Toner supply device

• US 7,257,355 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyocera MITA Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kyocera MITA Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Tomoe, Tetsuro, Tanda, Tetsuo, Tanabe, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray; David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LABOMBARD, RUTH NAOMI
• Application Number:
  US11/163,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20060093405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 399/119, 399/120, 399/258, 399/260, 399/262, 222/160, 222/240, 222/241, 222/DIG.1
• US Class Current: 399/258
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0877 Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0879 for dispensing developer from a developer cartridge not directly attached to the development unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0886 by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 222/01 Xerography

Abstract

A toner supply device is disclosed that supplies toner contained in a toner container to a developing device in an image forming device. The toner supply device includes a conveyance pipe for conveying the toner from the toner container to the developing device downward, and at least one supply pipe for supplying the toner from the conveyance pipe to the developing device downward. The conveyance pipe is connected to the toner container for conveying the toner from the toner container to the developing device. The supply pipe has an upper portion connected to the conveyance pipe and a lower end capable of advancing into the developing device. In addition, a conveyance member is rotatably located in the supply pipe for conveying the toner downward. The supply pipe is located such that a center axis of the supply pipe is slanted relative to the horizontal line at a repose angle of the toner or more.

Claims

1. A image forming device comprising:

a toner container being configured to contain toner;

an image bearing member having a surface being configured to have an electrostatic image formed thereon;

a developing device having

a plurality of developing units being located corresponding to different developing colors, and

a rotary frame maintaining the developing units in a circumferential direction in order to place each of the developing units opposite the image bearing member via rotation; and

a toner supply device being configured to supply toner contained in the toner container to the developing device, the toner supply device having

a conveyance pipe being connected to the toner container, the conveyance pipe conveying the toner from the toner container to the developing device,

at least one supply pipe being configured to supply the toner from the conveyance pipe downward to the developing device, the at least one supply pipe having an upper portion connected to the conveyance pipe and a lower end configured to advance into the developing device, the at least one supply pipe having a center axis of the supply pipe slanted relative to the horizontal line at a repose angle of the toner or more, the supply pipes being located to correspond to the developing units, and

a conveyance member being rotatably located in the supply pipe, the conveyance member conveying the toner downward.

8. The image forming device according to claim 1, wherein the developing unit is formed with a toner supply opening, and

a shutter is provided at the opening of the developing unit for toner supply.

2. A toner supply device configured to supply toner contained in a toner container to a developing device in an image forming device, comprising:

a conveyance pipe being connected to the toner container, the conveyance pipe conveying the toner from the toner container to the developing device;

at least one supply pipe being configured to supply the toner from the conveyance pipe downward to the developing device, the at least one supply pipe having an upper portion connected to the conveyance pipe and a lower end configured to advance into the developing device, the at least one supply pipe having a center axis of the supply pipe slanted relative to the horizontal line at a repose angle of the toner or more, the at least one supply pipe having a shutter mechanism prohibiting and allowing the toner to be supplied to the developing device; and

a conveyance member being rotatably located in the supply pipe, the conveyance member conveying the toner downward.

3. The toner supply device according to claim 2, wherein the supply pipe includes an inner cylinder having an inner opening at a tip thereof, and an outer cylinder rotatably located around the inner cylinder and having an outer opening at a lateral surface of a tip thereof, and wherein the shutter mechanism is formed by the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder.

4. The toner supply device according to claim 3, further comprising a driving device to move the tip of the supply pipe into the developing device and away from the developing device;

and

a shutter driving mechanism to align at least parts of the inner opening of the inner cylinder and the outer opening of the outer cylinder with each other when the tip of the supply pipe advances into the developing device, and to misalign the inner opening with the outer opening when the tip is located outside of the developing device.

5. The toner supply device according to claim 4, wherein the outer opening of the outer cylinder is larger than the inner opening of the inner cylinder.

6. The toner supply device according to claim 4, wherein the shutter driving mechanism rotates the outer cylinder as the supply pipe is moved by means of the driving device.

7. The toner supply device according to claim 6, wherein the shutter driving mechanism includes a guide portion located on an outer circumference of the outer cylinder, and a spiral guide groove around the outer cylinder into which the guide portion is inserted.

9. An image forming device comprising;

an image forming unit being configured to forming a toner image and being configured to transfer the toner image onto a transfer medium;

a sheet conveyance unit being configured to convey the transfer medium to the image forming unit; and

a toner supply unit being configured to supply toner to the image forming unit, the toner supply unit including

a toner supply member being configured to supply toner to the image forming unit,

a toner container being configured to store toner, and

a toner conveyance unit having a toner conveyance member inside being configured to convey the toner in the toner container to the toner supply member, the toner conveyance unit having a portion upstream in a toner conveyance direction that is lower than a portion thereof that is downstream in the toner conveyance direction.

10. The image forming device according to claim 9, wherein a connected portion between the toner conveyance unit and the toner container is located lower than a connected portion between the toner conveyance unit and the toner supply member.

11. The image forming device according to claim 9, wherein the amount of toner conveyed by the toner conveyance unit is less than the toner supply capacity of the toner supply member.

12. The image forming device according to claim 11, wherein the amount of toner supplied from the toner container to the toner conveyance unit is less than the toner conveyance capacity of the toner conveyance unit.

13. An image forming device according to claim 9, wherein a connected portion between the toner supply member and the toner conveyance unit is positioned in a position that is higher than a portion of the toner conveyance unit that is upstream near the connected portion between the toner container and the toner conveyance unit.