Toner agitator system for a developer unit for an image forming device

摘要

A developer unit for use in an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having an inlet port for receiving toner, a sump for holding received toner and a developer roll rotatably mounted in the housing for transferring toner from the sump. A rotatable agitator is positioned in a lower portion of the sump and a pivotable agitator is positioned in an upper portion of the sump. A biasing member biases the pivotable agitator toward a stop in the pivot path of the pivotable agitator. The pivotable agitator includes an engagement feature positioned in the rotational path of the rotatable agitator when the pivotable agitator is in its home position. As the rotatable agitator rotates, the rotatable agitator engages and disengages the engagement feature causing the pivotable agitator to pivot away from and toward its home position.

主权项

1. A replaceable unit for use in an image forming device, comprising:
a housing having reservoir for storing toner; a rotatable agitator positioned in the reservoir, the rotatable agitator having a rotational path; a pivotable agitator positioned in an upper portion of the reservoir above the rotatable agitator, the pivotable agitator having a pivot path; and a biasing member biasing the pivotable agitator toward a stop in the pivot path of the pivotable agitator, the stop defining a home position of the pivotable agitator; wherein the pivotable agitator includes an engagement feature positioned in the rotational path of the rotatable agitator when the pivotable agitator is in the home position, wherein as the rotatable agitator rotates, the rotatable agitator engages the engagement feature causing the pivotable agitator to pivot away from the home position and as the rotatable agitator rotates further, the rotatable agitator disengages the engagement feature causing the pivotable agitator to return to the home position as a result of the bias applied to the pivotable agitator by the biasing member.