Toner container having protrusions projecting from opposite sides of the toner container

• US 10,054,873 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2017
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Takami, Nobuo, Kimura, Noriyuki, Hori, Eisuke, Kimura, Hideki, Kikuchi, Kenji, Suzuki, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): BEATTY, ROBERT B
• Application Number:
  US15/709,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20180024466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 336 Days
• Field of Search: 399258, 399262, 222167, 222412, 222DIG 1
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0863 provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0872 the developer cartridges being generally horizontally mounted parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0879 for dispensing developer from a developer cartridge not directly attached to the development unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0886 by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1647 Mechanical connection means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0668 Toner discharging opening at one axial end
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0692 using a slidable sealing member, e.g. shutter
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0695 using identification means or means for storing process or use parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0697 being an electronically readable memory
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10

Abstract

A system with a container including a protrusion, and a receiver to receive the container. The receiver includes a slide block that is movable relative to a body of the receiver, the slide block including two surfaces, a first surface, initially contacted by the protrusion of the container during insertion of the container into the receiver, having a first slope to resist movement of the container towards the receiver, and a second surface, subsequently contacted by the protrusion of the container during the insertion of the container into the receiver, having a second slope to interact with the protrusion of the container to assist movement of the container towards the receiver. This construction provides the user with a changing insertion force to indicate proper mounting of the container.

Claims

1. A toner container for use with an image forming apparatus, comprising:

an opening disposed above a horizontal plane which divides the toner container into an upper portion and a lower portion, when the toner container is oriented such that a length of the toner container extends parallel to the horizontal plane;

protrusions to interact with corresponding parts of the image forming apparatus, the protrusions projecting from opposite sides of the toner container in opposite directions which are parallel to the horizontal plane; and

a chip to communicate information with the image forming apparatus, the chip being disposed under the opening and at an outer portion of the toner container at a same end of the toner container where the opening is disposed,

wherein each of the protrusions projects horizontally such that an amount of projection becomes less as a distance to the chip becomes smaller.

2. The toner container according to claim 1, further comprising:

a toner outlet to discharge toner in the toner container from the lower portion of the toner container.

3. The toner container according to claim 2, wherein:

the toner outlet discharges the toner in a downward vertical direction which is perpendicular to the horizontal plane.

4. The toner container according to claim 1, further comprising:

a main part to accommodate toner; and

a cap attached to the main part,

wherein the opening, the protrusions, and the chip are at the cap.

5. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein:

the opening is blocked such that toner within the toner container cannot pass through the opening.

6. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein:

said opening is an upper opening,

the toner container further comprising a lower opening disposed below the horizontal plane.

7. The toner container according to claim 6, wherein:

the upper opening is blocked such that toner within the toner container cannot pass through the upper opening, and

the lower opening is blocked such that toner within the toner container cannot pass through the lower opening.

8. The toner container according to claim 1, further comprising:

toner within the toner container.

9. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a toner container according to claim 1, the toner container including toner; and

an image forming section which forms an image using the toner.

10. A toner container for use with an image forming apparatus, comprising:

an opening disposed above a horizontal plane which divides the toner container into an upper portion and a lower portion, when the toner container is oriented such that a length of the toner container extends parallel to the horizontal plane;

protrusions to interact with corresponding parts of the image forming apparatus, the protrusions projecting from opposite sides of the toner container in opposite directions which are parallel to the horizontal plane; and

a chip to communicate information with the image forming apparatus, the chip being disposed under the opening and at an outer portion of the toner container at a same end of the toner container where the opening is disposed,

wherein;

each of the protrusions comprises a corresponding peak,

the peak of each of the protrusions projects horizontally from the toner container by a corresponding maximum amount,

from the peak of each of the protrusions, as a distance from each of the protrusions to the chip increases, an amount of projection becomes less, and

from the peak of each of the protrusions, as a distance from each of the protrusions to the chip decreases, an amount of projection becomes less.

11. The toner container according to claim 10, wherein:

the peak of each of the protrusions is located further from the chip than a midpoint of the corresponding protrusion.

12. The toner container according to claim 10, further comprising:

a toner outlet to discharge toner in the toner container from the lower portion of the toner container.

13. The toner container according to claim 12, wherein:

the toner outlet discharges the toner in a downward vertical direction which is perpendicular to the horizontal plane.

14. The toner container according to claim 10, wherein:

each of the protrusions projects horizontally such that an amount of projection becomes less as a distance to the chip becomes smaller.

15. The toner container according to claim 10, further comprising:

a main part to accommodate toner; and

a cap attached to the main part,

wherein the opening, the protrusions, and the chip are at the cap.

16. The toner container according to claim 10, wherein:

the opening is blocked such that toner within the toner container cannot pass through the opening.

17. The toner container according to claim 10, wherein:

said opening is an upper opening,

the toner container further comprising a lower opening disposed below the horizontal plane.

18. The toner container according to claim 17, wherein:

the upper opening is blocked such that toner within the toner container cannot pass through the upper opening, and

the lower opening is blocked such that toner within the toner container cannot pass through the lower opening.

19. The toner container according to claim 10, further comprising:

toner within the toner container.

20. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a toner container according to claim 10, the toner container including toner; and

an image forming section which forms an image using the toner.