Developer storage body, image forming unit and image forming apparatus
View Patent ↗A developer storage body includes a storage portion in which a developer is stored, a supplying opening through which the developer is ejected, and a conveying member provided in the storage portion. The conveying member is rotatable about a rotation axis so as to convey the developer to the supplying opening. The supplying opening is provided with a plurality of slits extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the conveying member.
1. A developer storage body, comprising:
a storage portion in which a developer is stored;
an opening through which the developer is ejected; and
a conveying member provided in the storage portion, the conveying member being rotatable about a rotation axis so as to convey the developer to the opening,
wherein the opening includes a plurality of slits extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the conveying member,
wherein a length L1 of each slit in a direction of the rotation axis, a length L2 of each slit in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis and along a circumference of the storage portion, and an interval d between adjacent slits in the direction of the rotation axis satisfy the following relationship:
d<L 1 <L 2.
2. The developer storage body according to claim 1 , wherein the slits are formed by a plurality of ribs formed along an inner wall surface of the storage portion, and
wherein the ribs extend a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the conveying member, and are arranged at predetermined intervals in a direction of the rotation axis of the conveying member.
3. The developer storage body according to claim 1 , wherein the conveying member includes a conveying portion that conveys the developer in a direction of the rotation axis, and an agitating portion that conveys the developer in a rotating direction of the conveying member.
4. The developer storage body according to claim 3 , wherein the conveying portion has a spiral shape.
5. The developer storage body according to claim 1 , wherein the conveying member is formed of a metal wire.
6. An image forming unit comprising:
the developer storage body according to claim 1 .
7. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the image forming unit according to claim 6 .
8. A developer storage body, comprising:
a storage portion in which a developer is stored;
an opening through which the developer is ejected; and
a conveying member provided in the storage portion, the conveying member being rotatable about a rotation axis so as to convey the developer to the opening,
wherein the opening includes a plurality of slits extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the conveying member,
wherein the conveying member includes a conveying portion that conveys the developer in a direction of the rotation axis, and an agitating portion that agitates the developer in a rotating direction of the conveying member,
wherein the conveying member is symmetrical with respect to an imaginary plane perpendicularly intersecting a center portion of the conveying member in a longitudinal direction of the conveying member,
wherein the agitating portion is bent at the center portion of the conveying member in the longitudinal direction; and
wherein the conveying member is formed of a metal wire.
9. The developer storage body according to claim 8 , wherein the slits are formed by a plurality of ribs formed along an inner wall surface of the storage portion, and
wherein the ribs extend a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the conveying member, and are arranged at predetermined intervals in a direction of the rotation axis of the conveying member.
10. The developer storage body according to claim 8 , wherein the conveying portion has a spiral shape.
11. An image forming unit comprising:
the developer storage body according to claim 8 .
12. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the image forming unit according to claim 11 .