US5475470A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process cartridge and image forming system on which the process cartridge is mountable using a handgrip
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1994-08-01
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Granted: 1995-12-12
•
Expires: 2014-08-01
Abstract
Abstract An image forming system includes a process cartridge having an image bearing member, processing structure acting on the image bearing member, a toner container containing toner used in a developing operation, and a gripper used when the process cartridge is mounted within the image forming system. The gripper also serves as an aiding member for removing a seal sealingly closing an opening of the toner container. With the foregoing construction, it is possible to provide a process cartridge and an image forming system capable of removably mounting a process cartridge therein, which can prevent an operator from forgetting to remove a seal prior to using a new process cartridge.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshikazu Sasago
- 👤 Kazumi Sekine
- 👤 Tadayuki Tsuda
- 👤 Isao Ikemoto
- 👤 Kazushi Watanabe
- 👤 Shinya Noda
- 👤 Kazunori Kobayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:54
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/18; G03G21/1803; G03G21/1828; G03G21/1832; G03G21/1604; G03G21/1623; G03G21/1633; G03G21/1642; G03G21/1647; G03G21/1661; G03G21/1666; G03G21/1839; G03G21/1842; G03G21/1846; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1648; G03G2221/1651; G03G2221/1657; G03G2221/1678; G03G2221/1687; G03G2221/18; G03G2221/183; G03G2221/1846
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A process cartridge removably mountable to a body of an image forming system, said process cartridge comprising; a frame; an image bearing member disposed in said frame; process means for acting on said image bearing member; toner containing means, capable of being sealed with a seal that is removable using an aiding member, for containing toner to be used for developing; and a gripper fixed to said frame for holding said process cartridge when removably mounting said process cartridge to the body of the image forming system, wherein said gripper covers the aiding member for removing the seal, the aiding member extending through a space formed in said gripper.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A process cartridge removably mountable to a body of an image forming system, said process cartridge comprising; a frame; an image bearing member disposed in said frame; process means for acting on said image bearing member; toner containing means, capable of being sealed with a seal that is removable using an aiding member, for containing toner to be used for developing; and a gripper fixed to said frame for holding said process cartridge when removably mounting said process cartridge to the body of the image forming system, wherein said gripper covers the aiding member for removing the seal, the aiding member extending through a space formed in said gripper.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said gripper comprises a pair of facing plate members and the aiding member comprises a tape which is provided on the seal, the tape being disposed in a space between said plate members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the aiding member comprises a tape protruding outwardly beyond said gripper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said frame comprises a first frame portion and a second frame portion, and said gripper comprises a first plate member provided on said first frame portion and a second plate member provided on said second frame portion, and the aiding member is positioned in a space formed between said plate members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the toner contained in said toner containing means is supplied to a developing means by removing the seal from an opening in said toner containing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said process cartridge integrally incorporates therein charge means, developing means, or cleaning means as said process means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member as said image bearing member, as a cartridge unit which can be removably mounted to the body of the image forming system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said process cartridge integrally incorporates therein at least one of charger means, developing means, and cleaning means as said process means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member as said image bearing member, as a cartridge unit which can be removably mounted to the body of the image forming system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said process cartridge integrally incorporates therein at least developing means as said process means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member as said image bearing member, as a cartridge unit which can be removably mounted to the body of the image forming system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
140 words
An image forming system for forming an image on a recording medium and to which a process cartridge is removably mountable, said image forming system comprising: mounting means for removably mounting the process cartridge, the process cartridge including (a) a frame, (b) an image bearing member disposed in the frame, (c) process means for acting on the image bearing member, (d) toner containing means, having an opening sealed with a seal that is removable using an aiding member, for containing toner to be used in developing, and (e) a gripper fixed to the frame for holding the process cartridge when removably mounting the process cartridge to said image forming system, the gripper also serving as a cover of the aiding member, the aiding member extending through a space formed in the gripper; and feeding means for feeding the recording medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
140 words
An image forming system for forming an image on a recording medium and to which a process cartridge is removably mountable, said image forming system comprising: mounting means for removably mounting the process cartridge, the process cartridge including (a) a frame, (b) an image bearing member disposed in the frame, (c) process means for acting on the image bearing member, (d) toner containing means, having an opening sealed with a seal that is removable using an aiding member, for containing toner to be used in developing, and (e) a gripper fixed to the frame for holding the process cartridge when removably mounting the process cartridge to said image forming system, the gripper also serving as a cover of the aiding member, the aiding member extending through a space formed in the gripper; and feeding means for feeding the recording medium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image forming system according to claim 9, wherein said image forming system is an electrophotographic copying machine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image forming system according to claim 9, wherein said image forming system is a laser beam printer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image forming system according to claim 9, wherein the image forming system is a facsimile device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
130 words
A process cartridge removably mountable to a body of an image forming system, said process cartridge comprising: a frame; an image bearing member disposed in said frame; process means for acting on said image bearing member; toner containing means for containing toner to be used for developing; a supply port for supplying the toner contained in said toner containing means to developing means; a seal member removably attached to said supply port, said seal member having a first portion for sealing said supply port and a second portion extending from said first portion for removing said first portion from said supply port; and a hand grip formed by a member different from said seal member and fixed to said frame and having an opening through which said second portion extends.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
130 words
A process cartridge removably mountable to a body of an image forming system, said process cartridge comprising: a frame; an image bearing member disposed in said frame; process means for acting on said image bearing member; toner containing means for containing toner to be used for developing; a supply port for supplying the toner contained in said toner containing means to developing means; a seal member removably attached to said supply port, said seal member having a first portion for sealing said supply port and a second portion extending from said first portion for removing said first portion from said supply port; and a hand grip formed by a member different from said seal member and fixed to said frame and having an opening through which said second portion extends.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process cartridge according to claim 13, wherein the second portion passes through said opening to protrude outwardly beyond said hand grip.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process cartridge according to claim 13, wherein said seal member opens said supply port by drawing out said first portion extending through the opening.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process cartridge according to claim 13, wherein said first portion for sealing said supply port is adhered to a periphery of said supply port.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process cartridge according to claim 13, wherein said first portion and said second portion are made integrally, so that said first portion is removed by drawing out said second portion to open said supply port.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
A process cartridge according to claim 13, wherein said first portion extends from one end to the other end of said supply port in a longitudinal direction thereof and folds back at the other end to extend through the opening of said hand grip.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process cartridge according to claim 13, wherein said hand grip is arranged so that an operator grips said hand grip when mounting and dismounting said process cartridge.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
162 words
An image forming system on which a process cartridge is removably mountable for forming an image on a recording medium, said image forming system comprising: an image bearing member; mounting means for removably mounting the process cartridge, the process cartridge including (a) process means for acting on said image bearing member, (b) a frame, (c) toner containing means for containing a toner to be used for developing, (d) a supply port for supplying the toner contained in the toner containing means to developing means, (e) a seal member removably attached to the supply port, the seal member having a first portion for sealing the supply port and a second portion extending from the first portion for removing the first portion from the supply port, and (f) a hand grip formed by a member different from the seal member and fixed to the frame and having an opening through which the second seal portion extends; and convey means for conveying the recording medium.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
162 words
An image forming system on which a process cartridge is removably mountable for forming an image on a recording medium, said image forming system comprising: an image bearing member; mounting means for removably mounting the process cartridge, the process cartridge including (a) process means for acting on said image bearing member, (b) a frame, (c) toner containing means for containing a toner to be used for developing, (d) a supply port for supplying the toner contained in the toner containing means to developing means, (e) a seal member removably attached to the supply port, the seal member having a first portion for sealing the supply port and a second portion extending from the first portion for removing the first portion from the supply port, and (f) a hand grip formed by a member different from the seal member and fixed to the frame and having an opening through which the second seal portion extends; and convey means for conveying the recording medium.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image forming system according to claim 20, wherein said image forming system is an electrophotographic copying machine.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image forming system according to claim 20, wherein said image forming system is a laser beam printer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image forming system according to claim 20, wherein said image forming system is a facsimile device.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
190 words
A process cartridge removably mountable to a body of an image forming system, said process cartridge comprising: a frame; an electrophotographic photosensitive member; charging means for charging said electrophotographic photosensitive member; developing means for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member; toner containing means for containing toner to be used at said developing means; a supply opening for supplying the toner contained in said toner containing means to said developing means; a seal member removably attached to said supply opening, said seal member having a first portion for sealing said supply opening, and a second portion extending from said first portion for removing said first portion from said supply opening; and a hand grip to be gripped upon mounting of said process cartridge to the body of the image forming system, said hand grip being formed separately from said seal member and being fixed to said frame, said hand grip having an opening through which said second portion extends, wherein when said first portion is removed from said supply opening, a portion of said second portion protruding from said opening of said hand grip is pulled out.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
190 words
A process cartridge removably mountable to a body of an image forming system, said process cartridge comprising: a frame; an electrophotographic photosensitive member; charging means for charging said electrophotographic photosensitive member; developing means for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member; toner containing means for containing toner to be used at said developing means; a supply opening for supplying the toner contained in said toner containing means to said developing means; a seal member removably attached to said supply opening, said seal member having a first portion for sealing said supply opening, and a second portion extending from said first portion for removing said first portion from said supply opening; and a hand grip to be gripped upon mounting of said process cartridge to the body of the image forming system, said hand grip being formed separately from said seal member and being fixed to said frame, said hand grip having an opening through which said second portion extends, wherein when said first portion is removed from said supply opening, a portion of said second portion protruding from said opening of said hand grip is pulled out.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process cartridge according to claim 24, wherein said second portion passes through said opening of said hand grip to protrude outwardly beyond said hand grip.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process cartridge according to claim 24, wherein said seal member opens said supply opening by drawing out said first portion extending through said opening of said hand grip.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process cartridge according to claim 24, wherein said first portion for sealing said supply opening is adhered to a periphery of said supply opening.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process cartridge according to claim 24, wherein said first portion and said second portion are made integrally, so that said first portion is removed by drawing out said second portion to open said supply opening.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
44 words
A process cartridge according to claim 24, wherein said first portion extends from one end to the other end of said supply opening in a longitudinal direction thereof and folds back at the other end to extend through said opening of said hand grip.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process cartridge according to claim 24, wherein said hand grip is fixed to said frame so that an operator grips said grip when mounting and dismounting said process cartridge.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
228 words
An image forming system for forming an image on a recording medium and to which a process cartridge is removably mountable, said image forming system comprising: mounting means for removably mounting the process cartridge, the process cartridge including (a) a frame, (b) an electrophotographic photosensitive member, (c) charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, (d) developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, (e) toner containing means for containing toner to be used at the developing means, (f) a supply opening for supplying the toner contained in the toner containing means to the developing means, (g) a seal member removably attached to the supply opening, the seal member having a first portion for sealing the supply opening, and a second portion extending from the first portion for removing the first portion from the supply opening, and (h) a hand grip to be gripped upon mounting of the process cartridge to a body of said image forming system, the hand grip being formed separately from the seal member and being fixed to the frame, the hand grip having an opening through which the second portion extends, wherein when the first portion is removed from the supply opening, a portion of the second portion protruding from the opening of the hand grip is pulled out; and feeding means for feeding the image recording medium.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
228 words
An image forming system for forming an image on a recording medium and to which a process cartridge is removably mountable, said image forming system comprising: mounting means for removably mounting the process cartridge, the process cartridge including (a) a frame, (b) an electrophotographic photosensitive member, (c) charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, (d) developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, (e) toner containing means for containing toner to be used at the developing means, (f) a supply opening for supplying the toner contained in the toner containing means to the developing means, (g) a seal member removably attached to the supply opening, the seal member having a first portion for sealing the supply opening, and a second portion extending from the first portion for removing the first portion from the supply opening, and (h) a hand grip to be gripped upon mounting of the process cartridge to a body of said image forming system, the hand grip being formed separately from the seal member and being fixed to the frame, the hand grip having an opening through which the second portion extends, wherein when the first portion is removed from the supply opening, a portion of the second portion protruding from the opening of the hand grip is pulled out; and feeding means for feeding the image recording medium.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image forming system according to claim 31, wherein said image forming system is an electrophotographic copying machine.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image forming system according to claim 31, wherein said image forming system is a laser beam printer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image forming system according to claim 31, wherein said image forming system is a facsimile device.
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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) | 1998-12-11 | 1999-06-12 | 1999-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-12-11 | 2003-06-12 | 2003-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-12-11 | 2007-06-12 | 2007-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |