Developer replenishing device and developer container for use therewith

• US 6,075,963 A
• Filed: 05/06/1999
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Saito, Takeshi, Ichikawa, Hideo, Makita, Nobuhiro, Ikeda, Sunao, Yanagisawa, Takaaki, Ozawa, Seiji, Yoshiki, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): Royer, William J.
• Application Number:
  US09/306,048
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 399/120, 399/262, 399/258, 141/352, 141/354, 141/357, 141/364, 141/375, 215/292, 215/296, 215/298, 220/203.18, 220/213, 220/260, 220/601, 220/DIG. 19, 220/755, 220/756, 220/771, 222/DIG. 1, 222/367, 222/167, 222/369, 222/168.5, 222/162, 222/325, D18/40, D18/43, D18/22
• US Class Current: 399/262
• 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 15/0868 Toner cartridges fulfilling a continuous function within the electrographic apparatus during the use of the supplied developer material, e.g. toner discharge on demand, storing residual toner, acting as an active closure for the developer replenishing opening
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0872 the developer cartridges being generally horizontally mounted parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0663 having a longitudinal rotational axis, around which at least one part is rotated when mounting or using the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0665 Generally horizontally mounting of said toner cartridge parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0668 Toner discharging opening at one axial end
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0675 Generally cylindrical container shape having two ends
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0685 fulfilling a continuous function within the electrographic apparatus during the use of the supplied developer material, e.g. toner discharge on demand, storing residual toner, not acting as a passive closure for the developer replenishing opening
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/19 Rubber plugs and caps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 222/01 Xerography

Abstract

A developer replenishing device for replenishing a developing device with a developer, and a developer container for use therewith. The developer container, or toner bottle, has a mouth portion at one end thereof which is smaller in diameter than a hollow cylindrical main body. At the end of the bottle provided with the mouth, a shoulder has the inner periphery thereof partly raised to the edge of the mouth portion to form a raised portion for scooping up a toner. In addition, a part of the inner periphery of the circumferential wall of the bottle which is contiguous with the raised portion is also raised toward the axis of the bottle about which the bottle is rotatable, thereby forming another raised portion. When the bottle is mounted to a bottle holder, which is included in the replenishing device, substantially horizontally with the mouth portion oriented sideways, the bottle is rotated to raise the toner from the bottom of the main body to the mouth portion. As a result, the toner is discharged to the outside via the mouth portion smoothly.

Claims

1. A lid to selectively plug or unplug a discharge mouth of a developer container mounted to an image forming apparatus for replenishing a developer, said lid comprising:

a body, and

a lug protruding from one side of said body,

said lug facing outward from said developer container when said lid plugs said discharge mouth.

2. A lid according to claim 1, wherein said lug further comprises:

a smaller diameter portion having first and second ends, and

a larger diameter portion,

the first end of said smaller diameter portion adjoining the body of said lid and the second end of said smaller diameter portion adjoining the larger diameter portion.

3. A lid according to claim 2, wherein said lug protrudes substantially from a center of said lid.

4. A lid according to claim 1, wherein said lug protrudes substantially from a center of said lid.

5. A lid according to claim 1, wherein said lug is mushroom-shaped.