Developer container, developer supplying device, and image forming apparatus

• US 7,480,476 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Ishii, Hiroshi, Hosokawa, Hiroshi, Suzuki, Kazuki, Tsuda, Kiyonori, Takeichi, Ryuta, Noguchi, Yuusuke, Umemura, Kazuhiko, Fukuchi, Yutaka, Kuma, Kazuosa, Kawasumi, Masanori, Arai, Yuji, Kikura, Makoto, Narumi, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): BEATTY, ROBERT B
• Application Number:
  US11/730,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20070177905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 399/119, 399/120, 399/258, 399/262, 399/263, 222/167, 222/169, 222/325, 222/414, 222/564, 222/565, 222/DIG.1
• US Class Current: 399/258
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0872 the developer cartridges being generally horizontally mounted parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis
• 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: G03G 2215/067 Toner discharging opening covered by arcuate shutter
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0692 using a slidable sealing member, e.g. shutter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 222/01 Xerography

Abstract

A toner bottle has a main body, an opening, a gear, and an intermediate area. The main body includes a guide used to guide the toner. The intermediate area is located between the main body and the opening. Both the main body and the intermediate area include a guide for guiding toner. An angle of the guide of the main body relative to the axis of rotation of the toner bottle is larger than an angle of the guide of the intermediate area.

Claims

1. A toner bottle, comprising:

a main body including a guide used to guide toner;

an opening of the bottle;

a gear proximate to the opening, the gear oriented to rotate the toner bottle around an axis of rotation; and

an intermediate area located between the main body and the opening, the intermediate area including a guide, an angle of the guide of the main body relative to the axis of rotation being larger than an angle of the guide of the intermediate area, both the angle of the guide of the main body and the angle of the guide of the intermediate area being acute angles,

wherein the gear is disposed between the opening and the main body, and

wherein the gear is disposed between the opening and the intermediate area.

2. A toner bottle according to claim 1, wherein:

the intermediate area includes two toner guides.

3. A toner bottle according to claim 2, wherein:

the two toner guides of the intermediate area each have an angle relative to the axis of rotation which is smaller than the angle of the guide of the main body.

4. A toner bottle according to claim 1, wherein:

the gear is integrally molded with the toner bottle.

5. A toner bottle according to claim 1, wherein:

the intermediate area includes at least one raised portion.

6. A toner bottle according to claim 1, wherein:

the intermediate area includes two raised portions.

7. A toner bottle according to claim 1, wherein:

the intermediate area includes sloping shoulders.

8. A toner bottle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cap portion having a toner outlet, the cap portion being rotatable with respect to the main body and covering the opening of the bottle.

9. A toner bottle, comprising:

a main body including means for guiding toner when the main body rotates;

an opening of the bottle; and

a gear proximate to the opening, the gear oriented to rotate the toner bottle around an axis of rotation; and

an intermediate area located between the main body and the opening, the intermediate area including a means for guiding the toner when the intermediate area rotates, an angle of the means for guiding of the main body relative to the axis of rotation being larger than an angle of the means for guiding of the intermediate area, both the angle of the means for guiding toner of the main body and the angle of the means for guiding toner of the intermediate area being acute angles,

wherein the gear is disposed between the opening and the main body, and

wherein the gear is disposed between the opening and the intermediate area.

10. A toner bottle according to claim 9, wherein:

the intermediate area includes two means for guiding.

11. A toner bottle according to claim 10, wherein:

the two means for guiding of the intermediate area each have an angle relative to the axis of rotation which is smaller than the angle of the means for guiding of the main body.

12. A toner bottle according to claim 9, wherein:

the gear is integrally molded with the toner bottle.

13. A toner bottle according to claim 9, wherein:

the intermediate area includes at least one raised portion.

14. A toner bottle according to claim 9, wherein:

the intermediate area includes two raised portions.

15. A toner bottle according to claim 9, wherein:

the intermediate area includes sloping shoulders.

16. A toner bottle according to claim 9, further comprising:

a cap portion having a toner outlet, the cap portion being rotatable with respect to the main body and covering the opening of the bottle.

17. A toner bottle, comprising:

a main body including a guide used to guide toner;

an opening of the bottle;

a gear proximate to the opening, the gear oriented to rotate the toner bottle around an axis of rotation; and

an intermediate area located between the main body and the opening, the intermediate area including a guide, an angle of the guide of the main body relative to the axis of rotation being larger than an angle of the guide of the intermediate area, wherein;

the gear is disposed between the opening and the main body, and

the gear is disposed between the opening and the intermediate area.

18. A toner bottle according to claim 17, further comprising:

a cap portion having a toner outlet, the cap portion being rotatable with respect to the main body and covering the opening of the bottle.

19. A toner bottle, comprising:

a main body including means for guiding toner when the main body rotates;

an opening of the bottle; and

a gear proximate to the opening, the gear oriented to rotate the toner bottle around an axis of rotation; and

an intermediate area located between the main body and the opening, the intermediate area including a means for guiding the toner when the intermediate area rotates, an angle of the means for guiding of the main body relative to the axis of rotation being larger than an angle of the means for guiding of the intermediate area, wherein;

the gear is disposed between the opening and the main body, and

the gear is disposed between the opening and the intermediate area.

20. A toner bottle according to claim 19, further comprising:

a cap portion having a toner outlet, the cap portion being rotatable with respect to the main body and covering the opening of the bottle.