Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20070140747
Timestamp: 2018-02-19 10:25:15
Document Index: 418740632

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 106', 'art 106', 'art 106', 'art 106', 'art 106', 'art 96', 'art 81', 'art 96', 'art 81', 'art 81', 'art 96', 'art 81', 'art 96', 'art 81', 'art 81']

US20070140747A1 - Toner container, toner supply device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents
US20070140747A1
US20070140747A1 US11676003 US67600307A US2007140747A1 US 20070140747 A1 US20070140747 A1 US 20070140747A1 US 11676003 US11676003 US 11676003 US 67600307 A US67600307 A US 67600307A US 2007140747 A1 US2007140747 A1 US 2007140747A1
US11676003
US7577379B2 (en )
Takeroh Kurenuma
To solve the above-described drawbacks, the applicant of the present invention has proposed to use a suction-type uniaxial eccentric screw pump, called a Monoe pump, for a toner conveyance device. The pump is constituted of a rotor of a male screw type, which is formed of a material having rigidity, such as metal, in an eccentric screw shape, a stator of a female screw, the inside of which is formed in a two-fold screw shape by an elastic material, such as rubber, and which is fixedly set, and a holder made of resin, which encloses the rotor and the stator and forms a conveying path for powder, such as toner. The male screw type rotor inserted into the female screw type stator is rotated around the eccentric center via a connection rod connected with a drive device within a hole of an elliptic shape in the cross section of the stator (an eccentric rotation space). Thereby, a pumping function (a strong self-priming force and a suction pressure) is generated, and toner is sucked into the stator and is discharged through the stator. The toner is fluidized by supplying compressed air before being sucked and after having been discharged by an air supply device.
According to still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes a development device and the above-described toner supply device configured to supply toner to the development device.
An intermediary transfer member cleaning device 17 is arranged at the left side of the second support roller 15 to remove residual toner remaining on the intermediary transfer member 10 after transfer of an image. Four image formation devices 18 for black, yellow, magenta, and cyan are arranged side-by-side along the conveying direction of the intermediary transfer member 10 above the part of the intermediary transfer member 10 spanned by and extended between the first support roller 14 and the second support roller 15, and thereby a tandem image formation device 20 is constructed. Further, an exposure device 21 is arranged above the tandem image formation device 20, and a secondary transfer device 22 is arranged at the opposite side of the intermediary transfer member 10 (opposite the side where the tandem image formation device 20 is arranged). The secondary transfer device 22 is constructed by spanning an endless secondary transfer belt 24 around two rollers 23, and is arranged to be pressed against the third support roller 16 via the intermediary transfer member 10. An image on the intermediary transfer member 10 is transferred onto a sheet passing through a nip part of the intermediary transfer member 10 and the secondary transfer belt 24.
FIG. 8A is a cross section of the O-ring 106, and as illustrated, a ring part 106 a of the O-ring 106 is in a pentagon in its cross section. FIG. 8B is an enlarged cross section of the ring part 106 a, and as illustrated, the ring part 106 a includes a base part, and a tapered part formed at the internal circumferential surface side of the base part. An acutely angled tip end part of the tapered part faces a hole part 106 c of the O-ring 106, as illustrated in FIG. 8A. By forming the ring part 106 a in its cross section (passing the axis of the O-ring 106) to have a tapered part thinner in the width (in the direction parallel to the axis) from the outer circumferential surface toward the internal circumferential surface thereof, the contact area of the O-ring 106 relative to the valve member 83 can be decreased without deteriorating the sealing performance of the O-ring 106 and the valve member 83, so that the sliding friction due to the O-ring 106 can be decreased. Thereby, the valve member 83 can be moved easily, so that the operational force of the user for moving the valve member 83 (i.e., the force for closing the open/close folder) can be reduced and the operation easiness can be enhanced.
Furthermore, a lock mechanism may be provided to the protrusion part 96′ of the connection member 96 and the groove part 81′ of the cap member 81. FIG. 14A illustrates the connection member 96 in which a lock craw 93 is provided to the protrusion part 96′. FIG. 14B illustrates the groove part 81 in which a lock groove 94 corresponding to the lock craw 93 is provided to the groove part 81′. The lock craw 93 has a triangular profile, and the lock groove 94 is formed in a notch. By rotating the cap member 81 in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 10B, the protrusion part 96′ is moved along the longitudinal direction of the groove part 81′, and after the protrusion part 96′ has been moved a predetermined distance along the longitudinal direction of the groove part 81′ relative to the groove part 81′, the lock claw 93 and the lock groove 94 are engaged with each other with a click. Thereby, the lock claw 93 is held at the lock claw 94 in that position and attachment of the cap member 81 to the connection member 96 of the toner accommodation member 82 is completed. Because the lock claw 93 and the lock groove 94 are engaged with a click, the completion of attachment can be easily recognized.
17. A developer container for use in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
a developer accommodation member configured to accommodate developer; and
a cap member configured to cap the developer accommodation member, said cap member including:
a developer discharging opening located at one end of the valve room,
a developer reception opening formed on the ceiling of the valve room and configured to receive the developer from the developer accommodation member,
a communication hole located between the developer reception opening and the developer accommodation member and configured to guide the developer from the developer accommodation member to the developer reception opening, an upper end of said communication hole being corn-shaped, and
a valve member arranged in the valve room and configured to open and close the developer reception opening when moved away from the valve room by a nozzle of the image forming apparatus inserted into the valve room through the developer discharging opening in a valve room axis direction.
18. The developer container as claimed in claim 17, further comprising an O-shape elastic ring arranged at the developer discharging opening, said O-shape elastic ring air-tightly contacting the nozzle when the nozzle is inserted into the valve room.
19. The developer container as claimed claim 18, wherein said O-shaped elastic ring includes a tapered part at a cross section, said tapered part being located within the valve room, and
wherein said O-shaped elastic ring includes a base part continuing from the tapered part, said base part being located outside of the valve room.
20. A developing apparatus including the developer container as claimed in claim 17.
21. A developing apparatus including the developer container as claimed in claim 18.
22. A developing apparatus including the developer container as claimed in claim 19.
23. A developer container for use in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
a developer reception opening formed on the ceiling of the valve room and configured to receive the developer,
an engaging section configured to engage with the developer accommodation member by a crashed ring,
a communication hole located between the developer reception opening and the developer accommodation member and configured to guide the developer from the developer accommodation member to the developer reception opening, and
a valve member configured to open and close the developer reception hole when moved away from the valve room by a nozzle of the image forming apparatus inserted into the valve room in a valve room axis direction.
24. The developer container as claimed in claim 23, further comprising an O-shape elastic ring arranged at the developer discharging opening, said O-shape elastic ring air-tightly contacting the nozzle when the nozzle is inserted into the valve room.
25. The developer container as claimed claim 24, wherein said O-shaped elastic ring includes a tapered part at a cross section, said tapered part being located within the valve room, and
26. A developing apparatus including the developer container as claimed in claim 23.
27. A developing apparatus including the developer container as claimed in claim 24.
28. A developing apparatus including the developer container as claimed in claim 25.
US11676003 2004-11-09 2007-02-16 Toner container, toner supply device and image forming apparatus Active US7577379B2 (en)
JP2004324976 2004-11-09
JP2004-324976 2004-11-09
JP2004331142 2004-11-15
JP2004-331142 2004-11-15
JP2004-380959 2004-12-28
JP2004380959A JP4572112B2 (en) 2004-11-15 2004-12-28 Toner container, a toner replenishing device and an image forming apparatus
US11255872 US7184691B2 (en) 2004-11-09 2005-10-24 Toner container, toner supply device and image forming apparatus
US11676003 US7577379B2 (en) 2004-11-09 2007-02-16 Toner container, toner supply device and image forming apparatus
US11255872 Division US7184691B2 (en) 2004-11-09 2005-10-24 Toner container, toner supply device and image forming apparatus
US20070140747A1 true true US20070140747A1 (en) 2007-06-21
US7577379B2 US7577379B2 (en) 2009-08-18
ID=35677370
US11255872 Active US7184691B2 (en) 2004-11-09 2005-10-24 Toner container, toner supply device and image forming apparatus
US11676003 Active US7577379B2 (en) 2004-11-09 2007-02-16 Toner container, toner supply device and image forming apparatus
US (2) US7184691B2 (en)
EP (2) EP1655640B1 (en)
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US7577379B2 (en) 2009-08-18 grant
EP1655640A3 (en) 2006-06-14 application
EP1655640B1 (en) 2014-12-03 grant
US7184691B2 (en) 2007-02-27 grant
EP1691240B1 (en) 2015-12-09 grant
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US20060099012A1 (en) 2006-05-11 application