Patent ID: 6658226
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A process cartridge toner supply arrangement comprising:a receiving member, said receiving member comprising: a first end, an opposite second end, and a body defined between the first end and the opposite second end, wherein the body has a plurality of toner receiving openings formed thereon along a longitudinal axis of the body of the receiving member; a toner accommodating portion adapted for accommodating toner received from said toner receiving openings; a supplying member, said supplying member comprising: a first end, an opposite second end, and a body defined between the first end and the opposite second end, wherein the body has an interior surface defining a volume for accommodating toner, and wherein the body has a plurality of toner supplying openings formed thereon along a longitudinal axis of the body of the supplying member and adapted for supplying toner from the toner accommodating portion of said supplying member to the toner accommodating portion of said receiving member through said toner supplying openings and said toner receiving openings, wherein the longitudinal axis of the body of the receiving member is in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body of the supplying member; and a blocking member provided between said receiving member and said supplying member and movable along one of the longitudinal axis of the body of the receiving member and the longitudinal axis of the body of the supplying member to close/open a toner passage between said toner receiving openings and said toner supply openings, wherein said blocking member comprises a first sliding cover coupled to said receiving member and movable along one of the longitudinal axis of the body of the receiving member to close/open said toner receiving openings; a second sliding cover coupled to said supplying member and movable along one of the longitudinal axis of the body of the supplying member to close/open said toner supplying openings; and engagement means provided on said receiving member and said supplying member for enabling said first sliding cover and said second sliding cover to be moved synchronously to simultaneously close/open said toner supplying openings and said toner receiving openings, said engagement means comprising projection means and recess means adapted for receiving said projection means.