Developer replenishing device and developer container for use therewith

• US 6,751,431 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Saito, Takeshi, Ichikawa, Hideo, Makita, Nobuhiro, Ikeda, Sunao, Yanagisawa, Takaaki, Ozawa, Seiji, Yoshiki, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): Royer, William J.
• Application Number:
  US10/173,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20030138273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 399/119, 399/120, 399/258, 399/260, 399/262
• US Class Current: 399/262
• 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 15/0868 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 15/0872 the developer cartridges being generally horizontally mounted parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0663 having a longitudinal rotational axis, around which at least one part is rotated when mounting or using the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0665 Generally horizontally mounting of said toner cartridge parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0668 Toner discharging opening at one axial end
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0675 Generally cylindrical container shape having two ends
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0685 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, not acting as a passive closure for the developer replenishing opening
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/19 Rubber plugs and caps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 222/01 Xerography

Abstract

A developer replenishing device for replenishing a developing device with a developer, and a developer container for use therewith. The developer container, or toner bottle, includes a shoulder portion adjoining a first end of a hollow body. The body is formed with a spiral guide for guiding a developer stored in the developer container. The shoulder portion forms a wall and includes an engaging portion engageable with driver that causes the body to rotate. The engaging portion includes a lug protruding from the shoulder portion which allows a characteristic of toner to be identified. The engaging portion has an outside surface of a guide portion that guides a developer stored in the developer container. Two engaging portions may be angularly spaced from each other by 180 degrees. The developer container also includes a discharge mouth, which adjoins the first end of the body, which is smaller in diameter than the shoulder portion, and which includes an annular collar protruding outwardly, and a positioning portion positioned on a holder for the developer container. The positioning portion includes a lug protruding from an outside surface of the body. The holder for the developer container includes a hitting member which hits against the outside surface when the body is caused to rotate. A plurality of lugs are formed on an outside circumferential surface of the collar of the discharge mouth.

Claims

1. A developer container comprising:

a hollow body;

a shoulder portion forming a wall adjacent one end of said body;

a mouth portion provided adjacent said one end of said body, said mouth portion being smaller in diameter than said shoulder portion; and

a positioning portion provided on an outside surface of said body for positioning said body on container locking means included in an image forming apparatus.

2. The developer container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said positioning portion comprises a substantially annular lug.

3. The developer container as claimed in claim 2, further comprising an engaging portion included in said shoulder portion in such a manner as to be engageable with container drive means included in the image forming apparatus.

4. The developer container as claimed in claim 2, wherein said container locking means locks said body in a horizontal position.

5. The developer container as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a spiral guide formed on said body for guiding a developer.

6. The developer container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a lug protruding from an outside surface of said body such that said container locking means hits said outside surface of said body when said body is rotated.

7. The developer container as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an engaging portion included in said shoulder portion in such a manner as to be engageable with container drive means included in the image forming apparatus.

8. The developer container as claimed in claim 6, wherein said container locking means locks said body in a horizontal position.

9. The developer container as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a spiral guide formed on said body for guiding a developer.

10. The developer container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an engaging portion included in said shoulder portion in such a manner as to be engageable with container drive means included in the image forming apparatus.

11. The developer container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container locking means locks said body in a horizontal position.

12. The developer container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a spiral guide formed on said body for guiding a developer.

13. A developer container comprising:

a hollow body having a diameter;

a mouth portion provided adjacent one end of the hollow body, said mouth portion being smaller than said diameter;

a ramp surface at said one end of the hollow body; and

a spiral provided at the hollow body.

14. A developer container comprising:

a hollow body having a diameter;

a mouth portion provided adjacent one end of the hollow body, said mouth portion being smaller than said diameter;

a ramp surface at said one end of the hollow body and configured to raise developer in the hollow body toward the mouth portion as the container is rotated; and

a spiral provided at the hollow body at a location which causes developer in the hollow body to move toward the mouth portion as the container is rotated.

15. A developer container comprising:

a hollow body having a diameter;

a mouth portion provided adjacent one end of the hollow body, said mouth portion being smaller than said diameter;

ramp means at said one end of the hollow body for raising developer in the hollow body toward the mouth portion as the container is rotated; and

spiral means for causing developer in the hollow body to move toward the mouth portion as the container is rotated.