Having Storage Patents (Class 399/360)
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Patent number: 7885584Abstract: An apparatus and related method for a self-cleaning toner roller device adjacent a toner roller. The cleaning device having one or more shields to capture the toner debris from the toner roller, a toner debris receptacle to collect the toner debris, and a controller to move the applicator from an operational mode to a self-cleaning mode.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2007Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Philip A. Stern, Edward M. Eck, Paul E. Thompson, Timothy Reynolds, Gerard M. Darby
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Patent number: 7881642Abstract: This is a thumper assembly that is positioned in a developer station of a xerographic marking system. A waste container connected to a drop tube collects waste developer from this station. A magnet prevents magnetic developer from moving through the tube when the container is removed. Once a new container is installed, the magnet is moved away from the tube thereby allowing magnetic developer lodged therein to again move through the tube. A thumper is moved striking the tube to further dislodge developer and allow this developer to move through the tube into the waste container.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2008Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: James D. Walsh, Timothy P. Foley
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Patent number: 7865123Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive medium on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, an exposure unit to irradiate light onto the photosensitive medium, a developing device to apply toner to the photosensitive medium having the electrostatic latent image formed thereon, a cleaning device to remove waste toner remaining in the photosensitive medium, and a waste toner collecting device to store the waste toner removed from the photosensitive medium. The waste toner collecting device is provided with a supporting rail to support the developing device. The waste toner collecting device includes the supporting rail that supports the developing device, so that additional components to support the developing device are not needed, and the whole size of the image forming apparatus is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2008Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Myoung Sub Jang, Kwoang Joe Seorl
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Patent number: 7865092Abstract: A waste toner collecting device includes: a tubular member provided with a toner inlet and a toner outlet; a roller that is provided upstream of the toner outlet in a toner transport direction inside the tubular member, that has a substantially horizontal rotation axis line, and that is elliptical in vertical section; a scraper that is provided on an inner wall of the tubular member on a downstream side of the toner outlet in a rotation direction of the roller, an edge of the scraper being in contact with the roller; and a waste toner collecting bag that is inflatable and is attached to the toner outlet of the tubular member.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2008Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventors: Koji Murata, Yasuyuki Fukunaga, Chisato Hatakeyama
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Patent number: 7860429Abstract: A cleaning device, comprises: a plurality of brush rolls being contact with a surface of the image carrier that a toner is attached; and a biasing unit applying bias voltages having different polarities from each other to at least two of the brush rolls, the plurality of brush rolls including a first brush roll and a second brush roll, a bias having a polarity opposite to a normal polarity of the toner being applied to the first brush roll, a bias having the same polarity as the normal polarity of the toner being applied to the second brush roll, a surface circulating speed of the first brush roll being set to be higher than the surface circulating speed of the second brush roll.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2006Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takatoshi Ishikawa, Nobuo Hyakutake
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Publication number: 20100303479Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a rotating member to heat a toner on a sheet; a heater to heat the rotating member; a power controller to maintain temperature of the rotating member in a first mode after the temperature reaches the target temperature, and configured to raise the temperature to the target temperature in a second mode after the temperature falls under the target temperature; a waste toner container to store a waste toner; an agitator to agitate the waste toner in the waste toner container; an driver to rotate the agitator a number of times in a drive if the heat controller stops to raise the temperature in the second mode; a counter to count a number of the drives; and an agitation controller to set the number of times in the drive based on the number of the drives.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2010Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shinichi ITOH, Norio KOUZU
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Patent number: 7831190Abstract: A cover opening and closing unit for an image forming apparatus, includes a cover removably mounted to a main body of the image forming apparatus mounting therein a developer cartridge, a developing unit, a transferring unit and a waste-developer receptacle, and a locking device fixing the cover to the main body of image forming apparatus. The locking device is released from the main body only after the waste-developer receptacle is removed from the main body.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2008Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Myung-woo Yang
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Publication number: 20100247192Abstract: A developer collection device includes: a collection unit including: a collection container that contains a developer to be collected; an upstream connection part that is formed with an inlet port through which the developer flows in; and a collection conveying part that conveys the developer flown in through the inlet port toward the collection container; and a connection unit including: an upstream connection port that is connected to an upstream conveying path; a connection conveying part that conveys the developer flown in through the upstream connection port in a developer conveying direction; and a connection outlet port that is formed at a downstream end in the developer conveying direction, wherein the connection unit is configured to be movable between an extracted position and a retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2009Publication date: September 30, 2010Inventors: Tadashi ISHIKAWA, Mihoko TANAKA
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Publication number: 20100239341Abstract: A collection device includes: a collection container that collects output material; a storage box that is opened upward to store a lower part of the collection container; and a support member that is fixed to a housing and supports the storage box so that the collection container is stored in the storage box and is freely drawn to the outside of the housing. The collection container includes a handle located frontward in a pulling direction and at an upper part of the collection container. The storage box includes a notch formed in a rear surface in the pulling direction. When the handle of the collection container is pressed backward in the pulling direction, a part of the collection container, which part is located backward in the pulling direction, protrudes from the storage box through the notch, so that the collection container inclines backward in the pulling direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2009Publication date: September 23, 2010Inventors: Mihoko Tanaka, Tomoya Ichikawa, Satoshi Shigezaki, Tatsuya Soga
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Imaging apparatus having particle supply and collection apparatus arranged outside imaging apparatus
Patent number: 7773918Abstract: A particle supply apparatus is disclosed that includes a particle accommodating unit that accommodates particles, a gas spouting unit that is arranged at a bottom portion of the particle accommodating unit and is configured to spout gas toward the particles, a conveying mechanism that applies suction to the particles accommodated in the particle accommodating unit and conveys the particles toward a supply destination, and a gas discharge unit that discharges gas contained within the particle accommodating unit toward an exterior side of the particle accommodating unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2009Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Sano, Hirosato Amano, Keizo Chiba, Tetsuo Noji, Hiroshi Tateishi, Kazuhisa Sudo, Fumihito Itoh -
Patent number: 7764919Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a compact waste toner storage device in which waste toner can be evenly stored. The image forming apparatus includes a waste toner tank to store the waste toner that is collected from a cleaning member to remove the residual waste toner on an image carrying body, and a vibration unit provided inside the waste toner tank to prevent the waste toner from accumulating unevenly. Because the vibration unit is provided inside the waste toner tank, the apparatus can be manufactured compactly. Also, because a coil spring and a stopper are used in the vibration unit, the vibration unit does not take up much space in the waste toner tank. Further, much more waste toner can be stored in the waste toner tank, despite having a same size as a conventional waste toner tank.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2007Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. LtdInventor: Young Taek Lim
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Publication number: 20100158576Abstract: Disclosed are a developing unit and an image forming apparatus having the same. The developing unit includes a first frame and a second frame. The first frame supports thereon a first set of processing members and includes at least one jig hole for mounting to a jig. The second frame supports thereon a second set of processing members. Several connection parts provided in the first and second frames allow assembly of the developing unit that includes a rectilinear movement and a rotational movement of the first and second frames relative to each other during the coupling together of the connection parts so as to couple the first and second frames together. The relative movement in certain direction of the frames may be limited during the relative rotational movement of the frames.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2009Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Sang Hoon Lee, Jong In Kim
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Publication number: 20100143012Abstract: Provided is an imaging device having a wastebin assembly and a hopper assembly. The imaging device includes a photoconductive member mounted within the wastebin assembly and a developer member mounted within the hopper assembly. The wastebin assembly and hopper assembly are connected by a biasing element that pushes the hopper assembly toward the wastebin assembly such that the developer member and the photoconductive member are pushed into contact with each other forming a nip between the two members.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2010Publication date: June 10, 2010Inventor: Steven Miller
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Patent number: 7725070Abstract: A waste toner collecting device includes: a waste toner collecting bag being stretchable; a toner conveyance part fitted with the waste toner collecting bag, and conveying a waste toner and also discharging the waste toner toward the waste toner collecting bag; and a holding member for the waste toner collecting bag, which holding member is attached to a terminal end part of the waste toner collecting bag, is capable of being fitted to the toner conveyance part by holding the waste toner collecting bag between the holding member and the toner conveyance part while folding the waste toner collecting bag more compactly than in a used state, and is attachable to and removable from the toner conveyance part.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2008Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventors: Yasuyuki Fukunaga, Koji Murata
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Patent number: 7720428Abstract: To provide a toner recovery apparatus including: a toner transporting duct; and an endless toner transporting belt; wherein the toner transporting belt is rotated in a loop form in such a way that it descends in a region where the outer circumferential surface faces a ceiling surface of the toner transporting duct and that it rises in a region where the outer circumferential surface of the toner transporting belt faces a bottom surface of the toner transporting duct, the toner recovery apparatus transports the residual toner to the outlet by holding the toner by the convex parts, spaces formed between convex parts and the bottom surface of the toner transporting duct, and the toner comprises a binding resin, releasing agent, coloring material and external additive, and torque T (mNm) measured by torque measurement method using a conical rotor in a space ratio of 50% to 60% is 1.0 to 2.5.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2008Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Masayuki Hagi, Yoshihiro Mikuriya, Yoshitaka Sekiguchi, Hideaki Yasunaga, Hiroaki Kato, Kazuoki Fuwa, Masahide Inoue, Yoshiyuki Shimizu
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Publication number: 20100119271Abstract: A storage container includes: a container body that is detachably disposed on a predetermined container receiver, wherein powder to be supplied or recovered powder is stored in the container body; and a powder driving transmitting mechanism that is disposed in the container body, and that transmits a transportable driving force to the powder to be supplied or recovered powder, and, when the container body is mounted on the container receiver, the powder driving transmitting mechanism couples a powder conveying mechanism that is disposed on a side of the container receiver, and that, outside the container body, conveys the powder to be supplied or recovered powder, with a driving mechanism that is disposed on a side of the container receiver, and that drives the powder conveying mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2009Publication date: May 13, 2010Inventor: Takashi AKAIKE
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Publication number: 20100111582Abstract: A powder material recovery container includes: a container main body that accommodates a powder material; a conveying member that is arranged with a part existing at least in an intermediate position of a dropping movement of the powder material and rotates to convey it, the conveying member having a conveying part that conveys the powder material around a central line of rotation; and a moving passage surface arranged in a lower part of the part existing at least in the intermediate position, and opposed to one part of the conveying member and move it by a conveying force, wherein the moving passage surface has upper end parts of side surfaces opposed to each other with respect to the central line that are formed with relatively different heights, and the relatively lower upper end part is formed with height not higher than a height of the central line.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2009Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventors: Koji Nishimura, Kanji Watanabe, Hideaki Oike, Kazuhiro Yoshihara, Tsuneo Fukuzawa
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Patent number: 7702248Abstract: A powder container is configured to be installed in a substantially horizontal manner in an apparatus in which the powder container is used. A powder inlet is provided, through which a powder enters into the powder container. A powder detecting unit includes a powder detector for detecting a full of the powder. A powder conveying unit is provided between the powder inlet and the powder detecting unit. A space between the powder inlet and the powder detecting unit is divided into a plurality of areas.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2006Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Tomoya Adachi, Tomofumi Inoue, Takafumi Miyazaki
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Publication number: 20100086337Abstract: In a waste toner cartridge processing equipment (100) including a crushing means (303) for crushing a waste toner cartridge (101) and extracting various materials (106 to 108) constituting the waste toner cartridge, the crushing means (303) performs crushing while spraying water (104).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2009Publication date: April 8, 2010Inventor: Yoshimitsu SABE
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Publication number: 20100080600Abstract: A collection container for collecting and containing waste toner includes a leveling member, a detector, and at least one inlet. The leveling member levels the waste toner contained in the collection container. The detector detects an amount of the waste toner contained in the collection container. The leveling member levels the waste toner delivered to the collection container through the at least one inlet by conveying the waste toner simultaneously in a first direction toward the detector and a second direction opposite to the first direction, starting from an origination position corresponding to the at least one inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2009Publication date: April 1, 2010Inventors: Michiya Okamoto, Hiroyuki Nagashima, Fumihito Itoh, Hiroshi Ono, Ken Amemiya, Masahiko Shakuto, Toshio Koike, Yuji Arai, Kaoru Yoshino, Takuma Iwasaki
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Publication number: 20100074666Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a high toner containing efficiency of a waste toner-collecting container is provided. Piled toner is broken by an vibrating imparting operation and at the same time, a toner feeding member such as a feeding screw disposed inside the toner-collecting container is rotated by changing a reciprocating operation by the vibrating impartment to a rotational operation in a direction. As a result, the piled toner which cannot be completely broken by the vibrating imparting operation is broken and fed, so that driving noise is reduced and the toner containing efficiency is improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2009Publication date: March 25, 2010Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Toshihiko KUDO
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Publication number: 20100067934Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part to form an image by injecting a liquid. A waste liquid tank is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus to store a waste liquid discharged from the image forming part. The waste liquid tank has a memory element to store identification information A and waste liquid amount information B. A memory unit stores identification information C and waste liquid amount information D. A control unit determines a current amount of the waste liquid currently retained in the waste liquid tank at a predetermined timing in accordance with the identification information A and the waste liquid amount information B stored in the memory element and the identification information C and the waste liquid amount information D stored in the memory unit, and updates the current amount of the waste liquid in accordance with a subsequent operation of the image forming part.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2009Publication date: March 18, 2010Inventors: Yasumasa Mihara, Seiichi Kogure
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Publication number: 20100061742Abstract: An image forming apparatus including cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) developing units using a C developer, a M developer, a Y developer, and a K developer, respectively; at least one auxiliary developing unit using a developer other than the C, M, Y, and K developers; a plurality of photosensitive media formed in the C, M, Y, and K developing units and the auxiliary developing unit, respectively; a plurality of cleaning members formed in the C, M, Y, and K developing units and the auxiliary developing unit, respectively, so as to clean surfaces of the plurality of photosensitive media; and waste developer storage units formed in the C, M, Y, and K developing units and the auxiliary developing unit, respectively, so as to collect waste developer cleaned by the plurality of cleaning members.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2009Publication date: March 11, 2010Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., LtdInventors: Young-min KIM, Su-in Lee
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Patent number: 7672627Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an intermediate transfer body; a plurality of image forming portions; a secondary transfer unit; a recording medium accommodating container; a waste toner accommodating container; a first electrical part; and a second electrical part.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2008Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shiroh Suzuki, Tetsuo Ishizuka, Fumio Furusawa, Osamu Uto
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Publication number: 20100046999Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of reducing a space required to install a transfer unit to achieve a compact body size. The image forming apparatus can include a body, a frame installed in the body, a transfer unit installed inside the frame, and a waste toner recovery device to recover waste toner collected from the transfer unit. The waste toner recovery device can include a first delivery unit to deliver the waste toner in a first direction, and a second delivery unit to deliver the waste toner, delivered from the first delivery unit, in a second direction. The second delivery unit can be movably installed to the frame and can be coupled to or detached from the first delivery unit via movement thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2009Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., LtdInventors: Jun Ho LEE, Myoung Sub Jang, Jeong Yong Ju, Byeong Hwa Ahn
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Patent number: 7634221Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a high toner containing efficiency of a waste toner-collecting container is provided. Piled toner is broken by an vibrating imparting operation and at the same time, a toner feeding member such as a feeding screw disposed inside the toner-collecting container is rotated by changing a reciprocating operation by the vibrating impartment to a rotational operation in a direction. As a result, the piled toner which cannot be completely broken by the vibrating imparting operation is broken and fed, so that driving noise is reduced and the toner containing efficiency is improved.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2007Date of Patent: December 15, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshihiko Kudo
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Patent number: 7630679Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a cleaner, and a toner container. The image carrier carries a toner image to be transferred onto a sheet. The cleaner collects toner remaining on a surface of the image carrier after the toner image formed on the image carrier is transferred onto the sheet. The toner container stores the toner collected by the cleaner. In the toner container, the rotating member is provided in the container containing the toner. A rotating shaft of the rotating member penetrates a wall of the container and extends to an outside of the container. The contact portion is provided in the wall of the container, and is slidably contacted by the rotating shaft. The seal member is provided on an outer surface of the wall of the container, and seals the contact portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2007Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventor: Takaaki Tawada
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Patent number: 7627280Abstract: A developer transporting apparatus includes: a drop path; a developer transporting path; a developer transporting member; and an aggregation preventing member including: a contact portion that is in contact with the developer transporting member, and that moves in conjunction with the rotation of the developer transporting member; and a developer scrub-off portion that is disposed between an inner wall surface of the developer transporting path and the developer transporting member, and that moves along the inner wall surface in conjunction with the movement of the contact portion, at least part of the aggregation preventing member being disposed at a connecting portion between the drop path and the developer transporting path to prevent the aggregation of the developer to the inner wall surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2007Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tomonori Sato
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Patent number: 7620358Abstract: A developer collecting apparatus includes a positioning frame for determining a mounting position of a photoreceptor onto a casing; a waste developer container in which waste developer eliminated by cleaning section is stored; and a container mounting section for mounting the waste developer container so as to be removable from the positioning frame and holding the waste developer container so as to be angularly displaceable with respect to the positioning frame. Further, the container mounting section includes a container holding member that is disposed so as to be angularly displaceable with respect to the positioning frame, for holding the waste developer container; a cam member disposed so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the container holding member is angularly displaced; and an elastic member for biasing the cam member to the container holding member with an elastic force.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2006Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideaki Kadowaki, Susumu Murakami
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Patent number: 7613407Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a waste toner system that collects waste toner in a waste toner container. An amount of waste toner collected in the container is increased by using a driven toner distributing member that distributes accumulated toner within the container. The toner distributing member may be driven by a shared speed-controlled motor that further drives an image forming process member. The waste toner system may detect the accumulation of waste toner by monitoring a drive control circuit while the toner distributing member is being driven. For example, a logic circuit may detect the accumulation of waste toner based on monitoring a predetermined frequency of interest of a frequency domain transform of a motor control signal, the frequency of interest associated with the shared motor driving the toner distributing member.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2006Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Inventors: Michael William Craig, Steven Michael Turney, Danny Keith Chapman
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Publication number: 20090269111Abstract: A waste-toner collection system includes a waste toner container that accumulate waste toner from a transport section. A tray has an upward opening for replacing the waste toner container and can be movable between a retracted position where the tray has been pushed horizontally into the apparatus body from a first side of the apparatus body, and a drawn-out position where the tray has been drawn horizontally out of the apparatus body from the first side, while holding the waste toner container. The waste toner container can be set in a collection position corresponding to the retracted position of the tray for allowing the waste toner container to receive waste toner discharged from the transport section, and a replacement position corresponding to the drawn-out position of the holder tray for allowing replacement to be performed through the container-replacement opening from above the tray.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2009Publication date: October 29, 2009Applicant: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventors: Yasuyuki Fukunaga, Mitsuhiro Goda
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Publication number: 20090269112Abstract: Disclosed is a waste toner container for collecting waste toner removed from an image bearing member. The waste toner container includes a receiving section adapted to introduce the waste toner from an inlet port provided in an upper region thereof, and receive therein the waste toner dropped down through the inlet port, an accumulation section arranged to extend from the receiving section in a lateral direction approximately perpendicular to a dropping direction of the waste toner and rotatably coupled to the receiving section, and a rotary member adapted to allow for rotation of the accumulation section.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2009Publication date: October 29, 2009Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATIONInventors: Yasuyuki Fukunaga, Shinobu Oohata
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Patent number: 7606523Abstract: An apparatus for image formation includes a slider, rotatable members, elastic members, and a waste toner box. The slider is supported by the main body of the apparatus and can reciprocate in the outward direction from the inside of the body to one side of the body and the inward direction opposite to the outward direction. The rotatable members are arranged in the outward and inward directions over the slider. Each of the elastic members biases one of the rotatable members upward relative to the slider. The rotatable members support the waste toner box, which has an inlet for connection to the bottom of the outlet. The box inlet is formed at the end of the waste toner box that is upstream in the outward direction. The elastic member most upstream of all the elastic members in the outward direction is the greatest in biasing force of all the elastic members.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2007Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takashi Kubo
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Publication number: 20090257799Abstract: A powder container includes a first container to contain powder falling from an opening located in an upper portion of the powder container, a second container that contains the powder and is located in the first container, on a route through which the powder that falls from the opening, a powder transport mechanism to transport the powder from the first container to the second container, and a detection mechanism to detect whether or not the first container is completely or nearly filled with the powder based on a load to the powder transport mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2009Publication date: October 15, 2009Inventors: Katsuhito HARUNO, Masaharu FURUYA, Takuya SEKINE, Masakazu IMAI
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Patent number: 7603056Abstract: An image forming device includes: a main unit case; a process unit; a belt unit; a belt; a belt cleaning unit; a storing unit; and a duct unit. The process unit is configured to be attached to and detached from the main unit case. The belt unit is configured to displace between an opposed position and an opened position. The belt unit in the opposed position is opposed to the process unit. The belt unit in the opened position allows the process unit to be exposed in the direction of removing the process unit from the main unit case. The belt is provided on the belt unit and is rotatingly driven. The belt cleaning unit is fixedly attached to the belt unit and removes material adhered to the belt. The storing unit is fixedly attached to the main unit case and stores therein the material removed from the belt by the belt cleaning unit. The duct unit has a conveying path in fluid communication with the belt cleaning unit and the storing unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2006Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Naoya Kamimura
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Patent number: 7599633Abstract: A dust container includes a container body, an inlet, a dust detector, and a dust-conveying unit. The dust-conveying unit conveys the dust from the inlet to the interior of the container body. The dust-conveying unit includes a plurality of conveying members that are arranged at different positions in the dust conveying unit. A direction in which the dust is conveyed and an amount of the dust conveyed by at least one of the conveying members is different from those of the other conveying members. As the dust accumulates in the container body, the dust detector detects whether the container body is substantially full with the dust.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2006Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Tomofumi Inoue, Takafumi Miyazaki, Tomoya Adachi, Takeshi Sakashita, Yuuji Meguro, Takeru Muramatsu, Kohji Hatayama
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Patent number: 7596337Abstract: A cleaner unit includes a cleaner roller, a cleaner shaft, a blade, a toner container, and a toner squeeze pump. The cleaner roller collects toner adhered to a surface of a belt to a surface of the cleaner roller. The cleaner shaft collects the toner adhered to the surface of the cleaner roller to a surface of the cleaner shaft. The blade scrapes off the toner adhered to the surface of the cleaner shaft. The toner squeeze pump delivers the toner scraped off by the blade toward an opening of a storage space and compresses the toner stored in the storage space. A part of a bottom wall of the toner container which continues from the opening extends in a substantially horizontal direction, when the cleaner unit is attached to an image forming apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Atsushi Sato
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Publication number: 20090232559Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning member for removing developer attached to a developer attaching member; a rotation carrying member which is rotatably configured to carry the developer that is removed by the cleaning member; a housing member for housing the developer that is removed by the cleaning member and configured as a part of a developer housing part that surrounds the rotation carrying member; and an elastic member arranged to contact a periphery of the rotation carrying member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2009Publication date: September 17, 2009Applicant: OKI Data CorporationInventor: Junichi Ushikubo
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Publication number: 20090214257Abstract: A developing unit includes a developer cartridge containing developer and a developing cartridge with a developing cartridge body comprising a mounting portion and a cover member. The mounting portion accepts the developer cartridge for replenishing developer consumed by the developing cartridge. The cover member closes an opening of the mounting portion when the developer cartridge is not inserted into the mounting portion. When a developing unit is initially constructed, printing is performed using developer contained in the developing unit. A developer cartridge containing developer can be inserted into the developing unit, allowing the supply of developer in the developing unit to be replenished.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2008Publication date: August 27, 2009Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Dae-seob KWEON, Joo-Hwan Noh, Jong-Moon Eun, Jean-Man Sur
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Publication number: 20090214277Abstract: A developer storage device and an image forming apparatus having the same include a developer storage part including a first storage part and a second storage part having widths different from each other, and a first developer conveying member to convey a developer stored in the first storage part to the second storage part in a diagonal direction. The first developer conveying member includes conveying elements extended slantingly with respect to a width direction of the developer storage part. An angle between the conveying elements and the width direction of the developer storage part is determined depending on relative positions of the first storage part and the second storage part. Accordingly, the developer storage device can effectively convey a developer by designing the developer conveying member adequately for an overall shape or structure of the developer storage device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2008Publication date: August 27, 2009Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., LtdInventors: In Cheol JEON, Yong Sung KIM, Sung Gi KIM
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Publication number: 20090196666Abstract: A technique is provided which allows an agitation paddle, which flattens waste toner in a waste toner container, to rotate at a sufficiently low rotation speed and contributing to a decrease in cost with the saving of space and a simple configuration. A waste toner recovering mechanism includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member, a linking member, and a one-way clutch which is disposed between an agitation paddle and the second rotating member and which transmits only a rotational driving force from the second rotating member rotating in a first rotation direction to the agitation paddle. Here, the support positions of the linking member relative to the first and second rotating members and the length of the linking member are set so that a rotation angle range of the second rotating member while the first rotating member rotates in one turn is narrower than 180°.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2009Publication date: August 6, 2009Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akihiro WASAI
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Patent number: 7555231Abstract: A capacitive sensor to detect toner volume levels in a toner container within an image forming device includes opposed electrodes disposed within the interior of the toner container. The opposed electrodes form a capacitor characterized by an inherent capacitance that varies in response to an amount of toner that exists between the opposed electrodes. A corresponding sensor circuit is electrically coupled to the opposed electrodes and adapted to sense an instantaneous capacitance of the capacitor to determine the amount of toner that exists between the opposed electrodes. The opposed electrodes may have different shapes and configurations, including for example, plates disposed within the toner container or the interior walls of the container itself. The sensor circuit is configured to apply an alternating current signal to the opposed electrodes and sense an output voltage that is indicative of an instantaneous capacitance of the capacitor corresponding to toner volume within the container.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2006Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Paul Etter, Kerry Leland Embry, Raymond Jay Barry, Richard G. Boyatt, III
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Patent number: 7555255Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes image forming device for forming a toner image on a recording material, a residual toner collecting container detachably provided on a main body of said image forming apparatus and adapted to collect residual toner discharged from said image forming means, said residual toner collecting container being capable of collecting the residual toner through an opening at a side of said container, and regulation means for preventing said containing container from being attached onto or removed from the main body of said image forming apparatus until the opening of said collecting container is directed upwardly in a gravitational direction and an inclined angle of said collecting container exceeds a set angle. It can prevent from flowing out through the opening more positively.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2008Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shinichi Onodera
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Publication number: 20090142116Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of photosensitive members; at least one retaining member configured to temporarily retain remaining developer remaining on a corresponding photosensitive member; a belt arranged opposite to the plurality of photosensitive members; a cleaning device configured to collect developer on the belt; a remaining developer collecting unit configured to cause the remaining developer retained by the retaining member to be transferred onto the belt via the photosensitive member and thereafter to be collected by the cleaning device; and a plurality of developing devices each including a development chamber in which is provided a developing roller for supplying developer to the corresponding photosensitive member, and a developer storage chamber arranged above the development chamber and configured to store developer. Each development device includes a circulation mechanism configured to circulate developer between the development chamber and the developer storage chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2008Publication date: June 4, 2009Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shougo SATO, Susumu Sakuma
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Patent number: 7542700Abstract: An image forming process module is provided having an integrated photoreceptor unit and development unit, and an image forming apparatus having the same. The image forming process module includes a photoreceptor unit having at least one photoreceptor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. A development unit is installed around the outer surface of the photoreceptor and having a plurality of development assemblies for developing the latent image, thereby forming a visual image. A fixing frame is detachably installed to a main body of an image forming apparatus for fixing the photoreceptor unit and the development unit to be integrated into a single module. The image forming process module has the enhanced assembly and replacement efficiencies because the photoreceptor unit and the development unit are simultaneously installed to and uninstalled from a main body of an image forming apparatus as a single module.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2006Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ho-dong Kim, Hae-seog Jo
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Patent number: 7542714Abstract: A used toner collecting device for an image forming apparatus includes a used toner receiver for receiving used toner remaining on a surface of a photoconductive medium, a used toner conveying member for conveying the used toner received in the used toner receiver, and a used toner receptacle for storing the used toner conveyed by the used toner conveying member. The used toner conveying member includes a used toner conveying auger mounted in the used toner receiver along a lengthwise direction of the used toner receiver, a casing disposed between the used toner receiver and the used toner receptacle, and a used toner conveying belt running in the casing. The used toner conveying belt has projecting wings arranged at intervals on an outer surface of the belt. At least one of the projecting wings comprises a projecting rib.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2006Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yong-sung Kim, Jeong-hun Pang, Hae-seog Jo
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Patent number: 7539452Abstract: A waste toner collecting apparatus of the present invention reliably prevents waste toner from spilling when replacing the waste toner box by opening the front cover of an image forming apparatus as the first through fifth shutters close the respective waste toner conveyance end sections. The first through fifth shutters are locked when no waste toner box is mounted in the image forming apparatus. The first through fifth shutters are unlocked when a waste toner box is mounted in the image forming apparatus. It can reliably prevent an operation error of operating the image forming section with the waste toner conveyance end sections left in an open state as the stay of the cover presses the first through fifth shutters when a waste toner box is not mounted.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2007Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tsutomu Sato, Masayuki Kasukawa
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Publication number: 20090123189Abstract: A waste developer collecting device comprising: a collecting container; a collecting opening; a conveying unit; a filter; a partition wall; and an air inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2008Publication date: May 14, 2009Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Yukihiro Ichiki, Junichiro Sameshima, Shigeru Tanaka, Tomokazu Kurita
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Patent number: 7526236Abstract: A waste developer collecting device included in a color tandem image forming apparatus which forms an image using K (black), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) developers includes a collecting container which can be attached to a developing device storing the C developer, a developing device storing the M developer, and a developing device storing the Y developer at the same time and which collects the C, M, and Y developers discharged from the respective developing devices. With this, it is possible to efficiently discharge and collect the developers.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2006Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Kubota, Yasuyuki Ishiguro, Koichi Mihara
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Publication number: 20090092429Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a cassette configured to accommodate printing sheets, a casing of the image forming apparatus, a belt member which circularly moves inside the casing, a cleaning device configured to remove particles adhering on the belt member, and a collection box in which the particles removed by the cleaning unit is collected. The casing has a cassette accommodating section for accommodating the cassette, a box accommodating section defined inside the casing and communicating with the cassette accommodating section and an opening formed on the casing and communicating with the cassette accommodating section. The cassette is removably installable into the cassette accommodating section through the opening, and the collection box is detached from or inserted in the box accommodating section through the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2008Publication date: April 9, 2009Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Eiji YOKOTA