Electrophotography – Image formation – Development
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-03
2001-01-23
Lee, Susan S. Y. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Image formation
Development
C399S111000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178305
ABSTRACT:
The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei-10-314626 filed on Nov. 5, 1998, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toner cartridge installation structure for an electrophotographic machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are used various electrophotographic machines, including electrostatic copiers, laser facsimile machines, laser printers and the like, for generating images by utilizing technique known as electrostatic photography. A typical electrophotographic machine uses a photosensitized medium, in the form of a drum or a belt, having a photosensitized surface made of photoconductive insulating material. A charging unit is used to place a uniform electrostatic charge over the photosensitized surface preparatory to imaging. Then, a desired light image is either projected by an optical system or drawn by a laser beam scanner on the photosensitized surface, to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface. Thereafter, the latent image is developed with a developing material, powdery material referred to in the art as toner, to form a powder image on that surface. The powder image is then transferred to and fixed onto a support surface, such as a surface of a sheet of paper.
For developing the latent image, such electrophotographic machines include a developer unit, which is designed to apply toner to the photosensitized surface having a latent image formed thereon, and a toner dispenser for dispensing toner into the developer unit. A typical toner dispenser comprises a dispenser roller cooperating with a toner reservoir, which may be also referred to as a toner hopper. The dispenser roller may comprise a foam roller, for example. During development process, toner is either continuously or periodically dispensed from the toner reservoir into the developer unit by means of the dispenser roller.
The toner reservoir reserves a supply of toner therein. After use of the machine for a certain length of time, such as several weeks or months, the supply of toner in the toner reservoir is depleted, necessitating toner replenishment in the machine. In order to allow the user to conduct toner replenishment operation in a quick and clean manner, toner cartridges are widely used. A typical toner cartridge comprises an elongated vessel filed with an amount of toner. The elongated vessel is adapted to be installed in the machine such that it extends in a horizontal direction. The toner cartridge has an elongated bottom opening for discharging toner, which extends along the length of the toner cartridge. Before installation, the bottom opening is kept closed by a suitable closure member, which may be, for example, a strip of removable sealing tape. After installation of the toner cartridge in the machine, the bottom opening is opened to accomplish toner replenishment. Typically, a toner cartridge of this type is designed to be left in position after installed, until it is replaced with a new one when the replenished amount of toner is again depleted.
Many of the electrophotographic machines using this type of toner cartridge have a toner cartridge slot, defined within a body housing of the machine, for receiving the toner cartridge therein for installation of the toner cartridge in the machine. Typically, the slot (i) is elongated in shape, (ii) extends horizontally and (iii) has a mouth at one longitudinal end, through which the toner cartridge is inserted in and removed from the slot. In such case, the toner cartridge replacement operation involves removal of a used toner cartridge from such slot and insertion of a new one into such slot. This operation, however, is not always easy, in particular when the toner cartridge is relatively large and heavy, due to the relatively tight geometry of the slot. Accordingly, there has been a desire for a suitable means for facilitating toner cartridge replacement operation for an electrophotographic machine having a toner cartridge slot of the above-mentioned type.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a toner cartridge installation structure for an electrophotographic machine having such toner cartridge slot, in which the structure allows the operator to conduct toner cartridge replacement operation with great ease even when the toner cartridge is relatively large and heavy, as well as provides various other advantageous features.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a toner cartridge installation structure for an electrophotographic machine having a machine frame and a body housing enclosing the machine frame, wherein the electrophotographic machine uses an elongated toner cartridge for toner replenishment. The toner cartridge installation structure comprises a toner cartridge slot defined within the body housing for receiving therein the toner cartridge for installation of the toner cartridge in the electrophotographic machine. The slot (i) is elongated in shape, (ii) has a longitudinal axis extending in a first horizontal direction, (iii) is arranged such that the toner cartridge extends along the longitudinal axis of the slot when received in the slot and (iv) has a mouth at one longitudinal end thereof, through which the toner cartridge is inserted in and removed from the slot. The toner cartridge installation structure further comprises a slot door provided for the mouth of the slot, the slot door being supported by the machine frame so as to be movable between a first position for substantially closing the mouth and a second position for leaving the mouth open. The slot door has inner and outer sides, the inner side facing toward inside of the slot when the slot door is located at the first position while facing upward when the slot door is located at the second position. Further, the slot door has guide surfaces formed on the inner side thereof for guiding the toner cartridge to establish alignment of the toner cartridge relative to the slot preparatory to inserting the former into the latter.
The slot door may be preferably hinged to the machine frame for pivotal motion about a pivot axis, which extends below the mouth and in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction.
The slot door may preferably serve to substantially prevent ambient light from entering the slot when located at the first position.
The slot door may preferably comprise (i) a main wall having inner and outer surfaces substantially defining the inner and outer sides of the slot door, respectively, and (ii) edge walls extending upright from peripheral edges of the main wall toward the inner side of the slot door. The edge walls of the slot door serve both to (i) enhance prevention of ambient light from entering the slot achievable by the slot door and (ii) provide physical reinforcement of the slot door.
The guide surfaces of the slot door may be preferably adapted to guide the toner cartridge to establish alignment of the toner cartridge relative to the slot with respect to (i) orientation, (ii) vertical position and (iii) horizontal position along the second horizontal direction.
The toner cartridge may preferably have a substantially flat bottom surface with a pair of opposite, straight, parallel, side edges extending longitudinally of the toner cartridge, the bottom surface extending horizontally when the toner cartridge is installed in the electrophotographic machine. In such case, the slot door may comprise (i) a main wall having inner and outer surfaces defining the inner and outer sides of the slot door, respectively, and (ii) a pair of guide walls extending upright from the inner side of the slot door. The inner surface of the main wall has a flat surface portion which is so formed as to (i) extend horizontally when the slot door is located at the second position and (ii) serve to support the bottom surface of the toner cartridge, when the toner cartridge is plac
Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Lee Susan S. Y.
Tran Hoan
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