G03G2215/085

Drum cartridge and developing cartridge capable of suppressing variation in position of electrical contact surface

A drum cartridge includes: a drum frame to which a developing cartridge including a storage medium having an electrical contact surface is detachably attachable; a photosensitive drum; a transfer roller; and a conveying roller. The drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction and positioned at one end portion of the frame in a second direction. The transfer roller is rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction and in contact with the drum. The conveying roller is rotatable about a third axis extending in the first direction and separated from the transfer roller in the second direction. A first opening of the frame is positioned between the transfer roller and the conveying roller in the second direction. The electrical contact surface is exposed to an outside through the first opening in a case where the developing cartridge is attached to the frame.

Drum cartridge and developing cartridge capable of suppressing variation in position of electrical contact surface

A drum cartridge includes: a drum frame to which a developing cartridge including a storage medium having an electrical contact surface is detachably attachable; a photosensitive drum; a transfer roller; and a conveying roller. The drum is rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction and positioned at one end portion of the frame in a second direction. The transfer roller is rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction and in contact with the drum. The conveying roller is rotatable about a third axis extending in the first direction and separated from the transfer roller in the second direction. A first opening of the frame is positioned between the transfer roller and the conveying roller in the second direction. The electrical contact surface is exposed to an outside through the first opening in a case where the developing cartridge is attached to the frame.

Print material agitators coupled to tabs

A print material cartridge (215) that includes a reservoir to maintain an amount of print material (Toner) therein; an agitator (230) formed within the reservoir to fragment clumps of print material present in the reservoir; and a tab (235) mechanically coupled to the agitator via a gear system (240), the tab extending out of a housing of the print material cartridge to activate the agitator as the print material cartridge is being interfaced with a printing device (205, 410).

Developing cartridge including agitator configured to contact peripheral surface of supply roller

A developing cartridge includes a casing, a developing roller, a supply roller, a first agitator and a second agitator. The casing is configured to accommodate toner therein. The supply roller is configured to supply the toner to the developing roller. The first agitator is configured to agitate the toner in the casing. The second agitator is configured to agitate the toner in the casing. The second agitator is positioned between the first agitator and the supply roller. The second agitator includes a blade having a tip end configured to contact a peripheral surface of the supply roller.

Developing apparatus having a flexible developer conveyor

A developing apparatus includes a developer conveyance member including a rotatably supported flexible sheet having a first distance between its rotation axis and an edge of the flexible sheet in a state where the flexible sheet is unbent. A lid of a developing container includes a corner portion that extends a storage space outward of an imaginary circle with a radius of the first distance centered on the rotational axis, and a contact portion which protrudes from an inner surface of the corner portion to an inner side of the imaginary circle and with which the flexible sheet contacts while the conveyance member is being rotated. The contact portion has a distal edge shaped such that a distance between the distal edge and the rotation axis increases toward a downstream side in a rotation direction of the conveyance member as viewed in the direction along the rotation axis.

Powder leveler, powder container device, powder transporter, and powder handling device

A powder leveler includes: a structure having an internal space in which powder moves; a sheet-shaped leveling member that rotates while having a first end thereof attached to a rotation shaft disposed inside the structure, and that comes into contact with part of the powder accumulating at a portion inside the structure close to a free end thereof located away from the rotation shaft to level out the powder; and an obstacle located inside the structure at a position on a rotation path of the leveling member to obstruct the rotation path, the obstacle allowing the leveling member to pass thereby while the leveling member is rotating and being bent as a result of partially coming into contact with the obstacle. The leveling member includes multiple first discontinuous portions in at least a range in which the rotation path is obstructed by the obstacle while the leveling member is rotating, the multiple first discontinuous portions extend inward from an end closer to the free end in a direction obliquely crossing an axis of the rotation shaft, and the first discontinuous portions have terminal ends located within the range.

TONER CARTRIDGE ATTACHABLE TO IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

Toner cartridge includes a housing, an agitator, an auger, a first protrusion, and a second protrusion. The housing includes a first toner accommodating portion having and a second toner accommodating portion. The auger is rotatable about a second axis extending in a first direction and is configured to convey toner from a first toner accommodating portion to the second toner accommodating portion. The first protrusion is positioned at a first side of the second toner accommodating portion. The first protrusion extends in the first direction. The second protrusion is positioned at a second side of the second toner accommodating portion and extends in the first direction.

Pressurization device for toner cartridge and toner cartridge
20210325801 · 2021-10-21 ·

A pressurization device for a toner cartridge includes an inner cover (200), an airbag (400) and a sliding member (500). The inner cover (200) is arranged at a toner feeding port (110) of the toner cartridge (100); the airbag (400) is made of elastic material; the airbag (400) includes a fixed end that is fixed to the inner cover (200) and a free end that extends outward from the fixed end; the fixed end is provided with an airbag opening (410) interconnected to an interior of the toner cartridge (100); a remaining portion of the airbag (400) is arranged as closed except for the airbag opening (410); a first end of the sliding member (500) is connected to the free end of the airbag (400) and moves toward the fixed end of the airbag (400) back and forth, so that the airbag (400) ejects gas into the toner cartridge (100) by means of being compressed. Through compressing the airbag (400), high-pressure gas is continuously ejected into the toner cartridge (100), and toner is mixed with gas to be ejected together from a toner outlet at a front end of the toner cartridge (100), so that fluidity of the ejected toner is improved, problems such as easy compacting and clumping of the toner at the toner outlet and inside each toner flowing passage of the printing device are eliminated, and a blockage due to accumulation is effectively prevented.

PRINT MATERIAL AGITATORS COUPLED TO TABS
20210318644 · 2021-10-14 ·

A print material cartridge (215) that includes a reservoir to maintain an amount of print material (Toner) therein; an agitator (230) formed within the reservoir to fragment clumps of print material present in the reservoir; and a tab (235) mechanically coupled to the agitator via a gear system (240), the tab extending out of a housing of the print material cartridge to activate the agitator as the print material cartridge is being interfaced with a printing device (205, 410).

Toner container having a reduced auger flight to accommodate bi-directional rotation of the auger

A toner container according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner and a rotatable auger in the reservoir. A screw flight of the auger is configured to move toner away from a first end of the auger and toward a second end of the auger when the auger rotates in an operative rotational direction. A segment of the screw flight at a first end of the screw flight has an outer diameter that is reduced in comparison with an outer diameter of the screw flight outside the segment of the screw flight to reduce an efficiency of the auger at the first end of the screw flight for reducing toner packing against an interior wall of the housing when the auger rotates in a direction counter to the operative rotational direction.