Volumetric toner cartridge having driven toner platform

摘要

A toner cartridge for an imaging apparatus having a housing including two opposed end walls and an elongated body therebetween and an exit port. An inner surface of the body defines a toner reservoir that is communication with the exit port. A drive shaft is rotatably mounted within the housing. A toner platform is provided in slidable contact with the inner surface of the body and is nonrotatable relative to the housing. A drive shaft coupling couples the toner platform to the drive shaft. An exit paddle is positioned adjacent the exit port and is rotatable by the drive shaft. Rotation of the drive shaft translates the toner platform toward the exit port and rotates the exit paddle. As the toner platform moves, toner within the reservoir moves toward the exit paddle and exit port and rotation of the exit paddle moves toner through the exit port.

主权项

1. A toner cartridge for an electrophotographic imaging device, comprising:
a housing comprising two opposed end walls, an elongated body therebetween and an exit port, the body having an inner surface defining a toner reservoir for containing a quantity of toner, the toner reservoir in fluid communication with the exit port; a drive shaft rotatably mounted within the toner reservoir; a toner platform having a front surface, a rear surface and an edge surface, the front surface for moving toner within the reservoir toward the exit port, the toner platform in slidable contact with the inner surface and movably coupled to the drive shaft, the toner platform being nonrotatable relative to the housing; an exit paddle positioned in the reservoir adjacent the exit port and rotatable by the drive shaft, wherein when the drive shaft rotates the toner platform translates toward the exit paddle for moving toner within the reservoir toward the exit port and when the drive shaft rotates the exit paddle rotates for delivering toner out of the exit port, further comprising a second shaft rotatably mounted within the reservoir, the toner platform having an opening through which the second shaft passes such that when the drive shaft rotates the toner platform translates along the drive shaft and the second shaft toward the exit paddle.