Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02241025 1998-08-11
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This application is a division of co-pending
Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 2,068,358
entitled "Developer Replenishing Cartridge and Developer
Receiving Apparatus Within Which Such Cartridge is
Mounted", filed May 11, 1992.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The~present invention relates to a developer
receiving apparatus used with an image forming system
such as an electrophotographic copying machine,
electrophotographic printer and the like which can
form an image by developing an electrostatic latent
image by powder developer, and a developer replenishing
cartridge removably mountable within the developer
receiving apparatus.
Related Background Art
A developer replenishing cartridge wherein a
flexible film is peelably adhered to a developer
container to seal a developer supply opening of the
container is disclosed in U.S~ Patent 4,981,218.
When the developer is replenished in a developer
receiving apparatus, the flexible film is peeled from
the container.
In such an arrangement, if the film is peeled
from the container before the cartridge is completely
mounted within the developer receiving apparatus, it
is feared that the developer is scattered around
there. Further, in the above arrangement, it is
CA 02241025 2001-02-26
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necessary to open a developer passing opening (developer
receiving opening) of the developer receiving apparatus
before the cartridge is mounted within the apparatus.
However, if do so, it i~c feared that any foreign matters
may drop into the apparatus through the opening.
The Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-38673
(published August 25, 1982) discloses a mechanism wherein
sliding lids are provided on both a developer
replenishing cartridge and on a developer receiving
apparatus and the sliding lids are shifted in synchronous
with each ot~~er.
U.S. Patent 4,491,161 discloses a developer
replenishing cartridge wherein a developer supply opening
of the cart ridge is sealed by a flexible film and a slide
lid. The developer supply opening of the cartridge is
opened in synchronous with the movement of a lid of a
developer receiving apparatus. This arrangement not only
provides the convenience similar to that of the Japanese
Utility Mode:1 Publica~ion No. 57-38673, but also provides
the sealing ability superior to that of the Japanese
Utility Mode:1 Publication No. 57-38673.
However, in this arrangement, when the lid of the
developer receiving apparatus is being opened, the
developer adhered to ~he film of the cartridge is
likely to adhere to the lid. Further, it is feared
that an operator removes the cartridge from the
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1 developer receiving apparatus before the lid of the
developer receiving apparatus is completely closed.
If do so, the apparatus will be damaged or the developer
will be scattered around there. Further, if the
developer is replenished into the developer receiving
apparatus in which a substantial amount of developer
still remains, the excessive amount of developer will
be loaded in the developer receiving apparatus or the
developer will overflow out of the developer receiving
apparatus, thus making the closing of the lid
difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide
a developer replenishing cartridge and a developer
receiving apparatus, which can prevent the developer
from being scattered around there.
Another object of the present invention is to
provide a developer replenishing cartridge and a
developer receiving apparatus, which have the easy
operability.
The other objects and features of the present
invention will be apparent from the following
descriptions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is an elevational sectional view of
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1 an electrophotographic system to which the present
invention is applicable;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a developer
replenishing cartridge and a developer receiving
container;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line
A - A of Fig. 2 showing the cartridge mounted on the
container in place;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line
B - B of Fig. 2 showing the cartridge mounted on the
container in place;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a condition
that a lid of the developer receiving container is
opened;
Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a condition
that a seal sheet of the developer replenishing
cartridge is being removed;
Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing a condition
that the removal of the seal sheet is completed;
Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing a condition
that the lid is being closed;
Fig. 9 is a sectTOnal view showing a condition
that the closing of the lid is completed;
Figs. 10A, lOB and lOC are views for explaining
a locking mechanism;
Figs. 11A and 11B are views for explaining a
cartridge lifting and rocking mechanism;
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1 Figs. 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D are views for
explaining a slide biasing mechanism for the lid;
Figs. 13A, 13B and 13C are views showing
another example of a locking mechanism;
Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 17 are sectional views
showing an example of a buffer chamber;
Figs. 18, 19, 20 and 21 are sectional views
showing another example of a buffer chamber;
Fig. 22 is a perspective view for explaining a
width of the seal sheet; and
Fig. 23 is a sectional view for explaining a
configuration of a gripper.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In Fig. 1, an electrophotographic image forming
system 50 includes an electrophotographic photosensitive
member 51 rotated in a direction shown by the arrow.
The photosensitive member 51 is firstly charged by a
charger 52 and then is illuminated with recording image
light by an exposure device 53, thereby forming an
electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive
member. The electrostatic latent image is developed
by a developing unit 54. The developing unit 54 has a
developing roller 55 which is rotated in a direction
shown by the arrow and by which developer D is fed to
and applied onto the electrostatic latent image.
A developer image so formed is transferred onto
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1 a transfer sheet 57 by means of a transfer charger 56
and then is permanently fixed to the transfer sheet 57
by means of a fixing device 58. After the transferring
operation, the photosensitive member 51 is cleaned by
a cleaning device 59.
In order to compensate for the developer consumed
by the developing unit 54, the developer D is supplied
to the developing unit 54 from the developer storage
container (hopper) 1 of a developer receiving apparatus
via a convey device 60 such as a screw conveyor. When
an amount of the developer D in the container 1 is
decreased below a permissible amount, an operator must
replenish new developer from a developer replenishing
cartridge into the container 1.
Next, the developer replenishing cartridge and
the developer receiving apparatus will be fully
explained.
In Figs. 2, 3 and 4, an upper opening 100 of the
container 1 (i.e., an opening 100 through which the
2p developer discharged from a developer replenishing
cartridge 3 can drop into the container 1) is closed and
opened by a lid 2 supported by guide grooves lb formed in
flange portions of the container 1 for sliding movement
in a direction shown by the arrow O and an opposite
direction shown~by the arrow C. Further, on an upper
surface of the container 1, there are formed a recessed
portion 14 for receiving a protruded portion 3b of the
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1 cartridge 3, and a guide la for guiding the insertion
of the protruded portion into the recessed portion.
Incidentally, an elongated slot 21 extending in the
sliding direction is formed on an upper surface of the
lid 2.
On the other hand, a proper amount of
replenishing developer D is housed in a container 3a
of the developer replenishing cartridge 3, and a
developer supply opening 30 of the cartridge is
covered or closed by a slide lid 4 slidably guided by
guide grooves 32 formed in flange portions of the
container 3a for movement in the direction O and the
opposite direction C. Incidentally, a projection 41
is formed on the slide lid 4 at an end of the lid
in a push-in {slide closing) direction C, which
projection is adapted to be hooked by an end portion
22 (in the push-in or slide closing direction C) of
the lid 2. Further, a thin cavity 42 having openings
on both ends thereof (in the sliding direction) is
formed in the slide lid 4. That is to say, the
slide lid 4 integrally includes a first plate member
43 and a second opposed plate member 44 via the
cavity 42.
Further, a film {flexible seal sheet) 5 made
of synthetic resin and the like is peelably adhered, for
example, by heat welding, to a peripheral edge surface
31 defining a lower opening of the container 3a in such
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1 a manner that the seal sheet can prevent the leak of
the developer D. When the seal sheet 5 is developed
in the sliding direction, a total length of the sheet
is selected to have a value greater, by twice or more,
than a length of the supply opening 30 along a sheet
peeling direction. The remaining portion 52 of the
sheet 5 which is not adhered to the peripheral edge
surface 31 is folded back and is passed through the
inner cavity 42 of the slide lid 4 and is firmly
secured to a gripper 6 (which is grasped by the
operator when he wants to peel the seal sheet from
the opening) at a position 61 where the seal sheet 5
does not protrude from the cartridge 3.
That is to say, the first sheet portion 51
adhered to the peripheral edge surface 31, 31'
seals the supply opening 30 to prevent the leak of
the developer in the container 3a. On the other hand,
the second sheet portion 52 folded back toward the
direction O is connected to the gripper 6 so that,
when the second sheet portion 52 is pulled toward the
direction C by pulling the gripper 6 (by the operator),
the first sheet portion 51 is peeled from the peripheral
edge surface 31 of the container 3a, thus opening the
supply opening 30. Incidentally, the rear end portion
31' (in the peeling direction) of the sheet is not
separated from the container 3a.
The sheet pulling gripper 6 can be pulled out
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1 by the shifting movement of the lid 2 and is fixed to
the flange portions of the container 3a, for example,
by pinching, clipping or meshing means before the
cartridge 3 is mounted on the container 1. Further,
the gripper 6 has a projection 62 which is adapted to
engage by a rear end 23 (in a pull-out or slide
opening direction O) of the elongated slot 21 of the
lid 2 to disengage or pull out the gripper from the
container 3a.
In this way, although the gripper 6 is
disengaged from the container 3a by engaging with the
rear end wall 23 immediately before the sliding of the
lid 2 in the direction O is completed, the length of
the second sheet portion 52 is selected so that the
shock caused when the gripper 6 is disengaged from the
container 3a by the shifting movement of the lid 2 is
not transmitted to the first sheet portion 51. That
is to say, the second sheet portion 52 has the surplus
length, and, when the gripper 6 is attached to the
container 3a, the surplus length of the second sheet
portion 52 is housed within the cavity in the slide lid
4 in the folded condition not to protrude from the
cartridge 3.
By the way, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, it is
desirable that the dimensional relation between the
supply opening 30 of the developer replenishing
cartridge 3 and the opening 100 of the developer
,, CA 02241025 1998-08-11
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1 receiving container 1 is so selected that a dimension K1
is greater than a dimension K2 and a dimension Wl is
greater than a dimension W2, that is, the opening 100
of the developer receiving container 1 is sufficiently
greater than the supply opening 30 of the cartridge 3,
because the guide grooves for the lid 4 of the container
3a and the lid 2 of the developer receiving container 1
are prevented from being smeared by the scattered
developer when the developer is supplied from the
cartridge to the developer receiving container.
Further, preferably, the peripheral edge
surface 31 of the container 3a to which the seal sheet
5 is adhered has a step with respect to a sliding plane
32 for the slide lid 4 not to squeeze or compress the
seal sheet 5 for permitting the smooth movement of the
sheet.
Next, the opening/closing of the supply opening
30 of the cartridge 3 and the developer passing opening
100 of the container 1 will be explained with reference
to Figs. 5 to 8.
In a condition, as shown in Fig. 3, that the
developer replenishing cartridge 3 is mounted on the
developer receiving apparatus in place, i.e., in a
condition that the lid 2 is opposed to the slide lid 4,
the operator pulls the lid 2 in the direction O via a
grip 2a of the lid 2. As a result, the opening 100 of
the developer receiving apparatus is opened.
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1 Immediately before the lid 2 opens the opening
100 of the developer receiving container 1 completely,
the rear end wall 23 of the elongated slot 21 formed
in the lid 2 is engaged by the projection 62 of the
sheet pulling gripper 6, thus starting the disengagement
of the gripper 6 from the container 3a through the
shifting movement of the lid 2 in the direction O.
When the lid 2 opens the opening 100 completely, as
shown in Fig. 5, the gripper 6 is disengaged from the
container 3a, with the result that the operator can
easily pull the gripper.
In this condition, the supply opening 30 of the
container 3a is still closed, and, thus, the developer
is not yet supplied to the container 1.
Then, from this condition, when the operator
pulls the seal sheet 5 in a direction shown by the
arrow in Fig. 6 via the gripper 6, the seal sheet is
shifted in the direction 0 within the cavity 42 while
being guided by the plate members 43, 44 of the slide
lid 4, with the result that the portion of the sheet
5 adhered to the peripheral edge surface 31 of the
container 3a is gradually peeled from the folded position
along the direction O. In this way, the folded position
is gradually shifted in the direction O, as shown in
Fig. 6. At the folded position 53, since the seal
sheet 5 is engaged by a portion of the slide lid 4
(more particuarly, a rear end of the plate member 43
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1 in the direction 0, or a leading end in the direction C),
according to the principle of a so-called "dynamic
pulley block", the slide lid 4 is urged by the sheet 5
to be shifted in the direction O together with the
second sheet portion 52.
In this way, the supply opening 30 of the
container 3a begins to be opened, and the developer D
starts to be dropped from the cartridge container 3a
into the developer receiving container l, as shown by
the arrow F.
Fig. 7 shows a condition that the supply opening
30 of the cartridge container 3a is completely opened.
In this condition, the slide lid 4 is opposed to the
lid 2 again. Incidentally, in this case, the seal
sheet 5 is still secured to the container 3a at the
position 31', and the sheet 5 is not completely
separated from the container 3a.
When the replenishment of the developer into
the developer receiving container 1 is completed, the
operator pushes the grip 2a of the lid 2 toward the
direction C. Consequently, the lid 2 is shifted
toward the direction C to close the opening 100.
Immediately after the lid 2 starts to be slidingly
shifted toward the direction C, an engagement portion
22 provided at an leading end (in the direction C) of
the lid 2 is abutted against a projection 41 of the
slide lid 4. As a result, the slide lid 4 is subjected
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1 to the shifting force from the lid 2 and starts to
shift in the direction C together with the lid 2.
The seal sheet 5 remains to be secured to the
container 3a at 31', and, since the sheet is engaged
by the slide lid 4 at the folded position as mentioned
above, when the slide lid 4 is shifted in the direction
C, the sheet 5 is subjected to the shifting force from
the slide lid 4 and starts to shift in a direction C
opposite to the above-mentioned direction to start to
close the opening 30 again. The sheet portion
pulled out of the cavity 42 of the slide lid 4 starts
to be re-entered into the cavity 42. In this way, the
opening 30 of the container 3a is closed.
In this case, as shown in Fig. 7, even when
the developer D protrudes from the opening 100, since
the lids 2, 4 are engaged by each other at the leading
ends thereof in the push-in or slide closing direction,
the developer does not enter between the lids 2, 4 and
is leveled by the lids .
When the opening 100 of the container 1 is
completely closed by the lid 2 and the supply opening
of the container 3a is completely closed by the
slide lid 4, as shown in Fig. 9, a part of the seal
sheet 5 and the sheet pulling gripper 6 are maintained
25 in a condition that they slightly protrude from the
cartridge 3. In this condition, the lids 2, 4 are
opposed to each other again.
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1 As shown in Fig. 5, the operator is permitted to
access the sheet pulling gripper 6 only when the opening
100 of the developer receiving container 1 and the
gripper 6 is disengaged from the cartridge 3.
Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the accident
regarding the scattering of the developer caused when
the cartridge is unsealed while closing the lid 2.
Further, as shown in Fig. 8, the slide lid 4 of
the cartridge 3 is closed in synchronous with the
closing movement of the lid 2 of the developer
receiving apparatus. Accordingly, it is possible to
prevent the accident regarding the scattering of the
residual developer from the cartridge 3 as caused when
the cartridge 3 is dismounted from the developer
receiving apparatus while not closing the cartridge
with the lid 4.
Further, since the seal sheet 5 of the
cartridge 3 is protected by the slide lid 4, it is
possible to prevent the accident regarding the
scattering of the developer as caused when the sheet
is teared or damaged.
Further, when the cartridge is opened or
unsealed, since the first sheet portion 51 which was
contacted with the developer in the container 3a is
retracted into the cavity 42 of the slide lid 4, it
is possible to prevent the scattering of the developer
adhered to the first sheet portion 51. That is to say,
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1 when the sheet 5 is pulled out (Fig. 6), when the
pulling of the sheet is completed (Fig. 7), when the
sheet is retracted (Fig. 8) and when the retraction
of the sheet is completed (Fig. 9), the upper surface
(surface exposed out of the apparatus) of the lid 2 of
the developer receiving container 1 is shielded from
the sheet surface to which the developer is adhered, by
the plate member 44 of the lid 4, whereby the upper
surface of the lid 2 is not smeared by the developer
adhered to the sheet surface. Further, in the conditions
shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, since the sheet portion to
which the developer is adhered is covered by the plate
member 43 of the lid 4 not to be exposed externally,
even if the operator inadvertently accesses to such
sheet portion, the operator is not smeared with the
developer.
In addition, since the seal sheet 5 is not
separated from the cartridge 3 completely and can be
removed from the developer receiving apparatus together
with the container 3a and the lid 4 after the cartridge
container 3a is closed by the lid 4 and the sheet, the
handling of the disused sheet can be facilitated.
Next, a locking mechanism will be explained.
When the developer is replenished into the
developer receiving container 1, first of all, the
developer replenishing cartridge 3 is mounted on the
developer receiving container 1 in place, as shown in
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1 Fig. 3. That is to say, the cartridge container 3a
is rested on the container 1 while inserting a
protruded portion 3b of the container 3a into the
recessed portion 14 of the container 1. The protruded
portion 3b of the container 3a is regulated by the
guide la so as not to shift upwardly. In this
condition, the cartridge 3 can be pivoted around the
protruded portion 3b.
Locking mechanisms 7 are provided on the developer
receiving container 1 at position 101. Each locking
mechanism 7 includes integral locking pawls 71, 73
which are pivotally mounted on a shaft 74 attached to
the container 1. A leaf spring 9 urges a portion 72 of
the pawl 71 upwardly so that the pawls 71, 73 are
elastically biased toward an anti-clockwise direction.
When the cartridge 3 is not mounted on the
container 1, as shown in Fig. 10A, the pawl 71 is fitted
into a hole 24 of the lid 2 under the biasing force of
the leaf spring 9, with the result that the sliding
movement of the lid 2 is prevented and the lid 2 is
locked at the position shown in Fig. 3. Accordingly,
it is possible to prevent the accident regarding the
penetration of foreign matters into the developer
receiving container 1 as caused when the operator
inadvertently opens the lid 2 before the cartridge 3
is mounted on the container 1.
As mentioned above, when the protruded portion 3b
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1 of the cartridge 3 is inserted into the recessed portion
14 of the container 1 and the cartridge 3 is lowered
toward the upper surface of the container 1, projections
33 formed on the flange portions of the cartridge
container 3a are abutted against cam surfaces 75 formed
on upper surfaces of the locking pawls 73 of the locking
mechanisms 7. In this condition, when the cartridge 3
is further lowered, each locking pawl 73 urged downwardly
by the corresponding projection 33 is rotated in a
clockwise direction in opposition to the biasing force
of the corresponding leaf spring 9, with the result
that the corresponding locking pawl 71 is also rotated in
the clockwise direction together with the locking pawl
73.
Consequently, the locking pawl 71 is disengaged
from the hole 24 of the lid 2 to permit the sliding
movement of the lid 2. When the projection 33 passes
through the cam surface 75, the locking pawl 73 is
rotated in the anti-clockwise direction under the
biasing force of the leaf spring 9 to engage by an
upper surface of the projection 33 (refer to Fig. lOB).
In this way, the cartridge 3 is locked at a predetermined
position on the container 1, i.e., at a position where
the developer is replenished from the cartridge into
the container 1. The cartridge is prevented from being
dismounted from the predetermined position. Since the
anti-clockwise rotation of the locking pawl 71 is
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1 inhibited by the engagement of the locking pawl 73 with
the projection 33, the unlocked condition of the lid 2
is maintained.
As mentioned above, since the cartridge 3 is
locked at the predetermined position when the sliding
movement of the lid 2 is permitted, it is possible to
prevent the~operator's miss-operation as to the
inadvertent dismounting of the cartridge 3 from the
developer receiving container 1 while opening the lid 2.
In the condition shown in Fig. lOB, the operations
already described in connection with Figs. 5 to 9 can be
performed.
After the developer is replenished from the
cartridge 3 into the container 1, the lid 2 is shifted
or retracted in the direction C to reach the lid at a
position slightly beyond the position shown in Fig. 3
where the opening 100 is completely closed. As a
result, a cam surf ace 25 formed on an inner surface of
the grip 2a of the lid 2 is abutted against the locking
pawls 71. From this condition, when the lid 2 is
further shifted to the direction C, each locking pawl
71 is urged by the cam surface 25 to be rotated in the
clockwise direction in opposition to the biasing force
of the corresponding leaf spring 9, thus rotating the
corresponding integral locking pawl 73 in the clockwise
direction. Consequently, as shown in Fig. lOC, the
locking pawl 73 is disengaged from the projection 33 of
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1 the cartridge 3, thus unlocking the cartridge 3.
In this condition, the cartridge 3 is
automatically pivoted around the protruded portion 3b
and lifted by a biasing force of a spring 8 described
below up to a position where, even when the locking pawl
73 is rotated in the anti-clockwise direction again, it
cannot engage by the upper surface of the projection 33.
The operator can understand the fact that the
cartridge 3 is unlocked, by ascertaining the automatic
elevation of the cartridge 3. Accordingly, since the
fact that the cartridge is dismountable can easily be
judged, it is possible to prevent the operator's
miss-operation as to the forcible dismounting of the
cartridge 3 from the container 1.
On the other hand, after the operator recognizes
the fact that the cartridge 3 is unlocked, when he
releases the grip 2a of the lid 2 in the condition of
Fig. lOC, the lid 2 moves as follows.
That is to say, the lid 2 is subjected to the
biasing forces of the leaf springs 9 via the locking
pawls 71 and the cam surface 25. Accordingly, when
the locking pawls 71, 73 are rotated in the anti-
clockwise direction under the biasing forces of the
leaf springs 9, the lid 2 is automatically shifted in
the direction 0 by the biasing forces of the springs.
At a point where the lid 2 is slightly shifted to the
direction O, the locking pawls 71 are re-entered into
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1 the corresponding holes 24 of the lid 2 under the
biasing forces of the springs 9, thus restoring the
condition shown in Fig. 10A. In the condition shown in
Fig. 10A, the lid 2 is locked at the position shown in
Fig. 3.
As mentioned above, since the cartridge 3 can be
unlocked only when the lid 2 is further pushed beyond
the locked position shown in Fig. 3 where the opening
100 of the container 1 is completely closed, and the
lid 2 is automatically returned to the locked position
after the unlocking of the cartridge, it is possible to
prevent the cartridge from being dismounted from the
developer receiving container in the condition that
the opening of the developer receiving container is
not completely closed.
In Fig. 2, two recesses 102 are formed in the
container 1 between the front and rear ends of the
opening 100 (in the sliding direction of the lid 2)
and at both lateral sides of the opening 100. Leaf
springs 8 are disposed in these recesses 102.
On the other hand, two projections 34 (only
one of the which is shown) adapted to be inserted into
the recesses 102 are formed on the flange portions of
the cartridge container 3a.
When the cartridge 3 is mounted on the container
1 as mentioned above, the projections 34 are fitted
into the recesses 102 while abutting against the
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1 corresponding leaf springs 8. These leaf springs 8
apply the upward urging or biasing force to the
cartridge 3 (see Fig. 11B).
The biasing force of the leaf springs 8
contributes to ensure the engagement between the
locking pawls 73 and the projections 33 and serves to
lift the cartridge 3 as mentioned above when the
locking pawls 73 are disengaged from the projections
33.
On the other hand, as the lid 4 of the cartridge
3 is slidingly shifted in the direction 0, when the
cartridge 3 itself tries to shift in the direction O,
one lateral surface 341 of the projection 34 is abutted
against one lateral surface 103 of the corresponding
recess 102, thus preventing the shifting of the
cartridge 3 in the direction O. Further, as the lid 4
is slidingly shifted in the direction C, when the
cartridge 3 itself tries to shift in the direction C,
the other lateral surface 342 of the projection 34 is
abutted against the other lateral surface 104 of the
corresponding recess 102, thus preventing the shifting
of the cartridge 3 in the direction C. That is to say,
the projections 34 and the recesses 102 aid to the
locking operation by means of the locking pawls 73.
In other words,~the projections 34 and the recesses 102
can prevent the inadvertent unlocking due to the
excessive load applied to the locking mechanisms 7
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1 during the opening/closing of the opening 30.
Further, the recesses 102 has the function to
identify the cartridge. That is to say, only the
cartridge having the projections 34 in correspondence
to the recesses 102 can be mounted on the developer
receiving container at the predetermined position.
Accordingly, by differentiating the position of the
projections 34 on the cartridge in correspondence to
the kinds of developer, any cartridge containing the
developer unnecessary to the specific image forming
system cannot be mounted, at the predetermined
position, on the developer receiving container for such
image forming system, and, thus, it is possible to
prevent the replenishment of the unnecessary or unsuited
developer into the developer receiving container.
Incidentally, in the above example, while the
leaf springs were abutted against the projections 34,
the leaf springs may be abutted against the cartridge
3 at any portions other than the projections 34.
Further, the projections may be formed on the container
1 and the recesses corresponding to such projections
may be formed in the cartridge to achieve the same
function as that obtained by the above-mentioned
projections 34 and the recesses 120.
Figs. 12A to 12D show another embodiment. In
this embodiment, when the lid 2 is in a position shown
in Fig. 12C and when the lid is in a position slightly
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1 offset from the position of Fig. 12C in a direction C,
a spring 10 is abutted against a rear end 26 (in a
direction O) of the lid 2 to elastically bias the lid
2 toward the direction O. Figs. 12A, 12B and 12D
correspond to Figs. 10A, lOB and lOC, respectively.
In Fig. 12B, when the lid 2 is unlocked, the lid
2 is automatically shifted from the locked position
toward the direction 0 slightly by the spring 10 (refer
to Fig. 12C) .
By such automatic shifting of the lid 2 in the
pulling direction (direction O), the operator can
understand the fact that the cartridge 3 is unlocked.
From the position of Fig. 12C, when the lid 2
is slidingly shifted in the direction O, the lid is
separated from the spring 10.
In order to unlock the cartridge 3, the
operator must shift the lid 2 in the direction C in
opposition to the biasing force of the spring 10.
However, when the lid 2 is automatically returned from
the unlocked position for the cartridge 3 to the locked
position for the lid 2 itself, the biasing force of the
spring 10 aids such returning of the lid 2, as well as
the biasing force of the springs 9.
Figs. 13A to 13C show another embodiment of a
locking mechanism.
As shown in Fig. 13A, in a condition that the
developer replenishing cartridge 3 is not mounted on
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1 the developer receiving apparatus, the lid 2 of the
developer receiving container 1 is engaged by a locking
pawl 602 of a locking mechanism 600 via a hole 24 formed
in the lid itself, thus preventing the shifting movement
of the lid.
The locking pawl 602 is pivotally mounted on a
pivot pin 601 formed on the developer receiving
container 1 and is always biased toward the hole 24 of
the lid 2 by an elastic member (leaf spring) 8. Further,
the locking pawl 602 itself may be constituted by an
elastic member to omit the elastic member 8.
On the other hand, another locking mechanism 700
is arranged in the recess 101 of the lid 2. The locking
mechanism 700 is similar to the above-mentioned locking
mechanism 7, but, in place of the locking pawl 71, a
cam engagement projection 76 is integrally formed on
the locking pawl 73, and, in place of the leaf spring
9, a coil spring 900 is hooked to the locking pawl 73
to bias the locking pawl 73 and projection 76 in the
anti-clockwise direction.
When the developer replenishing cartridge 3 is
mounted as shown in Fig. 3, in the same manner as
mentioned above, the projection 33 of the developer
receiving container 1 rotates the locking pawl 73 in
the clockwise direction. When the mounting of the
cartridge is completed, as shown in Fig. 13B, the
projection 33 is engaged by the locking pawl 73.
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1 This prevents the dismounting of the cartridge in
cooperation with the protruded portion 3b of the
cartridge 3 inserted into the recessed portion 14.
As shown in Fig. 13B, in a condition that the
developer replenishing cartridge 3 is mounted, by the
projection 34 of the cartridge 3 fitted into the recess
102 of the container 1, the elastic member 8 is pressed
down to disengage the locking pawl 602 from the hole 24,
thus disengaging the locking pawl 602 from the lid 2
to permit the movement of the latter.
In this way, the developer is supplied from the
cartridge into the container 1 as mentioned above. After
the replenishment of the developer, the lid 2 is pushed
to the position of Fig. 3. From this condition, as shown
in Fig. 13C, when the lid 2 is further pushed toward the
direction C, the cam surface 25 of the lid 2 urges the
projection 76 integral with the locking pawl 73, thus
rotating the locking pawl 73 in the clockwise direction
in opposition to the coil spring 900. As a result, the
locking pawl 73 is disengaged from the projection 33 of
the cartridge 3. Consequently, the cartridge 3 is
automatically lifted by the biasing force of the
elastic member 8. In this condition, the cartridge 3
can be dismounted from the container 1 while retracting
the protruded portion 3b from the recessed portion 14.
Then, when the operator detaches his hand from
the lid 2, the latter is returned to the pulling
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1 direction by the compressed coil spring 900 via the
projection 76. Meanwhile, the locking pawl 602 biased
toward the anti-clockwise direction by the elastic member
8 released from the projection 33 is re-entered into the
hole 24 of the lid 2, thus stopping the lid 2. In this
way, the lid 2 is returned to the position of Fig. 13A.
Alternatively, from the position of Fig. 13C, the lid 2
may be manually pulled until the locking pawl 602 is
re-entered into the hole 24 of the lid 2.
By the way, in a developer replenishing system
wherein the lid of the developer receiving container is
locked other than the replenishment of the developer,
the operator cannot directly ascertain the residual
amount of the developer with his eyes. Further, even
when a sensor of piezo type is provided on the developer
receiving container to detect the residual amount of
the developer, it is feared that the developer is
replenished even into the developer receiving container
in which a relatively large amount of developer still
remains due to the mal-function of the sensor or the
operator's careless mistake, with the result that the
amount of the replenished developer exceeds the maximum
developer containing ability of the developer receiving
container.
In such a case, the lid 2 must be closed while
pushing a mountain of developer aside by the end
projection 41 of the slide lid 4 to push the excessive
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1 developer back to the developer replenishing cartridge
3. The developer comprised of small particles has the
good fluidity, but is likely to be lumped. Thus, when
the lids 2, 4 are being closed, the developer is pressed
together by the ends of the lids and is jammed at a
portion T in Fig. 8, thus opposing to the closing
movement of the lids 2, 4. As a result, it is feared
that the developer replenishing cartridge 3 cannot be
dismounted from the developer receiving container 1.
Accordingly, in this embodiment, the developer
receiving container 1 is provided with a buffer chamber
for receiving the excessive developer to eliminate the
resistance to the closing movement of the lids 2, 4,
thus ensuring that the slide lid 4 of the developer
replenishing cartridge can be closed without fail.
The operation of the buffer chamber according to
this embodiment will now be explained with reference to
Figs. 14 to 17. In Fig. 14, the developer receiving
container 1 has a buffer chamber 200 disposed beside the
opening 100 of the container 1 and adjacent to the front
end (in the push-in direction C) of the lid 2 when the
opening 100 is completely closed by the lid 2. The
buffer chamber 200 has an excessive developer introducing
opening 201 disposed in substantially the same plane as
the opening 100,of the developer receiving container 1.
The opening 201 is closed by.a lid 300 biased toward a
closing direction (opening direction O for the lids 2, 4)
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1 by means of an elastic member 400, in a condition that
the developer replenishing cartridge 3 is not mounted
on the developer receiving container 1.
In this embodiment, by the limitation of the
dimension of the edge surf ace 31 to which the seal sheet
5 of the developer replenishing cartridge 3 is adhered
ant of the developer supplying apparatus, when the
developer replenishing cartridge 3 is mounted on the
developer receiving container 1, the lid 300 is pushed
and opened by the end portion 26 (in the closing direction)
of the lid 2 in opposition to a biasing force of the
elastic member (spring) 400. However, in such a
condition, the lid 300 may remain to be closed.
When the protruded portion 3b of the developer
replenshing cartridge 3 is inserted between the guide la
of the developer receiving container 1 and the lid 300,
the protruded portion 3b contacts the lid 300 with a
strength not to disturb the sliding the lid 300, while
the upward movement of the protruded portion being
limited by the guide la.
When the developer is supplied from the developer
replenishing cartridge, since the lid 2 is shifted in
the opening direction O to release the urging force
(via the end portion 26) against the lid 300, as shown
in Fig. 15, the lid 300 is urged in the closing
direction by the elastic member 400 to close the opening
201 of the buffer chamber 200 with contacting with the
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1 lower surface of the protruded portion 3b of the
developer replenishing container 3a. In this condition,
the developer overflowed from the developer receiving
container 1 does not enter into the buffer chamber 200
and remains in the developer replenishing container 3a.
In this condition, when the lid 2 forcibly closed, the
end face 22 of the lid 2 engages with the projection 41
of the lid 4 to push the lid 4, with the result that
the lids 2, 4 are advanced while pushing the developer
aside by the projection 41.
As shown in Fig. 16, immediately before the
supply opening 30 of the developer replenishing
container 3a is completely closed by the slide lid 4,
the developer D has nowhere to go and is pressed
together at the portion T, thus making the further
closing movement of the lid 4 difficult. At this
point, the end portion 26 (in the closing direction C)
of the lid 2 starts to engage with the lid 300 to
forcibly open the latter in opposition to the biasing
force of the elastic member 400, with the result that,
as shown in Fig. 17, the excessive developer at the
portion T is pushed into the buffer chamber 200 through
the opening 201 by the urging force of the lids 2, 4,
thus ensuring the complete closing of the lid 4.
Incidentally, in the illustrated embodiment,
while the lid 300 was opened by urging it by the lid
2, a left extension may be formed on the lid 4 to open
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1 the lid 300 by urging the latter by the extension.
A further embodiment is shown in Figs. 18 to 21.
In this embodiment, a further opening 202 is formed in
a bottom of the buffer chamber 200 to communicate with
the interior of the developer receiving container 1.
In Fig. 18, the buffer chamber 200 has the bottom
opening 202. Further, in order to prevent the natural
scattering of the developer from the buffer chamber 200
through the entrance (for the protruded portion 3b of the
cartridge) of the recessed portion 14 of the container 1,
an auxiliary lid 15 is pivotally mounted at the entrance.
In a condition that the cartridge 3 is not mounted on
the developer receiving container 1, the lid 15 is
abutted against the end face 22 of the lid 2 by its own
weight or by a coil spring and the like to close the
entrance. The developer replenishing cartridge 3 is
mounted on the developer receiving apparatus while
opening the lid 15 by the protruded portion 3b, as
shown in Fig: 19.
As in the previous embodiment, the lid 300 can
be forcibly opened by the lid 2. However, when the
developer is being replenished, the lid 300 closes
the opening 201 of the buffer chamber 200 via the
biasing force of the spring or elastic member 400, as
shown in Fig. 20. The replenishment of the developer
into the developer receiving container 1 is effected
in the same manner as the previous embodiment.
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1 The bottom opening 202 has a dimension so that the
buffer chamber 200 is filled with the developer from
the container 1 through the opening 202 during the
replenishment of the developer.
By the way, the end face 22 of the lid 2 has a
convex wedged shape, and the projection 41 of the lid 4
includes an inner surface (to be engaged by the end face
22) having a complementary concave wedged shape. With
this arrangement, since the inner surface of the
projection 41 which is adapted to be engaged by the
end face 22 of the lid 2 is tapered in the slide closing
direction C, when the lid 2 is forcibly closed, the end
face 22 thereof is closely contacted with the projection
41 of the lid 4, thus effectively preventing the
developer from entering between the lids to avoid the
contamination of the lits. Further, the free end of the
lid 4 has a wedged configuration defined by the projection
41 and an additional projection 43, so that, when the
lids 2, 4 are closed, the lids can easily push the
developer aside.
Further, the movement of the seal sheet 5 aids
to reduce the resistance between the developer and the
lid 4 when the lids 2, 4 are being closed while pushing
the developer aside.
As the further closing movement of the lids 2,
4 continues, immediately before the supply opening 30
of the developer replenishing cartridge 3 is completely
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1 closed by the lid 4, the lid 300 is forcibly opened by
the end portion 26 of the lid 2, with the result that
the excessive developer is pushed into the buffer
chamber 200. Consequently, the opening 30 can be
completely closed by the lid 4, as shown in Fig. 21.
Further, as shown in Fig. 21, when the lid 4 is
completely closed, the projection 43 of the lid 4 is
fitted into a recess 3d formed in the flange portion of
the cartridge container. Accordingly, after the
cartridge 3 is dismounted from the developer receiving
container 1, for example, even when the operator grips
the protruded portion of the container 3a to suspend the
container 3a laterally, since the projection 43 of the
lid 4 is caught by a projection 3c defining the recess
3d of the container 3a, it is possible to prevent the
lid 4 from sliding down or dropping out of the container
3a by its own weight.
Incidentally, when the lid 4 is being opened or
closed by the operator's manipulation, since the
projection 43 can be elastically deformed downwardly
by the abutment against the projection 3c to easily
override the latter due to the elasticity of the lid
4 made of synthetic resin, the opening and closing
movement of the lid is not obstructed. Incidentally,
in the illustrated embodiment, while the projection 43
of the lid 4 was fitted into the recess 3d of the
container 3a, a recess for receiving the projection 3c
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1 of the container 3a may be formed in the lid 4.
When the developer in the developer receiving
container 1 is used up and the developer in the
container 1 leaves from the bottom opening 202, the
developer entered into the buffer chamber 200 is sent
to the container 1 to be used. Thus, the function or
ability of the buffer chamber does not depend upon the
volume of the buffer chamber, and, therefore, the
buffer chamber can be used repeatedly.
By the way, as shown in Fig. 22, the seal sheet
5 has a width W3 wider than a width of the supply
opening 30 at a sheet section where it i:s adhered to
the edge surface defining the opening 30 of the
developer replenishing container 3a, and a width W4
narrower than the width W4 at a sheet section where
it is drawn from the slide lid 4. The width W4 of the
seal sheet is sufficiently narrow to permit the sheet to
pass between two first grip portions 28 spaced apart in
a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of
the lid 2, so that, when the lid 2 is being closed,
the sheet 5 can be retracted into the lid 4 through
between the first grip portions 28 of the lid 2. In
this case, the operator may merely push the first grip
portions 28 of the grip 2a in a direction shown by the
arrows by his hand.
Further, a second grip portion 27 is formed on
the grip 2a between the first grip portions 28.
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1 The grip portion 27 has an inclined surface against
which the depended seal sheet 5 is slidably contacted.
The inclined surface is positioned below the first grip
portions (pushing grip portions) 28 (see Fig. 23).
Since the seal sheet 5 stripped during the developer
replenishing operation is retracted into the developer
replenishing cartridge via the inclined surface lower
than the first pushing grip portions 28 of the lid 2 as
the lid 2 is forcibly closed, the operability of the
lid closing movement is improved. Incidentally, the
operator may pull out the lid 2 by pulling the second
grip portion 27.
20
