[0001] This invention relates to a container for toner of the type used in copiers and printers.
More specifically, it relates to toner containers of the type having covers which
prevent the escape of toner before the toner container is installed in a receiving
apparatus. It also relates to receiving apparatus for such containers.
[0002] Patent US-A-4,062,385, issued December 13, 1977 to Katusha et al, shows a toner container
having a containing portion with a base. The base has an opening facing downward and
a flange extending outward from the opening. A cover is slidably secured to the flange.
A receiving apparatus for the container includes a sump for receiving toner through
the base of the container when the opening of the container is positioned directly
above it. The container with the cover is positioned beside the sump and the container
portion is slid off the cover and over the sump with the flange sliding on a receiving
surface that surrounds a sump opening.
[0003] Patent US-A-4,997,016, issued March 5, 1991 to Hacknauer et al shows various improvements
to the basic structure shown in the Katusha et al patent. Of particular interest is
that a platform for receiving the container beside the sump has been eliminated to
prevent interference with a door to the printer and the cover after the containing
portion has been moved to a position above the sump has a hinge allowing it to be
pivoted to a vertical position along a side wall of the container and out of the way
of the door to the printer.
[0004] Patent US-A-5,074,344, issued December 24, 1991 to Vacek et al, shows a structure
similar to that shown in Hacknauer et al except that a lock is provided inhibiting
removal of the cover from the containing portion when the container is not positioned
over a sump.
[0005] In each of the above structures, the container is locked to the sump by sliding the
flange surrounding the base opening of the container into slots in the receiving apparatus.
However, although the cover is quite sturdy to fit over the end of the container,
it does not completely prevent toner from escaping from the container itself. Accordingly,
all commercial uses of such containers also include a paper seal adhesively fixed
across the opening, which paper must be removed after the container has been moved
off the regular cover and onto the sump.
[0006] Patent US-A-5,142,335, issued August 25, 1992 to Sakata et al, shows a paper seal
for a toner container having supply and takeup rolls for the paper for removing and
replacing the seal over the base opening.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a toner container having a cover which
prevents the escape of toner, preferably without the need for an adhesive-fixed paper
seal.
[0008] It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus for receiving such a container.
[0009] These and other objects are accomplished by a container for supplying toner to a
receiving apparatus, which receiving apparatus has a sump for receiving toner and
a sump opening above the sump. The receiving apparatus has box-shaped upwardly extending
vertical walls around the sump opening, which vertical walls have outside surfaces
facing away from the sump opening. The container includes a containing portion having
a base with a base opening through which toner is movable under force of gravity from
the containing portion. The base includes a box-shaped interior surface around the
base opening which is shaped to fit snugly over the exterior surface of the box-shaped
vertical walls of the receiving apparatus. The container further includes a cover
and means for guiding the cover for sliding movement between the position covering
the base opening above the box-shaped interior surface and a position uncovering the
base opening.
[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, the containing portion includes at least one
vertical exterior wall extending upwardly from the base and the cover is sufficiently
stiff to be pushed back to its covering position but sufficiently flexible to move
through an arcuate path to a vertically oriented uncovering position along the vertical
wall of the container portion. The guide means includes means for guiding the cover
along the arcuate path to its uncovering position.
[0011] According to another preferred embodiment, a compliant seal, for example a felt,
is positioned around the base opening of the container to inhibit the escape of toner
around the cover.
[0012] With the preferred embodiments of the invention, a tight-fitting, reusable cover
securely prevents escape of toner when the cover is in its covering position. Although
a paper seal can also be used, it is ordinarily unnecessary. Further, the cover, when
moved to its uncovering position through the curved path, is positioned alongside
an outside wall of the container where it does not interfere with the closing of doors
in the apparatus and is unlikely to be damaged.
[0013] A receiving apparatus for the container just described includes a sump for receiving
toner, a horizontal wall above the sump having a sump opening and box-shaped upwardly
extending vertical walls around the sump opening for receipt of the base of the container.
[0014] According to a further preferred embodiment of the container, the container base
has ribs extending from the bottom of opposite walls adjoining the base opening. The
receiving apparatus includes locking ribs or detents which engage the ribs on the
container to lock the container on the sump. The locking ribs on the apparatus include
one stationary rib for engaging one side of the container base and a movable rib.
The movable rib is movable between a position spaced from the container, allowing
positioning of the container on the sump and a locking position engaging the container
rib.
[0015] According to a further preferred embodiment, an elongated lever is positioned adjacent
the stationary rib, which lever is movable between a vertical position and a non-vertical
position. The lever is coupled to the movable locking rib to move the locking rib
to its locking position in response to rotation of the lever to its vertical position
to thereby lock the container in place.
[0016] According to a further preferred embodiment, a handle connected to the cover on the
container is positioned and shaped to fit into a slot in the elongated lever to hold
the lever in its vertical position when the handle is in a position associated with
the cover being in its uncovering position. With this preferred embodiment, the container
cannot be released by the locking mechanism without first replacing the cover in its
covering position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic of an image forming apparatus with many parts and
all housing eliminated for clarity of illustration.
[0018] FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of a development device.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a front view of the development device with many parts eliminated and some
cooperating structure included.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom frame of the development device illustrating
a nest for a sump component shown in FIG. 2.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a schematic front section of the sump component showing its relationship
with four applicators.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a right side view with portions in section of the development device.
[0023] FIGS. 8 and 9 are front and back views, respectively, of a laser chassis with a photoconductive
drum cartridge inserted in it.
[0024] FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13 are perspective views of the laser chassis and the photoconductive
drum cartridge.
[0025] FIG. 14 is a front view of the laser chassis without the photoconductive drum cartridge.
[0026] FIG. 15 is a front section of a laser chassis and the photoconductive drum cartridge.
[0027] FIG. 16 is an electrical schematic illustrating process control circuit.
[0028] FIGS. 17 and 18 are a front section and a perspective view of a cleaning blade component.
[0029] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a locking structure for locking a toner container
on a receiving apparatus.
[0030] FIGS. 20, 24 and 25 are perspective views of the toner container receiving apparatus
with one, three and no containers received, respectively.
[0031] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a toner container with four parts separated illustrating
its assembly.
[0032] FIG. 22 is a side section of a toner container.
[0033] FIG. 23 is a bottom perspective view of a containing portion of a toner container.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] The invention is particularly usable in an image forming apparatus, for example,
a desktop color printer 1 shown schematically in FIG. 1. Printer 1 includes an image
member, for example, a photoconductive drum 2 which is journaled for rotation through
operative relation with a series of stations including a charging station 4 which
lays down a uniform charge on an outer cylindrical image surface 3 of image member
2. The uniformly charged image surface 3 is imagewise exposed by an electronic exposure
device, for example, a laser 5 to form a series of electrostatic images.
[0035] The electrostatic images are toned by applying toners of different colors by a development
device 6 to create a series of different color toner images on image surface 3. The
different color toner images are transferred in registration to the outside surface
of a transfer drum 10 to form a multicolor image as transfer drum 10 repeatedly rotates
through transfer relation with photoconductive drum 2.
[0036] The multicolor toner image on the surface of transfer drum 10 is transferred to a
receiving sheet fed from a receiving sheet supply 45 into transfer relation with drum
10 at a transfer station 21. The receiving sheet is then fed to a fuser 23. The multicolor
image is fused to the receiver sheet by the application of heat and pressure. The
receiving sheet with fixed multicolor toner image thereon is then conveyed through
an inverting path to an output hopper already containing other receiving sheets, as
shown at 44. The transfer drum 10 is cleaned by articulatable cleaner 30 after the
transfer of the multicolor image. The photoconductive drum 2 is continuously cleaned
by an image member cleaning device 12.
[0037] As will be described in more detail, development device 6 includes four toning stations,
each containing a different color toner. Device 6 is moved horizontally to sequentially
present the stations to image member 2 to apply the different toners to the images
at a single development position. As also will be described in more detail, to easily
replace the photoconductive drum 2, charging device 4 and cleaning device 12, they
are all included in an image member cartridge, also shown in more detail below.
[0038] The development device 6 and its operation is shown in FIGS. 2-7. Referring first
to FIG. 4, development device 6 includes a carriage 31 supported by wheels 33 which
rest on a floor 35 for transverse movement under photoconductive drum 2. The carriage
31 is driven by a transverse drive motor 37 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which drives a pinion
(not shown) engaging a rack 39 on floor 35, as shown in FIG. 3. Guide wheels, not
shown, engage opposite sides of rails integral with the rack to maintain accurate
straight-line transverse movement of carriage 31.
[0039] Carriage 31 supports four developing units 15, 16, 17 and 18 (FIG. 4). Each developing
unit 15, 16, 17 and 18 includes a sump 25, 26, 27 and 28 and an applicator 55, 56,
57 and 58, respectively. As seen with respect to unit 15 in FIG. 4, sump 25 includes
a rotatable paddle 51 and a pair of augers 53 which are geared together to mix developer
in the sump. The applicator 55 includes a stationary shell 61 and a rotatable magnetic
core 63 inside the shell.
[0040] This type of developing unit is well known in the art. Briefly, a developer comprising
a mixture of hard magnetic carrier particles and toner in sump 25 is moved around
shell 61 by the rotation of magnetic core 63 to bring the developer through a development
position 8 between the top of shell 61 and the image surface 3 of photoconductive
drum 2. The shell 61 and the image surface 3 must be accurately spaced for high quality
development of an electrostatic image carried by image surface 3. The developer is
continually mixed and made available to applicator 55 by rotation of paddle 51 and
augers 53.
[0041] Movement of carriage 31 from left to right, as shown in FIG. 4, indexes the development
units 15, 16, 17 and 18 through the development position 8 to apply toner to develop
a series of electrostatic images on image surface 3 with different color toners. The
different color toner images, as previously described, are superposed in registration
on transfer drum 10 to create a multicolor image.
[0042] As seen in FIG. 2, sumps 25, 26, 27 and 28, together with their paddles 51 and augers
53, comprise a single sump component 54 which is integrally formed and separately
removable from carriage 31. Sump component 54 can be made of a unitary plastic construction
which defines the sumps themselves, and also defines extended portions 59. Extended
portions 59 do not fit under the applicators 55-58. The paddles 51 are mounted for
rotation within the sumps 25-28 while the augers 53 in the bottom of the sumps extend
into extended portions 59. Conventional toner replenishers 63 (shown in FIGS. 2, 3
and 7) are positioned to be directly over the extended portions 59 when the sumps
are in their operative position. Replenishers 63 are driven by replenisher motors,
shown covered by a replenisher motor cover 65, to meter toner under the force of gravity
down onto the augers 53 in extended portions 59 on demand by the apparatus. Toner
is received in the replenishers 63 from toner bottles 110, 111, 112 and 113 whose
function will be described in more detail with respect to FIGS. 19-25.
[0043] As described above, the sumps 25, 26, 27 and 28 contain developer which is a mixture
of carrier and toner. The toner is used up in the developing process and is replenished
from the toner bottles by replenisher 63. Thus, new toner is constantly being mixed
with the developer in the sumps. However, after a certain amount of use, for example
25,000-50,000 images, the carrier loses its effectiveness and must be replaced. In
a high volume copier, this is commonly accomplished by a serviceperson in a periodic
service call. However, in a desktop printer, such a replacement must be made by a
relatively untrained operator. This is accomplished by entirely replacing sump component
54 periodically. That is, sump component is slid into and out of a nest 67 under the
applicators and the replenisher. The applicators and replenisher are permanent parts
of development device 6. Nest 67 is best seen in FIG. 5, which also shows a pair of
springs 69 which urge sump component 54 against an opposite wall 52 of the nest 67
to releasably hold sump component 54.
[0044] Thus, sump component 54 is a single unitary component which includes the sumps for
all four development units and an extended portion for receiving toner, as well as
inexpensive plastic paddles and augers, and is replaceable periodically to replace
the carrier in the development device. The much more expensive and critically positioned
applicators and toner replenishers are permanent in the apparatus.
[0045] When the sump component 54 is moved fully into the nest 67, an engageable coupling
on the leading end of sump component 54 engages four engageable drives 66 at the rear
of nest 67, which drives the paddles and augers. Two embodiments of such drives will
be explained more fully below.
[0046] FIG. 6 is a schematic front section of the sump component 54 and showing its relationship
with the applicators 55-58. FIG. 7 is a side section which illustrates the relationship
between the toner containers 113, the replenisher 63 and the extended portion 59 of
sump component 54.
[0047] As mentioned above, vertical positioning of the applicators 55, 56, 57 and 58, with
respect to the image surface 3 of photoconductive drum 2 at the development position
8, is critical to consistent development of the electrostatic images on surface 3.
Accuracy in this vertical spacing in apparatus in which the photoconductive drum 2
is received in a cartridge and in which the development units 15, 16, 17 and 18 are
constantly being indexed into and out of position, is challenging. This is further
complicated by a desire not to directly engage drum 2 or its cartridge with moving
applicators or their supports because any jar to the drum 2 or its cartridge will
affect accurate exposure by laser 5 and cause image defects.
[0048] Referring primarily to FIGS. 3 and 4, the applicators 55, 56, 57 and 58 are fixed
as part of an applicator component 71 which includes all four applicators, a first
rail 73, a second rail 75, separators 77 and a support 79 fixing the applicators,
rails and separators permanently with respect to each other. The applicator component
71 is gimbaled to the carriage 31 by three spring and pin assemblies 81 shown in FIGS.
2 and 3. The springs urge the applicator component in an upward direction to a point
at which they support its weight. A first positioning member 83 and a second positioning
member 85 are permanently mounted in printer 1 and firmly located with respect to
transfer drum 10. A first wheel 87 is mounted on first positioning member 83 just
above the desired development position 8. A second wheel 89 is mounted to second positioning
member 85 and is positioned just above the opposite end of the development position
8. The first and second rollers ride on first and second rails 73 and 75, respectively,
and accurately space each applicator vertically when it reaches the development position.
A third roller 91 and a fourth roller 93 are positioned to alternatively engage first
rail 73 to prevent rail 73 and thereby applicator component 71 from deviating from
a horizontal orientation. Rail 73 is longer than the distance between first roller
87 and either third roller 91 or fourth roller 93 but is shorter than the distance
between third roller 91 and fourth roller 93 so that it never contacts more than one
of third roller 91 and fourth roller 93. Thus, the first and second rollers accurately
control the vertical positioning of the applicator at the toning position while one
of the third and fourth rollers maintains horizontal orientation of the applicator
component 71. FIG. 7 also illustrates the first and second rollers 87 and 89 and the
first and second rails 73 and 75 in spacing applicator 55 from photoconductive drum
2.
[0049] The first and second positioning members 83 and 85 contain first and second horizontal
positioning surfaces 95 and 97 on their upper side. Photoconductive drum 2 includes
a shaft 7 with opposite ends extending beyond the drum 2. The photoconductive drum
2 is urged to the left by a suitable spring, described in more detail below, but shown
schematically in FIG. 4 at 100. This urging of the photoconductive drum 2 to the left
causes the ends of shaft 7 to engage the positioning surfaces 95 and 97 with the photoconductive
drum 2 essentially wedged between transfer drum 10 and the positioning surfaces 95
and 97. Positioning surfaces 95 and 97 are horizontal and are accurately located with
respect to each other and with respect to transfer drum 10.
[0050] This construction allows accurate vertical positioning of the image surface 3 of
photoconductive drum 2 with respect to an applicator at the development position 8
as well as maintaining the axes of rotation of drums 10 and 2 parallel with each other.
Drum 2 is loaded in the apparatus in a cartridge. Horizontal positioning, that is,
positioning from left to right, is not tightly controlled. However, if the top of
the applicators 55-58 are relatively flat, as shown, horizontal positioning is much
less critical than vertical spacing. Horizontal positioning is, of course, also affected
by accuracy in the transversing drive of carriage 31. Control of the transversing
drive is best accomplished by suitable sensors, for example, optical sensors (not
shown) associated with each of the developing units.
[0051] FIGS. 2 and 5 illustrate a first embodiment of the drives for the applicators, paddles
and augers. The paddle and augers for each developing unit are geared together at
the rear end of each unit. A paddle shaft 106 extends from the rear of the sump component
54 with gearing that is part of sump component 54. Complete insertion of the sump
component 54 by the operator into the sump component nest 67 couples the paddle shaft
with a paddle drive 66, shown in FIG. 5.
[0052] The magnetic core 63 of each of the applicators 55-56 also includes an applicator
shaft 102 which extends to the rear of applicator component 71 and first rail 73.
The applicator shafts 102 engage drive gears 70 on their sides, as shown in FIG. 2.
The applicator shafts move slightly along the sides of the gears 70 to accommodate
for any vertical movement of the applicator component 71. Drives 66 and 70 are connected
into a gear box 72 driven by a motor 74, all of which is carried by carriage 31.
[0053] FIG. 7 illustrates an alternate and generally preferred drive mechanism for the applicators
and the paddles and augers. More specifically, each applicator shaft 102 is couplable
to a single applicator drive 105. The paddle shaft 106 is couplable with a single
paddle drive 107. The applicator drive 105 and the paddle drive 107 and a drive box
115 containing a motor are mounted together as a drive unit and are positioned to
the rear of the development position, as seen in FIG. 7. This drive unit does not
move with the carriage 31 but is movable from the rear toward the front to engage
the applicator shaft and paddle shaft of the developing unit positioned at the development
position. A solenoid 117 is actuable to move the drive unit toward the front in timed
relation with the arrival of a developing unit at the development position. Before
the developing unit is moved away from the development position, the solenoid is deactivated
to permit the drive unit to move to the rear under the urging of a springs 119. Thus,
the apparatus has single drives and a motor which is engageable with each of the development
units without the separate drives and expensive gear box shown in FIG. 2. This is
superior to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in weight, expense and in the noise produced.
A third coupling approach would be to employ two solenoids, each engaging the two
drive couplings separately or together, while the drive mechanism and motor remain
stationary. This embodiment permits continual mixing of the developers in developing
units when not developing and also provides the capability of removing developer from
the applicator shell just before disengagement and indexing. The FIG. 2 embodiment
is somewhat faster, not requiring the time needed for engaging and disengaging.
[0054] FIGS. 8-14 together with FIG. 4 illustrate the mounting of the photoconductive drum
2 in printer 1. Patent US-A-5,138,372, issued August 11, 1992 to DeCecca, is incorporated
by reference herein. It shows the mounting of a photoconductive drum cartridge with
respect to a transfer drum by use of an over-center spring which pushes the rear of
the cartridge toward the transfer drum. Opposite ends of the shaft of the photoconductive
drum extend outside of the cartridge and ride on a pair of upwardly angled surfaces
that are fixed with respect to the transfer drum to assure that the axes of rotation
of the two drums are maintained parallel when engaged. The cartridge is supported
by a single additional support toward the rear of one side of the cartridge. Thus,
the cartridge in this prior apparatus is supported by opposite ends of the shaft and
this rear support providing the necessary positioning and support without being overconstrained.
The precise vertical position of the photoconductive drum is not determined.
[0055] However, it is critical that the photoconductive drum not only be mounted accurately
with respect to the development stations and the transfer drum, but also with respect
to an exposing device, for example, the laser 5. To accomplish this, as seen in FIG.
14, the laser 5 is mounted in a laser housing 120 which, in turn, is mounted in a
laser chassis 122. On opposite sides of laser chassis 122 are a pair of rollers 124
which engage the top of a guide plate 130 and a pair of rollers 126 which engage the
bottom of the guide plate 130 when the laser chassis is in the retracted position
shown in FIG. 14. The chassis is also connected to the mechanism plates of the apparatus
through an over-center spring mechanism 128 which is shown in FIG. 14 with the laser
chassis in its retracted position and in FIGS. 8-13 in its operative, extended position.
[0056] Also as shown in FIGS. 10 and 14, laser chassis 122 has a photoconductive drum cartridge
nest 134. As best illustrated in FIG. 10, nest 134 receives a photoconductive drum
cartridge 140 as the cartridge is slid from front to rear in a direction generally
parallel to the axis of rotation of photoconductive drum 2. The cartridge is removable
by grasping a handle 136 and moving it from rear to front. Insertion of the cartridge
is done with the laser chassis 122 in the retracted position shown in FIG. 14. Photoconductive
drum cartridge 140 includes a housing 138 which is shown in section in FIG. 15 and
which protects the photoconductive drum 2. Housing 138 also defines an opening 144
(FIG. 10) which receives an electrometer 142 when the cartridge is fully inserted
in chassis 122. The electrometer 142 fits in opening 144 to be positioned precisely
with respect to photoconduc-tive drum 2. Electrometer 142 is connected to a process
control circuit 148 to assist in the controlling of the electrophotographic process
of the printer 1. Process control circuit 148 is shown more specifically in FIG. 16
and will be discussed later.
[0057] Cartridge housing 138 also defines an opening 146 through which photoconductive drum
2 engages transfer drum 10 and an opening 152 (see FIG. 12) through which the photoconductive
drum 2 is engaged by the developments units, described above. An opening 150 is elongated
back toward the laser 5 and is positioned for exposure of the photoconductive drum
2 by the laser 5. Both of openings 146 and 152 can be closed by covers when the cartridge
is outside of chassis 122 to protect the image surface 3. The covers can be openable
by suitable cams or lugs, not shown, as part of the inserting process.
[0058] Insertion of photoconductive drum cartridge 140 into laser chassis 122 is guided
by a pair of rails 123 and 125 which fit in grooves 127 and 129, respectively, as
shown in FIGS. 12 and 15. The rails and grooves guide the insertion of the cartridge
accurately enough to assure that electrometer 142 enters electrometer opening 144.
As seen in FIG. 10, as the cartridge is finally seated in chassis 122, front and rear
left pins 162 and 164 and a right pin 166 on the laser chassis enter seating holes
163, 165 and 167 in the cartridge 140. The pins 162, 164 and 166 are bullet shaped
to assure entry despite some looseness between the grooves and rails. Pins 162 and
164 are sized to snugly fit into openings 163 and 165 to firmly position cartridge
140 with respect to laser chassis 122. Opening 167 is somewhat larger horizontally
than pin 166 to allow the final positioning of the cartridge to be controlled with
respect to transfer drum 10, as will be described. An overridable latch (not shown)
on the top of nest 134 engages a catch pin 168 to hold the cartridge in the chassis
122.
[0059] The photoconductive drum cartridge 140 is inserted in the chassis 122 with the chassis
in the retracted position shown in FIG. 14. Once the cartridge is fully inserted and
positioned with respect to laser housing 120, a handle 156 on over-center spring mechanism
128 is moved from the vertical position shown in FIG. 14 to a horizontal position
shown, for example, in FIG. 13. Over-center spring mechanism 128 moves laser chassis
122 to the left thereby moving photoconductive drum 2 also to the left. As seen in
FIGS. 4 and 8, the ends of photoconductive drum shaft 7 ride onto first and second
positioning surfaces 95 and 97 of first and second positioning members 83 and 85,
respectively. The shaft 7 rides on the positioning surfaces 95 and 97 until the photoconductive
drum engages transfer drum 10, as shown in FIG. 4. At this position, the photoconductive
drum 2 is controlled by the ends of shaft 7 resting on the first and second positioning
surfaces 95 and 97 and the engagement with transfer drum 10. It is also supported
by rollers 124 resting on guide plate 130. Engagement with transfer drum 10 is in
the upper left hand portion of photoconductive drum 2, which engagement urges transfer
drum 2 with a force that has a vector in the downward direction which maintains contact
between photoconductive drum shaft 7 and the positioning surfaces 95 and 97.
[0060] Thus, the structure has first accurately mounted the photoconductive drum cartridge
140 with respect to laser 5 and then moved both the laser and the cartridge together
to a position controlled by the photoconductive drum shaft to assure proper relationship
with the transfer drum 10 and the development device 6.
[0061] FIG. 15 shows a cross-section of photoconductive drum cartridge 140 which illustrates,
in addition to the elements previously discussed, the photoconductive drum cleaning
device 12. Photoconductive drum cleaning device 12 includes a blade 13 which scrapes
toner off the image surface 3. Entrance to the cleaning device is protected by a roller
14 which prevents the escape of toner that is cleaned by blade 3. Rotation of roller
14 and drum 2 tend to move toner cleaned by blade 3 to the right, as seen in FIG.
15, and down into a cleaned toner sump 9 positioned both over and around the opening
150 for the laser 5.
[0062] FIGS. 17 and 18 show an easily assembled cleaning component 170 which includes both
roller 14 and blade 13. A pair of end pieces 172 define bearings for roller and are
fixed to a support 174. Blade 13 is fixed to the underside of support 174. Component
170 is readily fixed to housing 138 by two fasteners shown in FIG. 15. The housing
around roller 14 prevents buildup of toner on the roller and escape of toner upstream.
[0063] FIG. 16 shows a process control circuit 148 of a type generally well known in the
art. More specifically, the process control circuit 148 receives inputs from a relative
humidity sensor 160 and from an electrometer 142 and uses these inputs to control
the charge deposited on image surface 3 by charging station 4, for example, by controlling
a grid at charging station 4. The same inputs can be used to control the bias applied
to applicator shell 61. The same inputs can be used further to control a laser control
circuit 158 which controls the pixel-by-pixel intensity of laser 5.
[0064] A key to accurate process control, of course, is the inputs received. Electrometers
are generally well known for use in process control, but have not heretofore been
used with cartridge loaded photoconductive drums. The structure shown in FIGS. 10
and 14 for positioning the electrometer 142 with respect to image surface 3 makes
process control usable in a cartridge loaded printer.
[0065] Carriage 31 also carries a bias source 76 for the applicator shells 61. Power for
the carriage 31 is supplied by a flexible power cable 78.
[0066] FIG. 2 shows toner containers (herein sometimes called "bottles") 110, 111, 112 and
113 positioned on top of replenishers 63. These toner containers are positioned on
the apparatus by a relatively untrained operator and opened. When opened, toner falls
from the toner containers into a replenisher sump 180 (FIG. 3) forming part of the
replenisher 63. Since the replenisher sump will not contain more than a small portion
of the toner in the container, the container remains on the sump as part of the replenishing
mechanism. The sumps themselves are shown in FIG. 3 minus a receiving structure for
the containers that is shown, in part, in FIG. 2.
[0067] The containers or bottles and the receiving structure are more completely shown in
FIGS. 19-25. Referring to FIG. 22, the bottle 113 includes a containing portion 186,
a base 188, a cover 190, and a handle 192. The containing portion 186 and the base
188 are secured together or integrally formed to define an opening 194 through which
toner can pass.
[0068] Cover 190 is secured across opening 194. It is made of a material, for example 254
µm (0.010 inches) thick polyester, which has appropriate stiffness and flexibility
for this design, as will be explained. The cover 190 is supported for sliding movement
by guide means which is partly defined by a curved guide surface 198. The handle 192
is fixed to cover 190 and protrudes through and is movable within a slot 200 in a
vertical extension 207 of base 188. A compliant pad 202 is positioned in a slot 196
above cover 190 and extends slightly into the path of the cover to help prevent escape
of toner from around the cover 190.
[0069] In operation, cover 190 is in its covering position, shown in FIG. 22, extending
entirely across opening 194 underneath pad 202. Cover 190 extends around curved guide
surface 198 to a vertical position adjacent a vertical exterior wall 204 of container
portion 186 where it is attached to handle 192. When the operator raises handle 192,
cover 190 slides around curved guide surface 198 to a position totally uncovering
opening 194 at which position handle 192 is at the top of slot 200. The cover 190
is stiff enough that when handle 192 is returned to its lowered position, cover 190
is pushed in slot 196 back across opening 194 to its covering position though resisted
somewhat by pad 202. Thus, the bottle has a removable and replaceable cover, which
cover is stored in a position that does not protrude from the bottle. The cover itself
is extremely thin compared to prior stiff covers. As such, it does not move toner
substantially as it is returned into position but rather slices through any toner
to its covering position. This allows the container to be removed with toner still
in it, if desired. Though stiff enough for return movement, it is flexible enough
to traverse a curved path to a convenient vertical position along wall 204.
[0070] The base 188 also includes structure for interfacing with a locking mechanism on
the receiving apparatus. As seen in FIGS. 21 and 22, base 188 includes a groove 206
extending across the lower part of the front of base 188. Groove 206 defines a rib
208 at the bottom of the front of base 188. The rear of the base 188 has a rib 210
at the bottom facing in the opposite direction of rib 208.
[0071] The receiving apparatus is shown in FIGS. 20, 22, 24 and 25. According to FIG. 20,
each receiving structure includes box-shaped upward extending vertical walls 182 which
surround an opening 184 into the sump 180 (FIG. 3). A lever 212 is mounted for rotation
about a axle 214. As shown best in FIG. 24, toner container 111 is inserted in the
apparatus by first placing groove 206 around axle 214. Container 111 is then pushed
backward, pivoting around axle 214 until it is positioned upright on the receiving
structure. In this position, downwardly extending vertical, box-shaped walls 220 on
the inside of base 188 fit over upwardly extending, box-shaped vertical walls 182
on the receiving structure and rib 210 at the rear of base 188 is seated on a surface
222 surrounding the upwardly extending walls 182. The mating box-shaped walls provide
a tight enclosure preventing escape of toner.
[0072] In this position, the bottle is still closed and the handle 192 is in its lowered
position. The lever 212 is rotated about axle 214 to a vertically upright position.
A slot 216 in lever 212 has a wide portion 217 and a narrow portion 218. The wide
portion fits around the handle 192 when the lever 212 is moved to its vertical position.
A protruding detent 219 (FIGS. 24 and 25) enters a recessed detent 221 (FIG. 21) to
hold the lever in its vertical position.
[0073] Rotation of lever 212 to its vertical position rotates a cam surface 226 formed integrally
with lever 212. A cam follower 228 moves to the left in cam surface 226, as seen in
FIGS. 19 and 22. Cam follower 228 is attached to a locking detent 230 which is pulled
over rib 210 to lock base 188 in position on the receiving apparatus.
[0074] As handle 192 is moved in an upward direction to open cover 190, it slides out of
the wide portion 217 of slot 216 and into the narrow portion 218 to lock lever 212
in its vertical position. At this point, the cover is in its uncovering position and
toner falls through opening 194 in the toner container and further through opening
184 into the sump. While the cover is open, the lever 212 is held by handle 192 in
its vertical position, maintaining lock detent 230 in position holding base 188 on
the receiving apparatus.
[0075] Removal of the container is the reverse of the above procedure. The handle 192 is
moved to its lower position moving cover 190 to its covering position over opening
194. The lever 212 now can be moved to a horizontal position releasing lock detent
230 and allowing removal of the container. A finger hole 232 (FIG. 24) allows easy
removal.
[0076] The cover 190 and the pad 202 provide an adequate enough seal that the usual adhesive
paper seal, conventionally used for such toner containers, is not necessary. However,
because of this, it is important that the handle 192 not be raised when the container
is not on a sump. Accordingly, a releasable latch (not shown) preventing opening of
cover 190 is preferably formed in vertical extension 207 or extending from wall 204.
The latch is releasable by a protrusion (not shown) on lever 212 when lever 212 is
raised to its vertical position.
[0077] Thus, this structure provides a container which is secured firmly to the receiving
apparatus while having a tight interface between upward extending box-like walls 182
and downward extending box-like walls 220 to prevent the escape of toner. A cover
is movable between covering and uncovering positions without protruding from the container
where it can prevent closing of the door or the like. Further, moving the cover to
its uncovering position secures the locking device on the base so that it cannot be
unlocked without closing the cover.
[0078] FIGS. 21-23 illustrate one approach for assembling container 113. Referring first
to FIG. 22, the containing portion 186 can be formed in two parts including a primary
containing piece 187 and a covering piece 189 which are heat or vibration welded together
to form the containing portion 186. At the bottom of the containing portion 186 around
opening 194 is the upper part of slot 196 (see also FIG. 23) into which is placed
pad 202. Vertical extension 207 with slot 200 and curved guide 198, as well as ribs
208 and 210, are all defined by a bottom piece 191. Handle 192 is inserted in slot
200 in bottom piece 191 with cover 190 resting on an upper surface 193 of bottom piece
191. Upper surface 193 forms the bottom of slot 196 and guide surface 198.
[0079] A pair of protrusions 201 on containing portion 186 snap (or clearance) fit into
holes 203 in bottom piece 191. The rear of surface 193 also snap fits into the rear
of the bottom of containing portion 186 using conventional snap fitting structure
with interlocking step features (not shown). After the snap fit, either or both of
the connections can be heat welded, if necessary. Thus, the guide means for cover
190 is formed, in part, by surface 193 on bottom piece 191 and, in part, by a complimentary
surface 195 (FIG. 23) of containing portion 186 and, in part, by pad 202 in slot 196.
[0080] The container 113 is shown in FIG. 22 with a slanted guide means for cover 190 in
its covering position. This is designed in this manner for convenience in manufacture.
The portion of cover 190 covering opening 194 could be totally horizontal or tilted
in a direction opposite that shown in FIG. 22. A thin flexible polyester or similar
material can easily traverse a curved path through a 90° or greater arc. The upwardly
extending walls 182 are shown in FIG. 25 with a slanted top to mate with the receiving
walls 220 and the slanted cover 190 shown n FIG. 22. However, the walls 182 could
have a horizontal top as shown in FIG. 20 with either the container shown in FIG.
22 or a container with a cover that has a horizontal covering position.
[0081] The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred
embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can
be effected within the scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined
in the appended claims.
1. A container (110, 111, 112, 113) for supplying toner to a receiving apparatus, said
container (110, 111, 112, 113) comprising a base (188), a containing portion (186)
having a vertical wall (204) extending upward from said base (188) and a cover (190),
the base (188) defining an opening (194) through which toner can move under the force
of gravity, the cover (190) being movable through a curved path from a position covering
the opening (194) to an uncovering position alongside the vertical wall (204), the
cover (190) being made of a material flexible enough to move through the curved path
but stiff enough to be pushed back to its covering position.
2. A container (110, 111, 112, 113) according to claim 1 including guide means (198)
for guiding said cover (190) along the curved path.
3. A container (110, 111, 112, 113) according to claim 2 including a handle (192) fixed
to the cover (190) and movable vertically along said vertical wall (204) to move said
cover (190) between its covering position and its uncovering position.
4. A container (110, 111, 112, 113) according to claim 1 including a compliant pad (202)
surrounding said opening (194) and contacting said cover (190) when said cover (190)
is in its covering position.
5. A receiving apparatus for receiving a toner container (110, 111, 112, 113), said receiving
apparatus comprising:
means defining a sump (180) for receiving toner including a top wall generally
covering said sump, said top wall having an outside horizontal surface and an opening
(184) for the vertical passage of toner into said sump, and
box-shaped, upwardly extending, vertical walls (182) entirely surrounding said
sump opening for receiving a complimentary box-shaped base (188) on a received toner
container (110, 111, 112, 113).
6. A toner container receiving apparatus according to claim 5 for use with a toner container
having box-like, downwardly extending walls (220) for fitting snugly around said upwardly
extending walls (182), said receiving apparatus further including:
detent means (210) for engaging complimentary detent means (230) on an outside
surface of one of said downwardly extending walls (220) of the receiving container,
said detent means (230) on said receiving apparatus being movable into engagement
with the detent (210) of said container (110, 11, 112, 113) to lock a received container
to said receiving apparatus.
7. A receiving apparatus according to claim 6 further including a lever (212) which is
manually movable from a non-vertical position to a vertical position, said lever (212)
being coupled to said movable detent (230) to move said detent (230) into its locking
position in response to movement of said lever (212) to its vertical position.
8. A receiving apparatus according to claim 7 usable with a container (110, 111, 112,
113) having a handle (192) which is movable vertically along said container (110,
111, 112, 113) to move a cover (190) between a covering and uncovering position, said
receiving apparatus being characterized in that the lever (212) includes means (218)
engageable by said handle (192) to hold said lever (212) in its vertical position
when the handle (192)is in a position in which said cover (190) is in its uncovering
position.
9. A receiving apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said lever (212) includes a slot
(216) having a wide portion (217) and a narrow portion (218), said wide (217) portion
being positioned to receive said handle (192) when the cover (190) is in its covering
position and the portion of the lever (212) defining the narrow portion (218) being
positioned to hold said handle (192) in its vertical position when the cover (190)
is in its uncovering position.
10. A receiving apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said lever (212) is mounted about
an axle (214), which axle (214) is positioned to receive a slot (206) in a received
cartridge to provide a detent to assist in locking said container (110, 111, 112,
113) to said receiving apparatus.
11. Image forming apparatus (1) comprising:
a transfer drum (10),
an exposure means (5),
a chassis (122) for mounting said exposure means (5), said chassis (122) including
means for receiving an image member cartridge (140) with the image member (2) in such
a received cartridge fixed with respect to said exposure means (5),
means (124, 126) for supporting said chassis (122) in said image forming apparatus
(1) for movement of said chassis (122) and a received image member cartridge (140)
as a unit with respect to said transfer drum (10), and
means (128) for urging said chassis (122) toward said transfer drum (10) to cause
engagement of an image member in the received image member cartridge with said transfer
drum (10).
12. Image forming apparatus comprising:
a transfer drum (10) mounted for rotation about an axis,
a laser (5),
a laser chassis (122) for fixedly mounting said laser (5), said laser chassis (122)
including means (134) for receiving a photoconductive drum cartridge (138) of the
type containing a photoconductive drum (2) mounted on a shaft for rotation about an
axis of revolution, said means (134) for receiving said photoconductive drum cartridge
(138) including means (166, 167) for positioning said cartridge (138) with respect
to said laser (5),
means (128) for urging said laser chassis (122) and a received cartridge (138)
as a unit toward said transfer drum (10) to cause engagement of the photoconductive
drum (2) with said transfer drum (10), and
means (95, 97) for maintaining the axes of revolution of said drums (2, 10) parallel
when said drums are engaged.
13. Image forming apparatus (1) according to claim 12 further including positioning surface
means (95, 97) for engaging opposite ends of the shaft (7) of a photoconductive drum
(10) of a received cartridge to control the movement of the laser chassis (122) toward
said transfer drum (10) to maintain the axes of rotation of the drums (2, 10) parallel
when the drums (2, 10) are engaged.
14. Image forming apparatus (1) comprising:
means (134) for receiving an image member cartridge (138) of the type having an
image member (2) movable past a series of stations (15, 16, 17, 18) for forming an
electrostatic image on the image member and for developing the electrostatic image
to form a toner image and for transferring the toner to a receiving surface, and
an electrometer (142) associated with the receiving means (134) and positioned
to be operatively spaced from an image member in an image member cartridge received
in said receiving means (134).
15. Image forming apparatus (1) comprising:
a movable image member,
a developing device (6) including a plurality of aligned developing units (15,
16, 17, 18) transversely movable to index each unit to a single development position
with respect to said image member (2), each developing unit (15, 16, 17, 18) including
a sump (25, 26, 27, 28) for holding a supply of developer and an applicator (55, 56,
57, 58) for moving said developer through the development position to develop an image
on said image member (2),
a unitary applicator (71) mount including means (73, 75, 77, 79) for rigidly fixing
said applicators parallel to each other, said mount (71) including first (73) and
second (75) rails, one rail being at each end of the applicators and each rail running
in the direction of transverse movement of the developing units (15, 16, 17, 18),
said applicator mount (71) being movable with respect to the development position,
and
first (87) and second (89) rollers, one at each end of the development position
and engaging the first (73) and second (75) rails, respectively, to control the position
of each applicator (55, 56, 57, 58) with respect to the development position when
such applicator is indexed to the development position.
16. Image forming apparatus (1) comprising:
an image member (2),
means for forming electrostatic images on said image member,
a developing device (6) including a plurality of aligned developing units (15,
16, 17, 18) transversely movable to index each unit to a single development position
with respect to said image member, each developing unit (15, 16, 17, 18) including
a sump (25, 26, 27, 28) for holding a supply of developer which developer includes
a mixture of dry toner and carrier and an applicator (55, 56, 57, 58) for moving said
developer through a development position to develop an electrostatic image carried
by said image member (2), said development device (6) having a single unitary sump
component (54) which includes means defining each of said sumps (25, 26, 27, 28) which
sump component (54) is removable as a unit from said device separate from said applicators.