Cartridge detachably mounted to an image forming apparatus including a lock member engagable with a wall of the image forming apparatus

• US 7,486,910 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2005
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kitozaki, Yukihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray; David M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walsh; Ryan D
• Application Number:
  US11/269,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20060104663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 399/110, 399/111, 399/119, 399/260, 399/264, 399/358
• US Class Current: 399/111
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0855 the concentration being measured by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying new developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0886 by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/105 Arrangements for conveying toner waste
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/12 Toner waste containers
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/067 Toner discharging opening covered by arcuate shutter
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1654 Locks and means for positioning or alignment

Abstract

A process cartridge detachably mounted to an image forming apparatus is provided with a lock mechanism in a shutter member of opening and closing a toner discharge port, and once the process cartridge is mounted onto an image forming apparatus, the lock mechanism is configured to be unlocked so as to enable the shutter member to open and close subject to unlocking of a lock.

Claims

1. A cartridge detachably mounted to an image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image bearing member;

a cleaning member for removing toner on said image bearing member;

a discharge port for discharging from the cartridge the toner removed by said cleaning member;

a shutter for opening and closing said discharge port; and

a lock member adapted to (i) be at a first position for preventing said shutter from being opened when the cartridge is detached from the image forming apparatus, and (ii) shift to a second position for enabling said shutter to be opened when the cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus,

wherein said lock member shifts from the first position to the second position by contacting with a wall of the image forming apparatus.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said lock member is contacted with said shutter to prevent movement in an opening direction of said shutter.

3. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said shutter is fitted to an image forming apparatus side shutter of the image forming apparatus, and said shutter is unlocked by said lock member and the image forming side shutter is moved in an integrated manner to cause said shutter to open said discharge port.

4. The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein said shutter closes said discharge port in conjunction with an opening operation of an opening/closing member that opens and closes a mounting/detaching unit for mounting and detaching the cartridge mounted in the image forming apparatus.

5. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein when the cartridge is detached from the image forming apparatus, said shutter is locked by said lock member so as to be located at a position which allows the cartridge to fit into the image forming apparatus.

6. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the wall is perpendicular to an insertion direction of the cartridge.

7. A cartridge detachably mounted to an image forming apparatus, comprising:

a toner supply port through which toner is supplied from an image forming apparatus side;

a shutter for opening and closing said toner supply port; and

a lock member adapted to (i) be at a first position for preventing said shutter from being opened when the cartridge is detached from the image forming apparatus, and (ii) shift to a second position for enabling said shutter to be opened when the cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus,

wherein said lock member shifts from the first position to the second position by contacting with a wall of the image forming apparatus, and

wherein said shutter is fitted to an image forming apparatus side shutter of the image forming apparatus, and said shutter is unlocked by said lock member and the image forming side shutter is moved in an integrated manner to cause said shutter to open said toner supply port.

8. The cartridge according to claim 7, wherein said lock member is contacted with said shutter to prevent movement in an opening direction of said shutter.

9. The cartridge according to claim 8, wherein said shutter closes said toner supply port in conjunction with an opening operation of an opening/closing member that opens and closes a mounting/detaching unit for mounting and detaching the cartridge mounted in the image forming apparatus.

10. The cartridge according to claim 7, wherein when the cartridge is detached from the image forming apparatus, said shutter is locked by said lock member so as to be located at a position which allows the cartridge to fit into the image forming apparatus.

11. The cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the wall is perpendicular to an insertion direction of the cartridge.