Sealing member, toner accommodating container and image forming apparatus

US 7,647,012 B2
Filed: 07/09/2008
Issued: 01/12/2010
Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2001
Status: Expired due to Term

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1. A toner supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, said container comprising:

a container body having an inner space configured and positioned to contain toner;

a feeding portion configured and positioned to feed the toner in said container body to discharge the toner out of said container body; and

a coupling member configured and positioned to engage with a hollow cylindrical member provided in the image forming apparatus,wherein said coupling member includes;

an engaging portion configured and positioned to engage with a hole formed in a peripheral portion of the cylindrical member to receive a rotational force from the cylindrical member;

a supporting portion configured and positioned to support said engaging portion, said supporting portion being displaceable substantially radially outwardly to establish engagement of said engaging portion with the hole of the cylindrical member by a relative movement between the cylindrical member and said coupling member in a direction of overlapping therebetween; and

a displacing force receiving portion, disposed at a position on said supporting portion closer to said container body than said engaging portion with respect to a direction parallel with the direction of overlapping therebetween, configured to receive, from a slidable hollow member provided in the image forming apparatus outside the cylindrical member, a displacing force for displacing said engaging portion substantially radially inwardly to permit a relative movement for disengagement between the cylindrical member and said coupling member in a direction opposite to the direction of overlapping.

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Abstract

A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.

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40 Claims

1. A toner supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, said container comprising:
- a container body having an inner space configured and positioned to contain toner;
  
  a feeding portion configured and positioned to feed the toner in said container body to discharge the toner out of said container body; and
  
  a coupling member configured and positioned to engage with a hollow cylindrical member provided in the image forming apparatus,wherein said coupling member includes;
  
  an engaging portion configured and positioned to engage with a hole formed in a peripheral portion of the cylindrical member to receive a rotational force from the cylindrical member;
  
  a supporting portion configured and positioned to support said engaging portion, said supporting portion being displaceable substantially radially outwardly to establish engagement of said engaging portion with the hole of the cylindrical member by a relative movement between the cylindrical member and said coupling member in a direction of overlapping therebetween; and
  
  a displacing force receiving portion, disposed at a position on said supporting portion closer to said container body than said engaging portion with respect to a direction parallel with the direction of overlapping therebetween, configured to receive, from a slidable hollow member provided in the image forming apparatus outside the cylindrical member, a displacing force for displacing said engaging portion substantially radially inwardly to permit a relative movement for disengagement between the cylindrical member and said coupling member in a direction opposite to the direction of overlapping.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- - 2. A container according to claim 1, wherein a radially outermost part of said displacing force receiving portion is more remote from a rotation axis of said coupling member than a radially outermost part of said engaging portion.
  - 3. A container according to claim 1, wherein said coupling member further includes a plurality of supporting portions, each of which supports an engaging portion and a displacing force receiving portion, and wherein said supporting portions are arranged discretely in a rotational direction of said coupling member.
  - 4. A container according to claim 1, wherein said feeding portion is integrally rotatable with said container body, and wherein said coupling member includes a transmitting portion configured and positioned to transmit the rotational force to said container body.
  - 5. A container according to claim 4, wherein said feeding portion includes a toner guiding portion extending helically on an inner surface of said container body.
  - 6. A container according to claim 4, wherein said feeding portion includes a plate-like member extending substantially in a direction parallel with a rotation axis of said container body, and a plurality of projections inclined relative to the rotation axis on said plate-like member to guide the toner.
  - 7. A container according to claim 6, wherein said plate-like member extends along a substantially full length of said container body.
  - 8. A container according to claim 1, wherein said supporting portion is made of a plastic material so as to be elastically restorable substantially radially outwardly.
  - 9. A container according to claim 1, wherein said coupling member further includes an urging member configured and positioned to urge said supporting portion substantially radially outwardly.
  - 10. A container according to claim 1, wherein said displacing force receiving portion is provided integrally with said supporting portion.
  - 11. A container according to claim 1, wherein said displacing force receiving portion and said engaging portion are disposed on a line parallel with the direction of overlapping.

12. A toner supply system including a toner supply apparatus and a toner supply container for supplying toner to said toner supply apparatus, said system comprising:
- said toner supply apparatus including;
  
  a mounting portion configured and positioned to detachably mount said toner supply container;
  
  a hollow cylindrical member, provided with a hole formed in a peripheral portion thereof configured and positioned to apply a rotational force; and
  
  a hollow member configured and positioned to apply a displacing force, said hollow member being slidable outside said cylindrical member,said toner supply container including;
  
  a container body having an inner space configured and positioned to contain the toner;
  
  a feeding portion configured and positioned to feed the toner in said container body to discharge the toner out of said container body; and
  
  a coupling member configured and positioned to engage with said cylindrical member;
  
  wherein said coupling member includes;
  
  an engaging portion configured and positioned to engage with said hole of said cylindrical member to receive the rotational force from said cylindrical member;
  
  a supporting portion configured and positioned to support said engaging portion, said supporting portion being displaceable substantially radially outwardly to establish engagement of said engaging portion with said hole by a relative movement between said cylindrical member and said coupling member in a direction of overlapping therebetween; and
  
  a displacing force receiving portion, disposed at a position on said supporting portion closer to said container body than said engaging portion with respect to a direction parallel with the direction of overlapping, configured to receive, from said hollow member, the displacing force for displacing said engaging portion substantially radially inwardly to permit a relative movement for disengagement between said cylindrical member and said coupling member in a direction opposite to the direction of overlapping.
- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- - 13. A system according to claim 12, wherein a radially outermost part of said displacing force receiving portion is more remote from a rotation axis of said coupling member than a radially outermost part of said engaging portion.
  - 14. A system according to claim 12, wherein said coupling member further includes a plurality of supporting portions, each of which supports an engaging portion and a displacing force receiving portion, and wherein said supporting portions are arranged discretely in a rotational direction of said coupling member.
  - 15. A system according to claim 12, wherein said feeding portion is integrally rotatable with said container body, and wherein said coupling member further includes a transmitting portion configured and positioned to transmit the rotational force to said container body.
  - 16. A system according to claim 15, wherein said feeding portion includes a toner guiding portion extending helically on an inner surface of said container body.
  - 17. A system according to claim 15, wherein said feeding portion includes a plate-like member extending substantially in a direction parallel with a rotation axis of said container body, and wherein a plurality of projections inclined relative to the rotation axis on said plate-like member to guide the toner.
  - 18. A system according to claim 17, wherein said plate-like member extends along a substantially full length of said container body.
  - 19. A system according to claim 12, wherein said supporting portion is made of a plastic material so as to be elastically restorable substantially radially outwardly.
  - 20. A system according to claim 12, wherein said coupling member further includes an urging member configured and positioned to urge said supporting portion substantially radially outwardly.
  - 21. A system according to claim 12, wherein said displacing force receiving portion is provided integrally with said supporting portion.
  - 22. A system according to claim 12, wherein said displacing force receiving portion and said engaging portion are disposed on a line parallel with the direction of overlapping.

23. A toner supply container detachably mountable to an assembly of an electrophotographic imaging forming apparatus having a hollow cylindrical driving member that has a slot formed therein, which slot extends in a circumferential direction and defines a plurality of interior surfaces of the hollow cylindrical driving member, and a hollow cylinder that is substantially concentric with the hollow cylindrical driving member, said toner supply container comprising:
- i) a container body configured to contain toner and rotatable about an axis thereof, said container body including an opening provided at one axial end portion thereof and configured to permit discharge of toner contained in said container body; and
  
  ii) a sealing member provided at the one axial end portion of said container body, said sealing member being movable relative to said container body in an axial direction of said container body, said sealing member including;
  
  ii-i) a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent said container body and configured to seal said opening when said sealing member and said container body are in a first position relative to one another, said opening becoming unsealed by relative movement of said sealing member and said container body away from one another from the first position to a second position relative to one another; and
  
  ii-ii) a coupling portion provided at a side remote from said container body and configured and positioned to receive a rotational drive force, said coupling portion including;
  
  ii-ii-i) a supporting portion provided on said sealing portion, said supporting portion being elastically displaceable in an inward direction toward the axis of said container body and elastically restorable in an outward direction away from the axis of said container body;
  
  ii-ii-ii) an engaging portion provided at a free end of said supporting portion, said engaging portion configured and positioned to (a) displace in an inward direction with said supporting portion as said engaging portion enters the hollow cylindrical driving member and (b) engage with the slot of the hollow cylindrical driving member when said supporting portion elastically restores in an outward direction, said engaging portion including;
  
  ii-ii-ii-i) a rotational force receiving portion capable of being abutted in a circumferential direction of the hollow cylindrical driving member by at least a portion of a first interior surface of the hollow cylindrical driving member defined by the slot to receive a rotational drive force from the hollow cylindrical driving member to rotate said container body; and
  
  ii-ii-ii-ii) a locking portion capable of being abutted in an axial direction of the hollow cylindrical driving member by at least a portion of a second interior surface of the hollow cylindrical driving member defined by the slot to prevent the sealing member from moving in the axial direction of said container body when said container body moves away from the hollow cylindrical driving member, thus causing the relative movement of said sealing member and said container body from the first position, in which said opening is sealed, to the second position, in which said opening is unsealed; and
  
  ii-ii-iii) a displacing force receiving portion provided at a position closer to said container body than said engaging portion, said displacing force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive a force from the hollow cylinder and cause said supporting portion to elastically displace in an inward direction.
- View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
- - 25. A toner supply container according to claim 23 or 24, wherein said coupling portion includes a plurality of supporting portions, each of which has an engaging portion and a displacing force receiving portion, and wherein said supporting portions are arranged discretely in a rotational direction of said coupling portion.
  - 26. A toner supply container according to claim 23 or 24, further comprising a feeding portion integrally rotatable with said container body, wherein said sealing member includes a transmitting portion configured and positioned to transmit the rotational drive force received by the coupling portion to said container body.
  - 27. A toner supply container according to claim 26, wherein said feeding portion includes a toner guiding portion extending helically on an inner surface of said container body.
  - 28. A toner supply container according to claim 26, wherein said feeding portion includes a plate-like member extending substantially in a direction parallel with the rotation axis of said container body, and a plurality of projections inclined relative to the rotation axis on said plate-like member to guide the toner.
  - 29. A toner supply container according to claim 28, wherein said plate-like member extends along a substantially full length of said container body.
  - 30. A toner supply container according to claim 23 or 24, wherein said supporting portion is made of a plastic material.
  - 31. A toner supply container according to claim 23 or 24, wherein said sealing portion and said coupling portion are integrally molded.

24. A toner supply container detachably mountable to an assembly of an electrophotographic imaging forming apparatus having a hollow cylindrical driving member that has a slot formed therein, which slot extends in a circumferential direction and defines a plurality of interior surfaces of the hollow cylindrical driving member, and a hollow cylinder that is substantially concentric with the hollow cylindrical driving member, said toner supply container comprising:
- i) a container body configured to contain toner and rotatable about an axis thereof, said container body including an opening provided at one axial end portion thereof and configured to permit discharge of toner contained in said container body; and
  
  ii) a sealing member provided at the one axial end portion of said container body, said sealing member being movable relative to said container body in an axial direction of said container body, said sealing member including;
  
  ii-i) a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent said container body and configured to seal said opening when said sealing member and said container body are in a first position relative to one another, said opening becoming unsealed by relative movement of said sealing member and said container body away from one another from the first position to a second position relative to one another; and
  
  ii-ii) a coupling portion provided at a side remote from said container body and configured and positioned to receive a rotational drive force, said coupling portion including;
  
  ii-ii-i) a supporting portion provided on said sealing portion, said supporting portion being elastically displaceable in an inward direction toward the axis of said container body and elastically restorable in an outward direction away from the axis of said container body;
  
  ii-ii-ii) an engaging portion provided at a free end of said supporting portion, said engaging portion configured and positioned to (a) displace in an inward direction with said supporting portion as said engaging portion enters the hollow cylindrical driving member and (b) engage with the slot of the hollow cylindrical driving member when said supporting portion elastically restores in an outward direction, said engaging portion including;
  
  ii-ii-ii-i) a rotational force receiving portion capable of being abutted in a circumferential direction of the hollow cylindrical driving member by at least a portion of a first interior surface of the hollow cylindrical driving member defined by the slot to receive a rotational drive force from the hollow cylindrical driving member to rotate said container body; and
  
  ii-ii-ii-ii) a locking portion capable of being abutted in an axial direction of the hollow cylindrical driving member by at least a portion of a second interior surface of the hollow cylindrical driving member defined by the slot to prevent the sealing member from moving in the axial direction of said container body when said container body moves away from the hollow cylindrical driving member, thus causing the relative movement of said sealing member and said container body from the first position, in which said opening is sealed, to the second position, in which said opening is unsealed; and
  
  ii-ii-iii) a displacing force receiving portion provided at a position closer to said container body than said engaging portion, said displacing force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive a force from the hollow cylinder and cause said supporting portion to elastically displace in an inward direction,wherein a radially outermost part of said displacing force receiving portion is more remote from a rotation axis of said coupling portion than a radially outermost part of said engaging portion.

32. A toner supply system comprising:
- i) an assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said assembly including;
  
  i-i) a hollow cylindrical driving member that has a slot formed therein, which slot extends in a circumferential direction and defines a plurality of interior surfaces of said hollow cylindrical driving member; and
  
  i-ii) a hollow cylinder that is substantially concentric with said hollow cylindrical driving member; and
  
  ii) a toner supply container detachably mountable to said assembly, said toner supply container including;
  
  ii-i) a container body configured to contain toner and rotatable about an axis thereof, said container body including an opening provided at one axial end portion thereof and configured to permit discharge of toner contained in said container body; and
  
  ii-ii) a sealing member provided at the one axial end portion of said container body, said sealing member being movable relative to said container body in an axial direction of said container body, said sealing member including;
  
  ii-ii-i) a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent said container body and configured to seal said opening when said sealing member and said container body are in a first position relative to one another, said opening becoming unsealed by relative movement of said sealing member and said container body away from one another from the first position to a second position relative to one another; and
  
  ii-ii-ii) a coupling portion provided at a side remote from said container body and configured and positioned to receive a rotational drive force, said coupling portion including;
  
  ii-ii-ii-i) a supporting portion provided on said sealing portion, said supporting portion being elastically displaceable in an inward direction toward the axis of said container body and elastically restorable in an outward direction away from the axis of said container body;
  
  ii-ii-ii-ii) an engaging portion provided at a free end of said supporting portion, said engaging portion configured and positioned to (a) displace in an inward direction with said supporting portion as said engaging portion enters said hollow cylindrical driving member and (b) engage with the slot of said hollow cylindrical driving member when said supporting portion elastically restores in an outward direction, said engaging portion including;
  
  ii-ii-ii-ii-i) a rotational force receiving portion capable of being abutted in a circumferential direction of said hollow cylindrical driving member by at least a portion of a first interior surface of said hollow cylindrical driving member defined by the slot to receive a rotational drive force from said hollow cylindrical driving member to rotate said container body; and
  
  ii-ii-ii-ii-ii) a locking portion capable of being abutted in an axial direction of said hollow cylindrical driving member by at least a portion of a second interior surface of said hollow cylindrical driving member defined by the slot to prevent the sealing member from moving in the axial direction of said container body when said container body moves away from said hollow cylindrical driving member, thus causing the relative movement of said sealing member and said container body from the first position, in which said opening is sealed, to the second position, in which said opening is unsealed; and
  
  ii-ii-ii-iii) a displacing force receiving portion provided at a position closer to said container body than said engaging portion, said displacing force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive a force from said hollow cylinder and cause said supporting portion to elastically displace in an inward direction.
- View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40)
- - 33. A toner supply system according to claim 32, wherein said coupling portion includes a plurality of supporting portions, each of which has an engaging portion and a displacing force receiving portion, and wherein said supporting portions are arranged discretely in a rotational direction of said coupling portion.
  - 34. A toner supply system according to claim 32, wherein said toner supply container further includes a feeding portion integrally rotatable with said container body, and wherein said sealing member includes a transmitting portion configured and positioned to transmit the rotational drive force received by the coupling portion to said container body.
  - 35. A toner supply system according to claim 34, wherein said feeding portion includes a toner guiding portion extending helically on an inner surface of said container body.
  - 36. A toner supply system according to claim 34, wherein said feeding portion includes a plate-like member extending substantially in a direction parallel with the rotation axis of said container body, and a plurality of projections inclined relative to the rotation axis on said plate-like member to guide the toner.
  - 37. A toner supply system according to claim 36, wherein said plate-like member extends along a substantially full length of said container body.
  - 38. A toner supply system according to claim 32, wherein said supporting portion is made of a plastic material.
  - 40. A toner supply system according to claim 32 or 39, wherein said sealing portion and said coupling portion are integrally molded.

39. A toner supply system comprising:
- i) an assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, said assembly including;
  
  i-i) a hollow cylindrical driving member that has a slot formed therein, which slot extends in a circumferential direction and defines a plurality of interior surfaces of said hollow cylindrical driving member; and
  
  i-ii) a hollow cylinder that is substantially concentric with said hollow cylindrical driving member; and
  
  ii) a toner supply container detachably mountable to said assembly, said toner supply container including;
  
  ii-i) a container body configured to contain toner and rotatable about an axis thereof, said container body including an opening provided at one axial end portion thereof and configured to permit discharge of toner contained in said container body; and
  
  ii-ii) a sealing member provided at the one axial end portion of said container body, said sealing member being movable relative to said container body in an axial direction of said container body, said sealing member including;
  
  ii-ii-i) a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent said container body and configured to seal said opening when said sealing member and said container body are in a first position relative to one another, said opening becoming unsealed by relative movement of said sealing member and said container body away from one another from the first position to a second position relative to one another; and
  
  ii-ii-ii) a coupling portion provided at a side remote from said container body and configured and positioned to receive a rotational drive force, said coupling portion including;
  
  ii-ii-ii-i) a supporting portion provided on said sealing portion, said supporting portion being elastically displaceable in an inward direction toward the axis of said container body and elastically restorable in an outward direction away from the axis of said container body;
  
  ii-ii-ii-ii) an engaging portion provided at a free end of said supporting portion, said engaging portion configured and positioned to (a) displace in an inward direction with said supporting portion as said engaging portion enters said hollow cylindrical driving member and (b) engage with the slot of said hollow cylindrical driving member when said supporting portion elastically restores in an outward direction, said engaging portion including;
  
  ii-ii-ii-ii-i) a rotational force receiving portion capable of being abutted in a circumferential direction of said hollow cylindrical driving member by at least a portion of a first interior surface of said hollow cylindrical driving member defined by the slot to receive a rotational drive force from said hollow cylindrical driving member to rotate said container body; and
  
  ii-ii-ii-ii-ii) a locking portion capable of being abutted in an axial direction of said hollow cylindrical driving member by at least a portion of a second interior surface of said hollow cylindrical driving member defined by the slot to prevent the sealing member from moving in the axial direction of said container body when said container body moves away from said hollow cylindrical driving member, thus causing the relative movement of said sealing member and said container body from the first position, in which said opening is sealed, to the second position, in which said opening is unsealed; and
  
  ii-ii-ii-iii) a displacing force receiving portion provided at a position closer to said container body than said engaging portion, said displacing force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive a force from said hollow cylinder and cause said supporting portion to elastically displace in an inward direction,wherein a radially outermost part of said displacing force receiving portion is more remote from a rotation axis of said coupling portion than a radially outermost part of said engaging portion.

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Litigation Data

Current Assignee
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
Original Assignee
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
Inventors
Murakami, Katsuya, Yamada, Yusuke, Ban, Yutaka, Tazawa, Fumio, Minagawa, Hironori
Primary Examiner(s)
LEE, SUSAN SHUK YIN

Application Number

US12/169,895
Publication Number

US 20090003872A1
Time in Patent Office

552 Days
Field of Search

399/106, 399/262, 399/119, 399/120, 222/DIG.1
US Class Current

399/262
CPC Class Codes

G03G 15/0868   Toner cartridges fulfilling...

G03G 15/0872   the developer cartridges be...

G03G 15/0877   Arrangements for metering a...

G03G 15/0881   Sealing of developer cartri...

G03G 15/0886   by mechanical means, e.g. s...

G03G 15/757   Drive mechanisms for photos...

G03G 2215/0668   Toner discharging opening a...

G03G 2215/0678   Bottle shaped container hav...

G03G 2215/0692   using a slidable sealing me...

G03G 2221/1657   transmitting mechanical dri...

Y10S 222/01   Xerography

Sealing member, toner accommodating container and image forming apparatus

First Claim

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40 Claims

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Sealing member, toner accommodating container and image forming apparatus

First Claim

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40 Claims

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