BODY MEMBER OF A POWDER CONTAINER

• US 20080310884A1
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goro Katsuyama, Junichi Matsumoto, Nobuo Iwata, Nobuo Kasahara, Satoshi Muramatsu
• Original Assignee: Goro Katsuyama, Junichi Matsumoto, Nobuo Iwata, Nobuo Kasahara, Satoshi Muramatsu
• Inventors: Kasahara, Nobuo, Katsuyama, Goro, Iwata, Nobuo, Muramatsu, Satoshi, MATSUMOTO, Junichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,796,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/262
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0855 the concentration being measured by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying new developer
• 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 15/0874 non-rigid containers, e.g. foldable cartridges, bags
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0886 by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0894 Reconditioning of the developer unit, i.e. reusing or recycling parts of the unit, e.g. resealing of the unit before refilling with toner
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0682 Bag-type non-rigid container
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0692 using a slidable sealing member, e.g. shutter

Abstract

The body member of a powder container of the present invention includes a bag-like powder storing body storing powder and formed with an opening at one end, and a base member affixed to the opening of the powder storing body. The base member allows an outlet member, which is formed with a passage configured to deliver the powder from the powder storing body to an outlet and has a shutter function for selectively blocking or unblocking the passage, to be connected to or disconnected from the base member.

Claims

6. (canceled)

7. A toner container, comprising:

a toner storing body configured to store toner;

a shutter opening configured to receive a nozzle of an image forming apparatus;

a toner reception opening configured to receive the toner from the toner storing body, the toner which is received from the toner reception opening being subsequently received by the nozzle of the image forming apparatus, when the nozzle is disposed through the shutter opening;

a cylindrical shutter configured to open and close the shutter opening when moved by a nozzle of the image forming apparatus inserted into the shutter opening; and

an O-shaped elastic ring disposed at the shutter opening configured to seal a space between the shutter opening and the shutter.

1. The powder container according to claim 7,

wherein a diameter of the cylindrical shutter is below 10 mm.

2. The powder container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cylindrical shutter is removably fittable in the shutter opening.

3. The powder container according to claim 7,

wherein passages of the shutter opening and the toner reception opening comprise a T-junction configuration.

4. The powder container as claimed in claim 3, wherein a diameter of the cylindrical shutter is below 10 mm.

5. The powder container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the shutter is removably fittable in the shutter opening.

8. A toner container according to claim 7, wherein:

said O-shaped elastic ring is configured to form a seal against the nozzle when the nozzle is inserted through the shutter opening.

9. A developing apparatus including the toner container as claimed in claim 7.

10. A toner container according to claim 7, wherein:

the toner storing body is a bag.

11. A toner container according to claim 10, further comprising:

two sheets attached to the bag which are configured to remain flat when the bag is filled with toner, and when the bag is low on toner.

12. A toner container according to claim 7, wherein:

the toner storing body comprises a flexible material.

13. A toner container according to claim 7, further comprising:

a mouth member disposed at an end of the toner storing body, the mouth member including the shutter opening and the toner reception opening.

14. A toner container according to claim 13, wherein:

the mouth member is affixed to an open portion of the toner storing body.

15. A toner container according to claim 13, wherein the mouth member comprises:

an upper body portion; and

a lower body portion.

16. A toner container according to claim 13, wherein:

the toner storing body comprises a flexible material.

17. A toner according to claim 7, wherein:

the toner storing body comprises two flexible sheets.

18. A toner container according to claim 7, wherein:

the O-shaped elastic ring has a pentagonal cross-shape.

19. A toner container according to claim 7, wherein:

the O-shaped elastic ring is tapered such that a narrower portion contacts the shutter.

20. A toner container according to claim 7, further comprising:

a cover configured to cover a portion which forms the cylindrical valve room, the cover including;

a hole which is coaxial with the cylindrical shutter,

wherein the cover prevents removal of the O-shaped elastic ring.

21. A toner container according to claim 7, wherein:

the toner reception opening is configured such that the toner which passes through the toner reception opening is directly received by the nozzle of the image forming apparatus.

22. A toner container according to claim 7, wherein:

the toner reception opening comprises a funnel-like tapered portion.

23. A toner container according to claim 7, further comprising:

toner in the toner storing body.