Container and device

• US 8,213,841 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2009
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hirata, Kei, Kitagawa, Hiroaki, Fukumuro, Kouji
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eley, Jessica L
• Application Number:
  US12/408,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20100054817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 399/119, 399/120, 399/252, 399258-262, 222/DIG.1, 222/325, 220/345.2, 220/345.3, 220/351, 220/345.4, 347/140, 347/158, D18/43
• US Class Current: 399/262
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0868 Toner cartridges fulfilling a continuous function within the electrographic apparatus during the use of the supplied developer material, e.g. toner discharge on demand, storing residual toner, acting as an active closure for the developer replenishing opening
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0875 cartridges having a box like shape
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0886 by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0692 using a slidable sealing member, e.g. shutter

Abstract

A container includes: a container body that is to be inserted into the device, and that has a port; and a pair of support members arranged so that the support members face each other across the port, that supports a cover for covering the port, the cover including: a covering portion that covers the port; a pair of supported members that are supported by the support members; and a pair of connecting portions arranged so that the connecting portions face each other, that connects the covering portion and the supported members, and at least one of the connecting members being configured so that the connecting member becomes narrow as an outside surface of the connecting member tapers towards its inside surface at an end of the container body inserted into the device.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a container body that stores supplies to be provided to a device, that is to be inserted into the device, and that has a port out of which the supplies flow; and

a pair of support members arranged so that the support members face each other across the port, that supports an openable and closable cover for covering the port so that the openable and closable cover is able to move between a closed position at which the port is covered and an open position at which the port is exposed, the openable and closable cover including;

a covering portion that covers the port at the close position;

a pair of supported members that are supported by the support members; and

a pair of connecting portions arranged so that the connecting portions face each other, and connects the covering portion and the supported members, and at least one of the connecting portions being configured so that the connecting portion becomes narrow as an outside surface of the connecting portion tapers towards its inside surface at an end of the container body inserted into the device.

2. The container according to claim 1, further comprising a protection portion provided on the container body in a side of an insert direction in which the container body is inserted into the device, relative to the openable and closable cover, that prevents a member inside the device from coming into contact with ends in a side of the insert direction of the connecting portions, while allowing a contact member inside the device to come into contact with the covering portion, the contact member moving the openable and closable cover by coming into contact with an end in a side of the insert direction of the covering portion.

3. The container according to claim 2, wherein the protection portion is formed so that the protection portion allows the outside surface of the connecting portion to be seen from a side of the insert direction, while not allowing the ends in a side of the insert direction of the connecting portions to be seen from a side of the insert direction.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein leading ends of the pair of connecting portions taper toward a longitudinal axis of the covering portion and are located within a periphery of the covering portion.

5. A container comprising:

a container body that stores supplies to be provided to a device, that is to be inserted into the device, and that has a port out of which the supplies flow; and

a pair of support members arranged so that the support members face each other across the port, that supports an openable and closable cover for covering the port so that the openable and closable cover is able to move between a closed position at which the port is covered and an open position at which the port is exposed, the openable and closable cover including;

a covering portion that covers the port at the closed position;

a pair of supported members that are supported by the support members;

a pair of connecting portions arranged so that the connecting portions face each other, and connects the covering portion and the supported members, and at least one of the connecting portions being configured so that the connecting portion becomes narrow as an outside surface of the connecting portion tapers towards its inside surface at an end of the container body inserted into the device; and

a protection portion provided on the container body in a side of an insert direction in which the container body is inserted into the device, relative to the openable and closable cover, that prevents a member inside the device from coming into contact with ends in a side of the insert direction of the connecting portions, while allowing a contact member inside the device to come into contact with the covering portion, the contact member moving the openable and closable cover by coming into contact with an end in a side of the insert direction of the covering portion.

6. The container according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the connecting portions is configured so that the connecting portion becomes narrow as an outside surface of the connecting portion tapers towards its inside surface at an end of the container body inserted into the device.

7. The container according to claim 6, wherein the protection portion is formed so that the protection portion allows the outside surface of the connecting portion to be seen from a side of the insert direction, while not allowing the ends in a side of the insert direction of the connecting portions to be seen from a side of the insert direction.

8. A device comprising:

a container comprising;

a container body that stores supplies to be provided to the device, that is to be inserted into the device, and that has a port out of which the supplies flow; and

a pair of support members arranged so that the support members face each other across the port, that supports an openable and closable cover for covering the port so that the openable and closable cover is able to move between a closed position at which the port is covered and an open position at which the port is exposed, the openable and closable cover including;

a covering portion that covers the port at the closed position;

a pair of supported members that are supported by the support members; and

a pair of connecting portions arranged so that the connecting portions face each other, and connects the covering portion and the supported members, and at least one of the connecting portions being configured so that the connecting portion becomes narrow as an outside surface of the connecting portion tapers towards its inside surface at an end of the container body inserted into the device;

a fixing member provided on the device, that fixes the openable and closable cover of the container inserted into the device at the open position; and

a prevention member arranged between the container body of the container inserted into the device and the fixing member, that prevents the fixing member from moving in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the openable and closable cover is moved, the prevention member being arranged in correspondence with the connecting portion.

9. A device comprising:

a container comprising;

a container body that stores supplies to be provided to the device, that is to be inserted into the device, and that has a port out of which the supplies flow; and

a pair of support members arranged so that the support members face each other across the port, that supports an openable and closable cover for covering the port so that the openable and closable cover is able to move between a closed position at which the port is covered and an open position at which the port is exposed, the openable and closable cover including;

a covering portion that covers the port at the closed position;

a pair of supported members that are supported by the support members;

a pair of connecting portions arranged so that the connecting portions face each other, and connects the covering portion and the supported members, and at least one of the connecting portions being configured so that the connecting portion becomes narrow as an outside surface of the connecting portion tapers towards its inside surface at an end of the container body inserted into the device;

a protection portion provided on the container body in a side of an insert direction in which the container body is inserted into the device, relative to the openable and closable cover, that prevents a member inside the device from coming into contact with ends in a side of the insert direction of the connecting portions, while allowing a contact member inside the device to come into contact with the covering portion, the contact member moving the openable and closable cover by coming into contact with an end in a side of the insert direction of the covering portion;

a fixing member provided on the device, that fixes the openable and closable cover of the container inserted into the device at the open position; and

a prevention member arranged between the container body of the container inserted into the device and the fixing member, that prevents the fixing member from moving in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the openable and closable cover is moved.