Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Yuuji Kitajima

Shunji Katoh

Masasumi Yahata

Satoshi Takano

Fumihito Itoh

Masakuni Konja

Masazumi Yahata

A toner supplying device for supplying toner contained in a toner container to a developing device of an image forming apparatus includes a toner container insertion part configured to receive at least two inserted toner containers from a front side of the toner supplying device. A toner container holder detachably holds the toner containers inserted into the toner container insertion part. A toner container selection control device selects an arbitrary toner container from among the at least two toner containers held by the toner container holder and causes the selected toner container to discharge toner from an opening thereof while stopping a discharge of toner from an opening of the other toner containers. Toner discharged from the opening of the toner container held by the toner container holder is exhausted to a toner conveying path, and a toner/air mixture delivery device delivers the toner exhausted to the toner conveying path to the developing device of the image forming apparatus by mixing the toner with air.

Toner supplying device, method and image forming apparatus using the

A toner supplying device for supplying toner contained in each of a plurality of toner containers attached to the device to a developing device of an image forming apparatus. The device includes a toner container insertion part for inserting the plurality of toner containers into the toner supplying device so as to be attached to the toner supplying device, the insertion part having at least two insertion inlets, a toner container holder for detachably holding each of the plurality of toner containers inserted through the insertion inlets so as to position an opening of each of the plurality of toner containers at a predetermined position, an open/close device for opening and closing the opening of each of the plurality of toner containers held by the toner container holder, a toner deposit section for receiving and depositing therein toner discharged from each of the plurality of toner containers, a toner delivery device for delivering the toner deposited in the toner deposit section to the developing device of the image forming apparatus by mixing the toner with air, and a toner near-end determining device for determining that one of the plurality of toner containers, which is discharging the toner, is running out of toner. When the toner near-end determining device determines that the one of the plurality of toner containers, discharging the toner, is running out of toner, other toner container of the plurality of toner containers, not discharging the toner, starts to discharge toner therefrom.

Toner supplying device, toner container therefor and image forming

A toner supplying device for supplying toner contained in a toner container attached to the toner supplying device to a developing device of an image forming apparatus. The toner supplying device includes a toner container insertion part configured such that a toner container is inserted therein from a front side of the toner supplying device. A toner container holder that detachably holds the toner container inserted into the toner container insertion part and toner discharged from the toner container held by the toner container holder is exhausted to a toner exhaust path. A toner delivery device delivers the toner, exhausted to the toner exhaust path, to the developing device of the image forming apparatus, by mixing the toner with air. The toner supplying device includes a covering device that covers and uncovers the toner container insertion part. The covering device includes a regulating device that regulates movement of the covering device to cover and uncover the toner container insertion part. The regulating device regulates movement of the covering device to cover and uncover the toner container insertion part when toner is being discharged from the toner container held by the toner container holder in the toner insertion part and releases regulating movement of the covering device when toner is not being discharged from the toner container held by the toner container holder in the corresponding toner container insertion part.

Tower supplying device and image forming apparatus using same toner

A powder pump includes a case, a diaphragm, a working chamber which is partitioned with the case and the diaphragm, a powder inlet formed on the case for flowing the powder into the working chamber, a powder outlet formed on the case for flowing the powder in the working chamber out of the powder outlet, an inlet valve which opens the powder inlet when pressure in the working chamber is decreased by an operation of the diaphragm so that the powder flows into the working chamber from the powder inlet and shuts the powder inlet when the pressure in the working chamber is raised by the operation of the diaphragm, and an outlet valve which opens an outlet when the pressure in the working chamber is raised by the operation of the diaphragm, so as to let the powder flow through the powder outlet outside of the working chamber and shuts the powder outlet when the pressure in the working chamber is lowered by the operation of the diaphragm. The powder pump further includes a first space which is formed so as to communicate with the working chamber located at a place around a case wall part which partitions the powder inlet, and a second space which is formed so as to communicate with a powder flowing path located at the downstream side of a powder conveying direction from the outlet valve. The powder pump is utilized for conveying the toner in an image forming apparatus.

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Kawasaki, Japan

Yuuji Kitajima