Patent classifications
G03G2215/0827
TONER CONVEYING DEVICE, CLEANING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A toner conveying device includes a case storing toner; a conveyance member rotatably supported at both ends by the case, including a spiral blade extending along a rotational axis, and configured to rotate to convey the toner inside the case in a predetermined conveying direction; and a pushing member pushed against an outer peripheral portion of the conveyance member in a first direction intersecting with the rotational axis and configured to slide on the outer peripheral portion as the conveyance member rotates. The pushing member is composed of a flexible sheet member and includes a base portion secured at a securing position inside the case and protruding pieces aligned along the rotational axis and protruding from the base portion toward the conveyance member to abut on the outer peripheral portion. An alignment interval between the protruding pieces is different from a pitch of the spiral blade along the rotational axis.
TONER CONVEYING APPARATUS
A toner conveying apparatus includes a frame body, a conveyance member, a light transmission portion, a light emission portion, a light reception portion, and a rubbing member. The frame body forms a conveyance passage surrounded by a wall portion and is provided with a reception inlet for receiving toner from outside. The conveyance member is provided in the conveyance passage and rotates around a first rotation axis to convey the toner. The light transmission portion that is provided in the wall portion and has translucency. The light emission portion emits light toward an inside of the conveyance passage through the light transmission portion. The light reception portion receives the light emitted from the light emission portion through the light transmission portion. The rubbing member rubs on the light transmission portion by being rotated around a second rotation axis extending in a direction crossing the first rotation axis.
Toner cartridge including shutter rotatable between first position and second position
A toner cartridge includes a first casing, a second casing, an auger screw, and a shutter. The first casing has a first internal space. The second casing has: a second internal space smaller than the first internal space; a first opening allowing toner in the second internal space to be discharged; and a second opening allowing air in the second internal space to be sent to an outside. The auger screw is rotatable about a first rotation axis and configured to convey toner in the first internal space to the second internal space. The shutter is rotatable relative to the second casing about a second rotation axis between a first position in which the shutter closes the first opening and a second position in which the shutter opens the first opening. In a state where the shutter is at the second position, the shutter does not close the second opening.
Developer cartridge being capable of adjusting inside volume thereof
A developer cartridge including a housing to contain a developer and including a developer outlet from which the developer is dischargeable. A transport member is arranged inside the housing to rotate to transport the developer to the developer outlet. A volume adjustment member is insertable inside the transport member opposite to the developer outlet to adjust an inside volume of the housing.
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.
TONER CONVEYANCE DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
An image forming apparatus (1) includes a casing (21) having a toner conveyance path (34); a screw (24) conveying a toner in the toner conveyance path (34) in a predetermined conveyance direction; and a downstream side bearing (25) rotatably supporting a downstream side end portion of the screw (24) in the conveyance direction, wherein the screw (24) includes: a shaft (51) extending in the conveyance direction; and a spiral fin (52) provided around an outer circumferential face of the shaft (51), the shaft (51) has a downstream side insertion part (54) inserted into the downstream side bearing (25), and the downstream side insertion part (54) has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of a downstream side end portion of the fin (52) in the conveyance direction.
DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A developing device includes a housing in which a circulation path is formed by a first path through which a developer passed to a developing roll flows, a second path disposed offset from the first path in a direction of gravity, and a pair of connecting ports connecting the first path and the second path; and a transport member that operates in the housing to transport the developer in a determined direction in the circulation path, in which the transport member transports the developer in the determined direction in a case where a load at a determined time during transportation in the determined direction is equal to or less than a reference value, transports the developer in a reverse direction to the determined direction in a case where the load at the determined time during transportation in the determined direction exceeds the reference value, and transports the developer in the determined direction in a case where a load during or after transportation in the reverse direction is equal to or less than an allowable value.
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.
Toner conveying apparatus having a light transmission portion
A toner conveying apparatus includes a frame body, a conveyance member, a light transmission portion, a light emission portion, a light reception portion, and a rubbing member. The frame body forms a conveyance passage surrounded by a wall portion and is provided with a reception inlet for receiving toner from outside. The conveyance member is provided in the conveyance passage and rotates around a first rotation axis to convey the toner. The light transmission portion that is provided in the wall portion and has translucency. The light emission portion emits light toward an inside of the conveyance passage through the light transmission portion. The light reception portion receives the light emitted from the light emission portion through the light transmission portion. The rubbing member rubs on the light transmission portion by being rotated around a second rotation axis extending in a direction crossing the first rotation axis.
Powder conveying device and image forming apparatus incorporating the powder conveying device
A powder conveying device includes an inflow portion, a discharge portion, and a conveying screw. Powder flows into the inflow portion from outside of the powder conveying device. The powder flows out from the discharge portion to the outside of the powder conveying device. The conveying screw includes a shaft and conveys the powder from the inflow portion to the discharge portion in a conveying direction. A surface portion of the shaft at at least one of an upstream end or a downstream end of the shaft in the conveying direction, in at least one of the inflow portion or the discharge portion has a lower friction with the powder than another surface portion of the shaft at a position other than the at least one of the upstream end or the downstream end.