US5049930A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for preventing erroneous mounting of developer tanks accommodated in a developing device
Assignee: Sharp Corp
•
Filing: 1989-09-20
•
Granted: 1991-09-17
•
Expires: 2009-09-20
Abstract
Abstract An electrophotographic apparatus is provided with a developing device accommodating a plurality of developer tanks and a system for preventing erroneous mounting of these developer tanks. The developer tanks contain respective developers different in color from each other and are detachably mounted in respective predetermined mounting portions of the developing device. The system includes a connector formed on each of the developer tanks, a fixed connector formed on each of the mounting portions of the developing device and a controller for outputting at least one discrimination signal and judging whether or not the discrimination signal is inputted into the controller through at least one set of connectors. The connectors in each set are electrically connected with each other when each developer tank is properly mounted in its predetermined mounting portion of the developing device.
Inventors
- 👤 Tokiyuki Okano
- 👤 Yoichi Shimazawa
- 👤 Kazunori Sohda
- 👤 Kiyoshi Inamoto
- 👤 Kazuyuki Ohnishi
- 👤 Masato Tokishige
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:08
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/01; G03G15/0105; G03G15/0126; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0896
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A system for preventing erroneous mounting of a plurality of developer tanks accommodated in a developing device of an electrophotographic apparatus, said developer tanks containing respective developers which are different in color from each other and being detachably mounted in respective predetermined mounting portions of the device, said system comprising: a first connector means formed on each of said developer tanks; a second connector means formed on each of said mounting portions of the device; said first and second connector means being electrically connected with each other when a developer tank is properly mounted in its predetermined mounting portion of the device; interconnect means electrically connecting second connector means of one developer tank to second connector means for a different developer tank, wherein properly mounted developer tanks form a circuit; and discrimination means connected to said interconnect means for outputting a discrimination signal at one end of said circuit and receiving said signal at the other end of said circuit, wherein reception of said signal indicates the correct placement of developer tanks connected to said interconnect means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
177 words
A system for preventing erroneous mounting of a plurality of developer tanks accommodated in a developing device of an electrophotographic apparatus, said developer tanks containing respective developers which are different in color from each other and being detachably mounted in respective predetermined mounting portions of the device, said system comprising: a first connector means formed on each of said developer tanks; a second connector means formed on each of said mounting portions of the device; said first and second connector means being electrically connected with each other when a developer tank is properly mounted in its predetermined mounting portion of the device; interconnect means electrically connecting second connector means of one developer tank to second connector means for a different developer tank, wherein properly mounted developer tanks form a circuit; and discrimination means connected to said interconnect means for outputting a discrimination signal at one end of said circuit and receiving said signal at the other end of said circuit, wherein reception of said signal indicates the correct placement of developer tanks connected to said interconnect means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system according to claim 1, further comprising a display means for displaying whether said developer tanks are properly mounted in respective predetermined mounting portions of the device.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
195 words
A system for preventing erroneous mounting of a plurality of developer tanks accommodated in a developing device of an electrophotographic apparatus, said developer tanks being detachably mounted in respective predetermined mounting portions of the device, said system comprising: a first connector means including a plurality of connectors formed on each of said developer tanks; a second connector means including a plurality of connectors formed on each of said mounting portions of the device, said first and second connector means configured such that mounting a developer tank properly in its predetermined mounting portion of the device forms a connection between a plurality of connectors on said second connector; interconnect means connecting connectors from second connector means of a first developer tank to connectors of second connector means of a second developer tank, wherein when said first and second developer tanks are properly mounted said interconnect means forms a circuit; and discrimination means connected to said interconnect means for outputting a discrimination signal at one end of said circuit and receiving said signal at the other end of said circuit, wherein reception of said signal indicates the correct placement of developer tanks connected to said interconnect means.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
195 words
A system for preventing erroneous mounting of a plurality of developer tanks accommodated in a developing device of an electrophotographic apparatus, said developer tanks being detachably mounted in respective predetermined mounting portions of the device, said system comprising: a first connector means including a plurality of connectors formed on each of said developer tanks; a second connector means including a plurality of connectors formed on each of said mounting portions of the device, said first and second connector means configured such that mounting a developer tank properly in its predetermined mounting portion of the device forms a connection between a plurality of connectors on said second connector; interconnect means connecting connectors from second connector means of a first developer tank to connectors of second connector means of a second developer tank, wherein when said first and second developer tanks are properly mounted said interconnect means forms a circuit; and discrimination means connected to said interconnect means for outputting a discrimination signal at one end of said circuit and receiving said signal at the other end of said circuit, wherein reception of said signal indicates the correct placement of developer tanks connected to said interconnect means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system according to claim 3 wherein said interconnect means connects a plurality of developer tanks and wherein reception of a discrimination signal inputted at one end of said interconnect means indicates the correct placement of developer tanks connected to said interconnect means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 4 wherein said interconnect means electrically connects all color developer tanks.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of detecting developer tank mounting errors in an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising: assigning each developer tank to one of a plurality of mounting connectors provided on said apparatus; equipping each of said tanks with a signal jumper configured to form a signal path between predetermined signal pins of one of said mounting connectors when a tank is mounted to a mounting connector; connecting signal pins of each of said mounting connectors such that each of said signal paths is connected in a circuit when each of said tanks is mounted correctly and in its assigned mounting connector; and checking for a complete circuit.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of detecting developer tank mounting errors in an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising: assigning each developer tank to one of a plurality of mounting connectors provided on said apparatus; equipping each of said tanks with a signal jumper configured to form a signal path between predetermined signal pins of one of said mounting connectors when a tank is mounted to a mounting connector; connecting signal pins of each of said mounting connectors such that each of said signal paths is connected in a circuit when each of said tanks is mounted correctly and in its assigned mounting connector; and checking for a complete circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS5675670A
Cited
US4611899A
Cited
US4587536A
Cited
US4814823A
Cited
US4697915A
Cited
JPS61292168A
Cited
US4933718A
Cited
US4839691A
Cited
US4841336A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-16 | 1995-03-18 | 1995-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-16 | 1999-03-18 | 1999-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-16 | 2003-03-18 | 2003-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |