Image forming cartridge, image forming apparatus and toner cartridge
AssigneeOki Data Corporation
InventorYoshio Niijima
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image forming cartridge comprises a developing unit configured to hold toner including a developing section configured to use the toner for developing and a supplying section configured to provide the toner to the developing section and a toner cartridge attachable to the developing unit, wherein the toner cartridge contains toner and supplies toner to the developing unit and the toner cartridge includes a stand-by charging unit configured to perform stand-by charge to the toner in the toner cartridge.
Claims21
An image forming cartridge, comprising:
- a developing unit including:
- a developing section configured to use toner for developing;
- and
- a supplying section configured to provide the toner to the developing section;
- a toner cartridge containing toner, wherein the toner cartridge includes a stand-by charging unit configured to perform stand-by charge to the toner in the toner cartridge;
- and
- a shutter capable of opening and closing a path from the toner cartridge to the developing unit;
- wherein
- stand-by charging of the toner in the toner cartridge is started in the state where the path is closed with the shutter and the path is opened with the shutter when a predetermined period elapses from the start of the stand-by charging.
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- an image carrier;
- an exposure unit configured to form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier;
- a developing unit that makes the electrostatic latent image visible;
- a developer container attachable to the developing unit and configured to supply the developing unit with the developer, the developer container containing the developer;
- a replacement detector configured to detect replacement of the developer container;
- a stand-by charging unit configured to charge only the developer in the developer container;
- a partition provided at a developer path from the developer container to the developing unit and configured to close and open the developer path;
- and
- a controller configured to start stand-by charging of the toner in the toner cartridge in the state where the developer path is closed with the shutter and to open the developer path with partition when a predetermined period elapses from the start of the stand-by charging of the toner in the toner cartridge.
A toner cartridge comprising:
- an identification storing unit configured to store data identifying the toner cartridge;
- a stirring unit configured to stir the toner in the toner cartridge, thereby charging the toner;
- a conductive or semiconductive member configured to stand-by charge the toner;
- and
- a path connecting the inside and the outside of the toner cartridge, wherein stand-by charging of the toner in the toner cartridge is started in the state where the path is closed and the path is opened when a predetermined period elapses from the start of the stand-by charging.
An image forming apparatus, comprising a developing unit including:
- a feed roller configured to charge toner by rotating;
- a developing roller configured to supply toner to a photosensitive drum connectable to the developing unit;
- a toner restricting member in contact with the developing roller, configured to restrict the amount of toner on the developing roller;
- and
- a shutter configured to open and close a path from a toner cartridge to the developing unit;
- and
- a controller configured to start stand-by charging of toner in the toner cartridge in the state where the path is closed with the shutter and to open the path with the shutter when a predetermined period elapses from the start of the stand-by charging.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.