US4744493A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toner replenishing device
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1986-05-23
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Granted: 1988-05-17
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Expires: 2006-05-23
Abstract
Abstract A toner replenishing device for replenishing toner to a toner storage area, from where the toner is supplied to a developing section, includes a holder for releasably holding a cartridge containing therein a quantity of toner, which may be located at a cartridge mounting and dismounting position and at a replenishing position, in which the cartridge is held substantially horizontally and driven to rotate thereby discharging the toner to a toner transporting path leading to the toner storage area. The cartridge is provided with a first mating member and the holder is provided with a second mating member corresponding in position to the first mating member. Thus, only the cartridge having the first mating member may be properly held by the holder for carrying out a toner replenishing operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Masumi Ikesue
- 👤 Takashi Ikeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:02
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822; G03G15/0865; G03G15/0867; G03G15/0868; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/06; G03G2215/066; G03G2215/0663; G03G2215/0665; G03G2215/0668; G03G2215/0675; G03G2215/0685; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S222/00; Y10S222/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
304 words
Apparatus for replenishing toner from a cartridge to a desired location, comprising: a cartridge containing toner, said cartridge being open at an end thereof for the egrees of toner, there being a circumferentially-extending gear disposed on an outer surface thereof; a toner replenishing device for releasably holding said cartridge, said toner replenishing device comprising stationary receiving means for receiving therein said open end of said cartridge so as to allow the toner to be transferred into the interior of said toner replenishing device as discharged from said open end of said cartridge and means for supporting said cartridge in a substantially vertical first position for mounting or dismounting of said cartridge, for re-positioning said cartridge to a non-vertical second position for toner replenishing operation, and for supporting said cartridge in said second position, said supporting means normally keeping said open end of said cartridge in rotatable and sealing contact with said receiving means, said toner replenishing device comprising rotation means rotatable about an axis of rotation of said toner replenishing device for accomplishing said re-positioning of said cartridge, said toner replenishing device having a passage therein for allowing toner to pass from said cartridge to the interior of said toner replenishing device, said passage being disposed so as to communicate said open end of said cartridge with said interior of said toner replenishing device when said cartridge is in said second position; driving means for rotating said cartridge about an axis of rotation of said cartridge, said driving means comprising gear means drivingly engaging said gear disposed on said cartridge when said cartridge is in said second position and being disengaged from said gear disposed on said cartridge when said cartridge is in said first position; and transporting means for transporting toner from the interior of said toner replenishing device to said desired location.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
304 words
Apparatus for replenishing toner from a cartridge to a desired location, comprising: a cartridge containing toner, said cartridge being open at an end thereof for the egrees of toner, there being a circumferentially-extending gear disposed on an outer surface thereof; a toner replenishing device for releasably holding said cartridge, said toner replenishing device comprising stationary receiving means for receiving therein said open end of said cartridge so as to allow the toner to be transferred into the interior of said toner replenishing device as discharged from said open end of said cartridge and means for supporting said cartridge in a substantially vertical first position for mounting or dismounting of said cartridge, for re-positioning said cartridge to a non-vertical second position for toner replenishing operation, and for supporting said cartridge in said second position, said supporting means normally keeping said open end of said cartridge in rotatable and sealing contact with said receiving means, said toner replenishing device comprising rotation means rotatable about an axis of rotation of said toner replenishing device for accomplishing said re-positioning of said cartridge, said toner replenishing device having a passage therein for allowing toner to pass from said cartridge to the interior of said toner replenishing device, said passage being disposed so as to communicate said open end of said cartridge with said interior of said toner replenishing device when said cartridge is in said second position; driving means for rotating said cartridge about an axis of rotation of said cartridge, said driving means comprising gear means drivingly engaging said gear disposed on said cartridge when said cartridge is in said second position and being disengaged from said gear disposed on said cartridge when said cartridge is in said first position; and transporting means for transporting toner from the interior of said toner replenishing device to said desired location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cartridge comprises a mouth at said open end thereof and said receiving means comprises a cap-shaped receptacle, said mouth of said cartridge being rotationally and sealingly engaged in said cap-shaped receptacle when a said cartridge is in each of said first and second positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toner replenishing device comprises means for supporting said cartridge such that said axis of rotation of said cartridge is perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said toner replenishing device when said cartridge is in each of said first and second positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cartridge comprises a substantially cylindrical mouth portion and a conical portion extending longitudinally from said mouth portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said conical portion is truncated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toner replenishing device further comprises a holder for supporting said cartridge, said apparatus further comprising first mating means on said cartridge and second mating means on said holder, said first and second mating means comprising means for insuring that said characteristic of the toner in the cartridge is in accordance with a desired characteristic of toner to be introduced into said toner replenishing device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first mating means comprises a projection and said second mating means comprises a groove disposed at a location corresponding to the location of said projection when said cartridge is received in said toner replenishing device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said cartridge is of a substantially cylindrical shape and said projection comprises a flange extending in a circumferential direction of said cartridge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising guide means on an inner surface of said cartridge for moving said toner contained in said cartridge toward said open end of said cartridge in response to said rotation of said cartridge in response to said rotation of said cartridge by said driving means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said guide means comprises a continuous spiral rib extending along said inner surface of said cartridge.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said guide means comprises a plurality of spaced toner guides disposed in a spiral pattern that extends along said inner surface of said cartridge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said guide means comprises a plurality of pins disposed on said inner surface of said cartridge.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one of said pins is conic.
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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) | 1991-05-17 | 1991-11-16 | 1992-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-05-17 | 1995-11-16 | 1996-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-05-17 | 1999-11-16 | 2000-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |