Powder discharging device and image forming apparatus using the same
First Claim
1. A powder discharging device comprising:
- a powder container storing powder therein and including a bottom wall formed with an outlet at one end portion for discharging said powder vertically downward, said powder discharged via said outlet being replenished to a destination; and
container moving means for moving said powder container toward the one end portion and then generating an acceleration opposite in direction to a movement of said powder container in said powder container to thereby cause the powder in said powder container to move toward said outlet;
wherein a maximum value of the acceleration is between 40 m/sec2 and 200 m/sec2, wherein a period of time for which said container moving means continuously generates an acceleration of 20 m/sec2 or above is between 3 msec and 30 msec.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A powder discharging device of the present invention includes a powder container storing powder therein and including a bottom wall formed with an outlet at one end portion for discharging the powder vertically downward. A container moving device moves the powder container toward the above end portion and then generates an acceleration opposite in direction to the movement of the powder container in the powder container to thereby cause the powder to move toward the outlet. The maximum value of the acceleration is between 40 m/sec2 and 200 m/sec2 while a period of time for which the container moving device continuously generates an acceleration of 20 m/sec2 or above is between 3 msec and 30 msec.
122 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A powder discharging device comprising:
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a powder container storing powder therein and including a bottom wall formed with an outlet at one end portion for discharging said powder vertically downward, said powder discharged via said outlet being replenished to a destination; and container moving means for moving said powder container toward the one end portion and then generating an acceleration opposite in direction to a movement of said powder container in said powder container to thereby cause the powder in said powder container to move toward said outlet; wherein a maximum value of the acceleration is between 40 m/sec2 and 200 m/sec2, wherein a period of time for which said container moving means continuously generates an acceleration of 20 m/sec2 or above is between 3 msec and 30 msec. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An image forming apparatus comprising:
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a developing device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier by depositing visible powder on said latent image; and a powder discharging device for replenishing the powder to said developing device; said powder discharging device comprising; a powder container storing the powder therein and including a bottom wall formed with an outlet at one end portion for discharging said powder vertically downward, said powder discharged via said outlet being replenished to said developing device; and container moving means for moving said powder container toward the one end portion and then generating an acceleration opposite in direction to a movement of said powder container in said powder container to thereby cause the powder in said powder container to move toward said outlet; wherein a maximum value of the acceleration is between 40 m/sec2 and 200 m/sec2, wherein a period of time for which said container moving means continuously generates an acceleration of 20 m/sec2 or above is between 3 msec and 30 msec. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A powder discharging device comprising:
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a flexible powder container including a bottom wall formed with an outlet for discharging powder stored in said powder container and a rigid reinforcing plate affixed to an entirety of the bottom wall; and shock applying means for applying a shock to said powder container to thereby cause the powder to move toward said outlet and be discharged via said outlet; wherein the powder has a mean circularity of 0.94 or above, but 1.00 or below, as measured by a flow-type particle image measuring device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A powder discharging device comprising:
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a powder container including a bottom wall formed with an outlet for discharging powder stored in said powder container; and shock applying means for applying a shock to said powder container to thereby cause the powder to move toward said outlet and be discharged via said outlet; wherein the powder has a mean circularity of 0.94 or above, but 1.00 or below, as measured by a flow-type particle image measuring device, wherein said shock applying means applies the shock to said powder container by generating, while causing said powder container to move together with support means supporting said powder container, a speed variation of 0.1 m/sec or above, but 0.6 m/sec or below, and wherein said powder container and said support means have a total weight of 0.3 kgf or above, but 2 kgf or below.
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16. A powder discharging device comprising:
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a flexible powder container storing powder therein and including a bottom wall formed with an outlet for discharging said powder and a rigid reinforcing plate affixed to an entirety of the bottom wall; and shock applying means for applying a shock to said powder container to thereby cause the powder in said powder container to move toward said outlet and be discharged via said outlet; wherein the powder has a mean circularity of 0.94 or above, but 1.00 or below, as measured by a flow-type particle image measuring device.
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17. An image forming apparatus comprising:
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a toner discharging device configured to discharge a powdery toner; and toner image forming means for forming a toner image with the toner discharged from said toner discharging device; said toner discharging device comprising; a flexible toner container including a bottom wall formed with an outlet for discharging the toner stored in said toner container and a rigid reinforcing plate affixed to an entirety of the bottom wall; and shock applying means for applying a shock to said toner container to thereby cause the toner to move toward said outlet and be discharged via said outlet; wherein the toner has a mean circularity of 0.94 or above, but 1.00 or below, as measured by a flow-type particle image measuring device.
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18. An image forming apparatus comprising:
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a toner discharging device configured to discharge a powdery toner; and toner image forming means for forming a toner image with the toner discharged from said toner discharging device; said toner discharging device comprising; a flexible toner container storing the toner therein and including a bottom wall formed with an outlet for discharging said toner and a rigid reinforcing plate affixed to an entirety of the bottom wall; and shock applying means for applying a shock to said toner container to thereby cause the toner in said toner container to move toward said outlet and be discharged via said outlet; wherein the toner has a mean circularity of 0.94 or above, but 1.00 or below, as measured by a flow-type particle image measuring device.
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19. A powder discharging device comprising:
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a powder container storing powder therein and including a bottom wall formed with an outlet for discharging said powder; shock applying means for applying a shock to said powder container to thereby cause the powder in said powder container to move toward said outlet and be discharged via said outlet; and an agitating member configured to agitate the powder in interlocked relation to said shock applying means. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An image forming apparatus comprising:
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a toner discharging device configured to discharge a powdery toner; and toner image forming means for forming a toner image with the toner discharged from said toner discharging device; said toner discharging device comprising; a toner container storing the toner therein and including a bottom wall formed with an outlet for discharging said toner; shock applying means for applying a shock to said toner container to thereby cause the toner in said toner container to move toward said outlet and be discharged via said outlet; and an agitating member configured to agitate the toner in interlocked relation to said shock applying means.
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Specification