Patent classifications
G03G2215/0678
Image forming apparatus and developer replenishment thereof
An image forming apparatus includes: a detection unit configured to detect an amount of developer stored in a developing container and to output remaining amount information; and a control unit configured to perform control, during a replenishment of the developer to the developing container using a replenishment container, to cause a display unit to display a message related to the replenishment. When the replenishment is instructed, the control unit is further configured to perform a first control during the replenishment in a case where the remaining amount information indicates a first remaining amount, and configured to perform a second control different from the first control during the replenishment in a case where the remaining amount information indicates a second remaining amount greater than the first remaining amount.
POWDER CONTAINER, POWDER SUPPLY DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A powder container includes a powder container body having a cylindrical form to store powder. The powder container body includes a conveyer, a large diameter portion, a small diameter portion, and a boundary portion. The conveyer conveys the powder stored in the powder container body in a longitudinal direction of the powder container body. The large outer diameter portion has an outer diameter on a cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The small outer diameter portion has an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the large outer diameter portion on the cross section. The boundary portion connects the large outer diameter portion and the small outer diameter portion.
Developer supply container and developer supplying apparatus
A developer supply container includes a developer accommodating portion 2a for accommodating toner, a developer supply opening 5b for discharging the toner accommodated in the developer accommodating portion 2a from the developer supply container 1, a feeding portion 2b for feeding the toner in the developer accommodating portion 2a toward the developer supply opening 5b, a rotatable drive receiving portion 7a for receiving a rotational force for rotating the feeding portion 2b, and a holding projection 4h held by a holding mechanism 304 provided in the developer supply container 1 to determine a position of the developer supply container 1, wherein the developer supply opening 5b is disposed between the drive receiving portion 7a and the holding projection 4h. By this, a stability of connection between the discharge opening of the developer supply container and the receiving port of the image forming apparatus side is improved.
Asymmetric key features
An example print component includes a container interface with a guide feature to guide rotation and a rotationally asymmetric key feature. An example toner component includes a recess to receive a toner container, a guide feature to guide rotation of the toner container, and an asymmetric key feature embedded in the guide feature to guide a container material interface towards a component material interface upon rotation. An example container may have a periphery with a rotationally asymmetric surface plane to guide rotation of the container and a protrusion extending from the periphery that has a key feature defined by edges rotationally asymmetric with respect to the periphery. An example container may include a mechanical interface including an asymmetrically-located key feature that, upon rotation of the print material container, generates a sealing force substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation.
NOZZLE INSERTION MEMBER, POWDER CONTAINER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A nozzle insertion member is in a powder container that includes a nozzle insertion opening into which a conveying nozzle is inserted. The nozzle insertion member includes an opening/closing structure to move to an opening position to open the nozzle insertion opening by being pressed by the inserted conveying nozzle, and to a closing position to close the nozzle insertion opening when the conveying nozzle is separated from the nozzle insertion member, and a seal arranged at the nozzle insertion opening and including a through hole into which the conveying nozzle is insertable. The opening/closing structure includes a front cylindrical portion to contact with an inner surface of the through hole, and a slide area formed on another side relative to the front cylindrical portion. W1<W4 is satisfied, where W1 is an inner diameter of the through hole, and W4 is an outer diameter of the slide area.
PRINT PARTICLE SUPPLY VALVES
Examples described herein relate to a supply valve consistent with the disclosure. For instance, a supply valve to supply print particles to a receptacle, the supply valve may comprise a print particle exit, a print particle entrance perpendicular to the print particle exit, and a liner adjacent to the print particle exit, where the liner is to wipe print particles, when present, from the supply valve responsive to the transition of the supply valve between a closed position and an open position.
ASYMMETRIC KEY FEATURES
An example print component includes a container interface with a guide feature to guide rotation and a rotationally asymmetric key feature. An example toner component includes a recess to receive a toner container, a guide feature to guide rotation of the toner container, and an asymmetric key feature embedded in the guide feature to guide a container material interface towards a component material interface upon rotation. An example container may have a periphery with a rotationally asymmetric surface plane to guide rotation of the container and a protrusion extending from the periphery that has a key feature defined by edges rotationally asymmetric with respect to the periphery. An example container may include a mechanical interface including an asymmetrically-located key feature that, upon rotation of the print material container, generates a sealing force substantially perpendicular to the direction of rotation.
Print substance valves
Examples described herein relate to a system consistent with the disclosure. For instance, the system may comprise a valve body having a first opening, a print substance valve disposed inside of the valve body including a second opening, and a liner coupled to the print substance valve including a third opening, where the liner is to clean print substance, when present, from the system responsive to the transition of the system into either of a closed position or an open position.
PRINT SUBSTANCE VALVES
Examples described herein relate to a system consistent with the disclosure. For instance, the system may comprise a valve body having a first opening, a print substance valve disposed inside of the valve body including a second opening, and a liner coupled to the print substance valve including a third opening, where the liner is to clean print substance, when present, from the system responsive to the transition of the system into either of a closed position or an open position.
POWDER CONTAINER
A powder container contains powder and is attached to an image forming apparatus including: a conveying nozzle to convey the powder; a powder receiving hole of the conveying nozzle to receive the powder from the powder container; an apparatus main-body gear to transmit a driving force to the powder container; and a container receiving section including the conveying nozzle and receiving the powder container. The powder container includes: an opening at one end of the powder container in a longitudinal direction; a nozzle receiver at the opening to receive the conveying nozzle; a conveyor to convey the powder; and a container gear to drive the conveyor by meshing with the apparatus main-body gear. The container gear is to mesh with the apparatus main-body gear at a position closer to the opening than the powder receiving hole in the longitudinal direction. The opening is to mate with the container receiving section.