US5740507A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Densely packed toner container and method of producing the same
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1996-04-04
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Granted: 1998-04-14
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Expires: 2016-04-04
Abstract
Abstract A toner container densely packed with toner to be replenished into a developing unit included in an image forming apparatus, and a method of producing the same. The toner is packed in the container with a ratio of a packing density to a saturation bulk density greater than 1.0, a mean penetration greater than 5.0 mm inclusive, and a standard deviation of penetration not exceeding one-fifth of the mean penetration. The toner can be smoothly and continuously replenished into the developing unit so as to form a number of images matching the amount thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideo Ichikawa
- 👤 Sunao Ikeda
- 👤 Nobuhiro Makita
- 👤 Michiharu Narushima
- 👤 Seiji Terazawa
- 👤 Masakazu Nakada
- 👤 Kazuhiko Umemura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:34
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G9/00; G03G9/08; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822; G03G15/0865; G03G15/0875; G03G15/0848; G03G15/0849; G03G15/0855; G03G15/0867; G03G15/087; G03G15/0872; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S222/00; Y10S222/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
A toner container for replenishing toner to an image forming apparatus, wherein said toner is packed in said toner container with a ratio of a packing density to a saturation bulk density greater than 1.0, a mean penetration greater than 5.0 mm inclusive, and a standard deviation of penetration not exceeding one-fifth of said mean penetration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
A toner container for replenishing toner to an image forming apparatus, wherein said toner is packed in said toner container with a ratio of a packing density to a saturation bulk density greater than 1.0, a mean penetration greater than 5.0 mm inclusive, and a standard deviation of penetration not exceeding one-fifth of said mean penetration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toner has a volume mean particle size of 4.0 μm to 12.0 μm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toner has a volume mean particle size smaller than 9.0 μm inclusive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 3, less than 20%, inclusive, of said toner in terms of a number of particles have a particle size smaller than 4.0 μm inclusive while less than 3.0%, inclusive, of said toner in terms of weight have a particle size greater than 12.7 μm inclusive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the penetration is greater than 10.0 mm inclusive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ratio of the packing density to the saturation bulk density is greater than 1.1 inclusive.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toner comprises single-ingredient type magnetic toner having a volume mean particle size of 5.0 μm to 9.0 μm, and wherein the ratio of the packing density to the saturation bulk density is greater than 1.125.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 7, wherein less than 20%, inclusive, of said toner in terms of a number of particles have a particle size smaller than 4.0 μm inclusive while less than 3.0%, inclusive, of said toner in terms of weight have a particle size greater than 12.7 μm inclusive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toner has a true specific gravity of 1.55 to 1.75.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rotatable member for loosening said toner is disposed in said toner container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toner container is formed with a toner outlet for replenishing said toner, a toner inlet for packing said toner in said toner container, and one of an air suction port and a hole for inserting an air suction tube.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of producing a toner container for replenishing toner to an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of: inserting an air suction tube having a sucking portion at an end thereof into said toner container, which has a toner inlet for packing said toner and a hole for inserting said air suction tube, as far as a position close to a bottom of said toner container; introducing said toner into said toner container while blowing air into said toner container via said toner inlet, and sucking air out of said toner container via said air suction tube; and shifting a level of said sucking portion in accordance with an amount of said toner sequentially introduced into said toner container; wherein said toner is packed in said toner container with a ratio of a packing density to a saturation bulk density greater than 1.0, a mean penetration greater than 5.0 mm inclusive, and a standard deviation of penetration not exceeding one-fifth of said mean penetration.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of producing a toner container for replenishing toner to an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of: inserting an air suction tube having a sucking portion at an end thereof into said toner container, which has a toner inlet for packing said toner and a hole for inserting said air suction tube, as far as a position close to a bottom of said toner container; introducing said toner into said toner container while blowing air into said toner container via said toner inlet, and sucking air out of said toner container via said air suction tube; and shifting a level of said sucking portion in accordance with an amount of said toner sequentially introduced into said toner container; wherein said toner is packed in said toner container with a ratio of a packing density to a saturation bulk density greater than 1.0, a mean penetration greater than 5.0 mm inclusive, and a standard deviation of penetration not exceeding one-fifth of said mean penetration.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of producing a toner container for replenishing toner to an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of: inserting an air suction tube having a sucking portion at an end thereof into said toner container, which has a toner inlet for packing said toner and a hole for inserting said air suction tube, as far as a position close to a bottom of said toner container; introducing said toner into said toner container while blowing air into said toner container intermittently via said toner inlet at a rate of 30 cc/min to 200 cc/min, and sucking air out of said toner container via said air suction tube; and shifting a level of said sucking portion in accordance with an amount of said toner sequentially introduced into said toner container.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of producing a toner container for replenishing toner to an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of: inserting an air suction tube having a sucking portion at an end thereof into said toner container, which has a toner inlet for packing said toner and a hole for inserting said air suction tube, as far as a position close to a bottom of said toner container; introducing said toner into said toner container while blowing air into said toner container intermittently via said toner inlet at a rate of 30 cc/min to 200 cc/min, and sucking air out of said toner container via said air suction tube; and shifting a level of said sucking portion in accordance with an amount of said toner sequentially introduced into said toner container.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus operable with toner replenishing means in a form of a toner container packed with toner, wherein said toner is packed in said toner container with a ratio of a packing density to a saturation bulk density greater than 1.0, a mean penetration greater than 5.0 mm inclusive, and a standard deviation of penetration not exceeding one-fifth of said mean penetration.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus operable with toner replenishing means in a form of a toner container packed with toner, wherein said toner is packed in said toner container with a ratio of a packing density to a saturation bulk density greater than 1.0, a mean penetration greater than 5.0 mm inclusive, and a standard deviation of penetration not exceeding one-fifth of said mean penetration.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electrophotographic image forming method using a toner container packed with toner and mounted to a developing unit, wherein said method includes packing said toner container with a ratio of a packing density to a saturation bulk density greater than 1.0, a mean penetration greater than 5.0 mm inclusive, and a standard deviation of penetration not exceeding one-fifth of said mean penetration.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electrophotographic image forming method using a toner container packed with toner and mounted to a developing unit, wherein said method includes packing said toner container with a ratio of a packing density to a saturation bulk density greater than 1.0, a mean penetration greater than 5.0 mm inclusive, and a standard deviation of penetration not exceeding one-fifth of said mean penetration.
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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) | 2001-04-13 | 2001-10-13 | 2002-04-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-13 | 2005-10-13 | 2006-04-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-13 | 2009-10-13 | 2010-04-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |