Cartridge Patents (Class 399/262)
  • Patent number: 11914311
    Abstract: Examples described herein relate to a supply valve consistent with the disclosure. For instance, a supply valve to supply print particles to a receptacle, the supply valve may comprise a print particle exit, a print particle entrance perpendicular to the print particle exit, and a liner adjacent to the print particle exit, where the liner is to wipe print particles, when present, from the supply valve responsive to the transition of the supply valve between a closed position and an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Matthew James Storey, Jefferson Blake West, Corbett Benjamin Schoenfelt, Zackary Thomas Hickman
  • Patent number: 11762312
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction, a developing memory having an electrical contact surface, an agitator, an agitator gear rotatable about an agitator axis together with the agitator, a holder holding the electrical contact surface, and a plate movable between a first position and a second position in a second direction crossing the first direction relative to the casing. The holder is movable relative to the casing in a third direction crossing the first and second directions between a retracted position and an advancing position. The holder is movable from the retracted position to the advancing position in response to a movement of the plate from the first position to the second position. The plate is positioned farther away from the developing roller than the agitator gear and the holder are in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya Kamimura, Tomitake Aratachi, Yasuo Fukamachi, Junichi Hashimoto, Saya Minoshima, Nao Itabashi, Kazutoshi Nakamura, Misato Osuka, Junya Sumida, Shinya Kusuda
  • Patent number: 11720054
    Abstract: A process cartridge for use with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the main assembly including a driving shaft, to be driven by a motor, having a rotational force applying portion, wherein the process cartridge is dismountable from the main assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the driving shaft, the process cartridge includes i) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum having a photosensitive layer at a peripheral surface thereof, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum being rotatable about an axis thereof; ii) process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; iii) a coupling member engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the coupling member being capable of taking a rotational force transmitting angular position for transmitting the rotational force for rotating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahito Ueno, Shigeo Miyabe, Masanari Morioka, Masato Hisano
  • Patent number: 11714374
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner cartridge detachably mountable to a receiving device, the toner cartridge comprising a container including a accommodating portion for accommodating the toner and a discharge opening for discharging the toner from the accommodating portion into the receiving device; and an open/close member including a closing portion for closing the discharge opening and an engaging portion movable relative to the closing portion, the open/close member being rotatable relative to the container between (a) an opening position for causing the closing portion to open the discharge opening and (b) a closing position for causing the closing portion to close the discharge opening, wherein the engaging portion is movable relative to the closing portion between (c) a engaging position for engagement with the receiving device to receive a force for moving the open/close member from the opening position to the closing position when the toner cartridge is d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Kashiide, Takashi Kimura
  • Patent number: 11709441
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing container to store developer, an operation portion, an operation detection portion, a conveyance unit to convey a recording material, a detection unit, a door that is openable and closable, a door detection portion, an agitation member, a drive portion, and a control unit. The control unit controls the drive portion in such a manner that, in a case where the operation detection portion detects movement of the operation portion, a supply agitation operation in which the agitation member agitates the developer stored in the developing container is performed. The control unit controls the drive portion in such a manner that, in a case where, in a state in which the supply agitation operation is being performed, the door detection portion has detected an opened state of the door or the detection unit has detected the recording material, the supply agitation operation is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akinori Mitsumata, Takeo Kawanami, Nobuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11709453
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner cartridge detachably mountable to a receiving device, the toner cartridge comprising a container including a accommodating portion for accommodating the toner and a discharge opening for discharging the toner from the accommodating portion into the receiving device; and an open/close member including a closing portion for closing the discharge opening and an engaging portion movable relative to the closing portion, the open/close member being rotatable relative to the container between (a) an opening position for causing the closing portion to open the discharge opening and (b) a closing position for causing the closing portion to close the discharge opening, wherein the engaging portion is movable relative to the closing portion between (c) a engaging position for engagement with the receiving device to receive a force for moving the open/close member from the opening position to the closing position when the toner cartridge is d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Kashiide, Takashi Kimura
  • Patent number: 11703793
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner cartridge detachably mountable to a receiving device, the toner cartridge comprising a container including a accommodating portion for accommodating the toner and a discharge opening for discharging the toner from the accommodating portion into the receiving device; and an open/close member including a closing portion for closing the discharge opening and an engaging portion movable relative to the closing portion, the open/close member being rotatable relative to the container between (a) an opening position for causing the closing portion to open the discharge opening and (b) a closing position for causing the closing portion to close the discharge opening, wherein the engaging portion is movable relative to the closing portion between (c) a engaging position for engagement with the receiving device to receive a force for moving the open/close member from the opening position to the closing position when the toner cartridge is d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Kashiide, Takashi Kimura
  • Patent number: 11687015
    Abstract: A developer storage container includes a storage portion, a communication portion, and a gear portion. The storage portion conveys developer stored therein in a conveying direction parallel to a rotation axis by being rotated around the rotation axis in a specific direction. The communication portion has a tubular shape coaxial to the rotation axis and extending in the conveying direction from an end of the storage portion on a downstream side in the conveying direction, includes an inner peripheral part that gradually increases its diameter in the conveying direction, and connects the storage portion to an opening portion that has an opening facing the conveying direction. The gear portion is provided for an outer peripheral part of the communication portion and receives a rotational driving force supplied from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yuta Nohara
  • Patent number: 11650536
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner cartridge detachably mountable to a receiving device, the toner cartridge comprising a container including a accommodating portion for accommodating the toner and a discharge opening for discharging the toner from the accommodating portion into the receiving device; and an open/close member including a closing portion for closing the discharge opening and an engaging portion movable relative to the closing portion, the open/close member being rotatable relative to the container between (a) an opening position for causing the closing portion to open the discharge opening and (b) a closing position for causing the closing portion to close the discharge opening, wherein the engaging portion is movable relative to the closing portion between (c) a engaging position for engagement with the receiving device to receive a force for moving the open/close member from the opening position to the closing position when the toner cartridge is d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Kashiide, Takashi Kimura
  • Patent number: 11650520
    Abstract: A toner cartridge includes: a casing having a first toner accommodating portion and a second toner accommodating portion; an agitator; an auger; a first protrusion positioned at one side in a first direction of the second toner accommodating portion; a second protrusion positioned at another side in the first direction of the second accommodating portion; a memory; and a toner-side electrical contact surface electrically connected to the memory. The toner cartridge is attachable to a drum cartridge by the casing pivotally moving from a first position to a second position relative to the drum cartridge about the first protrusion and the second protrusion. When the casing is at the first position, the toner-side electrical contact surface does not contact a first electrical contact surface of the drum cartridge. When the casing is at the second position, the toner-side electrical contact surface contacts the first electrical contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya Kamimura, Hideshi Nishiyama, Masaaki Furukawa
  • Patent number: 11619904
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage portion, a cover member, a locking mechanism, an unlocking portion, and a contact portion. The storage portion conveys developer stored therein in a conveying direction parallel to a rotation axis by being rotated around the rotation axis parallel to a horizontal plane in a first direction. The cover member opens and closes an insertion hole portion, into which the storage portion is inserted, in a side face of the apparatus body. The locking mechanism imposes a restriction on a state change of the cover member from a closed state to an open state. The unlocking portion removes the restriction on the state change imposed by the locking mechanism as a lever portion swings in a second direction opposite the first direction. The contact portion includes a curved surface and rotates integrally with the storage portion to come into contact with the lever portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yuta Nohara
  • Patent number: 11619906
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process cartridge and an electronic imaging device. The process cartridge includes a cartridge body having an accommodating cavity; a developing roller rotatably installed in the accommodating cavity; a photosensitive drum rotatably installed in the cartridge body; a charging roller that is in contact with a peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum and is spaced from the developing roller; and a cleaning member that is located in the accommodating cavity and installed in the cartridge body, extends in a direction parallel to the charging roller, and is in contact with a peripheral surface of the charging roller. The developing roller is in contact with the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum. The electronic imaging device includes a machine body, and the foregoing process cartridge is detachably installed thereon. The present invention can increase the utilization rate of toner and reduce abrasion of the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventors: Xiaofeng Yang, Xinhua Yi, Leungmui Ho, Yuxia Zheng, Kinkeung So
  • Patent number: 11619903
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner cartridge detachably mountable to a receiving device, the toner cartridge comprising a container including a accommodating portion for accommodating the toner and a discharge opening for discharging the toner from the accommodating portion into the receiving device; and an open/close member including a closing portion for closing the discharge opening and an engaging portion movable relative to the closing portion, the open/close member being rotatable relative to the container between (a) an opening position for causing the closing portion to open the discharge opening and (b) a closing position for causing the closing portion to close the discharge opening, wherein the engaging portion is movable relative to the closing portion between (c) a engaging position for engagement with the receiving device to receive a force for moving the open/close member from the opening position to the closing position when the toner cartridge is d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Kashiide, Takashi Kimura
  • Patent number: 11613126
    Abstract: Examples of a print particle replenishment device are described herein. Some examples of the print particle replenishment device may include an interfacing portion. Some examples of the interfacing portion may include a ramp to actuate a hinging door. In some examples, the hinging door may be on a host device receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Matthew James Storey, Zackary Thomas Hickman
  • Patent number: 11609530
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner cartridge detachably mountable to a receiving device, the toner cartridge comprising a container including a accommodating portion for accommodating the toner and a discharge opening for discharging the toner from the accommodating portion into the receiving device; and an open/close member including a closing portion for closing the discharge opening and an engaging portion movable relative to the closing portion, the open/close member being rotatable relative to the container between (a) an opening position for causing the closing portion to open the discharge opening and (b) a closing position for causing the closing portion to close the discharge opening, wherein the engaging portion is movable relative to the closing portion between (c) a engaging position for engagement with the receiving device to receive a force for moving the open/close member from the opening position to the closing position when the toner cartridge is d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Kashiide, Takashi Kimura
  • Patent number: 11561488
    Abstract: A powder transport device includes a falling passage unit having an inclined surface that is inclined so as to narrow an interior space, through which powder falls, in a lower region of the interior space; a transport passage unit that is connected to a lower end of the falling passage unit and that has a passage space that extends in a direction in which the powder is transported; a transport member that rotates in the passage space of the transport passage unit to transport the powder in one direction, which is a transporting direction; and an elastic sheet that is disposed to cover a portion of the falling passage unit including the inclined surface, the elastic sheet including an upper end portion that is fixed and a lower end that serves as a free end and faces the transport member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventor: Taichiro Okuno
  • Patent number: 11526123
    Abstract: Examples described herein relate to an apparatus for particulate delivery consistent with the disclosure. For instance, the apparatus may comprise a particulate reservoir container, an orifice positioned at an output portion of the particulate reservoir container, and a baffle that when compressed forces air through an air valve to direct the air below a level of particulates of print material to aerate the particulates of print material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Sean Daniel FitzGerald, Jeff Luke
  • Patent number: 11491797
    Abstract: In some examples, a print materials container can include a dispense mechanism to dispense print materials directly to an in-situ reservoir of a printing device, a lock feature to engage a fill port during connection of the dispense mechanism to the fill port, and a valve integrated with the dispense mechanism for connecting the dispense mechanism to the fill port of the reservoir and comprising an output opening offset from a center axis of a tip of the dispense mechanism. The valve can open responsive to rotation of the valve opening with respect to the lock feature such that opposite openings align.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew P. Chick, Kenneth K. Smith, Matthew James Storey, Pratik Shah, Luke Kim, Sean Daniel Fitzgerald, Mathew Lavigne, Jeffrey H. Luke, Jiwon Moon, Minchul Lee, Corbett Benjamin Schoenfelt, Bennett Alexander Nadeau, Zackary Thomas Hickman, Jefferson Blake West, Muriel Hale Shields, An Tran
  • Patent number: 11487221
    Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a container accommodating toner and including a discharge opening. A pump is configured to alternately generate (i) a first air flow from outside to inside of the toner cartridge and (ii) a second air flow from inside to outside of the toner cartridge, with the pump being configured to supply the toner from the discharge opening to outside of the toner cartridge with the second air flow. The cartridge also includes a rotational force receiving portion configured to receive a rotational force from outside of the toner cartridge, with the rotational force receiving portion being configured to drive the pump with rotation of the rotational force receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayatomo Okino, Toshiaki Nagashima, Katsuya Murakami, Fumio Tazawa, Yusuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 11460791
    Abstract: A connection seal structure includes: a first structure including a connector that is removably connected; and a second structure that includes a connectable portion that allows the connector to be received thereon and connected thereto, the connectable portion allowing an elastic member including an elastic layer to be attached to at least a portion of the connectable portion facing the connector. The elastic member has an end bent in such a direction as not to come into contact with the connector while the connector is inserted or removed, the end being on a side closer to the connector while the connector is inserted, and the connection seal structure further comprises a retainer that keeps the bent end of the elastic member in a bent state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Takashi Anzai, Satoru Ishii, Yukihiro Ichiki
  • Patent number: 11429038
    Abstract: A toner cartridge for an imaging apparatus includes a housing to accommodate toner, and an inlet port and an outlet port formed in the housing. The outlet port supplies the toner to a developing device of the imaging apparatus. The inlet port receives a residual toner removed from an image carrier of the developing device as a recycled toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Kenji Tanaka, Takahiko Kimura
  • Patent number: 11392057
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer conveyance member including a rotatably supported flexible sheet having a first distance between its rotation axis and an edge of the flexible sheet in a state where the flexible sheet is unbent. A lid of a developing container includes a corner portion that extends a storage space outward of an imaginary circle with a radius of the first distance centered on the rotational axis, and a contact portion which protrudes from an inner surface of the corner portion to an inner side of the imaginary circle and with which the flexible sheet contacts while the conveyance member is being rotated. The contact portion has a distal edge shaped such that a distance between the distal edge and the rotation axis increases toward a downstream side in a rotation direction of the conveyance member as viewed in the direction along the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigemi Kamoshida, Yosuke Kashiide, Shohei Katsuya
  • Patent number: 11392084
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller, a main body frame, a cartridge and a display. The cartridge includes a memory, a cartridge data terminal and a cartridge detection terminal. The controller includes a main body data terminal and a main body detection terminal. The main body data terminal is electrically connected to the cartridge data terminal. The main body detection terminal is electrically connected to the cartridge detection terminal in the case where the cartridge is attached to the main body frame. The controller is configured to perform determining whether the main body detection terminal and the cartridge detection terminal are electrically connected with each other. The controller is configured to perform displaying a determination result of the determining whether the main body detection terminal and the cartridge detection terminal are electrically connected with each other on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinta Sugiura, Keita Inoue, Tatsuro Yokoi, Seiya Sato, Osamu Takahashi, Toshinori Araki, Masaaki Wakizaka, Koji Akagi
  • Patent number: 11385569
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first process unit, a second process unit, a first toner cartridge, and a second toner cartridge. The first toner cartridge includes a cartridge housing and a first shutter movable between a first closed position and a first open position. The cartridge housing includes one end portion and the other end portion. The cartridge housing is rotatable between a first position at which the first shutter is positioned at the first closed position and a second position at which the first shutter is positioned at the first open position. When the cartridge housing moves from the second position to the first position, the one end portion of the cartridge housing comes close to the second toner cartridge and the other end portion of the cartridge housing goes away from the second toner cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shintaro Fukuoka, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11249420
    Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a cartridge body having a dispensing port. An interface mechanism is coupled with the cartridge body. The interface mechanism includes at least one detent movably coupled with the cartridge body. The at least one detent includes a retaining surface, a shuttle surface and a bias element coupled with the detent. At least one detent guide is coupled with the cartridge body, and the at least one detent guide includes a guide channel aligned with the retaining surface. The cartridge body is configured for installation in an image forming apparatus between intermediate and fully installed configurations. In the intermediate installed configuration a feature of the image forming apparatus is within the guide channel and the shuttle surface depresses the detent. In the fully installed configuration the bias element deploys the retaining surface into intercepting alignment with the feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Katun Corporation
    Inventors: Terry Dean Erickson, Joseph Allen Amberg, Ryan Bayliss
  • Patent number: 11243484
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes comprising a main body casing, a drum cartridge, and a toner cartridge. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a developing device, a developing casing, and a developing shutter. The developing device includes a developing roller, a developing casing, and a developing shutter. The toner cartridge includes a toner casing, a toner shutter, and a cushion member. The cushion member is positioned between the toner casing and the toner shutter. The cushion member is configured to allow the toner shutter, while the toner shutter is engaged with the developing casing, to move relative to the toner casing when the developing casing moves relative to the photosensitive drum in a state where the drum cartridge and the toner cartridge are attached in the main body casing, the developing shutter is in a developing open position, and the toner shutter is in a toner open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11231664
    Abstract: A toner container is detachably attachable to a developing device. The toner container includes an outlet to discharge toner contained in the toner container, an agitating member to agitate the toner in the container, a coupling to transmit a driving force to the agitating member, a shutter to open and close the outlet, a lever disposed at one end of the container and a pivoting portion disposed at the other end and connected by a common shaft such that both rotate together, and the lever and the coupling are disposed at the one end in a mutually non-overlapping manner when viewed from the axial direction of the common shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomofumi Yoshida, Kohta Sakaya, Shinichi Arasawa, Jin Sam Park, Goo Chui Jung, Yasunobu Ogata
  • Patent number: 11221570
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer cartridge and a developing unit. The developer cartridge, in some instances, may include a shutter. This shutter may have a wall for closing a developer supply hole, and be movable, with respect to a developer cartridge casing, between an open position where the supply hole is opened by the wall and a closed position where the supply hole is closed by the wall. The shutter may further include a protrusion that is movable with respect to the wall of the shutter between a first position and a second position in an axial direction. The protrusion, in the first position, is engageable with a developing unit and, in the second position, would be disengaged from the developing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Hayakawa, Masashi Imai, Shougo Sato
  • Patent number: 11137700
    Abstract: A toner cartridge is adapted for being connected with an image-forming cartridge of an electronic image-forming, which includes a toner inlet and a step portion located by the toner inlet. The toner cartridge includes a housing having an internal accommodation for storage of toners, a toner outlet communicated with the internal accommodation and an outside of the housing, and a position-limiting hook located by the toner outlet. When the toner cartridge is connected with the image-forming cartridge, the position-limiting hook is engaged with the step portion such that the toner outlet is communicated with the toner inlet. As such, the toner cartridge can be positively positioned with the image-forming cartridge, and the toner outlet can be positively sealed to avoid toner leaking before installation and after dismantlement of the toner cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL PLASTIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ching-Ho Huang
  • Patent number: 11130346
    Abstract: A combination includes a carbon powder replenishing bottle and a carbon powder storage member combined together. The carbon powder replenishing bottle includes: a hollow body storing carbon powder; and a bottle mouth, which is connected to the hollow body and has a stopper portion, wherein the stopper portion restricts a depth, by which the bottle mouth is placed into a carbon powder entrance of the carbon powder storage member, so that the bottle mouth is only partially inserted into the carbon powder entrance to form a hermetic connection with the carbon powder entrance through the stopper portion. The stopper portion is entirely accommodated within an outer housing of the carbon powder storage member, In the carbon powder storage member, a fluid in the housing is discharged through a fluid discharge mechanism when a user performs a refilling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: AVISION INC.
    Inventor: Chia-Hsin Lin
  • Patent number: 11131956
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet cassette, a waste developer container, a capacitance sensor, a partition conductor, and a state determination unit. The waste developer container is disposed adjacent to the sheet cassette, and the capacitance sensor is disposed between the waste developer container and the sheet cassette. The partition conductor partitions between the sheet in the sheet cassette and the capacitance sensor, and is grounded. The state determination unit determines an amount of the waste developer in the developer container, based on a detection signal of the electrostatic capacitance sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Okamoto
  • Patent number: 11117383
    Abstract: An example system includes an imaging device and a consumable storage unit. The imaging device includes at least one consumable used in operation of the imaging device and a controller. The consumable storage unit includes at least one cavity to store a replacement consumable therein. The replacement consumable is inaccessible for use in operation of the imaging device. The controller is communicatively coupled to the consumable storage unit to receive a signal indicative of presence or absence of replacement consumable in the consumable storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Bradley Spencer White, Daniel Scott Ellis
  • Patent number: 11112728
    Abstract: A printer includes a main body, a development cartridge attachable to and detachable from the main body, the development cartridge to supply toner contained in a toner container to an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor, to form a visible toner image, a mounting portion including a toner inlet portion connected to the toner container, where a toner cartridge usable to refill toner in the toner container is mountable to the mounting portion, an inlet shutter rotatably provided in the mounting portion to be rotatable together with the toner cartridge, the inlet shutter rotatable between a blocking position to block the toner inlet portion from receiving toner and an inlet position to open the toner inlet portion to receive toner, a locking unit to selectively lock and unlock the inlet shutter, and a controller to control the locking unit to selectively lock and unlock the inlet shutter based on whether the toner cartridge is mounted to the mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Yong-Kwan Cho, Woong-Yong Choi
  • Patent number: 11112727
    Abstract: A toner refilling interface structure including a toner cartridge, an installation portion, a first toner inlet portion, an inlet shutter, and a locking member. The toner cartridge including a discharge shutter located in or coupled to a body and to switch to a closed position at which a first toner discharge portion of the body is closed and to switch to a discharge position at which the first toner discharge portion is open. The toner cartridge is rotatable about a first rotation axis. The first toner inlet portion is provided in the installation portion to receive toner from the toner cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Yong Il Moon, Woong Yong Choi
  • Patent number: 11048189
    Abstract: A toner container includes a cylindrical container body having a head with an opening in the head, a cap into which the head of the container body is inserted, and a sheet member attached inside the cap. The cylindrical container body rotates around a rotation axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the container body to transport toner contained in the container body toward the opening. The cap has a toner outlet through which the toner discharged from the opening is discharged outside the toner container. The sheet member includes a first elastic-deformation portion that is elastically deformable and located near the toner outlet, and a second elastic-deformation portion that is elastically deformable and located in the container body and near the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Adachi, Koichi Yamazaki, Hideo Yoshizawa, Tatsuya Ohhira
  • Patent number: 11048190
    Abstract: A leak-prohibiting device includes a fixation mount for being mounted to an toner outlet of a housing of a toner cartridge, a valve member mounted in the fixation mount and forced by a first resilient member to seal an opening of the fixation mount, and a push member mounted in the fixation mount and moveable between an extended position where the push member is abutted against the valve member and a retracted position where an engagement portion of the push member is engaged with a position-limiting portion of the fixation mount such that the push member, on which a biasing force of a second resilient member exerts toward the extended position, is prohibited from moving from the retracted position to the extended position. As such, the leak-prohibiting device can positively block the toner cartridge and the toner cartridge can be repeatedly installed with less manual force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL PLASTIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yi-Chia Wu
  • Patent number: 11022934
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner cartridge detachably mountable to a receiving device, the toner cartridge comprising a container including a accommodating portion for accommodating the toner and a discharge opening for discharging the toner from the accommodating portion into the receiving device; and an open/close member including a closing portion for closing the discharge opening and an engaging portion movable relative to the closing portion, the open/close member being rotatable relative to the container between (a) an opening position for causing the closing portion to open the discharge opening and (b) a closing position for causing the closing portion to close the discharge opening, wherein the engaging portion is movable relative to the closing portion between (c) a engaging position for engagement with the receiving device to receive a force for moving the open/close member from the opening position to the closing position when the toner cartridge is d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosuke Kashiide, Takashi Kimura
  • Patent number: 11016434
    Abstract: A force receiving part and a toner cartridge are provided in the present disclosure. The toner cartridge includes a toner cartridge body and the force receiving part. The force receiving part is configured to receive a force from the image forming device and transmit the force to the toner cartridge body. The force receiving part includes a moving element, a receiving element for receiving the force, and a transmission element for transmitting the force. After the toner cartridge is installed on the image forming device, the force receiving part provided in the present disclosure enables automatic generation of an outlet for flowing out the toner when in use and for preventing the toner from flowing out by closing the outlet when not in use, which prevents the contamination and damage due to the developer leakage in the toner cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: NINESTAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Qin Luo, Gerning Ding, Likun Zeng
  • Patent number: 10990035
    Abstract: A toner container includes a container main body, a conveying body, at least one first rotating body, and a second rotating body. The container main body has a compartment and an exit port. The compartment contains toner. The exit port allows the toner to be ejected from the compartment. The conveying body is located inside the compartment. The conveying body moves in a direction approaching the exit port while rotating to convey the toner to the exit port. The first rotating body engages with an outer circumferential surface of the conveying body and rotates according to rotation of the conveying body. The second rotating body rotates according to a first driving force generated by rotation of the first rotating body. The first rotating body is located at a prescribed position. The first rotating body rotates in response to the conveying body arriving at the prescribed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Shinichi Tajima
  • Patent number: 10921738
    Abstract: An error proof device for restricting assembling of a specific toner cartridge into an electronic image-forming apparatus only after the toner cartridge is rotated about a rotation axis includes a guiding portion at the apparatus and a retaining portion at the toner cartridge. The guiding portion has an axial groove and a positioning groove having a circular arc section. The retaining portion has an axial post located at the rotation axis and inserted into the axial groove, and a lateral post spaced from the axial post and inserted into the positioning groove. When the toner cartridge is rotated about the rotation axis, the lateral post moves along the circular arc section of the positioning groove. With the error proof device, a user can positively install a toner cartridge into an accuracy position, thereby avoiding material waste and undesired cleaning procedure due to error installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL PLASTIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shao-Yuan Tsai
  • Patent number: 10915041
    Abstract: A powder-container attachment device includes a powder container that accommodates powder, and a device body. The device body includes an attachment portion to and from which the powder container is attached and removed with a pushing operation and a pull-out operation, a receiving port, a lid that is moved in interconnection with the pushing operation and the pull-out operation to open and close the receiving port, and an engaging portion with which the lid is engaged in the state of closing the receiving port. The powder container includes a protrusion and a disengagement portion. The lid includes a holding portion that removably holds the protrusion, and an engaged portion that is engaged with the engaging portion during the pull-out operation. The powder container is movable in a direction in which the protrusion moves away from the disengagement portion during the pull-out operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seigo Shinozaki, Hirohisa Hoshino, Arichika Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10908531
    Abstract: Provided is a powder container having a new structure capable of stable discharge and transport of a powder contained in a container by enabling the powder to be reliably discharged to the outside of the package while preventing the powder from spilling and flying out of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Tsukuru Kai, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Makoto Komatsu, Tadashi Hayakawa, Yuzuru Ozawa
  • Patent number: 10884355
    Abstract: An image forming unit of an image forming apparatus includes a developing device and a toner replenishing unit that replenishes the developing device with toner. The toner replenishing unit includes an upper toner container, a lower toner container, a toner conveyance unit. The upper toner container and the lower toner container are disposed in a staggered manner in an apparatus body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Inventors: Yuta Nohara, Tomohiko Yamakawa, Hiroaki Ohashi, Masaru Takagi
  • Patent number: 10768549
    Abstract: A toner container includes a container body having a discharging port discharging a toner, a rotating member, a moving member, a transmitting member transmitting rotation to the rotating member, an agitating member agitating the toner in the container body, and a connecting member transmitting rotation to the agitating member. At least a part of the rotating member is at least partly installed in the container body. At least a part of the transmitting member is arranged outside the container body. The rotating member includes a following coupling facing to the outside of the container body. The transmitting member includes a transmitting coupling connected to the following coupling. The agitating member includes an agitating coupling facing to the outside of the container body. The connecting member includes a connecting coupling connected to the agitating coupling. The agitating coupling is arranged outside the outer circumference of the following coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Riku Minamoto
  • Patent number: 10712687
    Abstract: A developer container includes a container main body that stores a developer, has an outlet for discharging the developer to a downstream side in a conveyance direction in which the developer is conveyed, has a sidewall having a circular cross-section perpendicular to the conveyance direction, and has a first ridge that continuously or intermittently continues to the downstream side in a helical form in a certain winding direction and is formed on an inner surface of the sidewall, and a limiter disposed at a downstream end that is an end on the downstream side of the container main body, to secure a space between the limiter and the sidewall, the space extending to an upstream side of the outlet in the conveyance direction and extending from the upstream side to the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Takenori Suenaga
  • Patent number: 10705456
    Abstract: Toner cartridge includes a housing, an agitator, an auger, a first protrusion, and a second protrusion. The housing includes a first toner accommodating portion having and a second toner accommodating portion. The auger is rotatable about a second axis extending in a first direction and is configured to convey toner from a first toner accommodating portion to the second toner accommodating portion. The first protrusion is positioned at a first side of the second toner accommodating portion. The first protrusion extends in the first direction. The second protrusion is positioned at a second side of the second toner accommodating portion and extends in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideshi Nishiyama, Keita Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10698353
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developing unit to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member with toner, and a detachable toner container in which toner for supplying to the developing unit is contained. A measuring unit measures information relating to an amount of toner in the developing unit, and a determination unit determines an amount of toner in the developing unit based on the measured information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazumichi Shimizu, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, Takuya Hayato
  • Patent number: 10678166
    Abstract: A developer container includes: a container body storing a developer, and having an opening at an end on a downstream side in a conveyance direction for conveying the developer, a side wall having a circular cross section perpendicular to the conveyance direction, and a first protrusion spirally continuing in a continuous manner or at certain intervals toward the downstream side in a specific winding direction and provided on an inner surface of the side wall; a discharge member having a connection part fixed to the opening and a discharge port from which the developer is discharged; and a regulation member having a curved surface member with a cross section perpendicular to the conveyance direction on an upstream side of the connection part, and a second protrusion spirally continuing to the downstream side in the specific winding direction and provided on an outer surface of the curved surface member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Takenori Suenaga
  • Patent number: 10642193
    Abstract: An object of this disclosure is to reduce differences in the drawn amount of the parison around the mouth of the toner container, thereby reducing the amount of resin for the toner container and the weight thereof. A powder container includes a cylindrical container body to rotate in a horizontal posture, a cylindrical mouth at a first end of the container body, smaller in diameter than the container body, a conveyor to convey the powder inside the container body toward the mouth, a scooping portion deeper in the container body than the mouth, to lift the powder above a powder inlet of a conveying tube inserted from the mouth and drop the powder to the powder inlet, and a radially inner face continuous with an inner end of the scooping portion, extending in a direction crossing the scooping portion and disposed inward in the radial direction than an outermost face of the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuta Tanaka, Ryoichi Teranishi, Toshihide Tomotaka, Seiji Terazawa, Keiichi Yano
  • Patent number: 10642217
    Abstract: A developer supply container is detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus including a developer receiving portion provided with a receiving opening for receiving a developer, and a portion-to-be-engaged 11b integrally displaceable with the developer receiving portion. The developer supply container includes a discharging portion provided with a shutter opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion. An operation portion 21 displaces the developer receiving portion to bring the receiving opening into communication with the shutter opening by engagement between the engaging portion 21d and the portion-to-be-engaged 11b by a predetermined operation executed after the developer supply container is mounted to a predetermined position of the developer receiving apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusaku Makino, Nobuyuki Yomoda, Yohei Gamo