Toner cartridge for a developing device included in an image forming apparatus

Abstract

In a developing device included in an image forming apparatus, a toner cartridge has a body and a replenishing member disposed in the body. The cartridge makes it needless to adhere or otherwise affix an elastic piece to the edge of the base of the replenishing member that slidably contacts the inner periphery of the body. The replenishing member is capable of scooping up toner while being held in sliding contact with the inner periphery of the body under a constant pressure.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A toner cartridge for replenishing toner into a developing device, comprising: 
       a cartridge body having an inner surface and formed with a toner supply port; and  
       a replenishing member rotatably disposed in said cartridge body, and for replenishing the toner from said cartridge body into the developing device via said toner supply port when rotated;  
       said replenishing member comprising:  
       a base having a rotary shaft; and  
       a thin piece provided at a free edge of said base to constantly contact the inner surface of the cartridge body during rotation;  
       said base and said thin piece comprising a single molding.  
     
     
       2. A toner cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said replenishing member further comprises at least two tie pieces connecting said thin piece and said base. 
     
     
       3. A toner cartridge as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a thickness and a width of said at least two tie pieces are so selected as to provide said thin pieces, including said at least two tie pieces, with elasticity. 
     
     
       4. A toner cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a distance between a center of rotation of said replenishing member and an outermost edge of said thin piece is at least great enough for said outermost edge to slidingly contact part of an inner periphery of Said cartridge body surrounding toner supply port. 
     
     
       5. A toner cartridge for replenishing toner into a developing device, comprising: 
       a cartridge body formed with a toner supply port; and  
       a replenishing member rotatably disposed in said cartridge body, and for replenishing the toner from said cartridge body into the developing device via said toner supply port when rotated;  
       said replenishing member comprising:  
       a base having a rotary shaft; and  
       a thin piece provided at a free edge of said base;  
       said base and said thin piece comprising a single molding, wherein said base comprises a flat ladder-like center piece and said thin piece comprises rake pieces and a scoop piece slidably contacting an inner periphery of said cartridge body, and wherein said rake pieces adjoin longitudinally opposite ends of said center piece while said scoop piece intervenes between said rake pieces.  
     
     
       6. A toner cartridge as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said rake pieces slidably contact the inner periphery of said cartridge body, wherein said center piece is driven to rotate at one of the longitudinally opposite ends thereof, and wherein said rake pieces are arranged in a smaller number at the one end of said center piece than at the other end. 
     
     
       7. A toner cartridge as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said rake pieces each has an outermost edge inclined relative to a center of rotation of said center piece such that one side of said rake piece closer to said scoop piece is higher in level than the other side. 
     
     
       8. A toner cartridge as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said rake pieces are each connected to said center piece by a comparatively long tie piece and a comparatively short tie piece, and wherein said comparatively long tie piece is reduced in thickness at a portion thereof adjoining said center piece. 
     
     
       9. A toner cartridge as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said replenishing member comprising said center piece, said rake pieces and said scoop piece is provided with a 180° symmetrical configuration with respect to a center of rotation. 
     
     
       10. A toner cartridge as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said scoop piece has a length smaller than a width of said toner supply port, as measured in a longitudinal direction of said cartridge body. 
     
     
       11. The toner cartridge according to  claim 5 , wherein the thin piece contacts an inner surface of the cartridge body. 
     
     
       12. A toner cartridge for replenishing toner into a developing device, comprising: 
       
         a cartridge body having an inner surface and formed with a toner supply port; and  
       
       
         a movable member disposed in said cartridge body, and for replenishing the toner from said cartridge body into the developing device via said toner supply port when moved;  
       
       
         said movable member comprising:  
       
       
         a movable base; and  
       
       
         a piece provided at said base to constantly contact the inner surface of the cartridge body during movement, wherein a width of said piece is less than a dimension of an opening of said supply port, and wherein said piece vibrates at said toner supply port.  
       
     
     
       13. A toner cartridge as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said replenishing member further comprises at least two pieces connecting said thin piece and said base.  
     
     
       14. A toner cartridge as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein a thickness and a width of said at least two pieces are so selected as to provide said thin piece, including said at least two tie pieces, with elasticity.  
     
     
       15. A toner cartridge as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a distance between a center of rotation of said replenishing member and an outermost edge of said thin piece is at least great enough for said outermost edge to slidingly contact part of an inner periphery of said cartridge body surrounding said toner supply port.  
     
     
       16. A toner cartridge for replenishing toner into a developing device, comprising: 
       
         a cartridge body having an inner surface and formed with a toner supply port; and  
       
       
         a movable member disposed in said cartridge body, and for replenishing the toner from said cartridge body into the developing device via said toner supply port when moved;  
       
       
         said movable member comprising:  
       
       
         a movable base; and  
       
       
         a rake piece provided at said base to constantly contact the inner surface of the cartridge body during movement;  
       
       
         said base and said rake piece comprising a single molding, and wherein said rake piece vibrates at said toner supply port.  
       
     
     
       17. A toner cartridge as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said rake piece slidably contacts the inner surface of said cartridge body.  
     
     
       18. A toner cartridge as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said rake piece has an outermost edge inclined relative to a center of rotation such that one side of said rake piece is higher in level than the other side.  
     
     
       19. A developing device including a toner cartridge for replenishing toner into a developing device, said toner cartridge comprising: 
       
         a cartridge body having an inner surface and formed with a toner supply port; and  
       
       
         a movable member disposed in said cartridge body, and for replenishing the toner from said cartridge body into the developing device via said toner supply port when moved;  
       
       
         said movable member comprising:  
       
       
         a movable base; and  
       
       
         a piece provided at said base to constantly contact the inner surface of the cartridge body during movement, wherein a width of said piece is less than a dimension of an opening of said supply port, and wherein said piece vibrates at said toner supply port.  
       
     
     
       20. A developing device as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said thin piece vibrates at said supply port.  
     
     
       21. A developing device as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said replenishing member further comprises at least two tie pieces connecting said thin piece and said base.  
     
     
       22. A developing device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein a thickness and a width of said at least two tie pieces are so selected as to provide said thin piece, including said at least two tie pieces, with elasticity.  
     
     
       23. A developing device as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein a distance between a center of rotation of said replenishing member and an outermost edge of said thin piece is at least great enough for said outermost edge to slidingly contact part of an inner periphery of said cartridge body surrounding said toner supply port.  
     
     
       24. A developing device including a toner cartridge for replenishing toner into a developing device, said toner cartridge comprising: 
       
         a cartridge body having an inner surface and formed with a toner supply port; and  
       
       
         a movable member disposed in said cartridge body, and for replenishing the toner from said cartridge body into the developing device via said toner supply port when moved;  
       
       
         said movable member comprising:  
       
       
         a movable base; and  
       
       
         a rake piece provided at said base to constantly contact the inner surface of the cartridge body during movement;  
       
       
         said base and said rake piece comprising a single molding, and wherein said rake piece vibrates at said toner supply port.  
       
     
     
       25. A developing device as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein said rake piece slidably contacts the inner surface of said cartridge body.  
     
     
       26. A developing device as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein said rake piece has an outermost edge inclined relative to a center of rotation such that one side of said rake piece is higher in level than the other side.  
     
     
       27. An image forming apparatus comprising: 
       
         a developing device configured to develop a toner image;  
       
       
         a toner cartridge for replenishing toner into a developing device, the toner cartridge comprising:  
       
       
         a cartridge body having an inner surface and formed with a toner supply port; and  
       
       
         a movable member disposed in said cartridge body, and for replenishing the toner from said cartridge body into the developing device via said toner supply port when moved;  
       
       
         said movable member comprising:  
       
       
         a base having a rotary shaft; and  
       
       
         a piece provided at said base to constantly contact the inner surface of the cartridge body during movement, wherein a width of said piece is less than a dimension of an opening of said supply port, and wherein said piece vibrates at said toner supply port.  
       
     
     
       28. An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said thin piece vibrates at said supply port.  
     
     
       29. An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said replenishing member further comprises at least two tie pieces connecting said thin piece and said base.  
     
     
       30. An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein a thickness and a width of said at least two tie pieces are so selected as to provide said thin piece, including said at least two tie pieces, with elasticity.  
     
     
       31. An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein a distance between a center of rotation of said replenishing member and an outermost edge of said thin piece is at least great enough for said outermost edge to slidingly contact part of an inner periphery of said cartridge body surrounding said toner supply port.  
     
     
       32. An image forming apparatus comprising: 
       
         a developing device configured to develop a toner image;  
       
       
         a toner cartridge for replenishing toner into a developing device, said toner cartridge comprising:  
       
       
         a cartridge body having an inner surface and formed with a toner supply port; and  
       
       
         a movable member rotatably disposed in said cartridge body, and for replenishing the toner from said cartridge body into the developing device via said toner supply port when moved;  
       
       
         said movable member comprising:  
       
       
         a movable base; and  
       
       
         a rake piece provided at said base to constantly contact the inner surface of the cartridge body during movement;  
       
       
         said base and said rake piece comprising a single molding, and wherein said rake piece vibrates at said toner supply port.  
       
     
     
       33. An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein said rake piece slidably contacts the inner surface of said cartridge body.  
     
     
       34. An image forming apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein said rake piece has an outermost edge inclined relative to a center of rotation such that one side of said rake piece is higher in level than the other side.