Developer collection container, developer cartridge, developing unit and image forming apparatus

• US 20090136259A1
• Filed: 11/18/2008
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OKI Electric Industry Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Oki Data Corporation (OKI Electric Industry Company Limited)
• Inventors: Ito, Junichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,131,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/120
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/105 Arrangements for conveying toner waste
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/12 Toner waste containers
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0833 with varying pitch on one shaft

Abstract

A developer collection container includes a developer storing portion having first and second end portions in a longitudinal direction thereof. A developer supply opening is provided on the first end portion through which the developer is supplied into the developer storing portion. A rotation member is rotatably provided so as to extend substantially from the first end portion to the second end portion. The rotation member rotates so as to convey the developer in the longitudinal direction of the developer storing portion. In a first region closer to the first end portion, the rotation member conveys the developer in a direction from the first end portion toward the second end portion with a conveying power which is larger than a conveying power with which the rotation member conveys the developer in a second region closer to the second end portion.

Claims

1. A developer collection container comprising:

a developer storing portion for storing a developer, said developer storing portion having an elongated shape and having first and second end portions in a longitudinal direction thereof;

a developer supply opening provided on said first end portion of said developer storing portion through which said developer is supplied into said developer storing portion, and

a rotation member rotatably provided in said developer storing portion so as to extend substantially from said first end portion to said second end portion in said longitudinal direction of said developer storing portion, said rotation member rotating in a predetermined direction so as to convey said developer in said longitudinal direction of said developer storing portion,

wherein, in a first region closer to said first end portion, said rotation member conveys said developer in a direction from said first end portion toward said second end portion with a conveying power which is larger than a conveying power with which said rotation member conveys said developer in a second region closer to said second end portion.

2. The developer collection container according to claim 1, wherein said rotation member includes a spiral blade with which said rotation member conveys said developer in one direction with a conveying power that decreases in two steps from said first end portion toward said second end portion of said developer storing portion.

3. The developer collection container according to claim 2, wherein a ratio of said first region to said second region is in a range from 7:

5 to 7;

2.

4. The developer collection container according to claim 2, wherein a ratio of said first region to said second region is substantially 2:

1.

5. The developer collection container according to claim 1, wherein said rotation member includes a spiral blade with which said rotation member conveys said developer in one direction with a conveying power that decreases in a stepwise fashion in two or more steps from said first end portion toward said second end portion of said developer storing portion.

6. The developer collection container according to claim 1, wherein said rotation member includes a spiral blade with which said rotation member conveys said developer in one direction with a conveying power that decreases in a stepless fashion from said first end portion toward said second end portion of said developer storing portion.

7. The developer collection container according to claim 1, wherein said rotation member conveys said developer in said second region in a direction opposite to a direction in which said rotation member conveys said developer in said first region.

8. The developer collection container according to claim 7, wherein said rotation member includes a spiral blade with which said rotation member conveys said developer in said first and second regions in opposite directions with two different conveying powers.

9. The developer collection container according to claim 7, wherein said rotation member conveys said developer in said first region with a constant conveying power, and conveys said developer in said second region with a conveying power that decreases in a direction from said second end portion toward said first end portion of said developer storing portion.

10. The developer collection container according to claim 1, wherein said rotation member includes a continuously formed spiral blade.

11. The developer collection container according to claim 1, wherein said rotation member includes spiral blades having different diameters that provide different conveying powers.

12. The developer collection container according to claim 1, wherein said rotation member includes spiral blades formed at different pitches that provide different conveying powers.

13. A developer cartridge comprising:

said developer collection container according to claim 1, and

a fresh developer collection container for storing a fresh developer.

14. A developing unit comprising:

said developer cartridge according to claim 13, and

a developing unit main body to which said developer cartridge is detachably mounted,

wherein said developer unit main body includes a developer ejecting portion that engages said developer supply opening of said developer cartridge so as to supply said developer into said developer storing portion.

15. An image forming apparatus comprising:

said developing unit according to claim 14.