Image developing unit capable of easily and securely dispersing toner, and image forming apparatus
AssigneeToshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsTakashi Shimaoka, Atsushi Suzuki
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Abstract
An image developing unit is provided which includes a toner cartridge and an image developing device. The image developing device includes a toner tank having a toner inlet capable of receiving a toner flowed out from a toner outlet of the toner cartridge and a toner supply route extending away from the toner inlet. A conveyor is provided for transporting away from the toner inlet the toner received by the toner supply route, and an image developing roller is set in the toner tank. The toner supply route has a plurality of toner supply ports arranged away from the toner inlet, and respective aperture areas of the toner supply ports gradually increase with distance from the toner inlet.
Claims8
An image developing unit comprising a toner cartridge and an image developing device,
- wherein said toner cartridge stores a toner and has a toner outlet through which the toner flows out,
- wherein said image developing device includes a toner tank having a toner inlet capable of receiving the toner flowed out from the toner outlet of said toner cartridge and a toner supply route extending away from the toner inlet and capable of receiving the toner flowed into through the toner inlet,
- wherein a conveyor is provided in said toner tank for transporting away from said toner inlet the toner received by said toner supply route, and an image developing roller is set in said toner tank,
- wherein said toner supply route has a plurality of toner supply ports arranged away from said toner inlet so that the toner in said toner supply route flows out through the toner supply ports into said toner tank, and respective aperture areas of said plurality of toner supply ports gradually increase with distance from said toner inlet, and
- wherein said plurality of toner supply ports individually have edge portions capable of stemming the toner in said toner supply ports, and respective heights of said edge portions of the plurality of toner supply ports gradually decrease with distance from said toner inlet.
An image developing unit comprising a toner cartridge and an image developing device,
- wherein said toner cartridge stores a toner and has a toner outlet through which the toner flows out,
- wherein said image developing device includes a toner tank having a toner inlet capable of receiving the toner flowed out from the toner outlet of said toner cartridge and.a toner supply route extending away from the toner inlet and capable of receiving the toner flowed into through the toner inlet,
- wherein a conveyor is provided in said toner tank for transporting away from said toner inlet the toner received by said toner supply route, and an image developing roller is set in said toner tank,
- wherein said toner supply route has a plurality of toner supply ports arranged away from said toner inlet so that the toner in said toner supply route flows out through the toner supply ports into said toner tank, and respective aperture areas of said plurality of toner supply ports gradually increase with distance from said toner inlet, and
- wherein respective widths of said plurality of toner supply ports gradually increase with distance from said toner inlet.
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- an apparatus body;
- a photosensitive device;
- and
- an image developing unit including a toner cartridge and an image developing device,
- wherein said toner cartridge stores a toner and has a toner outlet through which the toner flows out,
- wherein said image developing device includes a toner tank having a toner inlet capable of receiving the toner flowed out from the toner outlet of said toner cartridge and a toner supply route extending away from the toner inlet and capable of receiving the toner flowed into through the toner inlet,
- wherein a conveyor is provided in said toner tank for transporting away from said toner inlet the toner received by said toner supply route, and an image developing roller is set in said toner tank,
- wherein said toner supply route has a plurality of toner supply ports arranged away from said toner inlet so that the toner in said toner supply route flows out through the toner supply ports into said toner tank, and respective aperture areas of said plurality of toner supply ports gradually increase with distance from said toner inlet, and
- wherein said plurality of toner supply ports individually have edge portions capable of stemming the toner in said toner supply ports, and respective heights of said edge portions of the plurality of toner supply ports gradually decrease with distance from said toner inlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.