Title (en)

AN ELECTRO-PHOTOGRAPHY APPARATUS, A TONER UNIT THEREFOR, AND A METHOD OF REMOVING TONER FROM SUCH AN APPARATUS

Publication

EP 0561544 A3 19931013 (EN)

Application

EP 93301763 A 19930309

Priority

JP 5773192 A 19920316

Abstract (en)

[origin: EP0561544A2] An electro-photography apparatus, such as a copier or laser printer, has a photosensitive belt (4) for transporting toner. The photosensitive belt (4) is mounted in a cartridge (2), and the cartridge (2) is removably mounted in a holder (11). The holder (11) is insertable into and withdrawable from the main body (1) of the apparatus. Therefore, when the photosensitive belt (4) has reached the end of its useful life, the holder (11) is withdrawn and the cartridge (2) removed. A new cartridge (2), and hence a new photosensitive belt (4), may then be mounted in the holder (11) and the holder (11) inserted into the main body (1) of the apparatus. To prevent surfaces of the cartridge (2) and/or holder (11) from becoming contaminated with toner, a gap (17) is formed therebetween, and the holder (11) has an air inlet (11b) and an air outlet. Thus, air is caused to flow between the opposed surfaces of the holder (11) and the cartridge (2) to entrain any toner and remove such toner from the interior of the holder (11). <IMAGE>

IPC 1-7

G03G 15/00

IPC 8 full level

B41J 29/377 (2006.01); G03G 15/00 (2006.01); G03G 21/00 (2006.01); G03G 21/16 (2006.01); G03G 21/18 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP KR)

G03G 15/01 (2013.01 - KR); G03G 15/754 (2013.01 - EP); G03G 21/1619 (2013.01 - EP); G03G 21/206 (2013.01 - EP); G03G 2221/1615 (2013.01 - EP)

Citation (search report)

• [A] US 5038174 A 19910806 - KATO JUNICHI [JP], et al
• [A] US 4540268 A 19850910 - TOYONO TSUTOMU [JP], et al
• [A] PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 12, no. 431 (P-786)15 November 1988 & JP-A-63 163 472 ( RICOH CO LTD ) 6 July 1988
• [A] PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 8, no. 159 (P-289)24 July 1984 & JP-A-59 057 258 ( CANON K.K. ) 2 April 1984
• [A] PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 6, no. 82 (P-116)(960) 20 May 1982 & JP-A-57 017 957 ( CANON K.K. ) 29 January 1982
• [A] PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 8, no. 14 (P-249)(1451) 21 January 1984 & JP-A-58 173 779 ( CANON K.K. ) 12 October 1983

Designated contracting state (EPC)

DE FR GB IT NL

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 0561544 A2 19930922; EP 0561544 A3 19931013; EP 0561544 B1 19970122; DE 69307563 D1 19970306; DE 69307563 T2 19970807; JP 3111605 B2 20001127; JP H05257341 A 19931008; KR 930020232 A 19931019

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 93301763 A 19930309; DE 69307563 T 19930309; JP 5773192 A 19920316; KR 930003871 A 19930315