Patent US5034776A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5034776A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Copying machine and toner supply container therefor
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1989-02-17
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Granted: 1991-07-23
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Expires: 2009-02-17
Abstract
Abstract A copying machine of the present invention is constructed such that, when a toner in a toner containing portion provided in a developing unit is emptied, a toner supply container whose opening for supplying toner is sealed is mounted in the toner containing portion. An opening member for unsealing the opening for supplying the toner of the toner supply container is included in the toner containing portion, so that the toner can be replenished without staining the surroundings, and since the toner can be replenished only at frequencies restricted in advance, deterioration of copying quality can be avoided.
Inventors
- 👤 Mitsushi Sugiura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:53
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/18; G03G21/1803; G03G21/1828; G03G21/1832; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822; G03G15/0877; G03G15/0881; G03G15/0884; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/18; G03G2221/183; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S222/00; Y10S222/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A copying machine comprising a developing unit having a toner containing portion which initially contains a supply of toner, wherein said toner containing portion comprises an opening which can be closed and having a size into which a toner supply container containing toner therein can be mounted when said supply of toner initially contained in said toner containing portion is substantially consumed, and a lock means for fixing said toner supply container on the inner surface of said toner containing portion when said toner supply container is mounted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
A copying machine comprising a developing unit having a toner containing portion which initially contains a supply of toner, wherein said toner containing portion comprises an opening which can be closed and having a size into which a toner supply container containing toner therein can be mounted when said supply of toner initially contained in said toner containing portion is substantially consumed, and a lock means for fixing said toner supply container on the inner surface of said toner containing portion when said toner supply container is mounted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A copying machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said toner supply container is mounted into said toner containing portion by being inserted thereinto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A copying machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said toner containing portion comprises a breaking member for breaking said toner supply container when said toner supply container is mounted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
130 words
A copying machine comprising a developing unit having a toner containing portion, wherein said toner containing portion comprises a first opening which can be closed and having a size into which a first toner supply container containing toner therein can be mounted, said first toner supply container comprising a second opening which can be closed and having a size into which a second toner supply container containing toner therein can be mounted, a first lock means for fixing said first toner supply container on the inner surface of said toner containing portion when said first toner supply container is mounted, and a second lock means for fixing said second toner supply container on the inner surface of said first toner supply container when said second toner supply container is mounted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
130 words
A copying machine comprising a developing unit having a toner containing portion, wherein said toner containing portion comprises a first opening which can be closed and having a size into which a first toner supply container containing toner therein can be mounted, said first toner supply container comprising a second opening which can be closed and having a size into which a second toner supply container containing toner therein can be mounted, a first lock means for fixing said first toner supply container on the inner surface of said toner containing portion when said first toner supply container is mounted, and a second lock means for fixing said second toner supply container on the inner surface of said first toner supply container when said second toner supply container is mounted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A copying machine as set forth in claim 4, wherein said second toner supply container is mounted into said first toner supply container by being inserted thereinto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A copying machine as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first toner supply container comprises a breaking member for breaking said second toner supply container when said second toner supply container is mounted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
121 words
A toner supply container for a copying machine comprising a lock means for being fixed into a toner containing portion provided in a developing unit of said copying machine when being mounted, said toner containing portion initially containing a supply of toner, and a breakable part through which toner is supplied into said toner containing portion and which is broken when being mounted into said toner containing portion, whereby said breakable part is adapted to be broken by a breaking member disposed in said toner containing portion when being mounted in said toner containing portion, said toner supply container being mounted in said toner containing portion when said supply of toner initially contained in said toner containing portion is substantially consumed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
121 words
A toner supply container for a copying machine comprising a lock means for being fixed into a toner containing portion provided in a developing unit of said copying machine when being mounted, said toner containing portion initially containing a supply of toner, and a breakable part through which toner is supplied into said toner containing portion and which is broken when being mounted into said toner containing portion, whereby said breakable part is adapted to be broken by a breaking member disposed in said toner containing portion when being mounted in said toner containing portion, said toner supply container being mounted in said toner containing portion when said supply of toner initially contained in said toner containing portion is substantially consumed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A toner supply container for a copying machine as set forth in claim 7, wherein said breakable part is an opening and is sealed by a sealing member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A toner supply container for a copying machine as set forth in claim 7, wherein said toner supply container is mounted into said toner containing portion by being inserted thereinto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
121 words
A toner supply container for a copying machine comprising an opening which can be closed and having a size into which an other toner supply container containing toner can be mounted, a lock means for being fixed into a toner containing portion provided in a developing unit of said copying machine when being mounted, a fixing means for fixing said other toner supply container on the inner surface thereof when said other toner supply container is mounted, a breakable part through which toner is supplied into said toner containing portion and which is broken when being mounted into said toner containing portion, and a breaking member for breaking said other toner supply container when said other toner supply container is mounted.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
121 words
A toner supply container for a copying machine comprising an opening which can be closed and having a size into which an other toner supply container containing toner can be mounted, a lock means for being fixed into a toner containing portion provided in a developing unit of said copying machine when being mounted, a fixing means for fixing said other toner supply container on the inner surface thereof when said other toner supply container is mounted, a breakable part through which toner is supplied into said toner containing portion and which is broken when being mounted into said toner containing portion, and a breaking member for breaking said other toner supply container when said other toner supply container is mounted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A toner supply container for a copying machine as set forth in claim 10, wherein said breakable part is an opening and is sealed by a sealing member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A toner supply container for a copying machine as set forth in claim 10, wherein said other toner supply container is mounted into said toner supply container by being inserted thereinto.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
74 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: an electrostatic latent image supporting member; a developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image supported on said electrostatic latent image supporting member; a first developer container for supplying developer to the developing means; and a second developer container for supplying the developer to the developing means, said second developer container being mountable in the first developer container in place of the developer accommodated in the first developer container.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
74 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: an electrostatic latent image supporting member; a developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image supported on said electrostatic latent image supporting member; a first developer container for supplying developer to the developing means; and a second developer container for supplying the developer to the developing means, said second developer container being mountable in the first developer container in place of the developer accommodated in the first developer container.
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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) | 1994-07-22 | 1995-01-21 | 1995-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-22 | 1999-01-21 | 1999-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-22 | 2003-01-21 | 2003-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |