Patent ID: 8494380
Filing Date: 2013-07-23
Classification: G03G,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A developer storage unit designed to be detachably attached to an image forming apparatus, the developer storage unit comprising: a casing for storing developer; an agitating member configured to agitate developer within the casing; a force transmission mechanism configured to transmit a driving force from the image forming apparatus at least to the agitating member; and a cover attached to the casing for covering the force transmission mechanism, wherein the force transmission mechanism comprises: a driving force input member configured to rotate when the driving force is transmitted from the image forming apparatus: a first rotary member configured to rotate by receiving the driving force from the driving force input member; and a second rotary member configured to rotate by receiving the driving force from the first rotary member, wherein the first rotary member includes: a first contacting portion capable of contacting with the second rotary member to transmit the driving force to the second rotary member; a first non-contacting portion arranged in the same axial position as that of the first contacting portion but radially inward from the first contacting portion, so as not to contact with the second rotary member; and a first stopper portion provided in a position offset from the first contacting portion in an axial direction of the first rotary member, wherein the second rotary member includes: a second contacting portion capable of contacting with the first rotary member to receive the driving force from the first rotary member; a second non-contacting portion arranged in the same axial position as that of the second contacting portion but radially inward from the second contacting portion, so as not to contact with the first rotary member; a second stopper portion provided in a position offset from the second contacting portion in an axial direction of the second rotary member; and a detected portion extending from a position offset from a center of rotation of the second rotary member toward an outside of the cover, the detected portion being detected by a detector provided in the image forming apparatus, wherein the detected portion is configured to be movable between a new product detecting position and a used product detecting position that is different from the new product detecting position, and the detected portion is positioned in the new product detecting position before use of the developer storage unit and in the used product detecting position after use of the developer storage unit, and wherein when the second rotary member is caused to be rotated in a direction where the detected portion moves from the used product detecting position to the new product detecting position while the first non-contacting portion of the first rotary member is positioned to face the second rotary member, the second stopper portion comes into contact with the first stopper portion before the detected portion reaches the new product detecting position.