POWDER REPLENISHING DEVICE, POWDER CONVEYING DEVICE, DEVELOPING APPARATUS USING THE SAME POWDER REPLENISHING DEVICE OR POWDER CONVEYING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME POWDER REPLENISHING DEVICE OR POWDER CONVEYING DEVICE

• US 6,526,246 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Tomoyuki, Kasahara, Nobuo, Matsumoto, Junichi, Iwata, Nobuo, Muramatsu, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, HOANG X
• Application Number:
  US09/917,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20020025195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 222/DIG.1, 222/161, 399/111, 399/119, 399/120, 399/258, 399/260, 399/261, 399/262
• US Class Current: 399/258
• 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 15/0875 cartridges having a box like shape
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0877 Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0893 in a closed loop within the sump of the developing device
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/068 having a box like shape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 222/01 Xerography

Abstract

The powder container includes a powder discharging outlet at one end portion of one side wall of the powder container. The powder replenishing device further includes a reciprocating motion device that reciprocates the powder container between forward and backward directions with respect to a moving direction of the powder toward the powder discharging outlet so as to move the powder in the powder container toward the powder discharging outlet in a state that the powder discharging outlet is directed downward in substantially a vertical direction.

Claims

1. A powder replenishing device, comprising:

a powder container configured to contain powder and including a powder discharging outlet at one end portion of one side wall of the powder container; and

a reciprocating motion device configured to substantially linearly reciprocate the powder container between forward and backward directions with respect to a moving direction of the powder toward the powder discharging outlet so as to move the powder in the powder container toward the powder discharging outlet in a state that the powder discharging outlet is directed downward in substantially a vertical direction.

2. The powder replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein a direction of reciprocating motion of the reciprocating motion device is set to a direction along a line connecting the one end portion and an opposite another end portion of the one side wall of the powder container.

3. The powder replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the powder container is provided such that the one side wall of the powder container inclines downwardly toward the powder discharging outlet.

4. The powder replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein an acceleration of the powder container in the forward direction when the powder container moves in the forward direction is set to be greater than an acceleration of the powder container in the backward direction when the powder container moves in the backward direction.

5. The powder replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein an acceleration of the powder container in the backward direction produced when the powder container stops moving in the forward direction is set to be greater than an acceleration of the powder container in the forward direction when the powder container stops moving in the backward direction.

6. The powder replenishing device according to claim 5, further comprising:

a biasing device configured to bias the powder container in the forward direction by a bias force thereof;

a pressing device configured to press and move the powder container in the backward direction against the bias force of the biasing device;

a pressure release device configured to release the pressing device pressing the powder container to the backward direction; and

a stopper configured to contact and stop the powder container which moves in the forward direction by the bias force of the biasing device after the pressure release device has released the pressing device.

7. The powder replenishing device according to claim 6, further comprising a support base configured to support the powder container, wherein the stopper is configured to be moved in the forward direction when the powder container contacts the stopper, and wherein an elastic member is provided between the stopper and the support base so as to bias the stopper in the backward direction.

8. The powder replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the powder container has a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

9. The powder replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the powder container is detachable from the powder replenishing device.

10. A developing apparatus that develops a latent image formed on an image bearing member with developer, comprising:

a developing device configured to apply the developer to the latent image on the image bearing member; and

a developer replenishing device configured to replenish the developing device with developer, the developer replenishing device including,

a developer container configured to contain developer and including a developer discharging outlet at one end portion of one side wall of the developer container; and

a reciprocating motion device configured to substantially linearly reciprocate the developer container between forward and backward directions with respect to a moving direction of the developer toward the developer discharging outlet so as to move the developer in the developer container toward the developer discharging outlet in a state that the developer discharging outlet is directed downward in substantially a vertical direction.

11. The developing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a direction of reciprocating motion of the reciprocating motion device is set to a direction along a line connecting the one end portion and an opposite another end portion of the one side wall of the developer container.

12. The developing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the developer container is provided such that the one side wall of the developer container inclines downwardly toward the developer discharging outlet.

13. The developing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein an acceleration of the developer container in the forward direction when the developer container moves in the forward direction is set to be greater than an acceleration of the developer container in the backward direction when the developer container moves in the backward direction of the developer toward the developer discharging outlet.

14. The developing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein an acceleration of the developer container in the backward direction produced when the developer container stops moving in the forward direction is set to be greater than an acceleration of the developer container in the forward direction when the developer container stops moving in the backward direction.

15. The developing apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

a biasing device configured to bias the developer container in the forward direction by a bias force thereof;

a pressing device configured to press and move the developer container in the backward direction against the bias force of the biasing device;

a pressure release device configured to release the pressing device pressing the developer container to the backward direction; and

a stopper configured to contact and stop the developer container which moves in the forward direction by the bias force of the biasing device after the pressure release device has released the pressing device.

16. The developing apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a support base configured to support the developer container, wherein the stopper is configured to be moved in the forward direction when the developer container contacts the stopper, and wherein an elastic member is provided between the stopper and the support base so as to bias the stopper in the backward direction.

17. The developing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the developer container has a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

18. The developing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the developer container is detachable from the developer replenishing device.

19. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image bearing member configured to bear a latent image;

a developing device configured to develop the latent image formed on the image bearing member with developer; and

a developer replenishing device configured to replenish the developing device with developer, the developer replenishing device including,

a developer container configured to contain developer and including a developer discharging outlet at one end portion of one side wall of the developer container; and

a reciprocating motion device configured to substantially linearly reciprocate the developer container between forward and backward directions with respect to a moving direction of the developer toward the developer discharging outlet so as to move the developer in the developer container toward the developer discharging outlet in a state that the developer discharging outlet is directed downward in substantially a vertical direction.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein a direction of reciprocating motion of the reciprocating motion device is set to a direction along a line connecting the one end portion and an opposite another end portion of the one side wall of the developer container.

21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the developer container is provided such that the one side wall of the developer container inclines downwardly toward the developer discharging outlet.

22. The image forming apparatus, according to claim 19, wherein an acceleration of the developer container in the forward direction when the developer container moves in the forward direction is set to be greater than an acceleration of the developer container in the backward direction when the developer container moves in the backward direction of the developer toward the developer discharging outlet.

23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein an acceleration of the developer container in the backward direction produced when the developer container stops moving in the forward direction is set to be greater than an acceleration of the developer container in the forward direction when the developer container stops moving in the backward direction.

24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising:

a biasing device configured to bias the developer container in the forward direction by a bias force thereof;

a pressing device configured to press and move the developer container in the backward direction against the bias force of the biasing device;

a pressure release device configured to release the pressing device pressing the developer container to the backward direction; and

a stopper configured to contact and stop the developer container which moves in the forward direction by the bias force of the biasing device after the pressure release device has released the pressing device.

25. The image forming apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising a support base configured to support the developer container, wherein the stopper is configured to be moved in the forward direction when the developer container contacts the stopper, and wherein an elastic member is provided between the stopper and the support base so as to bias the stopper in the backward direction.

26. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the developer container has a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

27. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the developer container is detachable from the developer replenishing device.

28. A powder conveying device, comprising:

a powder conveying path member configured to convey powder therethrough, the powder conveying path member including one side wall and forming a powder conveying path having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet being directed downward in substantially a vertical direction; and

a reciprocating motion device configured to substantially linearly reciprocate the powder conveying path member between forward and backward directions with respect to a moving direction of the powder toward the outlet so as to move the powder in the powder conveying path member toward the outlet,

wherein the powder conveying path member is provided such that the one side wall inclines downwardly toward the outlet.

29. The powder conveying device according to claim 28, wherein a direction of reciprocating motion of the reciprocating motion device is set to a direction along a line connecting one end portion and an opposite another end portion of the one side wall of the powder conveying path member.

30. The powder conveying device according to claim 28, wherein an acceleration of the powder conveying path member in the forward direction when the powder conveying path member moves in the forward direction is set to be greater than an acceleration of the powder conveying path member in the backward direction when the powder conveying path member moves in the backward direction.

31. The powder conveying device according to claim 28, wherein an acceleration of the powder conveying path member in the backward direction produced when the powder conveying path member stops moving in the forward direction is set to be greater than an acceleration of the powder conveying path member in the forward direction when the powder conveying path member stops moving in the backward direction.

32. The powder conveying device according to claim 31, further comprising:

a biasing device configured to bias the powder conveying path member in the forward direction by a bias force thereof;

a pressing device configured to press and move the powder conveying path member in the backward direction against the bias force of the biasing device;

a pressure release device configured to release the pressing device pressing the powder conveying path member to the backward direction; and

a stopper configured to contact and stop the powder conveying path member which moves in the forward direction by the bias force of the biasing device after the pressure release device has released the pressing device.

33. The powder conveying device according to claim 32, further comprising a frame, wherein the stopper is configured to be moved in the forward direction when the powder conveying path member contacts the stopper, and wherein an elastic member is provided between the stopper and the frame so as to bias the stopper in the backward direction.

34. A developing apparatus that develops a latent image formed on an image bearing member with developer, comprising:

a developing device configured to apply the developer to the latent image on the image bearing member; and

a developer conveying device configured to convey the developer to the developing device, the developer conveying device including,

a developer conveying path member configured to convey developer therethrough, the developer conveying path member including one side wall and forming a developer conveying path having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet being directed downward in substantially a vertical direction; and

a reciprocating motion device configured to substantially linearly reciprocate the developer conveying path member between forward and backward directions with respect to a moving direction of the developer toward the outlet so as to move the developer in the developer conveying path member toward the outlet,

wherein the developer conveying path member is provided such that the one side wall inclines downwardly toward the outlet.

35. The developing apparatus according to claim 34, wherein a direction of reciprocating motion of the reciprocating motion device is set to a direction along a line connecting one end portion and an opposite another end portion of the one side wall of the developer conveying path member.

36. The developing apparatus according to claim 34, wherein an acceleration of the developer conveying path member in the forward direction when the developer conveying path member moves in the forward direction is set to be greater than an acceleration of the developer conveying path member in the backward direction when the developer conveying path member moves in the backward direction.

37. The developing apparatus according to claim 34, wherein an acceleration of the developer conveying path member in the backward direction produced when the developer conveying path member stops moving in the forward direction is set to be greater than an acceleration of the developer conveying path member in the forward direction when the developer conveying path member stops moving in the backward direction.

38. The developing apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising:

a biasing device configured to bias the developer conveying path member in the forward direction by a bias force thereof;

a pressing device configured to press and move the developer conveying path member in the backward direction against the bias force of the biasing device;

a pressure release device configured to release the pressing device pressing the developer conveying path member to the backward direction; and

a stopper configured to contact and stop the developer conveying path member which moves in the forward direction by the bias force of the biasing device after the pressure release device has released the pressing device.

39. The developing apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising a frame, wherein the stopper is configured to be moved in the forward direction when the developer conveying path member contacts the stopper, and wherein an elastic member is provided between the stopper and the frame so as to bias the stopper in the backward direction.

40. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image beating member configured to bear a latent image;

a developer device configured to develop the latent image formed on the image bearing member with developer; and

a developer conveying device configured to convey the developer to the developing device, the developer conveying device including,

a developer conveying path member configured to convey developer therethrough, the developer conveying path member including one side wall and forming a developer conveying path having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet being directed downward in substantially a vertical direction; and

a reciprocating motion device configured to substantially linearly reciprocate the developer conveying path member between forward and backward directions with respect to a moving direction of the developer toward the outlet so as to move the developer in the developer conveying path member toward the outlet,

wherein the developer conveying path member is provided such that the one side wall inclines downwardly toward the outlet.

41. The image forming apparatus according to claim 40, wherein a direction of reciprocating motion of the reciprocating motion device is set to a direction along a line connecting one end portion and an opposite another end portion of the one side wall of the developer conveying path member.

42. The image forming apparatus according to claim 40, wherein an acceleration of the developer conveying path member in the forward direction when the developer conveying path member moves in the forward direction is set to be greater than an acceleration of the developer conveying path member in the backward direction when the developer conveying path member moves in the backward direction.

43. The image forming apparatus according to claim 40, wherein an acceleration of the developer conveying path member in the backward direction produced when the developer conveying path member stops moving in the forward direction is set to be greater than an acceleration of the developer conveying path member in the forward direction when the developer conveying path member stops moving in the backward direction.

44. The image forming apparatus according to claim 43, further comprising:

a biasing device configured to bias the developer conveying path member in the forward direction by a bias force thereof;

a pressing device configured to press and move the developer conveying path member in the backward direction against the bias force of the biasing device;

a pressure release device configured to release the pressing device pressing the developer conveying path member to the backward direction; and

a stopper configured to contact and stop the developer conveying path member which moves in the forward direction by the bias force of the biasing device after the pressure release device has released the pressing device.

45. The image forming apparatus according to claim 44, further comprising a frame, wherein the stopper is configured to be moved in the forward direction when the developer conveying path member contacts the stopper, and wherein an elastic member is provided between the stopper and the frame so as to bias the stopper in the backward direction.

46. A method of replenishing powder to a developing device of an image forming apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

containing the powder in a powder container having a powder discharging outlet; and

substantially linearly reciprocating the powder container between forward and backward directions with respect to a moving direction of the powder toward the powder discharging outlet so as to move the powder in the powder container toward the powder discharging outlet.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein in the step of reciprocating the powder container, the powder is moved downwardly in a slanting direction toward the powder discharging outlet.

48. The method according to claim 46, wherein the step of reciprocating the powder container comprises,

causing an acceleration of the powder container in the forward direction when the powder container moves in the forward direction, and an acceleration of the powder container in the backward direction when the powder container moves in the backward direction; and

setting the acceleration of the powder container in the forward direction when the powder container moves in the forward direction to be greater than the acceleration of the powder container in the backward direction when the powder container moves in the backward direction.

49. The method according to claim 46, wherein the step of reciprocating the powder container comprises,

causing an acceleration of the powder container in the backward direction when the powder container stops moving in the forward direction, and an acceleration of the powder container in the forward direction when the powder container stops moving in the backward direction;

and

setting the acceleration of the powder container in the backward direction when the powder container stops moving in the forward direction to be greater than the acceleration of the powder container in the forward direction when the powder container stops moving in the backward direction.

50. The method according to claim 49, wherein the step of reciprocating the powder container comprises,

biasing the powder container in the forward direction by a bias force of a biasing device;

pressing and moving the powder container in the backward direction by a pressing device against the bias force of the biasing device;

releasing the pressing device pressing the powder container in the backward direction so that the powder container stops moving in the backward direction and moves in the forward direction by the bias force of the biasing device with the acceleration in the forward direction; and

stopping the powder container from moving in the forward direction so that the powder container moves in the backward direction with the acceleration in the backward direction.

51. A method of conveying powder through a powder conveying path member having an outlet to a developing device of an image forming apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

substantially linearly reciprocating the powder conveying path member between forward and backward directions with respect to a moving direction of the powder toward the outlet so as to move the powder in the powder conveying path member toward the outlet; and

falling the powder through the outlet to the developing device.

52. The method according to claim 51, wherein in the step of reciprocating the powder conveying path member, the powder is moved downwardly in a slanting direction toward the outlet.

53. The method according to claim 51, wherein the step of reciprocating the powder conveying path member comprises,

causing an acceleration of the powder conveying path member in the forward direction when the powder conveying path member moves in the forward direction, and an acceleration of the powder conveying path member in the backward direction when the powder conveying path member moves in the backward direction; and

setting the acceleration of the powder conveying path member in the forward direction when the powder conveying path member moves in the forward direction to be greater than the acceleration of the powder conveying path member in the backward direction when the powder conveying path member moves in the backward direction.

54. The method according to claim 51, wherein the step of reciprocating the powder conveying path member comprises,

causing an acceleration of the powder conveying path member in the backward direction when the powder conveying path member stops moving in the forward direction, and an acceleration of the powder conveying path member in the forward direction when the powder conveying path member stops moving in the backward direction;

and

setting the acceleration of the powder conveying path member in the backward direction when the powder conveying path member stops moving in the forward direction to be greater than the acceleration of the powder conveying path member in the forward direction when the powder conveying path member stops moving in the backward direction.

55. The method according to claim 54, wherein the step of reciprocating the powder conveying path member comprises,

biasing the powder conveying path member in the forward direction by a bias force of a biasing device;

pressing and moving the powder conveying path member in the backward direction by a pressing device against the bias force of the biasing device;

releasing the pressing device pressing the powder conveying path member in the backward direction so that the powder conveying path member stops moving in the backward direction and moves in the forward direction by the bias force of the biasing device with the acceleration in the forward direction; and

stopping the powder conveying path member from moving in the forward direction so that the powder conveying path member moves in the backward direction with the acceleration in the backward direction.

56. A powder replenishing device, comprising:

means for containing powder, the containing means including a powder discharging outlet at one end portion of one side wall of the containing means; and

means for substantially linearly reciprocating the containing means between forward and backward directions with respect to a moving direction of the containing means toward the powder discharging outlet, the reciprocating means reciprocating the containing means so as to move the powder in the containing means toward the powder discharging outlet in a state that the powder discharging outlet is directed downward in substantially a vertical direction.

57. The powder replenishing device according to claim 56, wherein a direction of reciprocating motion of the reciprocating means is set to a direction along a line connecting the one end portion and an opposite another end portion of the one side wall of the containing means.

58. The powder replenishing device according to claim 56, wherein the containing means is provided such that the one side wall of the containing means inclines downwardly toward the powder discharging outlet.

59. The powder replenishing device according to claim 56, wherein an acceleration of the containing means in the forward direction when the containing means moves in the forward direction is set to be greater than an acceleration of the containing means in the backward direction when the containing means moves in the backward direction.

60. The powder replenishing device according to claim 56, wherein an acceleration of the containing means in the backward direction produced when the containing means stops moving in the forward direction is set to be greater than an acceleration of the containing means in the forward direction when the containing means stops moving in the backward direction.

61. The powder replenishing device according to claim 60, further comprising:

means for biasing the containing means in the forward direction by a bias force thereof;

means for pressing and moving the containing means in the backward direction against the bias force of the biasing means;

means for releasing the pressing means pressing the containing means to the backward direction; and

means for contacting and stopping the containing means which moves in the forward direction by the bias force of the biasing means after the releasing means has released the pressing means.

62. The powder replenishing device according to claim 61, further comprising means for supporting the containing means, wherein the stopping means is configured to be moved in the forward direction when the containing means contacts the stopping means, and wherein an elastic member is provided between the stopping means and the supporting means in the forward direction so as to bias the stopping means in the backward direction.

63. A powder conveying device, comprising:

means for conveying powder therethrough, the conveying means including one side wall and forming a powder conveying path having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet being directed downward in substantially a vertical direction; and

means for substantially linearly reciprocating the conveying means between forward and backward directions with respect to a moving direction of the powder toward the outlet, the reciprocating means reciprocating the conveying means so as to move the powder in the conveying means toward the outlet,

wherein the conveying means is provided such that the one side wall inclines downwardly toward the outlet.

64. The powder conveying device according to claim 63, wherein a direction of reciprocating motion of the reciprocating means is set to a direction along a line connecting one end portion and an opposite another end portion of the one side wall of the conveying means.

65. The powder conveying device according to claim 63, wherein an acceleration of the conveying means in the forward direction when the conveying means moves in the forward direction is set to be greater than an acceleration of the conveying means in the backward direction when the conveying means moves in the backward direction.

66. The powder conveying device according to claim 63, wherein an acceleration of the conveying means in the backward direction produced when the conveying means stops moving in the forward direction is set to be greater than an acceleration of the conveying means in the forward direction when the conveying means stops moving in the backward direction.

67. The powder conveying device according to claim 66, further comprising:

means for biasing the conveying means in the forward direction by a bias force thereof;

means for pressing and moving the conveying means in the backward direction against the bias force of the biasing means;

means for releasing the pressing means pressing the conveying means to the backward direction; and

means for contacting and stopping the conveying means which moves in the forward direction by the bias force of the biasing means after the releasing means has released the pressing means.

68. The powder conveying device according to claim 67, further comprising a frame, wherein the stopping means is configured to be moved in the forward direction when the conveying means contacts the stopping means, and wherein an elastic member is provided between the stopping means and the frame so as to bias the stopping means in the backward direction.