US 12,455,517 B2 · Container having a shutter and a cap mounted to the shutter to cover an end portion of the container

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a form of a container for use with an image forming apparatus [Solution] A container for use with an image forming apparatus and for accommodating a content of powder or a liquid, the container includes an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the content; an end portion including a discharging portion which includes a discharge opening for permitting discharge of the content to an outside of the container and a passage configured so that the content passes through the passage toward the discharge opening, and including a shutter configured to be movable relative to the discharging portion between a shielding position where the shutter shields the discharge opening and an open position where the shutter opens the discharge opening; and a cap mounted to the end portion so as to cover at least a part of the end portion and configured to be dismounted from the end portion by being rotated relative to the end portion.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A container for use with an image forming apparatus and for accommodating a content of powder or a liquid, the container comprising:

an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the content;
an end portion including a discharging portion that includes a discharge opening for permitting discharge of the content to outside of the container and a passage configured so that the content passes through the passage toward the discharge opening, and the end portion including a shutter configured to be rotatable about a rotational axis relative to the discharging portion between a shielding position where the shutter shields the discharge opening and an open position where the shutter opens the discharge opening, the shutter being rotatable from the shielding position to the open position in a first rotational direction and from the open position to the shielding position in a second rotational direction;
and
a cap mounted to the shutter so as to cover at least a part of the end portion and configured to be dismounted from the end portion by being rotated about the rotational axis relative to the shutter in the second rotational direction.

1 more element

A toner container comprising:

a toner accommodating portion configured to accommodate toner;
a nozzle communicating with the toner accommodating portion and aligned with the toner accommodating portion in a first direction, the nozzle being provided with an opening forming a part of a discharging passage for permitting discharge of the toner to outside of the toner container;
a shutter configured to move between an open position where the shutter opens the opening and a closed position where the shutter closes the opening;
and
a cap mounted to the shutter so as to cover at least a part of the shutter, the cap being configured to engage with the shutter and to disengage with the shutter,
wherein the opening of the nozzle is provided at a side surface extending along the first direction of the nozzle,
wherein, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the shutter is provided outside the side surface of the nozzle, and
wherein a movement direction of the cap for releasing the engagement of the cap with the shutter is the same as a movement direction of the shutter when the shutter is moved from the open position to the closed position.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Container having a shutter and a cap mounted to the shutter to cover an end portion of the container

Life of this patent

Container having a shutter and a cap mounted to the shutter to cover an end portion of the container

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32