JP4080134B2 - Bottle cap - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bottle cap, and more particularly to a structure of a bottle cap for powders of toner, developer and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
At present, copiers, facsimiles, printers, etc. using an electrophotographic method in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photosensitive member, and an image made of toner obtained by colored particles charging the latent image is transferred to a transfer paper. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus is widely used. In this electrophotographic image forming apparatus, when the toner is consumed from the developing unit and is used up, the toner must be replenished. To replenish the toner, a toner bottle for storing the toner is set in the image forming apparatus, and the collet chat provided in the apparatus holds and pulls out the protrusion of the inner cap that seals the toner supply port of the toner bottle. This is done by filling the toner in the toner bottle. The material of the inner cap of the toner bottle is made of highly flexible plastic such as polyethylene, and the toner bottle inner cap is usually press-fitted into the spacer provided on the inner periphery of the toner supply port of the toner bottle. The press-fitting allowance of about 0.5 to 0.8 mm is maintained and the plugged state is maintained.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the material of the spacer portion is made of polycarbonate or the like with high dimensional accuracy, if the toner bottle is stored at a high temperature of about 40 ° C. for a long time, the difference in expansion coefficient between the spacer portion and the inner cap is different. For example, the inner cap made of polyethylene is deformed to reduce the outer diameter of the press-fitting portion, resulting in a problem that the plugged state becomes incomplete and the plugging function cannot be performed.
[0004]
The present invention is for solving these problems, and an elastic member that applies pressure to the inside of the cap to press and expand the outer diameter of the concave bottle cap is provided inside the concave portion of the cap, so that the temperature changes. An object of the present invention is to provide a bottle cap capable of maintaining a press-fitting allowance and maintaining a closed state even when the outer diameter of the cap is deformed.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a bottle cap of the present invention, the concave inner portion of the concave-shaped cap that plugging the opening of the bottle, setting the ring-shaped spring member for applying pressure from the inside of the cap to the outer peripheral direction, The planar shape of the ring-shaped spring member is polygonal, and is characterized in that pressure is applied from the inner side of the cap to the outer peripheral direction by the elastic force in the direction opposite to the direction in which the members constituting the sides of the ring spring member are displaced. . Therefore, even if the outer diameter of the cap is deformed due to temperature change, the press-fitting allowance can be maintained and the closed state can be maintained.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the bottle cap of the present invention, a ring-shaped spring member that applies pressure from the inside of the cap to the outer peripheral direction is provided in the concave portion of the concave cap that closes the opening of the bottle. The planar shape of the ring-shaped spring member is a polygon, and pressure is applied from the inner side of the cap to the outer peripheral direction by an elastic force in the direction opposite to the direction in which the members constituting the sides of the ring spring member are displaced. Therefore, even if the outer diameter of the cap is deformed due to temperature change, the press-fitting allowance can be maintained and the closed state can be maintained.
[0010]
【Example】
FIG. 1 is a view showing the structure of a bottle cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the bottle cap of this embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the bottle cap when the coil spring of this embodiment is mounted. As shown in (a) and (b) of the figure, a coil spring 11 wound in a three-dimensional spiral is loaded in the concave portion of the concave cap 12. Here, the outer diameter φA of the coil spring 11 in the open state is larger than the inner diameter φB of the cap 12. Then, the coil spring 11 is compressed from the outer peripheral direction to the spiral center direction (in the direction of arrow a in the figure) so that the outer diameter φA of the coil spring 11 is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter φB of the cap 12, and is loaded into the concave inside of the cap 12. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1B, the coil spring 11 applies a pressure to the inner wall of the cap 12 so as to push and spread in the direction of the arrow, that is, the outer circumferential direction. Even if the outer diameter φC is reduced, the coil spring 11 is expanded in the outer peripheral direction by the elastic force in the radial direction from the spiral center, so that the press-fitting allowance can be maintained and the closed state can be maintained. In addition, although the coil spring wound helically three-dimensionally was used as in the present embodiment, a spiral spring wound helically in a plane was used, and an attempt was made to push outward in the outer circumferential direction as an elastic force due to radial displacement. The same effect can be obtained by applying pressure to the inner wall of the cap.
[0011]
FIG. 2 is a view showing the structure of the bottle cap according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 2A is a perspective view of the bottle cap according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2B is a plan view of the leaf spring, and FIG. 2C is a view when the leaf spring is mounted according to the present embodiment. It is sectional drawing of a bottle cap. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C, a leaf spring 21 is loaded in the concave portion of the concave cap 12. Here, the outer diameter φA of the leaf spring 21 in the opened state is larger than the inner diameter φB of the cap 12. Then, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the leaf spring 21 is pressed from the outer peripheral direction to the center direction (the direction of arrow b in the figure) so that the outer diameter φA of the leaf spring 21 is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter φB of the cap 12. Then, the cap 12 is loaded into the recess. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the leaf spring 21 applies a pressure to the inner wall of the cap 12 so as to push and spread in the direction of the arrow, that is, the outer circumferential direction. Even if the outer diameter φC is reduced, the elastic force of the leaf spring 21 expands in the outer circumferential direction, maintains the press-fitting allowance, and can maintain the closed state. It is also possible to use a ring having a seamless ring shape by connecting the end portions of the leaf spring 21 as in the present embodiment, and the ring shape can be displaced in the center direction and loaded into the concave portion of the cap 12. An effect is obtained. Further, a wire spring may be used instead of the leaf spring as in the present embodiment.
[0012]
FIG. 3 is a view showing the structure of a bottle cap according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 3A is a plan view of the bottle cap of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the bottle cap when the coil spring of the present embodiment is mounted. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, four coil springs 31 are provided inside the concave portion of the concave cap 12. Each coil spring 31 is provided between the protrusion 32 provided at the center of the cap 12 and the inner wall of the cap 12. Then, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the elastic force of the coil spring 31 is applied to the inner side wall of the cap 12 as a pressure to expand in the direction of the arrow, that is, in the outer peripheral direction. Even if the outer diameter φC of the cap 12 itself becomes smaller due to plastic deformation due to the above, it can be expanded in the outer peripheral direction by the elastic force of the coil spring 31 to maintain the press-fitting allowance and keep the closed state.
[0013]
FIG. 4 is a view showing the structure of a bottle cap according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the spring spring of this embodiment, FIG. 4B is a plan view of the spring spring of this embodiment, and FIG. 4C is a blade spring of this embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the bottle cap at the time of spring mounting. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the spring spring 41 includes a plurality of inner spring spring members 41a extending in an umbrella shape in the center direction and a plurality of outer spring spring members 41b extending in an umbrella shape in the outer peripheral direction. Each spring member has an elastic force in the direction of the arrow. The spring spring 41 having such a configuration is loaded into the concave portion of the concave cap 12 as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 4C, the elastic force of the spring 41 is applied to the inner wall of the cap 12 as a pressure to push and spread in the direction of the arrow, that is, the outer circumferential direction, thereby causing plastic deformation due to temperature change. Thus, even if the outer diameter φC of the cap 12 itself is reduced, it is expanded in the outer peripheral direction by the elastic force of the spring 41, so that the press-fitting allowance is maintained and the closed state can be maintained.
[0014]
FIG. 5 is a view showing the structure of a bottle cap according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5A is a plan view of the bottle cap when the ring-shaped spring member of this embodiment is mounted. FIG. 5B is a perspective view of a linear ring-shaped spring member, and FIG. 5C is a perspective view of a plate-shaped ring-shaped spring member. Further, FIG. 5D is a cross-sectional view of the bottle cap when the linear ring-shaped spring member of this embodiment is mounted. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4D, a ring-shaped spring member 51 is loaded in the concave portion of the concave cap 12. The ring-shaped spring member 51 has a linear shape as shown in FIG. 5B and a plate-like shape as shown in FIG. The open outer diameter φA of any ring-shaped spring member 51 is larger than the inner diameter φB of the cap 12. Then, the members constituting each side of the ring-shaped spring member 51 are displaced from the outer peripheral direction to the center direction (the direction of the arrow c in the figure) so that the outer diameter φA of the ring-shaped spring member 51 is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter φB of the cap 12. Then, it is loaded into the concave portion of the cap 12. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5 (d), the ring-shaped spring member 51 is in the direction of the arrow, and is elastic to try to return to the original shape in the opposite direction displaced at the time of loading. By applying the pressure to be applied to the inner wall of the cap 12, even if the outer diameter φC of the cap 12 itself becomes smaller due to plastic deformation due to temperature change, it is expanded in the outer peripheral direction by the elastic force of the ring-shaped spring member 51, and the press-fitting allowance It is possible to maintain the closed state. The planar shape of the ring-shaped spring member 51 in the present embodiment is preferably a regular polygon in order to make the pressure applied to the inside of the cap 12 uniform over the entire inner circumference. There is no need to limit the shape, and it may be a polygon or a ring as described in the second embodiment.
[0015]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, It cannot be overemphasized that various deformation | transformation and substitution are possible if it is description in a claim.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the bottle cap of the present invention, the concave inner portion of the concave-shaped cap that plugging the opening of the bottle, only set a ring-shaped spring member for applying pressure from the inside of the cap to the outer circumferential direction, the ring-shaped The planar shape of the spring member is polygonal, and is characterized in that pressure is applied from the inner side of the cap to the outer peripheral direction by the elastic force in the direction opposite to the direction in which the members constituting the sides of the ring spring member are displaced . Therefore, even if the outer diameter of the cap is deformed due to temperature change, the press-fitting allowance can be maintained and the closed state can be maintained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a view showing a structure of a bottle cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a structure of a bottle cap according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a structure of a bottle cap according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a structure of a bottle cap according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a view showing a structure of a bottle cap according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
11, 31; coil spring, 12; cap, 21; leaf spring,
32; projection, 41; counterspring, 41a; inner counterspring member,
41b; outer spring member 51; ring spring member.

Claims (1)

The opening of the bottle concave inner portion of the concave shape of the cap to plugging, only set a ring-shaped spring member for applying pressure from the inside of the cap toward the outer periphery, the planar shape of the ring-shaped spring member is polygonal, the A bottle cap characterized in that pressure is applied from the inner side of the cap to the outer peripheral direction by an elastic force in a direction opposite to a direction in which a member constituting each side of the ring spring member is displaced .

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