US5296900A — Substantially cylindrical developer supplying con…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 110 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at the peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; and regulating means provided in said container and regulating an amount of the developer supplied from said supplying means, said regulating means being so formed to reduce a sectional area between said regulating means and an inner surface of said container in the vicinity of said supplying means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 110 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at the peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; and regulating means provided in said container and regulating an amount of the developer supplied from said supplying means, said regulating means being so formed to reduce a sectional area between said regulating means and an inner surface of said container in the vicinity of said supplying means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 45 words

A developer supplying device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said regulating means has a substantially cone shape of which a section in the vicinity of said supplying means is partially cut to partially increase the sectional area in the vicinity of said supplying means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

A developer supplying device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supplying means is located at an end of the spiral groove to be elongated along the spiral groove.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 39 words

A developer supplying device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supplying means further has another opening provided at the peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough, another opening being away from the opening within 180°.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 168 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at the peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; regulating means provided in said container and regulating an amount of the developer supplied from said supplying means, said regulating means being so formed to reduce a sectional area between said regulating means and an inner surface of said container in the vicinity of said supplying means; supporting means for supporting said container and having a developer receiving means for receiving the developer supplied by said supplying means; and cover means provided at the peripheral surface of said container for covering said supplying means, said cover means being opened to uncover said supplying means when the latter confronts said developer receiving means for supplying the developer.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 168 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at the peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; regulating means provided in said container and regulating an amount of the developer supplied from said supplying means, said regulating means being so formed to reduce a sectional area between said regulating means and an inner surface of said container in the vicinity of said supplying means; supporting means for supporting said container and having a developer receiving means for receiving the developer supplied by said supplying means; and cover means provided at the peripheral surface of said container for covering said supplying means, said cover means being opened to uncover said supplying means when the latter confronts said developer receiving means for supplying the developer.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 34 words

A developer supplying device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cover means is supported to be capable of rotating by a shaft arranged along the axial direction at one end of said container.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

A developer supplying device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cover means is arranged to be capable of sliding by a spring member in a rotary direction of said container.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 138 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at the peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; regulating means provided in said container and regulating an amount of the developer supplied from said supplying means, said regulating means being so formed to reduce a sectional area between said regulating means and an inner surface of said container in the vicinity of said supplying means; and stirring means in a form of a ball included in said container and movable within said container in accordance with rotation thereof to stir the developer accommodated therein.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 138 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at the peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; regulating means provided in said container and regulating an amount of the developer supplied from said supplying means, said regulating means being so formed to reduce a sectional area between said regulating means and an inner surface of said container in the vicinity of said supplying means; and stirring means in a form of a ball included in said container and movable within said container in accordance with rotation thereof to stir the developer accommodated therein.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

A developer supplying device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the ball of said stirring means is larger than the opening of said supplying means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

A developer supplying device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said stirring means is a magnetic member of which magnetic powders are attracted to a peripheral surface.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 135 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at the peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; and drive means for rotating said container, wherein said container is rotatably supported at its both ends by a first shaft and a second shaft respectively, said drive means rotating the first shaft to rotate said container, wherein a wall is arranged at one end of said container to confront said container and ring members are arranged at confronting surfaces of the wall and one end of said container around the first shaft.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 135 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at the peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; and drive means for rotating said container, wherein said container is rotatably supported at its both ends by a first shaft and a second shaft respectively, said drive means rotating the first shaft to rotate said container, wherein a wall is arranged at one end of said container to confront said container and ring members are arranged at confronting surfaces of the wall and one end of said container around the first shaft.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 123 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at an edge of a peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; and drive means provided at a side of said supplying means for rotating said container, wherein said container is rotatably supported at its both ends by a first shaft and a second shaft respectively, said drive means rotating the first shaft to rotate said container, wherein the second shaft is urged by a spring member toward said container.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 123 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at an edge of a peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; and drive means provided at a side of said supplying means for rotating said container, wherein said container is rotatably supported at its both ends by a first shaft and a second shaft respectively, said drive means rotating the first shaft to rotate said container, wherein the second shaft is urged by a spring member toward said container.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 122 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at an edge of a peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; and drive means provided at a side of said supplying means for rotating said container, wherein said container is rotatably supported at its both ends by a first shaft and a second shaft respectively, said drive means rotating the first shaft to rotate said container, wherein said container is supported by holding means having the second shaft.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 122 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at an edge of a peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; and drive means provided at a side of said supplying means for rotating said container, wherein said container is rotatably supported at its both ends by a first shaft and a second shaft respectively, said drive means rotating the first shaft to rotate said container, wherein said container is supported by holding means having the second shaft.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 33 words

A developer supplying device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said holding means has guide means for guiding the developer supplied by said supplying means, and is horizontally rotatable around the guide means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 152 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at an edge of a peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; holding means capable of being inserted thereinto said container and having developer receiving means for receiving the developer supplied through said supplying means from said container; transporting means for transporting the developer supplied through the developer receiving means for development; drive means provided at a side of said supplying means for rotating said container; and connecting means provided at one side of said container for directly connecting said drive means and said container and for rotation of said container within said holding means by said drive means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 152 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at an edge of a peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; holding means capable of being inserted thereinto said container and having developer receiving means for receiving the developer supplied through said supplying means from said container; transporting means for transporting the developer supplied through the developer receiving means for development; drive means provided at a side of said supplying means for rotating said container; and connecting means provided at one side of said container for directly connecting said drive means and said container and for rotation of said container within said holding means by said drive means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 21 words

A developer supplying device as claimed in claim 15, wherein a projection is formed at the peripheral surface of said container.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 18 words

A developer supplying device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said holding means has an enlarged-diameter guiding section.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 19 words

A developer supplying device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said holding means is removably attached to said device.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 25 words

A developer supplying device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said holding means is fixed to said device after said holding means is attached thereto.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 156 words

A developer supplying device comprising: s developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at an edge of a peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; transporting means for transporting the developer supplied from said container for development; holding means for holding said container, said holding means having guide means for guiding the developer supplied through said supplying means from said container to said transporting means, said holding means being further pivotable to enable detachment of said container therefrom; drive means provided at a side of said supplying means for rotating said container; and a first supporting means for rotatably supporting said container thereby and for transferring rotary force from said drive means to said container therethrough.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 156 words

A developer supplying device comprising: s developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at an edge of a peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; transporting means for transporting the developer supplied from said container for development; holding means for holding said container, said holding means having guide means for guiding the developer supplied through said supplying means from said container to said transporting means, said holding means being further pivotable to enable detachment of said container therefrom; drive means provided at a side of said supplying means for rotating said container; and a first supporting means for rotatably supporting said container thereby and for transferring rotary force from said drive means to said container therethrough.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 35 words

A developer supplying device as claimed in claim 20, wherein second supporting means is arranged at said holding means, and said container is horizontally supported by said first supporting means and said second supporting means.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 31 words

A developer supplying device as claimed in claim 20, wherein a seal member is arranged at a connecting portion between the guide means of said holding means and said transporting means.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 144 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at an edge of a peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; drive means provided at a side of said supplying means for rotating said container to supply the developer from said supplying means and including a drive shaft; and driven means provided at one end of said container for connection with the drive shaft which includes a shaft receiving section and a shaft guiding section adjacent thereto, wherein said driven means on said container is connected with the drive shaft through the shaft guiding section and the shaft receiving section.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 144 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at an edge of a peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; drive means provided at a side of said supplying means for rotating said container to supply the developer from said supplying means and including a drive shaft; and driven means provided at one end of said container for connection with the drive shaft which includes a shaft receiving section and a shaft guiding section adjacent thereto, wherein said driven means on said container is connected with the drive shaft through the shaft guiding section and the shaft receiving section.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 36 words

A developer supplying device as claimed in claim 23, further comprising holding means having guide means for guiding the developer supplied from said supplying means, said holding means being horizontally rotatable around the shaft guiding system.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 135 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at an edge of a peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; and drive means provided at a side of said supplying means for rotating said container, wherein said container is rotatably supported at its both ends by a first shaft and a second shaft respectively and at least one of the ends of said container has a concavity at the center thereof so as to engage with the second shaft, said drive means rotating the first shaft to rotate said container.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 135 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at an edge of a peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; and drive means provided at a side of said supplying means for rotating said container, wherein said container is rotatably supported at its both ends by a first shaft and a second shaft respectively and at least one of the ends of said container has a concavity at the center thereof so as to engage with the second shaft, said drive means rotating the first shaft to rotate said container.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 146 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at the peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; regulating means provided in said container and regulating an amount of the developer supplied from said supplying means, said regulating means being so formed to reduce a sectional area between said regulating means and an inner surface of said container in the vicinity of said supplying means; and drive means for rotating said container, wherein said container is rotatably supported at its both ends by a first shaft and a second shaft respectively, said drive means rotating the first shaft to rotate said container.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 146 words

A developer supplying device comprising: a developer container of substantially cylindrical form and having on its inner surface a spiral groove extending therearound in an axial direction thereof, said container being rotatable to transport a developer therein by the spiral groove; supplying means in a form of an opening provided at the peripheral surface of said container to supply the developer therethrough; regulating means provided in said container and regulating an amount of the developer supplied from said supplying means, said regulating means being so formed to reduce a sectional area between said regulating means and an inner surface of said container in the vicinity of said supplying means; and drive means for rotating said container, wherein said container is rotatably supported at its both ends by a first shaft and a second shaft respectively, said drive means rotating the first shaft to rotate said container.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-03-21	1997-09-20	1998-03-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-03-21	2001-09-20	2002-03-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-03-21	2005-09-20	2006-03-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Substantially cylindrical developer supplying container for supplying approximately constant amounts of developer

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