Developer container and image forming apparatus

Patent 7548714 Issued on June 16, 2009. Estimated Expiration Date:

July 8, 2024. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Developer replenishing device and developer container for use therewith
Patent #: 5455662
Issued on: 10/03/1995
Inventor: Ichikawa, et al.

Developer supply container with a plurality of feeding projections Patent #: 6963713
Issued on: 11/08/2005
Inventor: Isomura, et al.

Inventors

Assignee

Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha

Application

No. 10562552 filed on 07/08/2004

US Classes:

399/262Cartridge

Examiners

Primary: Gray, David M
Assistant: Evans, Geoffrey T

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP

Foreign Patent References

4-124261 JP 11/01/1992
07-020705 JP 01/01/1995
08-339115 JP 12/01/1996
10-171227 JP 06/01/1998
10-339993 JP 12/01/1998
2003-316137 JP 11/01/2003
2003-345114 JP 12/01/2003
2004347961 JP 12/01/2004

International Class

G03G 15/08

Abstract

An object of the invention is to provide a developer container in which a container main body is protected against damage by an external torsional and bending force and an impact as much as possible, developer in the vicinity of conveying means is prevented from aggregating as much as possible, and developer in the vicinity of a discharge hole is prevented from aggregating as much as possible. The developer container includes a cylindrical container main body (31) for containing developer for use in image formation, and is detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus, the container main body (31) being rotated about an axis thereof by drive means provided in the image forming apparatus to supply developer to the image forming apparatus, wherein conveying means for conveying the developer in an axial direction when the container main body is rotated about the axis is provided in an inner circumferential portion of the container main body (31), and the conveying means has a plurality of first and second protrusions (36, 39) extending in first and second extending directions and arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction and the axial direction.