JP2024064096A - Toner container - Google Patents

Abstract

A toner container is provided that allows a cap to be easily attached to and detached from a toner filling port.
[Solution] The toner container comprises a container body having a toner filling port 11, and a cap 40 that closes the filling port 11, the cap 40 having a lid body 41, a ring 45 connected to the lid body 41 by an elastic bridge 43, first and second engagement pieces protruding radially outward from the ring 45, and a hook piece 59 extending perpendicularly to the back surface from the outer peripheral edge of the back surface of the lid body 41, the container body having two first engagement portions that can engage with the first engagement pieces in the circumferential direction, a second engagement portion 29 that can engage with the second engagement piece in the circumferential and height directions, a tubular portion 23 that protrudes from the peripheral edge of the filling port 11 into the inside of the container body, and a guide groove 25 provided at the tip of the tubular portion 23 that guides the hook piece 59 radially inward.
[Selected Figure] Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to a toner container equipped with a cap that closes the toner filling port.

In electrophotographic image forming devices that use toner, such as multifunction devices and printers, the toner is supplied to the developing device from a toner container that contains the toner.

For example, the toner container (corresponding to a toner container) described in Patent Document 1 is equipped with a cap having a flange that is adhered to the tip surface of a cylindrical filling port provided on the container body. When removing the cap, the cap including the flange is cut off together with the filling port. When reusing the container body, the flange of another cap is adhered to the tip surface of the filling port.

JP 2010-96828 A

In the toner container described in Patent Document 1, when the cap is attached, it is necessary to adhere the cap to the tip surface of the filling port with an adhesive. Furthermore, when removing the cap, it is necessary to cut away part of the cap and part of the filling port. This causes problems such as reduced workability when attaching and removing the cap, and shavings and debris generated during cutting can get into the container body.

In consideration of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a toner container that allows easy attachment and detachment of a cap to the toner filling port.

In order to achieve the above object, the toner container of the present invention is a toner container comprising a container body having a toner filling port and a cap for closing the filling port, the cap comprising a lid body fitted into the filling port, a ring provided on the radially outer side of the lid body and connected to the lid body by an elastic bridge, a first elastic engagement piece protruding radially outward from the ring, a second engagement piece protruding radially outward from the ring and spaced apart in the circumferential direction from the first engagement piece, and a second engagement piece extending from the outer periphery of the back surface of the lid body to the back surface. and a hook piece extending perpendicular to the surface, elastically deformable in the radial direction, and having a claw at a tip end protruding radially outward, the container body having two first engagement portions provided radially outward of the filling port and spaced apart in the circumferential direction and engageable with the first engagement portion, a second engagement portion provided radially outward of the filling port and engageable with the second engagement portion in the circumferential direction and in the height direction, a tubular portion protruding from the periphery of the filling port into the container body, and having a tip end to which the claw of the hook piece can be hooked, and a hook piece provided at the tip end of the tubular portion. and a guide groove for guiding the claw radially inward. When closing the filling port with the cap, the lid body is fitted into the filling port, and then the lid body is rotated in a predetermined rotational direction relative to the filling port, so that the first engagement piece engages with the first first engagement part, and then the lid body is pushed in so that the claw of the hook piece hooks on the tip of the tubular part to prevent the lid body from coming off the container body. When removing the cap from the filling port, the lid body is further rotated in the rotational direction relative to the filling port, so that the first engagement piece separates from the first first engagement part and engages with the second first engagement part, and the second engagement piece engages with the second engagement part, and the claw of the hook piece enters the guide groove, and then the lid body is pulled out of the filling port, so that the elastic arm breaks and the lid body is separated from the ring, and the claw of the hook piece is guided along the guide groove and comes off the tip of the tubular part, and the hook piece is released from the retention of the lid body.

In the toner container of the present invention, the first engagement piece and the first engagement portion may be engaged by a ratchet system, and the lid body may be rotatable in the rotation direction but not in the opposite direction to the rotation direction.

In the toner container of the present invention, the second engagement piece and the hook piece may each have three second engagement pieces and three hook pieces that are arranged at equal central angles with respect to the center of the lid body.

According to the present invention, when closing the filling port with a cap, the filling port can be securely closed by pushing in the lid body. In addition, when reusing the container body, the cap can be removed from the container body relatively easily by rotating the lid body and then pulling it out of the filling port.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a perspective view showing a filling port of a container body of a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a filling port of a container body of a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cap of a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cap of a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a cap and a filling port of the container body when the cap body is fitted into the filling port of the container body from the outside of the container body. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a cap and a filling port of the container body when the cap body is fitted into the filling port of the container body from the inside of the container body. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a cap and a filling port of the container body when the cap body is rotated relative to the filling port of the container body from the outside of the container body. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a cap and a filling port of the container body as viewed from inside the container body with a lid body of the cap rotated relative to the filling port of the container body. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic view of the cap and the filling port in a state in which the cap is attached to the container body in the toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a cap and a filling port when the cap is attached to a container body, as viewed from inside the container body. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing the cap and the filling port as viewed from the outside of the container body when the lid body of the cap is being removed from the filling port of the container body. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing the cap and the filling port as viewed from the inside of the container body when the lid body of the cap is being removed from the filling port of the container body. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention, which diagrammatically shows a cap and a filling port of a container body with a lid body of the cap removed from the filling port.

The following describes a toner container according to one embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

The toner container 1 will be described in its entirety with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the toner container 1. The toner container 1 includes a container body 10 having a toner filling port 11, and a cap 40 that closes the filling port 11.

The container body 10 has a main body portion 13 with an opening on the top and a lid portion 15 with an opening on the bottom. The main body portion 13 has a substantially semi-cylindrical bottom plate 13a and a pair of substantially semi-circular side plates 13b. The main body portion 13 also has a flange 13c that protrudes outward along the top opening. The lid portion 15 has a flange 15a that protrudes outward along the bottom opening. By welding the two flanges 13c and 15a together, the main body portion 13 and the lid portion 15 form the container body 10, which has an internal space in which toner is stored. The container body 10 is made of, for example, resin.

A stirring paddle and a conveying screw (both not shown) are rotatably housed in the internal space of the container body 10. Furthermore, a toner discharge port (not shown) is formed in the bottom plate 13a of the main body portion 13. The discharge port is connected to a toner supply port (not shown) of the developing device. The discharge port can be opened and closed by a shutter (not shown).

A toner filling port 11 is formed in one of the side plates 13b. The filling port 11 can be closed with a cap 40.

First, the filling port 11 will be described with reference to Figures 2A and 2B. Figure 2A is a perspective view showing the filling port 11, and Figure 2B is a cross-sectional view showing the filling port 11.

The filling port 11 is formed in the center of the bottom wall of a circular recess 21 provided in the side plate 13b of the container body 10. The side wall of the recess 21 is inclined inward toward the bottom wall. A cylindrical portion 23 is formed on the back surface of the bottom wall, protruding from the outer periphery of the filling port 11 into the inside of the container body 10. Three guide grooves 25 are provided at the tip of the cylindrical portion 23 at equal central angles (120 degrees) with respect to the center of the cylindrical portion 23. Each guide groove 25 is formed by cutting diagonally between the end face and the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 23.

Three protrusions 27 and three engagement portions 29 are formed on the side plate 13b radially outward of the filling port 11. The three protrusions 27 are arranged at equal central angles (120 degrees) relative to the center of the filling port 11. The three engagement portions 29 are arranged at equal central angles (120 degrees) relative to the center of the filling port 11, and are offset from the three protrusions 27 in the circumferential direction.

As will be described in detail later, in this embodiment, the action of attaching the cap 40 to the filling port 11 includes the action of rotating the cap 40 in a predetermined direction. In this example, the rotation direction of the cap 40 is the clockwise direction in FIG. 2A. The rotation direction in the following description refers to this rotation direction R. Also, in the following description of the filling port 11, the radial direction refers to the radial direction of the filling port 11.

Each protrusion 27 is formed in an arc shape along the rotation direction R. The upper surface of each protrusion 27 is formed in a flat surface parallel to the outer surface of the side plate 13b. The end surface 27a of each protrusion 27 on the upstream side in the rotation direction R is inclined radially inward toward the downstream side in the rotation direction R. Two notches 31 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of each protrusion 27 with a gap in between in the rotation direction R. Each notch 31 is formed so that the surface on the upstream side in the rotation direction R is formed roughly along the radial direction, and the surface on the downstream side in the rotation direction R is inclined radially inward.

Each engagement portion 29 has a leg portion 29a erected on the outer surface of the side plate 13b, and a roof portion 29b formed along the direction opposite to the rotation direction R from the upper end of the leg portion 29a toward the upstream side of the rotation direction R.

Next, the cap 40 will be described with reference to Figures 3A and 3B. Figure 3A is a perspective view of the cap 40, and Figure 3B is a cross-sectional view of the cap 40. The cap 40 has a lid body 41 and a ring 45 that is provided on the radial outside of the lid body 41 and is connected to the lid body 41 by three elastic bridges 43. The cap 40 is made of, for example, resin. In the following description of the cap 40, the radial direction refers to the radial direction of the lid body 41.

The lid 41 has a disk portion 51 of the same shape as the filling port 11, and a tube portion 53 formed along the outer periphery of the back surface of the disk portion 51. A flange portion 55 that protrudes radially outward from the disk portion 51 is formed on the outer periphery of the tube portion 53. A rectangular handle 57 is provided on the upper surface of the disk portion 51. Three hook pieces 59 that extend perpendicularly to the end surface are provided on the end surface of the tube portion 53. The three hook pieces 59 are arranged at equal central angles (120 degrees) with respect to the center of the disk portion 51. Each hook piece 59 is elastically deformable in the radial direction. A claw 59a that protrudes radially outward is formed on the tip of each hook piece 59.

Three first engagement pieces 61 and three second engagement pieces 63 are formed on the ring 45. The three first engagement pieces 61 are arranged at equal central angles (120 degrees) with respect to the center of the ring 45. The three second engagement pieces 63 are arranged at equal central angles (120 degrees) with respect to the center of the ring 45, and are offset from the three first engagement pieces 61 in the rotational direction R.

Each first engagement piece 61 protrudes radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the ring 45. In detail, each first engagement piece 61 protrudes radially outward from the outer circumferential surface, curves toward the upstream side of the rotation direction R, and is formed along the opposite direction to the rotation direction R toward the upstream side. A claw 61a protruding radially outward is formed at the tip of each first engagement piece 61. The claw 61a is formed so that the surface on the downstream side of the rotation direction R is inclined toward the downstream side.

Each second engagement piece 63 is a flattened rectangular parallelepiped and protrudes radially outward from the top surface of the ring 45. Each second engagement piece 63 is formed to be slightly wider radially outward.

The three elastic bridges 43 connect the outer peripheral surface of the tube portion 53 of the lid body 41 (closer to the lid body 41 than the flange portion 55) to the inner peripheral surface of the ring 45. Each elastic bridge 43 extends radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the tube portion 53, curves toward the upstream side of the rotation direction R, extends along the opposite direction to the rotation direction R, and curves to connect to the inner peripheral surface of the ring 45 at a position radially corresponding to the first engagement piece 61.

The operation of closing the filling port 11 with the cap 40 and the operation of removing the cap 40 from the filling port 11 in the toner container 1 described above will be described with reference to Figures 4A to 9. Figures 4A, 5A, and 8A are perspective views of the cap 40 and filling port 11 as viewed from the outside of the container body 10, and Figures 4B, 5B, and 8B are perspective views of the cap 40 and filling port 11 as viewed from the inside of the container body 10. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the cap 40 and filling port 11 as viewed from the inside of the container body 10. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the cap 40 and filling port 11. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the cap 40 and filling port 11.

First, as shown in FIG. 4A, the lid body 41 of the cap 40 is fitted into the filling port 11 of the container body 10. In detail, the cylindrical portion 53 of the lid body 41 is inserted into the filling port 11, and the ring 45, the three elastic bridges 43, and the three first engagement pieces 61 are placed on the outer surface of the side plate 13b of the container body 10, and the three second engagement pieces 63 are placed on the upper surfaces of the three protrusions 27. Note that the flange portion 55 of the lid body 41 does not reach the bottom wall of the recess 21 of the side plate 13b. Also, as shown in FIG. 4B, the three hook pieces 59 are elastically deformed radially inward with the claws 59a in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 23. The three hook pieces 59 and the three guide grooves 25 are misaligned in the circumferential direction.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5A, the handle 57 of the lid 41 is grasped with fingers or a tool, and the lid 41 is rotated in the rotation direction R. Then, the claws 61a of each first engagement piece 61 are guided by the end face 27a of the protrusion 27, and the first engagement piece 61 elastically deforms radially inward. Then, the claws 61a engage with the first notch 31 (upstream side in the rotation direction R), and the first engagement piece 61 elastically returns radially outward. The claws 61a of the first engagement piece 61 engage with the notch 31 in a ratchet manner. In this way, the notch 31 is an example of an engagement portion with which the first engagement piece 61 engages in the present invention. In addition, the second engagement piece 63 moves away from the protrusion 27.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5B, the three hook pieces 59 move along the inner circumferential surface of the tube portion 23 while remaining elastically deformed radially inward. The three hook pieces 59 and the three guide grooves 25 are still misaligned in the circumferential direction.

6, the lid 41 is pushed toward the inside of the container body 10 (see arrow D1 in the figure) to bring the flange portion 55 into contact with the bottom wall of the recess 21. At this time, the lid 41 is pushed against the ring 45 by the elastic deformation of the three elastic bridges 43. The elastic bridges 43 elastically deform so as to fit along the side wall of the recess 21. As a result, as also shown in FIG. 7, the claws 59a of each hook piece 59 move away from the inner peripheral surface of the tube portion 23. Then, each hook piece 59 elastically deforms radially outward, and the claws 59a engage with the tip portion of the tube portion 23. As a result, the filling port 11 is closed by the lid 41, the lid 41 is prevented from coming off the filling port 11, and the cap 40 is attached to the container body 10.

The toner container 1 is mounted in this state in an image forming device (not shown), and toner is replenished to the developing device (not shown) when necessary. When the toner is consumed and the toner container 1 is empty, the toner container 1 is removed from the image forming device. Thereafter, when reusing the container body 10 of the toner container 1, the cap 40 is removed from the container body 10.

At this time, first, as shown in FIG. 8A, the cover 41 is further rotated in the rotation direction R. Then, the claw 61a of each first engagement piece 61 disengages from the first notch 31 (upstream side in the rotation direction R) and is guided along the inner peripheral surface of the protrusion 27, elastically deforming radially inward. Then, the claw 61a engages with the second notch 31, and the first engagement piece 61 elastically returns radially outward. Also, the second engagement piece 63 engages with the engagement portion 29. That is, the second engagement piece 63 passes under the roof portion 29b and abuts against the leg portion 29a in the circumferential direction. In this way, the second engagement piece 63 engages with the engagement portion 29 in the circumferential direction and the height direction. That is, the engagement portion 29 is an example of a second engagement portion with which the second engagement piece 63 engages in the present invention.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8B, the three hook pieces 59 move along the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion 23 while remaining engaged with the tip of the tubular portion 23, and eventually the claws 59a of the three hook pieces 59 enter the three guide grooves 25, and the hook pieces 59 elastically return to their original position.

As shown in FIG. 9, the handle 57 of the lid 41 is then grasped with fingers or a tool and pulled out of the filling port 11 (see arrow D2 in the figure). At this time, the second engagement piece 63 is restricted from moving in the height direction by the roof portion 29b of the engagement portion 29, so the ring 45 on which the second engagement piece 63 is provided remains fixed. As a result, the three elastic bridges 43 are broken and the lid 41 separates from the ring 45. In addition, since the claws 59a of the three hook pieces 59 are inserted into the three guide grooves 25, when the lid 41 is pulled out, the claws 59a are guided along the guide grooves 25, and the hook pieces 59 are pulled out along the tube portion 23 while elastically deforming radially inward.

In this way, the lid 41 and a part of the elastic bridge 43 connected to the lid 41 are pulled out. Then, the ring 45 remaining on the side plate 13b and the part of the elastic bridge 43 connected to the ring 45 are removed from the side plate 13b to expose the filling port 11. Toner is then filled through the filling port 11, and a new cap 40 is attached in the manner described above.

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, when closing the filling port 11 with the cap 40, the lid body 41 can reliably close the filling port 11, and the three hook pieces 59 can prevent the lid body 41 from coming off the container body 10. Furthermore, when reusing the container body 10, the cap 40 can be relatively easily removed from the container body 10 by rotating the lid body 41 and then pulling it out. At this time, the container body 10 is not damaged, so the container body 10 can be reused. Furthermore, since the elastic bridge 43 breaks on the outside of the container body 10, debris generated by the breakage is less likely to enter the container body 10.

In addition, when the lid body 41 is rotated, the first engagement piece 61 engages with the two notches 31 in sequence, indicating the timing for attaching and removing the cap 40. That is, the engagement of the first engagement piece 61 with the first notch 31 indicates the timing for pushing the lid body 41 to attach the cap 40 to the filling port 11, and the engagement of the first engagement piece 61 with the second notch 31 indicates the timing for pulling the lid body 41 out of the filling port 11. This ensures that the cap 40 can be attached and removed at the appropriate timing.

In addition, because the first engagement piece 61 and the notch 31 are engaged using a ratchet system, the lid body 41 can rotate in the rotation direction R, but cannot rotate in the direction opposite to the rotation direction R. This reduces the risk of the lid body 41 being removed accidentally.

Furthermore, the three second engagement pieces 63 and the three hook pieces 59 are arranged at equal central angles relative to the center of the lid body 41, so that the cap 40 can be more stably fixed to the filling port 11 and prevented from falling off.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Those skilled in the art may modify the above embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

1 Toner container 10 Container body 11 Filling port 23 Cylinder portion (Cylinder portion)
25 Guide groove 29 Engagement portion (second engagement portion)
31 Notch (first engagement portion)
40 Cap 41 Lid body 43 Elastic bridge 45 Ring 59 Hook piece 59a Claw 61 First engagement piece 63 Second engagement piece

Claims (3)

A toner container comprising a container body having a toner filling port and a cap for closing the filling port,
The cap is
A lid body that is fitted into the filling port;
A ring is provided on the radially outer side of the lid body and is connected to the lid body by an elastic bridge;
a first engagement piece having elasticity and protruding radially outward from the ring;
A second engagement piece that protrudes radially outward from the ring and is spaced apart from the first engagement piece in a circumferential direction;
a hook piece extending perpendicularly to the rear surface from the outer circumferential edge of the rear surface of the lid body, elastically deformable in the radial direction, and having a claw at a tip thereof protruding radially outward;
The container body includes:
Two first engagement portions are provided radially outwardly of the filling port and spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction, and are capable of engaging with the first engagement pieces in a circumferential direction;
a second engagement portion provided radially outward of the filling port and capable of engaging with the second engagement piece in a circumferential direction and a height direction;
a cylindrical portion that protrudes from a periphery of the filling port into the container body and has a tip end to which the claw of the hook piece can be hooked;
a guide groove provided at the tip end of the cylindrical portion for guiding the claws radially inward,
When closing the filling port with the cap,
After the lid body is fitted into the filling port, the lid body is rotated in a predetermined rotational direction relative to the filling port, whereby the first engagement piece engages with the first first engagement portion, and then the lid body is pushed in so that the claw of the hook piece hooks onto the tip portion of the cylindrical portion, preventing the lid body from coming off the container body,
When removing the cap from the filling port,
A toner container characterized in that, by further rotating the lid body in the rotational direction relative to the filling port, the first engagement piece moves away from the first first engagement portion and engages with the second first engagement portion while the second engagement piece engages with the second engagement portion, and further, the claw of the hook piece enters into the guide groove, and then, by pulling the lid body out of the filling port, the elastic arm breaks, separating the lid body from the ring, and the claw of the hook piece is guided along the guide groove and comes off the tip of the cylindrical portion, thereby releasing the hook piece from its prevention of removal. The toner container according to claim 1, characterized in that the first engagement piece and the first engagement portion are engaged by a ratchet system, and the lid body is rotatable in the rotation direction but cannot be rotated in the opposite direction to the rotation direction. 3. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the second engagement pieces and the hook pieces each include three second engagement pieces and three hook pieces, which are arranged at equal central angles with respect to the center of the lid body.

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