Electrophotography – Image formation – Development
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-28
2002-07-16
Grainger, Quana M. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Image formation
Development
C399S262000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06421518
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to a system for loading toner in an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
In conventional image forming apparatus, toner is used to form an image or images on a sheet or sheets of recording medium. An image forming member, such as a photoreceptor formed of a photosensitive material, is uniformly charged by a charging device. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the image forming member. A developing device supplies toner to the latent image formed on the image forming member to form a toner image.
Toner is supplied to the developing device from a toner source. The toner source may be a toner reservoir or hopper. Toner must be resupplied to the toner hopper when the level of toner in the hopper falls below a specified level. The toner is usually packaged and supplied in bottles or containers having a lid or cap. In order to resupply the toner hopper, the operator must remove the cap of the toner bottle and pour the toner from the bottle into the hopper. The toner often spills from the bottle prior to fitting the bottle opening to the hopper opening. During supply of the toner, the toner bottle must be moved back and forth across the hopper to evenly distribute the toner. During the back and forth movement of the toner bottle, the bottle may disengage from the hopper and toner may spill out of the bottle. The toner may also spill if the operator removes the toner bottle from the hopper before the toner bottle is empty. Even if the bottle is mostly empty, when the operator removes the bottle from the hopper, residual toner may spill or puff out of the bottle and soil the operator, the hopper, and/or the image forming apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The toner loading system according to the invention allows loading of toner without removing the cap or lid of the toner bottle. According to various exemplary embodiments the toner loading system, toner bottle and toner hopper according to the invention, the toner loading system includes a toner bottle fitted with a toner bottle valve that controls dispensing of the toner. The toner bottle valve includes a first valve member that is non-rotatably engageable with the opening of the toner bottle. The first valve member includes an aperture for dispensing the toner. A second valve member is rotatably secured to the first valve member and seals the aperture of the first valve member. The second valve member includes an aperture that may overlap the aperture of the first valve member to allow dispensing of the toner from the toner container. The first and second valve members each include a tab. The aperture of the first valve member does not overlap the aperture of the second valve member, and the toner may not be dispensed, when the tab of the first valve member is aligned with the tab of the second valve member.
In various exemplary embodiments of the toner loading system, toner bottle and toner hopper according to this invention, the toner bottle, including the first and second valve members, is engageable with a valve opening member that is slidably supported on the toner hopper. The tabs of the first and second valve members are received in a recess of the valve opening member. In a first exemplary embodiment of the toner loading system, toner bottle and toner hopper according to the invention, the valve opening member is a toner hopper adaptor that includes an annular projection including a slot having a groove extending from the slot. The tabs of the first and second valve members engage the slot. The tab of the second valve member is blocked from rotation by the slot while the tab of the first valve member may rotate in the groove. Rotating the toner bottle, and thus the first valve member, causes the apertures of the first valve member to overlap the apertures of the second valve member and allows toner to be dispensed from the toner bottle. The tab of the first valve member is held in the groove and prevents the bottle from being removed from the toner hopper adaptor during dispensing of the toner and thus prevents spillage of the toner.
In a second exemplary embodiment of the toner loading system, toner bottle and toner hopper according to the invention, the valve opening member is a toner hopper slider that includes a plurality of retaining stops on a bottom surface for engaging the tabs of the first and second valve members. A first retaining stop engages the tab of the second valve member to prevent rotation of the second valve member. A second retaining stop is offset circumferentially from the first retaining stop and engages the tab of the first valve member to stop rotation of the first valve member. When the first and second retaining stops engage the tabs of the first and second valve members, the apertures of the first and second valve members overlap and toner can be dispensed from the toner bottle. A release stop engages the tabs of the first and second valve members when the toner bottle is rotated to close the toner bottle valve. Thus, the release stops rotation of the first and second valve members relative to each other such that the apertures of the first and second valve members do not overlap and permits the toner bottle to be removed from the toner hopper slider.
In a third exemplary embodiment of the toner loading system, toner bottle and toner hopper according to the invention, a cap is provided over the second valve member. The cap aligns the first and second valve members during transit and storage of the toner bottle so that toner may not be dispensed from the toner bottle. The cap includes a lever that is connected to the first valve member. The connection between the first valve member and the lever may be broken by pivoting the lever. The cap may then be removed from the second valve member and the toner bottle may be engaged with the valve opening member to dispense the toner.
Various exemplary embodiments of the toner loading system, toner bottle and toner hopper according to this invention may be adapted for use with existing image forming apparatus that use toner to form images. Various exemplary embodiments of the toner loading systems according to the invention prevent spillage of the toner by sealing the toner bottle until the toner bottle is securely engaged with the valve opening member of the toner hopper and the toner bottle is rotated. Various exemplary embodiments of the toner loading systems according to this invention also prevent spillage by supporting the toner bottle while it is being translated to distribute the toner and preventing the toner bottle from disengaging the hopper while the valve is open.
Other features of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and upon reference to the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4603714 (1986-08-01), Marotta
patent: 59-102260 (1984-06-01), None
patent: 61-22369 (1986-01-01), None
Floyd Rebecca
Hutchinson Shaun
Ladell Michael Gerald
South Andrew Michael
Grainger Quana M.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Xerox Corporation
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