Toner container and developer replenishing device

• US 7,697,871 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2008
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera MITA Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kyocera MITA Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Eto, Daisuke, Ikebata, Yoshiaki, Nishimura, Toshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen; Sophia S
• Application Number:
  US11/972,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20080170888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 399/262, 399/263, 399/119, 399/120, 399/258
• US Class Current: 399/263
• 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 15/0886 by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/085 Stirring member in developer container

Abstract

A toner container for containing toner includes a first side wall and a second side wall opposite to each other; a toner discharge hole; an agitator for agitating the toner, the agitator rotatable around an agitating shaft bridged between the first side wall and the second side wall; a bearing portion for supporting one end of the agitating shaft; a swing prevention portion for preventing the container from swinging; and a toner charging hole for charging toner into the container. The first side wall is formed with the bearing portion, the swing prevention portion, and the toner charging hole. The bearing portion is between the toner charging hole and the swing prevention portion on an outer surface of the first side wall.

Claims

1. A toner container mounted on an image forming apparatus main body to supply a toner to the apparatus main body, the toner container comprising:

a container for containing toner, the container including a first side wall and a second side wall opposite to each other;

an agitator for agitating the toner, the agitator rotatable around an agitating shaft bridged between the first side wall and the second side wall;

a bearing portion for supporting one end of the agitating shaft;

a swing prevention portion to be engaged with the apparatus main body to prevent the container from swinging; and

a toner charging hole for charging toner into the container;

wherein

the bearing portion, the swing prevention portion, and the toner charging hole are formed in the first side wall; and

the bearing portion is between the toner charging hole and the swing prevention portion on an outer surface of the first side wall.

2. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein:

the bearing portion is provided at a position eccentric from a center of the first side wall, and the toner charging hole is provided at a position on a side opposite to the eccentric direction of the bearing portion.

3. The toner container according to claim 1, further comprising:

a driving force transmitting portion for transmitting a driving force to the agitator;

wherein

the driving force transmitting portion is provided on the second side wall.

4. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the toner charging hole has a shape operable to receive a leading end of a funnel for charging toner.

5. The toner container according to claim 1, further comprising a covering cap mountable on the first side wall in such a manner to cover the outer surface of the first side wall, wherein the swing prevention portion is provided on the covering cap.

6. The toner container according to claim 5, wherein the covering cap is mounted in such a manner to cover the area of the outer surface of the first side wall that is other than the toner charging hole.

7. The toner container according to claim 1, further comprising a toner discharge hole is provided near the first side wall.

8. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein

the swing prevention portion is a linear projection extending in a direction of mounting the toner container to the apparatus main body.

9. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the bearing portion, the swing prevention portion and the developer charging hole are formed at positions on the first side wall spaced apart from one another.

10. A developer supplying device mounted on an image forming apparatus main body to supply a developer to the image forming apparatus main body, the developer supplying device comprising:

a developer container for containing the developer, the developer container including a first side wall, a second side wall opposite to each other;

a rotation shaft bridged between the first side wall and the second side wall;

a bearing portion for supporting one end of the rotation shaft;

a swing prevention portion to be engaged with the apparatus main body to prevent the developer container from swinging; and

a developer charging hole for charging developer into the developer container;

wherein

the bearing portion, the swing prevention portion, and the developer charging hole are formed in the first side wall; and

the bearing portion is between the developer charging hole and the swing prevention portion on an outer surface of the first side wall.

11. The developer supplying device according to claim 10:

wherein the bearing portion is provided at a position eccentric from a center of the first side wall; and

wherein the developer charging hole is provided at a position on a side opposite to the eccentric direction of the bearing portion.

12. The developer supplying device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a driving force transmitting portion for transmitting a driving force to the rotation shaft;

wherein

the driving force transmitting portion is provided on the second side wall.

13. The developer supplying device according to claim 10, wherein the developer charging hole has a shape operable to receive a leading end of a funnel for charging developer.

14. The developer supplying device according to claim 10, further comprising a covering cap mountable on the first side wall in such a manner to cover the outer surface of the first side wall, wherein the swing prevention portion is provided on the covering cap.

15. The developer supplying device according to claim 14, wherein the covering cap is mounted in such a manner to cover the area of the outer surface of the first side wall that is other than the toner charging hole.

16. The developer supplying device according to claim 10, further comprising a developer discharge hole is provided near the first side wall.

17. The developer supplying device according to claim 10, wherein

the swing prevention portion is a linear projection extending in a direction of mounting the developer supplying device to the apparatus main body.

18. The developer supplying device according to claim 10, wherein the bearing portion, the swing prevention portion and the developer charging hole are formed at positions on the first side wall spaced apart from one another.

19. A toner container comprising:

a container for containing a toner, the container including a first side wall and a second side wall opposite to each other;

an agitator for agitating the toner, the agitator being rotatable around an agitating shaft bridged between the first side wall and the second side wall;

a bearing portion formed in the first side wall for supporting one end of the agitating shaft;

a toner charging hole formed in the first side wall for charging the toner into the container; and

a covering cap mountable on the first side wall in such a manner as to cover outer surface areas of the first side wall except for the toner charging hole, a swing prevention portion formed on the covering cap for preventing the container from swinging, the swing prevention portion being disposed relative to the bearing portion and the toner charging hole so that the bearing portion is between the toner charging hole and the swing prevention portion.

20. The toner container of claim 19, wherein:

the bearing portion is provided at a position eccentric from a center of the first side wall, and the toner charging hole is provided at a position on a side opposite to the eccentric direction of the bearing portion.