Image forming substance engaging device

The present invention relates to engagement or transfer of an image forming substance within a reservoir of an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus may include an electrophotographic device, ink printer, copier, fax, all-in-one device or multi-functional device.

In some image forming substance cartridges, an image forming substance sump or reservoir may be used to retain the image forming substance until the image forming substance may be required by the developer system. Inside of the image forming substance sump may be an agitating device, such as a paddle, to agitate and aid in the removal of image forming substance from the sump. In some cases, however, the agitating device may not be capable of reaching a substantial portion of the interior surface of the sump, which may be due, for example, to the geometry of the cartridge or due to poor image forming substance flow properties.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for engaging image forming material in a reservoir in an image forming apparatus. The reservoir may include a paddle for engaging the image forming material or the interior surfaces of the reservoir. The paddle may include an axially elongated section capable of rotating in the reservoir. The paddle may also include another component which may similarly engage with the image forming material or with an interior surface in the reservoir. The reservoir may assume any shape.

Features and advantages of the present invention are set forth herein by description of embodiments consistent with the present invention, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an image forming substance cartridge.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a paddle including a component.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a paddle including a component.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a paddle including a component.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a paddle including a component.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a paddle including a component.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a paddle including a component.

The present invention relates to engagement or transfer of an image forming substance within a reservoir of an image forming apparatus. This may comprise a device such as a paddle that may aid in the removal of an image forming substance such as toner, ink or other developing agents from a sump within a cartridge. The paddle may include a component which engages the image forming substance in the cartridge. The cartridge may be utilized in an image forming apparatus which may include an electrophotographic device, ink printer, copier, fax, all-in-one device or multi-functional device.

Illustrated in FIG. 1 is an exemplary cartridge 110 which may include a first sump 112 and a second sump 114 . Image forming substance may be initially stored in the first sump 112 until the development process requires it. When required, the image forming substance may be metered into the second sump with the metering rotor 116 .

A paddle 118 in the first sump 112 may be used to move the image forming substance to the metering rotor 116 . In some cases the first sump 112 geometry may be dictated by other components in or surrounding the supply cartridge. For example, the first sump 112 may be arranged above the second sump or the interior surface of the first sump may include an irregular geometry. Accordingly, the paddle 118 may not be able to reach the entire interior surface of the first sump 112 , in the radial and/or axial dimensions. When the image forming substance has relatively poor flow properties, the paddle 118 may not be able to remove substantially all of the image forming substance from the first sump 112 .

Accordingly, in one exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, the present invention is directed to a device and method for engaging image forming substance in a cartridge. Referring to FIG. 1 , the paddle 118 may have an axially elongated section 117 and a component 119 that may move the image forming substance from areas not accessible by the paddle 118 into areas reached by the paddle 118 . The paddle 118 may then remove the image forming substance from the first sump 112 . In a cartridge that is full, the component 119 may follow the path of the paddle, minimizing additional torque on the paddle motor M.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a paddle 210 that includes a component 212 . The component 212 may be used to physically move the image forming substance in the cartridge and remove the image forming substance from the first sump 112 , illustrated in FIG. 1 . The component 212 may be composed of wire and formed to wrap onto the paddle 210 . The wire may be metal wire, such as steel. The device 212 may extend the reach of the paddle 210 in the axial and/or radial dimensions in the supply cartridge 110 , illustrated in FIG. 1 . In addition, it can be seen that the paddle 210 may be axially elongated in direction “A”.

The component may also be composed of a compliant polymer material, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 . For example, the component 412 may be composed of polyester (e.g. Mylar®), polyetherimide (e.g. ULTEM®) or polycarbonate film. The component 412 may be attached to the end face 414 of the paddle device 410 . The component may also include a body section 418 and a formed edge 416 . The formed edge 416 may be angled from the body section 418 at an angle α anywhere between greater than 0 and less than 180 degrees, and any increment therebetween including 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 135 degrees, etc.

The component may also have features extending in the axial direction “A” from the component, as illustrated in FIG. 6 . For example, in one exemplary embodiment, the component 612 may include physical features, such as axially aligned projections 620 . The projection may include any geometry, for example wings, tabs, flaps or other types of projections. The projections 620 extend from the component body section 618 of the component 612 . Furthermore, the projections 620 may extend axially to reach corresponding surfaces in the reservoir. In FIG. 6 , the formed edge 616 may extend along the body section 618 . However, it should be appreciated that the formed edge 616 may extend to the projections 620 . For example, in FIG. 7 , the formed edge 716 extends in the axial direction A along the physical features or projections 720 as well as along the body section 718 of the component 712 . It should also be appreciated that the formed edge 716 may also include notches 722 in the formed edge 716 of the component 712 .

It can therefore be appreciated that the paddle described herein may extend the ability of the paddle to extend its reach into the reservoir. The paddle may therefore more effectively engage with image forming substance in both a radial and axial direction within the reservoir. The foregoing description is provided to illustrate and explain the present invention. However, the description hereinabove should not be considered to limit the scope of the invention set forth in the claims appended here to.