Developer storage body, developer collecting apparatus and image forming apparatus

• US 8,983,358 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2013
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2012
• 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): Curran, Gregory H
• Application Number:
  US13/847,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20130259495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 399/358, 399/360
• US Class Current: 399/360
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0856 Detection or control means for the developer level
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/105 Arrangements for conveying toner waste
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/12 Toner waste containers

Abstract

A developer storage body includes a developer storage portion configured to store a developer. The developer storage portion has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to each other. A developer ejecting portion is provided in the developer storage portion is located closer to the first end portion than to the second end portion. The developer ejecting portion is configured to eject the developer into the developer storage portion. The developer storage body further includes a developer pushing portion configured to push the developer ejected into the developer storage portion from the developer ejecting portion toward the second end portion. A developer detecting portion is provided in the developer storage portion and is located closer to the second end portion than to the first end portion.

Claims

1. A developer storage body comprising:

a developer storage portion configured to store a developer and having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to each other;

a developer receiving portion provided in the developer storage portion and located closer to the first end portion than to the second end portion, the developer receiving portion receiving the developer;

a developer conveying unit provided below the developer receiving portion and extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, the developer conveying unit conveying the developer from the first end portion toward the second end portion;

a developer detection unit including a detecting bar rotatably provided in the developer storage portion and provided above the developer conveying unit, the detection bar having a crank portion at a portion closer to the second end portion than to the first end portion,

wherein the developer conveying unit includes a first developer pushing portion extending from a vicinity of the first end portion and a second developer pushing portion reaching a vicinity of the second end portion, the first developer pushing portion generating a larger conveying force than the second developer pushing portion,

wherein the crank portion is located at a portion above the second developer pushing portion,

wherein the detection bar has a first rotating operation caused by gravity due to a weight of the crank portion, and a second rotating operation caused by a power transmitted from the developer conveying unit, and

wherein the developer detection unit detects an amount of the developer in the developer Storage portion based on a rotating operation of the detection bar.

2. The developer storage body according to claim 1, further comprising a conveying path provided below the developer receiving portion, the conveying path having a substantially cylindrical shape and being configured to guide the developer pushed by the first developer pushing portion.

3. The developer storage body according to claim 1, wherein the developer storage portion comprises:

a pushing area where the developer is pushed by the first developer pushing portion;

a detection area where the developer is detected by the developer detection unit, and

an accumulation area in which the developer is accumulated, the accumulation area being located between the pushing area and the detection area.

4. The developer storage body according to claim 3, wherein the detection area has a length which is shorter than or equal to a half of a length of the accumulation area.

5. The developer storage body according to claim 3, wherein the first developer pushing portion is disposed in the pushing area, and the second developer pushing portion is disposed in the accumulation area and the detection area.

6. The developer storage body according to claim 1, wherein the first developer pushing portion includes a first rotation shaft with a first spiral blade protruding from the first rotation shaft by a first protruding amount, and

wherein the second developer pushing portion includes a second rotation shaft with or without a second spiral blade protruding from the second rotation shaft by a second protruding amount, the second protruding amount being less than the first protruding amount.

7. The developer storage body according to claim 1, wherein the developer detection unit further comprises:

a movable body which is moved by being pushed by the developer accumulated in the developer storage portion; and

a resilient member provided on the movable body;

wherein the change in the rotating operation of the detection bar is caused by contact between the resilient member and the detection bar is in a state where the developer is accumulated in the developer storage portion.

8. An image forming apparatus comprising the developer storage body according to claim 1.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a process unit configured to form an image using the developer;

a first conveying unit configured to collect the developer from the process unit; and

a second conveying unit configured to convey the developer collected by the first conveying unit to the developer storage body.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of process units each of which is configured to form an image using the developer, the plurality of process units being integrally held by a frame;

a plurality of first conveying units provided on the frame, each of the plurality of first conveying units being configured to collect the developer from the plurality of process units; and

a second conveying unit provided on the frame and configured to convey the developer collected by the plurality of first conveying units to the developer storage body.

11. The developer storage body according to claim 1, wherein the developer storage portion comprises:

a pushing area where the developer is pushed by the first developer pushing portion;

a detection area where the developer is detected by the developer detection unit; and

an accumulation area in which the developer is accumulated, the accumulation area being located between the pushing area and the detection area,

wherein the detection area has a length which is shorter than or equal to a half of a length of the accumulation area, and

wherein the first developer pushing portion is disposed in the pushing area, and the second developer pushing portion is disposed in the accumulation area and the detection area.

12. A developer collecting apparatus comprising:

a developer storage portion configured to store a developer and having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to each other;

a developer receiving portion provided in the developer storage portion and located closer to the first end portion than to the second end portion, the developer receiving portion receiving the developer,

a developer conveying unit provided below the developer receiving portion and extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, the developer conveying unit conveying the developer from the first end portion toward the second end portion; and

a developer detection unit including a detecting bar rotatably provided in the developer storage portion and provided above the developer conveying unit, the detection bar having a crank portion at a portion closer to the second end portion than to the first end portion,

wherein the developer conveying unit includes a first developer pushing portion extending from a vicinity of the first end portion and a second developer pushing portion reaching a vicinity of the second end portion the first developer pushing portion penetrating a larger conveying force than the second developer pushing portion,

wherein the crank portion is located at a portion above the second developer pushing portion,

wherein the detection bar has a first rotating operation caused by gravity due to a weight of the crank portion, and a second rotating operation caused by a power transmitted from the developer conveying unit, and

wherein the developer detection unit detects an amount of the developer in the developer storage portion based on a rotating operation of the detection bar.