Electrophotography – Image formation – Development
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-21
2001-10-02
Chen, Sophia S. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Image formation
Development
C399S103000, C399S258000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298208
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a toner container for replenishing toner to a developing section included in a copier, printer, facsimile apparatus or similar electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
Generally, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developing section for developing a latent image electrostatically formed on a photoconductive element with toner. A toner container for replenishing toner to the developing section has been proposed in various forms in the past. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 7-5759 and 7-20705, for example, each disclose a toner container including a hollow cylindrical body. The body has a mouth or toner outlet at one end thereof and is formed with a spiral groove in its circumferential wall. An inner cap is fitted in the mouth in order to close the mouth. An outer cap is screwed onto the outer periphery of the mouth over the inner cap in order to prevent the inner cap stopping the mouth from slipping out. This is successful to convey the toner stored in the body to the mouth while agitating it without resorting to an agitator otherwise positioned in the body and therefore to prevent the toner from cohering.
However, the problem with the above conventional toner container is that it is troublesome to deal with the inner cap and outer cap. Particularly, when the toner container is mounted to or dismounted from the developing section, the toner is apt to leak from the container and contaminate surroundings.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-149006 teaches a toner container not including an inner cap or an outer cap. Specifically, the toner container is formed with a toner outlet in its circumferential wall. An agitator is disposed in the container for conveying toner stored in the container to the toner outlet while agitating it. This kind of toner container has a problem that it needs a sophisticated structure including the toner outlet and agitator and is difficult to produce and expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a toner container capable of preventing toner from leaking and contaminating surroundings and capable of feeding the toner stably to the developing section of an image forming apparatus with a simple structure.
In accordance with the present invention, in a toner container including a body and a replenishing portion for replenishing toner stored in the container to a developing device, the body is hollow cylindrical and formed with a spiral groove in its inner circumferential surface while the replenishing portion is hollow cylindrical and formed with an openable toner outlet in its circumferential wall. The body includes a mouth coaxially rotatably supported by the replenishing portion via a seal member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5557382 (1996-09-01), Tatsumi et al.
patent: 5797073 (1998-08-01), Russell
patent: 5909609 (1999-06-01), Yahata et al.
patent: 5918090 (1999-06-01), Ichikawa et al.
patent: 6032013 (2000-02-01), Nizawa
patent: 7005759 (1995-01-01), None
patent: 7020705 (1995-01-01), None
patent: 7199618 (1995-08-01), None
patent: 7295356 (1995-11-01), None
patent: 10149006 (1998-06-01), None
Kawamura Yoshihide
Ogata Fumio
Chen Sophia S.
Cooper & Dunham LLP
Ricoh & Company, Ltd.
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