US 10,520,854 B2 · Cartridge

Abstract

A cartridge for mounting in an image forming apparatus includes a developer storage chamber, a discharge port fluidly connected to the developer storage chamber, a toner storage chamber, a fluid communication path extending in a first direction and fluidly connecting the toner storage chamber to the developer storage chamber, an auger disposed in the fluid communication path, rotatable inside the fluid communication path about a rotation axis extending in the first direction, and configured to transport the toner from the toner storage chamber along the fluid communication path toward the developer storage chamber when rotated about the rotation axis, and a sealing member disposed on the auger and configured to seal a gap between the auger and an inner surface of the fluid communication path when the sealing member is inside the fluid communication path and move along the first direction when the auger is rotated about the rotation axis.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A cartridge for mounting in an image forming apparatus, comprising:

a developer storage chamber in which a developer can be stored;
a discharge port connected to the developer storage chamber;
a toner storage chamber in which a toner can be stored;
a path connecting the toner storage chamber and the developer storage chamber;
a sealing member that is movable and configured to seal a gap between the sealing member and an inner surface of the path;
and
a rod that is rotatable inside the path about a rotation axis and configured to transport the sealing member along the path between the toner storage chamber and the developer storage chamber when rotated about the rotation axis.

4 more elements

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a developer storage chamber in which a developer can be stored;
a discharge port connected to the developer storage chamber;
a toner storage chamber in which a toner can be stored;
a path extending from the toner storage chamber to the developer storage chamber in a first direction, the path connecting the toner storage chamber and the developer storage chamber;
a sealing member that is movable and configured to seal a gap between the sealing member and an inner surface of the path;
a rod that is rotatable inside the path about a rotation axis extending in the first direction and configured to transport the sealing member along the path between the toner storage chamber and the developer storage chamber when rotated about the rotation axis;
a drive source that rotates the rod;
and
a control unit configured to cause the drive source to rotate the rod to move the sealing member from a toner storage chamber side to a developer storage chamber side along the path to transport the toner from the toner storage chamber to the developer storage chamber and discharge the toner through the discharge port.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cartridge

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Cartridge

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Abstract

Claims20