# US 12,001,163 B2 · Toner cartridge including ventilation port plug removable through a paddle gear through hole > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,001,163 B2 - Document ID: US12001163B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/157,650 - Filed: 2023-01-20 - Published: 2023-11-16 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-05-16 - Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Nobuaki Takahashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12001163B2 ## CPC - G03G 21/0052: {using an air flow; Details thereof, e.g. nozzle structure} - G03G 15/0822: {Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer} - G03G 15/087: {Developer cartridges having a longitudinal rotational axis, around which at least one part is rotated when mounting or using the cartridge} - G03G 15/0894: {Reconditioning of the developer unit, i.e. reusing or recycling parts of the unit, e.g. resealing of the unit before refilling with toner} - G03G 21/0029: {Details relating to the blade support} - G03G 21/1642: {for connecting the different parts of the apparatus} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A toner cartridge for storing toner to be supplied to an image forming apparatus, includes a container in which the toner is stored and including a first wall having a filling port through which the toner is filled, and a second wall having a ventilation port sealable by a plug, the plug sealing the port during operation of the cartridge and is removed during maintenance of the cartridge to enable air to be supplied into the container through the port, a paddle configured to rotate to stir the toner between the first and second walls of the container, and a paddle gear connected to the paddle and through which a rotation force is transmitted to the paddle. The gear has a through hole that aligns with the ventilation port in a first direction parallel to a rotation axis of the gear when the gear is at a predetermined rotational position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A toner cartridge for storing toner to be supplied to an image forming apparatus, comprising: a container in which the toner is stored and including: a first wall having a filling port through which the toner can be filled, and a second wall having a ventilation port that is sealable by a plug, wherein the plug seals the ventilation port during operation of the toner cartridge and is removed during maintenance of the toner cartridge to enable air to be supplied into the container through the ventilation port; a paddle configured to rotate to stir the toner between the first and second walls of the container; and a paddle gear connected to the paddle and through which a rotation force is transmitted to the paddle, wherein the paddle gear has a through hole that aligns with the ventilation port in a first direction parallel to a rotation axis of the paddle gear when the paddle gear is at a predetermined rotational position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the second wall is located between the first wall and the paddle gear, and the through hole has a diameter that is large enough for the plug to pass therethrough. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the plug protrudes toward a surface of the paddle gear facing the second wall so as not to reach the surface when sealing the ventilation port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The toner cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: an auger including a screw blade and configured to rotate between the first and second walls to feed the toner towards a supply port of the container through which the toner is supplied to the image forming apparatus; and an auger gear connected to the auger across the second wall and through which a rotation force is transmitted to the auger, wherein the ventilation port is between the rotation axis of the paddle gear and a rotation axis of the auger gear. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The toner cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the paddle gear engages with the auger gear. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The toner cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: a scraper that is attached to the paddle and can contact an inner surface of the container, wherein when the through hole aligns with the ventilation port in the first direction, the scraper contacts the inner surface of the container. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The toner cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising: a cap by which the filling port is sealable. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The toner cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the cap has a cylindrical shape and has a groove at one end thereof that protrudes from the first wall of the container when the cap seals the filling port, the groove extending along a side surface of the cap. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the plug has a cylindrical shape and has a groove at one end thereof that protrudes from the second wall of the container when the plug seals the ventilation port, the groove extending along a side surface of the plug. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the paddle has a rectangular shape and is rotatable around a rotation axis that extends between two longitudinal sides thereof, and when the through hole aligns with the ventilation port in the first direction, no portion of the paddle overlaps the through hole or the ventilation port in the first direction. ### Claim 11 An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image of toner on a belt; a fixing device configured to fix on a sheet the image transferred through the belt; and a toner cartridge including: a container in which the toner is stored and including: a first wall having a filling port through which the toner can be filled, and a second wall having a ventilation port that is sealable by a plug, wherein the plug seals the ventilation port during operation of the toner cartridge and is removed during maintenance of the toner cartridge to enable air to be supplied into the container through the ventilation port, a paddle configured to rotate to stir the toner between the first and second walls of the container, and a paddle gear connected to the paddle and through which a rotation force is transmitted to the paddle, wherein the paddle gear has a through hole that aligns with the ventilation port in a first direction parallel to a rotation axis of the paddle gear when the paddle gear is at a predetermined rotational position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the second wall is located between the first wall and the paddle gear, and the through hole has a diameter that is large enough for the plug to pass therethrough. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the lid protrudes toward a surface of the paddle gear facing the second wall so as not to reach the surface when sealing the ventilation port. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the toner cartridge further includes: an auger including a screw blade and configured to rotate between the first and second walls to feed the toner towards a supply port of the container through which the toner is supplied to the image forming unit, and an auger gear connected to the auger across the second wall and through which a rotation force is transmitted to the auger, and the ventilation port is between the rotation axis of the paddle gear and a rotation axis of the auger gear. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the paddle gear engages with the auger gear. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the toner cartridge further includes a scraper that is attached to the paddle and can contact an inner surface of the container, and when the through hole aligns with the ventilation port in the first direction, the scraper contacts the inner surface of the container. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the toner cartridge further includes a cap by which the filling port is sealable. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the cap has a cylindrical shape and has a groove at one end thereof that protrudes from the first wall of the container when the cap seals the filling port, the groove extending along a side surface of the cap. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the lid has a cylindrical shape and has a groove at one end thereof that protrudes from the second wall of the container when the lid seals the ventilation port, the groove extending along a side surface of the lid. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the paddle has a rectangular shape and is rotatable around a rotation axis that extends between two longitudinal sides thereof, and when the through hole aligns with the ventilation port in the first direction, no portion of the paddle overlaps the through hole or the ventilation port in the first direction.