Electrophotography – Image formation – Development
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-17
2004-04-13
Grimley, Arthur T. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Image formation
Development
C399S262000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06721525
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toner supply container for replenishing toner into an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer, and more particularly, to a toner supply container for replenishing toner into an image forming apparatus, that has a first container for receiving toner and a second container for accommodating toner and providing toner to the first container, where the second container is replaceable by a third container that is substantially identical to the second container.
2. Background
Heretofore, toner in the form of fine particles is used as a developer in the image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer. When the developer in a main assembly of the image forming apparatus is used, the toner is supplied into the image forming apparatus using a toner supply container.
When the toner is used up, a new toner supply container with a supply of the toner is provided to replace the toner supply container, which then is discarded. However, conventional toner supply container currently available in the market includes installed therein at least a photosensitive member, a developing unit, a charger, and other parts and/or devices such as a cleaning device for processing the image. Thus, when a conventional toner supply container is discarded after the toner is used up, the conventional toner supply container as a whole is discarded with the parts and/or devices installed therein even if these parts and/or devices are often in good condition and can still be used. This not only results in a waste of materials and manufacturing time and cost, but also creates wastes that may endanger the environment.
Thus, there is a need to develop a new type of toner supplying container that overcomes the deficiencies of the conventional toner supplying container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a toner supplying container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus. The toner supplying container in one embodiment has a first container for receiving toner and a second container for accommodating toner and providing toner to the first container.
The first container has a first end, an opposite second end, and a body defined between the first end and the opposite second end, wherein the body has a first surface, a second surface with a plurality of openings formed thereon for receiving a supply of toner into the body and an interior surface.
The second container has a first end, an opposite second end, and a body defined between the first end and the opposite second end, wherein the body has an interior surface defining a volume for accommodating toner, a first surface and a second surface with a plurality of openings formed thereon communicating with the volume and corresponding to the plurality of openings formed on the second surface of the first container for permitting a supply of the toner into the body of the first container.
Moreover, the toner supplying container has a releasable locking mechanism for releasably locking the first container with the second container at a predetermined position. The releasable locking mechanism has a supporting member projecting away from the second surface of the first container at the first end of the container. In one embodiment, the supporting member has a first side surface, a second side surface, an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the first side surface has an opening partially defined by a first surface portion, a second surface portion and an edge portion connecting the first surface portion and the second surface portion.
A locking projection is provided at the first surface of the second container for engaging with the supporting member of the first container. In one embodiment, the locking projection has an engagement portion adapted to be received in the opening of the first side surface of the supporting member and engage with the edge portion of the supporting member when the second container is shifted to be mounted on the first container at the predetermined position.
Additionally, at least one guiding member is provided on the second surface of the first container, wherein in one embodiment the guiding member has a groove and a length. At least one projection is provided on the second surface of the second container complimentary to the guiding member on the second surface of the first container so that when the second container is shifted to be mounted on the first container at the predetermined position, the projection is received in the groove of the guiding member so as to be engaged by the guiding member. Moreover, when the second container is shifted away from the predetermined position, the engagement portion of the locking projection disengages the edge portion of the supporting member and the projection disengages the guiding member so as to allow the second container to be released from the first container.
The releasable locking mechanism may further include additional guiding members and additional projections. Each guiding member is provided on the second surface of the first container, having a groove and a length. Each projection is provided on the second surface of the second container complimentary to one of the additional guiding members on the second surface of the first container. When the second container is shifted to be mounted on the first container at the predetermined position, each additional projection is received in the groove of a corresponding additional guiding member so as to be engaged by the additional guiding member. Moreover, each pair of neighboring projections defines a recess therebetween to allow each projection is slidably received into the groove of a corresponding guiding member.
The releasable locking mechanism may further include a matching guiding member and a corresponding matching recess for preventing misengagement of the first container and the second container. In one embodiment, the matching guiding member is provided on the second surface of the first container, having a groove and a length that is different from the length of each guiding member, and the matching recess is provided on the second surface of the second container complimentarily to the matching guiding member on the second surface of the first container, wherein the matching recess is characterized by a width that is substantially same to the length of the matching guiding member to allow the matching guiding member to be received in the matching recess before a projection is received in the groove of the matching guiding member, when the second container is shifted to be mounted on the first container at the predetermined position, so as to be engaged by the matching guiding member.
The first container further includes a first seal member provided on the second surface for preventing toner from spilling. The first seal member can take various shapes, and be made from various materials. In one embodiment, the first seal member comprises a foam member that has a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of openings formed on the second surface of the first container to allow the supply of toner to be received into the body of the first container. The first container may further comprise a second seal member for covering the plurality of openings formed on the second surface of the first container. The first and second seal members can be made from same or different materials.
The second container may further include a first seal member provided on the second surface for preventing toner from spilling. The first seal member can take various shapes, and be made from various materials. In one embodiment, the first seal member comprises a foam member that has a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of openings formed on the second surface of the second container to allow the supply of toner into the body of the first container. The second container may further comprise a second seal member for co
Chen Chung Yu
Hsieh Hui-Wen
Hsu Yung-Nan
Huang Ya-Li
Ko Ting-Hsuan
General Plastics Industrial Co., Ltd.
Gleitz Ryan
Grimley Arthur T.
Morris Manning & Martin
Tingkang Xia, Esq. Tim
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