Electrophotography – Having particular structure – Remanufacturing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-29
2001-04-17
Grainger, Quana M. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Having particular structure
Remanufacturing
C399S119000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219506
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART
The present invention relates to a disassembling method for disassemblying a toner accommodating container suitable to supply the toner (developer) into the developing device of an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine, printer or the like to reuse the container.
Heretofore, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus has been used for a printer, copying machine or the like, wherein the developing device thereof uses developer (toner).
The toner is consumed with the execution of the image forming process, and therefore, the toner should be replenished timely.
For the toner supply, the use is made of a toner accommodating container (toner container), and the toner container is used not only for a copying machine wherein the toner is supplied therefrom all at onec, but also for a printer as terminal equipment of information equipment, such as a computer, facsimile machine, CAD or the like.
It is used also for a process cartridge.
The toner container is provided with a filling port for permitting filling of the toner into the container, and the filling port is plugged and sealed by a toner cap. Generally, the toner cap is made of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and is produced by injection molding. The toner cap is provided with several ribs around the cylindrical portion thereof so that it is press-fitted into the filling port.
In a recent example, a projected edge is formed all around the engaging portion of the filling port, and on the other hand, a groove is formed in the cap, wherein the edge of the filling port bites into the groove portion to accomplish sealing press-fitting.
For the reuse of the toner container and for the reuse of the members, they are crushed and reused as a molding material.
For example, in the case of a cap having several ribs provided on the cylindrical portion of the toner cap so as to provide press-fitting relative to the inner surface of the filling port of the toner container to accomplish the sealing, a flange portion of the cap is nipped and removed by a tool such as pench, plier or the like.
In a recent example, a projected edge portion is formed all around the portion of the filling port which is engaged with the cap, and a groove into which the edge portion of the filling port bites is formed all around the engaging surfaces of the cap to accoomplish press-fitting and sealing. In this case, the cap is not easily dropped during transportation, but correspondingly, it is difficult to remove the cap by nipping and pulling.
Therefore, a jig for cap removal is inserted through the toner discharging outlet of the toner container so that a force is imparted from the inside of the toner container to remove the cap.
However, when the cap is removed from the toner container and the process cartridge through the conventional method, the following problems arise.
In the case of the cap wherein several ribs are provided on the cylindrical portion of the toner cap, and the cap is press-fitted into the filling port of the toner container to effect the sealing, the cap is nipped and pulled by a tool capable of nipping the edge of the cap (for example, a pench or plier or the like). The edge of the filling port may be nipped by mistake, or the edge of the filling port may be inadvertenty dameged.
In the worst case, the chips are deposited on the toner container, and the chips may remain in the assembled parts.
In the case of the above-described recent cap, a jig for the cap dismounting is inserted through the toner discharging outlet of the toner container, and a force is imparted to the cap from the inside of the toner container. However, if the used toner containers or process cartridges are disassembled without classification all in a single disassembling operation line (to minimize the classification cost), two types of operations have to selectively be carried out, namely, “nipping and pulling the cap” or “removing the cap from the inside of the toner container using a jig.”
In the case of the cap sealing the filling port, the “removing the cap from the inside of the toner container using a jig.” can be fundamentally used for all cases, but the disassemblying setup has to be modified in view of the difference in shapes of the toner containers or the process cartridges, the difference of the filling ports in the positions and configurations, and the difference in the tools to be used for the dismounting.
It is the fact that toner containers and the process cartridges are not returned with classification.
It would be possible to classify the returned toner containers and process cartridges before the disassemblying process. But, it is costly, and it requires to provide different disassembling lines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a disassembling method for a toner accommodating container wherein an edge of the filling port is protected from damage or scraping when the cap is dismounted.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a disassembling method wherein the toner accommodating container can be disassembled efficiently without damage to the main body of the container irrespective of the configuration of the cap.
While the invention have been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4931838 (1990-06-01), Ban et al.
patent: 5110646 (1992-05-01), Prestel
patent: 5491542 (1996-02-01), Nagashima et al.
patent: 5778282 (1998-07-01), Nagashima
Morinaga Hiroumi
Nagashima Toshiaki
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Grainger Quana M.
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