TONER CONTAINER HAVING SCREW FOR CONVEYING TONER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING TONER CONTAINER

• US 20070242993A1
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: TANAKA, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,157 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/358
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0855 the concentration being measured by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying new developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0802 Arrangements for agitating or circulating developer material
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0819 two or more agitators
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/083 with two opposed pitches on one shaft

Abstract

The invention is to improve a toner diffusing efficiency in a toner container, thereby increasing a toner containing capacity. The toner container includes plural screws which diffuse the toner in plural directions and diffuse the toner in different positions. A toner filling efficiency in the collecting container is improved by providing plural toner diffusing points within the toner container.

Claims

1. A toner container comprising:

first and second screws rotated for conveying a toner in the container;

wherein an axis of rotation of said first screw crosses an axis of rotation of said second screw cross, and said first screw conveys the toner in the container to said second screw, while said second screw includes a portion for conveying the toner in the container in a direction apart from said first screw, and a portion for conveying the toner in a direction toward said first screw.

2. A toner container according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third screw;

wherein an axis of rotation of said third screw crosses the axis of rotation of said first screw.

3. A toner container according to claim 2, wherein said third screw includes a portion for conveying the toner in the container in a direction apart from said first screw and a portion for conveying the toner in a direction toward said first screw.

4. A toner container according to claim 3, wherein a distance between said first screw and the portion, in said second screw, for conveying the toner in a direction toward said first screw is approximately same as a distance between said first screw and the portion, in said third screw, for conveying the toner in a direction toward said first screw.

5. A toner container according to claim 1, wherein said second screw conveys the toner downward in a gravitational direction.

6. A toner container according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of said screw is obliquely with respect to a gravitational direction, and said screw convey toner in a direction obliquely with respect to a gravitational direction and downward.

7. A toner container according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of said first screw is crossing perpendicularly the axis of rotation of said second screw.

8. A toner container according to claim 2, wherein the axis of rotation of said third screw is crossing perpendicularly the axis of rotation of said second screw.

9. A toner container according to claim 5, wherein said first screw conveys a toner in a horizontal direction.

10. A toner container according to claim 6, wherein said first screw conveys a toner in a horizontal direction.

11. A toner container according to claim 1, wherein said second screw comprises a gear meshing with a blade of said first screw and receives a rotary force of said first screw through said blade and said gear.

12. An image forming apparatus comprising a toner container according to claim 1.

13. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising;

an image bearing member for bearing a toner image;

a transfer member on which the toner image is transferred from said image bearing member,

wherein said toner container contains a residual toner remaining on said image bearing member after the toner image is transferred.

14. A toner container comprising:

a screw rotated to convey a toner in the container;

wherein an axis of rotation of said screw is obliquely with respect to a gravitational direction, and said screw convey toner in a direction obliquely with respect to a gravitational direction and downward.