Toner cartridge
US5978632A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 13, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 2, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 13, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S222/01
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention is characterized by efficiently and quickly loosening an aggregation of toner material formed in a toner cartridge. A toner cartridge has an L-shaped toner agitating member disposed in a main body thereof having a discharge port for feeding toner at the front surface of the main body. Since the toner agitating member is supported so as to pivot like a conical pendulum, a support pin fixed to a bottom surface of the main body passes through a through hole having a greater diameter than that of the support pin. The support pin has an engagement portion attached thereto for prevention of disengagement of the toner agitating member therefrom. A plate-like portion of the toner agitating member defines an agitating plate, a distal end of which extends toward the discharge port of the main body. Shaking the toner cartridge causes the agitating member to rotate about the support pin and to pivot in a direction parallel to the axis of the support pin like a conical pendulum, thereby efficiently loosening the aggregated toner material.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.