Toner stirrer for toner cartridge of developer hopper

Abstract

An improved stirrer for being positioned in a toner cartridge or developer hopper of an electrophotographic printer is disclosed. The toner cartridge or developer hopper is a container having toner disposed therein for being supplied from the container to the printer. The container has first and second longitudinal ends, a generally curved interior wall extending therebetween, and a longitudinal axis. The stirrer has a rotatable driven member, first and second stirring arms, and a bridge member. The rotatable driven member is disposed adjacent the first end of the container, and has an axis of rotation generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container. The first and second stirring arms are rotatably fixed to the driven member and extend within the container longitudinally from the driven member. Each stirring arm is generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the driven member, contacts at least a portion of the toner while being rotated, and has a distal end adjacent the second end of the container. The bridge member extends between the distal ends of the first and second stirring arms.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.