JP2012173352A - Toner container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner container that more reliably prevents a cover, which is attached to a storage part that stores toner, from being detached from the storage part.SOLUTION: A toner container includes a movement regulation part 3d that is brought into contact with a lever 2b, which is in a closed posture that is a posture when a toner discharge port is being closed, from a front side in an attachment direction relative to the lever 2b when the cover is attached to a storage part, and regulates the movement of the cover relative to the storage part.

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner container.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, as shown in Patent Document 1, a toner container that stores toner used in image formation is installed. The toner container is detachable from the image forming apparatus so that the toner container can be replaced when the toner to be stored is consumed.

JP 2010-91888 A

  By the way, the toner container may have a cover attached to a storage portion that stores the toner. By this cover, for example, a supply hole used when supplying toner to the storage unit in a factory is protected.

  Such a cover has a structure that cannot be easily removed and is not removed by the user, but the user can carry a toner container that is not attached to the image forming apparatus when the user carries it or attaches it to the main body of the image forming apparatus. It may be possible to fall from the housing part by hitting it with force.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to more reliably prevent a cover attached to a storage unit that stores toner from being removed in a toner container.

  The present invention adopts the following configuration as means for solving the above-described problems.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner container that is detachable from the image forming apparatus and contains toner used in the image forming apparatus, and has a lever that opens and closes a toner discharge port and contains the toner. And a cover that covers a part of the storage part and is attached to the storage part, wherein the cover is in a closed position that is a position when the toner discharge port is closed. A configuration is adopted in which the lever includes a movement restricting portion that comes into contact with the lever from the front side in the attaching direction when the cover is attached to the accommodating portion and restricts the movement of the cover relative to the accommodating portion.

  In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the cover supports the movement restricting portion in contact with the lever so as to be movable from a region through which the lever passes when the cover is attached to the housing portion. A configuration of having a flexible support is adopted.

  According to a third invention, in the first or second invention, the lever escapes from the region through which the lever passes through the movement restricting portion in contact with the lever when the cover is attached to the housing portion. The structure which has a guide part to guide to is adopted.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the cover is disposed in the housing portion with respect to the lever that is in an open posture that is a posture when the toner discharge port is opened. A configuration is adopted in which a second movement restricting portion that abuts from the front side in the attaching direction when attaching to the housing and restricts the movement of the cover relative to the accommodating portion is employed.

According to the present invention, the cover has the movement restricting portion that comes into contact with the lever in the closed posture, which is the posture when closing the toner discharge port.
When the toner container is detached from the image forming apparatus, the lever is always in a closed position because the toner discharge port is closed. For this reason, when the toner container is detached from the image forming apparatus, the movement restricting portion is always in contact with the lever.

Further, according to the present invention, the movement restricting portion comes into contact with the lever from the front side in the attaching direction when the cover is attached to the accommodating portion, thereby restricting the movement of the cover with respect to the accommodating portion.
For this reason, it is prevented that a cover moves in the direction which remove | deviates from an accommodating part by a movement control part.

That is, according to the present invention, when the toner container is removed from the image forming apparatus, the movement restricting portion is always brought into contact with the lever and the cover is prevented from moving in a direction away from the accommodating portion.
For this reason, according to the present invention, in the toner container, it is possible to more reliably prevent the cover attached to the storage portion that stores the toner from being removed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a front view of a cover provided in a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a front view of a storage unit included in a toner container according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lever provided in the toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front view of a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a toner container according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the scale of each member is appropriately changed in order to make each member a recognizable size.

1A and 1B are perspective views of the toner container 1 of the present embodiment, in which FIG. 1A shows a state in which the housing portion 2 and the cover 3 are assembled, and FIG. 1B shows that the housing portion 2 and the cover 3 are disassembled. It shows the state that was done.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the cover 3, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the housing portion 2.

The toner container 1 according to the present embodiment is detachable and replaceable with respect to an image forming apparatus (for example, a laser printer) that forms an image using toner, and stores the toner and forms an image. Toner is supplied to the apparatus.
The toner container 1 includes a housing portion 2 and a cover 3 as shown in FIG.

  The storage unit 2 is a part that actually stores toner, a housing that stores toner therein, and a toner that is stored inside the housing and that is stored in the housing (image forming apparatus). The supply part (screw conveyor, supply roller, etc.) for supplying to is accommodated.

In addition, the storage unit 2 includes a toner discharge port 2a that is connected to the outside (image forming apparatus) and discharges toner.
As shown in FIG. 1, the toner discharge port 2 a is provided on the side of the housing portion 2 that is covered with the cover 3.

In the toner container 1 of the present embodiment, the container 2 includes a lever 2b that opens and closes the toner discharge port 2a.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lever 2b. As shown in this figure, the lever 2b includes a knob portion 2c that the user picks, a shaft portion 2d that is the pivot center of the lever 2b, an arm portion 2e that connects the knob portion 2c and the shaft portion 2d, and a later-described lever. And a guide part 2f for guiding the movement restricting protrusion 3d (movement restricting part).

In addition, the guide part 2f is provided in the upper part of the knob | pick part 2c, and has the inclined surface 2f1 which goes up as it goes to the housing | casing of the accommodating part 2 from the cover 3 side.
The guide portion 2f guides the movement restricting projection 3d that comes into contact with the lever 2b when the cover 3 is mounted so as to escape from the region through which the lever 2b passes.

Such a lever 2b rotates around the shaft portion 2d and changes its posture when the user picks the knob portion 2c and rotates.
As shown in FIGS. 1B and 3, the posture of the lever 2 b where the knob 2 c is positioned is a closed posture where the toner discharge port 2 a is closed. Further, the posture rotated 90 ° counterclockwise from the closed posture is an open posture in which the toner discharge port 2a is opened.

  Note that the storage unit 2 is provided with a door member that opens the toner discharge port 2a only when the toner container 1 is mounted on the image forming apparatus without being linked to the posture of the lever 2b. However, the toner is not leaked even if the lever 2b is rotated in a state where the toner is not mounted on the image forming apparatus.

  The cover 3 is attached to the storage unit 2 so as to cover the front side of the storage unit 2 (the side directed to the user side when mounted on the image forming apparatus). The supply hole used when supplying is protected.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover 3 includes a locking portion 3a, a knob portion passage hole 3b, an arm portion movement region 3c, a movement restriction projection 3d, and a movement restriction piece 3e (second movement restriction piece). Part).

  The locking portion 3a is for fixing the cover 3 to the housing portion 2 by locking against a protrusion provided on the side surface of the housing portion 2, and as shown in FIG. A plurality of three are provided.

The knob passing hole 3 b is an area through which the knob 2 c of the lever 2 b passes when the cover 3 is attached to the housing 2, and is provided on the front surface of the cover 3.
In addition, the knob | pick part passage hole 3b has the knob | pick part 2c formed in the passage position, when the lever 2b is a closed attitude | position.

  The arm part moving region 3c is connected to the knob passing hole 3b and is a region through which the arm 2e of the lever 2b passes when the lever 2b is rotated.

The movement restricting protrusion 3d comes into contact with the lever 2b in the closed posture. As shown in FIG. 5 (a front view in a state in which the housing portion 2 and the cover 3 are assembled) and FIG. 6 (a cross-sectional view in a state in which the housing portion 2 and the cover 3 are assembled), the cover 3 is placed in the housing portion 2. Is attached from the front side (the rear side when the toner container 1 is viewed from the front side) in the mounting direction (arrow direction) when mounted on the housing 3, thereby restricting the movement of the cover 3 with respect to the housing portion 2.
When no force is applied from the outside, the movement restricting projection 3d is disposed so as to be exposed at the upper portion of the knob passing hole 3b of the cover 3, as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, the movement restricting protrusion 3 d is disposed so as to protrude downward by being supported by a flexible support portion 3 f included in the cover 3.
The flexible support portion 3f is a plate-like member formed to have a thickness that is bent when an external force is applied, and the movement restricting projection 3d that comes into contact with the lever 2b when the cover 3 is attached to the housing portion 2 is provided. The lever is supported so as to be movable upward from the region through which the lever passes.

  The movement restricting piece 3e is provided along the arm portion moving area 3c, and is mounted when the cover 3 is mounted on the housing portion 2 with respect to the lever 2b in the open posture or the posture from the closed posture to the open posture. It abuts from the front side in the direction and restricts the movement of the cover 3 relative to the accommodating portion 2.

In the toner container 1 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the cover 3 has a movement restricting protrusion 3d that comes into contact with the lever 2b in the closed position.
When the toner container 1 is detached from the image forming apparatus, the lever 2b is always in a closed position because the toner discharge port 2a is closed. For this reason, when the toner container 1 is detached from the image forming apparatus, the movement restricting protrusion 3d is always in contact with the lever 2b.

Further, according to the toner container 1 of the present embodiment, the movement restricting projection 3d abuts on the lever 2b from the front side in the mounting direction when the cover 3 is mounted on the storage portion 2, and thereby the storage portion 2 of the cover 3 is mounted. Movement against is restricted.
For this reason, the movement restricting projection 3d prevents the cover 3 from moving in a direction away from the accommodating portion 2.

Therefore, in the toner container 1 of the present embodiment, the movement restricting projection 3d is always brought into contact with the lever 2b in a state where the toner container 1 is detached from the image forming apparatus, so that the cover 3 is detached from the housing portion 2. It is prevented from moving.
For this reason, according to the toner container 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to more reliably prevent the cover 3 attached to the storage unit 2 that stores the toner from being removed.

Further, in the toner container 1 of the present embodiment, the flexible support portion 3f moves upward from the region through which the lever 2b passes through the movement restricting projection 3d that contacts the lever 2b when the cover 3 is attached to the storage portion 2. Support as possible.
In the toner container 1 of the present embodiment, the guide portion 2f guides the movement restricting projection 3d that is in contact with the lever 2b when the cover 3 is attached so as to escape from the region through which the lever 2b passes.
For this reason, when attaching the cover 3 to the accommodating portion 2, the movement restricting projection 3d can be moved from the passing region of the lever 2b (the knob portion 2c), and the cover 3 is smoothly attached to the accommodating portion 2. be able to.
When the guide portion 2f passes through the movement restricting projection 3d, the flexible support portion 3f returns to its original shape, and the movement restricting projection 3d comes into contact with the lever 2b from the front side in the mounting direction, so that the cover 3 is removed. It becomes difficult.

Further, in the toner container 1 of the present embodiment, the movement restricting piece 3e is provided along the arm portion moving area 3c, and when the cover 3 is attached to the accommodating portion 2 with respect to the lever 2b in the open posture. The movement of the cover 3 with respect to the housing portion 2 is restricted by contacting from the front side in the mounting direction.
For this reason, even when the toner container 1 is attached to the image forming apparatus and the lever 2b is in the open posture, it is possible to make it difficult to remove the cover 3 from the storage portion 2.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. Various shapes, combinations, and the like of the constituent members shown in the above-described embodiments are examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements and the like without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Toner container, 2 ... Container, 2a ... Toner discharge port, 2b ... Lever, 2c ... Pick part, 2d ... Shaft part, 2e ... Arm part, 2f ... Guide part, 2f1 ... ... Inclined surface, 3 ... Cover, 3a ... Locking part, 3b ... Knob passing hole, 3c ... Arm part moving region, 3d ... Movement restricting projection (movement restricting part), 3e ... Movement restricting piece (Second movement restricting portion), 3f .. Flexible support portion

Claims (4)

A toner container that is detachable from the image forming apparatus and contains toner used in the image forming apparatus,
A housing portion having a lever for opening and closing a toner discharge port and housing the toner;
A cover that covers a part of the housing portion and is attached to the housing portion;
The cover is in contact with the lever in a closed position, which is a position when closing the toner discharge port, from the front side in the mounting direction when the cover is mounted on the storage portion. A toner container comprising a movement restricting portion for restricting movement relative to the portion.   The said cover has a flexible support part which supports the said movement control part contact | abutted with the said lever so that a movement is possible from the area | region where the said lever passes, when attaching the said cover to the said accommodating part. Item 1. A toner container according to Item 1.   The lever includes a guide portion that guides the movement restricting portion in contact with the lever so as to escape from a region through which the lever passes when the cover is attached to the housing portion. 2. The toner container according to 2.   The cover comes into contact with the lever in the open position, which is a position when the toner discharge port is opened, from the front side in the mounting direction when the cover is mounted on the storage unit. The toner container according to claim 1, further comprising a second movement restricting portion that restricts movement relative to the portion.

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