US6507720B2 — Color image forming apparatus and toner replenish…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 107 words

A color image forming apparatus, comprising: a main body; and a toner container setting part configured to set a plurality of toner containers individually therein, each of said plurality of toner containers containing a toner of a different color, and said toner container setting part including a receiving member configured to receive said plurality of toner containers inserted therein, wherein said plurality of toner containers inserted in said receiving member are partially exposed, and wherein said receiving member differs in length in a direction said plurality of toner containers are inserted therein according to a length of a corresponding toner container of said plurality of toner containers.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 107 words

A color image forming apparatus, comprising: a main body; and a toner container setting part configured to set a plurality of toner containers individually therein, each of said plurality of toner containers containing a toner of a different color, and said toner container setting part including a receiving member configured to receive said plurality of toner containers inserted therein, wherein said plurality of toner containers inserted in said receiving member are partially exposed, and wherein said receiving member differs in length in a direction said plurality of toner containers are inserted therein according to a length of a corresponding toner container of said plurality of toner containers.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 57 words

The color image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said receiving member is opened at an upper part thereof, so that said plurality of toner containers can be inserted into and drawn out of said receiving member from above, and wherein upper parts of said plurality of toner containers inserted in the receiving member are exposed.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 32 words

The color image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of toner containers, set in said toner container setting part, are arranged parallel to each other in a straight line.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 58 words

The color image forming apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a transferring belt to convey a transfer sheet; and a plurality of image forming units arranged along said transferring belt, wherein said plurality of toner containers, set in said toner container setting part, are arranged in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of said transferring belt.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 50 words

The color image forming apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said moving direction of said transferring belt is in a width-wise direction of said main body, and wherein said plurality of toner containers, set in said toner container setting part, are arranged in a depth-wise direction of said main body.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 40 words

The color image forming apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said plurality of toner containers, set in said toner container setting part, are arranged at an upper part of said main body substantially along an edge of said main body.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 52 words

The color image forming apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said transferring belt is slanted so that a first end thereof is lower than a second end thereof, and wherein said toner container setting part is provided above said first end of said transferring belt, which is lower than said second end.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 60 words

The color image forming apparatus of claim 7 , wherein a toner container of said plurality of toner containers, which is set at a front side in said toner container setting part in a depth-wise direction of said main body, is located outside of an area in a width-wise direction of said main body, where said transferring belt is located.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 43 words

The color image forming apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said plurality of toner containers are arranged in said toner container setting part in an order not corresponding to an order of said plurality of image forming units arranged along said transferring belt.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 29 words

The color image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein upper surfaces of said plurality of toner containers inserted into said receiving member are substantially at a uniform level.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 52 words

The color image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a toner container of said plurality of toner containers, which has a largest toner containing capacity among said plurality of toner containers, is set at a front side in said toner container setting part in a depth-wise direction of said main body.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 57 words

The color image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a toner container of said plurality of toner containers, which has a longest length in a direction said plurality of containers are inserted into said receiving member, is set at a front side in said toner container setting part in a depth-wise direction of said main body.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 44 words

The color image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a toner container of said plurality of toner containers, which is most frequently replaced, is set at a front side in said toner container setting part in a depth-wise direction of said main body.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 43 words

The color image forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a toner container of said plurality of toner containers, which contains black toner, is set at a front side in said toner container setting part in a depth-wise direction of said main body.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 44 words

The color image forming apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cover configured to cover partially exposed portions of said plurality of toner containers inserted in said receiving member, said cover being provided on said main body and configured to open and close.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 162 words

A set of a plurality of toner containers for setting in a setting part of a color image forming apparatus, the setting part being configured to set a plurality of toner containers individually, the setting part including a receiving member to receive the plurality of toner containers inserted therein, and the setting part being further configured so that the plurality of toner containers inserted into the receiving member are partially exposed, each of the toner containers comprising: a deformable toner bag for containing toner; and a case to accommodate said deformable toner bag, wherein said case of a toner container of the plurality of toner containers, which is set at a front side in the setting part in a depth-wise direction of the color image forming apparatus, is longer than said case of other toner containers of the plurality of toner containers in a direction the plurality of toner containers are inserted into the setting part of the color image forming apparatus.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 162 words

A set of a plurality of toner containers for setting in a setting part of a color image forming apparatus, the setting part being configured to set a plurality of toner containers individually, the setting part including a receiving member to receive the plurality of toner containers inserted therein, and the setting part being further configured so that the plurality of toner containers inserted into the receiving member are partially exposed, each of the toner containers comprising: a deformable toner bag for containing toner; and a case to accommodate said deformable toner bag, wherein said case of a toner container of the plurality of toner containers, which is set at a front side in the setting part in a depth-wise direction of the color image forming apparatus, is longer than said case of other toner containers of the plurality of toner containers in a direction the plurality of toner containers are inserted into the setting part of the color image forming apparatus.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 65 words

The set of the plurality of toner containers of claim 16 , wherein a width of said case of the toner container of the plurality of toner containers, which is set at the front side in the setting part in the depth-wise direction of the color image forming apparatus, is greater than a width of the other toner containers of the plurality of toner containers.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 141 words

A toner replenishing apparatus for replenishing a developing device with a toner in a color image forming apparatus, said toner replenishing apparatus comprising: a setting part configured to set a plurality of toner containers individually therein, each of said toner containers containing said toner of a different color, and said setting part including a receiving member configured to receive said plurality of toner containers inserted therein; and a toner conveying device to convey said toner contained, in each of said plurality of toner containers set in said setting part, to the developing device, wherein said plurality of toner containers, inserted into said receiving member, are partially exposed, and wherein said receiving member differs in length in a direction said plurality of toner containers are inserted therein, according to a length of a corresponding toner container of said plurality of toner containers.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 141 words

A toner replenishing apparatus for replenishing a developing device with a toner in a color image forming apparatus, said toner replenishing apparatus comprising: a setting part configured to set a plurality of toner containers individually therein, each of said toner containers containing said toner of a different color, and said setting part including a receiving member configured to receive said plurality of toner containers inserted therein; and a toner conveying device to convey said toner contained, in each of said plurality of toner containers set in said setting part, to the developing device, wherein said plurality of toner containers, inserted into said receiving member, are partially exposed, and wherein said receiving member differs in length in a direction said plurality of toner containers are inserted therein, according to a length of a corresponding toner container of said plurality of toner containers.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 53 words

The toner replenishing apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said receiving member is opened at an upper part thereof, so that said plurality of toner containers can be inserted therein and drawn there out from above, and wherein upper parts, of said plurality of toner containers inserted in said receiving member, are exposed.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 29 words

The toner replenishing apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said plurality of toner containers set in said setting part are arranged parallel to each other in a straight line.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 61 words

The toner replenishing apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the color image forming apparatus includes a transferring belt to convey a transfer sheet and a plurality of image forming units arranged along the transferring belt, and wherein said plurality of toner containers, set in said setting part, are arranged in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the transferring belt.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 51 words

The toner replenishing apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the moving direction of the transferring belt is in a width-wise direction of the color image forming apparatus, and wherein said plurality of toner containers, set in said setting part, are arranged in a depth-wise direction of the color image forming apparatus.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 41 words

The toner replenishing apparatus of claim 22 , wherein said plurality of toner containers, set in said setting part, are arranged at an upper part of the color image forming apparatus substantially along an edge of the color image forming apparatus.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 55 words

The toner replenishing apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the transferring belt of the color image forming apparatus is slanted so that a first end thereof is lower than a second end thereof, and wherein said setting part is provided above the first end of the transferring belt, which is lower than the second end.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 61 words

The toner replenishing apparatus of claim 24 , wherein a toner container of said plurality of toner containers, which is set at a front side in said setting part in a depth-wise direction of the color image forming apparatus, is located outside of an area in a width-wise direction of the color image forming apparatus where the transferring belt is located.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 40 words

The toner replenishing apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said plurality of toner containers are arranged in said setting part in an order not corresponding to an order of the plurality of image forming units arranged along the transferring belt.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 28 words

The toner replenishing apparatus of claim 18 , wherein upper surfaces, of said plurality of toner containers inserted into said receiving member, are substantially at a uniform level.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 51 words

The toner replenishing apparatus of claim 18 , wherein a toner container of said plurality of toner containers, which has a largest toner containing capacity among said plurality of toner containers, is set at a front side in said setting part in a depth-wise direction of the color image forming apparatus.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 56 words

The toner replenishing apparatus of claim 18 , wherein a toner container of said plurality of toner containers, which has a longest length in a direction said plurality of containers are inserted into said receiving member, is set at a front side in said setting part in a depth-wise direction of the color image forming apparatus.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 43 words

The toner replenishing apparatus of claim 18 , wherein a toner container of said plurality of toner containers, which is most frequently replaced, is set at a front side in said setting part in a depth-wise direction of the color image forming apparatus.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 42 words

The toner replenishing apparatus of claim 18 , wherein a toner container of said plurality of toner containers, which contains black toner, is set at a front side in said setting part in a depth-wise direction of the color image forming apparatus.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 45 words

The toner replenishing apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising a cover configured to cover partially exposed portions of said plurality of toner containers inserted in said receiving member, said cover being provided to the color image forming apparatus and configured to open and close.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 97 words

A color image forming apparatus, comprising: a main body; and setting means for setting a plurality of toner containers individually, each of said plurality of toner containers containing a toner of a different color, said setting means including receiving means for receiving said plurality of toner containers inserted therein, wherein said plurality of toner containers inserted in said receiving means are partially exposed, and wherein said receiving means differs in length in a direction said plurality of toner containers are inserted therein, according to a length of a corresponding toner container of said plurality of toner containers.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 97 words

A color image forming apparatus, comprising: a main body; and setting means for setting a plurality of toner containers individually, each of said plurality of toner containers containing a toner of a different color, said setting means including receiving means for receiving said plurality of toner containers inserted therein, wherein said plurality of toner containers inserted in said receiving means are partially exposed, and wherein said receiving means differs in length in a direction said plurality of toner containers are inserted therein, according to a length of a corresponding toner container of said plurality of toner containers.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 136 words

A toner replenishing apparatus to replenish a developing device with a toner in a color image forming apparatus, said toner replenishing apparatus comprising: setting means for setting a plurality of toner containers individually therein, each of said plurality of toner containers containing said toner of a different color, said setting means including receiving means for receiving said plurality of toner containers inserted therein; and conveying means for conveying said toner contained in each of said plurality of toner containers, set in said setting means, to the developing device, wherein said plurality of toner containers, inserted into said receiving means, are partially exposed, and wherein said receiving means differs in length in a direction said plurality of toner containers are inserted therein, according to a length of a corresponding toner container of said plurality of toner containers.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 136 words

A toner replenishing apparatus to replenish a developing device with a toner in a color image forming apparatus, said toner replenishing apparatus comprising: setting means for setting a plurality of toner containers individually therein, each of said plurality of toner containers containing said toner of a different color, said setting means including receiving means for receiving said plurality of toner containers inserted therein; and conveying means for conveying said toner contained in each of said plurality of toner containers, set in said setting means, to the developing device, wherein said plurality of toner containers, inserted into said receiving means, are partially exposed, and wherein said receiving means differs in length in a direction said plurality of toner containers are inserted therein, according to a length of a corresponding toner container of said plurality of toner containers.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2006-01-13	2006-07-15	2007-01-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2010-01-13	2010-07-15	2011-01-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2014-01-13	2014-07-15	2015-01-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Color image forming apparatus and toner replenishing apparatus each including plural toner containers received in receiving member of setting part and toner containers therefor

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