, and a thermally expandable resin provided in said opening, and heating means for expanding said resin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A toner collecting container as claimed in claim 12, wherein said resin expands from an original thickness to a thickness several times to several tens of times as large as the original thickness when heated to an expanding temperature and becomes adhesive upon expansion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A toner collecting container as claimed in claim 12, wherein said heating means is provided in said opening adjacent to said resin.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
An image forming unit detachably mounted in a main body of a transfer-type electrophotographic copying machine, and which comprises a photoconductive member, at least one copying element disposed adjacent to the photoconductive member and adapted to accommodate a developer therein, said copying element and said photoconductive member defining an opening, a thermally expandable resin in said opening, and heating means for expanding said resin.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
64 words
An image forming unit detachably mounted in a main body of a transfer-type electrophotographic copying machine, and which comprises a photoconductive member, at least one copying element disposed adjacent to the photoconductive member and adapted to accommodate a developer therein, said copying element and said photoconductive member defining an opening, a thermally expandable resin in said opening, and heating means for expanding said resin.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
An image forming unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein said resin expands from an original thickness to a thickness several times to several tens of times as large as the original thickness when heated to an expanding temperature and becomes adhesive upon expansion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image forming unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein said heating means is provided in said opening adjacent to said resin.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image forming unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein said copying element is a developing device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image forming unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein said copying element is a cleaner.
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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) | 1989-12-08 | 1990-06-09 | 1990-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-08 | 1994-06-09 | 1994-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-08 | 1998-06-09 | 1998-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |