Agent containing unit having improved usability, agent refill unit, and image forming apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An agent containing unit for use in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a container configured to store an agent and having an opening on a first end portion of the container;
a discharge port unit, attached to the opening of the container, configured to cover the opening of the container and having a first discharge port, through which the agent is discharged from the container; and
a support plate configured to support the container fixed detachably on the support plate, and having a second discharge port aligned with the first discharge port,wherein the container having the discharge port unit further comprises a lock member provided at a second end portion of the container, and said support plate comprises a concave portion, provided at a first end portion of the support plate and having the second discharge port therein, and a lock receiver, provided at a second end portion of the support plate, and wherein the container is fixed on the support plate by engaging the discharge port unit with the concave portion of the support plate and by engaging the lock member with the lock receiver of the support plate.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An agent containing unit for use in an image forming apparatus includes a container, a discharge port unit, and a support plate. The container stores an agent and has an opening on one end portion of the container. The discharge port unit is attached to the opening of the container, and covers the opening of the container and has a first discharge port, through which the agent is discharged from the container. The support plate supports the container, fixed detachably on the support plate, and has a second discharge port, which is aligned with the first discharge port.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An agent containing unit for use in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
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a container configured to store an agent and having an opening on a first end portion of the container; a discharge port unit, attached to the opening of the container, configured to cover the opening of the container and having a first discharge port, through which the agent is discharged from the container; and a support plate configured to support the container fixed detachably on the support plate, and having a second discharge port aligned with the first discharge port, wherein the container having the discharge port unit further comprises a lock member provided at a second end portion of the container, and said support plate comprises a concave portion, provided at a first end portion of the support plate and having the second discharge port therein, and a lock receiver, provided at a second end portion of the support plate, and wherein the container is fixed on the support plate by engaging the discharge port unit with the concave portion of the support plate and by engaging the lock member with the lock receiver of the support plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An agent refilling unit for use in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
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an agent containing unit, the agent containing unit including a container configured to store an agent and having an opening on a first end portion of the container; a discharge port unit, attached to the opening of the container, configured to cover the opening of the container and having a first discharge port, through which the agent is discharged from the container; and a support plate configured to support the container fixed detachably on the support plate, and having a second discharge port aligned to the first discharge port; an oscillating unit configured to accept and support the agent containing unit and having a third discharge port aligned with the first and second discharge port, the oscillating unit including a pair of inner sidewalls that extend in a longitudinal direction of the oscillating unit; and a shutter opening/closing mechanism configured to open and close the first discharge port, wherein the oscillating unit further comprises a pair of guide walls, wherein each respective guide wall of the pair of guide walls is located on a respective inner sidewall of the pair of inner sidewalls so as to extend along a substantial portion of the respective inner sidewall in the longitudinal direction of the oscillating unit, and wherein the pair of guide walls are configured to guide the support plate of the agent containing unit into the oscillating unit, and wherein a distance between the pair of inner sidewalls in a transverse direction of the oscillating unit is greater than a distance between the pair of guide walls in the transverse direction of the oscillating unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An agent refilling unit for use in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
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an agent containing unit, the agent containing unit including a container configured to store an agent and having an opening on a first end portion of the container; a discharge port unit, attached to the opening of the container, configured to cover the opening of the container and having a first discharge port, through which the agent is discharged from the container; and a support plate configured to support the container fixed detachably on the support plate, and having a second discharge port aligned to the first discharge port; an oscillating unit configured to accept and support the agent containing unit and having a third discharge port aligned with the first and second discharge port; and a shutter opening/closing mechanism configured to open and close the first discharge port, wherein the oscillating unit further comprises a guide wall, located on each inner sidewall of the oscillating unit, configured to guide the support plate of the agent containing unit into the oscillating unit, wherein the container having the discharge port unit further comprises a lock member provided at a second end portion of the container, and the support plate comprises a concave portion, provided at a first end portion of the support plate and having the second discharge port therein, and a lock receiver, provided at a second end portion of the support plate, and wherein the container is fixed on the support plate by engaging the discharge port unit to the concave portion of the support plate and by engaging the lock member to the lock receiver of the support plate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An agent refilling unit for use in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
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an agent containing unit, the agent containing unit including a container configured to store an agent and having an opening on a first end portion of the container; a discharge port unit, attached to the opening of the container, configured to cover the opening of the container and having a first discharge port, through which the agent is discharged from the container; and a support plate configured to support the container fixed detachably on the support plate, and having a second discharge port aligned to the first discharge port; an oscillating unit configured to accept and support the agent containing unit and having a third discharge port aligned with the first and second discharge port; and a shutter opening/closing mechanism configured to open and close the first discharge port, wherein the oscillating unit further comprises a guide wall, located on each inner sidewall of the oscillating unit, configured to guide the support plate of the agent containing unit into the oscillating unit, and wherein the discharge port unit of the agent containing unit further includes a connector having the first discharge port therein, fused to the opening of the container; a sealing ring configured to encircle the first discharge port on the connector; and a first shutter configured to slidably move on the connector to open and close the first discharge port by the shutter opening/closing mechanism, and wherein the shutter opening/closing mechanism includes a concave receiver located on each lateral side of the first shutter; and an engaging member, provided with the oscillating unit, configured to engage the concave receiver of the first shutter when the agent containing unit is inserted into the oscillating unit. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. An agent refilling unit for use in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
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an agent containing unit, the agent containing unit including a container configured to store an agent and having an opening on a first end portion of the container; a discharge port unit, attached to the opening of the container, configured to cover the opening of the container and having a first discharge port, through which the agent is discharged from the container; and a support plate configured to support the container fixed detachably on the support plate, and having a second discharge port aligned to the first discharge port; an oscillating unit configured to accept and support the agent containing unit and having a third discharge port aligned with the first and second discharge port, the oscillating unit including a pair of inner sidewalls that extend in a longitudinal direction of the oscillating unit; and a shutter opening/closing mechanism configured to open and close the first discharge port, wherein the support plate has a front end and a rear end, the front end has a width which is smaller than a width of the rear end of the support plate, and wherein the support plate is inserted into the oscillating unit from the front end of the support plate, and wherein the oscillating unit further comprises a pair of guide walls, wherein each respective guide wall of the pair of guide walls is located on a respective inner sidewall of the pair of inner sidewalls so as to extend along a substantial portion of the respective inner sidewall in a longitudinal direction of the oscillating unit, and wherein the pair of guide walls are configured to guide the support plate of the agent containing unit into the oscillating unit. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
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an agent containing unit, the agent containing unit including a container configured to store an agent and having an opening on one end portion of the container; a discharge port unit, attached to the opening of the container, configured to cover the opening of the container and having a first discharge port, through which the agent is discharged from the container; and a support plate configured to support the container fixed detachably on the support plate, and having a second discharge port aligned to the first discharge port; and an agent refilling unit, comprising; an oscillating unit configured to accept and support the agent containing unit and having a third discharge port aligned with the first and second discharge port, the oscillating unit including a pair of inner sidewalls that extend in a longitudinal direction of the oscillating unit; and a shutter opening/closing mechanism configured to open and close the first discharge port, wherein the oscillating unit further comprises a pair of guide walls, wherein each respective guide wall of the pair of guide walls is located on a respective inner sidewall of the pair of inner sidewalls so as to extend along a substantial portion of the respective inner sidewall in the longitudinal direction of the oscillating unit, and wherein the pair of guide walls are configured to guide the support plate of the agent containing unit into the oscillating unit, and wherein a distance between the pair of inner sidewalls in a transverse direction of the oscillating unit is greater than a distance between the pair of guide walls in the transverse direction of the oscillating unit. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. An agent refilling unit for use in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
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an agent containing unit, comprising; means for storing an agent, having an opening; means for covering the opening of the means for storing an agent, having a first discharge port, through which the agent is discharged from the means for storing; and means for supporting the means for storing an agent, detachably fixed on the means for supporting, and having a second discharge port aligned with the first discharge port; means for accepting the agent containing unit, and having a third discharge port aligned with the first and second discharge port; means for oscillating the means for accepting the agent containing unit to facilitate discharging of the agent from the means for storing the agent, the means for oscillating the means for accepting the agent containing unit including a pair of inner sidewalls that extend in a longitudinal direction of the means for oscillating the means for accepting the agent containing unit; and means for opening and closing the first discharge port, wherein the means for oscillating the means for accepting the agent containing unit further comprises a pair of guide walls, wherein each respective guide wall of the pair of guide walls is located on a respective inner sidewall of the pair of inner sidewalls so as to extend along a substantial portion of the respective inner sidewall in the longitudinal direction of the means for oscillating the means for accepting the agent containing unit, and wherein the pair of guide walls are configured to guide the means for supporting the means for storing an agent into the means for oscillating the means for accepting the agent containing unit, and wherein a distance between the pair of inner sidewalls in a transverse direction of the means for oscillating the means for accepting the agent containing unit is greater than a distance between the pair of guide walls in the transverse direction of the means for oscillating the means for accepting the agent containing unit.
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Specification