Toner cartridge
OwnerWilliam Himesinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides toner cartridges that deliver toner in a metered fashion to an image forming apparatus. The cartridges have a delivery mechanism comprising a toner delivery member that delivers toner to the supply port as it is rotated. Depending upon the orientation of the delivery mechanism, the toner delivery member can at least partially block or at least partially allow the free flow of toner out of the supply port, as desired. The delivery mechanism of the invention can be used to deliver toner, developer, or any such powder out of a container.
Claims64
A toner cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus, the toner cartridge comprising:
- (a) a container for containing toner;
- (b) a supply port through which toner is supplied to an image forming apparatus;
- and
- (c) a delivery member for delivering toner to the supply port, the delivery member comprising a toner feeding member comprising at least one circumferentially disposed side wall, wherein the side wall at least partially prevents toner from passing through the supply port when in a first orientation but at least partially allows toner to pass through the supply port when in a second orientation.
A toner cartridge for insertion into an image forming apparatus, the toner cartridge comprising:
- (a) a container for containing toner;
- (b) a supply port through which toner is supplied to an image forming apparatus;
- and
- (c) a delivery member for delivering toner to the supply port, the delivery member comprising at least one blade and at least one channel through the delivery member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.