United States Patent
`Yoshiki et al.
`
`[19]
`
`[54] TONER BOTTLE
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Shigeru Yoshiki. Kawasaki; Nobonl
`Kusunose; Kenzo Tatsumi. both of
`Yokohama; Hideo Yoshizawa. Urawa.
`all of Japan
`
`[73] Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo. Japan
`
`HllllllllllllIllIllllIlllllllllllllllllllIlllllllllllllllllllllll||||l|||l
`
`USOO5765079A
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,755,079
`
`Jun. 9, 1998
`
`5,598,254
`
`1/1997 Ikesue et al.
`
`........................... 399/262
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`59 188678
`60 146265
`7 20705
`7 43999
`7 140774
`8-179612
`
`10/1984
`8/1985
`1/1995
`2/1995
`6/1995
`7/1996
`
`Japan .
`Japan ,
`Japan .
`Japan .
`Japan .
`Japan .
`
`[21] Appl. No.2 686,070
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Jul. 24, 1996
`
`Primary Examz'ner—Matthcw S. Smith
`Attomey, Agent, or Firm—0blon. Spivak. McClel1and.
`Maier & Neustadt. RC.
`
`[30]
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Jul. 24, 1995
`May 1, 1996
`
`[JP]
`[JP]
`
`Japan .................................. .. 7-187505
`Japan .................................... 8-110863
`
`Int. Cl.‘ ..................................................... G03G 15/08
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`.................... 399/258; 222/167; 222lDIG. 1;
`399/120; 399/262
`[58] Field of Search ..................................... 399/120. 258.
`399/260. 262; 141/90; 222/DIG. 1. 167
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,853,246 12/1974 Dubois .............................. 222/DIG.1
`5,416,568
`5/1995 Yoshiki et al.
`.
`.
`5,455,662
`10/1995 Ichikawa et a1.
`5,531,253
`7/1996 Nishiyama et al.
`...................... 141/90
`5,557,382
`9/1996 Tatsumi et al.
`.
`399/262
`
`............................ 399/262
`5,576,816
`11/1996 Staudt et al.
`
`A toner bottle has a bottle body (1) containing toner and a
`cap (5) closing an opening portion (3) formed in the bottle
`body (1). and toner is supplied through the opening portion
`(3). A plateshaped toner scraping member (20) extending
`into the opening portion (3) and having elasticity is provided
`on the back surface of the cap (5) in the diameter direction
`of the cap (5). Also, the outer end of the toner scraping
`member (20) is positioned inside of the bottle body ( 1)
`beyond the opening portion (3) even when the cap (5) is in
`its cap-opened position. If the toner bottle is constructed in
`this way. the toner on the opening portion (3) will be scraped
`by the toner scraping member (20) and toner condensation
`can be reliably prevented at the opening portion (3) when
`toner is supplied from the bottle body (1) by rotation of the
`toner bottle.
`
`27 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`GPI EXHIBIT 1006
`
`GENERAL PLASTIC V. CANO
`
`|PF{2016-01360
`
`GPI EXHIBIT 1006
`GENERAL PLASTIC v. CANON
`IPR2016-01360
`
`1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 9, 1993
`
`Sheet 1 of 6
`
`5,765,079
`
`PRIOR ART
`
`FIG‘. IA
`
`FIG. /B
`
`PRIOR ART
`
`FIG. I C‘
`
`PRIOR ART
`
`2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 9, 1998
`
`Sheet 2 of 6
`
`5,765,079
`
`
`
`FIG‘. 2
`
`PRIOR ART
`
`
`
`FIG. 3A
`PRIOR ART
`
`FIG‘. 35’
`PRIOR ART
`
`3
`
`

`
`
`
`U.S. PatentU.S. Patent
`
`
`
`Jun. 9, 1998Jun. 9, 1998
`
`
`
`Sheet 3 of 6Sheet 3 of 6
`
`
`
`5,765,0795,765,079
`
`
`
`FIG. 4FIG. 4
`
`4
`
`

`
`
`
`U.S. PatentU.S. Patent
`
`
`
`Jun. 9, 1993Jun. 9, 1993
`
`
`
`Sheet 4 of 6Sheet 4 of 6
`
`
`
`5,765,0795,765,079
`
`5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 9, 1998
`
`Sheet 5 of 6
`
`5,765,079
`
`FIG. 7
`
`
`
`
`1'“-“-“mm
`[E___.___,_,J
`
`
`
`6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 9, 1998
`
`Sheet 6 of 6
`
`5,765,079
`
`F167. .9
`
`7
`
`

`
`5,765,079
`
`1
`TONER BOTTLE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to a toner bottle containing
`toner which is supplied to the developing unit of image
`forming apparatuses such as printers) copying machines.
`and facsimiles.
`
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Copying machines. facsimiles. and printers making use of
`electrophotography are widely used. Electrophotography is
`the process of forming an electrostatic latent image on a thin
`layer of photoconductive photosensitive material and trans-
`ferring an image formed with colored particles (called toner)
`held on the charged latent image onto paper. In an image
`forming apparatus maldng use of the eleclrophotography. if
`toner is consumed and run out fiom the developing section.
`toner will then be supplied to the developing section and will
`continue to be used. An example of a mechanism for
`supplying toner is described. for example. in Japan Laid-
`Open Patent Publication Nos. SHO 59-188678 and SHO
`60-146265. As described in these publications. a toner
`supply unit is known where a toner battle containing toner
`and having a discharge port at its front surface is rotated and
`the rotation causes toner to be supplied from the discharge
`port to the developing section of an image forming appara-
`tus.
`
`In the toner supply unit. the toner bottle is installed to the
`image forming apparatus as follows. That is. when toner is
`supplied. a bottle mounting holder. provided horizontally on
`the main body of the image forming apparatus. is rotated
`downward about its one end so that it is disposed vertically.
`If the toner bottle is used up and becomes empty in the
`vertical position. it is removed from the bottle mounting
`holder. Then. a new toner bottle filled up with toner is
`attached to the aforementioned mounting holder. Thereafter.
`the bottle mounting holder is rotated to a horizontal opera-
`tive position and the setup is completed. Now. the operation
`of attaching a new toner bottle to the bottle mounting holder
`held in the vertical position will be described. First. with the
`opening portion of a new toner bottle placed upright. a cap
`is removed from the opening portion. and in order to prevent
`the toner which is the content of the bottle from spilling. the
`bottle is attached to the aforementioned mounting holder
`while the opening portion remains upright.
`However. in a method where the bottle mounting holder
`is caused to rotate between a horizontal position and a
`vertical position in the aforementioned way. there is the need
`for making the length of the bottle mounting holder shorter
`than the height of the image forming apparatus. A normal
`image forming apparatus is low in height. so the length of
`the toner bottle is also short and the holding quantity is
`reduced. For this reason. there is the tendency that exchange
`of the toner bottle must be frequently performed. Also. in a
`toner supply mechanism such as this. there is a design
`limitation the internal structure of an image forming
`apparatus. and the miniaturization of the apparatus is difli-
`cult.
`
`To solve the aforementioned problems. a mechanism has
`been proposed which exchanges a cylindrical toner bottle
`while the bottle mounting holder is horizontally held (Japan
`Laid-Open Patent Publication No. HEI 7-20705). In this
`mechanism.
`the toner bottle with a cap on the opening
`portion is mounted in the mounting holder and the cap is
`removed automatically from the opening portion by using a
`collet chuck which is interrelated with the bottle mounting
`operation.
`
`5
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`10
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`20
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`30
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`2
`The mechanism for removing the cap from the toner
`bottle and the operation will now be described for the case
`where the collet chuck is used.
`
`l(a)—l(c). a toner bottle 1 has a
`As shown in FIGS.
`cylindrical bottle body 2 and in approximately the central
`portion of one end surface of the bottle body 2 there is
`provided a small radial opening portion 3. which is smaller
`than the cylindrical portion of the bottle body 2. The opening
`portion 3 extends outwardly from a collar 4. which in turn
`extends outwardly from the cylindrical bottle body 2. and a
`cap 5 is provided to close the opening portion 3. In the center
`of the cap 5. a tab portion 6 is formed. Also. in the
`cylindrical portion of the bottle body 2. a guide groove 7 is
`formed spirally to guide the toner contained in the bottle
`body 2 toward the opening portion 3 by rotation of the toner
`bottle 1.
`
`The mechanism for removing the cap 5 from the toner
`bottle 1 is equipped with a chuck 10 and a chuck moving
`means for moving the Chuck 10 toward and away from the
`toner bottle 1. In the illustrated example of the mechanism
`for removing the cap 5. the chuck 10 is inserted into and held
`in a hole portion 12 of a support wall 11 formed in part of
`a bottle holder 8 that supports the toner bottle 1. In the
`inoperative state of the chuck 10 shown in FIG. 1(a). a
`clamping portion 13 which is formed in one end of the chuck
`10 is urged so as to expand. FIG. 1(b) shows the state when
`the toner bottle 1 has been placed in the set position of the
`bottle holder 8. When the chuck 10 is moved to a position
`further away from the toner bottle 1 by the aforementioned
`chuck moving means. the large radius portion of the outer
`periphery of the chuck 10 is pushed by the inner peripheral
`surface of the aforementioned hole portion 12 and then the
`clamping portion 13 of the chuck 10 is narrowed and closed.
`whereby the tab portion 6 of the cap 5 is clamped with the
`closed clamping portion 13. While the chuck 10 is holding
`the tab portion 6 of the cap 5. it moves the cap 10 up to a
`position where the opening portion 3 of the toner bottle 1 can
`be fully opened. as shown in FIG. 1(c). This position is
`referred to as the cap-opened position of the cap 5. and
`during the time the toner bottle 1 is mounted in its normal
`position. the cap 5 is fixed and held at
`the cap-opened
`position.
`By providing the cap removing mechanism in the toner
`supply unit of the developing section of an image forming
`apparatus the toner bottle 1 can be mounted in the bottle
`holder 8 with the opening portion 3 closed by the cap 5.
`When. on the other hand. the toner in toner bottle 1 is
`consumed and the empty toner bottle 1 is taken out from the
`bottle holder 8. the cap 5 can also be attached to the opening
`portion 3 of the empty toner bottle 1 by moving the chuck
`10 in the reverse direction by the chuck moving means.
`Thus. in taking out the toner bottle 1 from the bottle holder
`8. the opening porfion 3 is closed with the cap 5. so there is
`no possibility that the toner on the opening portion 3 drops
`and stains the hands or clothes of f an operator who
`exchanges the empty bottle.
`The toner bottle 1. constructed in the aforementioned way.
`has various advantages if it is used in a toner supply unit
`with a mechanism for removing the cap 5. but the opening
`portion 3 must be smaller in radius than the cylindrical
`portion of the bottle body 2 from the point of the mechanism.
`However. if the radius of the opening portion 3 is reduced.
`the fluidity of the toner near the opening portion 3 will
`become worse and therefore the opening portion 3 wfll be
`blocked up with toner T. as shown in FIG. 2. depending upon
`the physical property of the toner. For this reason. only toner
`
`8
`
`

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`5,765,079
`
`3
`T having a good fluidity can be used. so there is a problem
`in that the kind of toner that can be used is limited. If the
`kind of toner is limited in this way. some of the image
`forming apparatuses cannot adopt a toner supply unit with a
`mechanism for removing the cap 5 from the point of the
`mechanism.
`
`Furthermore. even toner T with a good fluidity where
`there is no problem at the normal room temperature will
`adhere to the inner peripheral surface of the opening portion
`3 under high-temperatLIre environment. as shown in FIGS.
`3(a) and 3(b). and the area of the opening por1ion will be
`reduced. For this reason. the problem that the supply quan-
`tity of toner T will become reduced will exist.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Accordingly. it is an object of the present invention to
`provide a toner bottle which is capable of removing the
`limitation on the kind of toner that can be used and.
`furthermore. preventing areduction in the supply quantity of
`toner.
`
`To achieve this end and in accordance with one aspect of
`the present invention. a toner bottle comprises a bottle body
`for containing toner and giving a feed operation to the toner
`in one direction by a rotation operation. and a cap for closing
`an opening portion formed in the bottle body. The toner is
`supplied in a state in which the cap is held in a cap-opened
`position where the cap opens the opening portion. The toner
`bottle further comprises a plate-shaped toner scraping
`member. which extends into the opening portion of the bottle
`body and having elasticity. The toner scraping member is
`provided on the back surface of the cap in the diameter
`direction of the cap. The outer end of the toner scraping
`member is positioned inside of the bottle body beyond the
`opening portion even when the cap is in the cap-opened
`position.
`With this constitution. an elastic toner scraping member is
`provided which goes into the opening portion of the toner
`bottle when it is positioned in the cap-opened portion of the
`cap. Therefore. the condensation of the toner at the opening
`portion can be prevented with reliability and the degree of
`freedom of the setting direction of the cap is increased.
`In accordance with another aspect of the present
`invention. a plate-shaped toner scraping member extends
`into the opening portion of the botfle body. The toner
`scraping member is provided on the back surface of the cap
`in the diameter direction of the cap. The outer end of the
`toner scraping member is positioned inside of the bottle
`body beyond the opening portion even when the cap is in the
`cap-opened position. and an outer edge of the toner scraping
`member is contacted with an inner peripheral surface of the
`opening portion.
`With this constitution. the toner scraping member slides
`on and along the inner peripheral surface of the opening
`portion. The condensation of toner at the opening portion of
`the toner bottle can be prevented with reliability and stag-
`nation of the toner can be prevented. In addition. the toner
`that adhered to the opening portion of the toner bottle can be
`scraped outside and thus a sufficient supply quantity can be
`obtained.
`
`In accordance with still another aspect of the present
`invention. a plate-shaped toner scraping member extends
`into the opening portion of the bottle body and has elasticity.
`and the toner scraping member is provided on the back
`surface of the cap in the diameter direction of the cap. The
`outer end of the toner scraping member is positioned inside
`of the bottle body beyond the opening portion even when the
`
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`25
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`35
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`45
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`50
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`
`65
`
`4
`cap is in the cap-opened position. and the outer edge of the
`toner scraping member is contacted with an inner peripheral
`surface of the opening portion.
`With this constitution. the toner scraping member having
`elasticity is bent and is brought into contact with the inner
`peripheral surface of the opening portion. when the toner
`bottle is rotated. Therefore. adhesion of toner to the inner
`peripheral surface of the opening portion of the toner bottle
`can be prevented. Moreover. a reduction in the contact
`pressure of the toner scraping member. deformation of the
`cap. damages to the chuck. and an increase in the bottle
`driving load can be prevented.
`In a preferred form of the present invention. the toner
`scraping member is twisted in the reverse direction of the
`rotational direction of the bottle body.
`With this constitution.
`the toner scraping member is
`untwisted dining rotation of the toner bottle. and it is again
`twisted when the rotation of the toner bottle is stopped
`Therefore. the toner adhering to the inner peripheral surface
`of the opening portion of the toner bottle can be scraped off.
`In another preferred fomi of the present invention. the
`width in the diameter direction of the cap of the toner
`scraping member is formed to be smaller than the radius of
`the opening portion.
`With this constitution. the width in the diameter direction
`of one toner scraping member having elasticity is formed so
`as to become smaller than the radius of the opening portion.
`and the outer edge of the toner scraping member contacts the
`inner peripheral surface of the opening portion of the toner
`bottle. Therefore. the passage of toner can be enlarged and
`thus the condensation of the toner at the opening portion of
`the toner bottle can be prevented
`In still another preferred form of the present invention. the
`toner scraping member is formed so that an angle. which is
`made by a Contact portion between the scraping member and
`the cap and the inner peripheral surface of the opening
`portion. is an acute angle.
`With this constitution. the angle. which is made by the
`inner peripheral surface of the opening portion and the
`contact portion between the scraping member and the cap. is
`set to an acute angle. Therefore. the toner scraping member
`becomes easily twistable during rotation of the toner bottle.
`and it is untwisted when the rotation is stopped. Therefore.
`toner adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the opening
`portion of the toner bottle can be scraped oil".
`In a further preferred form of the present invention. the
`toner scraping member has a thickness of 0.1 mm through
`0.5 mm.
`
`With this constitution. when the toner scraping member is
`made of plastic having the same hardness as polyethylene.
`elasticity suitable for toner discharge will be obtained if the
`thickness of the toner scraping member is set to a range of
`0.1 mm through 0.5 mm.
`In a further preferred form of the present invention. the
`width in the diameter direction of the cap of the toner
`scraping member is formed to be smaller than the radius of
`the opening portion. and the outer edge of the toner scraping
`member is disposed in a position which contacts or is near
`the inner peripheral surface of the opening portion.
`With this constitution. the width in the diameter direction
`of one toner scraping member having elasticity is formed so
`as to become smaller than the radius of the opening portion.
`and the outer edge of the toner scraping member is disposed
`in a position which contacts or is near the contacts the inner
`peripheral surface of the opening portion of the toner bottle.
`
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`5,765,079
`
`5
`
`Therefore. the passage of toner can be enlarged and thus the
`condensation of the toner at the opening portion of the toner
`bottle can be prevented.
`In a further preferred form of the present invention. the
`toner scraping member comprises a plurality of toner scrap-
`ing members. which are equiangularly disposed with respect
`to the center of the cap.
`the toner scraping member is
`With this constitution.
`constituted by a plurality of toner scraping members. which
`are equiangularly disposed with respect to the center of the
`cap. Therefore. the force exerted on the cap can be equally
`distributed. and the cap can be prevented from being tilting
`dining rotation of the toner bottle. Thus. the closing opera-
`tion of the cap can be reliably performed.
`In a further preferred form of the present invention. the
`toner scraping member has at
`its outer end portion an
`inclined portion. which is inclined toward the center line of
`the cap as it goes toward the outer end portion. and the
`inclined portion is positioned inside of the opening portion.
`With this constitution. the toner scraping member has the
`inclined portion. which is inclined toward the center line of
`the cap as it goes toward the outer end portion. and the
`inclined portion is inside of the opening portion. Therefore.
`there is no possibility that the outer end of the toner scraping
`member is caught by the opening portion of the toner bottle
`when the cap is assembled. and the assembling operation of
`the cap is considerably enhanced.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIGS. 1(a). 1(b). and 1(c) are schematic diagrams show-
`ing a conventional mechanism of removing a cap from a
`toner bottle and the operation;
`FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a disadvantage of a conven-
`tional toner bottle;
`
`FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are sectional views showing a dis-
`advantage of the conventional toner bottle;
`FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the state when the cap
`of a toner bottle of the present invention has been removed
`by a cap removing mechanism;
`FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a cap of an embodi-
`ment of the present invention;
`FIGS. 6(a). 6(b). and 6(c) are front. plan. and side views
`of a cap. respectively. showing another embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 7 is a diagram used for explaining the flow of toner
`when the toner bottle of FIG. 6 is used;
`FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are sectional and perspective views of
`a cap. respectively. showing still another embodiment of the
`toner bottle of the present invention;
`FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a cap showing still another
`embodiment of the toner bottle of the present invention;
`FIGS. l0(a) and 10(b) are sectional and front views of a
`cap. respectively. showing still another embodiment of the
`toner bottle of the present invention; and
`FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) are sectional and front views of a
`cap. respectively. showing still another embodiment of the
`present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`15
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`A preferred embodiment of the present invention will
`hereinafter be described in detail in accordance with the
`accompanying drawings.
`FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the state when a cap
`has been removed by a cap removing mechanism used in a
`
`65
`
`6
`toner bottle. constructed according to the present invention.
`Note that the same reference numerals will be applied to the
`same members as FIGS. 1(a)—1(c)
`In FIG. 4. two plate-shaped toner scraping members 20
`which extend in the direction going into a bottle body 1 are
`provided on the back surface (opposite to a tab portion 6) of
`a cap 5 in the diameter direction of the cap. The cap 5 and
`the toner scraping members 20 are integrally formed from
`plastic material such as polyethylene. The toner scraping
`members 20 have a length which penetrates through an
`opening portion 3 and a collar 4 extending inwardly from the
`opening po11ion 3. even when the cap 5 shown in FIG. 4 is
`moved and held in the cap-opened state by a cap moving
`means. Furthermore. the toner scraping members 20 are
`fomied so as to have elasticity. In this case.
`the toner
`scraping members 20 can be formed with plastic material
`having elasticity. However. when the toner scraping mem-
`bers 20 are formed with plastic material having a certain
`degree of rigidity. elasticity can be given to the toner
`scraping member 20 by appropriately choosing the thick-
`ness. In FIG. 4. reference numeral 14 denotes a plate cam
`member. which forms part of the aforementioned cap mov-
`ing means.
`In the toner bottle 1 constructed in this way. both the cap
`fixed and held in the cap—opened state by the cap moving
`means and the toner bottle 1 are in a relative relationship.
`Therefore. if the toner bottle 1 is rotated in the cap—opened
`state. the same elfect as the case when the toner scraping
`members 210 are rotated with respect to the fixed toner bottle
`1 will be obtainable. In this case. the toner in the vicinity of
`the opening portion 3 and the collar 4 is scraped by the toner
`scraping members 20 and is discharged from the opening
`portion 3. With the toner scraping operation.
`the toner
`blocking at the opening portion 3 and the collar portion 4 can
`be reliably prevented. and even toner whose fluidity is not
`good can be used without hindrance. As a consequence.
`because the kind of toner that can be used is not limited. it
`becomes possible to adopt a toner supply unit equipped with
`a cap removing mechanism in a wide variety of image
`forming apparatuses. In addition. if the toner scraping mem-
`bers 20 have an elastic property. the degree of freedom of the
`direction where the cap 5 is set will be increased and
`therefore it will also become possible to set the cap 5 in an
`oblique direction.
`FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the cap 5 showing an
`embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment.
`two elastic toner scraping members 21 are provided in the
`cap 5 so that the outer edges contact the inner peripheral
`surfaces of the opening portion 3 and the collar 4. Each toner
`scraping member 21 has at its outer end portion an inclined
`portion 9 . which is inclined toward the center line of the cap
`5 as it goes toward the outer end portion The outer end 9a
`of the inclined portion 9 is positioned inside of the opening
`portion 3. as shown in FIG. 5. Furthermore.
`the toner
`scraping member 21 is joined to the cap 5 at a contact
`portion 5a. and the angle 6. which is made by the contact
`portion 5a and t hie inner peripheral surfaces of the opening
`portion 3 and the collar 4. is set so that it becomes an acute
`angle.
`The toner bottle consnucted in this way. if rotated after
`the cap is opened. prevents toner blocking and the toner
`scraping members 21 slide on and along the inner peripheral
`surfaces of the opening portion 3 and the collar 4. thereby
`scraping the toner adhering to the inner peripheral surfaces.
`Therefore. the reduction in the toner supply quantity. which
`is caused by the opening area of the opening portion 3
`narrowed due to the toner on the inner peripheral surfaces of
`
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`5,765,079
`
`the opening portion 3 and the collar 4. can be reliably
`prevented. Incidentally. in the case when the outer edge of
`the toner scraping member Z1 is slid on and along the inner
`peripheral surfaces of the opening portion 3 and the collar 4.
`if the contact pressure is large. the load will be increased
`during rotation of the toner bottle. and consequently. the fear
`that the cap 5 will become defonned or the chuck will be
`damaged will exist. However. because the toner scraping
`member 21 has elasticity.
`the contact pressure can be
`reduced even if it were slid on the inner peripheral surfaces
`of the opening portion 3 and the collar 4. and there is no fear
`that the aforementioned problem will occur. Incidentally.
`when the toner scraping member 21 is made of polyethylene.
`elasticity suitable for toner discharge will be obtained if the
`thickness is set in a range of 0.1 mm through 0.5 mm.
`Particularly. when the thickness is set to 0.3 mm. most
`suitable flexibility is obtained. If. on the other hand. the
`thickness of the toner scraping member 21 is set to less than
`0.1 mm. it will be excessively bent and toner will become
`difficult to scrape. In addition. the formation of the toner
`scraping member itself will become diflicult. Furthermore. if
`the thickness of the scraping member 21 is increased to more
`than 0.5 mm. the bending will become small. and the cap 5
`will become diflicult to set unless the corner of the outer
`edge of the member 21 is chamfered.
`In addition. because the toner scraping portion 21 has the
`inclined portion 9. there is no possibility that the outer end
`9a of the toner scraping member 21 is caught by the opening
`portion 3 when the cap 5 is set. and even if the center line
`of the opening portion 3 and the center line of the cap 5 were
`oifset when setting.
`the ofiset would be corrected and
`therefore the setting operation of the cap 5 would be
`considerably enhanced.
`Furthermore. the angle 8. which is made by the contact
`portion 5a between the toner scraping member 21 and the
`cap 5 and the inner peripheral surfaces of the opening
`portion 3 and collar 4. is set to an acute angle. so the toner
`scraping member 21 will become easily twistable during
`rotation of the bottle. However. because the toner scraping
`member 21 is untwisted when the rotation of the bottle is
`stopped. the toner adhering to the inner peripheral surfaces
`of the opening portion 3 and the collar 4 can be scraped off.
`Furthermore. even when the toner scraping member 21 is in
`the twisted state. the axial length can be kept so that it can
`contact over the axial length of the inner peripheral sur
`Laces of the opening portion 3 and the collar 4. Notice that.
`if the aforementioned angle Bis a right angle. there are some
`cases where the toner scraping member 21 will slide on the
`opening portion 3 at the root portion of the member 21 or
`slide on the collar 4 at
`the outer end portion. and the
`longitudinal intermediate portion of the member 21 will not
`contact these portions 3 and 4 and gap will be formed.
`FIGS. 6(a). 6(b). and 6(c) show a front view, a plan views.
`and a side view of a cap 5. respectively. showing another
`embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment. a
`plate-shaped toner scraping member 22 is twisted in the
`reverse direction of the rotational direction of the toner
`bottle 1 with respect to the rotational axis of the toner bottle
`1. The toner scraping member 22 can be disposed so as not
`to contact the opening portion 3 and the collar portion 4 but.
`in this embodiment. it is in a sliding contact with the inner
`peripheral surfaces of these portions 3 and 4. Also. the toner
`scraping member 22 in this embodiment is formed so as to
`have elasticity.
`In the toner bottle 1 constructed in this way, if it is rotated
`after the cap 5 is opened. the toner scraping member 22
`slides on the opening portion 3 and the collar 4 and reliably
`
`prevents toner condensation. In addition. because the toner
`scraping member 22 is twisted. the toner on the opening
`portion 3 and the collar 4 where it tends to stagnate is
`scraped outside. and a succulent supply quantity is obtained.
`as shown in FIG. 7. Moreover. the toner scraping member 22
`has elasticity. Therefore. if the toner bottle 1 rotates. the
`shape of the toner scraping member 22 will change in the
`direction where the twisting is removed. and toner will be
`discharged. Ifthe rotation of the toner bottle 1 is stopped. the
`toner scraping member 22 will be twisted again and the toner
`on the inner peripheral surfaces of the opening portion 3 and
`the collar 4 can be scraped off.
`Different variations of the toner scraping member will
`now be described in sequence.
`Atoner scraping member 23 shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b)
`consists of a sheet of plate along approximately the diameter
`of the cap 5. and the opposite edges of the toner scraping
`member 23 do not contact the inner peripheral surfaces of
`the opening portion 3 and the collar 4 but extend up to a
`position near the inner peripheral surfaces.
`The toner scraping member 23 can prevent toner blocking
`with rotation of the toner bottle 1. Notice that it is arbitrary
`whether the toner scraping member 23 has elasticity.
`Toner scraping members 24 shown in FIG. 9 are substan-
`tially identical with the toner scraping member 23 of FIGS.
`8(a) and 8(b) except that the central portion of the toner
`scraping member 23 is cut out. The radial width in the
`diameter direction of the cap 5 of each toner scraping
`member 24 is smaller than the diameter of the opening
`portion 3.
`toner
`The toner scraping members 24 can prevent
`blocking. and can enlarge the passage of toner at the opening
`portion 3 and the collar 4. as compared with the aforemen-
`tioned toner scraping member B. As shown in FIG. 9. two
`upper and lower toner scraping members 24 are provided.
`but the toner scraping member may consist of one toner
`scraping member. as shown in FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) In
`In addition. as shown in FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b). the toner
`scraping member may be divided into a plurality of tonm'
`scraping members 25. In such a case. the toner scraping
`members 25 are equiangularly disposed with respect to the
`center line of the cap 5.
`the force
`If constructed in the aforementioned way.
`exerted on the cap 5 can be equally distributed even when
`the outer edges of a plurality of toner scraping members 25
`are contacted with the inner peripheral surfaces of the
`opening portion 3 and the collar 4. Therefore. the cap 5 is
`prevented from being tilting during rotation of the toner
`bottle 1. Furthermore. because the tilt of the cap 5 can also
`be prevented when assembling. the assembling operation
`can be facilitated.
`
`While the present invention has been fully described by
`way of the preferred embodiments thereof. the invention is
`not to be limited to the details given herein. but various
`changes and modifications thereof are possible. For
`example. although it has been described in the aforemen-
`tioned embodiments that the cap is removed and held in
`cap-opened position by clamping the cap by the chuck. the
`cap may be screwed into the bottle body and it may be
`moved to and held in the cap-opened position by rotating the
`cap. Also. in the case where the toner scraping member is
`contacted with the inner peripheral surfaces of the opening
`portion and the collar. a sliding member. such as a brush.
`may be attached to the inner peripheral side of the toner
`scraping member. and the toner scraping member may be
`contacted with the inner peripheral surfaces of the opening
`portion and the collar through the sliding member.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`11
`
`11
`
`

`
`5.765.079
`
`9
`
`What is claimed is:
`1. A toner bottle comprising:
`a bottle body for containing toner and giving a feed
`operation to said toner in one direction by a rotation
`operation;
`a cap for closing an opening portion formed in said bottle
`body. said toner being supplied in a state in w