Toner supply device and image forming apparatus that prevents toner from being scattered from the device
US8126373B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 26, 2008 |
| Grant date | Feb 28, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 13, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/0692
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A toner supply device includes a toner container, a transport-path forming member, an opening, a shutter member, and a first seal member. The opening is provided at a side wall of the transport-path forming member. The shutter member is movable between a closed position to close the transport path by being inserted in the opening and an open position. The first seal member fills a gap between an inner wall of the opening and the shutter member in a toner transport direction in which the toner is transported through the transport path. When the shutter member is inserted in the opening, the shutter member is elastically deformable in a deformation direction perpendicular to both the toner transport direction and a moving direction of the shutter member, and when the shutter member is not inserted in the opening, the shutter member is wider than the opening in the deformation direction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.