Developer container and image forming apparatus

• US 7,218,866 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2004
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Koyama, Kazuya, Hayashi, Shigeki, Nagahama, Hitoshi, Deguchi, Masanobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray; David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GLEITZ, RYAN M
• Application Number:
  US10/862,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20040253006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 399/12, 399/13, 399/24, 399/25, 399/258
• US Class Current: 399/12
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0855 the concentration being measured by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0863 provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory
• 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 2215/0697 being an electronically readable memory

Abstract

A developer container includes a container main body, a supporting member and an information storage portion. The container main body is formed in a cylindrical shape and contains therein the developer for use in image formation. The supporting member supports the container main body rotatably about an axis. The information storage portion is fixed to the supporting member and stores developer associated information of the developer contained in the container main body. The information storage portion is connected to an information reading portion provided in an image forming apparatus in such a manner that the information reading portion can read out the developer associated information in the state where the developer container is mounted to the image forming apparatus.

Claims

1. A developer container detachably and attachably mounted in an image forming apparatus, comprising:

a container main body formed in a cylindrical shape, for containing therein a developer for use in image formation;

a supporting member for supporting an external periphery of the container main body so that the container main body is rotatable about its axis; and

storage means fixed to the supporting member, for storing developer associated information about the developer contained in the container main body, the storage means being connected to information reading means provided in an image forming apparatus in such a manner that the information reading means can read out the developer associated information in a state where the developer container is mounted in the image forming apparatus, so that when the container main body rotates about its axis the storage means does not rotate therewith.

2. The developer container of claim 1, wherein an accommodation recess opening in an attachment direction to an image forming apparatus main body is formed in the supporting member, and

the storage means is arranged in such a manner that a connection portion connected to at least the information reading means fits into the accommodation recess.

3. The developer container of claim 2, wherein the storage means is fitted as a whole into the accommodation recess.

4. The developer container of claim 2, wherein the supporting member is further provided with guide means for restricting displacement of the supporting member in a direction intersecting the attachment direction and guiding the supporting member in such a manner as to undergo displacement in the attachment direction when the developer container is attached to the image forming apparatus main body.

5. The developer container of claim 4, wherein the supporting member is guided by the guide means and undergoes displacement in the attachment direction when the developer container is attached to the image forming apparatus, and the storage means is thereby connected to the information reading means.

6. An image forming apparatus in which the developer container of claim 1 is detachably and attachably mounted.