Photoreceptor with internal waste toner container

• US 5,933,696 A
• Filed: 08/15/1997
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Howard, Alan C. R., Bhagwat, Anilkumar G., Pearce, Chistopher, Harvey, Raymond A., Byrne, Edward J., Masham, Roger D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, S.
• Application Number:
  US08/911,243
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 399/159, 399/358, 399/360, 399/116, 399/117, 355/298
• US Class Current: 399/360
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/105 Arrangements for conveying toner waste
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/12 Toner waste containers
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1814 Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing G03G21/1835 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1624 transporting cleaned toner into separate vessels, e.g. photoreceptors, external containers

Abstract

A photoreceptor assembly and a xerographic cassette for a printing or copying machine, the cassette including a photoreceptor drum, a drum cleaner, a waste toner container, for storing waste toner; and a waste toner conveyor for conveying waste toner cleaned off said photoreceptor drum by the cleaner into the waste toner container characterized in that the waste toner container is positioned in the interior of the photoreceptor drum and is reversibly removable therefrom. The conveyor typically includes a flexible helical wire which acts as an auger. Once filled with waste toner, the waste toner container is removed from the drum and is replaced by a fresh container.

Claims

1. A photoreceptor assembly for use in a xerographic cassette comprising:

a photoreceptor drum having an interior; and

a waste toner container being accessible via a waste toner conveying means, said waste toner container being positioned in the interior of said photoreceptor drum for reversible removal therefrom, said waste toner container being cylindrical in shape having an outer surface that engages with an inner surface of said photoreceptor drum, and further, wherein said photoreceptor drum includes a first end cap and a second end cap, one of said end caps having an opening to allow access of the waste toner conveying means to said waste toner container.

2. A photoreceptor assembly for use in a xerographic cassette comprising:

a photoreceptor drum having an interior; and

a waste toner container being accessible via a waste toner conveying means, said waste toner container being positioned in the interior of said photoreceptor drum for reversible removal therefrom, and further, wherein said photoreceptor drum includes a first end can and a second end cap, one of said end caps having an opening to allow access of the waste toner conveying means to said waste toner contain, said first end cap comprising an internally threaded bearing cap; and

said waste container having an opening defined by a threaded rim, said threaded rim for engaging said internally threaded bearing cap.

3. An assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said waste toner container having lugs and said second end cap having receiving cavities, said lugs engaging said receiving cavities for rotation of said second end cap.

4. A photoreceptor assembly for use in a xerographic cassette comprising:

a photoreceptor drum having an interior; and

a waste toner container being accessible via a waste toner conveying means, said waste toner container being positioned in the interior of said photoreceptor drum for reversible removal therefrom, wherein said waste toner container reversibly engages said photoreceptor drum, said photoreceptor drum rotates as said waste toner container also rotates.

5. A photoreceptor assembly for use in a xerographic cassette comprising:

a photoreceptor drum having an interior; and

a waste toner container being accessible via a waste toner conveying means, said waste toner container being positioned in the interior of said photoreceptor drum for reversible removal therefrom, wherein said waste toner container being reversibly fixable within the interior of said photoreceptor drum such that upon rotation of said photoreceptor drum, said waste toner container remains stationary relative to said Photoreceptor drum.