Developer storage container, developing device and image forming apparatus

• US 8,588,661 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2010
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OKI Electric Industry Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Oki Data Corporation (OKI Electric Industry Company Limited)
• Inventors: Ota, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindsay, Jr., Walter L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yi, Roy Y
• Application Number:
  US12/926,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20110103846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 399/262, 399/263, 399/253, 399/258, 399/120
• US Class Current: 399/263
• 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 15/0886 by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0692 using a slidable sealing member, e.g. shutter
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0827 Augers

Abstract

A developer storage container includes a developer storage portion that stores a developer and has an opening for supplying the developer. An agitating-and-supplying member is rotatably provided in the developer storage portion. The agitating-and-supplying member has a shaft portion and an agitating portion. The agitating portion has a fixed end and a distal end opposite to each other. The fixed end of the agitating portion is fixed to the shaft portion. The agitating portion has an area corresponding to the opening. In the area, a distance between a center axis of the shaft portion and the distal end of the agitating portion is longer than a distance between the center axis of the shaft portion and an outer wall of the developer storage portion.

Claims

1. A developer storage container comprising:

a developer storage portion that stores a developer and has an opening for supplying said developer to outside of said developer storage portion; and

an agitating-and-supplying member rotatably provided in said developer storage portion, said agitating-and-supplying member having a shaft portion and an agitating portion, said agitating portion having a fixed end and a distal end opposite to each other, said fixed end of said agitating portion being fixed to said shaft portion;

wherein said agitating portion has an area corresponding to said opening;

wherein said agitating portion of said area includes a protruding part that protrudes outside of said developer storage portion via said opening;

wherein a length of said distal end of said protruding part of said agitating portion of said area is shorter than a length of a portion of the protruding part shifted from said distal end toward said rotation axis, said length of said distal end and said length of said portion being defined in a direction parallel to a rotation axis of said shaft portion; and

wherein, in said area, a distance between said rotation axis of said shaft portion and said distal end of said agitating portion is longer than a distance between said rotation axis of said shaft portion and an outer wall of said developer storage portion.

2. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein said agitating portion is constituted by a resilient member that protrudes from said shaft portion toward an inner surface of said developer storage portion.

3. The developer storage container according to claim 2, wherein said agitating portion is formed of a film member, and said agitating portion contacts said inner surface of said developer storage portion in a deflected manner.

4. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein said agitating portion contacts said inner surface of said developer storage portion in a deflected manner.

5. The developer storage container according to claim 4, wherein said agitating portion of said area is separated from said agitating portion of other area by slits.

6. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein said length of said agitating portion of said area is shorter than a length of said opening in the same direction.

7. The developer storage container according to claim 4, wherein a distance between said fixed end and said distal end of said agitating portion of said area is longer than a distance between said fixed end and said distal end of said agitating portion of other area.

8. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein a distance between said fixed end to said distal end of said agitating portion gradually decreases as a distance from said area increases.

9. The developer storage container according to claim 1, further comprising a shutter provided on said developer storage portion so as to be movable in a longitudinal direction of said developer storage portion,

wherein said shutter is movable between a first position where said shutter covers said opening, and a second position where said shutter opens said opening.

10. The developer storage container according to claim 4, wherein, in a state where said agitating portion of said area protrudes outside said developer storage portion via said opening, said agitating portion of said area contacts an inner periphery of said opening, and said distal end of said agitating portion positions at a rear side with respect to said inner periphery of said opening in a rotating direction of said agitating-and-supplying member.

11. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein said length of said agitating portion is shorter at said distal end than at said fixed end.

12. A developing device comprising said developer storage container according to claim 1.

13. An image forming apparatus comprising said developer storage container according to claim 1.

14. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein said length of said protruding part of said agitating portion gradually decreases in a direction from said opening toward said distal end of said protruding part.

15. The developer storage container according to claim 9, wherein said protruding part of said agitating portion protruding via said opening has an inclined part that is inclined with respect to a moving direction of said shutter.

16. The developer storage container according to claim 15, wherein said inclined part is inclined so that a distance between said opening and said inclined part in said moving direction of said shutter increases in a direction from said opening toward said distal end.

17. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein said protruding part of said agitating portion includes a plurality of pieces.