Toner cartridge with mixed toner delivery apparatus
US6510300B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 22, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jan 21, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 22, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G21/12
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A toner cartridge having toner agitating and mixing properties. The structure insures image quality without increasing in complexity of the structure as well as capable of being compacted. A used toner recycling opening for dropping used toner by gravity is formed in an upper wall of a cartridge main body storing fresh toner. A toner agitator and a toner supply device with an opening for supplying mixed toner to a developing apparatus are arranged within the cartridge main body. The toner can be sufficiently mixed and agitated on a cartridge main body side without depending on a developing apparatus side, and the toner cartridge is prevented from being large-sized. In particular, since the used toner drops by gravity, a taking-in structure of this used toner is simplified, and a mixing work of the used toner with fresh toner is made irrespective of a moving direction of the toner agitator. Also, there are two film sealing members for sealing the used toner recycling and toner supply openings.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.