Abstract: The invention discloses a powder filling device and method which is capable of making stable powder flow rate, preventing powder from being leaked or dispersed during filling operation, and filling the powder in a short time in a new powder filling system filling the powder from a measuring tank to a powder filling container. The powder filling device comprises a measuring tank having a powder discharge port and a filling amount control unit disposed near the powder discharge port, and an auxiliary container having an opening disposed on the underside of the powder discharge port of the measuring tank which faces downward.

Abstract: In an image forming device including an image support object which supports an electrostatic latent image, and a developing device which turns the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image support object, into a visible image with toner, a powder storing unit stores powder for image formation which is either a developing agent containing a toner and a carrier or a toner. A powder supplying unit supplies the powder stored in the powder storing unit, to the developing device. The powder storing unit includes a gas supplying unit which blows off a gas from an exhaust outlet of the gas supplying unit into the powder storing unit, and a powder passage which allows the powder storing unit to communicate with the developing device.

Abstract: In a powder supplying device, a powder container contains powder therein and is provided at a bottom of the powder container with a gas blowout part for ejecting gas to the inside of the powder container. A powder transport unit attracts powder contained in the powder container from a suction opening and transports the powder to a powder receiving device. A first detection unit is provided in the powder container to detect a remaining powder in the powder container.

Abstract: A toner supplier, including a toner container configured to contain a toner, an air discharger configured to discharge air from a bottom of the toner container to form a fluidized toner, a detector configured to detect usage information of the toner contained in the toner container, and a communicator configured to send and receive the usage information. The communicator is configured to communicate with an image forming apparatus connected to the toner supplier and a controller connected to the toner supplier.

Abstract: A particle supply apparatus is disclosed that includes a particle accommodating unit that accommodates particles, a gas spouting unit that is arranged at a bottom portion of the particle accommodating unit and is configured to spout gas toward the particles, a conveying mechanism that applies suction to the particles accommodated in the particle accommodating unit and conveys the particles toward a supply destination, and a gas discharge unit that discharges gas contained within the particle accommodating unit toward an exterior side of the particle accommodating unit.

Abstract: A powder transport device includes a powder storing unit having a powder storing part which stores powder, and a container unit having a container part in which the powder storing unit is accommodated. The powder storing unit comprises a motor part for operating the powder storing unit, an electrical wiring for transmitting an electric signal sent from the motor part or a driving current sent to the motor part, and a first connector for providing electrical conduction between the electrical wiring and an external wiring. The container unit comprises a second connector electrically connected to the external wiring, the second connector being engaged with the first connector so that the first connector provides electrical conduction between the electrical wiring and the external wiring.

Abstract: A particle supply apparatus is disclosed that includes a particle accommodating unit that accommodates particles, a gas spouting unit that is arranged at a bottom portion of the particle accommodating unit and is configured to spout gas toward the particles, a conveying mechanism that applies suction to the particles accommodated in the particle accommodating unit and conveys the particles toward a supply destination, and a gas discharge unit that discharges gas contained within the particle accommodating unit toward an exterior side of the particle accommodating unit.

Abstract: A powder filling nozzle is used for filling up a container with a powder mixed with a gas and in a fluidized state. The power filling nozzle comprises a tubular body having an opening for discharging the powder in the fluidized state into the container, and a gas separating unit disposed near the opening of the tubular body and allowing the gas delivered together with the powder in the tubular body to pass through the gas separating unit but not allowing the powder to pass through the gas separating unit. The gas separating unit serves to set the opening in a plugged state by the powder separated from the gas, so that the delivery of the powder from the tubular body into the container is stopped.

Abstract: A particle supply apparatus is disclosed that includes a particle accommodating unit that accommodates particles, a gas spouting unit that is arranged at a bottom portion of the particle accommodating unit and is configured to spout gas toward the particles, a conveying mechanism that applies suction to the particles accommodated in the particle accommodating unit and conveys the particles toward a supply destination, and a gas discharge unit that discharges gas contained within the particle accommodating unit toward an exterior side of the particle accommodating unit.

Abstract: A particle supply apparatus is disclosed that includes a particle accommodating unit that accommodates particles, a gas spouting unit that is arranged at a bottom portion of the particle accommodating unit and is configured to spout gas toward the particles, and a conveying mechanism that applies suction to the particles accommodated in the particle accommodating unit and conveys the particles toward a supply destination.

Abstract: In a powder supplying device, a powder container contains powder therein and is provided at a bottom of the powder container with a gas blowout part for ejecting gas to the inside of the powder container. A powder transport unit attracts powder contained in the powder container from a suction opening and transports the powder to a powder receiving device. A first detection unit is provided in the powder container to detect a remaining powder in the powder container.

Abstract: The present invention provides toner supplying devices, toner supplying processes, and the like that control bulk density of a mixture of toner and gas efficiently thereby enhancing the fluidity of the mixture, and maintaining the high fluidity for a long period. The invention includes a toner supplying device that has a toner containing portion configured to store a toner, a toner outlet configured to discharge the toner from the toner containing portion, a conveying pipe configured to convey the toner, and a gas feeding unit configured to feed a gas. The toner supplying device supplies the toner from the toner containing portion to an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus. A porous member is disposed near the toner outlet, and the gas is fed into the toner containing portion through the porous member.

Abstract: A toner supplier, including a toner container configured to contain a toner, an air discharger configured to discharge air from a bottom of the toner container to form a fluidized toner, a detector configured to detect usage information of the toner contained in the toner container, and a communicator configured to send and receive the usage information. The communicator is configured to communicate with an image forming apparatus connected to the toner supplier and a controller connected to the toner supplier.

Abstract: A powder transport device includes a powder storing unit having a powder storing part which stores powder, and a container unit having a container part in which the powder storing unit is accommodated. The powder storing unit comprises a motor part for operating the powder storing unit, an electrical wiring for transmitting an electric signal sent from the motor part or a driving current sent to the motor part, and a first connector for providing electrical conduction between the electrical wiring and an external wiring. The container unit comprises a second connector electrically connected to the external wiring, the second connector being engaged with the first connector so that the first connector provides electrical conduction between the electrical wiring and the external wiring.

Abstract: In an image forming device including an image support object which supports an electrostatic latent image, and a developing device which turns the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image support object, into a visible image with toner, a powder storing unit stores powder for image formation which is either a developing agent containing a toner and a carrier or a toner. A powder supplying unit supplies the powder stored in the powder storing unit, to the developing device. The powder storing unit includes a gas supplying unit which blows off a gas from an exhaust outlet of the gas supplying unit into the powder storing unit, and a powder passage which allows the powder storing unit to communicate with the developing device.

Abstract: A particle supply apparatus is disclosed that includes a particle accommodating unit that accommodates particles, a gas spouting unit that is arranged at a bottom portion of the particle accommodating unit and is configured to spout gas toward the particles, and a conveying mechanism that applies suction to the particles accommodated in the particle accommodating unit and conveys the particles toward a supply destination.

Abstract: A particle supply apparatus is disclosed that includes a particle accommodating unit that accommodates particles, a gas spouting unit that is arranged at a bottom portion of the particle accommodating unit and is configured to spout gas toward the particles, a conveying mechanism that applies suction to the particles accommodated in the particle accommodating unit and conveys the particles toward a supply destination, and a gas discharge unit that discharges gas contained within the particle accommodating unit toward an exterior side of the particle accommodating unit.

Abstract: The invention discloses a powder filling device and method which is capable of making stable powder flow rate, preventing powder from being leaked or dispersed during filling operation, and filling the powder in a short time in a new powder filling system filling the powder from a measuring tank to a powder filling container. The powder filling device comprises a measuring tank having a powder discharge port and a filling amount control unit disposed near the powder discharge port, and an auxiliary container having an opening disposed on the underside of the powder discharge port of the measuring tank which faces downward.

Abstract: There is provided a toner container filling device and a toner production management system. The toner container filling device is installed at a toner container filling base and is able to fill a toner container with toner automatically, and obtain information about the toner container filling process while filling the toner container with toner. The toner production management system receives the information from the toner container filling device, and determines the amount of toner to be produced at a toner production base and time of delivering toner to the toner container filling base according to the received information.

Abstract: A powder filling nozzle is used for filling up a container with a powder mixed with a gas and in a fluidized state. The power filling nozzle comprises a tubular body having an opening for discharging the powder in the fluidized state into the container, and a gas separating unit disposed near the opening of the tubular body and allowing the gas delivered together with the powder in the tubular body to pass through the gas separating unit but not allowing the powder to pass through the gas separating unit. The gas separating unit serves to set the opening in a plugged state by the powder separated from the gas, so that the delivery of the powder from the tubular body into the container is stopped.