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US 7,065,313 B2Granted
Developer container, developer replenishing device using the same and image forming apparatus including the same
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsJunichi Matsumoto, Nobuo Kasahara, Nobuo Iwata, Satoshi Muramatsu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A developer replenishing device included in an image forming apparatus of the present invention replenishes a developer from a developer container to a developing device and allows the developer container to decrease in volume when air or the developer is discharged from the developer container. A holder holds the developer container mounted thereto. A regulating device regulates the shape of the developer container when the volume of the developer container decreases.
Claims18
A toner container comprising:
- a bag having four side walls;
- and
- at least one fold line in each of two opposite side walls, each fold line configured to receive a regulating element at the fold line itself to fold said bag into a preselected configuration without an irregular collapse or a twisting of the bag as toner is removed from said bag and as each regulating element presses against each fold line.
A toner container comprising:
- a bag having four side walls;
- and
- at least one means for folding in each of two opposite side walls, each means for folding receiving means for regulating to fold said bag into a preselected configuration without an irregular collapse or a twisting of the bag as toner is removed from said bag and as each means for regulating presses against each means for folding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.