# US 2024/0201616 A1 · Developer replenishing container and method of reusing developer replenishment container > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0201616 A1 - Document ID: US20240201616A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/512,154 - Filed: 2023-11-17 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-19 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: YASUHIRO SHIMOI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201616A1 ## CPC - G03G 15/0886: {by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug} - G03G 15/0868: {Toner cartridges fulfilling a continuous function within the electrographic apparatus during the use of the supplied developer material, e.g. toner discharge on demand, storing residual toner, acting as an active closure for the developer replenishing opening} - G03G 15/0881: {Sealing of developer cartridges} - G03G 15/0894: {Reconditioning of the developer unit, i.e. reusing or recycling parts of the unit, e.g. resealing of the unit before refilling with toner} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A developer replenishing container configured to be detachably attachable to a developer replenishing device and to replenish developer via the developer replenishing device is disclosed. The developer replenishing container includes: a developer replenishing portion with a replenishing opening; and a shutter with at least one shutter opening that can communicate with the replenishing opening, the shutter being configured to open and close the replenishing opening according to attaching and detaching operations of the developer replenishing container, wherein the shutter is movable between a sealing position where the replenishing opening is sealed, a replenishing position where the shutter opening faces the replenishing opening to replenish developer from the developer replenishing container, and a filling position where the developer replenishing container is filled with developer without sealing the replenishing opening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A developer replenishing container configured to be detachably attachable to a developer replenishing device and to replenish developer via the developer replenishing device, the developer replenishing container comprising: a developer replenishing portion with a replenishing opening; and a shutter with at least one shutter opening that can communicate with the replenishing opening, the shutter being configured to open and close the replenishing opening according to attaching and detaching operations of the developer replenishing container, wherein the shutter is movable between a sealing position where the replenishing opening is sealed, a replenishing position where the shutter opening faces the replenishing opening to replenish developer from the developer replenishing container, and a filling position where the developer replenishing container is filled with developer without sealing the replenishing opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The developer replenishing container according to claim 1, wherein the shutter has a first shutter opening that can communicate with the replenishing opening and a second shutter opening that can communicate with the replenishing opening, a diameter of the second shutter opening being larger than that of the first shutter opening, and wherein the shutter is movable between a sealing position where the replenishing opening is sealed, a replenishing position where the first shutter opening communicates with the replenishing opening, and a filling position where the second shutter opening communicates with the replenishing opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The developer replenishing container according to claim 2, further comprising: an elastic member provided between the developer replenishing portion and the shutter to seal a space between the developer replenishing portion and the shutter, the elastic member having a seal opening that communicates with the replenishing opening, wherein a diameter of the seal opening is smaller than that of the second shutter opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The developer replenishing container according to claim 3, wherein an opening width of the replenishing opening is larger than an opening width of the seal opening, and the opening width of the seal opening is larger than an opening width of the second shutter opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The developer replenishing container according to claim 3, wherein a diameter on a developer replenishing portion side, of the second shutter opening is larger than a diameter on an opposite side, of the second shutter opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The developer replenishing container according to claim 1, wherein the shutter has a shutter opening that can communicate with the replenishing opening and a recessed portion of the shutter, and wherein the shutter is movable between a sealing position where the replenishing opening is sealed, a replenishing position where the shutter opening communicates with the replenishing opening, and a filling position where the recessed portion that is recessed inwardly of the shutter faces the replenishing opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The developer replenishing container according to claim 1, wherein the developer replenishing portion has a filling opening that can communicate with the outside of the developer replenishing container separately from the replenishing opening that can communicate with the at least one shutter opening of the shutter, an opening width of the filling opening is larger than that of the replenishing opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The developer replenishing container according to claim 7, further comprising: a sealing member for sealing the filling opening so as for the filling opening not to communicate with the outside of the developer replenishing container, wherein the filling opening is normally sealed by the sealing member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The developer replenishing container according to claim 8, wherein the sealing member is a sealing sticker that is affixed to the developer replenishing container such that the sealing sticker covers the filling opening, and wherein the sealing sticker can be peeled off when the shutter is moved to the filling position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The developer replenishing container according to claim 1, further comprising: a detection portion configured to detect that the developer replenishing container has been reused, and a contact portion configured to remove the detection portion by contacting the detection portion when the shutter is moved to the filling position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The developer replenishing container according to claim 10, wherein the contact portion is a part of a held portion integrally formed with the shutter, the held portion being held to the developer replenishing device when the developer replenishing container is attached and detached. ### Claim 12 A method of reusing a developer replenishing container configured to be detachably attachable to a developer replenishing device, and to replenish developer via the developer replenishing device, the developer replenishing container including: a developer replenishing portion with a replenishing opening; and a shutter with at least one shutter opening that can communicate with the replenishing opening, the shutter being configured to open and close the replenishing opening according to attaching and detaching operations of the developer replenishing container, wherein the shutter is movable between a sealing position where the replenishing opening is sealed, a replenishing position where developer is replenished from the developer replenishing container via the replenishing opening, and a filling position where the developer replenishing container is filled with developer via the replenishing opening, wherein the method comprises the steps of: moving the shutter of the developer replenishing container to the filling position, and filing the developer replenishing container with developer with the shutter being located at the filling position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of reusing a developer replenishing container, according to claim 12, wherein the developer replenishing container includes: a detection portion configured to detect that the developer replenishing container has been reused, the detection portion being provided on a developer replenishing portion, and a contact portion provided on the shutter, the contact portion being configured to remove the detection portion by contacting the detection portion when the shutter is moved from the sealing position to the filling position, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of: determining whether the developer replenishing container has been reused or not according to presence or absence of the detection portion, and moving the shutter to the filling position after it is determined that the detection portion is present and the developer replenishing container has not been reused.