# US 11,307,517 B2 · Powder container with a contact portion to cancel a restriction member from restricting rotation of an engagement portion > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,307,517 B2 - Document ID: US11307517B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/077,876 - Filed: 2020-10-22 - Published: 2021-02-11 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-13 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Applicants: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Inventors: Hiroaki Nieda; Kuniyori Takano; Shinichi Arasawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11307517B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/0886: {by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug} - G03G 21/10: Collecting or recycling waste developer - G03G 21/12: Toner waste containers - G03G 21/1814: {Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing (G03G21/1835 takes precedence)} - G03G 21/1821: {means for connecting the different parts of the process cartridge, e.g. attachment, positioning of parts with each other, pressure/distance regulation (G03G21/1825 takes precedence)} - G03G 15/0875: {cartridges having a box like shape} - G03G 2215/0668: Toner discharging opening at one axial end - G03G 2215/067: Toner discharging opening covered by arcuate shutter - G03G 2215/0692: using a slidable sealing member, e.g. shutter - G03G 2221/1612: plural shutters for openings of process cartridge - G03G 2221/1624: transporting cleaned toner into separate vessels, e.g. photoreceptors, external containers - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A powder container includes a collection port to communicate with an outlet port of a body or removable component, and to receive and collect powder flowing out through the outlet port. There is a shutter to open and close the collection port, and a rotation portion to be engageable with an engagement portion which is to open and close a cartridge shutter to open and close the outlet port through which the powder flows out. An operation device is to rotate the rotation portion in conjunction with an operation of the operation device, and a contact portion is included in the rotation portion to contact a restriction member. The contact portion is to cancel the restriction member from restricting rotation of the engagement portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A powder container configured to be attached to and detached from one of a body of an image forming apparatus and a removable component to be installed in and removed from the body of the image forming apparatus, the powder container comprising: a collection port configured to communicate with an outlet port of the one of the body and the removable component, and to receive and collect powder flowing out through the outlet port; a container shutter configured to open and close the collection port; a rotation portion configured to be engageable with an engagement portion of the one of the body and the removable component, the engagement portion configured to open and close a cartridge shutter of the one of the body and the removable component to open and close the outlet port through which the powder flows out; an operator configured to rotate the rotation portion in conjunction with an operation of the operator; and a contact portion included in the rotation portion and configured to contact a restrictor of the one of the body and the removable component in conjunction with attachment of the powder container to the one of the body and the removable component, to cancel the restrictor from restricting rotation of the engagement portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The powder container according to claim 1, wherein the rotation portion engaging with the engagement portion is configured to rotate the engagement portion in conjunction with the operation of the operator and move the cartridge shutter and the container shutter to open and close the outlet port and the collection port. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The powder container according to claim 1, wherein a direction in which the rotation portion and the engagement portion engage with each other is perpendicular to a direction in which the powder container is attached to and detached from the one of the body and the removable component, in a state in which the outlet port and the collection port are opened by rotation of the engagement portion engaging with the rotation portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The powder container according to claim 1, wherein the restrictor is disposed in a plate casing of the one of the body and the removable component, wherein the engagement portion is rotatably supported by the plate casing, and wherein the contact portion is configured to push the restrictor, in a state in which the rotation portion sandwiches the plate casing, to cancel the restrictor from restricting the rotation of the engagement portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The powder container according to claim 4, wherein the rotation portion includes: a circular portion configured to engage with the engagement portion; and a protrusion projecting from the circular portion and configured to sandwich the plate casing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The powder container according to claim 1, wherein the restrictor is a projection projecting from a plate casing of the one of the body and the removable component, wherein the engagement portion is rotatably supported by the plate casing, wherein the contact portion includes an inclined surface inclined relative to a direction in which the powder container is attached to and detached from the one of the body and the removable component, and wherein the inclined surface is configured to contact the projection to cancel the restrictor from restricting the rotation of the engagement portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The powder container according to claim 1, wherein, in a state in which the engagement portion rotates from a target position, the rotation portion is configured to rotate the engagement portion to the target position while pushing the engagement portion in conjunction with the attachment of the powder container to the one of the body and the removable component to engage with the engagement portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The powder container according to claim 1, wherein the operator is integrated with the rotation portion as a single unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The powder container according to claim 1, further comprising: a conveying rotator including: a shaft portion; and one of a screw blade and a coil wound around the shaft portion in a rotation axis direction of the conveying rotator and configured to convey the powder that flows through the collection port, and a flexible sheet configured to contact the conveying rotator and swing in a flow path from the outlet port to the conveying rotator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The powder container according to claim 9, wherein the flexible sheet is configured to contact the conveying rotator in a range of a pitch of the one of the screw blade and the coil and contact the one of the screw blade and the coil with a contact angle of 20 degrees or more. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The powder container according to claim 9, wherein the flexible sheet is configured to contact the one of the screw blade and the coil with a contact width less than or equal to a width of a root of the screw blade or a wire diameter of the coil.