Developer container and image forming device

• US 9,383,717 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2015
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Sato, Shougo
• Primary Examiner(s): BOLDUC, DAVID J
• Application Number:
  US14/959,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20160085203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 214 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying new developer
• 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 15/0886 by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/105 Arrangements for conveying toner waste
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/12 Toner waste containers

Abstract

A developer container includes a casing having a developer accommodating chamber and a waste-developer accommodating chamber, conveying member, a conveying-member accommodating unit, and a supporting member. The conveying member conveys waste developer in a longitudinal direction of the waste-developer accommodating chamber. The conveying-member accommodating unit accommodates the conveying member therein and has a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is provided in an upstream end portion and allows the waste developer to move from outside of the conveying-member accommodating unit to the inside of the conveying-member accommodating unit. The second opening allows the waste-developer to move from the inside of the conveying-member accommodating unit to the waste-developer accommodating chamber. The supporting member is provided on the casing. The supporting member supports the conveying-member accommodating unit such that the conveying-member accommodating unit is movable in directions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction relative to the casing.

Claims

1. A developing cartridge comprising:

a frame configured to accommodate a waste toner, the frame including a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end in a first direction;

a waste-toner conveying pipe configured to convey the waste toner, the waste-toner conveying pipe including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe penetrating through the first end of the frame; and

a packing member arranged between the first end of the frame and the first portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe such that the frame and the waste-toner conveying pipe move relative to each other,

wherein the first end of the frame includes a first surface facing in the first direction from the first end to the second end,

wherein the first portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe includes a second surface facing in a second direction opposite to the first direction and configured to be in contact with the first surface of the first end of the frame.

2. A developing cartridge according to claim 1,

wherein the first end of the frame includes a first protrusion,

wherein the first protrusion includes the first surface.

3. A developing cartridge according to claim 1,

wherein the first portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe includes a second protrusion,

wherein the second protrusion includes the second surface.

4. A developing cartridge according to claim 2,

wherein the first protrusion protrudes toward an outer surface of the first portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe from the first end of the frame in a first radial direction of the waste-toner conveying pipe.

5. A developing cartridge according to claim 3,

wherein the second protrusion protrudes from an outer surface of the first portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe toward the first end of the frame in a second radial direction of the waste-toner conveying pipe.

6. A developing cartridge according to claim 2,

wherein the first portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe includes a second protrusion,

wherein the second protrusion includes the second surface.

7. A developing cartridge according to claim 6,

wherein the frame further includes a third protrusion spaced apart from the first protrusion in the first direction.

8. A developing cartridge according to claim 7,

wherein the first portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe further includes a fourth protrusion arranged spaced apart from the third protrusion in the first direction.

9. A developing cartridge according to claim 8,

wherein the third protrusion of the frame includes a third surface facing in the second direction,

wherein the fourth protrusion of the first portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe includes a fourth surface facing in the first direction and configured to be in contact with the third surface of the third protrusion.

10. A developing cartridge according to claim 8,

wherein the packing member includes a frame-side packing member fitted to the first end of the frame and a pipe-side packing member fitted to the first portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe,

wherein the pipe-side packing member is arranged between the second protrusion and the fourth protrusion in the first direction.

11. A developing cartridge according to claim 6,

wherein the packing member includes a frame-side packing member fitted to the first end of the frame and a pipe-side packing member fitted to the first portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe,

wherein the frame-side packing member is arranged between the first protrusion and the third protrusion in the first direction.

12. A developing cartridge according to claim 1,

wherein the packing member includes a frame-side packing member fitted to the first end of the frame and a pipe-side packing member fitted to the first portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe,

wherein an inner surface the frame-side packing member is in contact with an outer surface of the pipe-side packing member.

13. A developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the packing member includes an elastic material.

14. A developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe penetrates through the second end of the frame.

15. A developing cartridge comprising:

a frame configured to accommodate a waste toner, the frame including a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end;

a waste-toner conveying pipe configured to convey the waste toner, the waste-toner conveying pipe including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe penetrating through the first end of the frame; and

a packing member arranged between the first end of the frame and the first portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe such that the frame and the waste-toner conveying pipe move relative to each other,

wherein the frame includes a first surface facing in a first circumferential direction of the waste-toner conveying pipe,

wherein the waste-toner conveying pipe includes a second surface facing in a second circumferential direction opposite to the first circumferential direction.

16. A developing cartridge according to claim 15,

wherein the first end of the frame includes a first protrusion,

wherein the first protrusion includes the first surface.

17. A developing cartridge according to claim 16,

wherein the first end portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe includes a second protrusion,

wherein the second protrusion includes the second surface.

18. A developing cartridge according to claim 17,

wherein the first protrusion protrudes toward an outer surface of the first portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe from the first end of the frame in a first radial direction of the waste-toner conveying pipe.

19. A developing cartridge according to claim 17,

wherein the second protrusion protrudes from an outer surface of the first portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe toward the first end of the frame in a second radial direction of the waste-toner conveying pipe opposite to the first radial direction.

20. A developing cartridge according to claim 17,

wherein the frame further includes a third protrusion, the second protrusion of the first portion of the waste-toner conveying pipe is arranged between the first protrusion and the third protrusion in the first circumferential direction.