DEVELOPER CONTAINER AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE EQUIPPED WITH SAME

• US 20180052408A1
• Filed: 07/11/2016
• Published: 02/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Eto, Daisuke
• Granted Patent: US 10,234,792 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/08 using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0875 cartridges having a box like shape
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0881 Sealing of developer cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0889 for agitation or stirring
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/16 Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/085 Stirring member in developer container

Abstract

A developer storage container (30) includes: a container body (31); a lid (32); a stirring member (34); and an input gear (36). The container body includes: a bottom portion (310); an opening (31 P) extending in a longitudinal direction thereof; a first sidewall (31R) and a second sidewall (31L); and a storage space (30S) for storing developer therein. The second sidewall includes a bearing portion (312) disposed to face the storage space. The first sidewall includes: a shaft hole (313S) communicating between an outside of the container body and the storage space; and a support portion (313T) supporting a distal end of a coupling (342) of the stirring member from therebelow to prevent the stirring member from falling onto the bottom portion, in a state in which a distal pivot portion (341) of the stirring member is inserted into the bearing portion, and the coupling is disposed facing the shaft hole.

Claims

1. A developer storage container comprising:

a container body including a bottom portion, an opening extending in a longitudinal direction thereof, a first sidewall and a second sidewall arranged, respectively, at longitudinally opposite ends thereof, and a storage space disposed between the first sidewall and the second sidewall to store developer therein;

a lid fixed to the container body in such a manner as to close the opening;

a stirring member which stirs the developer stored in the storage space, the stirring member being disposed in the storage space at a position above and away from the bottom portion by a given distance, and rotatably supported by the first sidewall and the second sidewall; and

an input gear unit which inputs a rotational drive force into the stirring member, the input gear unit being disposed outside the first sidewall of the container body, and including an engagement portion engageable with the stirring member,

wherein;

the stirring member includes a coupling disposed at one of longitudinally opposite ends thereof and engageable with the engagement portion of the input gear unit, and a distal pivot portion disposed at the other one of the longitudinally opposite ends;

the second sidewall includes a bearing portion disposed to face the storage space; and

the first sidewall includes a shaft hole which communicates between an outside of the container body and the storage space, and a support portion which supports the coupling from therebelow to prevent the stirring member from falling onto the bottom portion, in a state in which the distal pivot portion is inserted into the bearing portion, and the coupling is disposed in opposed relation to the shaft hole.

2. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein the input gear unit is engageable with the coupling of the stirring member supported by the support portion, after the lid is fixed to the container body.

3. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein the stirring member is elastically deformable in such a manner as to bend along the longitudinal direction, the stirring member being set such that a length thereof in the longitudinal direction is greater than a distance between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

4. The developer storage container according to claim 2, wherein:

the lid is fixedly welded to the container body along a peripheral edge of the opening; and

the shaft hole is disposed in an approximately central region of the first sidewall or on the side of the opening with respect a central region of the first sidewall.

5. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein the first sidewall includes a cylindrical portion internally formed with the shaft hole, and wherein the support portion is composed of an inner peripheral wall of the cylindrical portion.

6. The developer storage container according to claim 5, further comprising an O-ring which is compressed between the inner peripheral wall of the cylindrical portion and the input gear unit with the engagement portion being engaged with the coupling.

7. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein the input gear unit has a structure for enabling attachment and detachment thereof with respect to the container body in a state in which the lid is fixed to the container body, and the developer storage container further comprises a cover capable of being attached to the container body to cover a portion of the input gear unit attached to the container body, to thereby prevent detachment of the input gear.

8. An image forming apparatus comprising:

the developer storage container according to claim 1;

an image supporting body having a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed and a developer image being supported on the surface; and

a transfer unit which transfers the developer image from the image supporting body to a sheet.