IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0400201
(2009-03-09)
|
등록번호 |
US-7697870
(2010-05-20)
|
우선권정보 |
JP-2003-052658(2003-02-28); JP-2003-054478(2003-02-28); JP-2004-004668(2004-01-09) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Hosokawa, Hiroshi
- Tsuda, Kiyonori
- Narumi, Satoshi
- Takeichi, Ryuta
- Arai, Yuji
- Kawasumi, Masanori
- Umemura, Kazuhiko
- Ishii, Hiroshi
- Fukuchi, Yutaka
- Suzuki, Kazuki
- Noguchi, Yuusuke
- Kuma, Kazuosa
- Kikura, Makoto
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P.
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
17 인용 특허 :
84 |
초록
▼
A developer container has a main part accommodating a developer therein and is detachably attached to a main part of an image forming apparatus. The developer container comprises an outlet provided at a side of the developer container to discharge the developer from the developer container. An input
A developer container has a main part accommodating a developer therein and is detachably attached to a main part of an image forming apparatus. The developer container comprises an outlet provided at a side of the developer container to discharge the developer from the developer container. An input unit is provided adjacent to the outlet and has a small-diameter portion an inside diameter of which is smaller than a diameter of the container main part wherein, when the developer container is attached to the image forming apparatus, the input unit is engaged with a drive motor of the image forming apparatus to receive a rotating force of the drive motor. A developer guiding unit causes the developer inside the developer container to be moved to the outlet beyond the small-diameter portion of the input unit by rotation of the developer container.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A toner container, comprising: a vessel including a longitudinal cylindrical body and a circular opening at an end thereof, the vessel configured to hold toner; a cap including a hollow cylindrical portion, the cap covering the end of the vessel having the circular opening an
What is claimed is: 1. A toner container, comprising: a vessel including a longitudinal cylindrical body and a circular opening at an end thereof, the vessel configured to hold toner; a cap including a hollow cylindrical portion, the cap covering the end of the vessel having the circular opening and including a hollow cylindrical space outside of the vessel, the cap further including an outlet, located on an underside of the hollow cylindrical space, configured to discharge the toner which is received from the circular opening of the vessel; an engagement projection which prevents the cap from being separated from the vessel during removal of the toner container from an image forming device; and a gear at least partially surrounded by the cap and at least partially exposed to an exterior of the cap, wherein a diameter of the longitudinal cylindrical body is larger than a diameter of the circular opening of the vessel and is larger than a diameter of the hollow cylindrical portion. 2. A toner container according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the circular opening of the vessel is smaller than an inside diameter of the hollow cylindrical portion. 3. A toner container according to claim 1, wherein rotation of the gear causes rotation of the vessel. 4. A toner container according to claim 1, further comprising: a slidable shutter configured to close the outlet of the cap. 5. A toner container according to claim 1, wherein: the outlet of the cap is in the cylindrical portion of the cap. 6. A toner container according to claim 1, wherein: the vessel is rotatable, relative to the cap. 7. A toner container according to claim 1, wherein: the gear rotates the vessel. 8. A toner container according to claim 1, further comprising: a toner guide configured to move the toner from inside the vessel to outside the vessel through the circular opening thereof. 9. A toner container according to claim 8, wherein: the toner guide comprises a spiral raised ridge inside the vessel which is configured to move the toner inside the vessel when the vessel rotates. 10. A toner container according to claim 1, further comprising: a recess between the engagement projection and the gear. 11. A toner container according to claim 10, wherein the vessel further comprises: the recess between the engagement projection and the gear. 12. A toner container according to claim 1, further comprising: toner within the vessel. 13. A toner container according to claim 1, further comprising: carrier within the vessel. 14. An image forming apparatus including the toner container of claim 1. 15. A toner container according to claim 1, wherein: the engagement projection permits relative rotation between the engagement projection and a part of the toner container which engages with the engagement projection as the toner container is dispensing toner. 16. A toner container according to claim 15, wherein: the vessel comprises the engagement projection. 17. A toner container according to claim 15, wherein: the cap comprises the engagement projection. 18. A toner container according to claim 17, wherein: the vessel also comprises an engagement projection which interacts with the engagement projection of the cap to prevent the cap from being separated from the vessel during removal of the toner container from an image forming device. 19. A toner container according to claim 17, wherein: a rotation of the gear cause rotation of the part that engages with the engagement projection of the cap. 20. A toner container according to claim 15, wherein: the engagement projection prevents the cap from being separated from the vessel by direct contact between the cap and the vessel. 21. A toner container according to claim 15, wherein: the outlet of the cap is structured to directly discharge the toner to an exterior of the toner container. 22. A toner container according to claim 15, wherein: the outlet of the cap is structured to discharge the toner downwardly out to an exterior of the toner container. 23. A toner container, comprising: a storage means for holding toner, the storage means including a circular opening at an end thereof; a means for enclosing an end of the storage means, the means for enclosing including a hollow cylindrical portion outside of the storage means, the means for enclosing further including an outlet configured to discharge the toner which is received from the circular opening of the storage means, the outlet located on an underside of the hollow cylindrical portion; an engagement projection which prevents the means for enclosing from being separated from the storage means during removal of the toner container from an image forming device; and a gear at least partially surrounded by the means for enclosing and exposed to an exterior of the means for enclosing, wherein a diameter of the storage means is larger than a diameter of the circular opening of the storage means and is larger than a diameter of the hollow cylindrical portion. 24. A toner container according to claim 23, further comprising: toner within the storage means. 25. A toner container, comprising: a vessel including a longitudinal cylindrical body and a circular opening at an end thereof, the vessel configured to hold toner; a discharger including a hollow cylindrical portion, the discharger covering the end of the vessel having the circular opening and including a hollow cylindrical space outside of the vessel, the discharger further including an outlet, located on an underside of the hollow cylindrical space, configured to discharge the toner which is received from the circular opening of the vessel; an engagement projection which prevents the discharger from being separated from the vessel during removal of the toner container from an image forming device; and a gear at least partially surrounded by the discharger and exposed to an exterior of the discharger, wherein a diameter of the longitudinal cylindrical body is larger than a diameter of the circular opening of the vessel and is larger than a diameter of the hollow cylindrical portion. 26. A toner container according to claim 25, further comprising: toner within the vessel.
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