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US 10,379,461 B2Granted
Toner container, image forming apparatus
AssigneeKYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
InventorDaisuke Eto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A toner container includes a container body, a tubular body, and a screw feeder. The tubular body forms a toner conveyance path communicating with an inside of the container body. The screw feeder feeds toner in the container body to the toner conveyance path by being rotationally driven inside the container body. The screw feeder pushes toner that has arrived inside the toner conveyance path further along the toner conveyance path by feeding pressure of succeeding toner.
Claims11
A toner container, comprising:
- a container body configured to store toner;
- a tubular body configured to form a toner conveyance path communicating with an inside of the container body;
- and
- a screw feeder including a shaft and a blade, the shaft formed extending from inside the container body toward an entrance of the toner conveyance path, and the blade formed protruding spirally from the shaft, wherein
- the screw feeder is configured to feed the toner in the container body to the toner conveyance path by being rotationally driven inside the container body, and push the toner that has arrived inside the toner conveyance path further along the toner conveyance path by feeding pressure of succeeding toner,
- the screw feeder includes a contour tapered portion in which an outer diameter of the blade gradually becomes smaller in a toner feeding direction,
- the container body includes an inner diameter tapered portion formed in a tubular shape surrounding a periphery of the contour tapered portion, the tubular shape gradually decreasing in inner diameter in the toner feeding direction, and
- an inner diameter of the tubular body is smaller than a largest inner diameter of the inner diameter tapered portion.
5 more elements
A toner container, comprising:
- a container body configured to store toner;
- a tubular body configured to form a toner conveyance path communicating with an inside of the container body;
- and
- a screw feeder including a shaft and a blade, the shaft formed extending from inside the container body toward an entrance of the toner conveyance path, and the blade formed protruding spirally from the shaft, wherein
- the screw feeder is configured to feed the toner in the container body to the toner conveyance path by being rotationally driven inside the container body, and push the toner that has arrived inside the toner conveyance path further along the toner conveyance path by feeding pressure of succeeding toner,
- a displacement member including a seal portion configured to block a vent formed in the container body, the displacement member configured to be displaceable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the seal portion blocks the vent in the closed position, and opens at least a portion of the vent in the open position, and
- an elastic member configured to hold the displacement member in the closed position by applying elastic force to the displacement member.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.