IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0613508
(2006-12-20)
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등록번호 |
US-7457569
(2008-11-25)
|
우선권정보 |
JP-2006/066011(2006-03-10); JP-2006/295074(2006-10-31) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
12 인용 특허 :
12 |
초록
▼
A developer supply cartridge supplies a developer into a process cartridge, and is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes a drum, a developing roller, a receiving-side shutter portion opening and closing a developer r
A developer supply cartridge supplies a developer into a process cartridge, and is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes a drum, a developing roller, a receiving-side shutter portion opening and closing a developer receiving opening, a receiving-side movable portion to move the receiving-side shutter portion, and a regulating member for regulating movement of the receiving-side movable portion. The developer supply cartridge includes a supplying-side developer accommodating portion, a developer supply opening supplying the developer from the supplying-side developer accommodating portion into the process cartridge through the developer receiving opening, a supplying-side shutter portion opening and closing the developer supply opening, and a supplying-side movable portion to open the supplying-side shutter portion when the developer supply cartridge enters the main assembly and the process cartridge is set in the main assembly, by engagement with the receiving-side movable portion.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said process cartridge is capable of receiving a supply of a developer from a developer supply cartridge, wherein the developer supply cartridge includes a s
What is claimed is: 1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said process cartridge is capable of receiving a supply of a developer from a developer supply cartridge, wherein the developer supply cartridge includes a supplying-side developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer, a supplying-side shutter portion movable between a developer-supply-permitting position for opening a developer supply opening for supplying the developer from the supplying-side developer accommodating portion into the process cartridge and a developer-supply-preventing position for closing the developer supply opening, a supplying-side movable portion movable to interrelatedly move the supplying-side shutter portion between the developer-supply-permitting position and the developer-supply-preventing position, and an engageable member, said process cartridge comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a developing roller that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum with the developer; a receiving-side developer accommodating portion that accommodates the developer; a developer receiving opening that receives the developer into said receiving-side developer accommodating portion; a receiving-side shutter portion movable between a developer-reception-permitting position for opening said developer receiving opening and a developer-reception-preventing position for closing said developer receiving opening; a regulating member; and a receiving-side movable portion movable to interrelatedly move said receiving-side shutter portion between the developer-reception-permitting position and the developer-reception-preventing position, said receiving-side movable portion including a first receiving-side operating portion which takes an operating position when said receiving-side shutter portion is at the developer-reception-preventing position and a second receiving-side operating portion which takes the operating position when said receiving-side shutter portion is at the developer-reception-permitting position, wherein when said process cartridge enters the main assembly of the apparatus with said regulating member regulating movement to place said first receiving-side operating portion at the operating position in a state that the developer supply cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus, said regulating member contacts the engageable member to release said receiving-side movable portion, thus permitting movement of said receiving-side movable portion, then said receiving-side movable portion moves said receiving-side shutter portion to the developer-reception-permitting position in interrelation with said first receiving-side operating portion being moved by contacting the engageable member, and then said receiving-side movable portion moves the supplying-side shutter portion to the developer-supply-permitting position in interrelation with the supplying-side movable portion being moved by engagement of said second receiving-side operating portion with the supplying-side movable portion while being regulated by said regulating member in a state that said second receiving-side operating portion is placed at the operating position, and wherein when said process cartridge is removed from the main assembly of the apparatus in a state that the developer supply cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus, said second receiving side operating portion moves the supplying side movable portion by engagement with the supplying side movable portion which is regulated by said regulating member in a state that said receiving side movable portion is placed at the operating position to interrelatedly move the supplying side shutter portion to the developer supply preventing position, then said regulating member contacts the engageable member to release said receiving side movable portion, thus permitting movement of said receiving side movable portion, and said receiving side movable portion moves said receiving side shutter portion to the developer reception preventing position in interrelation with said first receiving side operating portion being moved by contacting the engageable member. 2. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said receiving-side shutter portion is disposed on an upper surface of said process cartridge in a state that said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus and includes a rotatable member rotatable about a horizontal axis crossing a longitudinal direction of said process cartridge, said rotatable member being provided with an opening which opens in a radial direction of rotation of said rotatable member, wherein said developer receiving opening is opened by said opening of said rotatable member opposing said developer receiving opening, and said developer receiving opening is closed by a portion of said rotatable member other than said opening opposing to said developer receiving opening. 3. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said receiving-side movable portion is rotatable, wherein said first receiving-side operating portion includes a projection having a portion extending along a rotational movement direction of said receiving-side movable portion, and said projection receives a force by engagement with the engageable member to rotate said receiving-side shutter portion, and wherein said second receiving-side operating portion includes a projection having a portion extending along the rotational moving direction of said receiving-side movable portion, said projection of said second receiving-side operating portion being engageable with a projection of a supplying-side operating portion of the supplying-side movable portion to apply a rotating force, thus rotating the supplying-side shutter portion. 4. A developer supply cartridge for supplying a developer into a process cartridge, said developer supply cartridge being detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a receiving-side shutter portion movable between a developer-reception-permitting position for opening a developer receiving opening for receiving the developer to be used by the developing roller for a developing operation and a developer-reception-preventing position for closing the developer receiving opening, a receiving-side movable portion rotatable to interrelatedly move the receiving-side shutter portion between the developer-reception-permitting position and the developer-reception-preventing position, the receiving-side movable portion including a first receiving-side operating portion which takes an operating position when the receiving-side shutter portion is at the developer-reception-preventing position, and a second receiving-side operating portion which takes the operating position when the receiving-side shutter portion is at the developer-reception-permitting position, and a regulating member that regulates rotation of the receiving-side movable portion when the first or second receiving-side operating portion is at the operating position, said developer supply cartridge comprising: a supplying-side developer accommodating portion that accommodates the developer; a developer supply opening that supplies the developer from said supplying-side developer accommodating portion into the process cartridge through the developer receiving opening; a supplying-side shutter portion movable between a developer-supply-permitting position for opening said developer supply opening and a developer-supply-preventing position for closing said developer supply opening; a first engageable member fixed at a position upstream of said developer supply opening with respect to an entering direction in which said developer supply cartridge enters the main assembly of the apparatus, wherein when the process cartridge is removed from the main assembly of the apparatus in a state that said developer supply cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus, said first engageable member releases, after said supplying-side shutter portion closes said developer supply opening, the receiving-side movable portion from the regulating member by contacting the regulating member which regulates rotation of the receiving-side movable portion with the second receiving-side operating portion placed at the operating position to move the regulating member downwardly against an elastic force, thus permitting movement of the receiving-side movable portion, then said first engageable member engages with the second receiving-side operating portion to rotate the receiving-side movable portion and to interrelatedly rotate the receiving-side shutter portion from the developer-reception-permitting position to the developer-reception-preventing position, and wherein when the process cartridge enters the main assembly of the apparatus in a state that said developer supply cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus, said first engageable member releases, prior to said supplying side shutter portion opening said developer supply opening, the receiving side movable portion from the regulating member by contacting the regulating member which regulates rotation of the receiving side movable portion with the first receiving side operating portion placed at the operating position to move the regulating member downwardly against an elastic force, thus permitting movement of the receiving side movable portion, then said first engageable member engages the first receiving side operating portion to rotate the receiving side movable portion and to interrelatedly rotate the receiving side shutter portion from the developer reception preventing position to the developer reception permitting position; a second engageable member fixed at a position downstream of said developer supply opening with respect to the entering direction, wherein when said developer supply cartridge is removed from the main assembly of the apparatus in a state that said process cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus, said second engageable member releases, after said supplying-side shutter portion closes said developer supply opening, the receiving-side movable portion from the regulating member by contacting the regulating member which regulates rotation of the receiving-side movable portion with the second receiving-side operating portion placed at the operating position to move the regulating member downwardly against an elastic force, thus permitting movement of the receiving-side movable portion, then said second engageable member engages with the second receiving-side operating portion to rotate the receiving-side movable portion and to interrelatedly rotate the receiving-side shutter portion from the developer-reception-permitting position to the developer-reception-preventing position, and wherein when said developer supply cartridge enters the main assembly of the apparatus in a state that the process cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus, said second engageable member releases, prior to said supplying side shutter portion opening said developer supply opening, the receiving side movable portion from the regulating member by contacting the regulating member which regulates rotation of the receiving side movable portion with the first receiving side operating portion placed at the operating position to move the regulating member downwardly against an elastic force, thus permitting movement of the receiving side movable portion, then the second engageable member engages the first receiving side operating portion to rotate the receiving side movable portion and to interrelatedly rotate the receiving side shutter portion from the developer reception preventing position to the developer reception permitting position; and a supplying-side movable portion that rotates said supplying-side shutter portion from said developer-supply-permitting position to said developer-supply-preventing position, wherein when the process cartridge is removed from the main assembly of the apparatus in a state that said developer supply cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus, said supplying-side movable portion is rotated, prior to said first engageable member causing the receiving-side shutter portion to close the developer receiving opening, by engagement with the receiving-side movable portion which is regulated by the regulating member with the second receiving-side operating portion placed at the operating position, and in interrelation with rotation of said supplying-side movable portion, said supplying-side shutter portion is moved from the developer-supply-permitting position to the developer-supply-preventing position, and wherein when said developer supply cartridge is removed from the main assembly of the apparatus in a state that the process cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus, said supplying-side movable portion is rotated, prior to said second engageable member causing the receiving-side shutter portion to close the developer receiving opening, by engagement with the receiving-side movable portion which is regulated by the regulating member with the second receiving-side operating portion placed at the operating position, and in interrelation with rotation of said supplying-side movable portion, said supplying-side shutter portion is moved from the developer-supply-permitting position to the developer-supply-preventing position, and wherein when the process cartridge enters the main assembly of the apparatus in a state that said developer supply cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus, said supplying side movable portion is rotated, after said first engageable member causes the receiving side shutter portion to open the developer receiving opening, by engagement with the receiving side movable portion which is regulated by the regulating member with the second receiving side operating portion placed at the operating position, and in interrelation with rotation of said supplying side movable portion, said supplying side shutter portion is rotated from the developer supply preventing position to the developer supply permitting position, and wherein when said developer supply cartridge enters the main assembly of the apparatus in a state that the process cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus, said supplying side movable portion is rotated, after said second engageable member causes the receiving side shutter portion to open the developer receiving opening, by engagement with the receiving side movable portion which is regulated by the regulating member with the second receiving side operating portion placed at the operating position, and in interrelation with rotation of said supplying side movable portion, said supplying side shutter portion is rotated from the developer supply preventing position to the developer supply permitting position. 5. A developer supply cartridge according to claim 4, wherein said supplying-side shutter portion is disposed on a lower surface of said developer supply cartridge in a state that said developer supply cartridge is set in the main assembly of the apparatus and includes a rotatable member rotatable about a horizontal axis crossing a longitudinal direction of said developer supply cartridge, said rotatable member being provided with an opening which opens in a radial direction of rotation of said rotatable member, and wherein the developer supply opening is opened by said opening of said rotatable member opposing to the developer supply opening, and the developer supply opening is closed by a portion of said rotatable member other than said opening opposing to the developer supply opening. 6. A developer supply cartridge according to claim 5, wherein said supplying-side movable portion is rotatable, and a supplying-side operating portion includes a projection having a portion extending along a rotational movement direction of said supplying-side movable portion, and wherein the receiving-side movable portion is rotatable, and one of the first and second receiving-side operating portions includes a projection having a portion extending along the rotational moving direction of the receiving-side movable portion, said projection of said supplying-side movable portion is engageable with a projection of the receiving-side movable portion to receive a rotating force, thus rotating said supplying-side shutter portion. 7. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge and a developer supply cartridge for supplying a developer into the process cartridge are detachably mountable, independently from each other, to a main assembly of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising: (i) said developer supply cartridge detachably mountable to the main assembly of said apparatus, said developer supply cartridge including, a supplying side developer accommodating portion that accommodates the developer, a developer supply opening that supplies the developer from said supplying side developer accommodating portion into said process cartridge, a supplying side shutter portion movable between a developer supply permitting position for opening said developer supply opening and a developer supply preventing position for closing said developer supply opening, a supplying side movable portion movable to interrelatedly move said supplying side shutter portion between said developer supply permitting position and said developer supply preventing position, and an engageable member; and (ii) said process cartridge detachably mountable to the main assembly of said apparatus, said process cartridge including, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a receiving side developer accommodating portion that accommodates the developer, a developer receiving opening that receives the developer, a receiving side shutter portion movable between a developer reception permitting position for opening said developer receiving opening and a developer reception preventing position for closing said developer receiving opening, a regulating member, and a receiving side movable portion movable to interrelatedly move said receiving side shutter portion between the developer reception permitting position and the developer reception preventing position, said receiving side movable portion including a first receiving side operating portion which takes an operating position when said receiving side shutter portion is at the developer reception preventing position and a second receiving side operating portion which takes the operating position when said receiving side shutter portion is at the developer reception permitting position, wherein when said process cartridge enters the main assembly of said apparatus with said regulating member regulating movement to place said first receiving side operating portion at the operating position in a state that said developer supply cartridge is set in the main assembly of said apparatus, said regulating member contacts said engageable member to release said receiving side movable portion, thus permitting movement of said receiving side movable portion, then said receiving side movable portion moves said receiving side shutter portion to the developer reception permitting position in interrelation with said first receiving side operating portion being moved by contacting the engageable member, and then said receiving side movable portion moves said supplying side shutter portion to the developer supply permitting position in interrelation with said supplying side movable portion being moved by engagement of said second receiving side operating portion with said supplying side movable portion while being regulated by said regulating member in a state that said second receiving side operating portion is placed at the operating position, and wherein when said process cartridge is removed from the main assembly of said apparatus in a state that said developer supply cartridge is set in the main assembly of said apparatus, said second receiving side operating portion moves said supplying side movable portion by engagement, with said supplying side movable portion which is regulated by said regulating member in a state that said receiving side movable portion is placed at the operating position to interrelatedly move said supplying side shutter portion to the developer supply preventing position, then said regulating member contacts said engageable member to release said receiving side movable portion, thus permitting movement of said receiving side movable portion, and said receiving side movable portion moves said receiving side shutter portion to the developer reception preventing position in interrelation with said first receiving side operating portion being moved by contacting said engageable member. 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said receiving side shutter portion is disposed on an upper surface of said process cartridge in a state that said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus and includes a rotatable member rotatable about a horizontal axis crossing with a longitudinal direction of said process cartridge, said rotatable member being provided with an opening which opens in a radial direction of rotation of said rotatable member, wherein said developer receiving opening is opened by said opening of said rotatable member opposing said developer receiving opening, and said developer receiving opening is closed by a portion of said rotatable member other than said opening opposing to said developer receiving opening. 9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said receiving side movable portion is rotatable, wherein said first receiving side operating portion includes a projection having a portion extending along a rotational movement direction of said receiving side movable portion, and said projection receives a force by engagement with said engageable member to rotate said receiving side shutter portion, wherein said second receiving side operating portion includes a projection having a portion extending along the rotational moving direction of said receiving side movable portion, said projection of said second receiving side operating portion being engageable with a projection of a supplying side operating portion of said supplying side movable portion to apply a rotating force, thus rotating said supplying side shutter portion. 10. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge and a developer supply cartridge for supplying a developer into the process cartridge are detachably mountable, independently from each other, to a main assembly of said apparatus, said apparatus comprising: (i) said process cartridge detachably mountable to the main assembly of said apparatus, said process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a receiving side developer accommodating portion that accommodates the developer, a developer receiving opening that receives the developer into said receiving side developer accommodating portion, a receiving side shutter portion movable between a developer reception permitting position for opening said developer receiving opening and a developer reception preventing position for closing said developer receiving opening, a receiving side movable portion rotatable to interrelatedly move said receiving side shutter portion between the developer reception permitting position and the developer reception preventing position, said receiving side movable portion including a first receiving side operating portion which takes an operating position when said receiving side shutter portion is at said developer reception preventing position, and a second receiving side operating portion which takes the operating position when said receiving side shutter portion is at said developer reception permitting position, and a regulating member that regulates rotation of said receiving side movable portion when said first or second receiving side operating portion is at the operating position; and (ii) said developer supply cartridge detachably mountable to the main assembly of said apparatus, said developer supply cartridge including, a supplying side developer accommodating portion that accommodates the developer, a developer supply opening that supplies the developer from said supplying side developer accommodating portion into said process cartridge through said developer receiving opening, a supplying side shutter portion movable between a developer supply permitting position for opening said developer supply opening and a developer supply preventing position for closing said developer supply opening, a first engageable member fixed at a position upstream of said developer supply opening with respect to an entering direction in which said developer supply cartridge enters said main assembly of said apparatus, wherein when said process cartridge enters the main assembly of said apparatus in a state that said developer supply cartridge is set in the main assembly of said apparatus, said first engageable member releases, prior to said supplying side shutter portion opening said developer supply opening, said receiving side movable portion from said regulating member by contacting said regulating member which regulates rotation of said receiving side movable portion with said first receiving side operating portion placed at said operating position to move said regulating member downwardly against an elastic force, thus permitting movement of said receiving side movable portion, then said first engageable member engages with said first receiving side operating portion to rotate said receiving side movable portion and to interrelatedly rotate said receiving side shutter portion from said developer reception preventing position to said developer reception permitting position, and wherein when said process cartridge enters the main assembly of said apparatus in a state that said developer supply cartridge is set in the main assembly of said apparatus, said first engageable member releases, prior to said supplying side shutter portion opening said developer supply opening, said receiving side movable portion from said regulating member by contacting said regulating member which regulates rotation of said receiving side movable portion with said first receiving side operating portion placed at said operating position to move said regulating member downwardly against an elastic force, thus permitting movement of said receiving side movable portion, then said first engageable member engages with said first receiving side operating portion to rotate said receiving side movable portion and to interrelatedly rotate said receiving side shutter portion from said developer reception preventing position to said developer reception permitting position, a second engageable member fixed at a position downstream of said developer supply opening with respect to the entering direction, wherein when said developer supply cartridge enters the main assembly of said apparatus in a state that said process cartridge is set in the main assembly of said apparatus, said second engageable member releases, prior to said supplying side shutter portion opening said developer supply opening, said receiving side movable portion from said regulating member by contacting said regulating member which regulates rotation of said receiving side movable portion with said first receiving side operating portion placed at said operating position to move said regulating member downwardly against an elastic force, thus permitting movement of said receiving side movable portion, then said second engageable member engages with said first receiving side operating portion to rotate said receiving side movable portion and to interrelatedly rotate said receiving side shutter portion from said developer reception preventing position to said developer reception permitting position, and wherein when said developer supply cartridge enters the main assembly of said apparatus in a state that said process cartridge is set in the main assembly of said apparatus, said second engageable member releases, prior to said supplying side shutter portion opening said developer supply opening, said receiving side movable portion from said regulating member by contacting said regulating member which regulates rotation of said receiving side movable portion with said first receiving side operating portion placed at said operating position to move said regulating member downwardly against an elastic force, thus permitting movement of said receiving side movable portion, then said second engageable member engages with said first receiving side operating portion to rotate said receiving side movable portion and to interrelatedly rotate said receiving side shutter portion from said developer reception preventing position to said developer reception permitting position, and a supplying side movable portion that rotates said supplying side shutter portion from said developer supply preventing position to said developer supply permitting position, wherein when said process cartridge enters the main assembly of said apparatus in a state that said developer supply cartridge is set in the main assembly of said apparatus, said supplying side movable portion is rotated, after said first engageable member causes said receiving side shutter portion to open said developer receiving opening, by engagement with said receiving side movable portion which is regulated by said regulating member with said second receiving side operating portion placed at said operating position, and in interrelation with rotation of said supplying side movable portion, said supplying side shutter portion is rotated from said developer supply preventing position to said developer supply permitting position, and wherein when said developer supply cartridge enters the main assembly of said apparatus in a state that said process cartridge is set in the main assembly of said apparatus, said supplying side movable portion is rotated, after said second engageable member causes said receiving side shutter portion to open said developer receiving opening, by engagement with said receiving side movable portion which is regulated by said regulating member with said second receiving side operating portion placed at said operating position, and in interrelation with rotation of said supplying side movable portion, said supplying side shutter portion is rotated from said developer supply preventing position to said developer supply permitting position, and wherein when said process cartridge enters the main assembly of said apparatus in a state that said developer supply cartridge is set in the main assembly of said apparatus, said supplying side movable portion is rotated, after said first engageable member causes said receiving side shutter portion to open said developer receiving opening, by engagement with said receiving side movable portion which is regulated by said regulating member with said second receiving side operating portion placed at said operating position, and in interrelation with rotation of said supplying side movable portion, said supplying side shutter portion is rotated from said developer supply preventing position to said developer supply permitting position, and wherein when said developer supply cartridge enters the main assembly of said apparatus in a state that said process cartridge is set in the main assembly of said apparatus, said supplying side movable portion is rotated, after said second engageable member causes said receiving side shutter portion to open said developer receiving opening, by engagement with said receiving side movable portion which is regulated by said regulating member with said second receiving side operating portion placed at said operating position, and in interrelation with rotation of said supplying side movable portion, said supplying side shutter portion is rotated from said developer supply preventing position to said developer supply permitting position. 11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said supplying side shutter portion is disposed on a lower surface of said developer supply cartridge in a state that said developer supply cartridge is set in the main assembly of said apparatus and includes a rotatable member rotatable about a horizontal axis crossing a longitudinal direction of said developer supply cartridge, said rotatable member being provided with an opening which opens in a radial direction of rotation of said rotatable member, and wherein said developer supply opening is opened by said opening of said rotatable member opposing said developer supply opening, and said developer supply opening is closed by a portion of said rotatable member other than said opening opposing to said developer supply opening. 12. A developer supply cartridge according to claim 11, wherein said supplying side movable portion is rotatable, and said supplying side operating portion includes a projection having a portion extending along a rotational movement direction of said supplying side movable portion, and wherein said receiving side movable portion is rotatable, and one of the first and second receiving side operating portions includes a projection having a portion extending along the rotational moving direction of said receiving side movable portion, said projection of said supplying side movable portion being engageable with a projection of a receiving side movable portion to receive a rotating force, thus rotating said supplying side shutter portion.
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