Toner cartridge, image forming apparatus, and control method for toner cartridge

Abstract

The present invention provides a toner cartridge, an image forming apparatus, and a control method for the toner cartridge that can improve performance with a simpler configuration. [Solution] The toner cartridge comprises an elastic stirring sheet, a stirring shaft that holds the stirring sheet and has a first rib protruding in a direction intersecting the axis of rotation, and a shaft drive input section that rotates coaxially with the stirring shaft and has a second rib that contacts the first rib in a non-fixed manner when rotated in the first direction.

Claims

1. A container for storing toner, A cylinder section that uses a transport screw to deliver toner in one direction, A stirring sheet having elasticity is placed inside the aforementioned container, Displaced within the aforementioned container, the stirring shaft holds the stirring sheet and has a first rib protruding in a direction intersecting the axis of rotation, A shaft drive input unit is provided, which rotates coaxially with the stirring shaft and, when rotated in the first direction, rotates the stirring shaft so as to send the toner in the container toward the cylinder section, and which has a second rib that is not fixed to the first rib, A toner cartridge equipped with these features.

2. The system further includes a drive unit that rotates the aforementioned shaft drive input unit, When the rotation of the shaft drive input unit in the first direction is stopped, the shaft drive input unit is rotated by a predetermined amount in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The toner cartridge according to claim 1.

3. The toner cartridge according to claim 2, wherein when the shaft drive input is rotated by a predetermined amount in the second direction and then rotated in the first direction, it is rotated by more than the predetermined amount.

4. The stirring shaft is provided with a plurality of the first ribs, The shaft drive input section is provided with the same number of second ribs as the first ribs. The toner cartridge according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The toner cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of first ribs are arranged at equal angle rib pitches around the axis of rotation.

6. The toner cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined amount is half the angle of the rib pitch.

7. A conveying screw that delivers toner in one direction by rotation and has a third rib protruding in a direction intersecting the axis of rotation, A screw drive input unit comprising a fourth rib that rotates coaxially with the aforementioned conveying screw and makes non-fixed contact with the third rib when rotated in the third direction, Furthermore, The screw drive input unit rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the shaft drive input unit by the drive unit. The toner cartridge according to claim 2.

8. The toner cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the stirring sheet has an opening.

9. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, A paper tray for placing paper, An image forming unit that forms an image on paper transported from the paper feed tray based on image data, An output tray from which the paper on which the aforementioned image is formed is ejected, An image forming apparatus comprising:

10. A container for storing toner, A cylinder section that uses a transport screw to deliver toner in one direction, A stirring sheet having elasticity is placed inside the aforementioned container, Displaced within the aforementioned container, the stirring shaft holds the stirring sheet and has a first rib protruding in a direction intersecting the axis of rotation, A shaft drive input unit is provided, which rotates coaxially with the stirring shaft and, when rotated in the first direction, rotates the stirring shaft so as to send the toner in the container toward the cylinder section, and which has a second rib that is not fixed to the first rib, A method for controlling a toner cartridge, comprising: When stopping the rotation of the shaft drive input section in the first direction, the shaft drive input section is rotated by a predetermined amount in a second direction opposite to the first direction. How to control the toner cartridge.

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