DEVELOPER SUPPLY CONTAINER

• US 20070280743A1
• Filed: 05/18/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: OKINO, Ayatomo, BAN, Yutaka, NAGASHIMA, Toshiaki, NAKAJIMA, Nobuo, MURAKAMI, Katsuya
• Granted Patent: US 7,412,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/262
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0808 characterised by the developer supplying means, e.g. structure of developer supply roller
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying new developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0872 the developer cartridges being generally horizontally mounted parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0877 Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0886 by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0889 for agitation or stirring
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0935 relating to bearings or driving mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1676 for the developer unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0663 having a longitudinal rotational axis, around which at least one part is rotated when mounting or using the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/067 Toner discharging opening covered by arcuate shutter
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/085 Stirring member in developer container

Abstract

If a user is not familiar with the operation for the developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. by increasing a rotation load of a second gear 6 which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member 12 of the developer receiving apparatus 10 by a function of a locking member 7, the developer supply container 1 mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 10 is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container 1 rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member 7 is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear 6 is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member 4 for developer supply is smooth.

Claims

1. A developer supply container detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus, said developer supply container comprising:

an accommodating portion for accommodating a developer;

a discharging member for discharging a developer from said containing portion;

a drive transmission member, engageable with a driving member of said developer receiving apparatus, for transmitting a driving force to said discharging member; and

suppressing means having a variable suppressing force for suppressing a relative rotation between said developer supply container and said drive transmission member.

2. A developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein said drive transmission member is rotatably supported at a position away from a rotational center of said developer supply container.

3. A developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein said suppressing means includes an applying portion for applying a rotation load to said drive transmission member.

4. A developer supply container according to claim 1, further comprising a reducing portion for reducing a suppressing force of said suppressing means.

5. A developer supply container according to claim 4, further comprising a drive relaying member for relaying a drive transmission between said drive transmission member and said discharging member, wherein said reducing portion is provided on said drive relaying member which is rotatable relative to said developer supply container rotated to an operating position by the suppressing force of said suppressing means.

6. A developer supply container according to claim 3, further comprising a drive relaying member for relaying a drive transmission between said drive transmission member and said discharging member, wherein said applying portion applies a rotation load to said drive transmission member through said drive relaying member.

7. A developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein said suppressing means includes a locking portion for locking said drive transmission member.

8. A developer supply container according to claim 7, wherein when said developer supply container rotates to an operating position, said drive transmission member is released by releasing means of said developer receiving apparatus.

9. A developer supply container according to claim 7, further comprising a drive relaying member for relaying a drive transmission between said drive transmission member and said discharging member, wherein said locking portion locks said drive transmission member through said drive relaying member.

10. A developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein a rotation load of said drive transmission member in a state of being suppressed by said suppressing means is larger than a rotation resisting force received from said developer receiving apparatus by said developer supply container, and a rotation load of said drive transmission member after the suppressing force of said suppressing means is changed is smaller than the rotation resisting force received from said developer receiving apparatus by said developer supply container.

11. A developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein a rotation load of said drive transmission member in a state of being suppressed by said suppressing means is not less than 0.05 Nm and not more than 1.0 Nm, and the rotation load of said drive transmission member after the suppressing force of said suppressing means is changed is less than 0.05 Nm.

12. A developer supply container according to claim 1, further comprising an engaging portion engageable with a shutter for opening and closing a developer receiving opening of the developer receiving apparatus, wherein said engaging portion moves said shutter in an opening direction in interrelation with rotation of said developer supply container toward an operating position by the suppressing force of said suppressing means.

13. A developer supply container according to claim 12, further comprising a developer discharge opening in a peripheral surface of said containing portion, wherein said developer discharge opening is brought into communication with the developer receiving opening in interrelation with rotation of said developer supply container toward the operating position.

14. A developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein said drive transmission member includes a teeth portion for meshing engagement with a teeth portion of the driving member.