# US 9,436,127 B2 · Toner container and manufacturing method for toner container > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,436,127 B2 - Document ID: US9436127B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/751,548 - Filed: 2015-06-26 - Published: 2015-10-15 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-23 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Applicants: Kaori Mitsuishi; Seiji Terazawa; Atsushi Inoue; Tomoji Ishikawa - Inventors: Kaori Mitsuishi; Seiji Terazawa; Atsushi Inoue; Tomoji Ishikawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436127B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/0867: {cylindrical developer cartridges, e.g. toner bottles for the developer replenishing opening} - G03G 15/0855: {the concentration being measured by optical means} - 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 15/0886: {by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug} - G03G 2215/067: Toner discharging opening covered by arcuate shutter - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A toner container includes a cylindrical container body, having a first opening in a first end thereof and a notch in a circumferential surface thereof continuous with the first opening in the first end, a flange member to engage the first opening and the notch in the container body and having a toner outlet therein through which toner in the container body is discharged, a shutter member disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the container body, a conveyance member, rotatably installed inside the container body to convey the toner from a second end of the container body opposite the first end to the toner outlet in the flange member, and a recessed portion in the container body that projects inward into the interior of the toner container 5 mm or less from an inner surface of the container body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A toner container for use with an image forming apparatus, the toner container comprising: a container body; a toner outlet through which toner in the container body is discharged in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the toner container; a shutter to open and close the toner outlet during installation and removal of the toner container in and from the image forming apparatus, the shutter including a pushing surface used to move the shutter to an open position without utilizing a gear to engage with the shutter; a conveyor, rotatably disposed inside the container body and extending in the longitudinal direction of the toner container, to convey the toner within the container body towards the toner outlet; a coupling to receive a driving force from the image forming apparatus which transmits the driving force to the conveyor; a toner inlet through which toner enters the container body; and a handle secured to an end of the toner container, wherein the toner inlet, the handle, and the toner outlet are disposed on a first side in the longitudinal direction of the toner container, and the coupling is disposed on a second side which is opposite to the first side in the longitudinal direction of the toner container. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the container body comprises two parts which are joined together. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The toner container according to claim 2, wherein the container body protrudes outwardly where the two parts are joined together. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The toner container according to claim 2, wherein the two parts each comprise a half of the container body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the coupling comprises: an exterior section to engage with a coupling of the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The toner container according to claim 5, wherein the exterior section of the coupling includes two engaging portions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The toner container according to claim 6, wherein the two engaging portions are disposed by 180 degrees. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The toner container according to claim 5, further comprising: a bearing to rotatably support an end of the conveyor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The toner container according to claim 1, further comprising; a seal to seal a hole in the container body through which the driving force from the image forming apparatus is transmitted to the conveyor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the toner inlet is at an end of the first side of the container body and faces in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The toner container according to claim 1, further comprising; a seal to seal the toner inlet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The toner container according to claim 11, wherein: the seal is at an inside to the handle, and the handle overlaps the seal when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the toner container. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The toner container according to claim 11, wherein the seal comprises: a flange around a top edge of the seal and extending perpendicularly to a depth direction of a recessed area of the seal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The toner container according to claim 1, further comprising: a memory, and a cover to cover the memory. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The toner container according to claim 14, wherein the cover includes a hole to expose a part of the memory when the cover is attached. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The toner container according to claim 1, further comprising: a protrusion which protrudes outwardly from the toner container, the protrusion disposed on the first side in the longitudinal direction of the toner container. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The toner container according to claim 16, wherein the protrusion identifies a color of the toner contained inside of the container body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The toner container according to claim 16, wherein the protrusion identifies a compatibleness of the toner container with the image forming apparatus. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the container body comprises toner. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the container body comprises developer including toner and carrier particles. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the toner outlet faces in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and faces in a direction perpendicular to the toner inlet.