NOZZLE RECEIVER, POWDER CONTAINER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

• US 20170102638A1
• Filed: 12/22/2016
• Published: 04/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hideki Kimura, Hideki Zemba, Junji Yamabe, Keiichi Yano, Michiharu Suzuki, Seiji Terazawa, Takahiro Ikuma
• Original Assignee: Hideki Kimura, Hideki Zemba, Junji Yamabe, Keiichi Yano, Michiharu Suzuki, Seiji Terazawa
• Inventors: YAMABE, Junji, YANO, Keiichi, SUZUKI, Michiharu, KIMURA, Hideki, ZEMBA, Hideki, IKUMA, Takahiro, TERAZAWA, Seiji
• Granted Patent: US 10,133,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0879 for dispensing developer from a developer cartridge not directly attached to the development unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0881 Sealing of developer cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0886 by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0898 for preventing toner scattering during operation, e.g. seals sealing the donor member G03G15/0817; sealing the magnetic brush G03G15/0942

Abstract

A nozzle receiver is to be arranged in a powder container used in an image forming apparatus. The nozzle receiver includes a nozzle receiving opening, in which a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container is inserted in the image forming apparatus; an opening/closing member to open and to close the nozzle receiving opening; and a supporter to support the opening/closing member. The opening/closing member includes a sealing portion to seal the nozzle insertion opening. The supporter includes an end surface portion perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening/closing member. The projection area of the end surface portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member is smaller than a projection area of the sealing portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A powder container to be attached to an image forming apparatus, the powder container comprising:

a powder storage to contain powder;

a holder attached to the powder storage;

a protrusion that is on one of the powder storage and the holder; and

a restrictor that is on the other one of the powder storage and the holder and is to restrict the movement of the protrusion in a longitudinal direction of the powder storage, wherein

the powder storage is to rotate relative to the holder, and

the restrictor includes an opening through which the protrusion passes when the holder is attached to the powder storage.

3. The powder container according to claim 2, wherein

the protrusion includes an inclined portion that is inclined in a rotation direction,

the opening includes an opening inclined portion that is inclined in a same direction as the inclined portion of the protrusion, and

when the inclined portion of the protrusion comes in contact with the opening inclined portion, the protrusion passes through the opening.

4. The powder container according to claim 2, wherein

the powder storage includes a removable container-side gear to which a drive force is transmitted, and

the protrusion is on the gear.

5. The powder container according to claim 2, wherein

the powder storage includes powder, and

the powder includes toner.

6. The powder container according to claim 5, wherein the powder includes carrier particles.

7. An image forming apparatus comprising the powder container according to claim 2.