In a developing device included in an image forming apparatus, a toner cartridge has a body and a replenishing member disposed in the body. The cartridge makes it needless to adhere or otherwise affix an elastic piece to the edge of the base of the replenishing member that slidably contacts the inner periphery of the body. The replenishing member is capable of scooping up toner while being held in sliding contact with the inner periphery of the body under a constant pressure.
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1. A toner cartridge for replenishing toner into a developing device, comprising:
a cartridge body having an inner surface and formed with a toner supply port; and a replenishing member rotatably disposed in said cartridge body, and for replenishing the toner from said cartridge body into the developing device via said toner supply port when rotated; said replenishing member comprising: a base having a rotary shaft; and a thin piece provided at a free edge of said base to constantly contact the inner surface of the cartridge body during rotation; said base and said thin piece comprising a single molding. 0. 16. A toner cartridge for replenishing toner into a developing device, comprising:
a cartridge body having an inner surface and formed with a toner supply port; and a movable member disposed in said cartridge body, and for replenishing the toner from said cartridge body into the developing device via said toner supply port when moved; said movable member comprising: a movable base; and a rake piece provided at said base to constantly contact the inner surface of the cartridge body during movement; said base and said rake piece comprising a single molding, and wherein said rake piece vibrates at said toner supply port. 0. 12. A toner cartridge for replenishing toner into a developing device, comprising:
a cartridge body having an inner surface and formed with a toner supply port; and a movable member disposed in said cartridge body, and for replenishing the toner from said cartridge body into the developing device via said toner supply port when moved; said movable member comprising: a movable base; and a piece provided at said base to constantly contact the inner surface of the cartridge body during movement, wherein a width of said piece is less than a dimension of an opening of said supply port, and wherein said piece vibrates at said toner supply port. 0. 24. A developing device including a toner cartridge for replenishing toner into a developing device, said toner cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body having an inner surface and formed with a toner supply port; and a movable member disposed in said cartridge body, and for replenishing the toner from said cartridge body into the developing device via said toner supply port when moved; said movable member comprising: a movable base; and a rake piece provided at said base to constantly contact the inner surface of the cartridge body during movement; said base and said rake piece comprising a single molding, and wherein said rake piece vibrates at said toner supply port. 0. 19. A developing device including a toner cartridge for replenishing toner into a developing device, said toner cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body having an inner surface and formed with a toner supply port; and a movable member disposed in said cartridge body, and for replenishing the toner from said cartridge body into the developing device via said toner supply port when moved; said movable member comprising: a movable base; and a piece provided at said base to constantly contact the inner surface of the cartridge body during movement, wherein a width of said piece is less than a dimension of an opening of said supply port, and wherein said piece vibrates at said toner supply port. 0. 32. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a developing device configured to develop a toner image; a toner cartridge for replenishing toner into a developing device, said toner cartridge comprising: a cartridge body having an inner surface and formed with a toner supply port; and a movable member rotatably disposed in said cartridge body, and for replenishing the toner from said cartridge body into the developing device via said toner supply port when moved; said movable member comprising: a movable base; and a rake piece provided at said base to constantly contact the inner surface of the cartridge body during movement; said base and said rake piece comprising a single molding, and wherein said rake piece vibrates at said toner supply port.
0. 27. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a developing device configured to develop a toner image; a toner cartridge for replenishing toner into a developing device, the toner cartridge comprising: a cartridge body having an inner surface and formed with a toner supply port; and a movable member disposed in said cartridge body, and for replenishing the toner from said cartridge body into the developing device via said toner supply port when moved; said movable member comprising: a base having a rotary shaft; and a piece provided at said base to constantly contact the inner surface of the cartridge body during movement, wherein a width of said piece is less than a dimension of an opening of said supply port, and wherein said piece vibrates at said toner supply port. 5. A toner cartridge for replenishing toner into a developing device, comprising:
a cartridge body formed with a toner supply port; and a replenishing member rotatably disposed in said cartridge body, and for replenishing the toner from said cartridge body into the developing device via said toner supply port when rotated; said replenishing member comprising: a base having a rotary shaft; and a thin piece provided at a free edge of said base; said base and said thin piece comprising a single molding, wherein said base comprises a flat ladder-like center piece and said thin piece comprises rake pieces and a scoop piece slidably contacting an inner periphery of said cartridge body, and wherein said rake pieces adjoin longitudinally opposite ends of said center piece while said scoop piece intervenes between said rake pieces. 2. A toner cartridge as claimed in
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a developing device included in an image forming apparatus and, more particularly, to a toner cartridge removably mounted to the developing device and having a replenishing member therein which is rotatable to replenish toner from the cartridge into the developing device.
2. Discussion of the Background
It is a common practice with a copier, facsimile apparatus, laser printer or similar electrophotographic image forming apparatus to replenish fresh toner from a removable toner cartridge into a developing device. A conventional toner cartridge has a hollow cylindrical body, and a replenishing member disposed in the body and having a rotary shaft. The replenishing member is made up of a scoop plate or base for scooping up the toner, and rake plates for raking the toner in the axial direction of the shaft. A flexible rectangular strip is adhered to or otherwise affixed to the edge of the scoop plate that adjoins the inner wall of the body. A similar flexible strip is adhered to or otherwise affixed to the edge of each rake plate.
However, a problem with the conventional cartridge is that the flexible strip must be adhered to each of the scoop plate and scrape plate, resulting in an extra step and extra cost. Moreover, the strip is apt to come off the scoop plate if the adhesion is defective or due to aging. Of course, the strip may be affixed to the scoop plate by crimping, fusing or similar technology, as proposed in the past. However, this also results in an extra step and extra cost and, in addition, causes the strip to come off easily.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a toner cartridge for a developing device of an image forming apparatus, and which is capable of eliminating a step of affixing an elastic piece to the base of a replenishing member, and scooping up toner while sliding on a cartridge body under a constant pressure.
A toner cartridge for replenishing toner into a developing device of the present invention has a cartridge body formed with a toner supply port, and a replenishing member rotatably disposed in the cartridge body, and for replenishing the toner from the cartridge body in the developing device via the toner supply port when rotated. The replenishing member has a base having a rotary shaft, and a thin piece provided at the free edge of the base. The base and thin piece are implemented as a single molding.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings in which:
To better understand the present invention, a brief reference will be made to a conventional toner cartridge.
As shown in
After the cartridge 110 has been mounted to the hopper 106, the shaft 113 is rotated to, in turn, rotate the replenishing member 112. As a result, the flexible strip 116 of the scoop plate 114 scoops up the toner while sliding on the inner periphery of the body 110, thereby replenishing the toner into the hopper 106 via the outlet 117. The strip 116 ensures the replenishment of the toner because of its elasticity and flexibility. The strip 116 should preferably be made of a material capable of remaining elastic and flexible over a long period of time despite its sliding contact with the body 110. The optimal material satisfying these conditions is Mylar (trade name and available from E.I. Du Pont; polyethylene terephthalate).
The conventional cartridge 110, however, has some problems yet to be solved, as discussed earlier. Specifically, the Mylar strip 116 must be adhered to each of the scoop plate 114 and scrape plate 115, resulting in an extra step and extra cost. Moreover, the strip 116 is apt to come off the scoop plate 114 if the adhesion is defective or due to aging. Of course, the strip 116 may be affixed to the scoop plate 114 by crimping, fusing or similar technology, as proposed in the past. However, this also results in an extra step and extra cost and, in addition, causes the strip 116 to come off easily.
Referring to
As shown in
As shown in
The prerequisite with the strip 20 and tie pieces 21 is that they be as elastic and flexible as the Mylar strip 116 of the conventional cartridge 110. To meet the requirement, the strip 20 is formed as thin as 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. The tie pieces 21 are also provided with a thickness equal to or about twice the thickness of the strip 20. With such a configuration, the strip 20 and tie pieces 21 achieve a sufficient degree of elasticity. Further, by selecting the width and number of the tie pieces 21 adequately, it is possible to provide the strip 20 with elasticity and flexibility close to these of the Mylar strip 116, FIG. 14. As a result, the strip 20 is held in sliding contact with the inner periphery of the body 11 under a constant pressure.
The distance between the axis of the shaft 13 to the edge of the strip 20 is selected such that the edge of the strip 20 slidingly contacts at least part of the inner periphery of the body 11 surrounding a supply port 16. With this configuration, the strip 20 is capable of scooping up the toner in a desirable manner. While the replenishing member 12, including the strip 20 and tie pieces 21, should preferably be implemented as a molding of polypropylene or similar material, it may be formed of ABS resin, if desired.
Referring to
Nearby tie pieces 40a, supporting one rake piece 38 in cooperation, are different in length from each other such that the rake piece 38 is inclined upward toward the scoop piece 37. In this condition, when the replenishing member 12 is rotated about the shaft portions 13, the rake pieces 38 rake the toner toward the scoop piece 37. The inclination of the rake pieces 38 is, for example, about 15°C to about 35°C relative to the axis of rotation of the member 12. As also shown in
Both the scoop pieces 37 and the scrape pieces 38 should advantageously be provided on opposite side edges of the ladder-like base 35 and in a 180°C symmetrical configuration with respect to the axis of rotation of the member 12, as illustrated. As a result, there can be obviated the irregular distribution of the reaction of the toner and, therefore, the deformation of the shaft 13 during the course of rotation. However, at least one of the scoop pieces 37 and rake pieces 38 may be provided only on side edge of the base 35, if desired.
In the embodiment, the base or center piece 35, reinforcing shaft 36, aligned shaft portions 13, scoop pieces 37, rake pieces 38, and tie pieces 39, 40a and 40b are also implemented as a single molding produced by the injection molding of polypropylene or similar flexible material. The entire replenishing member 12 has a modulus of elasticity of bending ranging from about 42 kg/mm2 to about 454 kg/mm2 and twist easily during rotation due to the particular material. The member 12 achieves additional flexibility because the pieces 37 and 38 are far thinner than the base 35, as shown in FIG. 5B. This, coupled with the fact that the entire member 12 is a skeleton having a bore ratio of, for example, greater than 85%, allows the member 12 to loosen the toner sufficiently. Hence, toner blocking can be obviated even if the packing ratio of the toner in the cartridge 10 is increased.
As shown in
Furthermore, as shown in
In summary, it will be seen that the present invention provides a toner cartridge having various unprecedented advantages, as enumerated below.
(1) A replenishing member disposed in a cartridge body is easy to produce and low cost because it does not need any pieces of Mylar or similar material otherwise adhered thereto. Of course, there is obviated an occurrence that such pieces come off the replenishing member.
(2) Despite that the replenishing member is implemented as a single molding, thin pieces can remain in sliding contact with the inner periphery of the cartridge under a constant pressure.
(3) The replenishing member scoops up toner efficiently and can replenish it without wasting it.
(4) The replenishing member elastically deforms and loosens the toner despite its simple configuration. Hence, the member can be rotated by a minimum of torque.
(5) The replenishing member deforms to an adequate degree due to the difference in friction between the thin pieces of the inner periphery of the cartridge.
(6) The toner loosened by, among the thin pieces, rake pieces is conveyed toward scoop pieces.
(7) When the thin pieces contact the inner wall of the cartridge, the rake pieces noticeably tilt relative to the axis of the cartridge and thereby further ensure the conveyance of the toner.
(8) Symmetrical forces act on the rotary shaft of the replenishing member, so that the shaft is free from deformation.
(9) Every time each scoop piece reaches a supply port formed in the cartridge, it springs back to its original position. The resulting vibration shakes the toner off the thin pieces and other various portions of the replenishing member. In addition, the vibration is imparted to the toner in the cartridge, thereby loosening the toner.
Various modifications will become possible for those skilled in the art after receiving the teachings of the present disclosure with departing from the scope thereof.
Ikeda, Sunao, Terazawa, Seiji, Ichikawa, Hideo
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