IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0189265
(2008-08-11)
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등록번호 |
US-7773919
(2010-08-30)
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우선권정보 |
JP-2004-339391(2004-11-24) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Nakajima, Nobuo
- Okino, Ayatomo
- Murakami, Katsuya
- Nagashima, Toshiaki
- Ban, Yutaka
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
6 인용 특허 :
12 |
초록
▼
If a user is not familiar with the operation for a developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. By increas
If a user is not familiar with the operation for a developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. By increasing a rotation load of a second gear which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member of the developer receiving apparatus by a function of a locking member, the developer supply container mounted to the developer receiving apparatus is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member for developer supply is smooth.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A developer supply container detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus including a driving member, said developer supply container being set in the developer receiving apparatus by a setting operation at least including a rotation thereof, said developer s
The invention claimed is: 1. A developer supply container detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus including a driving member, said developer supply container being set in the developer receiving apparatus by a setting operation at least including a rotation thereof, said developer supply container comprising: a container body having an inner space configured to contain a developer; a rotatable discharging member, disposed in said container body, configured to discharge the developer from said container body when said developer supply container is at a developer supply position; a drive transmission device, engageable with the driving member, configured and positioned to transmit a rotational force from the driving member to said discharging member to rotate said discharging member relative to said developer supply container; and a suppressing device configured and positioned to provide a suppressing force, which is reducible, for suppressing a relative rotation between said developer supply container and said drive transmission device to rotate said developer supply container toward the developer supply position by the rotational force received by said drive transmission device. 2. A developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein said drive transmission device includes a drive receiving member configured and positioned to receive the rotational force from the driving member, and wherein said drive receiving member is rotatably supported at a position away in a radial direction from a rotational center of said developer supply container. 3. A developer supply container according to claim 2, wherein said drive transmission device includes a drive relaying member configured and positioned to relay a drive transmission between said drive receiving member and said discharging member, and wherein said drive relaying member is co-axially rotatable with said discharging member. 4. A developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein said suppressing device includes a rotation load applying portion configured and positioned to apply a rotation load to said drive transmission device relative to said developer supply container. 5. A developer supply container according to claim 4, further comprising a reducing portion configured and positioned to reduce the suppressing force when said developer supply container is at the developer supply position. 6. A developer supply container according to claim 5, wherein said drive transmission device includes a drive receiving member configured and positioned to receive the rotational force from the driving member and a drive relaying member configured and positioned to relay a drive transmission between said drive receiving member and said discharging member, wherein said reducing portion is provided on said drive relaying member, and wherein said drive relaying member is rotatable relative to said developer supply container which is rotated to the developer supply position by the suppressing force to release the rotation load applied to said drive transmission device by said rotation load applying portion. 7. A developer supply container according to claim 6, wherein said drive relaying member is a gear, and wherein said reducing portion is a projected portion formed on an end surface of said gear and is abuttable with said rotation load applying portion to release the rotation load applied to said drive transmission device. 8. A developer supply container according to claim 4, wherein said drive transmission device includes a drive receiving member configured and positioned to receive the rotational force from the driving member and a drive relaying member configured and positioned to relay a drive transmission between said drive receiving member and said discharging member, and wherein said rotation load applying portion applies the rotation load to said drive relaying member. 9. A developer supply container according to claim 8, wherein said drive receiving member is rotatably supported by said container body at a position away in a radial direction from a rotational center of said container body, and wherein said drive relaying member is rotatably supported by said container body at a position which is the same as the rotation center of said developer supply container, and which is co-axially rotatable with said discharging member. 10. A developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein said suppressing device includes a locking portion configured and positioned to lock said drive transmission device. 11. A developer supply container according to claim 10, wherein a lock of said drive transmission device is released by a releasing device provided in the developer receiving apparatus when said developer supply container is at the developer supply position. 12. A developer supply container according to claim 10, wherein said drive transmission device includes a drive receiving member configured and positioned to receive the rotational force from the driving member and a drive relaying member configured and positioned to relay a drive transmission between said drive receiving member and said discharging member, and wherein said locking portion locks said drive relaying member. 13. A developer supply container according to claim 10, said locking portion includes: a hole provided on said container body; and a projection provided on said drive transmission device, said projection being inserted into said hole to connect said drive transmission device and said container body, and made of a resin material, wherein said projection is breakable by the rotational force received by said drive transmission device when said developer supply container is at the developer supply position. 14. A developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the developer receiving apparatus includes a mounting portion configured and positioned to detachably mount said developer supply container, and to permit a rotation of said developer supply container toward the developer supply position by the suppressing force, wherein a rotation load of said drive transmission device in a state of being suppressed by said suppressing device is larger than a rotation resisting force received from the mounting portion by said developer supply container, and wherein a rotation load of said drive transmission device under a condition which the suppressing force is reduced is smaller than the rotation resisting force. 15. A developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein a rotation load of said drive transmission device in a state that the relative rotation between said developer supply container and said drive transmission device is suppressed by said suppressing device is not less than 0.05 Nm and not more than 1.0 Nm, and wherein the rotation load of said drive transmission device in a state that the suppressing force is reduced is less than 0.05 Nm. 16. A developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the developer receiving apparatus includes a developer receiving opening and a shutter configured to open and close the developer receiving opening, further comprising an engaging portion engageable with the shutter, wherein said engaging portion moves the shutter from a closing position to an opening position in interrelation with a rotation of said developer supply container toward the developer supply position by the suppressing force. 17. A developer supply container according to claim 16, further comprising a developer discharge opening provided at a peripheral portion of said container body, wherein said developer discharge opening is brought into communication with the developer receiving opening in interrelation with the rotation of said developer supply container toward the developer supply position. 18. A developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein said drive transmission device includes a teeth portion configured and positioned to be meshing engagement with a teeth portion of the driving member. 19. A developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the rotation of said developer supply container toward the developer supply position by the suppressing force is a rotation of said container body. 20. A developer supply container according to claim 1, said drive transmission device includes a first gear configured to receive the rotational force from the driving member and a second gear configured to transmit the rotational force received by said first gear to said discharging member. 21. A developer supply system including a developer receiving apparatus and a developer supply container detachably mountable to said developer receiving apparatus, said developer supply container being set in said developer receiving apparatus by a setting operation at least including a rotation thereof, said developer supply system comprising: said developer receiving apparatus including: a driving member configured and positioned to apply a rotational force; said developer supply container including: a container body having an inner space configured to contain a developer; a rotatable discharging member, disposed in said container body, configured to discharge the developer from said container body when said developer supply container is at a developer supply position; a drive transmission device, engageable with said driving member, configured and positioned to transmit the rotational force from said driving member to said discharging member to rotate said discharging member relative to said developer supply container; and a suppressing device configured and positioned to provide a suppressing force, which is reducible, for suppressing a relative rotation between said developer supply container and said drive transmission device to rotate said developer supply container toward the developer supply position by the rotational force received by said drive transmission device. 22. A developer supply system according to claim 21, wherein said drive transmission device includes a drive receiving member configured and positioned to receive the rotational force from said driving member, and wherein said drive receiving member is rotatably supported at a position away in a radial direction from a rotational center of said developer supply container. 23. A developer supply system according to claim 22, wherein said drive transmission device includes a drive relaying member configured and positioned to relay a drive transmission between said drive receiving member and said discharging member, and wherein said drive relaying member is co-axially rotatable with said discharging member. 24. A developer supply system according to claim 21, wherein said suppressing device includes a rotation load applying portion configured and positioned to apply a rotation load to said drive transmission device relative to said developer supply container. 25. A developer supply system according to claim 24, further comprising a reducing portion configured and positioned to reduce the suppressing force when said developer supply container is at the developer supply position. 26. A developer supply system according to claim 25, wherein said drive transmission device includes a drive receiving member configured and positioned to receive the rotational force from said driving member and a drive relaying member configured and positioned to relay a drive transmission between said drive receiving member and said discharging member, wherein said reducing portion is provided on said drive relaying member, and wherein said drive relaying member is rotatable relative to said developer supply container which is rotated to the developer supply position by suppressing force to release the rotation load applied to said drive transmission device by said rotation load applying portion. 27. A developer supply system according to claim 26, wherein said drive relaying member is a gear, and wherein said reducing portion is a projected portion formed on an end surface of said gear and is abuttable with said rotation load applying portion to release the rotation load applied to said drive transmission device. 28. A developer supply system according to claim 24, wherein said drive transmission device includes a drive receiving member configured and positioned to receive the rotational force from said driving member and a drive relaying member configured and positioned to relay a drive transmission between said drive receiving member and said discharging member, and wherein said rotation load applying portion applies the rotation load to said drive relaying member. 29. A developer supply system according to claim 28, wherein said drive receiving member is rotatably supported by said container body at a position away in a radial direction from a rotational center of said developer supply container, and wherein said drive relaying member is rotatably supported by said container body at a position which is the same as the rotation center of said developer supply container, and which is co-axially rotatable with said discharging member. 30. A developer supply system according to claim 21, wherein said suppressing device includes a locking portion configured and positioned to lock said drive transmission device. 31. A developer supply system according to claim 30, wherein said developer receiving apparatus includes a releasing device, and wherein a lock of said drive transmission device is released by said releasing device when said developer supply container is at the developer supply position. 32. A developer supply system according to claim 30, wherein said drive transmission device includes a drive receiving member configured and positioned to receive the rotational force from said driving member and a drive relaying member configured and positioned to relay a drive transmission between said drive receiving member and said discharging member, and wherein said locking portion locks said drive relaying member. 33. A developer supply system according to claim 30, said locking portion includes: a hole provided on said container body; and a projection provided on said drive transmission device, said projection being inserted into said hole to connect said drive transmission device and said container body, and made of a resin material, wherein said projection is breakable by the rotational force received by said drive transmission device when said developer supply container is at the developer supply position. 34. A developer supply system according to claim 21, wherein said developer receiving apparatus includes a mounting portion configured and positioned to detachably mount said developer supply container, and to permit a rotation of said developer supply container toward the developer supply position by the suppressing force, wherein a rotation load of said drive transmission device in a state of being suppressed by said suppressing device is larger than a rotation resisting force received from said mounting portion by said developer supply container, and wherein a rotation load of said drive transmission device under a condition which the suppressing force is reduced is smaller than the rotation resisting force. 35. A developer supply system according to claim 21, wherein a rotation load of said drive transmission device in a state that the relative rotation between said developer supply container and said drive transmission device is suppressed by said suppressing device is not less than 0.05 Nm and not more than 1.0 Nm, and wherein the rotation load of said drive transmission device in a state that the suppressing force is reduced is less than 0.05 Nm. 36. A developer supply system according to claim 21, wherein said developer receiving apparatus includes a developer receiving opening and a shutter configured to open and close said developer receiving opening, wherein said developer supply container includes an engaging portion engageable with said shutter, and wherein said engaging portion moves said shutter from a closing position to an opening position in interrelation with a rotation of said developer supply container toward the developer supply position by the suppressing force. 37. A developer supply system according to claim 36, wherein said developer supply container includes a developer discharge opening provided at a peripheral portion of said container body, and wherein said developer discharge opening is brought into communication with said developer receiving opening in interrelation with the rotation of said developer supply container toward the developer supply position. 38. A developer supply system according to claim 21, wherein said drive transmission device includes a teeth portion configured and positioned to be meshing engagement with a teeth portion of said driving member. 39. A developer supply system according to claim 21, wherein a rotation of said developer supply container toward the developer supply position by the suppressing force is a rotation of said container body. 40. A developer supply system according to claim 21, said drive transmission device includes a first gear configured to receive the rotational force from said driving member and a second gear configured to transmit the rotational force received by said first gear to said discharging member. 41. A developer supply container detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus including a driving member, said developer supply container being set in the developer receiving apparatus by a setting operation at least including a rotation thereof, said developer supply container comprising: a container body having an inner space configured to contain a developer and a developer discharge opening provided at a peripheral portion thereof and configured to permit discharge of the developer in said container body; a rotatable feeding member, provided in said container body, configured to feed the developer in said container body toward said developer discharge opening when said container body is at a developer supply position by the rotation of said container body; a drive transmission device, engageable with the driving member, configured and positioned to transmit a rotational force from the driving member to said feeding member to rotate said feeding member relative to said container body; and a suppressing device configured and positioned to provide a suppressing force, which is reducible, for suppressing a relative rotation between said container body and said drive transmission device to rotate said container body toward the developer supply position by the rotational force received by said drive transmission device. 42. A developer supply container according to claim 41, wherein said drive transmission device includes a drive receiving member configured and positioned to receive the rotational force from the driving member, and wherein said drive receiving member is rotatably supported at a position away in a radial direction from a rotational center of said container body. 43. A developer supply container according to claim 42, wherein said drive transmission device includes a drive relaying member configured and positioned to relay a drive transmission between said drive receiving member and said feeding member, and wherein said drive relaying member is co-axially rotatable with said feeding member. 44. A developer supply container according to claim 41, wherein said suppressing device includes a rotation load applying portion configured and positioned to apply a rotation load to said drive transmission device relative to said container body. 45. A developer supply container according to claim 44, further comprising a reducing portion configured and positioned to reduce the suppressing force when said container body is at the developer supply position. 46. A developer supply container according to claim 45, wherein said drive transmission device includes a drive receiving member configured and positioned to receive the rotational force from the driving member and a drive relaying member configured and positioned to relay a drive transmission between said drive receiving member and said feeding member, and wherein said reducing portion is provided on said drive relaying member, and wherein said drive relaying member is rotatable relative to said container body which is rotated to the developer supply position by the suppressing force to release the rotation load applied to said drive transmission device by said rotation load applying portion. 47. A developer supply container according to claim 46, wherein said drive relaying member is a gear, and wherein said reducing portion is a projected portion formed on an end surface of said gear and is abuttable with said rotation load applying portion to release the rotation load applied to said drive transmission device. 48. A developer supply container according to claim 44, wherein said drive transmission device includes a drive receiving member configured and positioned to receive the rotational force from the driving member and a drive relaying member configured and positioned to relay a drive transmission between said drive receiving member and said feeding member, and wherein said rotation load applying portion applies the rotation load to said drive relaying member. 49. A developer supply container according to claim 48, wherein said drive receiving member is rotatably supported by said container body at a position away in a radial direction from a rotational center of said container body, and wherein said drive relaying member is rotatably supported by said container body at a position same as the rotation center of said container body and is co-axially rotatable with said feeding member. 50. A developer supply container according to claim 41, wherein said suppressing device includes a locking portion configured and positioned to lock said drive transmission device. 51. A developer supply container according to claim 50, wherein a lock of said drive transmission device is released by a releasing device provided in the developer receiving apparatus when said container body is at the developer supply position. 52. A developer supply container according to claim 50, wherein said drive transmission device includes a drive receiving member configured and positioned to receive the rotational force from the driving member and a drive relaying member configured and positioned to relay a drive transmission between said drive receiving member and said feeding member, and wherein said locking portion locks said drive relaying member. 53. A developer supply container according to claim 50, said locking portion includes: a hole provided on said container body; and a projection provided on said drive transmission device, said projection being inserted into said hole to connect said drive transmission device and said container body, and made of a resin material, wherein said projection is breakable by the rotational force received by said drive transmission device when said developer supply container is at the developer supply position. 54. A developer supply container according to claim 41, wherein the developer receiving apparatus includes a mounting portion configured and positioned to detachably mount said developer supply container, and to permit a rotation of said container body toward the developer supply position by the suppressing force, wherein a rotation load of said drive transmission device in a state of being suppressed by said suppressing device is larger than a rotation resisting force received from the mounting portion by said container body, and wherein a rotation load of said drive transmission device under a condition which the suppressing force is reduced is smaller than the rotation resisting force. 55. A developer supply container according to claim 41, wherein a rotation load of said drive transmission device in a state that the relative rotation between said container body and said drive transmission device is suppressed by said suppressing device is not less than 0.05 Nm and not more than 1.0 Nm, and wherein the rotation load of said drive transmission device in a state that the suppressing force is reduced is less than 0.05 Nm. 56. A developer supply container according to claim 41, wherein said developer receiving apparatus includes a developer receiving opening and a shutter configured to open and close the developer receiving opening, wherein said developer supply container includes an engaging portion engageable with the shutter, and wherein said engaging portion moves the shutter from a closing position to an opening position in interrelation with a rotation of said container body toward the developer supply position by the suppressing force. 57. A developer supply container according to claim 56, wherein said developer discharge opening is brought into communication with the developer receiving opening in interrelation with the rotation of said container body toward the developer supply position. 58. A developer supply container according to claim 41, wherein said drive transmission device includes a teeth portion configured and positioned to be meshing engagement with a teeth portion of the driving member. 59. A developer supply container according to claim 41, wherein a rotation of said container body toward the developer supply position by the suppressing force is a rotation of said container body. 60. A developer supply container according to claim 41, said drive transmission device includes a first gear configured to receive the rotational force from the driving member and a second gear configured to transmit the rotational force received by said first gear to said feeding member.
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