Electrophotography – Image formation – Development
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-28
2001-11-27
Chen, Sophia S. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Image formation
Development
C399S106000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324371
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toner cartridge for use in an electrophotographic image recording apparatus such as printers and copying machines.
2. Description of the Related Art
Toner cartridges can be classified into two types according to their outer shapes: a substantial cylindrical housing and an unconventionally-shaped housing, which is a combination of cylinder and other shapes.
An unconventionally-shaped toner cartridge has a sealing member that closes a toner exit formed in the housing. After the toner cartridge has been installed into the printer, the sealing member is removed so that the toner cascades into the developing unit of the printer.
A conventional cylinder type toner cartridge includes a substantially cylindrical housing and a cylindrical or arcuate shutter rotatably inserted into the cylindrical housing in alignment with a toner exit formed in the cylindrical housing. When the shutter is rotated relative the housing, the shutter rotates between a closing position and an opening position, thereby closing or opening the toner exit. Until the toner cartridge has been installed, the shutter closes the toner exit to hold the toner in the cartridge. After the toner cartridge has been installed, the shutter is rotated to open the toner exit, thereby cascading the toner into the developing unit of the printer.
With the unconventionally-shaped housing, the sealing member that closes the toner exit is removed from the toner exit. Therefore, the toner exit remains open when the empty toner cartridge is taken out of the printer. Thus, the toner may scatter through the toner exit causing soiling of the interior of the printer. Thus, only remnants of the aforementioned unconventionally-shaped housing is difficult to handle when the empty toner cartridge is taken out.
A limitation of the conventional cylindrical housing is that the outer shape of the housing cannot be selected freely. The only way of providing a large-capacity housing is to increase the diameter of the cylindrical housing. Thus, it is difficult for the cylinder type toner cartridge to overcome a problem of limited mounting space in the printer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was made in view of the aforementioned drawbacks of the conventional toner cartridges.
An object of the invention is to provide a toner cartridge that is easy to handle when the cartridge is taken out of the printer and discarded.
Another object of the invention is to provide a toner cartridge that solves the problem of limited mounting space in the printer.
A toner cartridge comprises a housing and a shutter inserted therein. The housing has a first partially cylindrical wall and a box-like portion that communicates with the first partially cylindrical wall. The shutter has a second partially cylindrical wall inserted inside the first partially cylindrical wall such that the second partially cylindrical wall is slidable on and concentric with an inner surface of the first partially cylindrical wall. The shutter has a supporting member that engages the housing to support the shutter such that the second partially cylindrical wall is in pressure contact with the first partially cylindrical wall.
The supporting member may be an arcuate member that extends across circumferential ends of the second partially cylindrical wall and engages a part of the box-like portion so that the shutter is rotatably supported in the housing by the part and the first partially cylindrical wall.
The housing has a projection or rib that inwardly projects toward the first partially cylindrical wall. The projection abuts the arcuate member so that the shutter is rotatably supported in the housing by the arcuate member and the first partially cylindrical wall.
The projection has a stepped portion formed therein, the supporting member engages the stepped portion so that the shutter is positioned relative to the housing.
The shutter has a cylindrical portion adjacent the second partially cylindrical wall. The housing has a cylindrical portion into which the cylindrical portion of the shutter is slidably inserted. The cylindrical portion of the housing has a sealing member that wraps around the shutter's cylindrical portion to seal a gap between the two cylindrical portions.
The sealing member has longitudinal ends with shapes that fit together in a manner avoiding overlap.
When the shutter is at the toner-discharging position, the second partially cylindrical wall is aligned with the first partially cylindrical wall such that the second partially cylindrical wall is outside of a space defined by the box-like portion.
The housing extends in a longitudinal direction and has a small width portion and a large width portion adjacent to the small width portion.
The housing extends in a longitudinal direction and has a side plate that closes one of the two longitudinal ends of the housing. The side plate has a first engagement portion extending toward the housing and engages the housing, and the housing has a second engagement portion extending toward the side plate and engages the side plate.
The shutter has a toner agitating member that extends in a longitudinal direction of the shutter. A drive section is provided at one of longitudinal ends of the shutter. A sealing member provides a seal between the shutter and the drive section. The drive section drives the toner agitating member in rotation.
The shutter has a cylindrical portion adjacent the second partially cylindrical wall, and a wall that closes the cylindrical portion and is located between the drive section and the cylindrical portion. The wall has at least one projection that engages the sealing member to prevent from rotating when the drive section drives the toner agitating member in rotation.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5809384 (1998-09-01), Johroku et al.
patent: 6088556 (2000-07-01), Nagasaki et al.
patent: 6185401 (2001-02-01), Kanamori et al.
Kikuchi Ken
Murakami Shinichi
Okiyama Yoshitatsu
Chen Sophia S.
Oki Data Corporation
Rabin & Berdo P.C.
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