Electrophotography – Image formation – Development
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-01
2003-04-01
Braun, Fred L (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Image formation
Development
Reexamination Certificate
active
06542709
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a developer container for use in a copy machine or the like and, more particularly to such a developer container, which uses a gear transmission mechanism to couple a mixer to a propel screw so that developer is mixed when propelled out of the developer container into the copy machine.
FIG. 1
shows a developer container constructed according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,685. According to this design, the developer container comprises a container body A, a mixer B revolvably supported in the container body A and adapted to mix developer, a connector B
1
fixedly fastened to one end of the mixer B outside the container body A, a developer output port D, a propelling screw C revolvably supported in the container body A and adapted to propel developer out of the container body A through the developer output port D, and a second connector C
1
fixedly fastened to one end of the propelling screw C outside the container body A. When inserted into the copy machine, the first connector B
1
and the second connector C
1
are respectively coupled to two separate transmission mechanisms in the copy machine, i.e., the copy machine to be used with the developer container must have two transmission mechanisms for rotating the mixer B and the propelling screw C respectively.
FIG. 2
shows another design of developer container constructed according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,453. This structure of developer container comprises a container body E, the container body E having an axially extended developer guide groove F and a developer output port F
1
at one end of the developer guide groove F, a propelling screw G supported in the developer guide groove F and adapted to propel developer out of the developer guide groove F through the developer output port F
1
, and an end cap H sealing the developer output port F
1
. Before inserting the developer container into the copy machine, the end cap H must be removed with force. Further, because this structure of developer container has no means to mix developer, laminar flow of developer tends to occur, affecting copying quality.
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 automatically mixes developer when driven to propel developer into the copy machine. It is another object of the present invention to provide a developer container, which enables the copy machine to drive the developer mixer and the developer propelling screw through one single driving mechanism. According to one aspect of the present invention, the developer container comprises an elongated container body holding a developer, a developer supply trough integral with the container body and adapted to guide developer out of the container body, a mixer mounted in the developer container and adapted to mix the developer, a propelling screw mounted in the developer supply trough for connection to the driving mechanism of a copy machine for free rotation to propel the developer out of the developer supply trough, and a transmission mechanism coupled between the propelling screw and the mixer for enabling the mixer to be rotated to mix the developer in the container body upon rotary motion of the propelling screw. According to another aspect of the present invention, the transmission mechanism comprises a driving gear fixedly fastened to one end of the propelling screw, a driven gear fixedly fastened to one end of the mixer, and a transmission gear meshed between the driving gear and the driven gear. According to still another aspect of the present invention, a slide is coupled to the developer supply trough and moved axially along the developer supply trough to close/open a developer output port in an end cap at one end of the developer supply trough.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5331381 (1994-07-01), Ota et al.
patent: 5970293 (1999-10-01), Huang
patent: 6091920 (2000-07-01), Kita et al.
patent: 6128453 (2000-10-01), Ban et al.
patent: 6229976 (2001-05-01), Kimura
Hsu Robin
Huang Ching Yu
Tung Li Kuan
Wang Jui-Chi
Braun Fred L
General Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.
Pro-Techtor Inter-national Services
LandOfFree
Developer container with commonly driven mixer and toner supply does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Developer container with commonly driven mixer and toner supply, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Developer container with commonly driven mixer and toner supply will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3011999