IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0617050
(2012-09-14)
|
등록번호 |
US-8909094
(2014-12-09)
|
우선권정보 |
JP-2001-042536 (2001-02-19); JP-2001-197546 (2001-06-28) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Yamada, Yusuke
- Ban, Yutaka
- Murakami, Katsuya
- Tazawa, Fumio
- Minagawa, Hironori
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Fitpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
126 |
초록
▼
A toner supply container includes a rotatable container body and a sealing member provided at its axial end portion. The sealing member is movable in an axial direction and includes a sealing portion to seal and unseal an opening of the container body when in first and second relative positions, res
A toner supply container includes a rotatable container body and a sealing member provided at its axial end portion. The sealing member is movable in an axial direction and includes a sealing portion to seal and unseal an opening of the container body when in first and second relative positions, respectively, and a coupling portion positioned to receive a rotational drive force for rotating the sealing member and the container body. The coupling portion includes an elastically displaceable supporting portion, an engaging portion, and a displacing force receiving portion, which are integrally molded. The engaging portion includes a rotational force receiving portion for receiving a rotational drive force for rotating the sealing member and the container body, and a locking portion. The displacing force receiving portion is provided on the supporting portion at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion.
대표청구항
▼
1. A toner supply container comprising: i) a container body configured to contain toner and rotatable about an axis thereof, the container body including a cylindrical portion and an opening provided at one axial end portion thereof and configured to permit discharge of the toner contained in the co
1. A toner supply container comprising: i) a container body configured to contain toner and rotatable about an axis thereof, the container body including a cylindrical portion and an opening provided at one axial end portion thereof and configured to permit discharge of the toner contained in the container body; andii) a sealing member provided at the one axial end portion of the container body, the sealing member being movable relative to the container body in an axial direction of the container body, the sealing member including: ii-i) a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent the container body and configured to seal the opening when the sealing member and the container body are in a first position relative to one another, the opening becoming unsealed by relative movement of the sealing member and the container body away from one another from the first position to a second position relative to one another; andii-ii) a coupling portion provided at a side remote from the container body and configured and positioned to receive a rotational drive force for rotating the sealing member and the container body about the rotation axis of the container body, the coupling portion including: ii-ii-i) a supporting portion provided on the sealing portion, the supporting portion being elastically displaceable in an inward direction toward the rotation axis of the container body and elastically restorable in an outward direction away from the rotation axis of the container body;ii-ii-ii) an engaging portion provided at a free end of the supporting portion and being displaceable with the supporting portion, the engaging portion including: ii-ii-ii-i) a rotational force receiving portion capable of being abutted in a direction that is concentric with a circumference of the cylindrical portion of the container body to receive a rotational drive force for rotating the sealing member and the container body; andii-ii-ii-ii) a locking portion capable of being abutted in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the container body to enable the relative movement of the sealing member and the container body from the first position, in which the opening is sealed, to the second position, in which the opening is unsealed; andii-ii-iii) a displacing force receiving portion provided on the supporting portion at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion, the displacing force receiving portion being displaceable with the supporting portion and having a radially outermost part that is more remote from the rotation axis of the container body than a radially outermost part of the engaging portion,wherein the supporting portion, the engaging portion, and the displacing force receiving portion are integrally molded. 2. The toner supply container of claim 1, wherein the coupling portion includes a plurality of supporting portions, each of which has an engaging portion and a displacing force receiving portion, and wherein the supporting portions are arranged discretely in a rotational direction of the coupling portion. 3. The toner supply container of claim 1, wherein the engaging portion and the displacing force receiving portion are disposed along a line parallel to the rotation axis of the container body. 4. The toner supply container of claim 1, wherein the engaging portion extends radially outwardly from the supporting portion. 5. The toner supply container of claim 1, wherein the supporting portion has a uniform width over its entire length. 6. The toner supply container of claim 1, wherein the engaging portion and the supporting portion have a same width. 7. The toner supply container of claim 1, wherein the supporting portion is wider than the displacing force receiving portion. 8. The toner supply container of claim 1, wherein the locking portion comprises a surface perpendicular to a line parallel to the rotation axis of the container body. 9. The toner supply container of claim 8, wherein the rotational force receiving portion comprises a surface perpendicular to the locking portion surface. 10. The toner supply container of claim 1, wherein the sealing portion and the coupling portion are integrally molded. 11. A toner supply container comprising: i) a container body configured to contain toner and rotatable about an axis thereof, the container body including a cylindrical portion and an opening provided at one axial end portion thereof and configured to permit discharge of the toner contained in the container body; andii) a sealing member provided at the one axial end portion of the container body, the sealing member being movable relative to the container body in an axial direction of the container body, the sealing member including: ii-i) a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent the container body and configured to seal the opening when the sealing member and the container body are in a first position relative to one another, the opening becoming unsealed by relative movement of the sealing member and the container body away from one another from the first position to a second position relative to one another; andii-ii) a coupling portion provided at a side remote from the container body and configured and positioned to receive a rotational drive force for rotating the sealing member and the container body about the rotation axis of the container body, the coupling portion including: ii-ii-i) at least two supporting portions provided on the sealing portion at diametrically opposed positions, each supporting portion being elastically displaceable in an inward direction toward the rotation axis of the container body and elastically restorable in an outward direction away from the rotation axis of the container body;ii-ii-ii) an engaging portion provided at a free end of each supporting portion and being displaceable with the supporting portion on which it is provided, each engaging portion including: ii-ii-ii-i) a rotational force receiving portion capable of being abutted in a direction that is concentric with a circumference of the cylindrical portion of the container body to receive a rotational drive force for rotating the sealing member and the container body; andii-ii-ii-ii) a locking portion capable of being abutted in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the container body to enable the relative movement of the sealing member and the container body from the first position, in which the opening is sealed, to the second position, in which the opening is unsealed; andii-ii-iii) a displacing force receiving portion provided on each supporting portion at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion provided at the free end of that supporting portion, the displacing force receiving portion being displaceable with the supporting portion on which it is provided and having a radially outermost part that is more remote from the rotation axis of the container body than a radially outermost part of the engaging portion provided at the free end of that supporting portion. 12. The toner supply container of claim 11, wherein the engaging portion and the displacing force receiving portion of each supporting portion are disposed along a line parallel to the rotation axis of the container body. 13. The toner supply container of claim 11, wherein each engaging portion extends radially outwardly from its respective supporting portion. 14. The toner supply container of claim 11, wherein each supporting portion has a uniform width over its entire length. 15. The toner supply container of claim 11, wherein each engaging portion has a same width as the supporting portion on which it is provided. 16. The toner supply container of claim 11, wherein each supporting portion is wider than the displacing force receiving portion provided on that supporting portion. 17. The toner supply container of claim 11, wherein each locking portion comprises a surface perpendicular to a line parallel to the rotation axis of the container body. 18. The toner supply container of claim 17, wherein each rotational force receiving portion comprises a surface perpendicular to the locking portion surface. 19. The toner supply container of claim 11, wherein the sealing portion and the coupling portion are integrally molded. 20. A toner supply container comprising: i) a container body configured to contain toner and rotatable about an axis thereof, the container body including a cylindrical portion and an opening provided at one axial end portion thereof and configured to permit discharge of the toner contained in the container body; andii) a sealing member provided at the one axial end portion of the container body, the sealing member being movable relative to the container body in an axial direction of the container body, the sealing member including: ii-i) a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent the container body and configured to seal the opening when the sealing member and the container body are in a first position relative to one another, the opening becoming unsealed by relative movement of the sealing member and the container body away from one another from the first position to a second position relative to one another; andii-ii) a coupling portion provided at a side remote from the container body and configured and positioned to receive a rotational drive force for rotating the sealing member and the container body about the rotation axis of the container body, the coupling portion including: ii-ii-i) a plurality of supporting portions provided on the sealing portion, each supporting portion being elastically displaceable in an inward direction toward the rotation axis of the container body and elastically restorable in an outward direction away from the rotation axis of the container body;ii-ii-ii) an engaging portion provided at a free end of each supporting portion and being displaceable with the supporting portion on which it is provided, each engaging portion including: ii-ii-ii-i) a rotational force receiving portion capable of being abutted in a direction that is concentric with a circumference of the cylindrical portion of the container body to receive a rotational drive force for rotating the sealing member and the container body; andii-ii-ii-ii) a locking portion capable of being abutted in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the container body to enable the relative movement of the sealing member and the container body from the first position, in which the opening is sealed, to the second position, in which the opening is unsealed; andii-ii-iii) a displacing force receiving portion provided on each supporting portion at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion provided at the free end of that supporting portion, the displacing force receiving portion being displaceable with the supporting portion on which it is provided and having a radially outermost part that is more remote from the rotation axis of the container body than a radially outermost part of the engaging portion provided at the free end of that supporting portion,wherein the engaging portions of at least two supporting portions are provided at diametrically opposed positions. 21. The toner supply container of claim 20, wherein the engaging portion and the displacing force receiving portion of each supporting portion are disposed along a line parallel to the rotation axis of the container body. 22. The toner supply container of claim 20, wherein each engaging portion extends radially outwardly from its respective supporting portion. 23. The toner supply container of claim 20, wherein each supporting portion has a uniform width over its entire length. 24. The toner supply container of claim 20, wherein each engaging portion has a same width as the supporting portion on which it is provided. 25. The toner supply container of claim 20, wherein each supporting portion is wider than the displacing force receiving portion provided on that supporting portion. 26. The toner supply container of claim 20, wherein each locking portion comprises a surface perpendicular to a line parallel to the rotation axis of the container body. 27. The toner supply container of claim 26, wherein each rotational force receiving portion comprises a surface perpendicular to the locking portion surface. 28. The toner supply container of claim 20, wherein the sealing portion and the coupling portion are integrally molded. 29. A toner supply container comprising: i) a container body configured to contain toner and rotatable about an axis thereof, the container body including a cylindrical portion and an opening provided at one axial end portion thereof and configured to permit discharge of the toner contained in the container body; andii) a sealing member provided at the one axial end portion of the container body, the sealing member being movable relative to the container body in an axial direction of the container body,the sealing member including: ii-i) a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent the container body and configured to seal the opening when the sealing member and the container body are in a first position relative to one another, the opening becoming unsealed by relative movement of the sealing member and the container body away from one another from the first position to a second position relative to one another; andii-ii) a coupling portion provided at a side remote from the container body and configured and positioned to receive a rotational drive force, the coupling portion including; ii-ii-i) a supporting portion provided on the sealing portion, the supporting portion being elastically displaceable in an inward direction toward the axis of the container body and elastically restorable in an outward direction away from the axis of the container body;ii-ii-ii) an engaging portion provided at a free end of the supporting portion and being displaceable with the supporting portion; andii-ii-iii) a projecting portion provided at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion, the projecting portion projecting radially from an outer surface of the supporting portion such that a radially outermost part of the projecting portion is more remote from the axis of the container body than a radially outermost part of the engaging portion, and the projecting portion being displaceable with the supporting portion,wherein the supporting portion, the engaging portion, and the projecting portion are integrally molded. 30. The toner supply container of claim 29, further comprising a feeding portion configured and positioned to feed the toner in the container body to discharge the toner out of the container body. 31. The toner supply container of claim 30, wherein the feeding portion is integrally rotatable with the container body, and wherein the sealing member includes a transmitting portion configured and positioned to transmit the rotational force to the container body. 32. The toner supply container of claim 30, wherein the feeding portion includes a toner guiding portion extending helically on an inner surface of the container body. 33. The toner supply container of claim 30, wherein the feeding portion includes a plate-like member extending substantially in a direction parallel with a rotation axis of the container body, and a plurality of projections inclined relative to the rotation axis on the plate-like member to guide the toner. 34. The toner supply container of claim 33, wherein the plate-like member extends along substantially a full length of the container body. 35. The toner supply container of claim 29, wherein the supporting portion is made of a plastic material so as to be elastically restorable substantially radially outwardly. 36. The toner supply container of claim 29, wherein the coupling portion includes a plurality of supporting portions, each of which has an engaging portion and a displacing force receiving portion, and wherein the supporting portions are arranged discretely in a rotational direction of the coupling portion. 37. The toner supply container of claim 29, wherein the engaging portion and the projecting portion are disposed along a line parallel to the rotation axis of the container body. 38. A toner supply container comprising: i) a container body configured to contain toner and rotatable about an axis thereof, the container body including a cylindrical portion and an opening provided at one axial end portion thereof and configured to permit discharge of the toner contained in the container body; andii) a sealing member provided at the one axial end portion of the container body, the sealing member being movable relative to the container body in an axial direction of the container body,the sealing member including: ii-i) a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent the container body and configured to seal the opening when the sealing member and the container body are in a first position relative to one another, the opening becoming unsealed by relative movement of the sealing member and the container body away from one another from the first position to a second position relative to one another; andii-ii) a coupling portion provided at a side remote from the container body and configured and positioned to receive a rotational drive force, the coupling portion including; ii-ii-i) at least two supporting portions provided on the sealing portion at diametrically opposed positions, each supporting portion being elastically displaceable in an inward direction toward the axis of the container body and elastically restorable in an outward direction away from the axis of the container body;ii-ii-ii) an engaging portion provided at a free end of each supporting portion and being displaceable with the supporting portion, andii-ii-iii) a projecting portion provided on each supporting portion at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion, the projecting portion projecting radially from an outer surface of the supporting portion such that a radially outermost part of the projecting portion is more remote from the axis of the container body than a radially outermost part of the engaging portion, and the projecting portion being displaceable with the supporting portion. 39. The toner supply container of claim 38, further comprising a feeding portion configured and positioned to feed the toner in the container body to discharge the toner out of the container body. 40. The toner supply container of claim 39, wherein the feeding portion is integrally rotatable with the container body, and wherein the sealing member includes a transmitting portion configured and positioned to transmit the rotational force to the container body. 41. The toner supply container of claim 39, wherein the feeding portion includes a toner guiding portion extending helically on an inner surface of the container body. 42. The toner supply container of claim 39, wherein the feeding portion includes a plate-like member extending substantially in a direction parallel with a rotation axis of the container body, and a plurality of projections inclined relative to the rotation axis on the plate-like member to guide the toner. 43. The toner supply container of claim 42, wherein the plate-like member extends along substantially a full length of the container body. 44. The toner supply container of claim 38, wherein each supporting portion is made of a plastic material so as to be elastically restorable substantially radially outwardly. 45. The toner supply container of claim 38, wherein the engaging portion and the projecting portion associated with each supporting portion are disposed along a line parallel to the rotation axis of the container body. 46. A toner supply container comprising: i) a container body configured to contain toner and rotatable about an axis thereof, the container body including a cylindrical portion and an opening provided at one axial end portion thereof and configured to permit discharge of the toner contained in the container body; andii) a sealing member provided at the one axial end portion of the container body, the sealing member being movable relative to the container body in an axial direction of the container body,the sealing member including: ii-i) a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent the container body and configured to seal the opening when the sealing member and the container body are in a first position relative to one another, the opening becoming unsealed by relative movement of the sealing member and the container body away from one another from the first position to a second position relative to one another; andii-ii) a coupling portion provided at a side remote from the container body and configured and positioned to receive a rotational drive force, the coupling portion including; ii-ii-i) a plurality of supporting portions provided on the sealing portion, each supporting portion being elastically displaceable in an inward direction toward the axis of the container body and elastically restorable in an outward direction away from the axis of the container body;ii-ii-ii) an engaging portion provided at a free end of each supporting portion and being displaceable with the supporting portion, andii-ii-iii) a projecting portion provided on each supporting portion at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion, the projecting portion projecting radially from an outer surface of the supporting portion such that a radially outermost part of the projecting portion is more remote from the axis of the container body than a radially outermost part of the engaging portion, and the projecting portion being displaceable with the supporting portion,wherein the engaging portions of at least two supporting portions are provided at diametrically opposed positions. 47. The toner supply container of claim 46, further comprising a feeding portion configured and positioned to feed the toner in the container body to discharge the toner out of the container body. 48. The toner supply container of claim 47, wherein the feeding portion is integrally rotatable with the container body, and wherein the sealing member includes a transmitting portion configured and positioned to transmit the rotational force to the container body. 49. The toner supply container of claim 47, wherein the feeding portion includes a toner guiding portion extending helically on an inner surface of the container body. 50. The toner supply container of claim 47, wherein the feeding portion includes a plate-like member extending substantially in a direction parallel with a rotation axis of the container body, and a plurality of projections inclined relative to the rotation axis on the plate-like member to guide the toner. 51. The toner supply container of claim 50, wherein the plate-like member extends along substantially a full length of the container body. 52. The toner supply container of claim 46, wherein each supporting portion is made of a plastic material so as to be elastically restorable substantially radially outwardly. 53. The toner supply container of claim 46, wherein the engaging portion and the projecting portion associated with each supporting portion are disposed along a line parallel to the rotation axis of the container body.
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