Claims
- 1. A toner cartridge removably mounted to an image forming apparatus including a developing device, comprising:
- a plurality of toner outlet openings for replenishing toner to the developing device; and
- a plurality of toner collection openings for collecting the toner from the developing device;
- wherein said plurality of toner outlet openings and said plurality of toner collection openings are arranged substantially in a single array.
- 2. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of toner outlet openings are arranged outside of said plurality of toner collection openings.
- 3. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a magnetic roller facing said plurality of toner outlet openings and said plurality of toner collection openings, wherein said magnetic roller attracts and circulates the toner.
- 4. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a protruding portion located downstream of said plurality of toner outlet openings in a direction of rotation of said magnetic roller, wherein said protruding portion scrapes off the toner deposited on said magnetic roller into said plurality of toner outlet openings.
- 5. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 4, wherein an end of said protruding portion and said magnetic roller are spaced from each other at a preselected distance.
- 6. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a blade contacting said magnetic roller, wherein said blade scrapes off the toner deposited on said magnetic roller into said toner cartridge.
- 7. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 6, wherein said blade contacts a portion of said magnetic roller facing said plurality of toner collection openings.
- 8. A toner cartridge removably mounted to an image forming apparatus including a developing device, comprising:
- a plurality of toner outlet openings for replenishing toner to the developing device;
- a plurality of toner collection openings for collecting the toner from the developing device;
- a magnetic roller facing said plurality of toner outlet openings and said plurality of toner collection openings, wherein said magnetic roller attracts the toner;
- a protruding portion for scraping off the toner deposited on said magnetic roller into said plurality of toner outlet openings; and
- a blade for scraping off the toner collected from the developing device via said plurality of toner collection openings and deposited on said magnetic roller into said toner cartridge.
- 9. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 8, wherein said blade contacts a portion of said magnetic roller facing said plurality of toner collection openings.
- 10. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 9, wherein said protruding portion faces a portion of said magnetic roller not contacting said blade.
- 11. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 9, wherein said magnetic roller and said blade contact each other at a position downstream of said protruding portion in a direction of rotation of said magnetic roller.
- 12. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 8, wherein an end of said protruding portion and said magnetic roller are spaced from each other at a preselected distance.
- 13. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 8, wherein said protruding portion is located downstream of said plurality of toner outlet openings in a direction of rotation of said magnetic roller.
- 14. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 8, wherein said plurality of toner outlet openings and said plurality of toner collection openings are arranged substantially in a single array.
- 15. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 14, wherein said plurality of toner outlet openings are arranged outside of said plurality of toner collection openings.
- 16. A toner cartridge removably mounted to an image forming apparatus including a developing device, comprising:
- a plurality of toner outlet openings for replenishing toner to the developing device;
- a plurality of toner collection openings for collecting the toner from the developing device;
- a magnetic roller facing said plurality of toner outlet openings and said plurality of toner collection openings, wherein said magnetic roller attracts the toner;
- a protruding portion located downstream of said plurality of toner outlet openings in a direction of rotation of said magnetic roller, wherein said protruding portion scrapes off the toner deposited on said magnetic roller into said plurality of toner outlet openings; and
- a blade contacting a portion of said magnetic roller facing said plurality of toner outlet openings, wherein said blade scrapes off the toner collected from the developing device via said plurality of toner collection openings and deposited on said magnetic roller into said toner cartridge.
- 17. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 16, wherein said protruding portion faces a portion of said magnetic roller not contacting said blade.
- 18. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 16, wherein said magnetic roller and said blade contact each other at a position downstream of said protruding portion in a direction of rotation of said magnetic roller.
- 19. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 16, wherein an end of said protruding portion and said magnetic roller are spaced from each other at a preselected distance.
- 20. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 16, wherein said plurality of toner outlet openings and said plurality of toner collection openings are arranged substantially in a single array.
- 21. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 20, wherein said plurality of toner outlet openings are arranged outside of said plurality of toner collection openings.
- 22. A toner cartridge removably mounted to an image forming apparatus including a developing device, comprising:
- means for replenishing toner to the developing device; and
- means for collecting the toner from the developing device;
- wherein said toner replenishing means and said toner collecting means are arranged substantially in a single array.
- 23. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 22, wherein said toner replenishing means is arranged outside of said toner collecting means.
- 24. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 22, further comprising magnetic roller means for attracting and circulating the toner, wherein said toner attracting and circulating means faces said toner replenishing means and said toner collecting means.
- 25. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 24, further comprising first scraping means for scraping off the toner deposited on said toner attracting and circulating means into said toner replenishing means, wherein said first scraping means is located downstream of said toner replenishing means in a direction of rotation of said toner attracting and circulating means.
- 26. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 25, wherein an end of said first scraping means and said toner attracting and circulating means are spaced from each other at a preselected distance.
- 27. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a second scraping means contacting said toner attracting and circulating means, wherein said second scraping means scrapes the toner deposited on said toner attracting and circulating means into said toner cartridge.
- 28. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 27, wherein said second scraping means contacts a portion of said toner attracting and circulating means facing said toner replenishing means.
- 29. A toner cartridge removably mounted to an image forming apparatus including a developing device, comprising:
- means for replenishing toner to the developing device;
- means for collecting the toner from the developing device;
- magnetic roller means for attracting and circulating the toner, wherein said toner attracting and circulating means faces said toner replenishing means and said toner collecting means;
- first scraping means for scraping off toner deposited on said toner attracting and circulating means into said toner replenishing means; and
- second scraping means for scraping toner collected from the developing device via said toner replenishing means and deposited on said toner attracting and circulating means into said toner cartridge.
- 30. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 29, wherein said second scraping means contacts a portion of said toner attracting and circulating means facing said toner replenishing means.
- 31. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 30, wherein said first scraping means faces a portion of said toner attracting and circulating means not contacting said second scraping means.
- 32. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 31, wherein said toner attracting and circulating means and said second scraping means contact each other at a position downstream of said first scraping means in a direction of rotation of said toner attracting and circulating means.
- 33. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 29, wherein an end of said first scraping means and said toner attracting and circulating means are spaced from each other at a preselected distance.
- 34. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 29, wherein said first scraping means is located downstream of said toner replenishing means in a direction of rotation of said toner attracting and circulating means.
- 35. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 29, wherein said toner replenishing means and said toner collecting means are arranged substantially in a single array.
- 36. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 35, wherein said toner replenishing means is arranged outside of said toner collecting means.
- 37. A toner cartridge removably mounted to an image forming apparatus including a developing device, comprising:
- means for replenishing toner to the developing device;
- means for collecting the toner from the developing device;
- magnetic roller means for attracting and circulating the toner, wherein said toner attracting and circulating means faces said toner replenishing means and said toner collecting means;
- first scraping means located downstream of said toner replenishing means in a direction of rotation of said toner attracting and circulating means, wherein said first scraping means scrapes off the toner deposited on said toner attracting and circulating means into said toner replenishing means; and
- second scraping means contacting a portion of said toner attracting and circulating means facing said toner replenishing means, wherein said second scraping means scrapes off the toner collected from the developing device via said toner collecting means and deposited on said toner attracting and circulating means into said toner cartridge.
- 38. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 37, wherein said first scraping means faces a portion of said toner attracting and circulating means not contacting said second scraping means.
- 39. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 37, wherein said toner attracting and circulating means and said second scraping means contact each other at a position downstream of said first scraping means in a direction of rotation of said toner attracting and circulating means.
- 40. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 37, wherein an end of said first scraping means and said toner attracting and circulating means are spaced from each other by a preselected distance.
- 41. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 37, wherein said toner replenishing means and said toner collecting means are arranged substantially in a single array.
- 42. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 41, wherein said toner replenishing means is arranged outside of said toner collecting means.
- 43. A method for conveying toner from a toner cartridge removably mounted to an image forming apparatus including a developing device, comprising the steps of:
- replenishing toner to the developing device by a plurality of toner outlet openings; and
- collecting the toner from the developing device by a plurality of toner collection openings;
- wherein said step of replenishing comprises replenishing toner by said plurality of toner outlet openings, said plurality of toner outlet openings being arranged substantially in a single array with said plurality of toner collection openings.
- 44. A method for conveying toner as claimed in claim 43, wherein said step of replenishing further comprises replenishing toner through said plurality of toner outlet openings, said plurality of toner outlet openings being arranged outside of said plurality of toner collection openings.
- 45. A method for conveying toner as claimed in claim 43, further comprising the step of attracting and circulating the toner by a magnetic roller facing said plurality of toner outlet openings and said plurality of toner collection openings.
- 46. A method for conveying toner as claimed in claim 45, further comprising the step of scraping off the toner deposited on said magnetic roller into said plurality of toner outlet openings by a protruding portion located downstream of said plurality of toner outlet openings in a direction of rotation of said magnetic roller.
- 47. A method for conveying toner as claimed in claim 46, wherein said step of scraping toner further comprises scraping off the toner deposited on said magnetic roller into said plurality of toner outlet openings through said protruding portion, said protruding portion having an end spaced from said magnetic roller at a preselected distance.
- 48. A method for conveying toner claimed in claim 45, further comprising the step of scraping off the toner deposited on said magnetic roller into said toner cartridge by a blade contacting said magnetic roller.
- 49. A method for conveying toner as claimed in claim 48, wherein said step of scraping toner further comprises scraping off the toner deposited on said magnetic roller into said toner cartridge by said blade facing said plurality of toner collection openings.
- 50. A method for conveying toner from a toner cartridge removably mounted to an image forming apparatus including a developing device, comprising the steps of:
- replenishing toner to the developing device by a plurality of toner outlet openings;
- collecting the toner from the developing device by a plurality of toner collection openings;
- attracting and circulating the toner by a magnetic roller facing said plurality of toner outlet openings and said plurality of toner collection openings;
- scraping off the toner deposited on said magnetic roller into said plurality of toner outlet openings by a protruding portion; and
- scraping off the toner collected from the developing device via said plurality of toner collection openings and deposited on said magnetic roller into said toner cartridge by a blade.
- 51. A method for conveying toner as claimed in claim 50, wherein said step of scraping off the toner collected from the developing device via said plurality of toner collection openings and deposited on said magnetic roller into said toner cartridge by said blade further comprises contacting said blade to a portion of said magnetic roller facing said plurality of toner collection openings.
- 52. A method for conveying toner as claimed in claim 51, wherein said step of scraping off the toner deposited on said magnetic roller into said plurality of toner outlet opening by said protruding portion further comprises facing said protruding portion to a portion of said magnetic roller not contacting said blade.
- 53. A method for conveying toner as claimed in claim 51, wherein said attracting and circulating step further comprises attracting and circulating the toner by said magnetic roller contacting said blade at a position downstream of said protruding portion in a direction of rotation of said magnetic roller.
- 54. A toner cartridge as claimed in claim 50, wherein said step of scraping off the toner deposited on said magnetic roller into said plurality of toner outlet openings by said protruding portion further comprises spacing said protruding portion from said magnetic roller at a preselected distance.
- 55. A method for conveying toner as claimed in claim 50, wherein said step of scraping off the toner deposited on said magnetic roller into said plurality of toner outlet openings by said protruding portion further comprises locating said protruding portion downstream of said plurality of toner outlet openings in a direction of rotation of said magnetic roller.
- 56. A method for conveying toner as claimed in claim 50, wherein said step of replenishing toner to the developing device by said plurality of toner outlet openings further comprises arranging said plurality of toner outlet openings substantially in a single array with said plurality of toner collection openings.
- 57. A method for conveying toner as claimed in claim 56, wherein said step of replenishing toner to the developing device by said plurality of toner outlet openings further comprises arranging said plurality of toner outlet openings outside of said plurality of toner collection openings.
- 58. A method for conveying toner from a toner cartridge removably mounted to an image forming apparatus including a developing device, comprising the steps of:
- replenishing toner to the developing device by a plurality of toner outlet openings;
- collecting the toner from the developing device by a plurality of toner collection openings;
- attracting and circulating the toner by a magnetic roller facing said plurality of toner collection openings;
- scraping off the toner deposited on said magnetic roller into said plurality of toner outlet openings by a protruding portion further comprising locating said protruding portion downstream of said plurality of toner outlet openings in a direction of rotation of said magnetic roller; and
- scraping off the toner collected from the developing device via said plurality of toner collection openings and deposited on said magnetic roller into said toner cartridge by a blade further comprising said blade contacting a portion of said magnetic roller facing said plurality of toner outlet openings.
- 59. A method for conveying toner as claimed in claim 58, wherein said step of scraping off the toner deposited on said magnetic roller into said plurality of toner outlet openings by said protruding portion further comprises facing said protruding portion to a portion of said magnetic roller not contacting said blade.
- 60. A method for conveying toner as claimed in claim 58, wherein said attracting and circulating step further comprises attracting and circulating the toner by said magnetic roller contacting said blade at a position downstream of said protruding portion in a direction of rotation of said magnetic roller.
- 61. A method for conveying toner as claimed in claim 58, wherein said step of scraping off the toner deposited on said magnetic roller into said plurality of toner outlet openings by said protruding portion further comprises spacing said protruding portion from said magnetic roller by at a preselected distance.
- 62. A method for conveying toner as claimed in claim 58, wherein said step of replenishing toner to the developing device by said plurality of toner outlet openings further comprises arranging said plurality of toner outlet openings substantially in a single array with said plurality of toner collection openings.
- 63. A method for conveying toner as claimed in claim 60, wherein said step of replenishing toner to the developing device by said plurality of toner outlet openings further comprises arranging said plurality of toner outlet openings outside of said plurality of toner collection openings.
Priority Claims (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
7-098156 |
Mar 1995 |
JPX |
|
7-0106516 |
Apr 1995 |
JPX |
|
7-028074 |
Feb 1998 |
JPX |
|
Parent Case Info
This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/602,043, filed on Feb. 15, 1996.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
5384629 |
Watanabe et al. |
Jan 1995 |
|
5581337 |
Suzuki |
Dec 1996 |
|
5835822 |
Nagasaki et al. |
Nov 1998 |
|
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
602043 |
Feb 1996 |
|