Venting plug in toner cartridge

Abstract

Hopper plug (143) vents out air pressure build-up which cause toner leaks. One side of the plug has a series of entrance openings (491) which communicate with the inside of the hopper (61). Air, potentially containing some toner particles, passes through those openings and enters a first chamber (507). The first chamber has exit holes (499) which do not face the entrance openings. Air passing through the exit holes of the first chamber enters a second chamber (509). The second chamber has exit holes (495) which are at the opposite end and do not face the entrance openings. Third chamber (511) of this labyrinth faces a mat toner filter (501) which leads to exit holes (503).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The following United States patent applications are directed to subject matter. disclosed or incorporated in the disclosure of this application Ser. No. 08/602,648, filed Feb. 16, 1996, now U.S. Pat No. 5,634,169 entitled "Multiple Function Encoder Wheel for Cartridges Utilized in an Electrophotographic Output Device; five utility applications filed the same day as this application entitled "Toner Cartridge with External Planar Installation Guides, Ser. No. 08/770,327;" "Toner Cartridge with Locating on Photoconductor Shaft, Ser. No. 08/770,326; " "Toner Cartridge with Hopper Exit Agitator, Ser. No. 08/770,328;" "Toner Cartridge with Housing and Pin Construction, Ser. No. 08/770,330;" and "Toner Cartridge with Heat Shield Shutter Ser. No. 08/770,334; " and one ornamental design application filed the same day as this application entitled "Toner Cartridge for Laser Printer, Ser. No. 29/066,775,".

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to electrophotographic development and, more particularly, relates to a plug for a toner cartridge which relieves pressure in the cartridge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The assignee of this invention has manufactured and sold commercially toner cartridges of two different general designs. For its larger laser printers the cartridge has contained a pump to meter toner of the kind disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,012,289 to Aldrich et al. and 5,101,237 to Molloy, while the external structure of the cartridge is as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,333 to Craft et al. Details of other elements in the cartridge have varied. These cartridges have a toner adder roller rotating against the rotating movement of a developer roller, and have experienced internal pressure. Later forms employed an internal channel leading from the developing area to the top area of the cartridge, but not to the outside of the cartridge.

For a smaller, light emitting diode printer, the cartridge is as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,032 to Baker et al., which has a toner hopper extending well below a level having the toner adder roller and which has independent driven systems for the photoconductor roller and for the developer roller system as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,378 to Baker et al. This cartridge also has a toner adder roller rotating against the rotating movement of a developer roller, as does the cartridge disclosed of this invention. That cartridge operated at relatively moderate speed and it had no venting to relieve internal pressure.

Internal pressure can cause toner leaks. The leaks often, but not exclusively, occur immediately after the cartridge becomes inactive. Internal pressure in the hopper is created by ingesting air with toner carried by the developer roller past the lower developer roller seal. The toner adder roller pulls this air/toner mixture away from the developer roller which creates a pressure increase in the hopper until an equilibrium pressure is reached.

This invention is to a plug to outside which allows air to pass while blocking the toner, thus relieving internal pressure while not passing toner through the plug.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The plug of this invention may be located in a hole in the side of the toner hopper through which the hopper is filled with toner. At that location the plug is adjacent the hopper, where pressure tends to increase during operation of the cartridge. To avoid toner leaks from such pressure increases, the plug has multiple walls with multiple, spaced openings, with the plug having a series of outside openings which communicate with the inside of the hopper. Air passing through the outside holes enters a first chamber which is closed immediately in front of the outside holes, but which has opposing second holes on each side. Air passing through these second holes enters a second chamber which is closed immediately in front of the second holes, but has opposing third holes on each side at the opposite end of the second chamber from the second holes. Air passing through the second holes enters a central chamber, the bottom of which has a mat filter which does not pass toner, leading to central holes through the cover.

Preferably, the plug is formed in two mating parts of yieldable plastic which are connected by an aligning feature. The mat filter is inserted in the middle and the two parts are pressed together by a press-fit formed by the outer part being slightly smaller than the inner part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The details of this invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge from above and left rear, where left is determined facing the printer from its front side where cartridge insertion is made;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above and left front of the cartridge sectioned near the top;

FIG. 3 is a top right front view of the cartridge with further cover elements removed;

FIG. 4 is a top right rear view of the cartridge with cover elements removed;

FIG. 5 is a top left rear view of the cartridge with cover elements removed;

FIG. 6 is a top right rear view of the cartridge sectioned similarly to the sectioning of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a bottom left front view of the cartridge;

FIG. 8 is a bottom right rear view of the cartridge;

FIG. 9 is a front right perspective view of the hopper housing member;

FIG. 10 is a left front view of the inside of a printer in which cartridge 1 is installed;

FIG. 11 is a partially sectioned right side view showing more detail of parts shown in FIG. 10 with the cartridge installed;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the inside one end member of the hopper;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the inside of the other end member of the hopper;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the gear plate;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a readily removable bushing;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the removable bushing installed;

FIG. 17 is a right rear view showing detail of a shutter;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an extended hub inserted in the photoconductor drum;

FIG. 19 is a right perspective view showing elements inside the cover of the cartridge;

FIG. 20 is a left bottom perspective view showing elements inside the cover of the cartridge;

FIG. 21 is a right perspective view showing parts of the cartridge installed in a printer; and

FIG. 22 shows the inside of the cover of the cartridge where it receives an extension from the hopper;

FIG. 23 shows elements of the hopper plug prior to assembly;

FIG. 24 shows the assembled hopper plug alone; and

FIG. 25 shows a staggered crosssection of the hopper plug to illustrate air flow.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The self-contained, removable printer cartridge 1 is shown in FIG. 1 in a perspective view from above and left rear (the hand grips 3a and 3b being considered the front and the side having the pivoted upper shutter 5 being the upper side).

For purposes of illustration, FIG. 1 shows the upper shutter 5 pivoted downward to its open position and lower shutter 7 pivoted rearward and upward to its open position. In actual operation, these positions are reached by interaction with the printer or other device in which cartridge 1 is installed as will be explained below.

To facilitate and guide insertion of cartridge 1 into the printer, cartridge 1 has a left guide wing 9a and a right guide wing 9b. Guide wings 9a and 9b are thin planes formed as arcs of a relatively large circle, except near the front, where the bottom 9aa is enlarged downward. Guide wings 9a and 9b are mirror images of each other except that, in this particular embodiment described, the left guide wing 9a is wider (extends further laterally) than the right guide wing 9b simply to accommodate the width provided by a particular printer in which the exemplar cartridge 1 is to be installed.

In the embodiment herein described, bottom shutter 7 is pivoted from left-rear cover 31a on a left top actuator link arm 11a and from rear cover (not shown) on a right top actuator link arm 11b, located on opposite sides of shutter 7. Each link arm 11a, and 11b is integral with an actuator 13a, and 13b, respectively, each of which has a rectangular actuator surface 13aa and 13bb, respectively, which extends over the respective guide wings 9a, 9b.

A pivoted lower shutter link 15a and a side of the lower shutter 17a, pivoted to lower link 15a and upper actuator link 11a complete a conventional four bar linkage to provide rotation of shutter 7 in response to rotation of actuator 13a. The rear end of coil spring 19a connects to a lower hook 11aa in link arm 11a to bias shutter 7 closed when the cartridge is not inserted in a printer or other device. The front end of coil spring 19a connects to an upper hole 31aa under actuator 13a. A mirror image of these parts (see FIG. 3) exists on the opposite side, the corresponding part of which will be designated by the same number with "b" letters.

When cartridge 1 is installed in the printer, actuator surfaces 13aa and 13bb are pushed downward by the mating surfaces of the printer to the positions above wings 9a, 9b respectively, as shown in FIG. 1.

Cartridge 1 is inserted by a human operator grasping grips 3a, 3b through holes 3aa, 3bb and moving cartridge 1 in the direction of shutter 5 and toward the rear of the printer (291, FIG. 10) in which it is being installed. A series of upwardly extending ribs 21 spaced along the width of cartridge 1 under grips 3a, 3b, except at holes 3aa and 3bb, provide strength while holes 3aa and 3bb provide room for the fingers of a person to grasp grips 3a, 3b. On the left side is a relatively wide, upwardly extending tab 23. In a preferred combination of the embodiment of the invention described herein and an exemplary printer the top of tab 23 interacts with a physical sensing switch in the printer to detect that a cartridge 1 has been installed.

Front cover 25, on which grips 3a, 3b, ribs 21 and tab 23 are integrally formed, is above a separated toner hopper, as will be described. The top cover of cleaner chamber 27 is rearward of shutter 5.

Immediately inside wings 9a and 9b are raised, elongated locator surfaces 29a, 29b to which pressure is applied by a printer to firmly position the toning mechanisms of cartridge 1 when cartridge 1 is installed. Locator surfaces 29a and 29b, wings 9a and 9b, as well as rear cover 31 under wing 9a, are formed integral with cleaner housing 27. Also integral with these elements is front cover 25, having grips 3a, 3b and an outer cover 33 on the left side and generally coextensive in length with the length of front cover 25. Cover 33 has a U-shaped housing 35 at its top. Housing 35 traps spacer stud 37a as will be explained and an assembly hole 39a near the upper front of cover 33 and a spring-holding hole 39b near the lower front of cover 33.

A coupler 41 receives a drive element from a printer which contains an Oldham coupler to rotatably drive the developer roller 43 (not shown in FIG. 1) and toner adder roller 45 (not shown in FIG. 1). To the rear of coupler 41 is the shaft 47 of photoconductor drum 49 (drum not shown in FIG. 1).

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above and left front of cartridge 1 sectioned near the top to show internal elements. At the immediate front is a large, cylindrical toner hopper 61, having a paddle 63, which, during operation, is rotated clockwise as seen in FIG. 2. Paddle 63 has an outer toner moving bar 63a, which extends across the width of hopper 61 except for a far left section 63aa which is inset as will be explained. The rear wall 61a of hopper 61 when cartridge 1 is installed for operation in a printer terminates at about one-third of the total height of hopper 61 as a flat surface 61aa (specifically, hopper 61 has a 106 mm diameter and the distance vertically from the lowest point of hopper 61 to the horizontal plane coinciding with the highest point surface 61aa of rear wall 61a is 35.3 mm). The upper surface 61aa of rear wall 61a is thin and flat with a slight downward angle from hopper 61 to facilitate removal of the molded part from its mold. An extension 65a from an agitator bar 65 has a depending tab 65b (see FIG. 9) which rests on upper wall 61aa thereby positioning bar 65 slightly above upper wall 61aa. Extension 65a extends past upper wall 61aa to a location at which bar 63a of paddle 63 encounters extension 65a as it rotates. The surface 61aaa opposite surface 61aa from which toner exits is flat and at approximately 50 degrees from vertical (best seen in FIG. 9) when cartridge 1 is installed for operation in a printer.

Vertical ribs 67 located immediately rearward of rear wall 61a are stiffeners for top wall 69 formed about one-third down from the top of hopper 61. The toner moving bar 63a of paddle 63 is closely adjacent to the sides of hopper 61 except where the top of rear wall 61a and the start of top wall 69 form an opening for toner to be delivered rearward from hopper 61 to the toning mechanisms of cartridge 1. This is best shown in FIG. 9.

In FIG. 2, a small part of developer roller 43 to which coupler 41 is directly attached, is seen past ribs 67. Developer roller 43 is parallel to and in contact with photoconductor drum 49. Cleaner chamber 27 has spaced, vertical internal baffles 71, which are strengthening members, as well as members which limit unbalanced accumulation of toner in chamber 27. Toner which is not transferred during development is scraped from photoconductor drum 49 by cleaning blade 73, which is mounted to a vertical panel 73a, having a horizontal gusset 73aa to increase strength. As best seen in FIG. 3, panel 73a is mounted to supporting member 75, which has vertical columns 75a (FIG. 2), 75b on opposite sides. Panel 73a is mounted to the vertical columns 75a, 75b by a screw 77a to panel 75a and a screw 77b to panel 75b.

FIG. 3 is a top right side view with further cover elements removed and part of the cleaner removed to illustrate the internal configuration of cartridge 1. A solid, steel-bar doctor blade 91 extends parallel with and in pressure contact with developer roller 43. Blade 91 contacts roller 43 at about 20 degrees from the vertical toward toner adder roller 45. Also shown in FIG. 3 are metal electrical contact 93 to doctor blade 91, metal electrical contact 95 to toner adder roller 45 and metal electrical contact 97 to developer roller 43. The outer ends 93a, 95a, 97a of the contacts bear against metal contacts in the printer when cartridge 1 is installed and thereby make electrical contact to receive electrical potentials from the printer.

The developing system of cartridge 1 is essentially very similar to that of the Optra brand family of printers sold by the assignee of this invention. As in that family of printers, toner adder roller 45 is a conductive sponge material attached to a steel shaft and developer roller 43 is semiconductive material attached to a steel shaft. When cartridge 1 is installed for operation in a printer, cartridge 1 is oriented generally as shown in FIG. 3 and the horizontal plane containing the lowest surface of toner adder roller 45 is 22.6 mm above the lowest point of hopper 61.

Toner adder roller 45 and developer roller 43 are journaled in the rearward extensions 99a and 101 a (FIG. 4) of the end members 99 and 101 (FIG. 4) of hopper 61. Agitator 65 has a bent portion 65aa to become parallel to extension 99a where it is pivoted to extension 99a on pin 103a. As paddle 63 rotates, bar 63a contacts extension 65a, thereby rotating agitator 65 around pin 103a upward. Agitator 65 then returns to near rear wall 61a under the force of gravity to dislodge toner, which otherwise tends to accumulate on exit surface 61aaa (see FIG. 9).

FIG. 4 is a top right rear view with cover elements removed showing more fully the end members 99 and 101 of hopper 61 and their extensions 99a and 101a. Integral with end member 101 is spacer stud 37b. Under and to the front of stud 37b is spring mounting post 131b, which mounts one end of spring 132b, the other end of which is mounted on hole 242 (best seen in FIG. 20).

Also integral with end member 101 is perpendicular shield wall 133, which extends downward and rearward to present a barrier to physically protect encoder wheel 135. The bottom portion of wall 133 forms a flat contact surface 133a to receive a locating roller from the printer when cartridge 1 is installed. Encoder wheel 135 is linked to paddle 63 through a paddle gear assembly 163 having a torsional yield member (FIG. 5) so as to provide information as to the amount of toner in hopper 61 to the printer on which cartridge 1 is installed by the sensing of the location of windows 135a. Additionally, other windows 135b provide other information, while wider window 135c provides a home location reference. Light blocking selected labels 136 are located between windows 135b and 135c and block windows of a series of windows 135b to thereby customize information onto wheel 135. The details and operation of encoder wheel 135 are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/602,648, filed Feb. 16, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,169, entitled "Multiple Function Encoder Wheel for Cartridges Utilized in an Electrophotographic Output Device" and form no contribution to the invention of this specification.

FIG. 4 also shows electrical contacts 93, 95 and 97 as they are supported by floor 137 which extends perpendicularly from hopper extension 101a. Vertical ribs 139 extend from floor 137 between contacts 93, 95 and 97 to strengthen the floor 137.

Mounting roller 141a is journaled to hopper extension 99a and symmetrical mounting roller 141b is mounted to hopper extension 101a. Rollers 141a and 141b contact inside surfaces of the cover of cartridge 1, as will be described. Surfaces 133a and 161a (FIG. 5) of hopper 61 rests on rollers in the printer as will be further described.

Hopper end member 101 has an opening receiving a closely-fitting, resilient, cylindrical plug 143. Prior to installing plug 143, toner is loaded into hopper 61 through the open hole, then plug 143 seals the hole.

Photoconductor roller 49 has at its right end a transfer roller drive gear 145, which drives a roller in the printer when cartridge 1 is installed in the printer.

FIG. 5 is a top left rear view with cover elements removed showing more fully the outside of members 99 and 99a of hopper 61. Integral with end member 99 is spacer stud 37a. Under and to the front of stud 37a is spring mounting post 131a, which mounts one end of spring 132a, the other end of which is mounted in a hole in member 431 (FIG. 19), which is an inner extension of cover 33 (FIG. 2).

Also integral with end member 99 is perpendicular shield wall 161, which extends downward and rearward to a barrier to physically protect torsional paddle gear assembly 163. The bottom portion of wall 161 forms a flat contact surface 161a to receive a locating roller from the printer when cartridge 1 is installed. The details of paddle gear assembly 163 are not part of this invention and are more fully disclosed in the above-mentioned patent application Ser. No. 08/602,648, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,169.

Gear 49a, integral with the end of photoconductor drum 49, receives power from a meshing gear in the printer when cartridge 1 is installed in the printer. Coupler 41 is integral with developer roller 43 and drives idler gear 165, which drives toner adder roller 45 (FIG. 3) by being meshed with gear 167, which is integral with toner adder roller 45. Coupler 41 receives power from a driver in the printer which is separate from the drive to drum 49, although preferably from a single motor in the printer.

Gear 167 drives the large gear of compound gear 169. Gear 169 drives the large gear of compound gear 171, and gear 171 drives paddle gear 163. A gear plate 173, mounting gears 165 and 169, is mounted on hopper extension 99a by mounting screw 175.

FIG. 5 shows the end of agitator 65 opposite that shown in FIG. 3. That end has a bent portion 65bb to become parallel to extension 101a of end member 101 when it is pivoted to extension 101a on a pin 103b.

Continuing the detailed description of the cartridge incorporating a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a top right rear view sectioned near the top similar to the sectioning of FIG. 2. FIG. 6 illustrates more clearly the mounting of doctor blade 91 mounted to press on developer roller 43 under the bias of leaf spring 191. Blade 91 is located on the left rear by tab 361 (best seen in FIG. 14), and on the rear by extension 196a (FIG. 12) of hopper end member 99 which form front and back barriers for holding the left side of doctor blade 91. Similarly, on the right side, two surfaces from 101a, including a rear extension 365 (best seen in FIG. 13) and a front extension 366 (FIG. 13) form front and back holding the right side of doctor blade 91, symmetric to the cage holding the left side of doctor blade 91. The top of blade 91 is held by spring 191. An adhesive tape 192 across the top of the doctor blade 91 bridges over the adjoining horizontal edge of wall 69 (FIG. 2) for sealing, as is conventional.

Spring 191 has blunt ends 191 a and 191 b, spaced from the center, which contact blade 91 to bias it downward on to developer roller 43. A central ledge 197, integral with ribs 67, forms a cavity receiving the center of spring 191. Horizontal ledges 199a and 199b, opposite central parts of spring 191, formed integral with ribs 67, are horizontal barriers to prevent spring 191 from moving toward the front. Preferably, so as to permit rough handling of cartridge 1 which might occur during shipment, solid upper stop members (not shown) are attached by double sided adhesive on each side between ledges 199a and 199b and the sides 99a and 101a, respectively. These are spaced 0.18 mm above the top of blade 91 and, therefore, contact blade 91 only during rough handling.

FIG. 6 also illustrates posts 141aa and 141bb, which are molded as extensions of members 99a and 101a, respectively, and supporting mounting rollers 141a and 141b, respectively (FIG. 5).

FIG. 7 is a bottom left front depiction of cartridge 1 viewed externally. A series of horizontal depressions 221 along the back of hopper 61 provide a roughened surface for thumbs when fingers grasp the cartridge through opening 3aa and 3bb. A series of relatively long vertical ribs 223 integral with the bottom of hopper 61 serve as paper and other media guides, while a series of shorter ribs 225, located rearward of the start of ribs 223 and between ribs 223, prevent media snags as media encounter photoconductor drum 49, located immediately after ribs 223 and 225. Past drum 49, media encounter further media guide ribs 227 located on the bottom of shutter 7. FIG. 7 also affords a clear view of idler gear 165 and gear 167.

FIG. 8 is a bottom right rear depiction of cartridge 1 viewed externally. This shows the full right guide wing 9b with enlarged front part 9bb. FIG. 8 shows the right cover elements which were deleted in FIG. 6. A front lower cover section 241 is over much of the encoder wheel 135 and has an access hole 243 for ease of assembly and has an access opening 244 (best seen in FIG. 20). Cover section 241 is stepped outward a small amount to provide room for spring 132b (FIG. 20) to extend between post 131b (FIG. 4) and hole 242 (best seen in FIG. 20). Generally, above and forward of and integral with cover section 241 is cover section 245, which is over the remaining upper front of cartridge 1. Section 245 has a U-shaped housing 247 at its top which traps spacer stud 37b. In the rearward part of section 245 opposite the area above photoconductor drum 49, are located rectangular channels 249 with the second rectangular channel 249a and the last rectangular channel 249b being open to pass air for cooling photoconductor drum 49 during operation of cartridge 1.

The far rear portion 251 of this particular embodiment of the invention herein described mounts links 11b and 17b to shutter 7. A bottom section 253 of the cover located under and forward of passages 249a and 249b mounts the shaft 47 of photoconductor drum 49 and has two upper symmetrical vent holes 255a and 255b to pass air for cooling drum 49.

FIG. 9 is a front right perspective view of the molded plastic member housing 271 which forms the central portion and central extension of hopper 61 with end member 99 attached and agitator 65 installed. It is seen to form a cylindrical chamber with an exit opening formed between wall 69 and wall 61a. An inset 273 at the bottom rear of hopper 61 provides space for rollers in the printer. As best seen in FIG. 2, paddle bar 63a has an inset far left section 63aa to clear inset 273.

Member 271 has a slot 275 around its right side. A directly similar slot is around the left side. End member 101 has a mating ridge 321 (FIG. 13). During manufacture slot 275 is mated with ridge 321 in end member 101 and the two are welded together with ultrasonically created heat. Member 99 is welded to the left side of member 271 in the same manner with ridge 322 (FIG. 12) inserted in a mating slot (not shown) on the left side of member 271.

A notch 277 above agitator extension 65a allows for sufficient rotation of agitator 65 to allow paddle arm 63a to pass beyond extension 65a while preventing a full turn-over of agitator 65.

Developer Assembly

The housing 271 and its attached end members 99 and 101, form toner hopper 61. Extension 101a journals toner adder roller 45 and developer roller 43. Gear plate 173, which is attached to extension 99a by screw 175, journals the opposite ends of toner adder roller 45 and developer roller 43. Accordingly, a single unitary assembly is formed of the hopper 61 rearward to and including developer roller 43.

Photoconductor and Cover Assembly

Front cover 25 grips 3a, 3b, left outer cover 33, rear wall 31, (FIG. 1) right cover sections 241, 245, and 251, (FIG. 8) wings 9a, 9b and cleaning chamber 27 are a single molded part. Photoconductor 49 is journaled in this part with its shaft 47 extending past the covers on opposite sides. Shutter 7 is movably supported to left cover 31 and right rear cover 251. Accordingly, a single unitary assembly is formed of the cover members, the photoconductor drum 49 and the shutter 7.

In use, springs 132a and 132b pull the developer roller 43 against the photoconductor drum 49 at a predetermined tension. When cartridge 1 is picked up, the developer assembly and the photoconductor and cover assembly rotate under gravity until stud 37a (FIG. 1) contacts housing 35 and stud 37b (FIG. 8) contacts housing 247, thereby holding the two assemblies together.

Lower Shutter as Heat Barrier

Lower shutter 7, when open, covers all of the lower surface of the cleaner chamber. The material of shutter 7 is polycarbonate, a material which deflects heat from the fixing operation which occurs after paper is moved rearward from contact with the photoconductive drum 49. The material of the body of the photoconductor and cover assembly, the hopper 61, end members 99 and 101, and shutter 5 are polystyrene which is lower in cost than polycarbonate would be. The added cost of shutter 7 being polycarbonate is justified by shutter 7 providing heat protection to the cleaner 27 which allows that member to be polystyrene.

Agitator Bar System

The toner of cartridge 1 is monocomponent, which can become stagnant and cohesive when left undisturbed for a time. This stagnation and settling of toner may be aggravated by the slight vibrations generated by the printer motor and gear train in a laser printer.

Failure to deliver toner from wall 61a via sloped exit surface 61aaa is the consequence of the settling, stagnation, and cohesive nature of the monocomponent toner in hopper 61. The angle of repose of the settled toner (i.e., the angle of tilt of a surface on which the settled toner rests before it "falls" under its own weight) can reach or exceed 90 degrees The exiting surface 61aaa is tilted upward at approximately 50 degrees from vertical during operation (angle A, FIG. 9), allowing the toner to stagnate into a pile that does not reach the toner adder roller 45. This leads to premature failure to print, termed "starvation," as would result using an empty cartridge. Experimentally, as much as 230 grams of the 465 gram capacity of hopper 61 of toner have been found in the hopper 61 of a cartridge 1 when starvation has occurred due to existence of a stagnant pile of toner preventing toner delivery to toner adder roller 45.

Agitator bar 65 overcomes toner stagnation and failure to deliver toner to toner adder roller 45. The primary function of agitator bar 65 is to prevent toner stagnation and to deliver toner from the entrance of the developer sump to the toner adder roller thus preventing premature failure to print.

As the hopper paddle 63 rotates counter-clockwise (FIG. 3), it reaches a point in its rotation where it begins to contact extension 65a and lift agitator bar 65. Paddle 63 continues to lift agitator bar 65 until it loses engagement with extension 65a. At this point, the agitator bar 65 falls back via gravity to the resting position, carrying toner from the entry of the developer chamber to the toner adder roller. (Although not useful on the disclosed embodiment, an alternative is a pad on extension 65a or on upper wall 61aa which will cushion the fall. Such a pad would also serve as a spacer to control the position of the agitator in the down position and eliminate tab 65b).

At the top of its travel the agitator bar 65 is out of the way of the main sump paddle 63 and approaches a notch 277 in the hopper housing 271 (FIG. 9). Notch 277 provides space for the agitator bar 65 to clear the end of hopper paddle 63, and prevents overtravel of the agitator arm 65, which could cause locking into an up position when the cartridge is shipped, stored, or handled outside of the machine.

In the up position, the agitator bar 65 forms a nearly vertical wall over hopper wall 61a. The initial opening above wall 61a is about 26.7 mm, while the height of bar 65 facing that opening is 7 mm. This allows room for toner from the main sump to flow between the agitator 65 and sloped wall 61aaa. It also serves as a temporary barrier to prevent the delivery of excessive amounts of toner from the hopper 61 to the toner adder roller 45. As the agitator bar 65 falls to its resting position, both newly delivered toner and any stagnant toner resting on wall 61aaa are pushed toward the toner adder roll 45. The motion of the agitator 65 also stirs toner in the area above and toward developer roll to doctor blade nip 91, helping to prevent packing and stagnation of toner in this volume.

The agitator 65, preferably can be implemented by stamping (or laser cutting) and can be formed from sheet metal with spring characteristics that maintain agitator shape during assembly and operation. The entire part comprising bar 65, extension 65a and bent portions 65aa and 65bb preferably can be made by stamping out all features in one operation. As envisioned for the preferred embodiment, illustrated herein, bar 65 may have a length approximately equal to the toner adder roller length, which may be, for example, 220 mm; and have an exemplary height of approximately 7 mm; a thickness of 1.3 mm, chosen to give an agitator mass of the entire part stamped of, for example, approximately 20 grams. Since agitator bar 65 is driven by gravity, the mass is chosen to provide a driving force sufficient to push stagnant toner along wall 61aaa to toner adding roll 45, but the mass is limited so as not to affect the torque sensing function of the hopper paddle 63.

Hinge segments 65aa and 65bb and the associated distance from pins 103a and 103b to agitator bar 65 determine the arc swept by bar 65 as it falls from the up position to the down position. In the present preferred embodiment, pivot distance of 13.5 mm, for example, allows the paddle to sweep from an up position which leaves a gap of 3 mm between the bottom of the bar 65 and the wall 61aa, to a down position 3 mm above the toner adder roller 45. With this design, the weight of the paddle is effectively applied to move toner over the distance swept by the arc. A shorter pivot distance would result in insufficient travel to capture and deliver toner; and would require a heavier paddle to exert the same force on the toner over the distance swept through the arc. Pins 103a and 103b are smaller in diameter (1 mm, for example) than their holes in which they fit in portions 65aa and 65bb to prevent binding due to toner buildup.

Extension 65a is long enough to engage the active segment of paddle 63. Additionally, the length of extension 65a is long enough to overlap the active segment of paddle 63 when extension 65a first engages the paddle 63 to prevent scraping of the paddle surface. A small radius (0.5 mm, for example) is placed on the bottom tip of extension 65a to prevent scraping of paddle 63 as it releases extension 65a.

The overall length and elasticity of the agitator 65 allows assembly over pins 103a and 103b by simply deflecting the part.

Accordingly, this agitator design functions to overcome toner stagnation and to deliver toner from the entry of the hopper 61 to the toner adder roller 45 active area. The agitator 65 and its extensions 65a, 65aa and 65bb are a single part. Agitator bar 65 is driven internally, with no external gearing, cams, or seals as would be required by an externally driven agitator. Thus gear cost and complexity, seals, friction, and toner leaks are eliminated as problem areas. Agitator 65 is activated frequently enough to move toner and prevent stagnation without adding excessive stirring or damage to the toner. This design enhances first-in, first-out toner delivery from hopper 61 to the smaller area containing the toner adder roller 45 by preventing excessive toner delivery in the raised position and discouraging return toner from the area of the toner adder roller 45 to the hopper 61.

Dimensions

With the cartridge installed for operation, the location of the nip of toner adder roller 45 with developer roller 43 is at 105 degrees from vertical. The nip angle of the photoconductor drum 49 to the developer roller 43 is 95 degrees from vertical. As previously stated, the doctor blade nip is at 20 degrees from the vertical.

The length from the bottom of hopper 61 to the horizontal plane coinciding with the edge of top surface 69 near hopper 61 is 61.96 mm, creating an initial opening of about 26.7 mm (as indicated previously, bottom surface 61aa is at 35.3 mm). Top surface 69 has a slight upward angle to a tallest point of 64.34 mm.

The diameter of toner adder roller 45 is 14 mm and it is located with its circumference 1 mm above the bottom of hopper body 271 immediately below it. The diameter of developer roller 43 is 20.11 mm and it is located with its circumference 2 mm above the bottom of hopper body 271 immediately below it. The length from the bottom of hopper 61 to the horizontal plane coinciding with the bottom of developer roller 43 is 23.7 mm, and the corresponding length to the bottom of the toner adder roller 45 is 22.6 mm. The diameter of photoconductor drum 49 is 30 mm.

The bottom of body 271 under rollers 43 and 45 is at a 6 degree upward angle to provide sufficient room for guide ribs 225 on the outside of body 271.

Installing the Cartridge

FIG. 10 is a left front view of the inside of a printer with which the inventive cartridge herein described by way of an exemplary preferred embodiment may be used. The cartridge 1 is installed in a printer 291 (FIG. 10) from the front to a final position well within the printer 291. To achieve this, guide wings 9a and 9b are initially guided by a lower track 293 over a curved track, which guides cartridge 1 under the laser printhead (not shown) and over paper feed elements 295.

The path is downward, which utilizes gravity while inserting cartridge 1, thereby easing insertion. The guide 293 (and a guide not shown, which is a mirror image of guide 293 on the opposite side of printer 291) has the same curvature as wings 9a, 9b so that the wings 9a, 9b can follow guide 293 and its opposite guide.

Upper guide 297 is parallel to guide 293. Guide 297 extends further into the printer than guide 293. A guide (not shown), which is a mirror image of guide 297, is on the opposite side of printer 291. Guide 297 encounters actuator surface 13bb early during the insertion of cartridge 1. As cartridge 1 is moved rearward, actuator surface 13bb is rotated to open shutter 7 (as is surface 13aa rotated by encountering a mirror image of guide 297 on the left side of the printer). This early movement of shutter 7 is very advantageous in that it eliminates the need for space and mechanism which would be required if actuation occurred at the end of insertion of cartridge 1.

Also shown in FIG. 10 is the right reference position roller 299 on which contact surface 133a rests when the cartridge is inserted. Contact surface 161a will rest on an identical roller (not shown) on the opposite side of printer 291. Rearward of roller 299 is V-block 301, shown more clearly in FIG. 11, and an associated electrical contact 302. Further rearward is an upstanding lug 303, which will contact shutter 7 to hold it open as will be described.

As cartridge 1 is inserted, wings 9a, 9b are guided by guides 293 and 297 and the mirror image guide (not shown) on the opposite side of printer 291. As insertion continues, the wings 9a, 9b fall off the lower guide 293 (and its mirror image guide) and the shaft 47 of photoconductor drum 49 drops into V-block 301 and a mirror image V-block (not shown) on the opposite side of printer 291. A depending thin metal sheet 302 (FIG. 11, shown in side view) is contacted and bent somewhat by shaft 47 as it is guided by V-block 301. This creates a connection for operating potential to shaft 47. When cartridge 1 falls into V-block 301, lug 303 contacts shutter 7 to hold shutter 7 open. Prior to that the longer length of upper guide 297 was sufficient to hold shutter 7 open.

In this final position cartridge 1 is more precisely located with respect to functional elements. Cartridge 1 is held in printer 291 as described below under the heading "Reference Surfaces."

To remove the cartridge, it is grasped by grips 3a, 3b and pulled sharply upward and forward. Wings 9a and 9b again enter between guides 293 and 297, and the cartridge can be pulled free.

Manufacture of Cartridge

All molded parts follow the technical dictate (to avoid distortion on cooling) of keeping adjoining surfaces the same thickness. Accordingly, molded studs seen from the rear (shown, for example, in FIG. 13) appear as holes in the part. Circles in the drawings with bowed lines crossing indicate the gate where molten resin was received into the mold (shown, for example, also in FIG. 13).

Assembly of cartridge 1 begins with the joining of hopper body 271 to its end members 99 and 101 with paddle 63 installed. The inside of end member 99 is shown in FIG. 12 and the inside of member 101 is shown in FIG. 13. Both are molded parts of polystyrene resin. Each of the members 99 and 101 is mated to its corresponding side of body 271 (FIG. 9). Ridge 321 of member 101 enters slot 275 on the right edge of member 271. Ridge 322 of member 99 enters slot (not shown) on the left edge of member 271 mating ridge 322. Those parts are held tightly in a fixture and ultrasonically welded, with paddle 63 inserted before the last of the two end members is welded. Then a bushing (not shown) is press fit into the central hole 325 of member 101 around the shaft of paddle 63 and a second bushing (not shown) is similarly press fit around the shaft of paddle 63 in central hole 329.

Agitator bar 65 (FIG. 9) is then flexed and installed by mounting end portion 65aa on pin 103a and end portion 65bb on pin 103b.

Toner adder roller 45 with low friction washers on each end is then installed by angling its shaft through hole 333 (FIG. 12) in member 99, straightening, and then moving roller 45 laterally to bring its shaft through a press fit bushing (not shown) in hole 335 in member 101.

Prior to installing toner adder roller 45 and gear plate 173, a sickle-shaped seal member having a semicircular central body (not shown) is installed on each side of the location of developer roller 43. Such a seal is illustrated in IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 33, No. 3B, August 1990, pp. 29-30, entitled "Toner Seal for Printer." The location of this seal on the right side is labeled surface 383 in FIG. 13. This is essentially standard as putty is first applied on each end of the location for the seal and the ends of the compliant elongated seal are pressed into the putty. The seal has ridges directed slightly toward the center. A seal system such as this is essentially the same as previous cartridges.

Doctor blade 91 (best seen in FIG. 6) is then installed by bringing it vertically upward behind ridge 365 (FIG. 13) on the right. In the completed cartridge 1 blade 91 is held on the bottom by contact with developer roller 43. Developer roller 43 with low friction washers on each end is installed by positioning the left end of its shaft past end member 99 (FIG. 12) and threading the right end of its shaft through the central hole of the bushing 375, shown in FIG. 15.

Gear plate 173 is shown alone in FIG. 14. It has a hole 351 to receive the shaft of toner adder roller 45 and hole 359 for shaft of developer roller 43. A central hole 353 is to receive screw 175 but hole 353 is significantly larger than the shaft of screw 175. Gear plate 173 has a shaft 355, a shaft 357, and a rightwardly extending tab 361.

Gear plate 173 is brought toward member 99 while the shafts of toner adder roller 45 and developer roller 43 are positioned through holes 351 and hole 359 respectively. Gear plate 173 is rotated until tab 361 abuts the edge of doctor blade 91. This serves as a locator for gear plate 173 and doctor blade 91. Screw 175 is then tightened in hole 353 to fix plate 173 in that position.

Gears 169, 165 and 171 are pressed on shafts 355, 357 and 363 (FIG. 5, on member 99). (As is shown in FIG. 14, such shafts have an enlarged head with a gap so as to be yieldable when receiving a press-on force.) A gear 167 is also pressed on the shaft toner adder roller 45. Paddle gear assembly 163 is pressed onto the shaft of paddle 63. These gears and drive coupler 41 are keyed to their shafts by the two having matching "D" cross sections.

Bushing 375 has a flat outside segment 377 which permits bushing 375 to enter opening 379 (FIG. 13) in member 101 since opening 379 is circular with an open less-than-one-half circle segment in which bushing 375 can fit at one orientation. Bushing 375 is then rotated in a direction to rotate lower tab 381 downward, which removes the orientation at which bushing 375 can fit through the incomplete segment of 379 and locks bushing 375 into place. Bushing 375 installed is shown in FIG. 16. In operation, developer roller 43 rotates in a direction to rotate tab 381 downward. The advantage of bushing 375 is that it provides for relatively easy installation and change of developer roller 43 in the event that a member requires replacement during subsequent tests.

Drive coupler 41 is then press fit on the left end of the shaft of developer roller 43 using a locating shim to space coupler 41 slightly from cover 31. Mounting rollers 141a and 141b are previously applied by press fit during completion of the hopper 61. An adhesive tape is applied across the top of doctor blade 91. Spring 191 is then flexed into place to bias doctor blade 91 downward. After toner is installed and leak tested, the previously mentioned upper stop members on each side of ledges 199a and 199b are applied individually and remain in place, held by their back adhesive layer. Also encoder wheel 135 is installed by press fit.

With rollers 43 and 45 and doctor blade 91 in place, metal contact 93 is inserted between ribs 139. Contact 93 has arrowhead sides to bind into ribs 139, and extends upward and over two posts 385 (FIG. 4) in member 101a and extends to a bent end which presses against doctor blade 91. Contacts 95 and 97 similarly have arrowhead sides which dig into ribs 139 and terminate in short bent ends 387, 389, respectively, which press against the shafts of roller 45 and 43, respectively. Contact grease is added to contacts and shafts.

The foregoing all are part of the developer assembly. The photoconductor and cover assembly is separately assembled. The cleaner blade panel 73a (see FIG. 3) is installed using screws 77a and 77b. Link arms 11a, 11b, 17a, 17b and 15a, 15b are assembled in a known manner by studs having extensions which enter matching holes in adjoining arms. The arms are then are rotated to operating positions in which the extensions find no opening and therefore lock the members together while leaving them free to rotate. Links 13a to 11a and 13b to 11b are held by a pin 401 with latch, as shown in FIG. 17.

Pin 401 has a circular flexible arm 403 and latches 11a and 11b have a matching ledge 405b (the ledge on the opposite side not shown). Pin 401 is inserted through the holes of member 13a and 11a and another pin 401 is inserted through the holes of members 13b and 11b. The pins 401 are then rotated until their arms 403 flex around ledge 405b and the ledge on the opposite side, respectively, and then recover to latch under ledge 405b and the ledge on the opposite side, respectively. This holds both four bar linkages in place. Pin 401 has a shaft 407 (best seen in FIG. 4), which extends into a groove (not shown) on each side of cleaner 27 for added stability of each four bar linkage.

Shutter 7 is installed by flexing shutter 7 and locating pins 431b (FIG. 1) and a pin on the opposite side (not shown) and inserting pin 431b and the pin on the opposite side in holes in the sides of locator surface 29a, 29b, respectively. Pin 431b has a coil compression spring 433 wrapped around it which is tensioned to bias cover 7 upward.

As best seen in FIG. 19, one end of spring 132a is attached through a hole of connector tab 431 of cover 33 on one side and the opposite end of spring 132a is temporarily attached to hole 39a of cover 33. As seen in FIG. 20, spring 132b is attached through a hole of connector tab 242 of cover 241 on one side and the opposite end of spring 132b is temporarily attached to hole 243 of cover 241.

The photoconductor drum 49 is installed into the cleaner housing assembly by placing the drum and the two gears 49a and 145 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) in position with a thin washer, (not shown) on the left side and inserting shaft 47 through that assembly and the housings 31 (FIG. 2) and 253 (FIG. 8). Standard E-clips are installed on each end of shaft 47 to hold the drum and shaft from lateral movement. As shown in FIG. 18, an extending hub 145a of gear 145, has an internal copper sheet 421 with three sharp points 421a. Copper sheet 421 also has an elongated member 421b extending to over the central hole. Hub 145a is inserted inside drum 49. Points 421a dig into the aluminum cylinder which forms the inside of drum 49, creating both physical and electrical connection. Shaft 47 is then threaded through gear 145, drum 49 and then through gear 49a. This bends elongated member 421b so that it presses against shaft 47 and makes electrical contact.

The developer assembly is then placed before the photoconductor and cover assembly and the two are moved together. Covers 33 and 241, 245 flex outward and then close into the final position. Springs 132a and 132b are removed from holes 39a and 243 and manually attached to studs 131a and 131b respectively. This completes the cartridge 1.

It will be readily understood that any joint where toner is contained must be sealed. Immediately inside the bearings of toner paddle 63 and toner adder roller 45 synthetic rubber end seals are located. FIG. 13 shows a socket 335 having upper and lower tabs which receive such a seal, the seal having matching extensions which fit in the tabs to prevent rotation of the seal. The ends of the chamber of cleaner 27 have foam walls with outer adhesive to secure their positioning. As is previously known, other extended joints have a plastic (polyethylene terephthalate) tape with one side carrying pressure sensitive adhesive applied along them by the adhesive. As is also previously known, developer roller 43 is sealed with a tape which is cantilevered up from the bottom of body 271 to be located in front of the roller 43. A second adhesive strip seals the far rear edge of body 271. Such sealing is basically standard and forms no part of this invention.

Toner

In a preferred embodiment cartridge 1 employs monocomponent electrophotographic toner which may be basically conventional. The amount of toner in hopper 61 is limited by pressure impairing print quality and sensing of toner level by toner resistance on paddle 63. When cartridge 1 is in the installed position, a typical top level of toner will be 10 mm above the upper barrier wall 61aa. The presence of toner at that typical highest level is indicated in FIG. 9 by surface lines 425, but the toner is shown otherwise as transparent for clarity. The actual toner is, of course, an opaque, dry powder. During use, the toner is depleted to lower levels and it is moved by paddle 63. As is conventional, developer roller 43 applies toner 425 to photoconductor drum 49 to develop electrostatic images on photoconductor drum 49.

Reference Surfaces

FIG. 19 shows just the roller 141a of the hopper assembly as finally installed and, therefore, located on a flat surface 441 which is an extension of the cover 33. Similarly, FIG. 20 shows just the roller 141b of the hopper assembly as finally installed and therefore located on a flat surface 443 which is an extension of cover 241. Such positioning of an assembly with the photoconductor roller and an assembly with the developer roller for lateral adjustment for rollers is essentially the same as in prior cartridges.

However, in the described embodiment of the present cartridge, cartridge 1 has flat surfaces 133a and 161a and the printer 291 has the second set of rollers (roller 299, FIG. 10 and its mirror image), on which flat surfaces 133a and 161a, respectively, rest. In the prior cartridges a second set of rollers was part of the cartridge. As in the prior cartridges the two sets of rollers 141a, 141b, 299, and the mirror roller image of 299, define a plane of movement to guide the developer roller 43 into the intended contact with photoconductor drum 49.

FIG. 19 shows tab 23, which is an extension of cover 33 and, when the cartridge 1 is installed in a printer as shown in FIG. 19, is generally above a flat surface 445 of the frame of the printer. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 20, a top flat ledge 447 is an extension of cover 241 and, when cartridge 1 is installed in a printer, is above a flat surface (448 of FIG. 10) of the frame of the printer.

A flat bottom surface 449 (FIG. 19) is under tab 23 of cover 33, and a flat bottom surface 451 (FIG. 20) of cover 245 is under ledge 447. Bottom surfaces 449 and 451 are locator surfaces which rest on frame surfaces 445 and 448, respectively.

FIG. 21 shows the right side of cartridge I installed in a printer with emphasis on cantilevered roller 461 pressing down on locator surface 29b. A second cantilevered roller (not shown), which is a mirror image of roller 461 exists and presses down on locator surface 29a. Roller 461 and its mirror image roller are attached to the frame of the printer. They are firmly biased downward by a coil spring 463 for roller 461 and a mirror image coil spring for the mirror image roller. As the cartridge 1 is inserted in the printer by movement of wing 9a in guides 293, 297 and wing 9b in corresponding mirror image guides, locator surface 29b encounters cantilevered roller 461 and locator surface 29a encounters a corresponding mirror image cantilevered roller; and the locator surfaces 29a, 29b rotate those rollers upward as the cartridge 1 continues to move.

When wing 9a falls off of guide 293 and is finally positioned by shaft 47 settling in V-block 301, cantilevered roller 461 fully contacts surface 29b, as shown in FIG. 21. When the top cover of the printer is closed, a downwardly positioned leaf spring on the printer cover contacts tab 23 on the left front of cover 33 and a second downwardly positioned spring on the printer cover contacts surface 447 on right cover 241. Such interaction of a cartridge with a printer lid is generally conventional, as illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,315 to Baker et al.

As the printer lid is closed, a charge roller mechanism is moved to shutter 5 and then continues to move downward to open shutter 5 by pushing it downward and to bring a charge roller in contact with photoconductor 49. A laser beam for discharging drum 49 is also directed through the opening left after shutter 5 is pivoted down, as is shown on U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,097 to Ream.

In summary, the photoconductor and cover assembly is located downwardly by front surfaces 449 and 451, is located downwardly by shaft 47 in V-block 301 and in the mirror image V-block and is held in the downward location by cantilevered roller 461 on surface 29b and the mirror image cantilevered roller on surface 29a. The developer assembly is located laterally by springs 132a and 132b moving the assembly so that developer roller 43 contacts the photoconductor 49, and is located downwardly by ledge 133a resting on roller 299 and ledge 161a resting on the mirror image roller to roller 299. The developer assembly requires no upward locator as it has sufficient weight not to displace upward.

Ledges 133a and 161a resting on roller 299 and a mirror image roller respectively permit the developer assembly to adjust laterally. In prior cartridges, both sets of rollers were in tracks in the cartridge. This required difficult tolerances to locate the bottom of the cartridge within the printer. In the subject cartridge, ledges 133a and 161a have no linked parts to the media guide ribs 223 and 225, which are in the same molded part as ledges 133a and 161a.

FIG. 22 shows an extension of side member 99 held in a slot 471 in the bottom of the cover 25. This provides lateral location between the hopper assembly and the cover 25. Generally similar lateral location structure is in previous cartridges. If desirable, the upper parts of end members 99 and 101 and have an upward ridge or bump, which will strike cover 25 during rough handling and thereby limit relative upward movement of the hopper assembly with respect to cover 25.

When installed in the printer, frame members contact left cover 31 and right cover 241 to assure they do not contact the hopper assembly and interfere with its free movement over roller 299 and its mirror image roller on ledges 133a and 161a respectively.

Venting By Plug

Plug 143 (FIG. 24) in a preferred form is a venting element which allows air to escape cartridge 1 while blocking toner. Cartridge 1 in the embodiment disclosed is designed to operate at high speed to print from 8 to 24 or more standard pages per minute. This operation generates a potentially detrimental internal pressure level during operation, which contributes to leaks of toner from cartridge 1. To relieve such pressure, plug 143 is a labyrinth design ending in a felt filter.

The leaks often, but not exclusively, occur immediately after the cartridge becomes inactive. Internal pressure in hopper 61 is created by ingesting air with toner 425 carried by the developer roller 43 past a seal (not shown) under the developer roller 43. The toner adder roller 45 pulls this air/toner mixture away from the developer roller which creates a pressure increase in hopper 61 until an equilibrium pressure is reached. As shown in FIG. 23, plug 143 is formed from a single molded part 481 having a circular base member 483 and a circular cap member 485 separated by a thin connecting arm 487, which has a central notch 489 to permit bending as a solid hinge.

Base 483 has a series of equally separated external holes 491 around the entire bottom circumference of base 483. Extending from the bottom of base 483 and located inward is a circular wall 493 having spaced rectangular openings 495 at the outer end of wall 493 equally spaced around the entire circumference of wall 493.

Similarly, cap 485 has a circular wall 497 extending from the top of cap 485 having spaced rectangular openings 499 at the outer end of wall 497 equally spaced around the entire circumference of wall 497. A disk 501 of standard F3 felt is pressed into the center of cap 485 where it contacts the inside of holes 503 (FIG. 24) in the center of cap 485.

To complete plug 143 as shown in FIG. 24, cap 485 and base 483 are intermeshed by folding arm 487 at hinge point 489. In this position no part of openings 499 is opposite external holes 491 and no part of openings 495 is opposite holes 499. FIG. 25 is a staggered cross section view of FIG. 24 which shows all of the holes 495 and 499 and indicates the staggered path by the angles 505a and 505b in discussion arrow 505.

As shown in FIG. 25, the plug is held together by a press fit in which the bottom circumference of base 483 is slightly smaller than the circumference of cap 485. In operation, when pressure increases in cartridge 1, air, potentially containing toner particles, enters openings 491 which are inside of hopper 61. That air enters circular chamber 507, as illustrated by arrow 505, and is blocked by wall 497 immediately opposite hole 491 and, therefore, must move right or left, as illustrated by bent arrow 505a, to reach openings 499. The air then enters chamber 509. That air is blocked by wall 493 and also must move right or left, as illustrated by bent arrow 505b, to reach openings 495, which are on the opposite end of chamber 509. Upon passing through openings 495, as shown by arrow 505, the air enters central chamber 511 and passes through felt filter 501 and then out of cartridge 1 through holes 503. (FIG. 23 shows four central flanges 513a-513d, which divide chamber 511 into four equal parts. However, flanges 513a-513d are for structural support of felt disk 501 and, functionally, chamber 511 can be a single chamber.)

The labyrinth configuration of this construction of plug 143 results in continuing operation as an air vent with only minor accumulation of toner inside of the plug 143. The internal chambers 507, 509 and 511 are concentric circles.

Claims

1. A toner cartridge subject to increases in pressure in internal regions containing toner during operation,

said cartridge having an opening in the side of said cartridge and a removable plug which fits in and closes said opening in said cartridge,

said plug having openings into said cartridge communicating with a labyrinth of chambers reached by staggered paths,

said labyrinth communicating with holes in said plug leading to the outside of said cartridge,

and a filter located in said plug between said openings into said cartridge and the outside of said cartridge which blocks toner from passing through said holes leading to the outside.

2. The toner cartridge as in claim 1 in which said plug has a central chamber communicating with said labyrinth and said filter is located between said central chamber and said holes leading to the outside.

3. The toner cartridge as in claim 2 in which said labyrinth comprises

a first chamber communicating with said cartridge through said openings into said cartridge, and

a second chamber having openings, said openings of said second chamber communicating with said first chamber and not facing said openings into said cartridge,

said central chamber communicating with said second chamber, said openings of said central chamber being on the opposite side of said second chamber from said openings of said second chambers and not facing said openings of said second chamber.

4. The toner cartridge as in claim 3 in which said cartridge contains electrophotographic toner for developing electrostatic imaging.

5. The toner cartridge as in claim 2 in which said cartridge contains electrophotographic toner for developing electrostatic imaging.

6. The toner cartridge as in claim 1 in which said labyrinth comprises

a first chamber communicating with said cartridge through said openings into said cartridge,

a second chamber having openings, said openings of said second chamber communicating with said first chamber and not facing said openings into said cartridge, and

a third chamber having openings communicating with said second chamber, said openings of said third chamber being on opposite side of said second chamber from said openings of said second chamber and not facing said openings of said second chamber.

7. The toner cartridge as in claim 6 in which said cartridge contains electrophotographic toner for developing electrostatic imaging.

8. The toner cartridge as in claim 1 in which said cartridge contains electrophotographic toner for developing electrostatic imaging.

9. A venting plug for an electrophotographic toner cartridge comprising

a first chamber having openings on the outside of said plug for insertion into an electrophotographic cartridge,

a second chamber having openings, said openings of said second chamber communicating with said first chamber and not facing said openings for insertion into an electrophotographic cartridge,

a third chamber having first openings communicating with said second chamber, said first openings of said third chamber not facing said openings of said second chamber, said third chamber also having second openings located generally on the opposite side of said plug from said openings for inserting into an electrophotographic cartridge, and

a filter located in said plug between said openings for insertion into an electrophotographic cartridge and the outside of said plug which blocks toner from passing through said second chamber.

10. The venting plug as in claim 9 in which said third chamber is in the center of said plug and said filter is located between said third chamber and said second openings.

11. The venting plug as in claim 10 in which said first openings of said third chamber are on the opposite end of said second chamber from said openings of said second chamber.

12. The venting plug as in claim 11 in which said first chamber, said second chamber, and said third chamber are concentric circles.

13. The venting plug as in claim 10 in which said first chamber, said second chamber, and said third chamber are concentric circles.

14. The venting plug as in claim 9 in which said first openings of said third chamber are on the opposite end of said second chamber from said openings of said second chamber.

15. The venting plug as in claim 14 in which said first chamber, said second chamber, and said third chamber are concentric circles.

16. The venting plug as in claim 9 in which said first chamber, said second chamber, and said third chamber are concentric circles.