Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5671461?dq=5,966,702
Timestamp: 2017-10-18 17:57:15
Document Index: 69593405

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n16', 'art 18', 'art 18', 'art 18', 'art 18', 'art 18', 'art 18', 'art 18', 'art 18']

Patent US5671461 - Toner cartridge avoiding spillage of toners - Google Patents
A toner cartridge includes a toner cartridge body formed with a toner outlet, and a shatter mechanism provided movably closing the toner outlet, the shatter mechanism including a shatter element having a free shutter edge defining a closed space between the shutter element and an outer surface of the...http://www.google.com/patents/US5671461?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5671461 - Toner cartridge avoiding spillage of toners
Publication number US5671461 A
Application number US 08/546,136
Also published as US5822653
Publication number 08546136, 546136, US 5671461 A, US 5671461A, US-A-5671461, US5671461 A, US5671461A
Inventors Tetsuichi Ishii
Patent Citations (28), Referenced by (47), Classifications (16), Legal Events (5)
Toner cartridge avoiding spillage of toners
US 5671461 A
A toner cartridge includes a toner cartridge body formed with a toner outlet, and a shatter mechanism provided movably closing the toner outlet, the shatter mechanism including a shatter element having a free shutter edge defining a closed space between the shutter element and an outer surface of the toner cartridge body, wherein the shutter element further carries a member for preventing a spillage of toners accumulated in the space from the free shutter edge.
1. A toner cartridge of a xerographic recording apparatus, comprising:
a toner cartridge body for accommodating toner therein;
a toner supply mechanism provided on said toner cartridge body for feeding toner in said toner cartridge body to said toner inlet of said xerographic recording apparatus via said toner outlet; and
a shutter mechanism movably provided on said toner cartridge body for closing said toner outlet, said shutter mechanism including a shutter element defined by a free shutter edge and movable between a closed position and an opened position along an outer surface of said toner cartridge body over a part thereof that includes said toner outlet, such that said toner outlet is covered by said shutter element when in said closed position of said shutter element and such that said toner outlet is exposed when in said opened position of said shutter element, said free shutter edge engaging with a part of said toner cartridge body in said closed position thereof to define a closed space between said shutter element and said outer surface of said toner cartridge body, such that said shutter element prevents spillage of toner from said toner outlet;
wherein said shutter element further carries a magnetic member for preventing spillage of toner accumulated in said space between said shutter element and said outer surface of said toner cartridge body, from said free shutter edge.
2. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said member for preventing spillage is formed on a side of said shutter element that faces said outer surface of said cartridge body, along said free shutter edge of said shutter element.
3. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 2, wherein said member has a principal surface facing said outer surface of said cartridge body along which said shutter element is moved and a front edge for abutting engagement with a part of said cartridge body when in said closed position.
4. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 2, wherein said member is formed of a deformable magnetic material.
5. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 2, wherein said member is formed as an integral body of said shutter element.
6. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 2, wherein said toner cartridge further includes a removable seal member provided on said toner cartridge body for sealing said toner inlet.
7. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toner cartridge further includes a toner tank provided in said toner cartridge body for holding toner, an agitator provided in said toner tank for agitating the toner therein, said agitator further supplying said toner to said toner supply mechanism, and wherein said toner supply mechanism includes a toner roller provided rotatably on said toner cartridge body for carrying the toner thereon and a toner scraping rib provided on said cartridge body in engagement with said toner roller for scraping said toner therefrom, said toner roller being provided such that said toner scraped from said toner roller by said toner scraping rib is supplied to said toner outlet.
8. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 1 further including a toner recovery tank for recovering toner from said xerographic recording apparatus such that said toner recovery tank is connected to said toner cartridge body by a connection member, said toner recovery tank including a cleaning unit for engagement with a photosensitive body of said xerographic recording apparatus when said toner cartridge is mounted thereupon.
9. A toner cartridge of a xerographic recording apparatus, comprising:
a shutter mechanism movably provided on said toner cartridge body for closing said toner outlet, said shutter mechanism including a shutter element defined by a free shutter edge and movable between a closed position and an opened position along an outer surface of said toner cartridge body over a part of said toner cartridge body that includes said toner outlet, such that said toner outlet is covered by said shutter element when in said closed position of said shutter element and such that said toner outlet is exposed when in said opened position of said shutter element, said free shutter edge engaging with a part of said toner cartridge body in said closed position thereof to define a closed space between said shutter element and said outer surface of said toner cartridge body, such that said shutter element prevents spillage of toner from said toner outlet;
wherein said toner cartridge body further carries a member for engagement with said free shutter edge of said shutter element in said closed position of said shutter element, for preventing a spillage of toner accumulated in said space between said shutter element and said outer surface of said toner cartridge body, from said free shutter edge.
10. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 9, wherein said member comprises a deformable magnetic material.
11. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 9 further including a toner recovery tank for recovering toner from said xerographic recording apparatus such that said toner recovery tank is connected to said toner cartridge by a connection member, said toner recovery tank including a cleaning unit for engagement with a photosensitive body of said xerographic recording apparatus when said toner cartridge is mounted thereupon.
12. A toner cartridge of a xerographic recording apparatus, comprising:
a shutter mechanism movably provided on said toner cartridge body for closing said toner outlet, said shutter mechanism including a shutter element defined by a free shutter edge and movable between a closed position and an opened position along an outer surface of said toner cartridge body over a part of said toner cartridge body that includes said toner outlet, such that said toner outlet is covered by said shutter element when in said closed position of said shutter element and such that said toner outlet is exposed when in said opened position of said shutter element, said free shutter edge engaging with a part of said toner cartridge body in said closed position thereof to define a closed space between said shutter element and said outer surface of said toner cartridge body, such that said shutter element prevents a spillage of toner from said toner outlet;
wherein said toner cartridge body further carries a magnetic member on a part thereof located below a part of said toner cartridge body to which said free shutter edge of said shutter element engages in said closed position of said shutter element, said magnetic member thereby collecting toner spilled from said free shutter edge of said shutter element.
13. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 12 further including a toner recovery tank for recovering toners from said xerographic recording apparatus such that said toner recovery tank is connected to said toner cartridge by a connection member, said toner recovery tank including a cleaning unit for engagement with a photosensitive body of said xerographic recording apparatus when said toner cartridge is mounted thereupon.
14. A toner cartridge of a xerographic recording apparatus, comprising:
a toner supply mechanism provided on said toner cartridge body for feeding toner in said toner cartridge body to said toner inlet of said xerographic recording apparatus via said toner outlet;
a shutter mechanism movably provided on said toner cartridge body for closing said toner outlet, said shutter mechanism including a shutter element defined by a free shutter edge and movable between a closed position and an opened position along an outer surface of said toner cartridge body over a part thereof that includes said toner outlet, such that said toner outlet is covered by said shutter element when in said closed position of said shutter element and such that said toner outlet is exposed when in said opened position of said shutter element, said free shutter edge engaging with a part of said toner cartridge body in said closed position thereof to define a closed space between said shutter element and said outer surface of said toner cartridge body, such that said shutter element prevents a spillage of toner from said toner outlet; and
a seal tape provided removably upon said toner cartridge body for closing said toner outlet, said seal tape having a free tab region for removing said seal tape;
wherein said shutter element further carries a member for engagement with said seal tape for scraping off toner attached to said seal tape into said space between said shutter element and said toner cartridge body when said seal tape is pulled at said tab.
15. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 14, wherein said seal tape comprises an upper tape part in contact with said toner cartridge body for sealing said toner outlet and a free lower tape part continuing from said upper tape part and folded with respect said upper tape part, said lower tape part having said tab at a free end thereof, wherein said member engages with said lower tape part and scrapes toner attached to said lower tape part.
16. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 14, wherein said member comprises an elastic material.
17. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 14, wherein said member comprises a magnetic material.
18. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 14, further including a toner recovery tank for recovering toners from said xerographic recording apparatus such that said toner recovery tank is connected to said toner cartridge body by a connection member, said toner recovery tank including a cleaning unit for engagement with a photosensitive body of said xerographic recording apparatus when said toner cartridge is mounted thereupon.
19. A xerographic recording apparatus, comprising:
a sheet feed mechanism for feeding a recording sheet to said transfer unit for recording of said toner image said sheet feed mechanism further discharging said recording sheet after recording of said toner image;
said shutter element carrying a magnetic member for preventing a spillage of toner accumulated in said space between said shutter element and said outer surface of said toner cartridge body, from said free shutter edge.
20. A xerographic recording apparatus, comprising:
a toner cartridge body for accommodating toner therein, said toner cartridge body having a shape in conformity with a shape of said seat of said xerographic recording apparatus;
a magnetic member provided on a part of said toner cartridge body that faces said seat, for capturing toner falling through a gap formed between said toner cartridge body and said seat.
21. A toner cartridge for a xerographic recording apparatus having a toner developing unit, the toner cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body having a toner outlet for discharge of toner therein, said cartridge body being mountable on the toner developing unit such that said toner outlet is positioned for feeding the discharged toner to the developing unit;
a shutter movable for selectively covering and uncovering said toner outlet; and
a magnetic toner retaining element mounted between said shutter and said cartridge body when said shutter is moved to a position for covering said toner outlet.
22. The toner cartridge of claim 21 wherein said toner retaining element is positioned to seal with respect to an edge of said shutter.
23. The toner cartridge of claim 21 wherein said toner retaining element is mounted to said cartridge body.
24. The toner cartridge of claim 23 wherein said toner retaining element is formed of a deformable magnetic material.
25. A toner supply and recovery unit for a xerographic recording apparatus having a toner developing unit and a photosensitive member, comprising:
a toner supply tank having a toner outlet for discharge of toner therein, a cartridge body being mountable on the toner developing unit such that said toner outlet is positioned for feeding the discharged toner to the developing unit;
a toner recovery tank connected to the toner supply tank;
a magnetic toner retaining element mounted between said shutter and said toner supply tank when said shutter is moved to a position for covering said toner outlet.
26. The toner supply and recovery unit of claim 25 wherein said toner retaining element is positioned to seal with respect to an edge of said shutter.
27. The toner supply and recovery unit of claim 25 wherein said toner retaining element is mounted to said toner supply tank.
28. The toner supply and recovery unit of claim 25 wherein said toner retaining element is formed of a deformable magnetic material.
29. A xerographic recording apparatus comprising:
a toner developing unit;
a photosensitive member; and
a toner supply and recovery unit including a toner supply tank having a toner outlet for discharge of toner therein, a cartridge body being mountable on the toner developing unit such that said toner outlet is positioned for feeding the discharged toner to the developing unit, a toner recovery tank connected to the toner supply tank, a shutter movable for selectively covering and uncovering said toner outlet, and a magnetic toner retaining element mounted between said shutter and said toner supply tank when said shutter is moved to a position for covering said toner outlet.
30. The xerographic recording apparatus of claim 29 wherein said toner retaining element is positioned to seal with respect to an edge of said shutter.
31. The xerographic recording apparatus of claim 29 wherein said toner retaining element is mounted to said toner supply tank.
32. The xerographic recording apparatus of claim 29 wherein said toner retaining element is formed of a deformable magnetic material.
33. A toner cartridge for a xerographic recording apparatus having a toner developing unit, the toner cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body having means including a toner outlet for discharging toner therein to the developing unit when the cartridge is mounted to the toner developing unit;
shutter means movable for selectively covering and uncovering said toner outlet; and
magnetic toner retaining means for preventing leakage between said shutter means and said cartridge body when said shutter means is moved to a position for covering said toner outlet.
34. The toner cartridge of claim 33 wherein said toner retaining means is positioned to seal with respect to an edge of said shutter means.
35. The toner cartridge of claim 33 wherein said toner retaining means is mounted to said cartridge body.
36. The toner cartridge of claim 33 wherein said toner retaining means is formed of a deformable magnetic material.
37. A toner cartridge for a xerographic recording apparatus having a toner developing unit including a recessed portion and a sensor positioned near the bottom of the recessed portion for sensing the amount of toner in the toner cartridge, the toner cartridge comprising a cartridge body having a toner outlet for discharge of toner therein, said cartridge body being mountable at the recessed portion of the toner developing unit such that said toner outlet is positioned for feeding the discharged toner to the developing unit, wherein a lower part of said cartridge body is configured so as to engage the sensor of the xerographic recording apparatus when said cartridge body is mounted at the recessed portion.
38. The toner cartridge of claim 37 connected to a toner recovery tank.
39. A xerographic recording apparatus comprising:
a toner developing unit including a recessed portion;
a toner cartridge comprising a cartridge body having a toner outlet for discharge of toner therein, said cartridge body being mounted at the recessed portion of the toner developing unit such that said toner outlet is positioned for feeding the discharged toner to the developing unit; and
a sensor positioned near the bottom of the recessed portion for sensing the amount of toner in the cartridge body,
wherein a lower part of said cartridge body is configured so as to engage the sensor.
40. A toner cartridge for a xerographic recording apparatus having a toner developing unit, the toner cartridge comprising:
a seal tape mounted for sealing said toner outlet and covered by said shutter when said shutter is in a position for covering said toner outlet, said seal tape having a tab portion which is not covered by said shutter when said shutter is in a position for covering said toner outlet so that said seal tape may be removed from the toner cartridge.
41. The toner cartridge of claim 40 wherein said seal tape is folded.
42. The toner cartridge of claim 40, further comprising a scraping member mounted to said shutter at a position for scraping toner from said seal tape when the seal tape is removed from the toner cartridge.
43. The toner cartridge of claim 42 further comprising means for confining toner scraped by said scraping member.
44. A xerographic recording apparatus comprising:
a toner cartridge mounted to said toner developing unit and comprising a cartridge body having a toner outlet for discharge of toner therein, said cartridge body being mountable on the toner developing unit such that said toner outlet is positioned for feeding the discharged toner to the developing unit, and a shutter movable for selectively covering and uncovering said toner outlet; and
45. The xerographic recording apparatus of claim 44 wherein said seal tape is folded.
46. The xerographic recording apparatus of claim 44, further comprising a scraping member mounted to said shutter at a position for scraping toner from said seal tape when the seal tape is removed from the toner cartridge.
47. The xerographic recording apparatus of claim 46 further comprising means for confining toner scraped by said scraping member.
48. A method of mounting a toner cartridge to a xerographic recording apparatus having a toner developing unit, the toner cartridge comprising a cartridge body having a toner outlet for discharge of toner therein, said cartridge body being mountable to the toner developing unit such that said toner outlet is positioned for feeding the discharged toner to the developing unit, and a shutter movable for selectively covering and uncovering said toner outlet, comprising the steps of:
pulling a tab of a seal tape mounted for sealing said toner outlet and covered by said shutter when said shutter is in a position for covering said toner outlet,so that said seal tape is removed from the toner cartridge; and
mounting said toner cartridge to said toner developing unit while moving said shutter to uncover said toner outlet.
49. The method of claim 48 including the steps of scraping toner from said seal tape when the seal tape is removed from the toner cartridge and retaining the scraped toner in the shutter.
50. A toner cartridge of a xerographic recording apparatus, comprising:
wherein said toner cartridge body further carries an elastic member for engagement with said free shutter edge of said shutter element in said closed position of said shutter element, for preventing a spillage of said toners accumulated in said space between said shutter element and said outer surface of said toner cartridge body, from said free shutter edge.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the toner cartridge 1 is designed for detachable mounting upon a developing unit of a xerographic recording apparatus, and includes a toner cartridge body 1a and a toner tank 2 formed as a part of the cartridge body 1a. The toner tank 2 accommodates toners T therein. Further, the toner cartridge 1 includes a toner feed mechanism 3 for supplying the toners T from the cartridge body 1a to the developing unit of the xerographic recording apparatus, and an agitator 4 for agitating the toners T in the 1 toner tank 2. The agitator T further supplies the toners T to the toner feed mechanism 3.
The toner feed mechanism 3 includes a magnetic feed roller 5 for collecting the toners T supplied from the toner tank 2 by the agitator 4 by a magnetic attraction on a circumferential surface thereof, a rib 6 formed in engagement with the feed roller 5 for scraping off the toners T from the circumferential surface of the rotating feed roller 5, and a toner outlet 7 formed on the toner cartridge body 1a in the form of an opening for supplying the toners T scraped off by the rib 6 to the developing unit of the xerographic recording apparatus. Further, the toner cartridge 1 further carries thereon a movable shutter 8 that movably closes the toner outlet 7 along the outer surface of the toner cartridge body 1a. The movable shutter 8 is urged in the direction of an arrow A by a spring not illustrated and is actuated upon mounting and dismounting of the cartridge 1 to and from the developing unit of the xerographic recording apparatus. It should be noted that the shutter 8 moves between a closed position in which the toner outlet 7 is covered by the shutter 8 and an opened position in which the toner outlet is opened by the shutter 8.
In the state where the cartridge 1 is correctly seated upon the base 14 of the developing unit 17 and the shutter 8 is opened as indicated in FIG. 3, the toner outlet 7 faces a corresponding toner inlet formed on a seat 12 of the developing unit 17.
a shatter mechanism provided on said toner cartridge body for movably closing said toner outlet, said shatter mechanism including a shatter element defined by a free shutter edge and is movable between a closed position and an opened position along an outer surface of said toner cartridge body over a part thereof that includes said toner outlet, such that said toner outlet is covered by said shutter element when in said closed state of said shutter element and such that said toner outlet is exposed when in said opened state of said shutter element, said free shutter edge engaging with a part of said toner cartridge body in said closed state thereof to define a closed space between said shutter element and said outer surface of said toner cartridge body, such that said shutter element prevents a spillage of said toners from said toner outlet;
a shatter mechanism provided on said toner cartridge body for movably closing said toner outlet, said shatter mechanism including a shatter element defined by a free shutter edge and is movable between a closed position and an opened position along an outer surface of said toner cartridge body over a part of said toner cartridge body that includes said toner outlet, such that said toner outlet is covered by said shutter element when in said closed state of said shutter element and such that said toner outlet is exposed when in said opened state of said shutter element, said free shutter edge engaging with a part of said toner cartridge body in said closed state thereof to define a closed space between said shutter element and said outer surface of said toner cartridge body, such that said shutter element prevents a spillage of said toners from said toner outlet;
a shatter mechanism provided on said toner cartridge body for movably closing said toner outlet, said shatter mechanism including a shatter element defined by a free shutter edge and is movable between a closed position and an opened position along an outer surface of said toner cartridge body over a part thereof that includes said toner outlet, such that said toner outlet is covered by said shutter element when in said closed state of said shutter element and such that said toner outlet is exposed when in said opened state of said shutter element, said free shutter edge engaging with a part of said toner cartridge body in said closed state thereof to define a closed space between said shutter element and said outer surface of said toner cartridge body, such that said shutter element prevents a spillage of said toners from said toner outlet; and
a seal tape provided removably upon said toner cartridge body for closing said toner outlet, said seal tape having a free tab region for allowing a use to pull when removing said seal tape;
transfer unit for transferring and fixing said toner image on said photosensitive drum upon a recording sheet; and
a shatter mechanism provided on said toner cartridge body for movably closing said toner outlet; and
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of the toner cartridge of FIG. 1 in detail;
FIG. 6 shows a modification of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, wherein the toner cartridge of FIG. 5 uses a magnetic member 9A in place of the integral ridge member 9. In this case, the toners spilled into the space 8g are collected by the magnetic member 9A, and the spillage of the toners T out from the space 8g is effectively eliminated by the magnetic member 9A. The construction of FIG. 6 has a further advantageous feature in that the magnetic member 9A collects the toners already spilled upon the seat 12 of the developing unit 17 when the toner cartridge 1 is mounted upon the xerographic recording apparatus and the shutter 8 is opened. In such a case, it will be noted that the magnet 9A sweeps over the seat 12 of the developing unit 17 with the gradual movement of the shutter 8 to expose the toner outlet 7. A similar sweeping is made also when dismounting the cartridge 1 from the xerographic recording apparatus.
Referring to FIG. 7, the toner cartridge body 1a now carries an elastic stopper member 10 on an outer surface 2a of the toner tank 2 where the free edge 8e of the shutter 8 engages. The elastic stopper member 10 is formed of an elastic material such as sponge, foam rubber or fabric such as a felt, and deforms flexibly upon engagement of the shutter 8. Thus, the free edge 8e of the shutter 8, which is urged by a spring not illustrated, cuts into the stopper member 10, and the engagement between the stopper member 10 and the free edge 8e of the shutter 8 is maintained even when the shutter 8 is displaced by a shock applied to the cartridge 1. In other words, the toners T held in the space 8g never spills out even when the toner cartridge 1 is subjected to a violent shock or jolt. Further, the construction of FIG. 7 allows to use the components of the toner cartridge 1, such as the toner tank 2 and the shutter 8, to be formed with less precision, as the error in the outer dimension of the components may be adjusted or absorbed by the deformation of the elastic stopper member 10.
Further, it should be noted that the elastic stopper member 10 absorbs shock applied to the cartridge 1. Thereby, the shock attenuates immediately and the transmission of the shock applied to from the cartridge body 1a to the shutter 8 is effectively suppressed. One may of course form the stopper member 10 of a flexible magnetic material such as a magnetic sheet for collecting the spilled toners.
Referring to FIG. 8, it will be noted that a magnet 16 is provided on an outer surface 2b of the toner tank 2 at a location below the toner outlet 7, such that the magnet 16 blocks the passage of the toners spilled from the toner outlet 7 onto the seat 12 of the toner outlet 7 and falling therefrom further to the bottom of the base 14. It should be noted that the passage of the spilled toners is formed between the outer surface 2b of the toner tank 2 and a corresponding surface of the base 14 of the developing unit 17. Thus, the falling toners are effectively captured by the magnet 16 by the magnetic attraction thereof. Thereby, it is not necessary to form the magnet 16 such that the magnet 2b completely blocks the space formed between the outer surface 2b of the toner tank 2 and the corresponding surface of the base 14, as long as the gap formed between the magnet 2b and the surface of the base 14 is small enough for the magnet 16 to capture the toners falling through such a gap. By providing the magnet 16 as such, the problem of accumulation of spilled toners at the bottom of the base 14 is eliminated, and the problem of malfunctioning of the toner end sensor 11 due to such spilled toners is successfully eliminated.
In the construction of FIGS. 9A and 9B, it will be noted that the seal tape 18 is folded at a crease 18c and includes an upper part 18a attached to the outer surface of the tank 2 for sealing the toner outlet 7 and a lower part 18b continuing to the upper part 18a at the crease 18c, wherein the lower part 18b has an exposed end exposed at the side of the toner cartridge 1. The exposed end of the tape 18 forms a tab 18d to be pulled by the user when the cartridge 1 is mounted upon the xerographic recording apparatus. In the construction of FIG. 9A, it will be noted that the upper part 18a of the seal tape 18 peels off from the toner tank 2 as the tab 18d is pulled in the direction of arrows in FIGS. 9A and 9B. In correspondence to the pulling of the tab 18d, the position of the crease 18c moves to the left in the illustration of FIG. 9A.
In order to eliminate such a staining or soiling caused by the toners, the present embodiment provides an elastic member 19A on the inner surface of the shutter 8 at a lateral side thereof where the tape 18 is pulled, such that the elastic member 19A engages with the toner cartridge body 1a, with the seal tape 18 intervening therebetween. Thereby, the toners on the lower surface of the tape 18b are scraped off by the elastic member 19A as the tape is pulled as indicated in FIGS. 9A and 9B. Further, a similar elastic member 19B is provided at the other lateral side of the shutter 8 for engagement with the toner cartridge body 1a, such that the toners scraped off by the elastic member 19A is confined in the space 8g between the toner cartridge body 1a and the shutter 8. The toners T thus accumulated in the space 8g fall into the corresponding toner inlet 15 when the cartridge 1 is properly mounted and the shutter 8 is opened as a result of the engagement of the shutter tongue 8a and the corresponding rib 13 of the xerographic recording apparatus as indicated in FIG. 3.
Referring to FIGS. 11A and 11B, it will be noted that the upper tape part 18a of the seal tape 18 is provided inwardly with respect to the elastic member 20, and the elastic member 20 includes a flat opening or aperture for passing the lower tape part 18b therethrough. Thereby, by pulling the tab 18d of the tape 18 in the direction of arrow shown in FIG. 18b, the seal of the toner outlet 17 is removed while simultaneously eliminating the problem of staining caused by the toners that are carried on the underside of the tape part 18b. Similarly as before, the elastic member may be formed of a sponge, foam rubber, fabric such as a felt. Further, the elastic member may be formed of a flexible magnetic sheet.
Referring to FIG. 12, it will be noted that the toner recovery tank 21 has a connection plate 27 to which corresponding projections 25 of the toner supply tank 2' are connected by means of pins 24. In FIG. 12, each of the projections 25 of the toner supply tank 2' is formed with an elongated opening to which the foregoing pin 24 is engaged. Thereby, the pin 24 connects the projection 25 and hence the toner supply tank 2' and the connection plate 27 and hence the toner recovery tank 21, rigidly. The pin 24, the projection 25 and the connection plate 27 collectively form a connection mechanism 23 that connects the toner supply tank 2' and the toner recovery tank 21 in the form of the toner cartridge 1'.
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US20110200357 * Mar 21, 2011 Aug 18, 2011 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Developer supply container
U.S. Classification 399/27, 399/106, 399/262, 222/DIG.1, 399/120
Cooperative Classification G03G2215/0692, G03G2215/085, G03G2215/0687, G03G2215/068, G03G15/0865, G03G15/0886, G03G15/0875, G03G15/0855, Y10S222/01
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ISHII, TETSUICHI;REEL/FRAME:007804/0780