# US 7,613,416 B2 · Toner container with grippable recesses and image forming apparatus having such a toner container

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- Number: US 7,613,416 B2
- Document ID: US7613416B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/528,097
- Filed: 2006-09-27
- Published: 2007-04-05
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2005-09-30
- Assignees: Kyocera Mita Corporation
- Inventors: Takashi Tamura; Kei Maruyama
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7613416B2

## CPC

- G03G 15/0879: {for dispensing developer from a developer cartridge not directly attached to the development unit}
- G03G 15/0855: {the concentration being measured by optical means}
- G03G 15/0865: {Arrangements for supplying new developer}
- G03G 15/0875: {cartridges having a box like shape}
- G03G 2215/0177: Rotating set of developing units
- G03G 2221/1603: for multicoloured copies
- G03G 2221/1815: for cleaning or developing but not being a process cartridge
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

An image forming apparatus is provided with an apparatus main body including a developing device, and a toner container detachably mountable into the apparatus main body and adapted to replenish the developing device with toner particles. The toner container has grippable recesses, into which fingers are insertable, formed at the opposite side portions of a surface thereof facing in a withdrawing direction from the apparatus main body. A projection sloped downward along the withdrawing direction is preferably provided on a surface of each grippable recess to be gripped by the finger.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an apparatus main body including a developing device, and
a toner container detachably mountable into the apparatus main body and adapted to replenish the developing device with toner particles,
wherein the toner container has grippable recesses, into which fingers are insertable, formed at the opposite side portions of a surface thereof facing in a withdrawing direction from the apparatus main body, and
wherein the grippable recesses are formed by denting corner portions of the toner container.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of toner containers filled with toner particles of different colors are juxtaposed as the toner containers, and each toner container has the grippable recesses.

### Claim 3

An image forming apparatus comprising:
an apparatus main body including a developing device, and
a toner container detachably mountable into the apparatus main body and adapted to replenish the developing device with toner particles,
wherein the toner container has grippable recesses, into which fingers are insertable, formed at the opposite side portions of a surface thereof facing in a withdrawing direction from the apparatus main body, and
wherein a projection sloped downward along the withdrawing direction is provided on a surface of each grippable recess to be gripped by the finger.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each projection is provided at an end edge portion of the corresponding grippable recess with respect to the withdrawing direction.

### Claim 5

A toner container detachably mountable into a specified apparatus main body to replenish a developing device with toner particles for image formation, comprising:
a container case filled with toner particles, and a pair of grippable recesses formed to enable the insertion of fingers at the opposite side portions of a surface of the toner container facing in a withdrawing direction from the apparatus main body wherein the grippable recesses are formed by denting corner portions of the toner container.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A toner container according to claim 5, wherein a projection sloped downward along the withdrawing direction is provided on a surface of each grippable recess to be gripped by the finger.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

A toner container according to claim 5, wherein each projection is provided at an end edge portion of the corresponding grippable recess with respect to the withdrawing direction.

### Claim 8

An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an apparatus main body, and
a toner container detachably mountable into the apparatus main body,
wherein the toner container has grippable recesses, into which fingers are insertable, formed at the opposite side portions of a surface thereof facing in a withdrawing direction from the apparatus main body, and
wherein the grippable recesses are formed by denting corner portions of the toner container.