Electrophotography – Internal machine environment – Particle or contaminant control
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-17
2001-05-08
Grimley, Arthur T. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Internal machine environment
Particle or contaminant control
C222SDIG001, C399S260000, C399S262000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06229973
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a developer container for use with an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a developer passage control arrangement for a developer container.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,270 discloses a developer container, which comprises a container portion having an opening through which developer is supplied in or out, a shutter member for opening and closing the opening, a slide guide for guiding the shutter member. This structure of developer container requires much operation space. Further, the shutter member tends to be damaged, stuck, or disconnected from the developer container during its operation. U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,638 discloses a developer container cover with rotary sealing means for a developer container, which is an invention of the present inventor. This design eliminates the drawbacks of the aforesaid developer container. However, because the rotating sealing member is a cylindrical member having a transverse through hole for the passing of the developer when in the open position, less amount of developer is allowed to pass through the connector element.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished to provide a developer container, which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. It is one object of the present invention to provide a developer container, which requires less operation space. It is another object of the present invention to provide a developer container, which can easily and positively turned between the open position and the close position, and enables sufficient amount of developer to be supplied to the image forming apparatus when turned to the open position. According to the present invention, a connector element is provided to connect a container body to an image forming apparatus, and a rotating sealing member is rotated in an inside chamber in the connector element to close/open the developer passage through the connector element. The rotating sealing member has a flat shutter board, which closes the developer passage through the connector element when turned with the rotating sealing member to a horizontal position, or opens the developer passage through the connector element when turned with the rotating sealing member from the horizontal position to a vertical position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5040024 (1991-08-01), Fukuda et al.
patent: 5249020 (1993-09-01), Takano
patent: 5337125 (1994-08-01), Nakano et al.
patent: 5655179 (1997-08-01), Ueda et al.
patent: 5710963 (1998-01-01), Dirx
patent: 6018638 (2000-01-01), Li
Hsu Robin
Kuan-Tung Li
Wang Jui-Chi
Ya-Li Huang
Grimley Arthur T.
Ngo Hoang
Pro-Techtor Inter-national Services
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