Electrophotography – Image formation – Development
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-20
2001-02-13
Lee, Susan S. Y. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Image formation
Development
C222SDIG001
Reexamination Certificate
active
06188859
ABSTRACT:
Various developer replenishing container means for electrophotographic image forming apparatus have been disclosed. Examples are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,455,622; 5,500,719. These developer replenishing container means commonly comprise container body having a spiral guide rib around the inside wall and an opening at one end, and ratchet means at the opening through which the container body can be rotated by a driving mechanism inside the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. This design of developer replenishing container means in functional, however developer tends to be accumulated in gaps in the ratchet means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished to provide a developer replenishing container, which eliminates the aforesaid problem. According to the present invention, the developer replenishing container comprises a cylindrical body portion, a bottleneck, and a developer guide cone connected between the cylindrical body portion and the bottleneck to guide developer out of the cylindrical body portion via the bottleneck. The developer guide cone comprises a spiral guide wall portion defining a spiral developer flow passageway for guiding developer from the cylindrical body portion toward the bottleneck. The developer guide cone has a diameter made gradually reduced toward the bottleneck, and an angle of slope within about 15°~45°. The spiral guide wall portion has a depth within about 3~18 mm. The spiral developer flow passageway has a rear end smoothly extended to the bottleneck in a flush manner for guiding developer to the bottleneck.
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Hsu Robin
Huang Ya-Li
Li Kuan-Tung
Wang Jui-Chi
General Plastic Industrial Co.
Lee Susan S. Y.
Pro-Tchtor International Services
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