Developer container, development device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus

• US 9,568,860 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2014
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Matsumaru, Naoki, Suzuki, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Minh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Verbitsky, Victor
• Application Number:
  US14/326,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20150016830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/086 the level being measured by electro-magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0896 Arrangements or disposition of the complete developer unit or parts thereof not provided for by groups G03G15/08 - G03G15/0894

Abstract

A developer container includes a conductive member containing a resin configured to detect a developer amount using capacitance, and a frame member having the conductive member configured to store the developer. The conductive member is provided on a first side of the frame member contacting the developer and on a second side of the frame member, the second side is the back of the first side, and the conductive member provided on the first side and the conductive member provided on the second side are connected with each other within the frame member.

Claims

1. A developer container comprising:

a conductive resin member having resin and configured to detect a developer amount by using capacitance; and

a frame member configured to store developer,

wherein the conductive resin member includes (i) a conductive resin detection portion configured to detect the developer amount in a first side of the frame member which contacts the developer, (ii) a conductive resin contact portion in a second side of the frame member that is different from the first side, and (iii) a conductive resin joint portion connected with the detection portion and the contact portion within the frame member, and

wherein the resin in the detection portion, the contact portion and the joint portion is the same resin.

2. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein a surface area of the contact portion is smaller than a surface area of the detection portion.

3. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the frame member includes a convex portion, and the detection portion is formed covering the convex portion.

4. The developer container according to claim 3, wherein the convex portion is provided in the first side, and the convex portion extends in a longitudinal direction of the detection portion.

5. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the frame member includes a first frame member having the conductive resin member and a second frame member, and

wherein the first frame member and the second frame member are connected to each other to form a space for storing the developer.

6. The developer container according to claim 5, wherein the contact portion is provided outside a surrounded area surrounded by a connected portion formed by the first frame member and the second frame member connected with each other.

7. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the conductive resin member and the first frame member are integrally molded.

8. The developer container according to claim 3, wherein the joint portion is extended to an inside of the frame member in a direction intersecting with a longitudinal direction of the convex portion provided in the first side, and the joint portion connects with the contact portion provided in the second side.

9. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the detection portion is formed on a bent portion or a curved surface.

10. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the frame member is molded by injection molding such that the joint portion is located within the frame member.

11. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the developer container includes an electrode configured to cooperate with the conductive resin member to detect change in capacitance generated by change in a remaining toner amount.

12. A developing apparatus comprising the developer container according to claim 11,

wherein the electrode is a developer bearing member configured to carry the developer.

13. A process cartridge comprising:

the developer container according to claim 1; and

an image bearing member configured to carry a developer image.

14. An image forming apparatus comprising:

the developer container according to claim 1; and

an apparatus body contact portion configured to connect with the contact portion,

wherein the image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using the developer.

15. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the joint portion includes two opposing flat surfaces.

16. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the detection portion, the joint portion, and the contact portion are a single piece construction so as to be included in the conductive resin member.

17. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the detection portion, the joint portion, and the contact portion each include conductive resin.

18. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the conductive resin member is formed by mixing conductive particle and resin.

19. A developer container comprising:

a frame member configured to store developer and having a first side and a second side that is a backside of the first side of the frame member; and

a conductive member including resin, wherein the conductive member is configured to detect a developer amount by using capacitance,

wherein a conductive resin first portion of the conductive member is provided along the first side of the frame member to be in contact with the developer and a conductive resin second portion of the conductive member is provided along the second side of the frame member,

wherein a conductive resin joint portion of the conductive member is provided to connect the first portion and the second portion to each other through the frame member, and

wherein the resin in the first portion, the second portion and the joint portion is the same resin.

20. The developer container according to claim 19, wherein the first portion is a detection portion configured to detect the developer amount and

the second portion is a contact portion configured to abut on a remaining toner amount contact of an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus.

21. The developer container according to claim 20, wherein a surface area of the contact portion is smaller than a surface area of the first portion of the conductive member.

22. The developer container according to claim 19, wherein the frame member includes a convex portion, and the first portion of the conductive member covers the convex portion of the frame member.

23. The developer container according to claim 22, wherein the convex portion is provided along the first side of the frame member and extends in a longitudinal direction of the first portion of the conductive member.

24. The developer container according to claim 19, wherein the frame member includes a first frame member having the conductive member, and a second frame member that forms a space by connecting with the first frame member, wherein the space is storage portion configured to storing the developer.

25. The developer container according to claim 24, wherein the second portion of the conductive member is provided inside a surrounded area surrounded by a connected portion formed by the first frame member and the second frame member connected with each other.

26. The developer container according to claim 24, wherein the conductive member and the first frame member are integrally molded.

27. The developer container according to claim 19, wherein the joint portion is extended to an inside of the frame member in a direction intersecting with a longitudinal direction of the first portion provided along the first side, and the joint portion connects with the second portion provided along the second side.

28. A process cartridge comprising:

the developer container according to claim 19; and

an image bearing member configured to carry a developer image formed by the developer stored in the frame member of the developer container.

29. An image forming apparatus comprising the developer container according to claim 19,

wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to form an image on a recording medium using the developer stored in the frame member of the developer container.

30. A method for manufacturing the developer container according to claim 19, the method comprising:

holding the conductive member within a mold configured to form the frame member;

deforming the conductive member such that a first part of the conductive member is disposed on the first side of the frame member and a second part of the conductive member is disposed on the second side of the frame member; and

injecting the resin into the mold to form the frame member.

31. A method for manufacturing the developer container according to claim 30, wherein deforming the conductive member includes pressing the conductive member with a protrusion within the mold.

32. The developer container according to claim 19, wherein the conductive member is formed by mixing conductive particle and resin.

33. A developing apparatus comprising:

a developer bearing member configured to carry-a developer;

a conveyance member configured to convey the developer toward the developer bearing member according to a rotation of a rotation shaft;

a conductive resin member having resin and configured to detect a developer amount by using an electrostatic capacity between the conductive resin member and the developer bearing member;

a frame member configured to store the developer; and

a convex portion provided on a first side of the frame member and positioned between the developer bearing member and the rotation shaft of the conveyance member in a horizontal direction when seeing along a direction of an axis of the rotation shaft,

wherein the conductive resin member includes;

a detection portion configured to detect the developer amount and provided on the first side of the frame member where the detection portion contacts the developer,

an electrical contact portion provided on a second side of the frame member that is different from the first side, and

a relay portion configured to relay the detection portion and the electrical contact portion inside the frame member,

wherein the convex portion is covered with the detection portion.

34. The developing apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the conductive resin member is formed by mixing conductive particle and resin.

35. The developing apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the resin in the detection portion, the electrical contact portion, and the relay portion is the same resin.

36. The developing apparatus according to claim 33,

wherein the convex portion includes:

(i) a peak portion, (ii) a first side portion which is lower than the peak portion in a direction of gravity in an attitude at time of use and arranged at the side the developer bearing member exists, and (iii) a second side portion which is lower than the peak portion in the direction of gravity in the attitude at time of use and arranged at the side the conveyance member exists, and

wherein the first side portion is covered with the detection portion.