Developer container including a convex portion, a rotator, and a recess

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10175607-B2
Application number	US-201715597250-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2017
Priority date	Jul 27, 2011
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

A removable developer container includes a convex portion to be inserted into a groove of an apparatus main body, a rotator to rotate around a rotational shaft, and a recess convex portion to be inserted into a groove of an apparatus main body, at a rear side of the convex portion. One end of the rotational shaft is inserted into the recess.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A removable device to be detachably attached to an apparatus main body, the removable device comprising:
a convex portion to be inserted into a groove of the apparatus main body;
a rotator to rotate around a rotational shaft; and
a recess at a rear side of the convex portion,
wherein an end of the rotational shaft is inserted into the recess.

2. The removable device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a gear to drive the rotator,
wherein the end of the rotational shaft protrudes from the gear.

3. The removable device according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a container body to store developer inside the container body; and
a side part disposed at one end of the container body.

4. The removable device according to claim 3 , wherein the side part
covers a gear, and the convex portion and the recess are disposed in the side part.

5. The removable device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a concave portion,
wherein a protrusion of the apparatus main body is to be inserted into the concave portion.

6. The removable device according to claim 5 , wherein the concave portion is a part of a groove that extends in a direction to attach the removable device to the apparatus main body.

7. The removable device according to claim 6 , wherein the groove of the apparatus main body includes a container guiding portion to guide the removable device to be attached to the apparatus main body and a container positioning portion to position the removable device with respect to the apparatus main body, and
wherein a width of the container positioning portion is smaller than a width of the container guiding portion.

8. The removable device according to claim 7 , further comprising a container body to store developer inside the container body, and a side part disposed at one end of the container body,
wherein the side part includes a protruding portion that protrudes toward the container body, and
wherein the protruding portion is to be inserted into a hole disposed in the container body.

9. The removable device according to claim 8 , wherein the concave portion and the protruding portion are disposed at same positions or approximately the same positions on a front side and a rear side of the side part, respectively.

10. The removable device according to claim 7 , wherein, in the positioning of the removable device with respect to the apparatus main body, the convex portion is a main reference part and the concave portion is a secondary reference part.

11. The removable device according to claim 8 , wherein, in positioning of the side part with respect to the container body, the recess is a main reference part and the protruding portion is a secondary reference part.

12. The removable device according to claim 1 , wherein the rotational shaft is supported by the recess.

13. The removable device according to claim 1 , wherein toner is stored inside the removable device.

14. The removable device according to claim 13 , wherein carrier particles are further stored inside the removable device.

15. The removable device according to claim 1 , wherein the removable device is detachably attached to the apparatus main body in a vertical direction.

16. An image forming apparatus including a removable device to be detachably attached to an apparatus main body, wherein the removable device comprises:
a convex portion to insert into a groove of the apparatus main body;
a rotator to rotate around a rotational shaft; and
a recess at a rear side of the convex portion,
wherein an end of the rotational shaft is inserted into the recess.

17. A removable device to be detachably attached to an apparatus main body, the removable device comprising:
a convex portion to be inserted into a groove of the apparatus main body
a rotator to rotate around a rotational shaft; and
a recess at a rear side of the convex portion,
wherein an end of the rotational shaft is inserted into the recess; and
the rotator is a gear to receive a driving force from outside the removable device.

18. The removable device according to claim 17 , further comprising:
a concave portion,
wherein a protrusion of the apparatus main body is insertable into the concave portion.

19. The removable device according to claim 18 , wherein the concave portion is a part of a groove that extends in a direction to attach the removable device to the apparatus main body.

20. The removable device according to claim 19 , wherein the groove of the apparatus main body includes a container guiding portion to guide the removable device to be attached to the apparatus main body and a container positioning portion to position the removable device with respect to the apparatus main body, and
a width of the container positioning portion is smaller than a width of the container guiding portion.

21. The removable device according to claim 20 , further comprising a container body to store developer inside the container body, and a side part disposed at one end of the container body,
wherein the side part includes a protruding portion that protrudes toward the container body, and
the protruding portion is insertable into a hole disposed in the container body.

22. The removable device according to claim 21 , wherein the concave portion and the protruding portion are disposed at same positions or approximately the same positions on a front side and a rear side of the side part, respectively.

23. The removable device according to claim 20 , wherein, in the positioning of the removable device with respect to the apparatus main body, the convex portion is a main reference part and the concave portion is a secondary reference part.

24. The removable device according to claim 21 , wherein, in positioning of the side part with respect to the container body, the recess is a main reference part and the protruding portion is a secondary reference part.

25. The removable device according to according to claim 17 , wherein the rotational shaft is supported by the recess.

26. The removable device according to claim 17 , wherein toner is stored inside the removable device.

27. The removable device according to claim 26 , wherein carrier particles are further stored inside the removable device.

28. The removable device according to according to claim 17 , wherein the removable device is attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body in a vertical direction.

29. An image forming apparatus including the removable device of claim 17 .

30. The removable device of claim 17 , further comprising:
a container body in which developer is accommodated, and
a side part formed at one end of the container body,
wherein an end of the gear is inserted into a recess of the side part.

31. The removable device of claim 30 , wherein the container body further comprises a conveyance screw,
wherein an end of the conveyance screw is inserted inside the other end of the gear.

Assignees

• Kubota Tomohiro
• Nakatake Naoki
• Shimizu Yoshiyuki
• Tsuritani Shoh
• Hamada Manabu
• Tsuji Masato
• Fujita Masanari
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kubota Tomohiro
• Nakatake Naoki
• Shimizu Yoshiyuki
• Tsuritani Shoh
• Hamada Manabu
• Tsuji Masato
• Fujita Masanari

Classifications

• G03G21/1647

  Mechanical connection means · CPC title

• G03G15/0865 Primary

  Arrangements for supplying new developer · CPC title

• G03G15/0896

  Arrangements or disposition of the complete developer unit or parts thereof not provided for by groups G03G15/08 - G03G15/0894 · CPC title

• G03G15/0891

  for conveying or circulating developer, e.g. augers · CPC title

• G03G15/0889

  for agitation or stirring · CPC title