Electrophotography – Image formation – Development
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-22
2001-05-08
Grimley, Arthur T. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Image formation
Development
C399S263000, C222SDIG001
Reexamination Certificate
active
06229977
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a developer container for use with an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a developer passage control arrangement for a developer container.
A regular developer container for use with an image forming apparatus is generally comprised of a container body having a front opening through which developer is supplied in or out, and a spiral guide way smoothly extended from the close bottom end toward the front opening. This structure of developer container is still not satisfactory in function. When rotating the developer container to propel developer out of the developer container to the image forming apparatus, a laminar flow of developer or bridging phenomenon may occur, causing developer to be condensed into blocks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished to provide a developer container, which eliminates the occurrence of a laminar flow or bridging phenomenon when supplying developer to the image forming apparatus in which the developer container is installed. According to the present invention, the container body of the developer container has a spiral developer guide means that smoothly guides developer out of the front opening of the container body to the image forming apparatus during rotary motion of the developer container. The spiral developer guide means comprises a spiral guide way formed of flat guide surface portions and sloping guide surface portions alternatively connected in series.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5918090 (1999-06-01), Ichikawa et al.
patent: 10-171231 (1998-06-01), None
Hsu Robin
Huang Ya-Li
Li Kuan-Tung
Wang Jui-Chi
General Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.
Grimley Arthur T.
Ngo Hoang
Pro-Techtor Inter-national Services
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