Patent US5500719A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5500719A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Developer replenishing device and developer container for use therewith
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1995-02-10
•
Granted: 1996-03-19
•
Expires: 2015-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A developer replenishing device for replenishing a developing device with a developer, and a developer container for use therewith. The developer container, or toner bottle, has a mouth portion at one end thereof which is smaller in diameter than a hollow cylindrical main body. At the end of the bottle provided with the mouth, a shoulder has the inner periphery thereof partly raised to the edge of the mouth portion to form a raised portion for scooping up a toner. In addition, a part of the inner periphery of the circumferential wall of the bottle which is contiguous with the raised portion is also raised toward the axis of the bottle about which the bottle is rotatable, thereby forming another raised portion. When the bottle is mounted to a bottle holder, which is included in the replenishing device, substantially horizontally with the mouth portion oriented sideways, the bottle is rotated to raise the toner from the bottom of the main body to the mouth portion. As a result, the toner is discharged to the outside via the mouth portion smoothly.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideo Ichikawa
- 👤 Takeshi Saito
- 👤 Sunao Ikeda
- 👤 Nobuhiro Makita
- 👤 Seiji Ozawa
- 👤 Shigeru Yoshiki
- 👤 Takaaki Yanagisawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:52
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822; G03G15/0865; G03G15/0867; G03G15/0868; G03G15/0848; G03G15/0849; G03G15/0855; G03G15/087; G03G15/0872; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/06; G03G2215/066; G03G2215/0663; G03G2215/0665; G03G2215/0668; G03G2215/0675; G03G2215/0685; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/19; Y10S222/00; Y10S222/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A device for replenishing a developing device of an image forming apparatus with a developer, comprising: a developer container containing a developer and having a mouth portion; holding means communicated to a developer replenishing section for holding said developer container while orienting said mouth portion toward said developer replenishing section; a lid holding said mouth portion closed; and detaching means for detaching said lid from said mouth portion of said developer container while said developer container is held by said holding means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
82 words
A device for replenishing a developing device of an image forming apparatus with a developer, comprising: a developer container containing a developer and having a mouth portion; holding means communicated to a developer replenishing section for holding said developer container while orienting said mouth portion toward said developer replenishing section; a lid holding said mouth portion closed; and detaching means for detaching said lid from said mouth portion of said developer container while said developer container is held by said holding means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising attaching means for attaching said lid to said mouth portion of said developer carrier to thereby seal said mouth portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said holding means is movable between a first position where said developer container may be mounted to said holding means easily, and a second position where said holding means is communicable to said developer replenishing section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising control means for controlling said detaching means and said attaching means such that, at least when said holding means is located at said first position, said lid is fully attached to said mouth portion while, at least when said holding means is located at said second position, said lid is fully detached from said mouth portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said detaching means and said attaching means each comprises: retaining means selectively assuming an operative position for retaining said lid or an inoperative position for releasing said lid; and moving means for moving at least one of said retaining means and said developer container toward and away from the other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising: urging means for urging said developer container in a direction for causing said retaining means or said developer container to move; and positioning means for positioning said developer replenishing section in contact with said mouth portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising driving means for causing said developer container held by said holding means to rotate about a longitudinal axis thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said driving means comprises a motor, and transmitting means for transmitting rotation of said motor to said developer container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said transmitting means comprises an annular gear link rotatable about said axis of said developer container, and comprising an engaging portion engageable with an engaging portion formed on a shoulder portion of one end, adjacent said mouth portion, of a hollow cylindrical main body of said developer container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said engaging portion of said gear link comprises an link rib engageable with a bottle rib formed on said one end of said developer container where said engaging portion is provided.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said engaging portion of said gear link comprises an engaging portion engageable with an outer surface of at least one raised portion which is formed in a part of said shoulder portion and raised from said shoulder portion of said main body to an edge of said mouth portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said engaging portion of said gear link is further engageable with a contact surface provided on said shoulder portion at a position 180 degrees spaced apart from said outer surface of said raised portion in a direction of rotation of said developer container, said contact surface having a function for guiding said developer to said mouth portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said engaging portion of said gear link comprises two engaging portions engageable with outer surfaces of two raised portions provided on said shoulder portion at two positions 180 degrees apart from each other in a direction of rotation of said developer container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising rotating means for rotating said retaining means about said longitudinal axis of said developer container when said lid is detached from or attached to said mouth portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a cam device for causing said moving means to move when said image forming apparatus and a predetermined portion of said holding means are moved relative to each other between said first and second positions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 15, further comprising restricting means for restricting movement of said moving means at said first position such that said holding means urges said lid against said mouth portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said holding means is rotatable about a shaft adjoining one end of said holding means, said cam device adjoining said shaft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
104 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said detaching means comprises: a collet chuck for retaining said lid by chucking a lug extending out from said lid; moving means for causing at least one of said collet chuck and said developer container to move toward and away from the other; and control means for opening, when said collet chuck and said developer container are spaced apart a predetermined distance, a chucking portion of said collet chuck to allow said lug to enter, and squeezing, as the distance is increased by said moving means, said chucking portion to retain said lug of said lid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
93 words
A device as claimed in claim 18, wherein said control means comprises: a larger diameter portion on periphery of said collet chuck; a core slidably coupled over a smaller diameter portion of said collet chuck opposite to said chucking portion with respect to said larger diameter portion; biasing means for constantly biasing said core toward said mouth portion of said developer container; an engaging portion on said core for squeezing said chucking portion of said collet chuck; and restricting means for restricting movement of said core against a force of said biasing means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
90 words
A device as claimed in claim 19, further comprising: positioning means for positioning, against the force of said biasing means, said developer container held by said holding means at a position where an edge of said mouth portion functions as said restricting means; and a restricting member functioning, when said developer container is removed from said holding means, as said restricting means by restricting movement of said core at a position remote from said edge of said mouth portion of said developer container which is positioned by said positioning means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device as claimed in claim 20, wherein an engaging portion is formed on a circumferential wall of said developer container, said positioning means being movable between an operative position for causing said engaging portion to engage with said engaging portion of said developer container and an inoperative position remoter from said circumferential wall than said operative position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
121 words
A device as claimed in claim 18, wherein said detaching means further comprises: a cover supporting said collet chuck in such a manner as to allow said collet chuck to move toward and away from said developer container which is held in a predetermined position of said holding means, said cover comprising an end wall having a hole throughout which said collet chuck extends, and a circumferential wall surrounding said collet chuck; a core slidably coupled over said collet chuck and constantly biased toward said developer container, said core comprising an end portion capable of abutting against a flange included in said lid; and an end seal for sealing a gap between said end portion and said flange of said lid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said end seal is provided with a multi-stage seal structure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
65 words
A device as claimed in claim 23, wherein said end seal comprises a plurality of elongate rectangular seal elements each having opposite ends thereof abutted against each other while surrounding said core, said seal members, which adjoin in an axial direction of aid core, being deviated, in a circumferential direction of said core, from each other in the position where the opposite ends are abutted.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in claim 22, wherein at least a surface of said end seal is made of 4-fluoro ethylene polymer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
65 words
A device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said end seal comprises an annular seal member made up of a first elastic material enriched in elasticity mainly in a circumferential direction and and a second elastic material provided on said first elastic material and enriched in elasticity mainly in a direction of thickness, said seal member being fitted on a circumferential surface of said core.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
98 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said attaching means comprises: a collet chuck for chucking a lug extending out from said lid; moving means for causing at least one of said collet chuck and said developer container to move toward and away from the other; and releasing means for opening a chucking portion of said collet chuck to release said lug when or before or after a distance between said collet chuck and said developer container is reduced by said moving means to fully seal said mouth portion by said lid retained by said collet chuck.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
128 words
A device as claimed in claim 27, wherein said releasing means comprises: a core slidably mounted on said collet chuck and constantly biased by biasing means toward said mouth portion of said developer container; a projection on said core and received in a slit formed in said collet chuck, said projection wedging, when brought to a rear narrow portion of said slid, said collet chuck to thereby open a chucking portion of said collet chuck; and restricting means for restricting, when said distance is reduced by said moving means until or before or after said lid fully closes said mouth portion, movement of said core against a force of said biasing means to thereby displace said projection from a broad portion of said lid to said narrow portion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
121 words
A device as claimed in claim 27, wherein said attaching means further comprises: a cover supporting said collet chuck in such a manner as to allow said collet chuck to move toward and away from said developer container which is held in a predetermined position of said holding means, said cover comprising an end wall having a hole throughout which said collet chuck extends, and a circumferential wall surrounding said collet chuck; a core slidably coupled over said collet chuck and constantly biased toward said developer container, said core comprising an end portion capable of abutting against a flange included in said lid; and an end seal for sealing a gap between said end portion and said flange of said lid.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as claimed in claim 29, wherein said end seal is provided with a multi-stage seal structure.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
65 words
A device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said end seal comprises a plurality of elongate rectangular seal elements each having opposite ends thereof abutted against each other while surrounding said core, said seal members, which adjoin in an axial direction of said core, being deviated, in a circumferential direction of said core, from each other in the position where the opposite ends are abutted.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in claim 31, wherein at least a surface of said end seal is made of 4-ethylene fluoride resin.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
64 words
A device as claimed in claim 31, wherein said end seal comprises an annular seal member made up of a first elastic material enriched in elasticity mainly in a circumferential direction and a second elastic material provided on said first elastic material and enriched in elasticity mainly in a direction of thickness, said seal member being fitted on a circumferential surface of said core.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
80 words
A device for replenishing a developing device of an image forming apparatus with a developer comprising: a developer container containing a developer and having a mouth portion at one end of said container and centered on a longitudinal axis of said container; and holding means communicated to a developer replenishing section for holding said developer container while orienting said mouth portion toward said developer replenishing section; said holding means being rotatable about said one end in a substantially horizontal plane.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
80 words
A device for replenishing a developing device of an image forming apparatus with a developer comprising: a developer container containing a developer and having a mouth portion at one end of said container and centered on a longitudinal axis of said container; and holding means communicated to a developer replenishing section for holding said developer container while orienting said mouth portion toward said developer replenishing section; said holding means being rotatable about said one end in a substantially horizontal plane.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as claimed in claim 34, wherein said holding means is movable between a first position where said developer container may be mounted to said holding means easily and a second position where said holding means is communicable to said developer replenishing section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1553663A
Cited
US2746632A
Cited
US2965266A
Cited
US3382887A
Cited
US3853246A
Cited
US3915340A
Cited
US3979026A
Cited
US4212264A
Cited
US4641945A
Cited
US4744493A
Cited
US4611730A
Cited
US4611730B1
Cited
US4949123A
Cited
US5296900A
Cited
US5218407A
Cited
US5078303A
Cited
US5049941A
Cited
US5307129A
Cited
US5293913A
Cited
US5257077A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-03-19 | 1999-09-18 | 2000-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-19 | 2003-09-18 | 2004-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-19 | 2007-09-18 | 2008-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |