Developer replenishing apparatus

• US 7,248,825 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tsurusaki, Teruaki, Nishitani, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray; David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walsh; Ryan D.
• Application Number:
  US11/258,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20060104670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 399/254, 399/255, 399/256, 399/258, 399/259, 399/260, 399/261, 399/262, 399/263, 399/53
• US Class Current: 399/258
• 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 15/0875 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 2215/066 Toner cartridge or other attachable and detachable container for supplying developer material to replace the used material
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0888 Arrangements for detecting toner level or concentration in the developing device

Abstract

A developer replenishing apparatus including a first developer container for containing a developer to be replenished to a developing apparatus, a second developer container for containing the developer to be replenished to the first developer container, a first replenishing mechanism for replenishing the developer in the first developer container to the developing apparatus, a second replenishing mechanism for replenishing the developer in the second developer container to the first developer container, a driving source capable of simultaneously driving the first replenishing mechanism and the second replenishing mechanism wherein, at an operated state of the driving source, a replenishing amount of the developer per unit time from the second developer container to the first developer container is larger than a replenishing amount of the developer per unit time from the first developer container to the developing apparatus.

Claims

1. A developer replenishing apparatus for replenishing a replenishing developer to a developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic image, the replenishing apparatus comprising:

a first developer container for containing the replenishing developer to be replenished to the developing apparatus;

a second developer container for containing the replenishing developer to be replenished to the first developer container;

a first replenishing mechanism for replenishing the replenishing developer in the first developer container to the developing apparatus;

a second replenishing mechanism for replenishing the replenishing developer in the second developer container to the first developer container; and

a driving source capable of simultaneously driving the first replenishing mechanism and the second replenishing mechanism,

wherein, at an operated state of the driving source, a replenishing amount of the replenishing developer per unit of time from the second developer container to the first developer container is larger than a replenishing amount of the replenishing developer per unit of time from the first developer container to the developing apparatus.

2. A developer replenishing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first replenishing mechanism includes a first replenishing member for replenishing the developer by a rotation,

the second replenishing mechanism includes a second replenishing member for replenishing the developer by a rotation,

the driving source executes a rotary motion to drive the first replenishing member and the second replenishing member in rotation, and

the driving source, the first replenishing member and the second replenishing member have substantially proportional rotation speeds.

3. A developer replenishing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a developer agitating mechanism for agitating the developer in the developing apparatus; and

control means for controlling rotation and stopping of the driving source and rotation and stopping of the developer agitating mechanism.

4. A developer replenishing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control means starts a driving power transmission to the first replenishing mechanism after the operation of the developer agitating mechanism is started, and terminates the driving power transmission to the first replenishing mechanism before the operation of the developer agitating mechanism is stopped.

5. A developer replenishing apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein for a rotation angle of A°

of the second replenishing member corresponding to a full turn of the first replenishing member, an average developer replenishing amount (Yg) from the second developer container to the first developer container by a rotation of the sheet member by the angle A°

is sufficiently larger than a developer replenishing amount (Xg) from the first developer container to the developing apparatus by a full turn of the replenishing member.