IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0845590
(2007-08-27)
|
등록번호 |
US-7519317
(2009-07-01)
|
우선권정보 |
JP-2003-052658(2003-02-28); JP-2003-054478(2003-02-28); JP-2004-004668(2004-01-09) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Hosokawa, Hiroshi
- Tsuda, Kiyonori
- Narumi, Satoshi
- Takeichi, Ryuta
- Arai, Yuji
- Kawasumi, Masanori
- Umemura, Kazuhiko
- Ishii, Hiroshi
- Fukuchi, Yutaka
- Suzuki, Kazuki
- Noguchi, Yuusuke
- Kuma, Kazuosa
- Kikura, Makoto
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C.
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
26 인용 특허 :
64 |
초록
▼
A developer container has a main part accommodating a developer therein and is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus. The developer container comprises a rotation unit which is rotatable to the developer container main part and having an outlet to discharge developer from the developer c
A developer container has a main part accommodating a developer therein and is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus. The developer container comprises a rotation unit which is rotatable to the developer container main part and having an outlet to discharge developer from the developer container, a shutter provided on the rotation unit to open and close the outlet by rotation of the rotation unit, and an engagement unit provided on the periphery side portion of the rotation unit in order to prevent rotation of the rotation unit when attached to the image forming apparatus.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A developer supplying device which includes a developer container having a main part configured to accommodate a developer therein and having an opening at an end surface of the container main part, and a rotation unit attached to the container main part to cover the opening
What is claimed is: 1. A developer supplying device which includes a developer container having a main part configured to accommodate a developer therein and having an opening at an end surface of the container main part, and a rotation unit attached to the container main part to cover the opening and having an outlet provided on a circumferential surface of the rotation unit and communicating with the opening, wherein the developer in the container main part is moved to the opening and discharged from the outlet when the container main part, attached to a container mounting unit, is rotated around a longitudinal axis of the container main part, so that the developer supplying device supplies the developer discharged from the developer container to a developer receiving device, wherein the developer container comprises a shutter provided on the rotation unit to open and close the outlet by a movement of the shutter relative to the rotation unit in a rotation direction of the container main part, the developer supplying device is provided to apply a frictional force to cause the relative movement of the shutter and the rotation unit in a direction to close the outlet during the rotation of the container main part, and the developer supplying device comprises a regulation unit regulating the relative movement of the shutter and the rotation unit in the direction to close the outlet, by using the frictional force with the container main part when the container main part is rotated to discharge the developer from the outlet. 2. The developer supplying device according to claim 1, wherein the developer container is provided to apply the frictional force to the rotation unit so as to cause the relative movement of the shutter and the rotation unit in the direction to close the outlet when the container main part is rotated, and the developer supplying device comprises a rotation prevention unit preventing rotation of the shutter relative to the rotation unit in the rotating direction of the container main part when the developer container is attached to the container mounting unit, and when the rotation unit is rotated in the rotating direction of the container main part, the relative movement of the shutter and the rotation unit is allowed in the direction to close the outlet so that the outlet is closed by the shutter. 3. The developer supplying device according to claim l, wherein the developer container is provided to apply the frictional force to the shutter so as to cause the relative movement of the shutter and the rotation unit in the direction to close the outlet when the container main part is rotated, and the developer supplying device comprises a rotation prevention unit preventing rotation of the rotation unit relative to the shutter in the rotating direction of the container main part when the developer container is attached to the container mounting unit, and when the shutter is rotated in the rotating direction of the container main part, the relative movement of the rotation unit and the shutter is allowed in the direction to close the outlet so that the outlet is closed by the shutter. 4. The developer supplying device according to claim 1, wherein the developer supplying device is provided to allow the relative movement of the shutter and the rotation unit according to a displacement of a displacement member, and the regulation unit comprises a displacement regulation unit regulating displacement of the displacement member from a position corresponding to a relative position of the rotation unit and the shutter to open the outlet in a direction to cause the relative movement of the rotation unit and the shutter to close the outlet. 5. The developer supplying device according to claim 1, further comprising: the developer. 6. The developer supplying device according to claim 1, wherein the developer is toner. 7. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a visible image formation unit forming a visible image on an image supporting medium; and a developer supplying device which includes a developer container having a main part accommodating a developer therein and having an opening at an end surface of the container main part, and a rotation unit attached to the container main part to cover the opening and having an outlet provided on a circumferential surface of the rotation unit and communicating with the opening, wherein the developer in the container main part is moved to the opening and discharged from the outlet when the container main part, attached to a container mounting unit, is rotated around a longitudinal axis of the container main part, so that the developer supplying device supplies the developer discharged from the developer container to a developer receiving device of the visible image formation unit, wherein the developer container comprises a shutter provided on the rotation unit to open and close the outlet by a movement of the shutter relative to the rotation unit in a rotation direction of the container main part, the developer supplying device is provided to apply a frictional force to cause the relative movement of the shutter and the rotation unit in a direction to close the outlet during the rotation of the container main part, and the developer supplying device comprises a regulation unit regulating the relative movement of the shutter and the rotation unit in the direction to close the outlet, by using the frictional force with the container main part when the container main part is rotated to discharge the developer from the outlet. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the developer supplying device is provided to allow the relative movement of the shutter and the rotation unit according to a displacement of a displacement member, and the regulation unit comprises a displacement regulation unit regulating displacement of the displacement member from a position corresponding to a relative position of the rotation unit and the shutter to open the outlet in a direction to cause the relative movement of the rotation unit and the shutter to close the outlet, and wherein the visible image formation unit and the developer supplying device are arranged in a housing, and the housing is provided with an insertion opening and an open/close cover, the developer container is detachably attached to the container mounting unit of the developer supplying device through the insertion opening, and the open/close cover is provided to open or close the insertion opening. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided so that the displacement member is positioned to project toward the insertion opening when the displacement member is located at the insertion opening, and the displacement regulation unit is provided so that the displacement member at the insertion opening is fitted into a recess on an inside surface of the open/close cover by closing the open/close cover. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises a guiding unit guiding the displacement member to the opened position through contact of the inside surface of the open/close cover and the displacement member not located at the opening when the open/close cover is placed in the closed position on the housing. 11. The developer supplying device according to claim 7, wherein the developer is toner. 12. A cylindrical developer container which has a main part accommodating a developer therein and is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus, comprising: a rotation unit which is rotatable relative to the container main part; an outlet provided on the rotation unit to discharge the developer in the developer container; a shutter provided on the rotation unit to open and close the outlet by rotation of the rotation unit when the container is attached to the image forming apparatus; and an engagement unit provided on a peripheral side portion of the rotation unit, the engagement unit being engaged with the image forming apparatus to prevent rotation of the rotation unit. 13. The developer container according to claim 12, wherein the developer container is detachably attached from an upper part of the image forming apparatus, and the engagement unit is configured to contact a projection connected to an inside surface of a cover of the image forming apparatus. 14. The developer supplying device according to claim 12, wherein the developer is toner. 15. A cylindrical developer container which has a main part accommodating a developer therein and is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus, comprising: a rotation unit which is rotatable relative to the container main part; an outlet provided on the rotation unit to discharge the developer from the container; a shutter provided on the rotation unit to open and close the outlet by rotation of the rotation unit; a first rotation preventing unit provided on the rotation unit to prevent the rotation unit from being rotated in a first direction when the container is attached to the image forming apparatus; and a second rotation preventing unit provided on the rotation unit to prevent the rotation unit from being rotated further in a second direction opposite to the first direction after the rotation unit is rotated in the second direction by the attachment of the container to the image forming apparatus and the shutter is caused to open the outlet by the rotation of the rotation unit. 16. The developer supplying device according to claim 15, wherein the developer is toner. 17. A cylindrical developer container which has a container main part for accommodating a developer therein and is to be detachably attached to an image forming apparatus, comprising: a rotation unit which is rotatable relative to the container main part; an outlet provided on the rotation unit to discharge the developer from the developer container; a shutter provided on the rotation unit to cover and expose the outlet depending on a rotational position of the rotation unit when the container is attached to the image forming apparatus; and engaging means, provided on a circumferential surface of the rotation unit, for engaging with the image forming apparatus to prevent rotation of the rotation unit. 18. The developer container according to claim 17, wherein the developer container is detachably attached from an upper side of the image forming apparatus, and the engaging means is a projection that fits into a portion formed at an inside surface of a cover of the image forming apparatus. 19. The developer supplying device according to claim 17, wherein the developer is toner. 20. A cylindrical developer container which has a container main part for accommodating a developer therein and is to be detachably attached to an image forming apparatus, comprising: a rotation unit which is rotatable relative to the container main part; an outlet provided on the rotation unit to discharge the developer from the developer container; a shutter provided on the rotation unit to cover and expose the outlet; first rotation preventing means, provided on the rotation unit, for preventing the rotation unit from being rotated in a first direction after the development container is attached to the image forming apparatus; and second rotation preventing means, provided on the rotation unit, for preventing the rotation unit from being rotated further in a second direction opposite the first direction after the rotation unit is rotated in the second direction to open the shutter in association with movement of attaching the development container to the image forming apparatus. 21. The developer supplying device according to claim 20, wherein the developer is toner. 22. A cylindrical developer container which has a container main part for accommodating a developer therein and is to be detachably attached to an image forming apparatus, comprising: a rotation unit which is rotatable relative to the container main part; an outlet provided on the rotation unit to discharge the developer from the developer container; a shutter provided on the rotation unit to cover and expose the outlet depending on a rotational position of the rotation unit when the container is attached to the image forming apparatus; and a projection which is provided on a circumferential surface of the rotation unit, and engages with the image forming apparatus to prevent rotation of the rotation unit. 23. The developer supplying device according to claim 22, wherein the developer is toner. 24. A cylindrical developer container which has a container main part for accommodating a developer therein and is to be detachably attached to an image forming apparatus, comprising: a rotation unit which is rotatable relative to the container main part; an outlet provided on the rotation unit to discharge the developer from the developer container; a shutter provided on the rotation unit to cover and expose the outlet; a projection which is provided on the rotation unit to engage with the image forming apparatus, and prevents the rotation unit from being rotated in a first direction after the development container is attached to the image forming apparatus; and a stopper wall which is provided on the rotation unit to engage with the image forming apparatus, and prevents the rotation unit from being rotated further in a second direction opposite the first direction after the rotation unit is rotated in the second direction to open the shutter in association with movement of attaching the development container to the image forming apparatus. 25. The developer supplying device according to claim 24, wherein the developer is toner.
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