US 7,406,278 B2 · Powder container having a lower section with multiple parts which rotatably engage with each other

Abstract

A part of a toner supply path is formed in a setting unit, and a nozzle coupled to a toner container is provided, wherein the fitting direction of the toner container to the setting unit and the coupling direction of the nozzle to the toner container are different. There is a powder container having an upper section and a multi-part lower section. The multi-part lower section has an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion having an opening which is perpendicular to an opening of the upper portion. The upper and lower portions are rotatably engaged such that the upper portion and the lower portion are engaged with each other when rotated to a first position relative to each other, and the upper portion and the lower portion are unengaged with each other when rotated to a second position relative to each other.

Claims40

Dependent claims

A powder container, comprising:

an upper section configured to store powder;
a multi-part lower section including an upper portion having an opening configured to receive powder directly from the upper section, and a lower portion having an opening perpendicular to the opening of the upper portion configured to discharge powder, the upper portion being rotatably interlocked with the lower portion such that the upper portion and the lower portion are interlocked with each other when rotated to a first position relative to each other, and the upper portion and the lower portion are not interlocked with each other when rotated to second position relative to each other.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

11/565,814Filed 1 Dec 2006 · continuation

Priority

JP 2002-27569120 Sep 2002

Published

US 2007/0092303 A126 Apr 2007

Granted

29 Jul 2008

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G03G 15/0894
Using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer: reconditioning of the developer unit, i.e. reusing or recycling parts of the unit, e.g. resealing…
G03G 15/0855
Detection or control means for the developer concentration: the concentration being measured by optical means
G03G 15/0865
Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer: arrangements for supplying new developer
G03G 15/0874
Arrangements for supplying new developer: non-rigid containers, e.g. foldable cartridges, bags

Family

PCT/JP03/11707Parent of this continuation · filed 12 Sep 2003

US 2007/0092303 A1Pre-grant publication · published 26 Apr 2007

Application10/514,832Parent of this continuation

US 7,277,664 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2005/0226655 A1Published application

US 7,406,278 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Powder container having a lower section with multiple parts which rotatably engage with each other

Life of this patent

Powder container having a lower section with multiple parts which rotatably engage with each other

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims40