Developer cartridge including deformation preventing projections, image forming unit and image forming apparatus
View Patent ↗A developer cartridge includes a developer container, an opening and a first projection. The developer container holds a developer. The opening, which is formed on the developer container, extends in a longitudinal direction of the developer container. The first projection is formed in the vicinity of the opening.
1. A developer cartridge comprising:
a developer container that holds a developer;
an opening that is formed on the developer container and extends in a longitudinal direction of the developer container;
a first projection that is formed in the vicinity of the opening; and
a second projection that surrounds the opening, wherein a height of the second projection is greater than a height of the first projection, and
the first projection is integrally formed with the second projection.
2. The developer cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein
the first projection is formed along an imaginary plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
3. The developer cartridge according to claim 1 ,
wherein a plurality of the first projections are formed on the developer container at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction, and
wherein the plurality of first projections are each formed along a respective imaginary plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
4. The developer cartridge according to claim 3 , further comprising a shutter that is slidable in the developer container and opens and closes the opening.
5. The developer cartridge according to claim 4 , wherein the first projections extend in a sliding direction of the shutter.
6. The developer cartridge according to claim 4 , wherein
the shutter rotates around a rotational axis that extends in the longitudinal direction, and
the first projections extend in a rotational direction of the shutter.
7. The developer cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the opening is formed at a bottom portion of the developer container.
8. The developer cartridge according to claim 7 , wherein a cross-section of the bottom portion perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is arc-shaped.
9. An image forming unit comprising:
an image bearing body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed;
a developing unit configured to develop the electrostatic latent image with a developer; and
the developer cartridge according to claim 1 , the developer cartridge being configured to supply the developer to the developing unit.
10. The image forming unit according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a developer inlet that opposes the opening; and
a sealing member that is provided in the vicinity of the developer inlet.
11. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the image forming unit according to claim 9 that forms an image;
a transfer unit that transfers the image to a medium; and
a fixing unit that fixes the image onto the medium.
12. The developer cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein
the first projection extends away from the second projection.
13. The developer cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein
the second projection is positioned between the opening and the first projection.
14. The developer cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein
a width of the second projection is substantially equal to the height of the second projection.
15. The developer cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein
the first projection and the second projection are integrally formed with the developer container.
16. A developer cartridge, comprising:
a developer container that holds a developer, the developer container including an opening that extends in a longitudinal direction of the developer container;
a plurality of first projections that are formed at least partially in the vicinity of the opening along a plurality of respective imaginary planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and
a second projection that surrounds the opening, wherein
a height of the second projection is greater than a height of the plurality of first projections, and
the plurality of first projections are integrally formed with the second projection.
17. The developer cartridge according to claim 16 , wherein the plurality of first projections are ribs formed around the developer container.
18. The developer cartridge according to claim 16 , further comprising a shutter that is slidable into the developer container and opens and closes the opening,
wherein the shutter rotates around a rotational axis that extends in the longitudinal direction, and
wherein the plurality of first projections extend in a rotational direction of the shutter.
19. The developer cartridge according to claim 16 , wherein
a width of the second projection is substantially equal to the height of the second projection.
20. The developer cartridge according to claim 16 , wherein
the plurality of first projections and the second projection are integrally formed with the developer container.
21. A developer cartridge comprising:
a developer container that holds a developer;
an opening that is formed on the developer container and extends in a longitudinal direction of the developer container; and
a first projection that is formed in the vicinity of the opening, wherein
a plurality of the first projections are formed on the developer container in the longitudinal direction,
the plurality of first projections are each formed along a respective imaginary plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and
a distance between adjacent first projections in a central region of the developer container is less than a distance between adjacent first projections in an end region of the developer container.
22. A developer cartridge, comprising:
a developer container that holds a developer, the developer container including an opening that extends in a longitudinal direction of the developer container; and
a plurality of first projections that are formed at least partially in the vicinity of the opening along a plurality of respective imaginary planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein
a distance between a first pair of adjacent first projections in a central region of the developer container is less than a distance between a second pair of adjacent first projections in an end region of the developer container.
23. A developer cartridge comprising:
a developer container that holds a developer;
an opening that is formed on the developer container and extends in a longitudinal direction of the developer container;
a first projection that is formed in the vicinity of the opening; and
a second projection that surrounds the opening, wherein
a height of the second projection is greater than a height of the first projection, and
the first projection and the second projection are integrally formed with the developer container.
24. A developer cartridge, comprising:
a developer container that holds a developer, the developer container including an opening that extends in a longitudinal direction of the developer container;
a plurality of first projections that are formed at least partially in the vicinity of the opening along a plurality of respective imaginary planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and
a second projection that surrounds the opening, wherein
a height of the second projection is greater than a height of the plurality of first projections, and
the plurality of first projections and the second projection are integrally formed with the developer container.