Electrophotography – Internal machine environment – Particle or contaminant control
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-16
2004-07-06
Chen, Sophia S. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Internal machine environment
Particle or contaminant control
C399S099000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06760556
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a sealing member of a toner container, said sealing member having a film with a central strip to be torn off. The sealing member is associated with a wiping element so as to clean the torn central strip.
THE PRIOR ART
Sealing member for toner container, such as toner container of toner cartridges of copier, laser printer, printer, etc. comprising a sealing film with a central strip intended to be torn off. When the sealing film closes an opening of a toner container, the face of the central strip directed towards the inner side of the container is provided with toner particles. When tearing said strip, particles present on the strip can be liberated in the atmosphere, whereby causing a risk of soiling the hands or clothing of the operator.
For solving this problem, it has already been proposed to provide on the toner container a wiping element intended to be in contact with the torn strip during its removal from the sealing film. (see UK 2 286 062). However this solution has the drawback that two distinct operations are required when recycling a toner container, as the sealing member and the wiping element have to be replaced. It means also that the risk exist that the wiping element is not correctly placed, although the sealing member is correctly placed, and inversely. Furthermore, as the wiping element is distant from the sealing film, the wiping element does not form an appropriate guiding means for the pulling means and for the torn strip.
Sealing films have already been provided with foam layers, such as a foam layer with a central slot.
For example U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,559 and UK 2 289 238 (DE KESEL) disclose a sealing film provided with a foam layer, whereby when tearing the central strip, the pulling means and thereafter the central strip contact a part of the foam. According to said US patent, said part of the foam contacting the torn central strip is advantageously provided with a layer with a low friction coefficient. As the foam layer is pressed between a surface of the container and a surface of an element supporting a roller, a wiping or cleaning of the central strip is obtained. Said wiping or cleaning is not optimum for example along the edges of the torn central strip.
A similar foam element for wiping the central strip is also taught in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2001/0033909.
The invention relates to sealing members ensuring an excellent cleaning or wiping of the torn strip, even along its longitudinal edges, so as to prevent substantially any soils risks.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a sealing member for sealing an opening of a surface of a toner container for laser printers, copy machines and fax machines, said sealing member comprising:
a sealing film comprising a first portion with a first face directed towards the surface for sealing the opening of the toner container and a second face opposite to said first face, said first portion comprising a longitudinal central strip intended to be torn off, said central strip extending from a first end up to a second end and having a substantially predetermined width,
a wiping element for wiping the portion of the first face of the sealing film corresponding to the central strip when contacting the torn central strip with the wiping element,
a pulling member bound to the first end of the central strip, said pulling member being intended to extend before the tearing off of the central strip at least partly above the second face of the sealing film,
in which the wiping element is attached a component selected from the group consisting of the sealing film, a foam layer attached to the sealing film, a non foam support attached to the sealing film, and combinations thereof, by at least a connecting means selected from the group consisting of:
combinations of at least a first welding and a second welding;
one connecting element attached to the component by a first welding and a second welding,
two distinct connecting elements, a first of which is attached to the component by a first welding, while the second is attached to the component by a second welding,
two distinct connecting elements, a first of which is attached to a first component by a first welding, while the second is attached to another component by a second welding, and
combinations thereof,
whereby the first welding and the second welding are distant from each other so as to define there between a passage for the torn central strip.
By using weldings, such as welding lines, it is possible to define very precisely the edges of the passage and to ensure an excellent bond between the wiping element and the sealing film, a foam layer glued on the sealing film, a substantially rigid support attached to the sealing film, etc., whereby preventing the accidental tearing of the wiping element during the tearing of the central strip.
Welding lines or points are also very appropriate for so as to ensure a higher compression of the wiping element along its portions having to contact the longitudinal edges of the torn central strip and/or for ensuring a transversal stretching of the wiping element with respect to the sealing film.
The invention relates also to a toner container, the opening of which is sealed with a film of the invention, as well as to a toner cartridge provided with such a toner container.
The invention relates also to a sealing member for sealing an opening of a surface of a toner container for laser printers, copy machines and fax machines, said sealing member comprising:
a sealing film with a first face intended to be directed towards the surface for sealing the opening of the toner container and a second face opposite to said first face, said film comprising a longitudinal central strip intended to be torn off, said central strip extending from a first end up to a second end and having a substantially predetermined width,
a wiping element for wiping the portion of the first face of the sealing film corresponding to the central strip when contacting the torn central strip with the wiping element, the wiping element having two lateral side portions and a central portion extending between said lateral portions,
a pulling member bound to the first end of the central strip, said pulling member being intended to extend before the tearing off of the central strip at least partly above the second face of the sealing film,
in which the wiping element is attached to a component selected from the group consisting of the sealing film, a foam layer attached to the sealing film, a non foam support attached to the sealing film, and combinations thereof, by at least one connecting means ensuring or adapted for ensuring when the sealing film seals the opening of the surface of the container, a pressure between the lateral portions of the wiping element and the surface with the sealed opening, while defining a passage between said lateral portions of the wiping element, and between the central portion of the wiping element and the component.
The invention further relates to a toner container provided with such a sealing member or provided with a connecting means ensuring a pressure between the lateral portions of the wiping element and the surface with the sealed opening.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
In the present specification, wiping and cleaning are used for designating the removal of toner particles present on the central strip, when the central strip is torn out of the sealing film.
The invention relates to a sealing member for sealing an opening of a surface of a toner container for laser printers, copy machines and fax machines, said sealing member comprising:
a sealing film comprising a first portion with a first face directed towards the surface for sealing the opening of the toner container and a second face opposite to said first face, said scaling film comprising a longitudinal central strip intended to be torn off, said central strip extending from a first end up to a second end and having a substantially predetermined width,
a wiping element f
De Kesel Jan
Sirejacob Gino
Van Betsbrugge Alexander
CF Technologies
Chen Sophia S.
Darby & Darby
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