Developer material supplying device for integral type processing unit assembled in electrophotographic type image recording apparatus
US5229824A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 10, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 10, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S222/01
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An integral type processing unit has a photosensitive drum, a developing unit for forming a developer toner image on the photosensitive drum, and a cleaning unit for scraping off residual toners from the drum. The developing unit does not have sufficient internal volume for accumulating therein the developer toners whose amount meet with the service life of the other components. Therefore, toner containers are replaceably attached to the developing unit for supplementing the developer toners therein. In order to limit the replacement times of the toner containers, each of the toner containers are provided with a segment separable therefrom. Further, a receiving segment is provided at the developing unit engageable with the separable segment. The receiving segment has a predetermined number of receiving portions. If all receiving portions are filled with the separable segments, it becomes no longer possible to further replace the toner container with a new container.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.