Developer container and image forming device

• US 9,798,269 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2016
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• 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:
  US15/195,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20160306293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• 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 container comprising:

a first frame accommodating toner, the first frame including a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end in a first direction;

a second frame including a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the second frame penetrating through the first end of the first frame, the second frame having a communication port communicating with outside of the second frame at the first end portion of the second frame;

a shutter movable between an open position in which the communication port is open and a close position in which the communication port is closed; and

a packing member made of an elastic member and disposed between the first end of the first frame and the first end portion of the second frame, the packing member having a first packing member disposed at the first frame and a second packing member disposed at the second frame.

2. The developing container according to claim 1, wherein the second frame is a pipe extending in the first direction.

3. The developing container according to claim 1, wherein the first frame has a waste-developer accommodating chamber for accommodating a waste toner.

4. The developing container according to claim 1, comprising a screw extending in the first direction and disposed within the second frame.

5. The developing container according to claim 1, wherein the first packing member is affixed to an inner surface of the first end of the first frame.

6. The developing container according to claim 1, wherein the first packing member is formed in a circular ring shape.

7. The developing container according to claim 1, wherein the second packing member is affixed to an outer surface of the first end portion of the second frame.

8. The developing container according to claim 1, wherein the second packing member is formed in a circular ring shape.

9. The developing container according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the first packing member is in contact with an outer surface of the second packing member.

10. The developing container according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the first frame includes a first surface facing in the first direction,

wherein the first end portion of the second frame includes a second surface facing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the second surface aligned with the first surface in the first direction and the second direction.

14. The developing container according to claim 1, wherein the communication port of the second frame is disposed outside the first frame.

15. The developing container according to claim 2, wherein the shutter is formed in a cylindrical shape along an outer circumferential surface of the pipe, the shutter being rotatable relative to the pipe.

16. The developing container according to claim 1, further comprising a developing roller.

17. The developing container according to claim 16, wherein the first frame includes a toner accommodating section accommodating toner for supplying to the developing roller.

18. The developing container according to claim 1, wherein the communication port allows the toner to move from outside of the second frame to inside of the second frame.

11. A developing container comprising:

a first frame accommodating toner, the first frame including a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end in a first direction;

a second frame including a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the second frame penetrating through the first end of the first frame, the second frame having a communication port communicating with outside of the second frame at the first end portion of the second frame;

a shutter movable between an open position in which the communication port is open and a close position in which the communication port is closed; and

a packing member made of an elastic member and disposed between the first end of the first frame and the first end portion of the second frame,

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

wherein the first end portion of the second frame includes a second surface facing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the second surface aligned with the first surface in the first direction and the second direction, and

wherein the first end of the first frame includes a first protrusion protruding toward the second frame, the first protrusion including the first surface.

12. A developing container comprising:

a first frame accommodating toner, the first frame including a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end in a first direction;

a second frame including a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the second frame penetrating through the first end of the first frame, the second frame having a communication port communicating with outside of the second frame at the first end portion of the second frame;

a shutter movable between an open position in which the communication port is open and a close position in which the communication port is closed; and

a packing member made of an elastic member and disposed between the first end of the first frame and the first end portion of the second frame,

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

wherein the first end portion of the second frame includes a second surface facing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the second surface aligned with the first surface in the first direction and the second direction, and

wherein the first end portion of the second frame includes a second protrusion protruding toward the first frame, the second protrusion including the second surface.

13. A developing container comprising:

a first frame accommodating toner, the first frame including a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end in a first direction;

a second frame including a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the second frame penetrating through the first end of the first frame, the second frame having a communication port communicating with outside of the second frame at the first end portion of the second frame;

a shutter movable between an open position in which the communication port is open and a close position in which the communication port is closed; and

a packing member made of an elastic member and disposed between the first end of the first frame and the first end portion of the second frame,

wherein the first end of the first frame is formed in a cylindrical shape and includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first and second protrusions being arranged in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical shape and protruding toward the second frame, the second frame including a third protrusion protruding toward the first frame, the third protrusion being disposed between the first protrusion and the second protrusion in the circumferential direction.