Apparatuses for image forming capable of effectively conveying developer therefrom and a method of effectively forming a reinforcing member adhering to the apparatuses

• US 7,389,071 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Katsuyama, Goro, Takami, Nobuo, Kita, Emi, Katoh, Keisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, HOAN H
• Application Number:
  US11/113,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20060002743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 399/107, 399/119, 399/120, 399/252, 399/254, 399/258, 399/259, 399/260, 399/262, 222/DIG.1
• US Class Current: 399/258
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0874 non-rigid containers, e.g. foldable cartridges, bags
• 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 15/0881 Sealing of developer cartridges

Abstract

A developer container includes a cap controlling a flow of developer with a hole, the cap detachably engaged with a nozzle connecting to an image forming apparatus, and a developer case containing the developer with an outlet be connected to the hole. The developer case allows the developer to flow through the outlet in a direction different from the flow of developer through the hole.

Claims

1. A developer container, comprising:

a cap configured to control a flow of developer, said cap comprising a hole configured to be detachably engaged with a nozzle connecting to an image forming apparatus;

a developer case configured to contain the developer, said case comprising

an outlet configured to be connected to the hole; and

a bag including a flexibly foldable material and having at least one sheet member attached on a surface thereof, said bag configured to decrease in volume when an inner pressure thereof decreases, the at least one sheet member having a laterally bow-shaped surface extending outwardly from the surface of the bag and configured to reinforce the surface of the bag.

2. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sheet member is attached to the surface such that a center portion of the at least one sheet member extends outwardly from the surface of the bag more than an edge portion of the at least one sheet member.

3. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein

the bag has first surfaces with a fold and second surfaces without a fold, the second surfaces disposed facing each other;

and

the at least one sheet member is adhered to one of the second surfaces.

4. The developer container according to claim 3, wherein the at least one sheet member comprises a gripper.

5. The developer container according to claim 4, wherein the gripper includes a plurality of through holes formed in the at least one sheet member.

6. The developer container according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of through holes formed in the sheet member are arranged to form an arc.

7. The developer container according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of through holes have at least one rounded corner on a surface of the sheet member opposite to the surface of the developer container.

8. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the developer case contains toner.

9. The developer container according to claim 8, wherein the developer case further contains a carrier.

10. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the developer case further comprises:

an adaptor adhered to the opening of the bag and having a portion engaging with the outlet of the developer case and configured to connect the developer case and the cap.

11. The developer container according to claim 10, wherein the cap is detachably attached to the outlet of the adaptor.

12. The developer container according to claim 11, further comprising:

a sealing member configured to hermetically seal a portion between the cap and the outlet of the adaptor.

13. The developer container according to claim 12, wherein the sealing member includes a packing disposed at a funnel portion of the cap.

14. The developer container according to claim 13, wherein the packing includes an O-ring.

15. The developer container according to claim 10, wherein the developer case contains toner.

16. The developer container according to claim 15, wherein the developer case further contains a carrier.

17. The developer container according to claim 10, wherein the adaptor and the cap are formed as a single developer conveying member.

18. The developer container according to claim 17, wherein the developer case contains toner.

19. The developer container according to claim 18, wherein the developer case further contains a carrier.

20. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the developer case comprises:

a bottle having a portion engaged with the outlet of the developer case.

21. The developer container according to claim 20,

wherein the bottle comprises an air inlet arranged at a portion different from a portion to which the outlet is engaged and comprising a filter configured to prevent developer from passing through the air inlet.

22. The developer container according to claim 20, wherein the bottle comprises a tapered portion in which a lateral cross sectional area thereof decreases toward the outlet.

23. The developer container according to claim 20, wherein the cap is detachably attached to the outlet of the bottle.

24. The developer container according to claim 23, further comprising:

a sealing member configured to hermetically seal a portion between the cap and the outlet of the bottle.

25. The developer container according to claim 24, wherein the sealing member includes a packing disposed at a funnel portion of the cap.

26. The developer container according to claim 25, wherein the packing includes an O-ring.

27. The developer container according to claim 26, wherein the sealing member is disposed at a portion of at least one of the cap and the outlet of the bottle.

28. The developer container according to claim 27, wherein the sealing member includes a foamed polyurethane.

29. The developer container according to claim 28, wherein the bottle and the cap are formed as a single developer conveying member.

30. The developer container according to claim 20, wherein the developer case contains toner.

31. The developer container according to claim 30, wherein the developer case further contains a carrier.

32. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the developer case allows the developer to flow through the outlet in a direction perpendicular to a direction of flow of developer through the hole.

33. The developer container according to claim 32, wherein the developer case contains toner.

34. The developer container according to claim 33, wherein the developer case further contains a carrier.

35. A developer container, comprising:

means for controlling a flow of developer, said means for controlling including means for engaging with a nozzle connected to an image forming apparatus; and

means for containing the developer, said means for containing including means for communicating with the means for engaging; and

a bag including a flexibly foldable material and having means for reinforcing attached on a surface thereof, said bag configured to decrease in volume when an inner pressure thereof decreases, the means for reinforcing having a laterally bow-shaped surface extending outwardly from the surface of the bag and for reinforcing the surface of the bag.

36. The developer container according to claim 35, wherein the means for reinforcing is attached to the surface such that a center portion of the at least one sheet member extends outwardly from the surface of the bag more than an edge portion of the at least one sheet member.

37. The developer container according to claim 35, wherein

the bag has first surfaces with a fold and second surfaces without a fold, the second surfaces disposed facing each other;

and

the means for reinforcing is adhered to one of the second surfaces.

38. The developer container according to claim 37, wherein the means for reinforcing comprises a gripper including a plurality of through holes formed in the means for reinforcing.

39. The developer container according to claim 35, wherein the means for containing further comprises:

means for connecting engaged with the means for communicating and for connecting the means for controlling and the means for containing.

40. The developer container according to claim 39, wherein the means for controlling is detachably attached to the means for communicating.

41. The developer container according to claim 40, further comprising:

means for sealing a portion between the means for controlling and the means for communicating.

42. The developer container according to claim 41, wherein the means for sealing includes a packing disposed at the means for controlling.

43. The developer container according to claim 39, wherein the means for connecting and the means for controlling are formed as means for conveying developer.

44. The developer container according to claim 35, wherein the means for containing comprise:

a bottle having a portion engaged with the means for communicating.

45. The developer container according to claim 44, wherein the bottle comprises means for introducing air arranged at a portion different from a portion to which the means for communicating is engaged and comprising means for preventing developer from passing through the means for introducing.

46. The developer container according to claim 44, wherein the bottle comprises a tapered portion in which a lateral cross sectional area thereof decreases toward the means for communicating.

47. The developer container according to claim 44, wherein the means for controlling is detachably attached to the means for communicating.

48. The developer container according to claim 47, further comprising:

means for sealing a portion between the means for controlling and the means for communicating.

49. The developer container according to claim 48, wherein the means for sealing includes a packing.

50. The developer container according to claim 35, wherein the means for containing and the means for controlling are formed as means for conveying developer.

51. The developer container according to claim 35, wherein the means for containing allows the developer to flow through the means for communicating in a direction perpendicular to a direction of flow of developer through the means for engaging.

52. The developer container according to claim 35, wherein the means for containing contains toner.

53. The developer container according to claim 52, wherein the means for containing further contains a carrier.

54. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a developing unit configured to develop a toner image;

a developer container, comprising;

a cap configured to control a flow of developer, said cap comprising a hole configured to be detachably engaged with a nozzle connected to the image forming apparatus; and

a developer case configured to contain the developer, said case comprising

an outlet configured to be connected to the hole; and

a bag including a flexibly foldable material and having at least one sheet material attached on a surface thereof, said bag configured to decrease in volume when an inner pressure thereof decreases, the at least one sheet material having a laterally bow-shaped surface extending outwardly from the surface of the bag and configured to reinforce the surface of the bag.

55. The image forming apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the at least one sheet material is attached to the surface such that a center portion of the at least one sheet member extends outwardly from the surface of the bag more than an edge portion of the at least one sheet member.

56. The image forming apparatus according to claim 54, the developer case further comprises:

an adaptor adhering to the opening of the bag and having a portion engaging with the outlet of the developer case and configured to connect the developer case and the cap.

57. The image forming apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the developer case comprises:

a bottle having a portion engaging with the outlet of the developer case.