# US 2015/0147084 A1 · Sealing member, toner accommodating container and image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0147084 A1 - Document ID: US20150147084A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/532,438 - Filed: 2014-11-04 - Published: 2015-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2001-02-19 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yusuke Yamada; Yutaka Ban; Katsuya Murakami; Fumio Tazawa; Hironori Minagawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150147084A1 ## CPC - G03G 15/0881: {Sealing of developer cartridges} - 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} - G03G 15/0872: {the developer cartridges being generally horizontally mounted parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis} - G03G 15/0877: {Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit} - G03G 15/0886: {by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug} - G03G 15/757: {Drive mechanisms for photosensitive medium, e.g. gears} - G03G 2215/0668: Toner discharging opening at one axial end - G03G 2215/0678: Bottle shaped container having a bottle neck for toner discharge - G03G 2215/0692: using a slidable sealing member, e.g. shutter - G03G 2221/1657: transmitting mechanical drive power - Y10S 222/01: Xerography - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A toner supply container includes a toner container body including a cylindrical portion and an opening, and a sealing member provided at one axial end portion of the container body. The sealing member is movable relative to the container body in an axial direction and includes a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent the container body and a coupling portion provided at a side remote from the container body. The coupling portion includes a supporting portion provided on the sealing portion, and an engaging portion provided at a free end of the supporting portion, and a displacing force receiving portion is provided on the supporting portion at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion. The displacing force receiving portion is displaceable with the supporting portion and has a radially outermost part that is more remote from a rotation axis of the container body than a radially outermost part of the engaging portion, and a radially outermost part of the container body is more remote from the rotation axis of the container body than the radially outermost part of the displacing force receiving portion. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 A toner supply container comprising: i) a container body configured to contain toner and rotatable about an axis thereof, the container body including a cylindrical portion and an opening provided at one axial end portion thereof and configured to permit discharge of the toner contained in the container body; and ii) a sealing member provided at the one axial end portion of the container body, the sealing member being movable relative to the container body in an axial direction of the container body, the sealing member including: ii-i) a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent the container body and configured to seal the opening when the sealing member and the container body are in a first position relative to one another, the opening becoming unsealed by relative movement of the sealing member and the 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 the container body and configured and positioned to receive a rotational drive force for rotating the sealing member and the container body about the rotation axis of the container body, the coupling portion including: ii-ii-i) a supporting portion provided on the sealing portion, the supporting portion being elastically displaceable in an inward direction toward the rotation axis of the container body and elastically restorable in an outward direction away from the rotation axis of the container body; ii-ii-ii) an engaging portion provided at a free end of the supporting portion and being displaceable with the supporting portion, the engaging portion including: ii-ii-ii-i) a rotational force receiving portion capable of being abutted in a direction that is concentric with a circumference of the cylindrical portion of the container body to receive a rotational drive force for rotating the sealing member and the container body; and ii-ii-ii-ii) a locking portion capable of being abutted in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the container body to enable the relative movement of the sealing member and the container body from the first position, in which the opening is sealed, to the second position, in which the opening is unsealed; and ii-ii-iii) a displacing force receiving portion provided on the supporting portion at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion, the displacing force receiving portion being displaceable with the supporting portion and having a radially outermost part that is more remote from the rotation axis of the container body than a radially outermost part of the engaging portion, wherein a radially outermost part of the container body is more remote from the rotation axis of the container body than the radially outermost part of the displacing force receiving portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The toner supply container of claim 21, wherein the coupling portion includes a plurality of supporting portions, each of which has an engaging portion and a displacing force receiving portion, and wherein the supporting portions are arranged discretely in a rotational direction of the coupling portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The toner supply container of claim 21, wherein the engaging portion and the displacing force receiving portion are disposed along a line parallel to the rotation axis of the container body. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The toner supply container of claim 21, wherein the engaging portion extends radially outwardly from the supporting portion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The toner supply container of claim 21, wherein the supporting portion has a uniform width over its entire length. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The toner supply container of claim 21, wherein the engaging portion and the supporting portion have the same width. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The toner supply container of claim 21, wherein the supporting portion is wider than the displacing force receiving portion. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The toner supply container of claim 21, wherein the locking portion comprises a surface perpendicular to a line parallel to the rotation axis of the container body. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The toner supply container of claim 28, wherein the rotational force receiving portion comprises a surface perpendicular to the locking portion surface. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The toner supply container of claim 21, wherein the sealing portion and the coupling portion are integrally molded. ### Claim 31 (depends on 21) The toner supply container of claim 21, further comprising a feeding portion configured and positioned to feed the toner in the container body to discharge the toner out of the container body. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The toner supply container of claim 31, wherein the feeding portion is integrally rotatable with the container body, and wherein the sealing member includes a transmitting portion configured and positioned to transmit the rotational force to the container body. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The toner supply container of claim 31, wherein the feeding portion includes a toner guiding portion extending helically on an inner surface of the container body. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The toner supply container of claim 31, wherein the feeding portion includes a plate-like member extending in a direction substantially parallel to a rotation axis of the container body, and a plurality of projections inclined relative to the rotation axis of the container body on the plate-like member to guide the toner. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The toner supply container of claim 34, wherein the plate-like member extends along substantially a full length of the container body. ### Claim 36 A toner supply container comprising: i) a container body configured to contain toner and rotatable about an axis thereof, the container body including a cylindrical portion and an opening provided at one axial end portion thereof and configured to permit discharge of the toner contained in the container body; and ii) a sealing member provided at the one axial end portion of the container body, the sealing member being movable relative to the container body in an axial direction of the container body, the sealing member including: ii-i) a sealing portion provided at a side adjacent the container body and configured to seal the opening when the sealing member and the container body are in a first position relative to one another, the opening becoming unsealed by relative movement of the sealing member and the 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 the container body and configured and positioned to receive a rotational drive force, the coupling portion including: ii-ii-i) a supporting portion provided on the sealing portion, the supporting portion being elastically displaceable in an inward direction toward the axis of the container body and elastically restorable in an outward direction away from the axis of the container body; ii-ii-ii) an engaging portion provided at a free end of the supporting portion and being displaceable with the supporting portion; and ii-ii-iii) a projecting portion provided at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion, the projecting portion projecting radially from an outer surface of the supporting portion such that a radially outermost part of the projecting portion is more remote from the axis of the container body than a radially outermost part of the engaging portion, and the projecting portion being displaceable with the supporting portion, wherein a radially outermost part of the container body is more remote from the rotation axis of the container body than the radially outermost part of the projecting portion. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The toner supply container of claim 36, further comprising a feeding portion configured and positioned to feed the toner in the container body to discharge the toner out of the container body. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The toner supply container of claim 37, wherein the feeding portion is integrally rotatable with the container body, and wherein the sealing member includes a transmitting portion configured and positioned to transmit the rotational force to the container body. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The toner supply container of claim 37, wherein the feeding portion includes a toner guiding portion extending helically on an inner surface of the container body. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) The toner supply container of claim 37, wherein the feeding portion includes a plate-like member extending in a direction substantially parallel to a rotation axis of the container body, and a plurality of projections inclined relative to the rotation axis of the container body on the plate-like member to guide the toner. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The toner supply container of claim 40, wherein the plate-like member extends along substantially a full length of the container body. ### Claim 42 (depends on 36) The toner supply container of claim 36, wherein the supporting portion is made of a plastic material so as to be elastically restorable substantially radially outwardly. ### Claim 43 (depends on 36) The toner supply container of claim 36, wherein the coupling portion includes a plurality of supporting portions, each of which has an engaging portion and a projecting portion, and wherein the supporting portions are arranged discretely in a rotational direction of the coupling portion. ### Claim 44 (depends on 36) The toner supply container of claim 36, wherein the engaging portion and the projecting portion are disposed along a line parallel to the rotation axis of the container body.