Toner supplying device and developer transporting device

• US 6,366,755 B1
• Filed: 11/27/2000
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Takashima, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Sophia S.
• Application Number:
  US09/722,036
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 399/254, 399/255, 399/256, 399/258, 399/260, 222/DIG.1, 366/241, 366/292, 366/279
• US Class Current: 399/254
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0822 Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
• 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 15/0872 the developer cartridges being generally horizontally mounted parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0879 for dispensing developer from a developer cartridge not directly attached to the development unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0893 in a closed loop within the sump of the developing device
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0119 Linear arrangement adjacent plural transfer points

Abstract

A transporting member for transporting toner by its rotation is provided inside a first transporting passage, and that a transporting member provided inside a second transporting passage is moved in a vertical direction through a converter for converting the rotation of the transporting member provided inside the first transporting passage into reciprocation.

Claims

1. A toner supplying device comprising:

a toner supplying unit, the toner suplying unit disposed below a toner receiving unit in height;

a first transporting passage disposed in a substantially horizontal direction;

a second transporting passage disposed in a substantially vertical direction, the second transporting passage connected to the first transporting passage;

a first transporting member disposed inside the first transporting passage, the first transporing member rotating to transport the toner from the toner supplying unit to the second transporting passage;

a second transporting member disposed inside the second transporting passage, the second transporting member reciprocating in the vertical direction to transport the toner from the first transporting passage to the toner receiving unit; and

a converter for converting the rotation of the first transporting member into the reciprocation of the second transporting member.

2. The toner supplying device according to claim 1, wherein the converter includes a crank-shaped shaft provided in the first transporting member disposed inside the first transporting passage.

3. The toner supplying device according to claim 1, wherein the converter includes an eccentric cam provided in the first transporting member disposed inside the first transporting passage.

4. The toner supplying device according to claim 1, wherein the toner receiving unit is an image forming apparatus.

5. A developer transporting device for transporting developer from an upper portion to a lower portion, the developer transporting device comprising:

a first transporting passage disposed in a substantially horizontal direction;

a second transporting passage disposed in a substantially vertical direction, the second transporting passage connected to the first transporting passage;

a first transporting member provided inside the first transporting passage and rotating to transport the developer to the second transporting passage;

a second transporting member provided inside the second transporting passage and reciprocating to transport the developer; and

a converter for converting the rotation of the first transporting member into the reciprocation of the second transporting member.

6. A developer transporting device for transporting developer from an upper portion to a lower portion, the developer transporting device comprising:

a first transporting passage disposed in a substantially horizontal direction;

a second transporting passage disposed in a substantially vertical direction, the second transporting passage connected to the first transporting passage;

a first transporting member provided inside the first transporting passage and rotating to transport the developer to the second transporting passage;

a second transporting member provided inside the second transporting passage and reciprocating to transport the developer; and

a converter for converting the reciprocation of the second transporting member into the rotation of the first transporting member.