Patent US6201941B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6201941B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Developer container for an image forming apparatus and method of conveying a developer
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1999-06-24
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Granted: 2001-03-13
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Expires: 2019-06-24
Abstract
Abstract A developer replenishing device included in an image forming apparatus for replenishing a developer to a developing unit is disclosed and includes a developer container filled with the developer. An air pump feeds compressed air into the developer container to thereby fluidize the developer. A powder pump discharge the fluidized toner from the developer container by suction and delivers it to the developing unit. When the toner container is set on the body of the apparatus, an air feed portion penetrates into the container.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobuo Kasahara
- 👤 Satoshi Muramatsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:27
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
An imaged forming apparatus capable of fluidizing a developer and then conveying said developer to a preselected location, said image forming apparatus comprising: a developer container storing the developer, said developer container including an air inlet portion for allowing compressed air into said developer container and a developer outlet portion for discharging the developer from said developer container; air feeding means for feeding compressed air into said developer container for fluidizing the development; and developing conveying means for conveying the developer fluidized from said developer container, said developer conveying means including sucking means for sucking the developer, said sucking means having an eccentric powder suction pump with a single shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
An imaged forming apparatus capable of fluidizing a developer and then conveying said developer to a preselected location, said image forming apparatus comprising: a developer container storing the developer, said developer container including an air inlet portion for allowing compressed air into said developer container and a developer outlet portion for discharging the developer from said developer container; air feeding means for feeding compressed air into said developer container for fluidizing the development; and developing conveying means for conveying the developer fluidized from said developer container, said developer conveying means including sucking means for sucking the developer, said sucking means having an eccentric powder suction pump with a single shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said developer outlet portion is positioned in the lower portion of said developer container in the direction of gravity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said air feeding means communicate with said air inlet portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said air feeding means control an amount of the developer to be conveyed to the preselected location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said developer container further comprises a discharge portion for discharging the compressed air conveyed together with the developer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said developer container comprises a sack formed of a flexible material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said developer container has two chambers communicated to each other at a lower portion of said developer container in the direction of gravity, said air inlet portion being formed in a non-communicated portion of one of said two chambers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said developer container further comprises a connecting member formed with said air inlet portion and said developer outlet portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the developer conveying means communicated to said developer outlet portion and the preselected location.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said air feeding means comprises an air pump having a maximum static pressure of 18 Kpa to 50 Kpa and a maximum flow rate of 2.0 l/min.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the developer comprises either toner or a toner and carrier mixture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said air feeding means feed the compressed air via a position of said powder pump just after an outlet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
105 words
A developer conveying device comprising: a developer container storing a developer, said developer container including an air inlet portion for allowing compressed air into said developer container and a developer outlet portion for discharging the developer from said developer container, said air inlet portion being positioned in a lower portion of said developer container in a direction of gravity; air feeding means for feeding compressed air into said developer container to fluidize the developer; developer discharging means for discharging the developer fluidized from said developer container; and developer moving means for causing the developer discharged from said developer container to move to a preselected location.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
A developer conveying device comprising: a developer container storing a developer, said developer container including an air inlet portion for allowing compressed air into said developer container and a developer outlet portion for discharging the developer from said developer container, said air inlet portion being positioned in a lower portion of said developer container in a direction of gravity; air feeding means for feeding compressed air into said developer container to fluidize the developer; developer discharging means for discharging the developer fluidized from said developer container; and developer moving means for causing the developer discharged from said developer container to move to a preselected location.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
An device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said developer discharging means comprise sucking means for sucking the developer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
An device as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said sucking means comprise a suction type single axis, eccentric powder pum, said powder pump serving as sucking means of said developer moving means also.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
An device as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said air feeding means feed the compressed air via a position of said powder pump just after an outlet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
An device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said developer moving means comprise sucking means for sucking the developer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
An device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said developer moving means cause the compressed air to flow in a direction in which the developer should be moved.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
An device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the developer comprises either toner or a toner and carrier mixture.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
100 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a developer container storing a developer, said developer container including an air inlet portion for allowing compressed air into said developer container and a developer outlet portion for discharging the developer container, said air inlet position being positioned in a lower portion of said developer container in a direction of gravity; air feeding means for feeding compressed air into said developer container to fluidize the developer; developer discharging means for discharging the developer fluidized from said developer container; and developer moving means for moving the developer discharged from said developer container to a developing unit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
100 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a developer container storing a developer, said developer container including an air inlet portion for allowing compressed air into said developer container and a developer outlet portion for discharging the developer container, said air inlet position being positioned in a lower portion of said developer container in a direction of gravity; air feeding means for feeding compressed air into said developer container to fluidize the developer; developer discharging means for discharging the developer fluidized from said developer container; and developer moving means for moving the developer discharged from said developer container to a developing unit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 20 , further comprising a nozzle for allowing the compressed air into said developer container and discharging the developer from said developer container.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the developer comprises either toner or a toner and carrier mixture.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
91 words
An image forming apparatus capable of replenishing a developer stored in a developer container to a developing unit, said image forming apparatus comprising: a body to which the developer container is removably mounted; and an air feed portion capable of penetrating into the developer container when said developer container is mounted to said body, said air feed portion comprising a projection member capable of entering the developer container when said developer container is mounted to said body and leaving said developer container when said developer container is removed from said body.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
91 words
An image forming apparatus capable of replenishing a developer stored in a developer container to a developing unit, said image forming apparatus comprising: a body to which the developer container is removably mounted; and an air feed portion capable of penetrating into the developer container when said developer container is mounted to said body, said air feed portion comprising a projection member capable of entering the developer container when said developer container is mounted to said body and leaving said developer container when said developer container is removed from said body.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 23 , further comprising a developer outlet portion for discharging the developer from said developer container.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 23 , wherein said projection member is formed with an air passage for feeding the compressed air and a developer passage for discharging the developer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 23 , wherein said developer container comprises a sealed container.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the developer comprises either toner or a toner and carrier mixture.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
64 words
An image forming apparatus capable of replenishing a developer stored in a developer container to a developing unit, said image forming apparatus comprising: a body to which the developer container is removably mounted; and an air feed portion capable of penetrating into the developer container when said developer container is mounted to said body, the developer container comprising a sealed container including a valve.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
64 words
An image forming apparatus capable of replenishing a developer stored in a developer container to a developing unit, said image forming apparatus comprising: a body to which the developer container is removably mounted; and an air feed portion capable of penetrating into the developer container when said developer container is mounted to said body, the developer container comprising a sealed container including a valve.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 28 , wherein said valve opens when a projection member protruding from said body is inserted into said valve and closes when said projection member is released from said valve.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
71 words
An image forming apparatus capable of replenishing a developer stored in a developer carrier to a developing unit, said image forming apparatus comprising: a body to which the developer container having a valve is removably mounted; discharging means for feeding compressed air into the developer container to discharge the developer from said developer container; and developer conveying means for conveying the developer discharged from the developer container to the developing unit.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
71 words
An image forming apparatus capable of replenishing a developer stored in a developer carrier to a developing unit, said image forming apparatus comprising: a body to which the developer container having a valve is removably mounted; discharging means for feeding compressed air into the developer container to discharge the developer from said developer container; and developer conveying means for conveying the developer discharged from the developer container to the developing unit.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 30 , wherein said developer conveying means convey the developer by sucking said developer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 30 , wherein said developer conveying means comprise a suction type single axis, eccentric screw pump.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 30 , wherein said developer conveying means convey the developer by discharging.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 30 , wherein said developer means comprise a discharge type single axis, eccentric screw pump.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 30 , further comprising air discharging means for discharging the compressed air fed into the developer container to an outside of a developer conveying path.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 30 , wherein said developer container comprise a sealed container.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 30 , wherein said valve opens when a projection member protruding from said body is inserted into said valve and closes when said projection member is released from said valve.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 30 , wherein said developer comprises either toner or a toner and carrier mixture.
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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) | 2004-03-12 | 2004-09-11 | 2005-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-12 | 2008-09-11 | 2009-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-12 | 2012-09-11 | 2013-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |