Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a developer container in which a container main body is protected against damage by an external torsional and bending force and an impact as much as possible, developer in the vicinity of conveying means is prevented from aggregating as much as possible, and developer in the vicinity of a discharge hole is prevented from aggregating as much as possible.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a toner cartridge with a toner level detector mechanism. The toner level detector mechanism according to the present disclosure includes a construction that is easy to assemble and manufacture.

Abstract: A toner container installed in an image forming apparatus, the toner container including a toner container main body having a predetermined length and which accommodates toner, a mixer which stirs the toner in the toner container main body, a discharge port through which the toner in the toner container main body is discharged from the toner container main body, a screw having one end projected from one end surface of the toner container main body, the screw being rotated to convey the toner from the toner container main body to the discharge port, a coupling portion provided at the one end of the screw and rotated by a driving portion provided in the image forming apparatus, and a protruding portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the coupling portion.

Abstract: An image forming cartridge comprises a developing unit configured to hold toner including a developing section configured to use the toner for developing and a supplying section configured to provide the toner to the developing section and a toner cartridge attachable to the developing unit, wherein the toner cartridge contains toner and supplies toner to the developing unit and the toner cartridge includes a stand-by charging unit configured to perform stand-by charge to the toner in the toner cartridge.

Abstract: A developer container includes: a container chamber that has a container space for containing a developer; and an conveyance member having a rotation shaft and a spiral member and which rotates inside the container space about the rotation shaft, the spiral member being spirally extended to hold a first angle to an axial direction of the rotation shaft, and the spiral member being provided with a plurality of low-angle portions, wherein at least one of the low-angle portions is provided in each unit segment which is equivalent to one turn of the spiral member about the rotation shaft, and an amount of a developer contained in the container space is enough to constantly bury any of the plurality of low-angle portions in the developer under a condition that the axial direction of the rotation shaft is held to be horizontal inside the container space.

Abstract: A developer containing device includes: a developer container having an opening through which developer can be filled in; a closing member that is removably installed to the developer container to close the opening; a stirring and feeding member that is rotatably supported in the closing member and stirs and feeds the developer contained in the developer container by rotating in one direction; and a fitting part that fixes the closing member to the developer container by rotating the closing member in the same direction as the rotational direction of the stirring and feeding member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to engagement or transfer of an image forming substance within a reservoir of an image forming apparatus. This may be achieved by a device such as a paddle that may include an additional component for engagement or transfer of the image forming substance. The component may be, for example, wire material. The component may also include a body section and an axially aligned projection.

Abstract: A developing device using a trickle system is realized which includes developer discharging means for (i) suppressing changes in discharge of developer due to inclinations of the developing device and (ii) maintaining the stability in amount of the developer in a developer tank. In the developing device, the developer tank includes agitating chambers parted by a partition, and each of the agitating chambers has an agitating screw. Further, discharging openings for discharging an excess of the developer in the developer tank are provided downstream in transport directions of the agitating screws, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides an exchangeable toner cartridge which can be attached to or detached from an apparatus main body. The toner cartridge includes the toner transfer member which is provided along a longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge and which can rotate. At the first range of the upstream side in a toner transfer direction the toner transfer member is formed into a substantially spiral shape, and at the second range of the downstream side in the toner transfer direction on a side of a toner supply port, toner transfer member has a shape different from that of the first range.

Abstract: A toner cartridge comprising a rotary 2 provided with an agitator 3 that agitates a toner, and a bearing that rotatably supports a shaft tip 6 of the rotary 2, comprises a retainer 10 at the shaft tip 6 of the rotary 2 and at the bearing 7 that inhibits the slipping out, in the axial direction, of the shaft tip 6 of the rotary 2 from the bearing 7.

Abstract: A toner cartridge in a bottle shape for storing toner is composed of a first cylindrical portion having a blocked bottom wall at one end and an opening at the other end and a second cylindrical portion in which one end thereof is connected to the opening, and an opening for ejecting toner is formed at the other end, and the outside diameter thereof is smaller than the first cylindrical portion.

Abstract: There is provided a toner cartridge capable of suppressing the use of the toner cartridge beyond its lifetime due to excessive refilling of toner, the toner cartridge including a housing 2 which forms an internal space for housing toner to be fed to an image forming apparatus and which has a filling port 6 for filling the internal space with the toner, a divider plate 4 which is pivotably supported in a swingable manner inside the housing 2 and which can divide the internal space when being hung down by gravity, and a fixing means which can fit the divider plate 4 in between an engaging projection 9 and a stopper 10 by screw-feeding the lower end of the divider plate 4 by a feed screw 3 for feeding toner and which can fix the divider plate 4 in the state of dividing the internal space.

Abstract: A developer transportation device includes a storage portion for storing developer; a transportation member formed of an elastic material and disposed in the storage portion to be freely rotatable for transporting the developer upon rotating; and a rotation transmission member for transmitting a rotation to the transportation member. The transportation member may be provided with an abutting portion abutting against a wall portion of the storage portion when the transportation member rotates.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a housing attachable to and detachable from a developing device and accommodating developer and an agitator agitating the developer in the housing and supplying the developer to the developing device through a supply opening of the housing. The agitator includes a rotation shaft, a support plate, a delivery agitation blade supported by the support plate and passing through a position opposing the supply opening along an inner surface of the housing by rotation of the rotation shaft, an entire width of a first end portion of the delivery agitation blade being supported by a distal end portion of the support plate, and an oblique agitation blade erected from a surface of the support plate and oblique to the rotation shaft in order to move the developer in an axial direction of the rotation shaft toward the supply opening.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a housing for accommodating developer, a rotation shaft rotatably supported by the housing and passing across an inside of the housing, a supply opening formed in a wall of the housing opposite in a diameter direction of the rotation shaft, a return opening formed in a wall of the housing at a position displaced from the supply opening in an axial direction of the rotation shaft, a first agitation blade supported by the rotation shaft and passing through a position opposite the return opening along an inner surface of the housing from an above to a below of the position opposite the return opening along with a rotation of the rotation shaft, and a second agitation blade supported by the rotation shaft and passing through a position opposite the supply opening along an inner surface of the housing.

Abstract: A developing device including a flexible agitating blade attached to an agitating member is described. The developing device may receive developer from a developer cartridge via a replenishing port. The replenishing port may be configured to prevent the flexible agitating blade from flinging toner outside of the developing device. In one example, an upstream opening of the replenishing port may be located such that, when a free end of the flexible agitating blade rotates to the opening, the surface of the agitating member has rotated to vertical or inclined downward.

Abstract: An agitator blade and toner cartridge that enables a higher capacity of toner while lowering the load exerted by the print engine motor as toner is agitated. This allows for greater efficiency at low toner levels as the blade is brought closer to the inner wall of the cartridge toner tank. The blade consists of an axially directed axle shaft having a plurality of rigid, radially directed ribs A plurality of cross bar members are mounted between each pair of ribs. Each cross bar includes axially extended, rib-engaging wings. The wings are mounted so that the cross bars are generally prevented from passing between the ribs when the cross bars are driven by the ribs in the normal direction of agitator rotation. The toner cartridge can include a volume extension member that is sized to fit within the empty space of a corresponding print engine.

Abstract: A toner container is mounted to an image forming apparatus in a state of containing toners. The toner container includes: a container body for containing toners; and an agitating unit provided in the container body for agitating the toners. The agitating unit includes: a cylindrical member having a cylindrical peripheral wall and rotating about an axis of cylinder; an opening formed in the cylindrical peripheral wall for allowing the toners to pass through; and a conveying section for conveying the toners in a direction of the axis of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a toner receptacle that houses toner, a plurality of stirring members housed in the toner receptacle, a plurality of gears meshing with each other on outside of the toner receptacle, and a phase display section. The stirring members are arranged next to each other in the toner receptacle and rotate to stir the toner. Each of the stirring members has a scraper that scrapes off the toner adhering to an inner surface of the toner receptacle. The gears rotate to rotate the stirring members in an interlocked manner with each other. The phase display section shows a meshing position of the gears so that the gears mesh with each other at a position where a phase difference along a rotating direction of the stirring members occurs between the scrapers of the stirring members that are next to each other.

Abstract: A toner cartridge has first and second toner hosing portions configured to house toner. The first toner housing portion has a first bottom part that is arcuately curved. The second toner housing portion has a second bottom part that is arcuately curved. The second bottom part is next to the first bottom part and is situated at a position lower than the first bottom part. A third bottom part is provided between the first bottom part and the second bottom part. The third bottom part has a toner discharge port.

Abstract: A developing unit is disclosed in which replenished toner is smoothly transported and efficiently agitated into the developing unit by an agitation transport member provided therein having a supply region formed upstream from a transport region. A first agitation transport screw installed in a developing unit includes a developer transport region to transport developer downstream thereof, and a toner supply region that is formed coaxially with the developer transport region and upstream of the developer transport region, and supplies the externally replenished toner to the developer transport region. Moreover, a gap formed between the toner supply region and a region of the housing in the toner supply region is smaller than a gap formed between the developer transport region and a region of the housing in the developer transport region.

Abstract: A developer container for a developer supply device and an image forming apparatus include: a container main body which contains developer therein and is provided with at least one developer outlet formed at one side thereof. A shutter unit is rotatably installed in the container main body to open the developer outlet intermittently when being rotated. A developer supply device and an image forming apparatus are provided with the developer container.

Abstract: A developer supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a container body, having a non-circular cross-section, for containing a developer, the container body having an arcuate portion and an extension upwardly extending from the arcuate portion; a discharge opening, formed in the arcuate portion for discharging the developer from the container body; a stirring member for stirring the developer in the container body, the stirring member having a rotation shaft provided in the arcuate portion and a flexible resin material sheet mounted on the rotation shaft; wherein the flexible resin material sheet includes a feeding blade for feeding the developer toward the discharge opening, the feeding blade being slidable relative to an inner surface of the arcuate portion and being non-slidable relative to a ceiling portion of an inner surface of the extension, and includes a stirring blade for stirring the developer, the stirring being slidable relative to a ceiling portion of the inner

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member on which an electrostatic image is formed; a developing device for developing the electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member with a developer including toner and a carrier; a supplying apparatus for supplying into the developing device a supply developer including toner by rotating a feeding screw; inclination detecting means for detecting an inclination of the feeding screw; and control means for controlling rotation of the feeding screw on the basis of a result of detection of the inclination detecting means.

Abstract: In a developer-storing container of the present invention, an agitation blade used in a toner-storing section and an agitation blade used in a waste-toner-storing section are coupled by a rotor. The rotor is interdigitated to a bearing mounted on a partition wall. The partition wall is made to be a fixed wall so that precision of interdigitation of the agitation blade of the toner-storing section, the rotor, and the agitation blade of the waste-toner-storing section is improved. Consequently, a developer-storing container that is easy to assemble and in which precision of interdigitation is high is realized.

Abstract: A developer cartridge and developing device are provided. The developer cartridge is attachable to and detachable from a developing housing, the developing housing supporting a developer carrier and comprising a drive gear for transmitting a driving force to the developer cartridge. The developer cartridge includes a cartridge housing that is configured to accommodate developer, an agitator that is provided in the cartridge housing and is configured to agitate the developer by the driving force, a transmission gear that is configured to mesh with the agitation gear, the transmission gear meshing with the drive gear when the developer cartridge is installed in the developing housing, and a supporting member that is configured to support the transmission gear movably with respect to the agitation gear while the transmission gear meshes with the agitation gear.

Abstract: A toner bottle for containing toner has a cylindrical body and a scraper. The bottle body can be rotated on its axis by a driving source. The scraper is supported movably in the bottle body. The bottle body has an opening and ribs. The toner in the toner bottle is supplied through the opening to a developing unit. When the bottle body rotates, the ribs convey the toner toward the opening. The scraper includes a shaft and a scraping part. The shaft extends over the whole length of the bottle body and supports the scraping part. A portion of the scraping part is in contact with the inner cylindrical surface of the bottle body. When the bottle body rotates, the scraper moves perpendicularly to the axis of the body.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a toner cartridge of the invention is installed in an image forming apparatus, and includes a toner storage container that has a toner discharge port, and a toner discharge roller disposed inside of the toner storage container so as to block the toner discharge port. An inner wall of the toner storage container faced by the toner discharge roller is provided with a curved region that has a curvature that matches a curvature of the toner discharge roller.

Abstract: A developer storage case includes: a storage case that includes a discharge opening formed in the horizontal direction side surface thereof, that is formed in a flat shape having a horizontal direction width larger than the vertical direction height thereof, and that stores a developer therein; a delivery member that has a center of rotation disposed shifted to the discharge opening, that is rotatably supported on one end wall of the storage case, and that delivers the developer stored within the storage case; and a drive transmission member that is supported on the end portion of the delivery member, and that drives and rotates the delivery member.

Abstract: A developer supply container includes a container body, a developer conveyance member, and a clog prevention member. The container body includes an outlet port and contains and contains developer therein. The developer conveyance member includes a rotational shaft and a conveyance-member body. The conveyance-member body is supported by the rotational shaft and has flexibility. The developer conveyance member is disposed in the container body and conveys the developer to the outlet port for discharge. The clog prevention member is formed in the conveyance-member body in a position corresponding to the outlet port. The clog prevention member goes into the outlet port to protrude to outside of the container body as the rotational shaft rotates.

Abstract: The toner cartridge is provided with: a toner storing container of a rectangular shape having a toner feeding opening in an angular portion thereof; and a stirring conveying member that is rotatably disposed inside the toner storing container in a predetermined rotation direction and that stirs and conveys toner toward the toner feeding opening in the toner storing container. Compression ratio defined by the following equation (1) of the toner stored in the toner storing container is 0.25 to 0.38. Compression ratio=(P?A)/P ??(1) (Provided that in the equation (1), P represents a packed bulk density of toner and A represents an aerated bulk density of toner.

Abstract: A developer container for an image forming apparatus includes a developer accommodating chamber, provided with an opening, for accommodating a developer to be supplied to the opening; a feeding member, provided in the developer accommodating chamber and having an elasticity, for feeding the developer by rotation thereof; a deforming portion, provided in the developer accommodating chamber and contactable to the feeding member, for deforming the feeding member against the elasticity with the rotation of the feeding member; and a restoration portion for permitting the feeding member deformed by the deformed portion to restore elastically, thereby to throw the developer toward the opening, wherein a boundary portion between the deformed portion the restoration portion is disposed below a lower end of the opening.

Abstract: This invention provides a timing wheel assembly for controlling the timing of toner cartridge operation that is fixedly attached to a shaft of a toner tank agitator and that is operatively connected to a drive gear of a toner cartridge mounted coaxially on the shaft with the timing wheel movable between a first stop and a second stop relative to the drive gear to define rotational “dwell” range having a predetermined arcuate distance with a pair of springs of differing strengths. The first spring, of a first strength (first spring constant) biases the timing wheel against the first stop and the second spring of a second strength (second spring constant) is engaged by the timing wheel at higher resistance levels. In this manner, the first spring ensures that an appropriate dwell and snapback motion occurs at lower toner levels and the second spring (in combination with the first) provides heavier resistance and stronger rotational resistance/earlier snapback at higher toner levels.

Abstract: Drive train motor speed is varied in a manner that compensates for characteristic rotational velocity errors of the associated drive train, such as by modulating a drive train motor speed control signal at a modulation phase and amplitude derived from the characterized rotational velocity error. Characterization can be performed on a test system for each drive train of interest, and the compensation values thus obtained can be saved for later use by systems in which the characterized drive trains are used. Thus, a drive train used in a consumables cartridge for an electrophotographic printing (EP) system can be characterized and the corresponding data saved via a label or memory circuit that is affixed to the cartridge. Such data can be used by the EP system in which the cartridge is installed to more accurately control the velocity of the image forming process members driven by the cartridge's characterized drive train.

Abstract: When starting driving of an agitating unit or a developing roller in an image forming apparatus, rotation speed of one or both of the agitating unit and the developing roller is raised in a stepwise manner until the agitating unit and the developing roller attain a steady rotation speed. When stopping the driving of the agitating unit or the developing roller, the rotation speed is lowered in a stepwise manner until completion of stop of the driving.

Abstract: A developer mixing apparatus, comprising: a housing including a chamber that holds developer; a first ribbon blender disposed within the chamber and elongate along a first longitudinal axis; and, a second ribbon blender disposed within the chamber and elongate along a second longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second ribbon blenders move developer in different directions.

Abstract: An electrophotographic color image forming apparatus is provided having a plurality of developing units that respectively include developer rollers to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor by applying toner to the electrostatic latent image. A plurality of toner cartridges respectively include agitators and are arranged in a lengthwise direction of the developer roller to supply toner to the developing units. A plurality of shafts are connected to each other through a universal joint to transmit rotational motion of a driving motor to the agitators.

Abstract: A developer cartridge includes a cartridge cabinet including a developer accommodating chamber configured to accommodate developer, and a supply opening that is provided in one wall surface and is configured to supply the developer from an inside of the developer accommodating chamber to an outside of the developer accommodating chamber, a rotational shaft that is rotatably supported in the cartridge cabinet, extends parallel to the one wall surface and extends through the inside of the developer accommodating chamber, an agitating blade that is supported by the rotational shaft and rotates with the rotational shaft to supply the developer toward the supply opening while agitating the developer, and an obstruction member that is supported by the rotational shaft and rotates with the rotational shaft following the agitating blade to obstruct the supply opening during rotation of the rotational shaft.

Abstract: A developer feeding member for use with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to feed a developer accommodated in a developer accommodating portion, includes a shaft for receiving a driving force to rotate when the shaft is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a flexible sheet for feeding the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion when the flexible sheet is mounted in the developer accommodating portion; a mounting member for mounting the flexible sheet on the shaft such that the flexible sheet is movable relative to the shaft in a longitudinal direction, in a widthwise direction and in a thickness direction.

Abstract: According to a toner cartridge of this invention, a region (R3) extending along the outer circumferential direction of a toner cartridge (50) is not tapered, and a region (R1) on the inner wall of a developing device (10) which corresponds to the region (R3) is not tapered either. This prevents the occurrence of backlash between them, and allows the shutter of the toner replenishment port of the developing device (10) to be reliably closed when the toner cartridge (50) is slid. This can therefore prevent toner from leaking and contaminating the image forming apparatus. According to a toner cartridge of this invention, a cap (60) which seals the opening portion of a casing (51) of a toner cartridge (50a) is formed from a transparent member. This allows an easy check of the color of toner from the front surface side of an image forming apparatus, and eliminates the necessity to add a new member for a color check, thereby contributing to a reduction in cost.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus equipped with an improved developer detecting device and agitating device to simplify an inner structure of a developing device and/or a waste developer container while reducing the number of components and costs. The image forming apparatus includes a developer storage part to store a developer, a light emitting part and a light receiving part provided to detect an amount of developer stored in the developer storage part, and a rotating unit which rotates to agitate the developer stored in the developer storage part and guides light emitted from the light emitting part to the light receiving part. The rotating unit includes two rotating members. Each of the rotating members has a rotating shaft portion and an extending portion which extends eccentrically from the rotating shaft portion. The extending portions oppose each other to define a developer detecting region therebetween. When the rotating unit rotates, the developer detecting region moves upward and downward.

Abstract: A toner container for containing toner includes a first side wall and a second side wall opposite to each other; a toner discharge hole; an agitator for agitating the toner, the agitator rotatable around an agitating shaft bridged between the first side wall and the second side wall; a bearing portion for supporting one end of the agitating shaft; a swing prevention portion for preventing the container from swinging; and a toner charging hole for charging toner into the container. The first side wall is formed with the bearing portion, the swing prevention portion, and the toner charging hole. The bearing portion is between the toner charging hole and the swing prevention portion on an outer surface of the first side wall.

Abstract: A toner container contains toner and includes: a container having a toner discharge hole; a toner conveyance screw for conveying the toner within the container toward the toner discharge hole; and a shutter cylinder including a peripheral wall formed with a toner discharge opening at a position corresponding to the toner discharge opening. The toner conveyance screw is rotatably supported at one end thereof by a bearing within the shutter cylinder. The shutter cylinder is mounted to a side wall of the container in a rotation free manner.

Abstract: A toner container for containing toner includes a toner discharge hole, a toner conveyance screw for conveying toner within the container toward the toner discharge hole, an agitator with an agitating blade for agitating the toner, and a recessed screw accommodation portion recessed in a bottom of the container for accommodating the toner conveyance screw. The toner conveyance screw is retained in the recessed screw accommodation portion with the toner conveyance screw exposed partially. The agitator is disposed in the container in parallel with the toner conveyance screw, and the agitating blade interferes with a portion of the toner conveyance screw exposed from the recessed screw accommodation portion.

Abstract: A toner agitation member includes a connection portion provided to be rotated around a rotation shaft within a toner storage chamber and extending radially outwards from the rotation shaft, and an agitation plate, provided at a distal end of the connection portion, for scraping a toner deposited on a bottom of the toner storage portion and supplying it to a toner supply opening provided in the toner storage chamber as the connection portion is rotated. The connection portion and the agitation plate are integrally formed of the same material.

Abstract: A developing device capable of improving the fluidity of a developer and alleviating the stress generated in the developer, and a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus that use this developing device. In a connecting portion, there is formed a storage portion for storing the developer, in which the cross-sectional area thereof has width D2 that continuously becomes wider toward the top, compared to the width D1 of the cross-sectional area of an opening portion by which the developer is lifted up from the second screw, and becomes wider than D1 at the central part thereof. Furthermore, from this storage portion, the width of the cross-sectional area thereof continuously becomes narrow, whereby the width of the opening portion at which the developer is delivered to the first screw becomes D3 narrower than D2. Accordingly, the developer that is lifted up at the second screw is dispersed in a fan-like form and stored in the storage portion.

Abstract: This invention provides an agitator blade and toner cartridge employing such an agitator blade that enables a higher capacity of toner while lowering the load exerted by the print engine motor as toner is agitated. This blade and cartridge also allows for greater efficiency at low toner levels as the blade is brought closer to the inner wall of the cartridge toner tank. The blade consists of an axially directed axle shaft having a plurality of rigid, radially directed ribs that extend to a location proximate to the inner wall of the tank. A plurality of cross bar members are mounted between each pair of ribs. Each cross bar includes axially extended, rib-engaging wings. The wings are mounted so that the cross bars are generally prevented from passing between the ribs when the cross bars are driven by the ribs in the normal direction of agitator rotation.

Abstract: A toner supply container is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus. The container includes a toner accommodating portion to accommodate toner and has a supply opening to supply toner into the image forming apparatus, a feeding member to feed the toner in the toner accommodating portion toward the supply opening, and a sealing member to seal the supply opening. The sealing member has a locking portion to be locked by a locking member provided in a main assembly of the apparatus, and a coupling portion to be coupled with a drive coupling member provided in the main assembly. The sealing member is rotatable integrally with the feeding member by a rotational force received by the coupling portion from the drive coupling member. The locking portion and the coupling portion are spaced apart from each other with respect to a mounting direction of the container.

Abstract: A powder material cartridge includes a waste toner chamber that prevents the waste toner from spilling. A receiving section is provided in the chamber and includes a first opening therein through which the powder material is received into the chamber. A first shutter is rotatably received in the receiving section and includes a second opening formed therein. The first shutter is rotatable either to a first opening position where the second opening is in alignment with the first opening, or to a first closing position where the second opening is not in alignment with the first opening. A second shutter is received in the first shutter and is slidable straight in the first shutter. When the second shutter slides to a second closing position, the second shutter closes the second opening. When the second shutter slides to a second opening position, the second shutter opens the second opening.

Abstract: A toner particles supplying device includes a pneumatic conveyor and a rotatable container or a container with a rotatable inner structure including machinery for tumbling the toner particles. The machinery for tumbling the toner particles is located on or near an inner surface of the container and serves for fluidising toner particles and urging them toward the pneumatic conveyor.