Electrophotography – Diagnostics – Unit or part identification
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-18
2001-05-29
Beatty, Robert (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Diagnostics
Unit or part identification
C399S262000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240262
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a toner supply device and a toner cartridge for use in an image forming apparatus. More specifically, the invention relates to a toner supply device capable of reading information relating to a toner, and a toner cartridge, in which the information has been recorded.
2. Description of the Related Background Art
Toners supplied to image forming systems, such as copying machines, facsimiles and printers, have been improved as important components for enhancing the quality of an image, and manufacturers have provided the optimum toners for the design specification of their systems as genuine products (which will be hereinafter referred to as “certified products”).
In recent years, toners meeting the minimum specifications common to image forming systems commercially available from a plurality of manufacturers are in circulation. There is a problem in that such toners meeting only a part of specifications (which will be hereinafter referred to as “uncertified toners”) generally have inferior image quality and have a bad influence on a photosensitive material drum serving as an image carrier and a developing part, to damage the reliability of the systems.
A typical toner is housed in a container to be provided. Conventionally, although toners have been sometimes improved to be easily operated, toners have not often been improved to recommend the certified products.
In addition, the shape of toner cartridges has been sometimes changed in accordance with the destination for image forming systems, e.g., in accordance with the market, such as OEM provided manufacturers or countries other than the country of manufacture. This causes to produce various kinds of toner cartridges to prevent the producing costs from being reduced by common parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide a toner supply device which has the function of determining whether a toner cartridge attached thereon is a certified product and which insures high image quality by recommending a user to utilize the certified product when the toner cartridge houses therein an uncertified toner.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide a toner cartridge, in which information including that the toner cartridge houses therein a certified toner has been recorded.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided; a toner supply device comprising: a toner cartridge, which is used for an image forming system, including a container for housing therein a toner which is supplied when the toner is insufficient for the image forming system; an information recording part which is provided on the external surface of the container and on which information relating to the toner has been recorded; and a reading sensor for reading the information when the toner cartridge is attached on the image forming system.
Since the reading sensor reads information relating to the toner recorded in the information recording part, it is possible to determine whether a newly attached container is a certified product, in accordance with the presence of the information and/or the contents of the read information.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the container has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the information relating to the toner has been recorded on the peripheral surface of the container, and the toner supply device further comprises a rotating unit, connected to the tip portion of the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is attached, for rotating the container along the peripheral surface, and the reading sensor sequentially reads the information in response to the rotation of the container.
With this construction, when the toner cartridge is attached, the container is rotated in a first direction by the rotating unit, and the information is read by the reading sensor, so that it is possible to easily determine whether a container is the certified product. When it is determined that the container is a certified product, the rotating unit rotates the container in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction to supply the toner to the image forming system while agitating the toner.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the toner supply device further comprises a cleaning unit, provided on the rotational upstream side of the reading sensor and in the vicinity of the container, for contacting the information recording part in response to the operation of the rotating unit when the reading sensor reads the information and for sequentially cleaning the information recording part before the reading operation of the reading sensor by the rotation of the container. Since the cleaning unit previously cleans the information recording part, the reading sensor can exactly read the information.
The rotational upstream side means a rear side in the first rotational direction.
Furthermore, according to the second aspect of the invention, there is provided; a toner cartridge for use in an image forming system, the toner cartridge comprising: a cylindrical container for housing therein a toner to be supplied when the toner is insufficient for the image forming system; and an information recording part, which is provided on the peripheral surface of the container and on which information relating to the toner is recorded, the information being read by a reading sensor when the toner cartridge is attached on the image forming system.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4963939 (1990-10-01), Kurando et al.
patent: 5088144 (1992-02-01), Schneider
patent: 5761566 (1998-06-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5983059 (1999-11-01), Oka et al.
patent: 5999759 (1999-12-01), Palumbo et al.
patent: 62-173482 (1987-07-01), None
patent: 4-001682 (1992-01-01), None
patent: 4-062564 (1992-02-01), None
patent: 5-224479 (1993-09-01), None
patent: 10-20642 (1998-01-01), None
patent: 11-338210 (1999-10-01), None
Asada Tomoyuki
Itoh Shin-ichi
Taniyama Yoshiharu
Beatty Robert
Foley & Lardner
Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
LandOfFree
Toner supply device and toner cartridge does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Toner supply device and toner cartridge, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Toner supply device and toner cartridge will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2455293