IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0468211
(2009-05-19)
|
등록번호 |
US-7751758
(2010-07-26)
|
우선권정보 |
JP-11-337265(1999-11-29); JP-2000-350621(2000-11-17) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
14 |
초록
▼
A developer supply cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, includes a developer accommodating portion of accommodating a developer; a discharging opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion to a developer receivin
A developer supply cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, includes a developer accommodating portion of accommodating a developer; a discharging opening for discharging the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion to a developer receiving opening of a developer receiving cartridge provided with developing means for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with the developer, the developer receiving cartridge being detachably mountable to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus; a shutter member movable between an opening position for opening the discharging opening and a closing position for closing the discharging opening; an engaging portion for engagement with the developer receiving cartridge so as to receive, from the developer receiving cartridge, a force for moving the shutter member from the closing position to the opening position, in interrelation with a relative movement between the developer supply cartridge and the developer receiving cartridge toward each other in a mounting-and-demounting direction of the developer supply cartridge relative to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A developer supply cartridge, detachably insertable into an image forming apparatus, for supplying a developer to a developer receiving cartridge which is detachably insertable into the image forming apparatus and which has first and second engaging members, said developer su
What is claimed is: 1. A developer supply cartridge, detachably insertable into an image forming apparatus, for supplying a developer to a developer receiving cartridge which is detachably insertable into the image forming apparatus and which has first and second engaging members, said developer supply cartridge comprising: a developer container having an inner space adapted to contain the developer and a discharge opening for permitting discharge of the developer toward the developer receiving cartridge; and a shutter member configured and positioned to open and close said discharge opening by rotation thereof, said shutter member including: first and second engaging portions engageable, respectively, with the first and second engaging members so as to receive, from the developer receiving cartridge, a force for rotating said shutter member during the operation of inserting said developer supply cartridge or the developer receiving cartridge into the image forming apparatus; and a plurality of communicating portions capable of fluid communication with said discharge opening irrespective of the rotational direction of movement of said shutter member by the force. 2. A developer supply cartridge according to claim 1, wherein one of said communicating portions is caused to communicate with said discharge opening by the rotation of said shutter member through a predetermined angle in one rotational direction from a state in which said discharge opening is closed, and another one of said communicating portions is caused to communicate with said discharge opening by rotation of said shutter member through said predetermined angle in the other rotational direction from a state in which said discharge opening is closed. 3. A developer supply cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said shutter member further includes a plurality of closing portions configured and positioned to re-close said discharge opening irrespective of the rotational direction of movement of said shutter member. 4. A developer supply cartridge according to claim 3, wherein one of said closing portions is caused to re-close said discharge opening by rotation of said shutter member through a predetermined angle in one rotational direction from a state in which said discharge opening is opened, and another one of said closing portions is caused to re-close said discharge opening by rotation of said shutter member through said predetermined angle in the other rotational direction from a state in which said discharge opening is opened. 5. A developer supply cartridge according to claim 3, wherein said communicating portions and said closing portions are provided alternately in the circumferential direction of said shutter member. 6. A developer supply cartridge according to claim 3, wherein an opening operation for opening said discharge opening and a subsequent closing operation for re-closing said discharge opening are effected by rotation of said shutter member unidirectionally. 7. A developer supply cartridge according to claim 3, wherein an opening operation for opening said discharge opening and a subsequent closing operation for re-closing said discharge opening are effected by rotating said shutter member in two directions. 8. A developer supply cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said first and second engaging portions are formed with said shutter member. 9. A developer supply cartridge, detachably insertable into an image forming apparatus in a direction, for supplying developer to a developer receiving cartridge which is detachably insertable into the image forming apparatus in the direction and which includes first and second engaging members arranged in the direction, said developer supply cartridge comprising: a developer container having an inner space adapted to contain the developer and a discharge opening permitting discharge of the developer toward the developer receiving cartridge; and a shutter member configured and positioned to open and close said discharge opening by rotation thereof, said shutter member including: a first engaging portion engageable with the first engaging member to receive a force for rotating said shutter member in one rotational direction with relative movement between said developer supply cartridge and the developer receiving cartridge in the image forming apparatus; a second engaging portion engageable with the second engaging member to receive a force for rotating said shutter member in the other rotational direction with relative movement between said developer supply cartridge and the developer receiving cartridge in the image forming apparatus; and a plurality of communicating portions capable of fluid communication with said discharge opening irrespective of the rotational direction of movement of said shutter member by the force received by said first engaging portion or said second engaging portion. 10. A developer supply cartridge according to claim 9, wherein when the developer receiving cartridge is set into the image forming apparatus, said shutter member is rotated in the one rotational direction so as to open said discharge opening by one of said communicating portions in interrelation with inserting of said developer supply cartridge into the image forming apparatus, and wherein when said developer supply cartridge is set into the image forming apparatus, said shutter member is rotated in the other rotational direction so as to open said discharge opening by another one of said communicating portions in interrelation with inserting of the developer receiving cartridge into the image forming apparatus. 11. A developer supply cartridge according to claim 10, wherein one of said communicating portions is caused to communicate with said discharge opening by the rotation of said shutter member through a predetermined angle in the one rotational direction from a state in which said discharge opening is closed, and another one of said communicating portions is caused to communicate with said discharge opening by rotation of said shutter member through said predetermined angle in the other rotational direction from a state in which said discharge opening is closed. 12. A developer supply cartridge according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said shutter member further includes a plurality of closing portions configured and positioned to re-close said discharge opening irrespective of the rotational direction of movement of said shutter member. 13. A developer supply cartridge according to claim 12, wherein one of said closing portions is caused to re-close said discharge opening by rotation of said shutter member through a predetermined angle in the one rotational direction from a state in which said discharge opening is opened, and another one of said closing portions is caused to re-close said discharge opening by rotation of said shutter member through said predetermined angle in the other rotational direction from a state in which said discharge opening is opened. 14. A developer supply cartridge according to claim 12, wherein said communicating portions and said closing portions are provided alternately in the circumferential direction of said shutter member. 15. A developer supply cartridge according to claim 12, wherein an opening operation for opening said discharge opening and a subsequent closing operation for re-closing said discharge opening are effected by rotation of said shutter member unidirectionally. 16. A developer supply cartridge according to claim 12, wherein an opening operation for opening said discharge opening and a subsequent closing operation for re-closing said discharge opening are effected by rotating said shutter member in two directions. 17. A developer supply cartridge according to claim 14, wherein said communicating portions and said closing portions are formed with said shutter member, and wherein said first and second engaging portions are disposed between adjacent ones of said communicating portion and said closing portion.
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