Claims
- 1. An image processing system, comprising:
an electrophotographic apparatus having a housing with at least one opening each being dimensioned to receive a developer cartridge and having an interior face; a shutter member rotatably coupled with the interior face of the housing and being shaped to substantially cover the opening and contact the interior face when in a closed position; and means for rotating the shutter member between an open position and the closed position.
- 2. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein the shutter member is coupled 110 to the housing by at least one support bracket.
- 3. The image processing system of claim 2, wherein the shutter member further comprises at least one end portion engaging the at least one support bracket.
- 4. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein the rotating means comprises a hinge.
- 5. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein the electrophotographic apparatus comprises four openings.
- 6. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein the electrophotographic apparatus comprises six openings.
- 7. A method for covering an opening of a developer cartridge housing of an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising:
coupling a shutter member with an interior face of the developer cartridge housing, the shutter member being dimensioned to substantially cover the opening and contact the interior face when in a closed position; and disposing a rotating means on the shutter member, the rotating means being configured for rotating the shutter member between an open position and the closed position.
- 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the shutter member comprises at least one end portion and further comprising engaging at least one end portion with a support bracket.
- 9. A protective shutter for an electrophotographic apparatus having a developer cartridge housing defining at least one opening each being dimensioned to receive a developer cartridge, comprising:
a shutter member being dimensioned to substantially cover the at least one opening of the developer cartridge housing and to contact an interior face of the housing when in a closed position; a first end region being configured to engage a first portion of the developer cartridge housing; and a second end region being configured to engage a second portion of the developer cartridge housing.
- 10. The protective shutter of claim 9, wherein the first end region and the second end region are configured to engage at least one support bracket.
- 11. The protective shutter of claim 9, further comprising a hinge coupled with the shutter member, the hinge being configured to rotate the shutter member between the closed position and an open position.
- 12. An image processing system, comprising:
an electrophotographic apparatus having a housing with at least one opening each opening being dimensioned to receive a developer cartridge and having an interior face; a shutter member rotatably coupled with the interior face of the housing and being shaped to substantially cover the opening and contact the interior face when in a closed position; and a rotation system for rotating the shutter member between an open position and the closed position.
- 13. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the shutter member is coupled to the housing by at least one support bracket.
- 14. The image processing system of claim 13, wherein the shutter member further comprises at least one end portion engaging the at least one support bracket.
- 15. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the rotating system comprises a hinge.
- 16. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the electrophotographic apparatus comprises four openings.
- 17. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the electrophotographic apparatus comprises six openings.
- 18. A method for inhibiting ambient light from damaging a photoreceptor of an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising:
providing said electrophotographic apparatus including a shutter member and a housing having an interior face and defining a cartridge chamber for receiving a developer cartridge, said cartridge chamber being in communication with said photoreceptor, said shutter member being coupled with said interior face and being configured to substantially cover the interior face when in a closed position; rotating said shutter member to an open position; and rotating said shutter member to said closed position.
- 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said rotating said shutter member to said open position includes introducing said developer cartridge into said cartridge chamber.
- 20. The method of claim 18, wherein said rotating said shutter member to said closed position includes substantially contacting said interior face with said shutter member.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/150,659, filed on May 17, 2002. The priority of this previous application is expressly claimed and the disclosure of the previous application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10150659 |
May 2002 |
US |
Child |
10839620 |
May 2004 |
US |