US 12,253,812 B2
Powder replenisher and powder replenishing method
Yuki Takano, Shizuoka (JP); Masaru Narushima, Shizuoka (JP); Yasuaki Tomioka, Shizuoka (JP); and Chika Hirabayashi, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Yuki Takano, Shizuoka (JP); Masaru Narushima, Shizuoka (JP); Yasuaki Tomioka, Shizuoka (JP); and Chika Hirabayashi, Kanagawa (JP)
Filed on Oct. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/379,191.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-165424 (JP), filed on Oct. 14, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0126190 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01); B65B 1/00 (2006.01); B65B 1/16 (2006.01); B65B 1/32 (2006.01); B65B 1/46 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/0879 (2013.01) [B65B 1/16 (2013.01); B65B 1/32 (2013.01); B65B 1/46 (2013.01); G03G 15/0894 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A powder replenisher comprising:
a powder storage to store powder;
a powder replenishment container to be replenished with the powder;
a variable capacity portion having a capacity that is variable;
a pressure adjuster to increase and decrease operating pressure applied to the variable capacity portion, the pressure adjuster to change the capacity of the variable capacity portion to transport the powder;
a powder measuring instrument to measure an amount of the powder that replenishes the powder replenishment container;
an operating pressure detector to detect the operating pressure; and
a controller operatively connected to the pressure adjuster, the powder measuring instrument, and the operating pressure detector,
the controller to:
perform a precise replenishing mode in which, after the controller determines that the powder replenishment container is replenished with the powder in a predetermined amount, while the controller controls the powder measuring instrument to measure the amount of the powder inside the powder replenishment container, the controller controls the pressure adjuster to replenish the powder replenishment container with the powder in a target amount; and
control the pressure adjuster to replenish the powder replenishment container with the powder while the controller controls the pressure adjuster based on the operating pressure detected by the operating pressure detector in the precise replenishing mode,
wherein:
the powder replenisher further comprises a deaerator to degas the powder replenishment container,
the controller performs an initial replenishing mode in which the controller controls the pressure adjuster to replenish the powder replenishment container with the powder for a predetermined time period while the deaerator degases the powder replenishment container,
the controller performs a deceleration replenishing mode in which the controller controls the pressure adjuster to replenish the powder replenishment container with the powder in the predetermined amount at a replenishing speed lower than a replenishing speed in the initial replenishing mode while the controller controls the powder measuring instrument to measure the amount of the powder after the controller finishes the initial replenishing mode,
the controller performs the precise replenishing mode after the controller finishes the deceleration replenishing mode,
the controller controls the pressure adjuster to replenish the powder replenishment container with the powder in the precise replenishing mode at a replenishing speed lower than the replenishing speed in the deceleration replenishing mode, and
the controller controls the pressure adjuster to decrease the replenishing speed for a plurality of times in the deceleration replenishing mode.