公开(公告)号：US6097903A

公开(公告)日：2000-08-01

申请号：US136050

申请日：1998-08-18

申请人： Masasumi Yahata ,  Shunji Katoh ,  Yuuji Kitajima

发明人： Masasumi Yahata ,  Shunji Katoh ,  Yuuji Kitajima

IPC分类号： G03G15/08 ,  G03C15/08

CPC分类号： G03G15/0822 ,  G03G15/0855 ,  G03G15/0865 ,  G03G15/0867 ,  G03G15/0879 ,  G03G15/0886

摘要： 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.

摘要翻译： 一种调色剂供应装置，用于将附着在装置上的多个调色剂容器的每一个中的调色剂供给到图像形成装置的显影装置。 该装置包括一个调色剂容器插入部分，用于将多个调色剂容器插入调色剂供应装置中以便附着到调色剂供应装置上，该插入部分具有至少两个插入口;调色剂容器保持器，用于可拆卸地保持 所述多个调色剂容器通过所述插入口插入以将所述多个调色剂容器中的每一个的开口定位在预定位置;打开/关闭所述多个调色剂容器中的每一个的开口的打开/关闭装置， 调色剂容器保持器，用于接收和沉积从多个调色剂容器中的每一个排出的调色剂的调色剂沉积部分，用于通过混合将沉积在调色剂沉积部分中的调色剂输送到图像形成装置的显影装置的调色剂输送装置 具有空气的调色剂和调色剂近端确定装置，用于确定多个色调中的一个 正在排出调色剂的r容器已经用完了墨粉。 当调色剂近端确定装置确定排出调色剂的多个调色剂容器中的一个调色剂容器已经用完时，多个调色剂容器中没有排出调色剂的其它调色剂容器开始从其中排出调色剂。