Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation

Haruko Yoneda

Yoshiaki Sanada

Yoshinori Otsuka

Jun Yamaguchi

Yasuyuki Ishiguro

Toshio Nishino

Masatoshi Kaneshige

Naotaka Funayama

Tsutomu Nagata

Hiroshi Tanisawa

Kouichi Mihara

Hisashi Kunihiro

Akira Nakakuma

Kohichi Mihara

A packing case for an image forming apparatus that includes: a first packing memberfor packing an image forming apparatus main bodyincluding a reading sectionhaving a scanner unit, an image forming sectionhaving an image forming unit, and a sheet feed unitfor feeding a sheet to the image forming unit, and a sheet storage space, formed to be open to outside between the reading sectionand the image forming section, for storing a sheet transported from the image forming unit; and a second packing memberfor packing a toner cartridgeand capable of being inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus main body, in which the second packing memberis inserted and fixed in the sheet storage space

Packing case and packing method for packing image forming apparatus, and image forming apparatus

A packing case for an image forming apparatus that includes: a first packing memberfor packing an image forming apparatus main bodyincluding a reading sectionhaving a scanner unit, an image forming sectionhaving an image forming unit, and a sheet feed unitfor feeding a sheet to the image forming unit, and a sheet storage space, formed to be open to outside between the reading sectionand the image forming section, for storing a sheet transported from the image forming unit; and a second packing memberfor packing a toner cartridgecapable of being inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus main body, in which the second packing memberis inserted and fixed in the sheet storage space.

Toner cartridge

The length of a conveying sheet is set to be greater than the rotational radius of an agitating element so that the distal end of the conveying sheet will slide over the inner wall of the toner container. A slider element having a low frictional resistance is attached at the distal end of the conveying sheet. The slider element preferably has a low coefficient of dynamic friction and is preferably made of a soft resilient material having a thickness smaller than the conveying sheet. Cutouts or openings may be preferably formed at the distal part. A multiple number of ribs are attached to the wall surface of the toner container at the highest position at which the wall and the top plate meet. The ribs are arranged apart from each other in the direction parallel to the agitating shaft of the agitating element. Each rib is a plate-like element projected inward from the wall surface in the toner container with its width put in the direction of the spacing. Further the end portions of the ribs on the interior side of the toner container are adapted to form a curved surface smoothly connecting the top plate surface and the wall surface.

Toner supply device with rotatable agitating element

A developing unit includes a developer hopper, a toner reserve container that incorporates a replenishing roller and a replenishing opening forming a toner replenishing portion, arranged adjacent to the developer hopper in order to replenish the toner to the developer hopper. The toner reserve container further includes an agitator rotatable about a rotary shaft with a conveying sheet for conveying the toner to the replenishing roller. The conveying sheet is attached to the agitator so that it becomes close to the rotary shaft of the agitator. By this configuration, an adequate space can be secured between the top plate, i.e., an operable/closable lid, constituting the toner reserve container and the conveying sheet so that the distal part of the conveying sheet can efficiently retain the toner, thus making it possible to improve the conveyance performance to the replenishing roller and realize an uniform amount of conveyance.

Developing unit and toner replenishing device with conveying apparatus

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Tenri, Japan

Haruko Yoneda