US4841333A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process unit for an imaging apparatus
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1988-06-10
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Granted: 1989-06-20
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Expires: 2008-06-10
Abstract
Abstract A xerographic cassette adapted to be removably mounted in a main assembly of a printing machine comprises a cassette housing containing a photoreceptor, a housing for containing developer, and an aperture through which the photoreceptor may be exposed to light. A retactable sealing shutter is provided for sealing the developer housing, and a retractable opaque shutter is provided for closing the aperture, the two shutters being linked to form a unitary member which is slideably mounted in the cassette housing. The unitary member cooperates with an actuator mounted on the main assembly of a copier in such manner that the opaque shutter and the sealing shutter are moved together to positions at which they respectively close the aperture and the seal the developer chamber when the process unit is removed from the main assembly, and the opaque shutter and the sealing shutter are moved together to positions at which the aperture and the developer chamber respectively are open when the process unit is inserted in the main assembly of the copier. Suitably, the sliding unitary member is made of plastic and molded as a one-piece unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Dhirendra Damji
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:07
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; G03G21/1642; G03G21/1647; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1606; G03G2221/1609; G03G2221/1615; G03G2221/163; G03G2221/1648; G03G2221/1651; G03G2221/1657; G03G2221/18; G03G2221/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A process unit adapted to be removably mounted in a main assembly of an electrostatographic printing machine, comprising a housing , an imaging member inside the housing, which housing has a chamber for containing developer and an aperture through which the imaging member may be exposed to light, an opaque shutter adjacent the aperture, and a sealing shutter adjacent the developer chamber, wherein the opaque shutter and the sealing shutter are linked to form a unitary member which is slideably mounted within the housing and which is adapted to cooperate with actuating means provided on the main assembly of the printer whereby the opaque shutter and the sealing shutter are moved together to positions at which they respectively close the aperture and seal the developer chamber when the process unit is removed from the main assembly, and the opaque shutter and the sealing shutter are moved together to positions at which the aperture and the developer chamber respectively are open when the process unit is inserted in the main assembly of the copying machine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A process unit adapted to be removably mounted in a main assembly of an electrostatographic printing machine, comprising a housing , an imaging member inside the housing, which housing has a chamber for containing developer and an aperture through which the imaging member may be exposed to light, an opaque shutter adjacent the aperture, and a sealing shutter adjacent the developer chamber, wherein the opaque shutter and the sealing shutter are linked to form a unitary member which is slideably mounted within the housing and which is adapted to cooperate with actuating means provided on the main assembly of the printer whereby the opaque shutter and the sealing shutter are moved together to positions at which they respectively close the aperture and seal the developer chamber when the process unit is removed from the main assembly, and the opaque shutter and the sealing shutter are moved together to positions at which the aperture and the developer chamber respectively are open when the process unit is inserted in the main assembly of the copying machine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opaque shutter and the sealing shutter are linked by a coupling which is flexible at least in the direction of movement of the shutters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein the flexible coupling comprises a resilient strap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unitary member comprises a pair of substantially parallel bars extending longitudinally in the direction of movement of the shutters, said shutters being disposed transversely between said bars.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the bars is adapted to cooperate operatively with the actuating means on the main assembly via a respective pinion provided in the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein both bars are adapted to cooperate operatively with the actuating means via respective pinions, wherein the pinions are arranged to be rotated in opposite senses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A process unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unitary member is biased by spring means such that when the unitary member is moved past a predetermined position in one direction the shutters are urged by the spring means towards their closed positions, and when the unitary member is moved past the predetermined position in the opposite direction the shutters are urged by the spring means towards their open positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
197 words
An electrostatographic printing machine comprising a main assembly and a process unit adapted to be removably mounted in said main assembly, said process unit comprising a housing, an imaging member inside the housing which housing has a chamber for containing developer and an aperture through which the imaging member may be exposed to light, an opaque shutter adjacent the aperture, and a sealing shutter adjacent the developer chamber, wherein the opaque shutter and the sealing shutter are linked to form a unitary member which is slideably mounted within the housing and which is adapted to cooperate with actuating means provided on the main assembly, said main assembly comprising actuating means adapted to cooperate with the unitary member of the process unit in such manner that the opaque shutter and the sealing shutter are moved together to positions at which they respectively close the aperture and seal the developer chamber when the process unit is removed from the main assembly, and the opaque shutter and the sealing shutter are moved together to positions at which the aperture and the developer chamber respectively are open when the process unit is inserted in the main assembly of the copying machine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
197 words
An electrostatographic printing machine comprising a main assembly and a process unit adapted to be removably mounted in said main assembly, said process unit comprising a housing, an imaging member inside the housing which housing has a chamber for containing developer and an aperture through which the imaging member may be exposed to light, an opaque shutter adjacent the aperture, and a sealing shutter adjacent the developer chamber, wherein the opaque shutter and the sealing shutter are linked to form a unitary member which is slideably mounted within the housing and which is adapted to cooperate with actuating means provided on the main assembly, said main assembly comprising actuating means adapted to cooperate with the unitary member of the process unit in such manner that the opaque shutter and the sealing shutter are moved together to positions at which they respectively close the aperture and seal the developer chamber when the process unit is removed from the main assembly, and the opaque shutter and the sealing shutter are moved together to positions at which the aperture and the developer chamber respectively are open when the process unit is inserted in the main assembly of the copying machine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrostatographic printing machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the opaque shutter and the sealing shutter are linked by a coupling which is flexible at least in the direction of movement of the shutters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrostatographic printing machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the flexible coupling comprises a resilient strap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electrostatographic printing machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the unitary member comprises a pair of substantially parallel bars extending longitudinally in the direction of movement of the shutters, said shutters being disposed transversely between said bars.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electrostatographic printing machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of the bars is adapted to cooperate operatively with the actuating means on the main assembly via a respective pinion provided in the housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrostatographic printing machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein both bars are adapted to cooperate operatively with the actuating means via respective pinions, wherein the pinions are arranged to be rotated in opposite senses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
An electrostatographic printing machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the unitary member is biased by spring means such that when the unitary member is moved past a predetermined position in one direction the shutters are urged by the spring means towards their closed positions, and when the unitary member is moved past the predetermined position in the opposite direction the shutters are urged by the spring means towards their open positions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrostatographic copying machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein the actuating means comprises a rack adapted to cooperate operatively with the pinions in the housing member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
An electrostatographic copying machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the rack is bifurcated with one branch of the rack arranged to engage one of the pinions of the process unit and the other branch of the rack arranged to engage the other of the pinions.
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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) | 1992-06-19 | 1992-12-19 | 1993-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-19 | 1996-12-19 | 1997-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-19 | 2000-12-19 | 2001-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |