Patent ID: 9146502
Filing Date: 2015-09-29
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A developer container, comprising: a container body including an inner surface defining a cylindrical internal space extending in a first direction, and a first wall disposed at one end of the container body in the first direction and defining one end surface of the internal space, the container body being formed with a developer discharge port opening in a circumferential portion of the container body, the developer discharge port being disposed at a position higher than a lowest part of the container body by a predetermined amount and communicating with the internal space, the developer discharge port being configured to discharge developer therethrough; a second wall disposed at the other end of the container body that is opposite to the first wall in the first direction and defining the other end surface of the internal space; a movable wall including an outer surface slidably in close contact with the inner surface of the container body, and a conveying surface defining a storage space for the developer in cooperation with the inner surface of the container body, the movable wall being configured to convey the developer in the storage space to the developer discharge port from a predetermined initial position owing to repeated movements of the movable wall in the first direction toward the discharge port and a second direction opposite to the first direction; a shaft including a first engaging portion in the form of a helical ridge projecting from an outer surface of the shaft, the shaft extending in the first direction in the internal space and rotatably supported on the first wall and the second wall; a carrier bearing disposed in the movable wall and including a second engaging portion projecting from an inner surface of the carrier bearing and engageable with the first engaging portion, the carrier bearing allowing the shaft to pass therethrough; and a stirring member disposed in the storage space and integrally rotatable with the shaft to stir the developer in the storage space, wherein when the shaft is rotated in a first rotational direction, the movable wall moves in the first direction by engagement of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion, and when the shaft is rotated in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, the movable wall moves in the second direction by engagement of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion.