IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0208739
(2005-08-23)
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우선권정보 |
JP-2001-023597(2001-01-31); JP-2001-035481(2001-02-13); JP-2001-400638(2001-12-28) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Sudo,Kazuhisa
- Hattori,Yoshio
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
119 |
초록
▼
A toner container of the present invention stores powdery toner to be replenished via a toner outlet thereof and includes a container body. A shutter device is positioned in the toner outlet for selectively opening or closing the toner outlet. The shutter device includes an opening/closing member, a
A toner container of the present invention stores powdery toner to be replenished via a toner outlet thereof and includes a container body. A shutter device is positioned in the toner outlet for selectively opening or closing the toner outlet. The shutter device includes an opening/closing member, a resilient member constantly biasing the opening/closing member from the inside toward the outside of the container body, and a support member supporting the resilient member and opening/closing member. The toner container is simple and easy to mount and dismount from an image forming apparatus while surely preventing the toner from leaking.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A method, comprising: filling a toner container with toner, the toner container comprising: a container body; a support member including spaced-apart members within an interior of the toner container and extending substantially parallel to each other; a piston member movably
What is claimed is: 1. A method, comprising: filling a toner container with toner, the toner container comprising: a container body; a support member including spaced-apart members within an interior of the toner container and extending substantially parallel to each other; a piston member movably disposed in a direction parallel to a length of the spaced-apart members and arranged to seal and unseal the toner container; and a coil spring extending substantially parallel to the length of the spaced-apart members, the coil spring having a first end arranged to exert a force resisted by the support member and a second end arranged to exert a force against the piston member, the coil spring arranged to push the piston member towards a sealed position. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the support member, piston member, and coil spring of the toner container are arranged to seal the toner container when the toner container is in an unmounted position. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the support member, piston member, and coil spring of the toner container are arranged to unseal the toner container when the toner container is in a mounted position. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the support member of the toner container has a structure which was formed separately from the container body. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein: first ends of the support members of the toner container are in contact with the toner container below a top wall of the container body, when the toner container is arranged to have an opening thereof facing downwardly. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein: the piston member of the toner container has at least a portion which is cylindrical in shape. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein: the first ends of the spaced apart members of the toner container are proximate to an opening of the toner container. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein: a portion of the piston member facing outwardly to an exterior of the toner container has a shape with a recessed center configured to accommodate a nozzle. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein: the support member comprises a circular hole at a position of the support member which is opposite to the first ends of the spaced apart members. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein: the first end of the coil spring is adjacent to the circular hole of the support member, and a diameter of the coil spring at the first end is larger than a diameter of the circular hole of the support member. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein: the circular hole of the support member is parallel to the opening of the toner container. 12. The method of claim 7, wherein: the container body has at least five internal surfaces which are planar. 13. The method of claim 7, wherein the toner container further comprises: a seal attached to the toner container, the seal having a hole there through which is aligned with the opening of the toner container, the seal having at least one surface exterior to the container body. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein: the seal comprises an elastic material. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein: the seal comprises foam. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein: a portion of the piston member facing outwardly to an exterior of the toner container has a shape with a recessed center configured to accommodate a nozzle. 17. The method of claim 7, wherein: a diameter of the opening of the toner container at an exterior portion of the toner container is greater than a diameter of the opening which is sealed by the piston member. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein: an outside diameter of the seal substantially corresponds to the inside diameter of the opening of the toner container at the exterior portion of the toner container. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein: an outer diameter of the piston member contacts the seal in order to seal the opening of the toner container, when the piston member is in the sealed position. 20. The method according to claim 6, wherein: the portion of the piston member which is cylindrical in shape is structured to seal the toner container. 21. The method of claim 1, wherein: the piston member comprises a shaft. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein: the shaft of the piston member protrudes upwardly above the support member, when an opening of the toner container faces downwardly. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein: the support member includes a hole; and the shaft of the piston member passes through the hole of the support member and includes at least one stop claw configured to engage with the support member to limit a range of movement of the piston member. 24. The method of claim 1, wherein: the container body comprises resin. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the toner container further comprises: a bag disposed within the container body for holding therein toner. 26. The method of claim 1, further comprising: a mouth member secured to the container body adjacent to the opening and having a ring-shaped portion. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein: the mouth member has a structure which was formed separately from a structure of the container body. 28. The method of claim 26, wherein: the mouth member has a toner bag affixed thereto. 29. The method of claim 1, wherein: an annular portion of the support member defines the opening of the toner container. 30. The method of claim 1, wherein the toner container has an opening through which toner is dispensed, the filling comprising: filling the toner container through said opening of the toner container. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the toner container includes a mouth member, wherein the filling is performed prior to the mouth member being affixed to the toner container. 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising: affixing the mouth member to the support member. 33. A method, comprising: filling a toner container with toner, the toner container comprising: a structure arranged to enclose toner; an opening through which toner is to be dispensed, the opening having an interior diameter and an exterior diameter which is larger than the interior diameter, the exterior diameter being closer to the exterior of the toner container than the interior diameter; an elastic seal having a hole which is aligned with the opening, the elastic seal at least partially disposed in the opening at the portion of the opening having the exterior diameter; a support disposed interior to the toner container, the support including spaced-apart members extending substantially parallel to each other, the spaced-apart members being connected; a piston movably disposed in a direction parallel to a length of the spaced-apart members and arranged to seal and unseal the toner container; and a coil spring extending substantially parallel to the spaced-apart members, the coil spring having a first end arranged to exert a force resisted by the support and a second end arranged to exert a force against the piston, the coil spring arranged to push the piston towards a sealed position. 34. The method according to claim 33, wherein: the piston has portions with differing diameters; first ends of the spaced-apart members are located proximate to the opening; the support comprises a circular hole at position of the support which is opposite to the ends of the spaced-apart members which are proximate to the opening; and an outside diameter of the elastic seal substantially corresponds to the exterior diameter of the opening. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein: a portion of the piston facing outwardly to an exterior of the toner container has a shape with a recessed center configured to accommodate a nozzle. 36. The method according to claim 33, wherein: the structure arranged to enclose toner includes a bag. 37. The method according to claim 33, wherein: the structure arranged to enclose toner includes walls. 38. The method of claim 33, wherein the toner container has an opening through which toner is dispensed, the filling comprising: filling the toner container through said opening of the toner container. 39. The method of claim 38, wherein the toner container includes a mouth member, wherein the filling is performed prior to the mouth member being affixed to the toner container. 40. The method of claim 39, further comprising: affixing the mouth member to the support member.
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