Electrophotography – Diagnostics – Consumable
Reexamination Certificate
2003-02-19
2004-09-21
Ngo, Hoang (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Diagnostics
Consumable
C399S028000, C399S120000, C399S255000, C399S258000, C399S262000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06795660
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a developer replenishment unit for replenishing a developing unit in an image formation apparatus such as an electrophotographic copier or printer with a developer and an image formation apparatus comprising the developer replenishment unit and in particular to a developer replenishment unit for notifying the user of the need for replenishing with toner and controlling prohibiting image formation depending on the remaining amount of toner and an image formation apparatus comprising the developer replenishment unit.
The invention can be used particularly suitably for a developer replenishment unit having a supply vessel (reserve tank) for temporarily storing toner in apart of a supply passage and an image formation apparatus comprising the developer replenishment unit.
2. Background Art
Since an electrophotographic copier, printer, etc., for the user frequently using the copier, printer, etc., consumes a large amount of toner, if a toner cartridge can contain a large amount of toner as much as possible, the number of cartridge replacing times can be lessened and the load on the user can be lightened. However, if one toner cartridge contains a large amount of toner, it is necessary to increase output of a motor for driving a toner transport member in the cartridge and there is a possibility that toner in the cartridge will coagulate. Since the cartridge also becomes large and heavy, the operability when the user replaces the cartridge, etc., worsens. Since a full-color machine needs to use four color toners, limitation on space is large and if only a black toner cartridge frequently used is put into a large capacity, there is a problem of increasing cost, etc.
To solve the problems, the following related arts are known:
Related Art (J
01
)
In Related art (J
01
), there provided a plurality of toner cartridges attached to and detached from an image formation apparatus (image formation means) and toner transport tubes being connected to the toner cartridges and merged at midpoint for transporting toner to a developing unit. A sensor for detecting the presence or absence of toner is placed after the toner transport tubes are merged.
In this art, cartridges of all colors can be made common and it is made possible to use a plurality of toner cartridges of only the color frequently used.
Related Art (J
02
)
In related art (J
02
), toner supplied from a toner cartridge is once stored in a toner reserve tank and then a developing unit is replenished with the toner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problem of Related Art (J
01
)
In the related art (J
01
), when toners in all toner cartridges run out or when only one of cartridges is placed and becomes empty of toner, toner scarcely remains in the toner transport tube and thus there is a problem of need for immediately prohibiting the image formation operation.
Problem of Related Art (J
02
)
In the related art (J
02
), the image formation operation can be performed in toner in the toner reserve tank for a while until the toner cartridge is replaced with a new one after the toner cartridge becomes empty of toner. However, there is a problem of increasing cost if a reserve tank and a remaining amount sensor for detecting the remaining amount of toner are provided for each toner cartridge.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a developer replenishment unit for replenishing a developing unit with toner and an image formation apparatus comprising the developer replenishment unit for making it possible to:
(O
01
) detect the presence or absence of toner in all toner cartridges without providing a reserve tank and without providing a remaining amount sensor for each toner cartridge;
(O
02
) continue image formation without prohibiting the image formation operation immediately when the placed toner cartridge becomes empty of toner; and
(O
03
) reduce the burden on the user at the cartridge replacing time and also decrease the cost without putting a cartridge containing toner frequently used and consumed in a large amount into a large capacity. Next, the invention solving the problems will be discussed. In the description of the invention, the reference numerals in parentheses following the components of the invention are those of the components of an embodiment described later corresponding to the components of the invention. The reason why the invention will be discussed with the components related to the reference numerals of the components of the embodiment described later is that understanding of the invention is facilitated; the scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiment.
To the ends, according to the invention, there is provided a developer replenishment unit comprising the following components (A
01
) to (A
08
):
(A
01
) two contiguous cartridge placement members (
4
k
and
6
k
) each in which a developer cartridge (Kk) having a developer replenishment vessel (
42
k
) for storing a replenishment developer therein, the developer replenishment vessel having a replenishment port (
44
k
) for ejecting the stored developer, and a cartridge transport member (
51
+
52
) being supported for rotation in the developer replenishment vessel (
42
k
) for ejecting the developer from the replenishment port (
44
k
) when the cartridge transport member rotates is placed detachably;
(A
02
) a reserve tank (H
2
k
) having an inflow port (
4
bk
,
6
bk
) into which the developers ejected from the replenishment ports (
44
k
) of the two developer cartridges (Kk) placed in the two contiguous cartridge placement members (
4
k
and
6
k
), the two developer cartridges being named first and second developer cartridges (Kk
1
and Kk
2
), flow, a circulation passage (
11
+
12
) for circulating the influent developer, and a supply port (
16
k
) for ejecting the developer circulating in the circulation passage (
11
+
12
);
(A
03
) a supply transport member (
23
k
) being supported for rotation in the reserve tank (H
2
k
) for ejecting the developer in the reserve tank (H
2
k
) from the supply port (
16
k
) when the supply transport member rotates;
(A
04
) a developer transport member (
1
k
) for transporting the developer ejected from the supply port (
16
k
) to a developing unit (Gk) for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image support (PRk) surface to a toner image;
(A
05
) a cartridge drive (MB
2
k
) having a first cartridge drive (MB
2
k
1
) and a second cartridge drive (MB
2
k
2
) for separately rotating the cartridge transport members (
51
+
52
) of the first cartridge (Kk
1
) and the second cartridge (Kk
2
);
(A
06
) a supply drive (MB
1
k
) for rotating the supply transport member (
23
k
) in the reserve tank (H
2
k
);
(A
07
) a storage amount sensor (SN
1
k
) for sensing whether or not the storage amount of the developer in the reserve tank (H
2
k
) is a predetermined amount or more; and
(A
08
) cartridge control means (C
5
) for controlling operation of the cartridge drive (MB
2
k
) so that the detection value of the storage amount sensor (SN
1
k
) indicates presence.
In the developer replenishment unit of the invention, the number of the developer cartridges (Kk) is not limited to two and may be three or more (namely, at least two) That is, it is also possible to place three or more developer cartridges (Kk) in the three or more contiguous cartridge placement members (
4
k
,
6
k
).
In the developer replenishment unit of the invention comprising the components (A
01
) to (A
08
), the cartridge transport member (
51
+
52
) of the developer cartridge (Kk) ejects the replenishment developer stored in the developer replenishment vessel (
42
k
) from the replenishment port (
44
k
) when the cartridge transport member rotates. The cartridge transport member (
51
+
52
) of the first cartridge (Kk
1
) and the second cartridge (Kk
2
) placed in the two contiguous cartridge placement members (
4
k
and
6
k
) are rotated separately by the cartridge drive (MB
2
k
) having the first cartridge drive (MB
2
k
1
) and the
Takashima Yoshiyuki
Yugeta Satoru
Fuji 'Xerox Co., Ltd.
Morgan & Lewis & Bockius, LLP
Ngo Hoang
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