Patent US4839691A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4839691A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image forming apparatus
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
•
Filing: 1987-02-17
•
Granted: 1989-06-13
•
Expires: 2007-02-17
Abstract
Abstract In an image forming apparatus which tranfers a toner image to a sheet in accordance with image information, a first connector, is fixed to the outside of a developing device which supplies a developing agent to the apparatus. The first connector electrically connects the body and the developing device. A second connector, adapted to be connected to the first connector, is fixed to a mounting portion for holding the developing device in the apparatus. When the developing device is attached to the mounting portion, the first and second connectors are connected to each other. The apparatus also includes a movable handle which would or would not allow a removable lid to fully close.
Inventors
- 👤 Hajime Tagawa
- 👤 Koji Yukinaga
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 13:30
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0896; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/1642; G03G21/1652; G03G21/1661; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/163; G03G2221/1648; G03G2221/1651; G03G2221/1654; G03G2221/166; G03G2221/1678; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S222/00; Y10S222/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
An image forming apparatus which transfers a developing agent to a sheet in accordance with image information comprising: a body; an image carrier disposed in said body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developing device for supplying said developing agent to said image carrier to develop said latent image, said developing means including a moveable handle having a transport position and a lock position; a first connection disposed on said developing device for electrically connecting said developing device to said body; a mounting means disposed in said body for removably holding said developing device in a correct position relative to said image carrier; a second connection attached to said mounting means and adapted to be connected to said first connector in a connected position when said developing device is attached to said mounting means in said correct position so that operation of said image forming apparatus can take place; a removable lid which will fully close when said developing device is in said correct position and said handle is placed in said locked position and will not fully close when said developing device is not in said correct position and said handle is in said transport position to give a clear indication that said developing device is not in said correct position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
An image forming apparatus which transfers a developing agent to a sheet in accordance with image information comprising: a body; an image carrier disposed in said body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developing device for supplying said developing agent to said image carrier to develop said latent image, said developing means including a moveable handle having a transport position and a lock position; a first connection disposed on said developing device for electrically connecting said developing device to said body; a mounting means disposed in said body for removably holding said developing device in a correct position relative to said image carrier; a second connection attached to said mounting means and adapted to be connected to said first connector in a connected position when said developing device is attached to said mounting means in said correct position so that operation of said image forming apparatus can take place; a removable lid which will fully close when said developing device is in said correct position and said handle is placed in said locked position and will not fully close when said developing device is not in said correct position and said handle is in said transport position to give a clear indication that said developing device is not in said correct position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said handle includes a hooked portion and further including a projection attached to said mounting means so that when said handle is in said lock position said hooked portion fits into said projection to secure said developing device in said correct position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 further including a detecting means for detecting when said lid is open and when said lid is closed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said developing device is provided with a toner-content detector for automatically detecting the toner content of said developing agent so that an output signal from said content detector is delivered to said body via said connectors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mounting means further includes rough guide means for initially guiding said developing device toward said correct position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said rough guide means includes a guide member constituting a groove in the side wall of said mounting means, said groove being tapered gradually downward.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said connectors are provided individually with fine guide means for further guiding said connectors into said connected position when said developing device is attached to said mounting means in said correct position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said guide means includes a hole formed in said first connector and a pin protruding from said second connector and adapted to be fitted in said hole.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3184705A
Cited
US3736053A
Cited
US3924944A
Cited
US4132476A
Cited
US4155638A
Cited
US4256356A
Cited
US4284311A
Cited
DE2953572C2
Cited
US4271786A
Cited
JPS57115573A
Cited
DE3240026A1
Cited
DE3335659A1
Cited
US4583832A
Cited
US4523834A
Cited
US4614389A
Cited
US4718858A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-06-12 | 1992-12-12 | 1993-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-12 | 1996-12-12 | 1997-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-12 | 2000-12-12 | 2001-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |