JP2000003089A - Slide cover used in storage device for recording particles - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storage device for supplying granular material to the replenishing part of a reproducing device. SOLUTION: The storage device 10 is provided with a container 12 for storing the granular material. An aperture part is formed on the container 12 and a flange 14 is arranged near the aperture part in order to easily arrange and remove the device 10 in/from the reproducing device. The slide cover 40 is supported by the flange 14 in order to selectively move to a 1st position where it covers the aperture part or a 2nd position where it is separated from the aperture part. The cover 40 is fixed at a retreat position so that it can be attached to/detached from the container 12 when it is at the 2nd position. Besides, the cover 40 is equipped with a member for identifying the device 10, and this identifying part is formed so that the device 10 can be actuated only with the reproducing device requiring the device 10 in cooperation with a part formed in the replenishing part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a storage container for recording particles which is generally used for supplying particulate material to a developing section of a reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to a case where the storing section is operably compatible with the developing section of the reproducing apparatus. And a recording particle reservoir having a slide cover for selectively closing the reservoir which is easily held in the retracted position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a commercially available reproducing apparatus is, for example, an electrostatic copying machine (copying machine) or a printer. In such a reproducing apparatus, colored recording particles are used to reproduce an electrostatic latent image of image information on a dielectric support member once and then to convey it to a carrier member, or to reproduce directly on the carrier member. The carrying member is carried to a melting device together with the recording particles attached to the carrying member, where the recording particles are fixed (melted) to the carrying member by heating or pressure, and
A duplicate is formed.

[0003] Recording particles for developing an electrostatic latent image are supplied to a developing unit in a reproducing device in a storage container detachably connected to a storage device for the developing unit. U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,887 (Hacknower et al.
(Published November 27, 1990) describes a recording particle storage provided with a substrate and a particle supply section. The substrate has an opening that faces downward during use, and a flange that extends outward from the opening. A cover is slidably fixed to the flange. The storage device for the reservoir has a replenishing part, which is adapted to receive recording particles via the substrate of the reservoir when the opening of the reservoir is arranged directly above the replenishing part. . When the reservoir with the slide cover is located beside the replenishing section, the recording particle replenishing section of the reservoir will:
While the flange slides on the supply unit upper surface located around the supply unit opening, the flange is disengaged from the cover and is slid above the supply unit.

After the reservoir has been emptied, the recording particle replenisher of the reservoir is replaced on the cover. This prevents the recording particles remaining in the recording particle reservoir from leaking out during removal of the reservoir or during handling of the reservoir when reusing the reservoir. The slide cover can be moved to a retracted position by using a hinge when the storage device is disposed at a position where the storage device can be operated with respect to the replenishing portion of the developing device.

[0005]

However, no mechanism is provided for holding the slide cover at the retracted position. Therefore, the slide cover and its seal
It is susceptible to damage during operation of the playback device. Further, the recording particle reservoir contains specific recording particles selected according to various components and characteristics. Similarly, a reproducing apparatus needs to use recording particles having specific components and characteristics selected from various components and characteristics. It is important to provide a mechanism in which recording particles having specific components and characteristics are used only in a reproducing apparatus that requires such recording particles.

[0006]

In view of the above, a first aspect of the present invention provides a storage container for recording particles and a slide cover which can be easily held at a retracted position when the storage device operates with a developing section of a reproducing apparatus. And to provide.

[0007] The reservoir has a container for storing the particulate material. An opening is formed in the container, and a flange is arranged near the opening to facilitate placement and removal of the reservoir with respect to the regenerating apparatus. A slide cover is supported by the flange to selectively move to a first position covering the opening or a second position away from the opening. The slide cover is detachably fixed to the container at the retracted position when the slide cover is at the second position.

In addition, a second aspect of the present invention is a recording particle storage for supplying a particulate material to a replenishing unit of a reproducing apparatus, and requires specific recording particles stored in the storage. It is an object to provide something that can only be operatively adapted with a playback device.

[0009] The reservoir has a container for storing the particulate material. An opening is formed in the container, and a flange is arranged near the opening to facilitate placement and removal of the reservoir with respect to the regenerating apparatus. A slide cover is supported by the flange to selectively move to a first position covering the opening or a second position away from the opening. The slide cover includes a member having at least one feature for identifying the reservoir, and the identification portion cooperates with a portion provided in the replenishing section so that the reservoir requires the reservoir to be regenerated. It is designed to work only with the device.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. A particulate material reservoir according to the present invention with a slide cover is generally designated by the numeral 10 and is best shown in FIGS. The reservoir 10 consists essentially of two parts: a blow molded plastic container 12 and an injection molded support flange 14 connected to the container 12.
The housing shape of the container 12 is set such that the storage capacity of the particle material is maximized and the resistance to the particle flow when the recording particles are filled in or taken out of the container is minimized.

In the embodiment shown here, the particulate material is colored recording particles used to develop an image, for example, in a reproduction device such as a copier or printer. The container 12 of the reservoir 10 has a plurality of features 16a to 16e. Part 16 of container 12
a to 16d improve the handling of the reservoir,
Placement of the storage device in the regenerator compatible with this storage device
Facilitates removal. Portions 16a to 16d are specially shaped recesses formed in the container front part (12f) and rear part (12r) which extend substantially vertically and are arranged opposite to each other. The recess can be easily grasped by a human hand. The direction and the outer shape of the concave portion are set so that the hand can be placed at an optimum position where the handling of the storage device 10 can be facilitated and the storage device can be easily slid in and out of the playback device. That is, the recesses 16a to 16d are formed so that the user's fingers can be easily accommodated, and provide safety grips on the storage device 10 at positions facing each other. Furthermore, the recess is located very close to the center of gravity when the reservoir is filled with recording particles, so that the flange is up (for filling and storage of the recording particles) (from loading and reloading to the playback device). When lowering the flange)
The reservoir is easily lifted and operated. Portion 16e (FIG. 1) is also a recess formed in the vertically extending front portion 12f of container 12. The purpose of the portion 16e will be clarified by the following description.

The reproducing apparatus is provided with a recording particle replenishing section 30 for receiving the recording particle storage 10, so that the recording particles are resupplied to the developing section of the apparatus (FIG. 6). The replenishing section 30 is formed with a cavity 32 for receiving recording particles from the reservoir 10, where the recording particles are mixed and supplied to the developing section of the reproducing apparatus. These mechanisms are conventionally known and will not be described in detail here. The replenisher 30 also has a planar receiving portion 34 which receives the lower surface of the flange 14 of the reservoir 10 as the reservoir moves to a position abutting the positioning stop 35 with respect to the replenisher. You will be guided while doing so. The side guide 36 guides the flange 14 of the reservoir 10 as the reservoir is slid by the operator into an operating position such that its opening is above the cavity 32. An elastic seal 38 is arranged in the periphery of the supply unit 30 along the entrance to the cavity 32.
When the reservoir 10 is in the operative position against the cavity 32 against the stopper 35, the side guide 36 contacts the seal 38 and fixes the flange 14.

The rigid slide cover 40 according to the present invention is held on the flange 14 by side rails 42. The slide cover 40 is preferably formed of plastic. The tip reinforcement member 44 for the slide cover is adapted to hit the front of the flange 14 when the slide cover is properly positioned on the reservoir 10. As best shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, the slide cover 40 has a first portion 46 and a second portion 48, which are connected by a hinge 50. The hinge 50 may be formed by, for example, a known method of thinning a part of the slide cover 40. The special hinge structure allows the first part 46 to rotate substantially freely with respect to the second part 48.
This is used in certain cases, as described below.

In addition, the slide cover 40 has a foam seal 60. The foam seal 60 is used to prevent the recording particles from leaking outside when the storage device 10 is loaded into or removed from the playback device. The foam seal 60 (best shown in FIG. 7) has a layer 62 of foamed polyolefin, for example. One side of the foam layer 62 is coated, for example, with a thin sheet 64 of polyolefin. Such a sheet 64 has a low coefficient of friction, which allows the flange 14 of the reservoir 10 to easily slide on the slide cover 40 and prevents recording particles from sticking to the slide cover.

The other side of the foam layer 62 has a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating 66 for attaching the foam seal 60 to the slide cover 40. Also, a paper-supporting layer 68 is applied to the pressure-sensitive adhesive coating 66 so that the coating is not soiled. Before combining with the slide cover 40, a part of the support layer 68 is removed. The rest of the support layer ensures that the foam seal is quickly positioned in place with respect to the slide cover during combination. Subsequently, the removed portion of the support layer 68 is replaced with the foam seal 60.
Can be fixed to the slide cover 40 by the adhesive coating 66 at the above-described appropriate positions.

The foam seal 60 has a groove 60a recessed into the foam seal from the pressure-sensitive adhesive film side. The groove 60a is
When combined with the slide cover 40, it is arranged so as to overlap on the hinge 50. In this manner, the foam seal 60 bends easily as the first portion 46 rotates relative to the second portion 48. This minimizes the spring tension of the foam seal and reduces the amount of bending force required to act on the slide cover 40.

The recording particle storage 10 is provided with a cavity 32 of a replenishing section.
Is positioned above the cavity (as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4), and outwardly from the area between the reservoir and the cavity. It is in a state of extending to the position on the side of the part. Therefore, the slide cover 40 may be in contact with the front door of the playback device in a state where the door is closed, or may be disposed at a position where the slide cover or another component of the playback device may be damaged.

The slide cover hinge 50 is connected to the replenishing section 3.
It is arranged perpendicular to the direction of movement of the reservoir relative to zero.
Therefore, the second part 48 rotates to the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 so that the second part 48 can be retracted from the moving direction of other parts of the playback device without restriction. Good. That is, the front door of the playback device can be freely closed.

The slide cover 40 further has a latch 52 for engaging the portion 16e (described above) of the container 12. Latch 52 preferably has some resilience to facilitate operation on portion 16e. Therefore, by the engagement of the latch 52 with the concave portion of the portion 16e, the slide cover 40 is safely held at the retracted position, and damage can be prevented.

When the recording particle reservoir 10 is empty, the slide cover 40 is returned to the original extended position. That is, the latch 52 is manually separated from the portion 16e, and then the second portion 48 of the slide cover is moved to the first portion 4e.
Rotate around the hinge 50 until it is located on substantially the same plane as 6 (see FIGS. 1 and 4). Subsequently, the recording particles are stored on the extended slide cover 40 for removal and disposal so as to minimize the loss of unused recording particles and minimize the possibility of soiling someone or the worker's clothing. Vessel 1
You can slide 0 back.

It is well known that a reproducing apparatus uses, for example, recording particles having various components and properties according to a specific step performed in the reproducing apparatus. For example, a color reproduction device may be designed to use one recording particle component that is also compatible with a fuser for other color recording particles. On the other hand, some devices use recording particles used in black-only devices, which are not compatible with fusers for color recording particles, but this device has other advantages. Further, one reproducing apparatus may use two color recording particles in the replenishing section of the developing section (in other cases, these replenishing sections correspond to the developing sections of black, red, etc., respectively). .). Further, one reproducing apparatus may use magnetic black recording particles and non-magnetic black recording particles in substantially the same supply section.

In order to allow the use of a common part compatible with a plurality of regenerators, a slide cover 40 for the recording particle reservoir 10 works in cooperation with the replenisher 30 to store storage with specific components and characteristics. It has a simple mechanism that guarantees that the recording particles in the container are used only for a reproducing device that requires the above components and characteristics. As best shown in FIG. 8, when the slide cover 40 is manufactured, the tip reinforcing member 44
, A pair of protrusions 44a and 44b are attached to both ends thereof. Further, a plurality of ribs 4 extending straight at predetermined intervals are provided in the middle of the tip reinforcing member 44.
4c, 44d, etc. are arranged. Similarly, supply unit 3
0 receiving portion 34 includes guide groove 34 a and a plurality of identification grooves 3.
4c, 34d, etc. (FIG. 6). The size of the guide groove 34a is such that when the guide groove 34a accommodates the reinforcing member 44 (and the protrusions 44a, 44b) and thus is compatible with the replenishing section 30 in the operating position, the slide cover 40 and the recording particle reservoir are provided. 10 are set to be appropriately arranged. The plurality of identification grooves 34c, 34d, and the like accommodate the identification ribs of the slide cover 44.

Depending on the components and characteristics of the recording particles used to fill the reservoir 10, a slide cover having an identification rib indicating the components and characteristics of the specific recording particles is used. When an operator attempts to resupply a certain recording particle to a reproducing apparatus using a recording particle having a specific component, the operator needs to use the recording particle reservoir 10 containing an appropriate recording particle component. is there. When the identification rib of the slide cover is engaged with the identification groove provided in the receiving portion of the replenishing portion, the reservoir is appropriately connected to the replenishing portion so that the reservoir can slide to an appropriate position above the replenishing portion. It has become. However, when an operator attempts to put a storage container containing different components into the supply unit, the identification groove provided in the receiving unit of the supply unit interferes with the identification rib of the slide cover 40, and the storage unit for the supply unit is removed. To prevent connection.

In addition, a seal 70 is used to cover the bottom of the recording particle reservoir 10 (FIG. 9). Seal 7
0 is made of a breathable material such as paper, coated paper, plastic, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the breathable seal 70 comprises the trademark Tyvek.
The purpose of the breathable seal is to retain the recording particles in the reservoir during shipping and handling, and to allow air to pass through the seal. This prevents a pressure differential from occurring in the reservoir. These well-known seals are provided with a flange 1 to seal the reservoir.
4 is glued to the lower part in the usual manner. Breathable seal 70
Is mounted from the rear end of the flange 14 (when inserted) through the opening in the reservoir to the front end near the flange.

When the seal 70 is folded twice, a removal end portion 70a extending from between the flange 14 and the slide 40 is formed. Therefore, the operator can easily access the end 70a of the breathable seal. After moving the recording particle reservoir 10 to the operating position above the replenishing unit 30 and before moving to the retracted position where the slide cover 40 is held, the end 70a of the gas permeable seal 70 is pulled to allow air permeability. Removed from seal and opening. Thereby, the recording particles in the reservoir fall into the cavity of the replenishing unit. Thereafter, the breathable seal is discarded.

As mentioned above, the reservoir 10 is made larger than previously known reservoirs. as a result,
It is necessary to increase the size of the air-permeable seal 70 in proportion thereto. The previous shape of the breathable seal increases the force required to remove the breathable seal, i.e., to break the seal adhesive. The breathable seal 70 is placed in the reservoir 10
The force required to remove from the body consists of two components. First, the force that breaks the seal adhesive against the reservoir. If the tack is constant, the force required to remove it depends on the bonding structure of the sealing adhesive. By changing the pattern of the seal adhesive, it is possible to change the force required to break the seal adhesive. The seal adhesive 80 has a pattern to reduce the distance between the straight portions of the seal while maintaining the tightness. Sine curves or sawtooth patterns have been developed for the breathable sealing adhesive 80 to reduce the force required for removal. The sine-curve seal adhesive 80a is located at the rear end and the front end of the flange 14, and a linear seal adhesive 80b is arranged between them (FIG. 9). This seal adhesive configuration reduces the distance of the linear portion of the seal adhesive at any location (in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pulling force) while keeping the width of the seal adhesive to a minimum.

Second, the reservoir 10 is loaded onto the refill 30 and is sealed to the refill 30 with the above-described foam seal 60 (which ensures a strong seal against leakage of recording particles), thus providing breathability. Seal 70 must be pulled through a foam seal. In conventional configurations, it is standard practice to seal the flange 14 to the reservoir side where the breathable seal is attached. However, in the present invention, the width of the gas permeable seal 70 is made smaller than the width of the foam seal 60 on the replenishing portion 30 and the gas permeable seal is retained inside the foam seal to remove the gas permeable seal. The required force can be reduced. This is due, at least in part, to the fact that the breathable seal that is withdrawn from the reservoir flange does not overlap below the flange in the foam seal (otherwise, extra interference would occur. The tensile force increases.) Therefore, 2 through the foam seal 60 on the replenishing section 30 side.
Removing the layered breathable seal 70 also reduces the force required for removal.

Alternatively, a double stacked breathable seal 70 '(FIG. 10) may be incorporated into the reservoir flange 14 to reduce the force of removing the seal. For example, a central cross rib 72 is formed in the flange of the reservoir, so that the two sheets of breathable seals 74, 76 (for example made of the same material as above) can be glued independently to the flange. The central cross rib 72 may be formed in a tapered shape so that the recording particles are directly inserted into the supply section 30 without being caught by the cross rib. By dividing the opening of the recording particle reservoir into two, the worker can
Relatively small sheet-shaped breathable seals can be removed one at a time, which can result in less force removing each breathable seal. Therefore,
By removing one breathable seal at a time, the force for removal can be reduced by almost half.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view when a recording particle storage and a slide cover for the storage according to the present invention are located at an open position and an extended position, respectively.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view when a recording particle storage and a slide cover for the storage according to the present invention are located at an open position and a retracted position, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view when a recording particle storage and a slide cover for the storage according to the present invention are in a closed position.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the recording particle reservoir and the slide cover shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the recording particle reservoir and the slide cover shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing the positions of a recording particle reservoir and a slide cover with respect to a supply unit.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a slide cover for a recording particle storage, showing a hinge mechanism and a foam seal of the slide cover.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the recording particle reservoir and the slide cover shown in FIG. 1 when viewed from below.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a flange of a recording particle reservoir and a breathable seal for the reservoir.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of a flange of a recording particle reservoir and a breathable seal for the reservoir.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: recording particle reservoir, 12: container, 12f: front, 1
2r: rear portion, 14: support flange, 16a to 16e: characteristic portion, 30: supply portion, 32: hollow portion, 34: receiving portion,
34a: guide groove, 34c, 34d: identification groove, 35:
Stopper, 36: side guide, 38: seal, 40:
Slide cover, 42: side rail, 44: tip reinforcing member: 44a, 44b: protrusion, 44c, 44d: identification rib, 46: first portion, 48: second portion, 50:
Hinge, 52: Latch, 60: Foam seal, 60a:
Groove, 62: layer, 64: sheet, 66: adhesive film: 68:
Paper supporting layers, 70, 70 ': breathable seal, 70
a: Removal end, 80, 80 ': Seal adhesive.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (72) Inventor Scott Howard Schwarie 16th Grandview Lane, Rochester, NY 14612, USA

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A reservoir of particulate material to be supplied to a regenerator, comprising: an opening; and a flange disposed near the opening to facilitate placement and removal of the reservoir relative to the regenerator. A container having a first position that covers the opening or a second position that is away from the opening and that is supported by a flange to be selectively detachable from the container when in the second position. A slide cover fixed in the retracted position. 2. The slide cover according to claim 1, further comprising a member having at least one feature for identifying the reservoir, wherein the identification portion cooperates with a portion provided in the replenishing portion to cause the reservoir to be connected to the reservoir. 2. The reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is formed so as to be operable only with a regenerating device that requires.