Information
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Patent Grant
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6185400
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Patent Number
6,185,400
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Date Filed
Monday, June 28, 199925 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, February 6, 200123 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
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Examiners
-
CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 399 106
- 399 262
- 399 263
- 399 272
- 399 281
- 222 DIG 1
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International Classifications
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Abstract
A container for storing a supply of toner particles therein is used in a developer unit of an electrophotographic printing machine. The container has a discharge port connected to a chamber storing the supply of toner therein. A movable member is positioned in the chamber of the container. The movable member includes a planar surface. When the planar surface is positioned remote from the discharge port, the planar surface receives toner particles. When the planar surface is positioned in engagement with the discharge port, toner particles are discharged from the planar surface through the discharge port. In this way, the member functions to seal the toner container when the toner container is in an non-operative position remote from the developer unit, and to meter precise quantities of toner particles to the developer roller of the developer unit when the toner container is in the developer unit in the operating mode thereof.
Description
This invention relates generally to an electrophotographic printing machine, and more particularly concerns a toner cartridge used in the developer unit of the printing machine.
An electrophotographic printing machine employs a photoconductive member that is charged to a substantially uniform potential so as to sensitive the surface thereof. The charged portion of the photoconductive member is exposed to a light image of an original document being reproduced. Exposure of the charged photoconductive member selectively dissipates the charge thereon in the irradiated areas to record an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member corresponding to the informational areas contained within the original document. After the electrostatic latent image is recorded on the photoconductive member, the latent image is developed by bringing a developer material into contact therewith. Generally, the electrostatic latent image is developed with dry developer material comprising carrier granules having toner particles adhering triboelectrically thereto. Alternatively, a single component developer material such as toner particles may be employed. In addition, a liquid developer material may be used. The toner particles are attracted to the latent image forming a visible powder image on the photoconductive surface. After the electrostatic latent image is developed with the toner particles, the toner powder image is transferred to a sheet. Thereafter, the toner is heated to permanently fuse it to the sheet.
As successive electrostatic latent images are developed on the photoconductive surface, toner particles are depleted from the developer unit. Thus, it is necessary to furnish additional toner particles to the developer unit. It is highly desirable to maintain the ratio of carrier granules to toner particles within a prescribed boundary. This insures that the concentration of toner particles and carrier granules is maintained within limits so as to preclude the degradation of copy quality. A toner cartridge containing a supply of toner particles therein is associated with the developer unit of the printing machine. The toner cartridge, which may be readily inserted into the developer unit and removed therefrom by the machine operator, furnishes additional toner particles to the developer unit. It is highly desirable that this operation be a “white glove” operation. By that it is meant that no toner particles should spill on either the operator or on any of the machine components. Toner particles will contaminate the machine components resulting in a degradation in performance of the printing machine. In addition, toner particles will dirty the operator resulting in dissatisfaction in the performance of the printing machine. To accomplish this, it is necessary to seal the opening through which toner particles are discharged from the toner cartridge during handling thereof. This sealing arrangement must be readily removable from the toner cartridge opening to facilitate the discharge of toner particles when the toner cartridge is in the operative position in the developer unit. Over the years, various approaches have been developed for sealing and handling the toner cartridge in a “white glove” manner. Various types of toner cartridges have heretofore been employed. The following disclosures appear to be relevant:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,829
Patentee: Naganuma et al.
Issued: Feb. 19, 1991
U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,985
Patentee: Hayashi
Issued: Nov. 11, 1997
U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,829 disclosed a rotating member positioned in the opening through which toner material is discharged into the developer unit. The rotating member may be a sponge roller.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,985 describes a toner replenishment roller mounted in the shutter opening of the toner cartridge. This roller is a sponge roller with a sponge cover.
In accordance with one aspect of the features of the present invention, there is provided a container for storing a supply of toner therein. The container includes a housing having a dispensing port. The housing defines a chamber storing a supply of toner therein. A member having a planar surface is mounted movably in the chamber so that in a position remote from the dispensing port the planar surface receives toner and in a position in engagement with the dispensing port toner is discharged from the planar surface through the dispensing port.
Pursuant to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer unit including a container defining a chamber for storing a supply of toner particles therein. The container has a dispensing port from which the particles exit the chamber. A member, having a planar surface, is mounted movable in the chamber so that in a position remote from the dispensing port, the planar surface receives particles and, in a position in engagement with the dispensing port, particles are discharged from the planar surface through the dispensing port. A developer roller, operatively associated with the member, receives particles being discharged from the dispensing report.
In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing machine of the type in which an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member is developed with toner to form a developed image thereon that is transferred and fused to a sheet. The improvement includes a container defining a chamber for storing a supply of toner therein. The container has a dispensing port from which the toner exits the chamber. A member, having a planar surface, is mounted movably in the chamber so that in a position remote from the dispensing port, the planar surface receives toner and, in a position in engagement with the dispensing port, toner is discharged from the planar surface through the dispensing port. A developer roller, operatively associated with the member, receives toner being charged from the dispensing port. The developer roller is positioned adjacent the photoconductive member so that the electrostatic latent image recorded thereon attracts toner thereto to form the developed image on the photoconductive member.
Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and upon reference to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1
is a schematic, elevational view showing a process cartridge module incorporating the present invention therein;
FIG. 2
is a schematic elevational view showing the developer unit of the
FIG. 1
process cartridge;
FIG. 3
is a schematic elevational view showing the replenishment roller used in the toner cartridge of the
FIG. 2
developer unit; and
FIG. 4
is a schematic elevational view showing an electrophotographic printing machine incorporating the
FIG. 1
process cartridge therein.
While the present invention will hereinafter be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents that may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
For a general understanding of the features of the present invention, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate identical elements.
Referring now to
FIG. 4
, there is shown an electrophotographic printing machine incorporating the features of the present invention therein. The printing machine includes a copy sheet input module
22
and an auxiliary copy sheet input module
24
. An electronic controller power supply module
30
is aligned adjacent copy sheet input module
22
. A latent image forming module
32
is aligned against power supply module
30
. Power supply module
30
includes all of the controls and power supplies for all of the modules and processes of the printing machine. It also includes an image processing pipeline unit
34
for managing and processing raw digitized images from a raster input scanner (RIS)
36
and generating process digitized images for a raster output scanner (ROS)
38
. Image forming module
32
includes RIS
36
, ROS
38
and light source
33
. A customer replaceable unit, CRU or process cartridge module
44
is insertably and removably mounted within cavity
42
and is mutually aligned with and operatively connected to copy sheet input module
22
and auxiliary copy sheet input module
24
. The details of CRU
44
will be discussed hereinafter with reference to
FIGS. 1 -3
, inclusive. A fuser module
46
is mounded above CRU
44
and adjacent an end of image forming module
32
. Fuser module
46
includes a fuser roll and a backup roll. The backup roll is resiliently urged into engagement with the fuser roll to form a nip through which the sheet passes. In the fusing operation, the toner particles coalesce and bond to the sheet in image configuration forming a powder image thereon. After the finishing operation, exit roll
52
advances the sheet through and out of fuser module
46
into a catch tray.
Referring now to
FIG. 1
, CRU
44
includes a photoconductive drum
84
rotating in the direction of arrow
86
. Initially, drum
84
rotates through charging station
76
. Charging station
76
includes a corona-generating device which charges the photoconductive surface of drum
84
to a relatively high, substantially uniform potential.
After the photoconductive surface of drum
84
is charged, the charged portion thereof is advanced to an exposure station
10
where light rays from ROS
38
illuminate the charged portion of the photoconductive surface of drum
84
to record an electrostatic latent image thereon. Thereafter, drum
84
advances the electrostatic latent image to development station. At development station
12
, developer roller
92
of CRU
44
deposits toner particles on the electrostatic latent image. After the toner powder image has been formed on the photoconductive surface of drum
84
, drum
84
continues to rotate in the direction of arrow
86
to transfer station
94
. At transfer station
94
, a corona generating device sprays ions onto the backside of the sheet from copy sheet input module
22
or auxiliary copy sheet input module
24
. This attracts the toner image from the photoconductive surface of drum
84
to the sheet of support material. As hereinbefore described with reference to
FIG. 4
, the sheet of support material is then advanced through fuser module
46
to catch tray for subsequent removal therefrom by the machine operator.
Invariably, after the sheet is separated from the photoconductive surface of drum
84
, some residual particles remain adhering thereto. These residual particles are removed from the photoconductive surface at cleaning station
80
. Cleaning station
80
includes a cleaning blade and a waste toner removal auger. The cleaning blade is in contact with the photoconductive surface of drum
84
to remove the residual particles adhering thereto.
Turning now to
FIG. 1
, CRU
44
includes developer roller or roll
92
and toner cartridge
16
. Developer roller
92
includes a rotating sleeve having a magnet disposed interiorily thereof. The developer material is attracted by the magnet to the sleeve of developer roll
92
. Toner cartridge
16
defines a chamber
18
storing a supply of toner particles therein. One end of toner cartridge
16
is opened to form dispensing or discharge port
20
. A resilient, octagonal shaped roller
26
is positioned so that successive planar surfaces thereof seal dispensing port
20
. Toner agitators
110
and
112
are disposed in chamber
18
of toner cartridge
16
. Agitators
110
and
112
rotate so as to mix the toner particles in chamber
18
. A further description of CRU
44
may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,377 issued Chiesa et al on Sep. 15, 1988, the relevant portions thereof being hereby incorporated into the present application.
Referring now to
FIG. 2
, there is shown toner cartridge
16
in greater detail. As depicted thereat, agitators
110
and
112
are positioned in chamber
18
and rotate to mix and disturb the toner particles therein. Dispensing roller
26
is an octagonal shaped roller having eight planar surfaces. Each planar surface has a surface area corresponding to the surface area of dispensing port
20
. Roller
26
is made from a resilient material such as open-celled polyurethane. The roller
26
is positioned so that the planar surface presses against the dispensing port
20
. This seals the dispensing port when the volume of the roller formed by the planar surface and the triangular segment thereof no longer have particles therein. For example, planar surface
28
forms triangular segment
40
. When planar surface
28
and segment
40
are remote from discharge port
20
, toner particles are received in the open-celled polyurethane material. As roller
26
rotates in the direction of arrow
56
, planar surface
28
is positioned in engagement with dispensing port
20
. In this position, the toner particles received in segment
40
are discharged through dispensing port
20
and received by developer roller
92
. Thus, when toner cartridges are being shipped and dispensing roller
26
is stationary, planar surface
28
seals dispensing port
20
and prevents the discharge of toner particles therefrom. In operation, roller
26
rotates and segment
40
receives and temporarily stores toner particles therein, when remote from discharge port
20
. As roller
26
continues to rotate in the direction of arrow
56
, planar surface
28
engages discharge port
20
and the toner particles received by segment
40
are discharged through discharge port
20
to developer roller
92
. The size of each triangular segment
40
is designed to carry enough toner to feed developer roller
92
a sufficient amount of toner particles to enable a number of prints to be made by the printing machine. Developer roller
92
is coupled to dispensing roller
26
by a gear train. The gear train is designed such that every six revolutions of the developer roller results in one revolution of toner agitators
110
and
112
, and, similarly, one revolution of dispensing roller
26
. Toner agitators
110
and
112
feed toner material to dispensing roller
26
. Thus, roller
26
acts as a seal as well as metering a precise quantity of toner particles to developer roller
92
.
Turning now to
FIG. 3
, there is shown dispensing roller
26
. Dispensing roller
26
includes eight planar surfaces
28
and their corresponding segments
40
. Roller
26
is made preferably from an open-celled urethane material and is adapted to receive toner particles in each segment
40
thereof. The volume of toner particles received in each segment
40
is sufficient to enable the developer unit to develop several electrostatic latent images with the toner particles. The toner particles in segment
40
are discharged through discharge port
20
when the respective planar surface
28
is in engagement therewith. Thus, it is clear that dispensing roller
26
functions in two capacities. In one capacity, it seals the discharge port preventing toner particles from escaping therefrom. This enables a “white glove” approach for the installation and removal of toner cartridge
16
from the developer unit of the printing machine. In addition, roller
26
meters precise quantities of toner particles to the developer roll during the operation of the printing machine enabling successive electrostatic latent images to be developed with the optimum amount of toner particles.
In recapitulation, it is clear that the container of the present invention stores a supply of particles for developing an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive drum. The container includes a resilient, octagonal shaped roller which seals the discharge port in the toner container, when the toner container is not in the printing machine. In addition, the dispensing roller meters precise quantities of toner particles to the developer roller of the developer unit when in the printing machine. This is achieved by using an octagonal shaped roller in which the surface area of each planar surface corresponds substantially to the surface area of the discharge port. The dispensing roller is coupled to the developer roller to rotate as a function of the rotation of the developer unit. This insures that the optimum amount of toner particles are delivered to the developer roller.
It is, therefore, apparent that there has been provided in accordance with the present invention, a toner container for use in a developer unit of an electrophotographic printing machine which fully satisfies the aims and advantages hereinbefore set forth. While this invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that may fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A container for storing a supply of toner therein, including:a housing defining a chamber storing the toner therein and a discharge port connected thereto for discharging toner therefrom; and a member having a planar surface wherein the planar surface area is substantially equal to the discharge port surface area, said member being mounted moveably in the chamber so that in a position remote from the discharge port the planar surface receives toner and, in a position in engagement with the discharge port, toner is discharged from the planar surface through the discharge port.
- 2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said member includes a plurality of planar surfaces.
- 3. A container according to claim 2, wherein said member is octagonal shaped and is mounted rotatably to move successive planar surfaces into engagement with the discharge port.
- 4. A container according to claim 3, wherein said member includes a resilient material.
- 5. A developer unit, including:a container defining a chamber for storing a supply of particles therein, said container having a discharge port connected to the chamber from which the particles exit the chamber, and a member having a planar surface wherein the planar surface area is substantially equal to the discharge port surface area, said member being mounted moveably in the chamber so that in a position remote from the discharge port the planar surface receives particles and in a position in engagement with the discharge port particles are discharged from the planar surface through the discharge port; and a developer roll, operatively associated with said member to receive particles being discharged from the discharge port.
- 6. A developer unit according to claim 5, wherein said member includes a plurality of planar surfaces.
- 7. A developer unit according to claim 6, wherein said member is octagonal shaped and mounted rotatably to move successive planar surfaces into engagement with the discharge port.
- 8. A developer unit according to claim 7, wherein said member includes a resilient material.
- 9. A developer unit according to claim 7, wherein said developer roll and said member are coupled to one another so that successive planar surfaces advance into engagement with the discharge port in response to said developer roll rotating a preselected number of revolutions.
- 10. A developer unit according to claim 9, further including a gear train coupling said developer roll with said member.
- 11. A printing machine of the type in which an electrostatic latent image recorded on a photoconductive member is developed with toner to form a developed image on the photoconductive member as transferred and fused to a sheet, wherein the improvement includes:a container defining a chamber for storing a supply of toner therein, said container having a discharge port connected to the chamber from which the toner exits the chamber, and a member having a planar surface wherein the planar surface area is substantially equal to the discharge port surface area, said member being mounted moveable in the chamber so that, in a position remote from the discharge port, the planar surface receives toner, and, in a position in engagement with the discharge port, toner is discharged from the planar surface through the discharge port; and a developer roll, operatively associated with said member, to receive toner being discharged from the discharge port, said developer roll being positioned adjacent the photoconductive member so that the electrostatic latent image recorded thereon attracts toner thereto to form the developed image on the photoconductive member.
- 12. A printing machine according to claim 11, wherein said member includes a plurality of planar surfaces.
- 13. A printing machine according to claim 12, wherein said member is octagonal shaped and mounted rotatably to move successive planar surfaces into engagement with the discharge port.
- 14. A printing machine according to claim 13, wherein said member includes a resilient material.
- 15. A printing machine according to claim 13, wherein said developer roll and said member are coupled to one another so that successive planar surfaces advance into engagement with the discharge port in response to said developer roll rotating a preselected number of revolutions.
- 16. A printing machine according to claim 15, further including a gear train coupling said developer roll with said member.
US Referenced Citations (6)