# US 6,701,112 B2 · Toner bottle and electrophotographic apparatus using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,701,112 B2 - Document ID: US6701112B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 09/989,914 - Filed: 2001-11-21 - Published: 2002-08-01 - Granted: 2004-03-02 - Earliest claimed: 2000-11-24 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Inventors: Tetsuya Kusano; Seiji Terazawa; Kotaro Koide; Masashi Hasegawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6701112B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/0872: {the developer cartridges being generally horizontally mounted parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis} - G03G 15/0855: {the concentration being measured by optical means} - G03G 15/0865: {Arrangements for supplying new developer} - B29C 2949/0813: of the neck - B29C 2949/0816: of the flange - B29C 2949/0817: of the body - B29C 2949/0821: of the lip, i.e. the very top of the preform neck - B29C 2949/0825: of the flange - B29C 2949/0835: of the body - G03G 2215/0668: Toner discharging opening at one axial end - Y10S 222/01: Xerography - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A hollow, cylindrical toner bottle of the present invention discharges toner stored therein when mounted to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a substantially horizontal position and then rotated about its axis. The toner bottle is made up of a mouth including a toner outlet and a cylindrical wall, and a body including a circumferential wall and a bottom. The mouth is formed by injection molding. The outer circumference of the toner outlet has circularity of 0.7 mm or below. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hollow, cylindrical toner bottle for discharging toner stored therein when mounted to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a substantially horizontal position and then rotated about an axis of said toner bottle, said toner bottle comprising: a mouth comprising a toner outlet and a cylindrical wall; and a body comprising a circumferential wall and a bottom; wherein said mouth is formed by injection molding, and an outer circumference of said toner outlet has circularity of 0.7 mm or below. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a flat flange extending radially outward from an outer periphery of said cylindrical wall of said mouth substantially perpendicularly to an axis of said cylindrical wall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a positioning portion for positioning said toner bottle relative to tho electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein said toner outlet and said positioning portion have coaxiality of 1.0 mm or below. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said positioning portion is positioned on said circumferential wall of said body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said positioning portion comprises a peripheral portion of said flange. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 5, wherein said positioning portion comprises at least three lugs extending out from a circumference of said flange. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 2, wherein said flange is separable from said cylindrical wall of said mouth. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 2, wherein a suitable portion of said toner bottle below said flange is clouded. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 2, wherein ribs are formed on said flange for transferring a torque to said toner bottle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 2, wherein said flange is formed with recesses or projections for identification or for engaging with a bottle holder, which is disposed in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus for holding said mouth, to thereby cause said toner bottle to rotate integrally with said bottle holder. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body comprises a bulging portion adjoining said mouth and bulging toward an axis of said toner bottle little by little. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 11, wherein said bulging portion is clouded. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circumferential wall of said body is formed with a spiral rib protruding toward an axis of said toner bottle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circumferential wall of said body has a wall thickness of about 1.0 mm or below. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a reinforcing structure for reinforcing said toner bottle is provided on part of said circumferential wall of said body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 15, wherein said reinforcing structure comprises a plurality of spiral ribs. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 15, wherein said reinforcing structure comprises a projection formed in part of a recess, which is formed on said circumferential wall of said body and reciprocal to said spiral groove. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 15, wherein said reinforcing structure comprises at least one straight rib protruding inward from said circumferential wall of said body and extending in an axial direction of said toner bottle across said spiral rib. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toner bottle is formed of a mixture of polyethylene terephthatate and polyethylene. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toner bottle is formed of a material reclaimed from used products collected on a market or wastes available from a factory. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 20, wherein said toner bottle is formed of the material reclaimed and virgin resin of a same kind as said material. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 20, wherein said toner bottle is formed of the material reclaimed and a plasticizer. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 1, wherein ribs are former on said bottom of said body for transferring a torque to said toner bottle. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toner bottle comprises at least two separable parts. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toner bottle is formed by biaxial, stretch blow molding. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toner bottle is packed with the toner beforehand. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 26, further comprising a cap fitted on said mouth. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The toner bottle as claimed in claim 27, wherein said cap comprises an air vent and a filter closing said air vent. ### Claim 29 In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus operable with a hollow, cylindrical toner body for discharging toner stored therein when mounted to said electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a substantially horizontal position and then rotated about an axis of said toner bottle, said toner bottle comprising: a mouth comprising a toner outlet and a cylindrical wall; and a body comprising a circumferential wall and a bottom; wherein said mouth is formed by injection molding, and an outer circumference of said toner outlet has circularity of 0.7 mm or below.