US5697014A — Toner level detecting device having a substantial…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 73 words

A toner level detecting device on a toner fillable box, comprising: first and second toner detecting portions formed of a light transmissive material; and a toner fillable aperture formed between the first and second toner detecting portions, said toner fillable aperture being detected to determine toner level within the toner fillable box, wherein the toner fillable aperture has a non-uniform width from the top of the aperture to the bottom of the aperture.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 73 words

A toner level detecting device on a toner fillable box, comprising: first and second toner detecting portions formed of a light transmissive material; and a toner fillable aperture formed between the first and second toner detecting portions, said toner fillable aperture being detected to determine toner level within the toner fillable box, wherein the toner fillable aperture has a non-uniform width from the top of the aperture to the bottom of the aperture.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

The toner level detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the blow-molded aperture is substantially V-shaped.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 148 words

A toner storage box, comprising: a blow-molded toner fillable casing formed using a blow-molding technique; a toner level detecting device on the casing, comprising: blow-molded first and second toner detecting portions formed of a light transmissive material, said first and second toner detecting portions being formed integrally with the blow-molded toner fillable casing using said blow-molding technique, and a blow-molded toner fillable aperture formed integrally between the blow-molded first and second toner detecting portions during said blow-molding technique; a rotating shaft provided in said blow-molded toner fillable casing, said rotating shaft being rotatable by a mechanism outside the blow-molded toner fillable casing; and a cleaning member attached to said rotating shaft, wherein rotation of the rotating shaft causes the cleaning member to pass between opposed inner surfaces of said blow-molded first and second toner detecting portions to clean toner from inner surfaces of the blow-molded toner fillable aperture.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 148 words

A toner storage box, comprising: a blow-molded toner fillable casing formed using a blow-molding technique; a toner level detecting device on the casing, comprising: blow-molded first and second toner detecting portions formed of a light transmissive material, said first and second toner detecting portions being formed integrally with the blow-molded toner fillable casing using said blow-molding technique, and a blow-molded toner fillable aperture formed integrally between the blow-molded first and second toner detecting portions during said blow-molding technique; a rotating shaft provided in said blow-molded toner fillable casing, said rotating shaft being rotatable by a mechanism outside the blow-molded toner fillable casing; and a cleaning member attached to said rotating shaft, wherein rotation of the rotating shaft causes the cleaning member to pass between opposed inner surfaces of said blow-molded first and second toner detecting portions to clean toner from inner surfaces of the blow-molded toner fillable aperture.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 46 words

The toner box according to claim 3, wherein the blow-molded toner fillable aperture includes a non-uniform width, and wherein said cleaning member includes a pair of opposed flexible members that conform to the non-uniform width of the blow-molded toner fillable aperture to clean said inner surfaces.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

The toner box according to claim 4, wherein the blow-molded toner fillable aperture is substantially V-shaped.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

The toner box according to claim 4, wherein the blow-molded toner fillable aperture is substantially U-shaped.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 51 words

The toner box according to claim 4, wherein each of said opposed flexible members includes a slit to allow a lower portion of each of said opposed flexible members to deform an amount different than that of an upper portion of each of said opposed flexible members closer to the shaft.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

The toner box according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning member comprises a thin film having a thickness ranging between 0.075 to 0.15 mm.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 13 words

The toner box according to claim 8, wherein said thickness is 0.125 mm.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The toner box according to claim 8, wherein said shaft includes a central blade formed opposite said cleaning member as part of the thin film.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

The toner box according to claim 10, wherein said shaft includes at least one hooking element for attaching the thin film to the shaft.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 130 words

In combination, a toner developing unit coupleable to a removable toner storage box, comprising: a developing case having a support; a toner fillable casing mountable on the support; a toner level detecting device on the toner fillable casing, comprising: first and second toner detecting portions formed of a light transmissive material, and a toner fillable aperture having a substantially non-uniform cross-sectional width from the top of the aperture to the bottom of the aperture, said toner fillable aperture being formed between the first and second toner detecting portions; and a toner level detector mounted adjacent the development case, said toner level detector cooperating with the first and second toner detecting portions and said toner fillable aperture to provide an indication of the amount of toner within the toner fillable aperture.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 130 words

In combination, a toner developing unit coupleable to a removable toner storage box, comprising: a developing case having a support; a toner fillable casing mountable on the support; a toner level detecting device on the toner fillable casing, comprising: first and second toner detecting portions formed of a light transmissive material, and a toner fillable aperture having a substantially non-uniform cross-sectional width from the top of the aperture to the bottom of the aperture, said toner fillable aperture being formed between the first and second toner detecting portions; and a toner level detector mounted adjacent the development case, said toner level detector cooperating with the first and second toner detecting portions and said toner fillable aperture to provide an indication of the amount of toner within the toner fillable aperture.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

The combination according to claim 12, further comprising a ramped toner detector support along which the toner detector is fixedly attached in an optimum toner detecting position.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 88 words

The combination according to claim 12, wherein said toner fillable aperture is a blow-molded toner fillable aperture, and wherein said toner fillable casing further includes: a rotating shaft provided in said casing, said rotating shaft being rotatable by a mechanism outside the casing, and a cleaning member attached to said rotating shaft, wherein rotation of the rotating shaft causes the cleaning member to pass between opposed inner surfaces of said first and second toner detecting portions to clean toner from inner surfaces of the blow-molded toner fillable aperture.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 32 words

The combination according to claim 14, wherein said cleaning member includes a pair of opposed flexible members that conform to the non-uniform width of the blow-molded aperture to clean said inner surfaces.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 13 words

The combination according to claim 15, wherein the blow-molded aperture is substantially V-shaped.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 13 words

The combination according to claim 15, wherein the blow-molded aperture is substantially U-shaped.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 50 words

The combination according to claim 15, wherein each of said opposed flexible members includes a slit to allow a lower portion of each of said opposed flexible members to deform an amount different than that of an upper portion of each of said opposed flexible members closer to the shaft.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 27 words

The combination according to claim 12, wherein the first and second toner detecting portions are rotatable into a proper detecting position with respect to the toner detector.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 111 words

A toner level detecting device on a toner fillable box, comprising: a toner fillable body; first and second toner detecting portions formed on the toner fillable body and structured to receive a toner level detector; and a blow-molded toner fillable aperture formed between the first and second toner detecting portions on the toner fillable body, said blow-molded toner fillable aperture being detected using the toner level detector to provide an indication of toner level within the toner fillable body, wherein at least a portion of the blow-molded toner fillable aperture is formed from a semi-transparent material that absorbs latent light that might otherwise cause a false indication of the toner level.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 111 words

A toner level detecting device on a toner fillable box, comprising: a toner fillable body; first and second toner detecting portions formed on the toner fillable body and structured to receive a toner level detector; and a blow-molded toner fillable aperture formed between the first and second toner detecting portions on the toner fillable body, said blow-molded toner fillable aperture being detected using the toner level detector to provide an indication of toner level within the toner fillable body, wherein at least a portion of the blow-molded toner fillable aperture is formed from a semi-transparent material that absorbs latent light that might otherwise cause a false indication of the toner level.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 21 words

The toner level detecting device according to claim 20, wherein the blow-molded toner fillable aperture has a substantially non-uniform cross-sectional width.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 16 words

The toner level detecting device according to claim 21, wherein said cross-sectional width is substantially V-shaped.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-12-08	2001-06-09	2001-12-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-12-08	2005-06-09	2005-12-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-12-08	2009-06-09	2009-12-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Toner level detecting device having a substantially non-uniform width and toner storage box having same

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