# US 2025/0093797 A1 · Reusable toner container

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- Number: US 2025/0093797 A1
- Document ID: US20250093797A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/883,377
- Filed: 2024-09-12
- Published: 2025-03-20
- Earliest claimed: 2023-09-19
- Assignees: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
- Applicants: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
- Inventors: Tomoo MIYAGAWA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250093797A1

## CPC

- G03G 15/0886: {by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug}
- G03G 15/0865: {Arrangements for supplying new developer}
- G03G 15/0872: {the developer cartridges being generally horizontally mounted parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis}
- 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}
- G03G 2215/00987: Remanufacturing, i.e. reusing or recycling parts of the image forming apparatus
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

A toner container includes a tank and a cap. The tank includes a cylindrical loading port, through which toner is to be loaded. The cap is formed of a flexible material, and configured to close the loading port. The cap includes a fitting portion, a bottom portion, and a flange portion. The fitting portion is formed in a cylindrical shape that fits an inner surface of the loading port. The bottom portion is located on a far side of the fitting portion, in a cap insertion direction. The flange portion is located on a near side of the fitting portion in the cap insertion direction, to be made to contact an edge of the loading port. The fitting portion includes a cut-away portion formed in an annular shape along a circumferential direction of the fitting portion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A toner container comprising:
a tank including a cylindrical loading port, through which toner is to be loaded; and
a cap formed of a flexible material, and configured to close the loading port,
wherein the cap includes:
a fitting portion formed in a cylindrical shape that fits an inner surface of the loading port;
a bottom portion located on a far side of the fitting portion, in a cap insertion direction; and
a flange portion located on a near side of the fitting portion in the cap insertion direction, to be made to contact an edge of the loading port, and
the fitting portion is formed with a cut-away portion formed in an annular shape along a circumferential direction of the fitting portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The toner container according to claim 1,
wherein the fitting portion includes a cylindrical expanded portion, larger in diameter than the fitting portion, and formed at a position on a side of the bottom portion with respect to the cut-away portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The toner container according to claim 1,
wherein the cut-away portion includes slits each extending in the circumferential direction, and respectively formed at a plurality of positions along the circumferential direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The toner container according to claim 3, further comprising a protrusion protruding from the inner surface of the loading port, to be engaged with the slit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The toner container according to claim 3,
wherein a wall thickness of a joint portion provided between the slits adjacent to each other is thinner than an average wall thickness of a portion of the fitting portion other than the cut-away portion and the joint portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The toner container according to claim 3,
wherein a joint portion provided between the slits adjacent to each other is inclined with respect to the cap insertion direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The toner container according to claim 6,
wherein a predetermined rotation direction, for rotating the cap when attaching the cap to the loading port, is indicated at a predetermined position in a proximity of the bottom portion of the cap, or the loading port of the tank.