Toner Cartridge Patents (Class 399/106)
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Patent number: 8670688Abstract: A developing cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus by passing through a mounting guide provided in the main assembly. The developing cartridge includes a frame; a developer carrying member for carrying a developer for developing an electrostatic latent image; a portion to be guided for being guided by the mounting guide when the developing cartridge passes through the mounting guide; an accommodating portion for accommodating the developer; a seal member for unsealably sealing an opening for permitting supply of the developer from the accommodating portion to the developer carrying member; and a grip member, provided at a longitudinal end portion of the seal member, including a fixed portion dismountably fixed on the frame and a grip portion to be gripped when the seal member is removed. The grip portion is disposed in a state in which the grip portion is bent relative to the fixed portion in a direction crossing a mounting direction of the developing cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2010Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takahito Ueno, Tetsuya Numata
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Patent number: 8670689Abstract: The present invention relates to a processing cartridge, comprising a developing unit and a photosensitive unit, of which the latter consists of a photosensitive member and a developer chamber and has a developer outlet connecting the chamber and a sealing cap matching the developer outlet and used to seal the said outlet. Based on the said technical proposal, the photosensitive unit is designed with a developer outlet connecting the chamber and with a sealing cap matching the developer outlet and used to seal the said outlet, so, when the photosensitive unit becomes full with developer, the sealing cap can be opened to remove the developer in the photosensitive unit, which facilitates the cleaning without affecting the normal operation of the processing cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2010Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Zhuhai Seine Technology LimitedInventors: Kui Xie, Lianjun Wu, Qingfei Peng
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Patent number: 8666264Abstract: In a new printer, a toner cartridge is mounted in the state where there is no toner in a reserve tank, and toner of the amount of filling toner D therein is supplied with the amount of full accommodation toner E for filling up the reserve tank by a toner supply mechanism. The toner of the amount of remaining surplus toner F remains in the toner cartridge. The amount of toner consumption G is measured by a dot counter during a printing execution. In the case where a toner density sensor detects a toner decreasing, the toner is supplied to a developing unit from the reserve tank. When it becomes G>F, it display-informs a user of “toner cartridge exchange is allowed”. Hereby, it enables to exchange the toner cartridge without stopping operation of the main body of the image forming apparatus using a two-component developer.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignees: Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Casio Electronics Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventors: Fumio Shimazu, Tetsuya Abe, Hideki Ando, Hiroaki Ootsubo, Chihiro Toyama, Yuichiro Iegaki
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Patent number: 8666277Abstract: A developer supply container includes a cover plate mounted on an outer surface of a container body and provided with an opening corresponding to a developer supply port of the container body, which is sealed by a seal tape. The seal tape has a folded section extending through a gap between the container body and the cover plate and a through hole of the cover plate such that an end portion of the seal tape is exposed. A seal piece is mounted on an outer surface of the cover plate. On the outer surface of the container body a door member is slidably mounted. The developer supply container can prevent developer from leak out and has a good manufacturing yield rate.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: General Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shih-Hsiung Huang, Ching-Ho Huang
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Patent number: 8666282Abstract: An image formation apparatus is provided, to which developing devices, each having an opening, and developer cartridges for respectively supplying a developing agent to the openings of the developing devices are mountable. The apparatus includes developing device shutters, each configured to open and close a respective one of the openings of the developing devices mounted to the apparatus; and a link mechanism configured to move the developing device shutters linked with each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Susumu Sakuma
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Patent number: 8655235Abstract: A toner cartridge includes: a main body; a shutter; a toner seal; and a shift member. The main body defines an internal space for accommodating toner and formed with a communication hole, through which an interior and an exterior of the main body communicate. The shutter is movable between an open position in which the communication hole is open and a closed position in which the communication hole is closed. The shutter is also shiftable between a first position in which the shutter is positioned away from the main body and a second position in which the shutter is positioned close to the main body. The toner seal is disposed between the main body and the shutter when the shutter is in the closed position. The shift member is configured to shift the shutter from the first position to the second position when the shutter is in the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2011Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Nao Itabashi
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Publication number: 20140037327Abstract: A developing device including a first frame including a first welding surface and a second frame including a second welding surface, wherein the first frame and the second frame are welded so that the first welding surface and the second welding surface are opposite to each other, and wherein the developing device further includes: a seal member that is adhered to a first adhesion surface of the first frame and a second adhesion surface of the second frame, wherein the seal member covers a first side end portion from a first side in an orthogonal direction at an opposite part, where the first welding surface and the second welding surface are disposed opposite one another; and a filling agent that is filled between the seal member and the first side end portion in the orthogonal direction at the opposite part.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Keigo Nakajima
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Patent number: 8644726Abstract: A remanufactured toner cartridge includes a wall defining a fill hole that is used to refill the cartridge with toner. A patch covers the fill hole, and a heat activated adhesive non-removably attaches the patch to the wall. The fill hole can be formed with a heat knife such that when the heat knife is withdrawn it forms a raised ridge of material extending around the perimeter of the fill hole. The patch is attached to the wall by applying heat and pressure to the patch, which also softens and at least partially flattens the ridge of material surrounding the fill hole such that the patch is substantially flush with the wall upon completion of the operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2012Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Clover Technologies Group, LLCInventors: Heymo Hormann, Paul Michael Korzenecki
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Publication number: 20140029973Abstract: A powder storage container capable of preventing erroneous opening of a powder loading port. The powder storage container includes a powder storage part configured to store a developer used for image forming, a powder discharge part provided on one end part of the powder storage part to discharge the developer stored in the powder storage part, a gripping part protruding through an end face of the one end part side of the powder storage part, a powder loading port causing an inner space of the powder storage part and an outer portion of the powder storage part to communicate with each other, and a sealing member capable of sealing the powder loading port. The powder loading port is enclosed by the gripping part.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2012Publication date: January 30, 2014Inventors: Seiji Terazawa, Atsushi Inoue, Kaori Mitsuishi, Yuki Oshikawa, Tadashi Hayakawa, Michitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Iwasa
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Publication number: 20140029974Abstract: A developer accommodating unit for accommodating a developer for image formation. A flexible container includes a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer and an opening for permitting discharge of the developer. The flexible container also includes a superposed multi layer sheet structure portion for forming the developer accommodating portion. A sealing member seals the opening and an unsealing member moves the sealing member to unseal the opening. A frame that accommodates the flexible container, the sealing member, and the unsealing member includes a fixing portion for fixing the flexible container. A fixed portion fixed to the fixing portion is provided at the superposed multi layer sheet structure portion of the flexible container, and an interlayer bonding portion between the superposed layers is provided between the fixed portion of the multi layer sheet structure portion and the developer accommodating portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuo Uesugi, Kojiro Yasui, Masaaki Matsushita, Masatomi Yoshida, Hiroomi Matsuzaki, Tatsuo Fujisaki, Junichi Matsumura, Kazuki Matsumoto
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Patent number: 8639155Abstract: A stopper for plugging a developer filling port includes a stopper main body and a lock member engageable with the stopper main body. The stopper main body is configured to be fitted to the filling port and shaped like a tube with a bottom. The lock member has a rigidity greater than that of the stopper main body, the lock member engaged with the stopper main body serves to restrict deformation of the stopper main body. A developing device for use in an image forming apparatus includes the stopper configured as described above to be fitted to its developer filling port.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2011Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shuichi Kato
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Patent number: 8639163Abstract: A toner box, for being detachably mounted in a developing unit of an image-forming device, includes: a main body; and a shutter. The main body is configured to accommodate toner therein and has a main-body-side communication through-hole, through which an interior and an exterior of the main body communicate. The shutter is disposed so as to be capable of moving between an open position in which the shutter opens the main-body-side communication through-hole, and a closed position in which the shutter closes the main-body-side communication through-hole. The shutter is formed of a film and has a shutter drive opening, a shutter drive protrusion provided on the developing unit being capable of being engaged in the shutter drive opening.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2011Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Nao Itabashi
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Publication number: 20140016961Abstract: A developer accommodating container for accommodating a developer includes a developer bag 16 provided with an injection port for permitting entrance of the developer and an opening 35a for permitting discharge of the developer and includes a sealing member 19 which includes a bonded portion bonded to the developer bag 16 so as to seal the opening and which is capable of exposing the opening by peeling the bonded portion from the developer bag 16 by being moved, and the sealing member includes a first bonded portion 22a in an upstream side of the opening and a second bonded portion 22b in a downstream side of the opening with respect to a sealing member unsealing direction, the first bonded portion and the second bonded portion interposing the opening, and the second bonded portion is provided in a non-contact position with the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kojiro Yasui, Hiroomi Matsuzaki, Koji Yamaguchi, Masaaki Matsushita, Tatsuo Fujisaki, Masaki Furutani
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Patent number: 8600262Abstract: A toner container and an image forming apparatus are disclosed. The toner container includes a guiding member formed at a part surrounding a toner outlet to be protruded from a circumferential surface of the toner container for guiding an opening or closing operation of a shutter member in a circumferential direction of the toner container. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus main body includes a main body side shutter for opening or closing a toner supplying opening to be connected to the toner outlet. When the shutter member is opened, an end surface of the guiding member pushes the main body side shutter together with the opening operation of the shutter member, and the toner supplying opening is opened and is connected to the toner outlet.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2012Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Ichiro Kadota, Kunihiro Ohyama, Masayuki Yamane, Takeshi Uchitani, Nobuyuki Taguchi, Satoru Yoshida, Takuya Seshita
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Publication number: 20130308971Abstract: A developer accommodating unit includes: a developer accommodating member, provided with an opening for permitting discharge of a developer, for accommodating the developer; a sealing member including a connecting portion for being connected to the developer accommodating member so as to seal the opening; and an unsealing member for exposing the opening by moving the sealing member to peel the connecting portion from the developer accommodating member. The connecting portion includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion with respect to a longitudinal direction thereof. When the connecting portion is peeled from the developer accommodating member, the unsealing member is flexed so that the first connecting portion is peeled earlier than the second connecting portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yosuke Kashiide, Noritomo Yamaguchi, Yuichi Fukui
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Publication number: 20130308972Abstract: A developer accommodating unit includes: a container, provided with an opening for permitting discharge of a developer, for accommodating the developer; a sealing member for sealing the opening by being mounted on the container and for being peeled from the container to expose the opening; and an unsealing member for unsealing the opening by moving the sealing member to peel the sealing member from the container. The sealing member includes a sealing portion defined in an end side thereof to seal the opening, a holding portion defined in another end side thereof to be held by the unsealing member, and a developer passing portion formed between the sealing portion and the holding portion to permit passing of the developer therethrough.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Inventor: Go Shindo
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Publication number: 20130308973Abstract: With respect to an unsealing direction in which exposure of a discharging portion 35 advances, a fixing portion 34g of a developer accommodating member 34 is provided in a range of a region of a connecting portion 35b of the discharging portion 35.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yosuke Kashiide, Junichi Matsumura, Masaki Furutani, Masaaki Matsushita, Tetsuo Uesugi, Hiroomi Matsuzaki, Tatsuo Fujisaki, Kojiro Yasui, Kazuki Matsumoto
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Publication number: 20130308979Abstract: A developer bag 16 is provided with a plurality of openings 35a. By this, unsealing becomes easy.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroomi Matsuzaki, Masaaki Matsushita, Tatsuo Fujisaki, Masaki Furutani
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Patent number: 8588625Abstract: A consumables storage container has an opening through which consumables are supplied. The consumables storage container includes a seal detachably attached to the opening to seal the opening, a part ID storage disposed on the seal, and a positioning holder to position and hold the seal at a prescribed position where the part ID storage is readable after the opening is unsealed.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2011Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Naoyuki Okamoto
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Publication number: 20130302063Abstract: A developing apparatus includes an organic photo conductor, an OPC frame part to support the organic photo conductor, a developing roller to develop a latent image formed on the organic photo conductor by supplying a developer, a developing roller frame part to support the developing roller, a developer storing part to store the developer and provided with a supplying opening through which the developer is supplied to the developing roller, a spacer removably interposed between the OPC frame part and the developing roller frame part and spacing the OPC frame part from the developing roller frame part such that the organic photo conductor and the developing roller do not contact each other, a leakage preventer removably attached to and sealing the supplying opening, and a connecting part to connect the spacer with the leakage preventer. Thus, the spacer and the leakage preventer are capable of being removed simultaneously.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2013Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
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Patent number: 8583003Abstract: A skiving seal for blocking toner from entering a gap between adjacent a rotatable member in a toner container system of an image forming apparatus. The skiving seal includes a flexible sheet having a surface and a length. The skiving seal includes a tubular portion formed by folding the flexible sheet over itself from an edge extending along the length of the flexible sheet without creasing the fold and adhesively adhering a portion of the folded portion of the flexible sheet to the surface of the flexible sheet along the length of the flexible sheet. The skiving seal includes an adhesive-coated area unobstructed on the surface of the flexible sheet for adhesively affixing the skiving seal in the toner container system.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2012Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: David Lee Merrifield, Royden Thomas Kern
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Publication number: 20130294797Abstract: A developer supply container includes a cover plate mounted on an outer surface of a container body and provided with an opening corresponding to a developer supply port of the container body, which is sealed by a seal tape. The seal tape has a folded section extending through a gap between the container body and the cover plate and a through hole of the cover plate such that an end portion of the seal tape is exposed. A seal piece is mounted on an outer surface of the cover plate. On the outer surface of the container body a door member is slidably mounted. The developer supply container can prevent developer from leak out and has a good manufacturing yield rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2012Publication date: November 7, 2013Inventors: Shih-Hsiung HUANG, Ching-Ho Huang
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Patent number: 8565624Abstract: An image forming apparatus detects the presence or absence of a toner seal and whether a cartridge is loaded on a main body of the image forming apparatus without use of an additional redundant detection means, due to the provision of an electrically-conductive layer at the toner seal for sealing and closing an opening in a process cartridge including a developer container.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2011Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akihisa Matsukawa, Nobuyoshi Yoshida
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Patent number: 8565651Abstract: A toner supply device configured to be detachably attached into an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus and supplying a toner to a developing device, the toner supply device being: provided with a container main body configured substantially in a rectangular solid shape and configured to be inserted into the apparatus main body along a longitudinal direction of the container main body, having a toner containing part communicating with a developing device, and a barrel part that moves downward upon receipt of a biasing force from a direction of the apparatus main body when being inserted into the apparatus main body and a lock part arranged at a rear of the barrel part; the handle member being inserted into said apparatus main body side according to the downward movement of said barrel part and fixing said toner supply device in said apparatus main body.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2011Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Kyocera Documents Solutions Inc.Inventor: Hirokazu Fujii
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Patent number: 8554107Abstract: A toner box includes: a main body; a shutter; and a shutter cover. The main body is configured to accommodate toner therein and has a main-body-side communication through-hole, through which an interior and an exterior of the main body communicate. The shutter is disposed so as to be capable of moving between an open position in which the shutter opens the main-body-side communication through-hole, and a closed position in which the shutter closes the main-body-side communication through-hole. The shutter cover is configured to cover part of the shutter and that is elastically deformable.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2011Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Nao Itabashi
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Patent number: 8548352Abstract: A developer container, which contains a developer to be supplied to a developing chamber in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the developer container including: a partition wall partitioning the container from the chamber; a conveying member conveying the developer to an opening in the partition wall to supply the developer to the chamber; a sealing member attached to a wall surface of the partition wall to cover the opening; an extending portion extending from the sealing member to an outside of the container, wherein, when the extending portion is pulled, the sealing member is separated into a remaining portion and a removal portion, and a free end of the remaining portion is positioned below an upper edge of the opening; and a spacing holding member disposed between the wall surface of the partition wall and the sealing member to hold a spacing between the wall surface and the sealing member.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2010Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takayuki Tanaka, Shinichi Nishida, Norio Takahashi, Takahiro Kawamoto
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Patent number: 8543030Abstract: An electrophotographic printer includes a rotatable photoreceptor adapted to receive dry toner and a rotatable toning member arranged with respect to the photoreceptor to supply toner thereto. A seal includes a complaint contact member and a non-contact member. The contact member is arranged in mechanical contact with the photoreceptor. The non-contact member is spaced apart from the surface of the toning member by a selected non-zero distance, the selected distance being greater than zero. This reduces dusting.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2011Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Michael Thomas Dobbertin, James N. Alkins, Richard G. Luther, Jean Marie Trost
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Patent number: 8532542Abstract: A toner container includes a cylindrical container body, having a first opening in a first end thereof and a notch in a circumferential surface thereof continuous with the first opening in the first end, a flange member to engage the first opening and the notch in the container body and having a toner outlet therein through which toner in the container body is discharged, a shutter member disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the container body, a conveyance member, rotatably installed inside the container body to convey the toner from a second end of the container body opposite the first end to the toner outlet in the flange member, and a recessed portion in the container body that projects inward into the interior of the toner container 5 mm or less from an inner surface of the container body.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2010Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Kaori Mitsuishi, Seiji Terazawa, Atsushi Inoue, Tomoji Ishikawa
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Patent number: 8532523Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a container for containing toner, a toner discharge section having a toner discharge port, an auger screw provided in the container, for conveying toner in the container to the toner discharge section, a shutter for opening and closing the toner discharge port, and a toner flowing-out preventing member provided in a communicating part between the container and the toner discharge section, for preventing flowing out of toner by closing an opening of the communicating part. The toner flowing-out preventing member is configured so as to open the opening in conjunction with an opening operation of the shutter.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2010Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuyuki Ishiguro, Koichi Mihara
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Patent number: 8532522Abstract: A toner cartridge contains a toner container including an opening and configured to contain a toner. An engaging member includes a ring-shaped seal member disposed on a seal member installation surface. The engaging member is engaged with the toner container to cover the opening and rotatably mounted to the toner container while an edge of the opening is frictionally slid on a surface of the seal member. The toner container is configured to convey the toner into the engage member through the opening and discharge the toner therefrom as the toner container is rotated. The seal member includes a non-contact portion at a surface thereof facing the installation surface and being free from any contact with the installation surface so that the engage member includes a space extending from the surface of the seal member where the edge of the opening is frictionally slid to the non-contact portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2009Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihide Kawamura, Masashi Hasegawa
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Publication number: 20130230334Abstract: A remanufactured toner cartridge includes a wall defining a fill hole that is used to refill the cartridge with toner. A patch covers the fill hole, and a heat activated adhesive non-removably attaches the patch to the wall. The fill hole can be formed with a heat knife such that when the heat knife is withdrawn it forms a raised ridge of material extending around the perimeter of the fill hole. The patch is attached to the wall by applying heat and pressure to the patch, which also softens and at least partially flattens the ridge of material surrounding the fill hole such that the patch is substantially flush with the wall upon completion of the operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2012Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: CLOVER TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLCInventors: Heymo Hormann, Paul Michael Korzenecki
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Patent number: 8526847Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: a developing device having an outlet from which a two-component developer is partially discharged while the two-component developer is conveyed; a hopper to which (i) a first cartridge containing a first developer including carriers and (ii) a second cartridge containing a second developer including toner and not carriers are attachable, and operable, when the first cartridge is attached thereto, to supply the first developer to the developing device, and when the second cartridge is attached thereto, to supply the second developer to the developing device; and a switching part operable, when the first developer is supplied, to switch the developing device to a first state in which the two-component developer is partially discharged from the outlet, and when the second developer is supplied, to switch the developing device to a second state in which the two-component developer is not discharged from the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2011Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Naoki Kataoka
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Patent number: 8526846Abstract: A process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing roller, a cleaning blade, a developer container including an opening, a developer conveyance member, a driving force transmission member having a driving force transmitted from the developer conveyance member, a seal member configured to seal the opening, and a winding member configured to wind the seal member such that the opening is opened, and the driving force transmission member is configured to take a first position at which the driving force is not transmitted to the winding member and a second position at which the driving force is transmitted to the winding member, and wherein the driving force transmission member is further configured to move from the first position to the second position after rotation of the developer conveyance member.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2011Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tadashi Horikawa
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Patent number: 8512926Abstract: The invention provides an electrophotographic toner having a crystalline polyester resin; a non-crystalline polyester resin; a colorant; and a releasing agent. A resin (i), that is included in a toluene-soluble component of the toner and having a molecular weight of 30,000 to 100,000 as measured by gel permeation chromatography relative to polystyrene standards, has an acid value A. A resin (ii), that is included in a toluene-soluble component of the toner and having a molecular weight of 8,000 to 12,000 as measured by gel permeation chromatography relative to polystyrene standards, has an acid value B. A resin (iii), that is included in a toluene-insoluble component of the toner, has an acid value C. The acid values A, B, and C satisfy the inequation of B>A>C. The invention further provides an electrophotographic developer using the toner, a toner cartridge storing the toner, and an image forming method using the developer.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2008Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Katsumi Daimon, Yutaka Sugizaki, Susumu Yoshino, Hiroshi Nakazawa
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Patent number: 8509649Abstract: A reassembled laser printer toner cartridge and method of manufacture including a cartridge seal assembly in which the remains of an OEM laser printer toner cartridge's toner hopper pull seal strip(s) is left in position, or a substitute conductive strip is put in the same position to simulate the OEM pull seal strip(s) if the OEM strips have been damaged or are missing in order to enable a repaired or remanufactured cartridge to cooperate with the printer in detecting measuring and displaying the amount of toner consumed from the cartridge and shut the printer down, once the toner cartridge is empty, and a toner cartridge hopper foam seal strip assembly that covers the remnants of the OEM seal strips and provides a seal to prevent leakage of toner from the re-filled toner cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Wazana Brothers International, IncInventors: Scott Lenahan, Oswaldo Cota, Jesus Gonzalez Perez
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Patent number: 8498552Abstract: An image forming device includes a support member and a plurality of operation members supported on the support member. The support member is movable relative to a main casing. A plurality of toner cartridges is detachably mounted on the support member, and each includes a casing formed with an opening for supplying toner to a corresponding developing unit and a shutter movable relative to the casing to selectively open and close the opening. Each operation member is operated in a direction substantially parallel to an axial direction of photosensitive drums to press one of the casing and the shutter, thereby moving the shutter relative to the casing in the direction to open the opening.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2011Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Naoya Kamimura
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Patent number: 8494406Abstract: A developer storage container includes a storage portion for storing a developer therein. The storage portion has an opening through which the developer is ejected. A convex portion is provided around the opening of the storage portion. The convex portion protrudes outward from the storage portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2010Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Oki Data CorporationInventor: Yasushi Nakasone
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Patent number: 8478141Abstract: An image formation apparatus including: a toner cartridge storing toner; a developer; a hopper temporarily storing toner supplied from the toner cartridge and supplying the developer with the toner; a magnetic sensor including a magnet and a reed switch that determines whether the magnet is within a detection area thereof, one of which is fixed to a predetermined position, and the other of which is configured to move downwards as a surface level of toner stored in a toner storage of the hopper decreases and thus serves as a surface level detector for detecting the surface level; a lifter configured to periodically lift the surface level detector above the surface level such that the magnet goes out of the detection area; and an ON-edge detector configured to detect ON-edges each indicating a point in time when the magnet has entered the detection area.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2011Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Akira Naruse
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Patent number: 8478158Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier, a developing unit housing which rotatably supports the developer carrier, a side seal member which comes into slidable contact with both ends of the developer carrier, a sheet-like elongated seal member which extends in the axial direction of the developer carrier so as to come into slidable contact with the developer carrier, a side seal attachment surface which is formed in the developing unit housing and to which the side seal member is attached, and a support portion which is formed in the developing unit housing and protrudes toward the developer carrier from the side seal attachment surface to support the elongated seal member. The elongated seal member is attached onto the support portion in a state where both ends thereof overlap the side seal member and are opposite the side seal attachment surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2012Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuichi Matsushita, Fan Xu, Mitsuru Horinoe, Takashi Yasuda
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Publication number: 20130156462Abstract: A skiving seal for blocking toner from entering a gap between adjacent a rotatable member in a toner container system of an image forming apparatus. The skiving seal includes a flexible sheet having a surface and a length. The skiving seal includes a tubular portion formed by folding the flexible sheet over itself from an edge extending along the length of the flexible sheet without creasing the fold and adhesively adhering a portion of the folded portion of the flexible sheet to the surface of the flexible sheet along the length of the flexible sheet. The skiving seal includes an adhesive-coated area unobstructed on the surface of the flexible sheet for adhesively affixing the skiving seal in the toner container system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2012Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventor: Lexmark International, Inc.
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Publication number: 20130142541Abstract: A developing device for an image forming apparatus, comprising a frame provided with a developer accommodating chamber accommodating a developer, and a development opening for supplying the developer from an inside of the developer accommodating chamber to an outside; a first sealing member sealing the development opening, the first sealing member being dismountable from the development opening by being pulled out through a pulling opening provided in the frame; and a second sealing member for sliding on the first sealing member to prevent the developer from leaking to an outside of the frame through the pulling opening when the first sealing member is pulled through the pulling opening, wherein the second sealing member is integrally molded on the frame by injecting a thermoplastic elastomer into a space between the first sealing member and an edge of the pulling opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2012Publication date: June 6, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
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Publication number: 20130142542Abstract: A developer container includes a casing having a developer accommodating chamber and a waste-developer accommodating chamber, conveying member, a conveying-member accommodating unit, and a supporting member. The conveying member conveys waste developer in a longitudinal direction of the waste-developer accommodating chamber. The conveying-member accommodating unit accommodates the conveying member therein and has a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is provided in an upstream end portion and allows the waste developer to move from outside of the conveying-member accommodating unit to the inside of the conveying-member accommodating unit. The second opening allows the waste-developer to move from the inside of the conveying-member accommodating unit to the waste-developer accommodating chamber. The supporting member is provided on the casing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2013Publication date: June 6, 2013Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shougo Sato
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Patent number: 8457519Abstract: A developing apparatus includes an organic photo conductor, an OPC frame part to support the organic photo conductor, a developing roller to develop a latent image formed on the organic photo conductor by supplying a developer, a developing roller frame part to support the developing roller, a developer storing part to store the developer and provided with a supplying opening through which the developer is supplied to the developing roller, a spacer removably interposed between the OPC frame part and the developing roller frame part and spacing the OPC frame part from the developing roller frame part such that the organic photo conductor and the developing roller do not contact each other, a leakage preventer removably attached to and sealing the supplying opening, and a connecting part to connect the spacer with the leakage preventer. Thus, the spacer and the leakage preventer are capable of being removed simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2012Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hyung-jin Kim, Ji-won Moon
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Publication number: 20130136490Abstract: In a cap for sealing a filling port formed in a developer container, a base is in the shape of a circular plate. A first cylindrical portion is in the shape of a cylinder extending from a peripheral portion of the base in a first direction. A second cylindrical portion is in the shape of a cylinder extending from the peripheral portion of the base in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. A first projecting portion projects radially outwardly from an outer circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion with a predetermined projecting amount. A second projecting portion projects radially outwardly from an outer circumferential surface of the second cylindrical portion with a projecting amount equal to the predetermined projecting amount of the first projecting portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2012Publication date: May 30, 2013Inventor: Nao Itabashi
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Publication number: 20130136489Abstract: A developer accommodating unit includes a flexible developer accommodating container sealed with a sealing member at its developer discharging opening; a rotatable unsealing member for removing the sealing member from the opening; a drive transmission member for transmitting a rotational force to the unsealing member, wherein the drive transmission member is mounted at one longitudinal end portion of the unsealing member and is rotatably assembled with a frame; and a supporting member for supporting the unsealing member when the unsealing member is assembled. The supporting member includes a preventing portion for preventing the unsealing member from dropping from the supporting member. In a state in which the drive transmission member is assembled with the frame, a gap between the unsealing member and the supporting member is larger than a gap between the drive transmission member and the frame. The unsealing member is spaced from the supporting member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2012Publication date: May 30, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
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Publication number: 20130129378Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, includes: a rotatable member; a blade member contacted to the rotatable member; a frame, formed of a resin material, for supporting the blade member; and a seal member provided on the frame to be contacted to a portion of the blade member, opposite from a portion where the blade member is contacted to the rotatable member, in each of one end side and anther end side of the blade member with respect to an axial direction of the rotatable member, wherein the seal member is formed on the frame by injection molding for sealing a gap between the blade member and the frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2012Publication date: May 23, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
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Publication number: 20130129377Abstract: A developer accommodating container for accommodating a developer, includes: a frame provided with a hole; a rotatable member penetrating the hole; and a seal member, provided on the frame by injection molding, for sealing a gap between a circumference of the hole of the frame and an outer peripheral surface of the rotatable member to prevent the developer from leaking out of the developer accommodating container. The seal member includes a projected portion which projects toward an inside of the hole and contacts the outer peripheral surface of the rotatable member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2012Publication date: May 23, 2013Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
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Publication number: 20130121720Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a cartridge frame formed of a resin material; a plurality of resin members molded on the cartridge frame by injection molding of a resin material different from that of the cartridge frame; a plurality of contact surfaces, provided on the cartridge frame, to which metal molds corresponding to the resin members are to be contacted from the same side when the resin members are molded; and a plurality of resin material inlet ports, provided in an opposite side of said cartridge frame from a side where the contact surfaces are provided. The resin material has been flowed into the cartridge frame when the resin members are molded.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2012Publication date: May 16, 2013Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
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Publication number: 20130121721Abstract: A developer conveyance apparatus includes a developer storage portion storing developer, an opening for supplying developer from the developer storage portion, a sealing member configured to seal the opening, a removing member configured to remove the sealing member, and a conveyance portion arranged inside the developer storage portion and configured to convey the developer in a predetermined developer conveyance direction, wherein the conveyance portion can move between a first position and a second position on the upstream side with respect to the first position in the developer conveyance direction, and wherein when the conveyance portion receives a force not smaller than a predetermined magnitude from the developer with the conveyance portion rotating while the removing member is removing the sealing member from the opening, the conveyance portion moves from the first position to the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2012Publication date: May 16, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
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Patent number: 8422912Abstract: An image forming cartridge includes a photoconductor; a charger with a charging member contactable with the photoconductor; a case that accommodates the photoconductor and the charger; a cover which is detachably attached to the case and covers at least a part of the photoconductor; and a separating member which is located, on the cover, between a region other than the region of the photoconductor where an image is formed and the charger and separated them from each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2010Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuaki Iikura, Kaoru Watanabe