POWDER CONVEYANCE DEVICE, PROCESS UNIT, AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE

• US 20080279581A1
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: SHIMIZU, Yoshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,995,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/102
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0844 Arrangements for purging used developer from the developing unit
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0875 cartridges having a box like shape
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/105 Arrangements for conveying toner waste

Abstract

A powder conveyance device is disclosed that enables plural powder conveyance paths to be easily and reliably attached and detached. The powder conveyance device includes a first housing including a first powder conveyance path, and a second housing including a second powder conveyance path, the first housing and the second housing being detachably attached to each other. A projection portion is provided in the first housing, the projection portion having a hole in communication with the first powder conveyance path, and a hole portion is provided in the second housing, the hole portion being in communication with the second powder conveyance path. When attaching the first housing to or detaching the first housing from the second housing, the projection portion is inserted into or drawn out of the hole portion.

Claims

1. A powder conveyance device, comprising:

a first housing including a first powder conveyance path; and

a second housing including a second powder conveyance path, the first housing and the second housing being detachably attached to each other;

wherein

a projection portion is provided in the first housing, the projection portion having a hole in communication with the first powder conveyance path,

a hole portion is provided in the second housing, the hole portion being in communication with the second powder conveyance path,

when attaching the first housing to the second housing, the projection portion is inserted into the hole portion, and

when detaching the first housing from the second housing, the projection portion is drawn out of the hole portion.

2. The powder conveyance device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sealing member is provided on an outer surface of the projection portion.

3. The powder conveyance device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sealing member is provided on the outer surface of the projection portion with an adhesive.

4. The powder conveyance device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a thickness of the sealing member is greater than a gap between the outer surface of the projection portion and an inner surface of the hole portion.

5. The powder conveyance device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a shape of an outer periphery of the projection portion is similar to a shape of an inner periphery of the hole portion.

6. The powder conveyance device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sealing member is formed of an elastic material.

7. The powder conveyance device as claimed in claim 2, wherein

an inclined surface is formed on one or more of the outer surface of the projection portion, an outer surface of the sealing member, and an inner surface of the hole portion;

the inclined surface is inclined such that a size of the inclined surface decreases in an insertion direction in which the projection portion is inserted into the hole portion.

8. The powder conveyance device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sealing member is strip-shaped, and is wound on the outer surface of the projection portion.

9. The powder conveyance device as claimed in claim 8, wherein

when the sealing member is wound on the outer surface of the projection portion, each of two opposite end surfaces of the sealing member includes:

a convex surface portion that projects to the other end surface;

a concave surface portion that faces a convex surface portion of the other end surface; and

a connecting surface portion that connects the convex surface portion and the concave surface portion, and intersects a thickness direction of the sealing member,

wherein the connecting surface portions of the two end surfaces are able to be brought into contact with each other.

10. The powder conveyance device as claimed in claim 9, wherein

a length from the convex surface portion of one of the end surfaces of the sealing member to the concave surface portion of the other one of the end surfaces of the sealing member is shorter than a circumferential length of the projection portion.

11. The powder conveyance device as claimed in claim 8, wherein

a contacting portion is provided on the inner surface of the hole portion such that the contacting portion is in contact with a portion of the outer surface of the sealing member near the two opposite end surfaces of the sealing member.

12. The powder conveyance device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of combinations of an insertion axle and an insertion hole the insertion axle being insertable in the insertion hole when the projection portion is inserted into the hole portion,

wherein

in each of the combinations,

the insertion axle is provided on an inner side of one of the hole of the projection portion and the hole portion, and

the insertion hole is provided on an inner side of the other one of the hole of the projection portion and the hole portion.

13. The powder conveyance device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

when the projection portion is arranged to face the hole portion, intervals between the insertion axles and the corresponding insertion holes are different.

14. The powder conveyance device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

one or more of the insertion axles are conveyance screws for powder conveyance, and the insertion holes corresponding to the one or more of the insertion axles are conveyance openings for powder conveyance.

15. The powder conveyance device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the insertion axles and the insertion holes are connected by coupling.

16. The powder conveyance device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

an interference portion is provided that interferes with one of the insertion axles when the one of the insertion axles is inserted into one of the insertion holes other than the insertion hole corresponding to the one of the insertion axles.

17. The powder conveyance device as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the first housing and the second housing are attached so that the first housing and the second housing are able to be displaced relative to each other in a direction perpendicular to a direction of attaching the first housing and the second housing, and

the sealing member is formed of a flexible material.

18. A processing unit able to be detachably attached to a main body of an image forming device, comprising:

one or more of a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit;

a toner container integrated with the one or more of the charging unit, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit; and

a toner conveyance unit configured to convey toner;

wherein

the toner conveyance unit includes

a first housing including a first toner conveyance path; and

a second housing including a second toner conveyance path, the first housing and the second housing being detachably attached to each other,

wherein

a projection portion is provided in the first housing, the projection portion having a hole in communication with the first toner conveyance path,

a hole portion is provided in the second housing, the hole portion being in communication with the second toner conveyance path,

when attaching the first housing to the second housing, the projection portion is inserted into the hole portion, and

when detaching the first housing from the second housing, the projection portion is drawn out of the hole portion.

19. The processing unit as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

an image carrier,

wherein the image carrier and the toner container are integrated with the one or more of the charging unit, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit.

20. An image forming device, comprising:

a processing unit able to be detachably attached to a main body of the image forming device, said processing unit including one or more of a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit;

a toner container integrated with the one or more of the charging unit, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit; and

a toner conveyance unit configured to convey toner;

wherein

the toner conveyance unit includes

a first housing including a first toner conveyance path; and

a second housing including a second toner conveyance path, the first housing and the second housing being detachably attached to each other,

wherein

a projection portion is provided in the first housing, the projection portion having a hole in communication with the first toner conveyance path,

a hole portion is provided in the second housing, the hole portion being in communication with the second toner conveyance path,

when attaching the first housing to the second housing, the projection portion is inserted into the hole portion, and

when detaching the first housing from the second housing, the projection portion is drawn out of the hole portion.