EP1179755B1 - Mécanisme de rechargement de toner - Google Patents

Mécanisme de rechargement de toner Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1179755B1
EP1179755B1 EP01202681.1A EP01202681A EP1179755B1 EP 1179755 B1 EP1179755 B1 EP 1179755B1 EP 01202681 A EP01202681 A EP 01202681A EP 1179755 B1 EP1179755 B1 EP 1179755B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
drawer
refill
opening
spout
slide
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP01202681.1A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1179755A2 (fr
EP1179755A3 (fr
Inventor
Edwin Alexander Boogert
Hubertus Henricus Tiggelers
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Production Printing Netherlands BV
Original Assignee
Oce Technologies BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from EP00202625A external-priority patent/EP1176477A1/fr
Application filed by Oce Technologies BV filed Critical Oce Technologies BV
Priority to EP01202681.1A priority Critical patent/EP1179755B1/fr
Publication of EP1179755A2 publication Critical patent/EP1179755A2/fr
Publication of EP1179755A3 publication Critical patent/EP1179755A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1179755B1 publication Critical patent/EP1179755B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0877—Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit
    • G03G15/0881—Sealing of developer cartridges
    • G03G15/0886—Sealing of developer cartridges by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0848—Arrangements for testing or measuring developer properties or quality, e.g. charge, size, flowability
    • G03G15/0849—Detection or control means for the developer concentration
    • G03G15/0855—Detection or control means for the developer concentration the concentration being measured by optical means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0865—Arrangements for supplying new developer
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0865—Arrangements for supplying new developer
    • G03G15/0867—Arrangements for supplying new developer cylindrical developer cartridges, e.g. toner bottles for the developer replenishing opening
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/06—Developing structures, details
    • G03G2215/066—Toner cartridge or other attachable and detachable container for supplying developer material to replace the used material
    • G03G2215/0663—Toner cartridge or other attachable and detachable container for supplying developer material to replace the used material having a longitudinal rotational axis, around which at least one part is rotated when mounting or using the cartridge
    • G03G2215/0678—Bottle shaped container having a bottle neck for toner discharge
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/06—Developing structures, details
    • G03G2215/066—Toner cartridge or other attachable and detachable container for supplying developer material to replace the used material
    • G03G2215/0692—Toner cartridge or other attachable and detachable container for supplying developer material to replace the used material using a slidable sealing member, e.g. shutter

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a refill mechanism for filling toner powder from a refill container into a toner reservoir of a copier or printer, comprising:
  • a copier, a printer or any other machine in which an image is developed with toner powder comprises a toner reservoir which accommodates a supply of fine toner powder which is gradually consumed in the course of image development. From time to time, the toner reservoir needs to be refilled with toner powder from a refill container, e.g. a bottle, a refill cartridge or the like. Since the toner powder typically consists of very fine toner particles, even a slight air draft is sufficient for swirling up a dust of toner particles, when the toner powder is exposed to the open air. Since the toner is strongly pigmented, this dust is likely to stain the environment.
  • the refill mechanism described above is designed so as to prevent the toner powder from being exposed to the open air even in the refill process, so that no toner dust will be generated and the user who refills the toner reservoir is protected against coming into direct contact with the toner powder.
  • resilient sealing pads may be employed which are relatively tightly pressed against the sliding surfaces of the slide and the drawer so as to prevent the toner powder from being deposited on these surfaces. This, however, leads to an increased frictional resistance and may make it difficult to manually operate the drawer and the slide.
  • this object is achieved by the feature that the top surface of the slide is covered by a foil which projects over the trailing edge of the slide, as viewed in the direction of the opening movement, and overlaps the adjacent edge of the recess of the drawer, and that the lower surface of the spout held in engagement with the top surface of the foil is formed by an elastic sealing pad surrounding the spout opening.
  • the invention is based on the observation that this effect is the main reason for the occurrence of toner flakes. Therefore, according to the invention, the vertical gap is covered by the projecting part of the foil, so that no toner powder may enter into the vertical gap.
  • Figure 1 shows, from the bottom to the top, an upper part of a toner reservoir 10 of, for example, a copier, a drawer 12 slidably disposed on top of the toner reservoir 10, a mounting structure 14, a slide 16 and a spout 18 of a refill container.
  • a toner reservoir 10 of, for example, a copier
  • drawer 12 slidably disposed on top of the toner reservoir 10
  • mounting structure 14 a slide 16 and a spout 18 of a refill container.
  • the toner reservoir 10 is tightly closed at the top end by a wall 20 which forms a circular refill opening 22 through which toner powder may drop into the interior of the toner reservoir.
  • the top surface of the wall 20 has two parallel ribs 24 formed symmetrically on both sides of the refill opening 22.
  • a cushion 26 of elastomeric material is secured on the top surface of the wall 20 and fills the space between the two ribs 24.
  • the cushion 26 is covered by a plastic film 28 which provides the cushion with a smooth surface finish.
  • the surface of the film 28 is slightly elevated in comparison to the ribs 24.
  • the cushion 26 and the film 28 are formed with a through-hole 30 which is concentric with the refill opening 22 but has a slightly smaller diameter.
  • the drawer 12 has a handle 32 and a plate 34 which is slidingly supported on the flat top surface of the film 28.
  • the plate 34 has a through-hole 36 which, in the position shown in figure 1 , is offset from the refill opening 22, so that the refill opening is closed by the plate 34.
  • the through-hole 36 may be made to coincide with the refill opening 22.
  • the plate 34 has raised lateral walls 38 the top edges of which form inwardly projecting guide rails 40 and outwardly projecting stops 42.
  • the portion of the plate 34 between the through-hole 36 and the handle 32 forms an upwardly open recess 44 ( figure 1 ) which has a rounded and inclined rear wall 46 and a notch 48 extending along that wall.
  • the mounting structure 14 accommodates the plate 34 of the drawer 12 in the position shown in figure 4 and can firmly be secured to the toner reservoir 10 with fastening means which have not been shown in the drawing for simplicity.
  • a top wall 50 of the mounting structure has a curved and inclined portion 52 which, together with a bridge 54 bridging the plate 34, defines and upwardly flaring mounting socket 56 which is open at the bottom side towards the recess 44 of the drawer 12.
  • the lower edge of the inclined wall portion 52 is formed with recesses 58 on either side. These recesses are engaged by the guide rails 40 of the drawer 12, so that the drawer is guided by the mounting structure 14 when It is drawn out. The outward movement of the drawer is limited by the stops 42 which cooperate with stops 60 of the mounting structure ( figure 1 ).
  • the slide 16 has a flat bottom 62 with a convexly curved rear edge 64, a front wall 66 and lateral walls 68. Adjacent to the rounded edge 64 the bottom 62 forms a cam 70 which mates with the notch 48 in the bottom of the recess 44 of the drawer 12.
  • forwardly projecting abutments 72 of the slide engage the front wall 74 of the recess 44 below the bridge 54 of the mounting structure 14.
  • the top surface of the bottom 62 is entirely covered by a thin semi-rigid foil 76 made of a plastic material such as Melinex TM ,
  • the foil 66 has a projecting portion 78 which projects beyond the rounded edge 64. When the slide is inserted in recess 44, the projecting portion 78 of the foil overlaps the part of the plate 34 defining the rear edge of the recess 44 and rests flat on the surface of the plate 34.
  • the spout 18 shown in figures 1 , 9 and 10 comprises a cylindrical tube 80 with a stepped bore 82 which defines a spout hole 84 and may be screwed onto or otherwise tightly secured to the neck of a bottle-shaped refill container 86 shown in phantom lines in figures 11 and 12 .
  • the tube 80 Is surrounded by a downwardly tapered collar 88 which mates with the mounting socket 56 formed in the mounting structure 14.
  • the collar 88 has flat side walls 90 formed with grooves 92. These grooves 92 serve for guiding inwardly projecting tongues 94 provided on the side wall 68 of the slide 16. In this way, the slide 16 is slidably mounted to the lower end of the spout 18.
  • the bottom surface of the spout 18 is provided with an elastomeric sealing pad 96 which surrounds the spout opening 84 and resiliently engages the top surface of the foil 76, so that the spout opening 84 is tightly closed by the foil 76.
  • FIG 11 the component parts of the refill mechanism described above are shown in the assembled state.
  • the spout 18 and the slide 16 form part of the refill container 86 as supplied by the manufacturer.
  • the edge of the projecting portion 78 of the foil 76 is flush with the curved outer collar 88 of the spout, so that the foil is protected against defection or damage.
  • the refill container 86 is placed upside down onto the mounting structure 14, and the abutments 72 of the slide 16 are inserted underneath the bridge 54 and placed against the front wall 74 of the recess 44 in the drawer 12.
  • the inclination of the walls 52 and 46 permits to smoothly accommodate the spout 18 and the slide 16 in the mouning socked 56 and the recess 44, resectively, by tilting the refill container 86 into the upright position.
  • the cam 70 of the slide is thereby engaged into the notch 48 of the drawer.
  • the projecting portion 78 of the foil 76 then rests on the top surface of the plate 34 and covers the gap formed between the rear edge 64 of the slide 16 and the wall 46 of the recess 44.
  • the resilient sealing pad 96 slightly expands when it rides over the step 98 formed at the trailing edge of the foil 76 and then wipes over the top surface of the plate 34, so that the toner powder is wiped into the through-hole 36 of the drawer and then drops into the toner reservoir.
  • the sweeping action of the sealing pad 96 at the step 98 is improved by the fact that, due to the curvature of the edge of the foil, this edge forms an acute angle with the direction of movement of the pad relative to the foil.
  • Figure 13 shows the refill mechanism in the fully open state, in which the through-hole 36 in the plate of the drawer 12 is fully adjusted with the spout opening 84 and the refill opening 22, so that the toner powder may drop into the toner reservoir.
  • the sealing pad 96 may have a smooth finish at the lower surface, so that no grains of elastomeric material are rubbed-off by the projecting portion 78 of the foil 76.
  • the film 28 on the cushion 26 supporting the plate 34 prevents disintegration of the cushion 26.
  • the lower surface of the plate 34 of the drawer is formed with two annular embossments 100 and 102, as is shown in figures 1 and 4 .
  • the embossment 100 surrounds the through-hole 36 in the plate 34, whereas the embossment 102 surrounds the through-hole 30 of the cushion 26 when the drawer is in the closed position.
  • a relatively firm engagement of the resiliently supported film 28 with the embossments 100 and 102 assures that any possible toner deposited on the top surface of the foil 28 will be swept into the through-hole 30.
  • the plate 34 should be exactly flat or slightly convex, i.e. upwardly bulging, rather than concave, so that the portions of the embossments 100 and 102 which are most firmly pressed against the cushion 26 are the rear portion of the embossment 100 and the front portion of the embossment 102 as viewed in the direction in which the drawer is drawn out.
  • top surface of the film 28 is absolutely flat and the drawer 12 is guided only in the mounting structure 14. This has the advantage that toner powder deposited on the film 28 will not enter between the mating surfaces of the guide structures which guide the drawer 12.
  • the component parts of the refill mechanism, especially the drawer 12, should be made of a material which has a low adhesiveness for the toner powder.
  • acetal polyoxymethylene (POM) is a suitable material.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)

Claims (8)

  1. Mécanisme de rechargement pour le chargement de poudre de toner provenant d'un contenant de rechargement (86) dans un réservoir de toner (10) d'un copieur ou d'une imprimante, comprenant :
    - une ouverture de rechargement (22) formée dans le dessus du réservoir de toner (10) ;
    - un tiroir (12) coulissant entre une position ouverte et une position fermée pour ouvrir et fermer l'ouverture de rechargement (22) ;
    - un bec (18) formé sur le contenant de rechargement (86) et fermé par une coulisse (16) ; et
    - une structure de montage (14) pour le montage du bec (18) sur le réservoir de toner (10) dans une position au-dessus de l'ouverture de rechargement (22) de sorte que la coulisse (16) soit engagée dans un évidement (44) du tiroir (12) et lorsque le tiroir est déplacé dans la position ouverte, soit déplacée conjointement avec le tiroir pour ouvrir le bec (16) de sorte que la poudre de toner tombe dans le réservoir de toner,
    la surface supérieure de la coulisse (16) est recouverte par un film (76) qui dépasse de l'arête arrière (64) de la coulisse vu dans la direction du mouvement d'ouverture et recouvre l'arête adjacente de l'évidement (44) du tiroir (12), caractérisé en ce que la surface inférieure du bec (18) maintenue en engagement avec la surface supérieure du film (76) est formée par un tampon étanche élastique (96) entourant l'ouverture du bec (84).
  2. Mécanisme de rechargement selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la partie en saillie (78) du film (76) repose à plat sur la surface supérieure du tiroir (12) lorsque la coulisse (16) est logée dans l'évidement (44).
  3. Mécanisme de rechargement selon la revendication 2, dans lequel l'arête arrière (64) de la coulisse (16) et l'arête correspondante du film (76) possèdent une courbure convexe.
  4. Mécanisme de rechargement selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le film (76) est réalisé en un matériau semi-rigide et le bec (18) présente un collier extérieur (88), dont l'arête inférieure est alignée sur l'arête de la partie en saillie (78) du film (76) lorsque le tiroir (16) est dans la position totalement fermée par rapport au bec (18).
  5. Mécanisme de rechargement selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le tiroir (12) est supporté par glissement sur une surface supérieure plate du réservoir de toner (10) et est guidé par glissement dans la structure de montage (14).
  6. Mécanisme de rechargement selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le tiroir (12) possède un trou débouchant (36) qui est aligné sur l'ouverture de rechargement (22) lorsque le tiroir est dans la position ouverte et la surface inférieure du tiroir (12) présente deux bosselages circulaires (100, 102), dont un (100) entoure le trou débouchant (36), alors que l'autre (102) entoure l'ouverture de rechargement (22) lorsque le tiroir est dans la position fermée.
  7. Mécanisme de rechargement selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la surface supérieure du réservoir de toner (10) est formée par un film (28) couvrant un coussinet (26) qui est réalisé en un matériau élastomère et présente un trou débouchant (30) concentrique à l'ouverture de rechargement (22).
  8. Mécanisme de rechargement selon la revendication 7, dans lequel le diamètre du trou débouchant (30) dans le coussinet (26) est inférieur au diamètre de l'ouverture de rechargement (22).
EP01202681.1A 2000-07-24 2001-07-12 Mécanisme de rechargement de toner Expired - Lifetime EP1179755B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01202681.1A EP1179755B1 (fr) 2000-07-24 2001-07-12 Mécanisme de rechargement de toner

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP00202625 2000-07-24
EP00202625A EP1176477A1 (fr) 2000-07-24 2000-07-24 Mécanisme de remplissage de poudre de toner
EP01202681.1A EP1179755B1 (fr) 2000-07-24 2001-07-12 Mécanisme de rechargement de toner

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1179755A2 EP1179755A2 (fr) 2002-02-13
EP1179755A3 EP1179755A3 (fr) 2006-02-15
EP1179755B1 true EP1179755B1 (fr) 2016-03-09

Family

ID=26072532

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01202681.1A Expired - Lifetime EP1179755B1 (fr) 2000-07-24 2001-07-12 Mécanisme de rechargement de toner

Country Status (1)

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EP (1) EP1179755B1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6907208B2 (en) * 2002-10-25 2005-06-14 Michael E. Bausch Developer cartridge including sealing gasket
CN2742471Y (zh) * 2004-09-07 2005-11-23 珠海天威飞马打印耗材有限公司 显影粉盒
DE102006007304B3 (de) 2006-02-16 2007-09-13 OCé PRINTING SYSTEMS GMBH Anordnung zur Förderung von Toner aus einem Tonervorratsbehälter in einen Toneraufnahmebehälter insbesondere bei einer Druck- oder Kopiereinrichtung

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH07101326B2 (ja) * 1987-03-31 1995-11-01 富士ゼロックス株式会社 トナ−カ−トリツジ
JP2974216B2 (ja) * 1990-09-20 1999-11-10 キヤノン株式会社 現像剤補給装置
JPH08272216A (ja) * 1995-03-29 1996-10-18 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 現像剤補給装置
US5729794A (en) * 1996-05-20 1998-03-17 Eastman Kodak Company Toner container having a web seal

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1179755A2 (fr) 2002-02-13
EP1179755A3 (fr) 2006-02-15

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