JP6380248B2 - Toner container and method for determining authenticity of toner container - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner container and a toner container authenticity determination method.

  An electrophotographic image forming apparatus (for example, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a copier) uses a developer containing toner to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier into a toner image. Is provided. The toner is supplied to the developing unit from a toner container mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. When the toner in the toner container runs out, the user replaces the toner container.

  In this case, if the toner in the newly installed toner container (toner cartridge) is inappropriate toner (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as “non-conforming product”), the performance of the image forming apparatus is In addition to not being fully utilized, it may cause a failure of the image forming apparatus.

  There is known an image forming apparatus in which RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology, trustgram technology, or hidden character technology is introduced in order to notify that it is a non-conforming product. For example, Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose image forming apparatuses in which RFID technology is introduced. In such an image forming apparatus, a wireless tag (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “RFID tag”) that stores information related to the toner container (for example, the type of toner in the toner container) is attached to the toner container. By reading the information stored in the RFID tag, the attached toner container can be identified.

JP-A-10-228523 JP 2007-018197 A JP 2006-280119 A

  However, when the toner container is managed using the RFID tag as described above, the RFID tag may be forged. If the RFID tag is forged, it is difficult to obtain correct information about the toner container.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a toner container that can be easily identified and has an identification function that is difficult to counterfeit, and a toner container that can suitably determine the authenticity of a toner container using such a toner container. It is an object of the present invention to provide an authenticity determination method.

  The toner container according to the present invention includes a resin casing. The housing includes a crystalline part including a crystalline resin and an amorphous part substantially not including the crystalline resin.

  The toner container authenticity determination method according to the present invention includes an X-ray diffraction spectrum measurement step and a determination step. In the X-ray diffraction spectrum measurement step, X-ray diffraction spectrum is measured by irradiating the crystalline part of the casing of the toner container with X-rays. The determination step determines the authenticity of the toner container based on the obtained X-ray diffraction spectrum.

  The toner container authenticity determination method according to the present invention includes a reading process, an X-ray diffraction spectrum measurement process, and a determination process. In the reading step, the information is read from the wireless tag of the toner container further including a wireless tag. The wireless tag includes the type of the crystalline resin, the content of the crystalline resin in the crystalline part, the crystallinity of the crystalline resin, the size of the crystalline part, the shape of the crystalline part, Information on at least one of the number of the crystalline parts and the position of the crystalline part is stored. In the X-ray diffraction spectrum measurement step, X-ray diffraction spectrum is measured by irradiating the crystalline part of the casing of the toner container with X-rays. The determination step determines the authenticity of the toner container based on the X-ray diffraction spectrum and the information.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a toner container that can be easily identified and has an identification function that is difficult to counterfeit, and a toner container authenticity determination method that can suitably determine the authenticity of the toner container using such a toner container. Is possible.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a region A of the toner container shown in FIG. 3.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within the scope of the object of the present invention. In addition, about the location where description overlaps, although description may be abbreviate | omitted suitably, the summary of invention is not limited. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will not be repeated.

  The toner container according to this embodiment is detachable from the electrophotographic apparatus (image forming apparatus) and can be replaced. A toner container according to the present embodiment stores toner for developing an electrostatic latent image (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “toner”), and replenishes the developing unit included in the image forming apparatus.

  First, an image forming apparatus including a toner container according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a toner container according to the present embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a paper feeding unit 10, an image forming unit 2, a toner container 30, a discharge unit 50, and a transport unit L. The image forming unit 2 includes a developing unit 21, a charging unit 22, an image carrier 23, an exposure unit 24, a transfer unit 25, and a fixing unit 40.

  The sheet feeding unit 10 conveys the sheet S to the image forming unit 2 via the conveyance unit L. When the sheet S is conveyed to the image forming unit 2, the image forming unit 2 forms an image on the sheet S by the following operation, for example. First, the charging unit 22 charges the surface of the image carrier 23. Subsequently, the exposure unit 24 exposes the surface of the charged image carrier 23 to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrier 23. Subsequently, the developing unit 21 forms a toner image by attaching toner to the surface of the image carrier 23 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. Subsequently, the transfer unit 25 transfers the toner image formed on the image carrier 23 to the sheet S. The sheet S on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 40 by the conveyance unit L. When the sheet S is conveyed to the fixing unit 40, the fixing unit 40 heats and presses the sheet S to fix the toner image on the sheet S. The sheet S on which the toner image (image) is fixed is sent out to the discharge unit 50 by the transport unit L.

  The toner container 30 supplies toner to the developing unit 21. When the amount of toner stored in the toner container decreases, the toner container 30 is replaced.

Next, the toner container according to this embodiment will be described. The toner container according to this embodiment has the following configuration (1).
(1) The toner container includes a resin casing. The housing includes a crystalline part including a crystalline resin and an amorphous part substantially not including the crystalline resin.

  The crystalline resin has a clear endothermic peak instead of a stepwise endothermic change in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). For example, in DSC at a heating rate of 10 ° C./min, a resin having a full width at half maximum of an endothermic peak of 15 ° C. or less is a crystalline resin. On the other hand, in DSC at a heating rate of 10 ° C./min, a resin whose full width at half maximum of the endothermic peak exceeds 15 ° C. or a resin where no clear endothermic peak is observed is an amorphous resin.

  In the toner container having the configuration (1), the housing includes a crystalline part and an amorphous part. Among these, identification information (more specifically, the position of the crystalline part or the type of the crystalline resin constituting the crystalline part) can be included in the crystalline part. Then, by associating such identification information for the crystalline part with known information about the toner container (more specifically, the type of the toner container or the type of toner in the toner container) in advance, The toner container can be identified based on the identification information of the crystalline part (that is, the authenticity determination of the toner container). In order to easily and accurately identify the toner container, it is preferable to use a combination of a plurality of types of identification information. The kind of crystalline resin constituting the crystalline part and the position of the crystalline part can each be measured by X-ray diffraction. The toner container can be easily identified by comparing the obtained X-ray diffraction spectrum with known information about the toner container. The kind of crystalline resin constituting the crystalline part and the position of the crystalline part can be easily changed at the time of manufacturing the toner container.

  In the toner container having the configuration (1), both the crystalline part and the non-crystalline part contain a resin. Therefore, even when the crystalline part is exposed on the outer surface of the casing (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “outer surface”), the boundary surface between the crystalline part and the amorphous part is visually observed. It is difficult to confirm with. For this reason, it is difficult to grasp the presence of the crystalline part (and hence the position of the crystalline part) from the appearance of the toner container. For this reason, a toner container including a housing including such a crystalline part is difficult to be counterfeited. The crystalline resin constituting the crystalline part has high stability against the external environment (for example, temperature, humidity, or external stress) where the toner container is placed. For this reason, it is considered that the toner container can be identified with high accuracy over a long period of time by using the crystalline part.

  As described above, since the toner container has the configuration (1), the toner container can be easily identified by the identification function which is difficult to forge.

  Next, the configuration of the toner container according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a toner container according to the present embodiment.

  The toner container 30 according to the present embodiment includes a resin casing 100. A metal part may be attached to the resin casing 100. For example, a part of the housing 100 may be cut off, and a metal part may be fitted into the part. The casing 100 includes a box-shaped casing main body 102 having an upper surface opened, and a lid 104 fixed to the opening on the upper surface of the casing main body 102. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing body 102 includes a first side wall 118 and a second side wall (not shown) facing the first side wall 118 as both side walls. The housing body 102 has a first side surface 110.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment further includes a wireless tag 122. The wireless tag 122 stores predetermined information (more specifically, toner shipping destination, toner filling date, lot number, or the like). The wireless tag 122 can read information by an information reader without contact. As long as information can be read, the position where the wireless tag can be attached is not limited, but is preferably attached to the housing.

  In the toner container 30 according to this embodiment, the housing 100 includes the crystalline part 120 on the first side face part 110. The crystalline part 120 of the housing 100 includes a crystalline resin, and the part (noncrystalline part) other than the crystalline part 120 of the housing 100 is substantially composed of only an amorphous resin.

By using the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment (specifically, the toner container 30 containing toner), the authenticity of the toner container can be suitably determined. The toner container authenticity determination method according to the present embodiment has the following configuration (2).
(2) X-ray diffraction spectrum measurement step of irradiating the crystalline part 120 of the casing 100 of the toner container 30 with X-rays to measure the X-ray diffraction spectrum, and the toner container based on the obtained X-ray diffraction spectrum And a determination step of determining the authenticity of the.

  Specifically, identification information can be included in the crystalline part 120. Then, the identification information of the crystalline part 120 and the known information about the toner container 30 are associated in advance to identify the toner container 30 based on the identification information of the crystalline part 120 ( That is, it is possible to determine the authenticity of the toner container.

  Examples of the identification information include information on the crystalline part 120 (more specifically, the position of the crystalline part 120, the number, shape, size, etc.), or the crystalline resin included in the crystalline part 120 Information (specifically, the type or number of crystalline resins, the degree of crystallinity, or the content thereof). These plural types of information can be used in combination and can be changed. By combining a plurality of types of information related to the crystalline part 120 and the like, the accuracy of authenticity determination can be improved.

  In the toner container authenticity determination method according to the present embodiment, the X-ray diffraction method is employed as described above. The object to be measured by the X-ray diffraction method is not a toner itself but a toner container (toner container). Based on the information obtained from the toner container, the authenticity of the toner can also be determined indirectly. By adopting the X-ray diffraction method, it is possible to determine the authenticity of the toner without destroying the measurement target.

  Identification information for identifying the toner container can be stored in the wireless tag 122. When the wireless tag 122 stores the identification information, the toner container authenticity determination method according to the present embodiment reads the identification information from the wireless tag of the toner container and the crystallinity of the casing of the toner container. X-ray diffraction spectrum measurement step of irradiating the unit 120 with X-rays to measure the X-ray diffraction spectrum, and a determination step of determining the authenticity of the toner container based on the X-ray diffraction spectrum and the identification information It is preferable to include. Prior to the authenticity determination by the X-ray diffraction method, the identification information stored in the wireless tag is obtained, whereby the authenticity determination of the toner container can be performed more easily. For example, when information on the position of the crystalline part 120 is obtained, it is not necessary to measure the position of the crystalline part 120 a plurality of times by the X-ray diffraction method. For this reason, an X-ray diffraction spectrum can be measured more easily. Moreover, when the information of the X-ray diffraction peak is obtained, it can be collated with the X-ray diffraction peak of the measured X-ray diffraction spectrum. For this reason, the authenticity determination of the toner container can be performed more easily.

  Examples of the crystalline resin contained in the crystalline part 120 include a crystalline olefin resin (more specifically, a crystalline polyethylene resin or a crystalline polypropylene resin), a crystalline polyamide resin (more specifically, , Polyamide 6 or polyamide 66), crystalline polyacetal resin, crystalline polyester resin (more specifically, polyethylene terephthalate resin, polybutylene terephthalate resin, etc.), crystalline polyphenylene sulfide resin, crystalline polyether ether ketone resin Or a crystalline fluororesin. A crystalline resin may be used independently and may be used in combination of 2 or more type. For example, when the crystalline part 120 is composed of two types of crystalline resins, X-ray diffraction peaks derived from the two types of crystalline resins can be measured. When the crystalline part 120 contains two types of crystalline resins with a specific content, the intensity ratio of the measured X-ray diffraction peaks reflects the ratio of the specific content.

  The crystalline part 120 may include a component (for example, an amorphous resin) other than the crystalline resin. When the crystalline part 120 contains an amorphous resin, if the crystalline part 120 includes the crystalline resin in a specific content with respect to the amorphous resin, the intensity of the obtained X-ray diffraction peak is quantitatively evaluated. can do. Examples of the non-crystalline resin contained in the crystalline part 120 include non-crystalline styrene resin, non-crystalline polyvinyl chloride resin, non-crystalline acrylonitrile-styrene resin (AS resin), non-crystalline acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. Examples thereof include a resin (ABS resin), an amorphous methacrylic resin, an amorphous polycarbonate resin, and an amorphous modified polyphenylene ether resin. Of these, amorphous styrene resins are particularly preferred. In order to make it difficult to grasp the presence of the crystalline portion 120 from the appearance of the toner container, an amorphous resin that is compatible with the crystalline resin is preferable.

  As the non-crystalline resin contained in the non-crystalline part, for example, the various non-crystalline resins listed as non-crystalline resins that can be contained in the crystalline part 120 are preferable, and non-crystalline styrene resin is particularly preferable.

  In order to increase the discriminating power of the crystalline part 120, it is preferable that the crystalline part 120 includes a crystalline resin having a composition different from that of the resin constituting the amorphous part. For example, when the non-crystalline part of the casing 100 is substantially composed of an amorphous styrene resin, the crystalline part 120 of the casing 100 is substantially composed of a crystalline olefin resin. Is preferred. However, in order to make it difficult to grasp the presence of the crystalline part from the appearance of the toner container, the crystalline resin contained in the crystalline part 120 and the amorphous resin contained in the non-crystalline part are substantially separated. The resin may have the same composition. For example, when the amorphous part of the housing 100 is substantially made of an amorphous styrene resin, the crystalline part 120 of the housing 100 may be substantially made of a crystalline styrene resin.

  The crystalline part 120 is located in a region surrounded by a two-dot chain line in the first side face part 110 shown in FIG. Except for the region surrounded by the two-dot chain line on the outer surface of the first side surface portion 110, it is an amorphous portion. A two-dot chain line that is a boundary between the crystalline part 120 and the non-crystalline part cannot be visually confirmed. In the toner container 30 according to this embodiment, the crystalline part 120 is provided at a predetermined position. Since the boundary between the crystalline part 120 and the non-crystalline part cannot be visually confirmed, in the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment, it is difficult to confirm the position of the crystalline part 120 from the appearance. For this reason, the position of the crystalline part 120 can be kept secret. It is difficult for a third party who is not informed of the position to forge the crystalline part 120 at the same position. When the crystalline resin and the non-crystalline resin have different colors as the original colors of the resin, the crystalline portion 120 and the non-crystalline portion are colored with the same color on the outer surface of the housing 100. By doing so, it is possible to prevent visual confirmation.

  With reference to FIG.3 and FIG.4 (a)-FIG.4 (b), the structure of the crystalline part 120 periphery of the housing | casing 100 is further demonstrated. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container shown in FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the housing main body 102 includes a first side surface portion 110 and a second side surface portion 116 that faces the first side surface portion 110. The housing body 102 includes a first arc-shaped portion 112 and a second arc-shaped portion 114 as bottom walls.

  4 (a) to 4 (b) are enlarged views of the region A of the toner container 30 shown in FIG. Examples of the structure of the crystalline part 120 include the structures shown in FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (b). In the example of FIG. 4A, the crystalline part 120 occupies a part in the thickness direction of the first side part 110 and is exposed on the outer surface of the first side part 110 (housing 100). In the example of FIG. 4B, the crystalline part 120 occupies the whole thickness direction of the first side part 110 and is exposed on the outer surface of the first side part 110 (housing 100).

  The position of the crystalline part 120 in the housing 100 is not particularly limited. However, in order to easily measure the X-ray diffraction spectrum by the X-ray diffraction method, it is exposed on the outer surface of the flat portion of the housing 100 (for example, the first side wall 118, the second side wall, or the lid 104). It is preferable.

  As an example of the planar shape of the crystalline part 120 (for example, a planar shape obtained by orthographic projection of the crystalline part 120 on the outer surface of the housing 100), a circular shape (more specifically, a perfect circle shape, an elliptical shape, or the like) ), Polygonal shapes (more specifically, quadrangular shapes such as triangular shapes, square shapes and rectangular shapes, pentagonal shapes, hexagonal shapes, etc.), or star shapes.

In order to detect the crystalline part 120 with good sensitivity by the X-ray diffraction method, the area of the crystalline part 120 is preferably 500 mm ² or more and 2500 mm ² or less. The area of the crystalline part 120 is an area occupied by the crystalline part 120 on the outer surface of the housing 100. Note that when there are a plurality of crystalline parts 120, the area of the crystalline parts 120 is the sum of the areas of the plurality of crystalline parts 120.

In addition, the intensity of the X-ray diffraction peak varies depending on the crystallinity of the crystalline resin constituting the crystalline part 120. The crystallinity is a ratio (% by mass) of a crystalline region in a crystalline resin composed of a crystalline region and a non-crystalline region, and is obtained by the formula (2).
Crystallinity (%) = 100 × (mass of crystal region) / (mass of crystal region + mass of amorphous region) (2)

The degree of crystallinity is determined by, for example, using an X-ray diffraction method, the integrated value of the X-ray diffraction peak derived from the crystal region, and the total integrated value of the X-ray diffraction peak (the integrated value of the X-ray diffraction peak derived from the crystal region and the non-integrated value). Using the sum of the X-ray diffraction peak derived from the crystal region and the integrated value, it can be obtained from equation (3).
Crystallinity (%) = 100 × (integrated value of X-ray diffraction peak derived from crystalline region) / (integrated value of X-ray diffraction peak derived from crystalline region + integrated value of X-ray diffraction peak derived from amorphous region). (3)

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to the examples.

Example 1
(Manufacture of toner containers)
Using a pellet of crystalline polyethylene resin (PE) and a colorant (carbon black), a 2 cm × 2 cm PE resin piece (crystalline part) was prepared.

  A mold was set in an injection molding machine. This mold was a mold for producing a casing of an image forming apparatus toner container (“TK-8507” manufactured by Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.). One PE resin piece was incorporated into the mold. Noncrystalline polystyrene resin (PS) pellets and a colorant (carbon black) were charged into an injection molding machine and injection molded. Using the obtained casing, a toner container having a crystalline part was manufactured. The structure around the crystalline part of the obtained toner container was almost as shown in FIG.

(Authentication of toner container)
Using an X-ray diffraction analyzer (“Ultima-IV” manufactured by Rigaku Corporation), X-ray diffraction spectrum was measured by irradiating the crystalline part of the toner container with X-rays. In the X-ray diffraction spectrum, an X-ray diffraction peak was observed in a Bragg angle range of 21 ° to 22 °. As a result of comparison with the X-ray diffraction spectrum of the PE resin piece measured in advance, the obtained X-ray diffraction peak was a peak derived from a crystalline polyethylene resin. As a result, it was confirmed that the toner in the toner container is compatible. Further, the crystalline part could not be identified from the appearance of the obtained toner container.

Example 2
(Manufacture of toner containers)
A PP resin piece and a toner container were produced in the same manner as in the toner container of Example 1, except that a crystalline polypropylene resin (PP) pellet was used instead of the crystalline polyethylene resin pellet. The structure around the crystalline part of the obtained toner container was almost as shown in FIG.

(Authentication of toner container)
The X-ray diffraction spectrum was measured in the same manner as in Example 1. In the X-ray diffraction spectrum, an X-ray diffraction peak was observed in a Bragg angle range of 13 ° to 18 °. As a result of comparison with the X-ray diffraction spectrum of the PP resin piece measured in advance, the obtained X-ray diffraction peak was a peak derived from a crystalline polypropylene resin. As a result, it was confirmed that the toner in the toner container is compatible. Further, the crystalline part could not be identified from the appearance of the obtained toner container.

Example 3
(Manufacture of toner containers)
Example 1 except that instead of the crystalline polyethylene resin pellets, mixed pellets (crystalline polypropylene resin pellets and non-crystalline polystyrene resin pellets mixed to 50% by mass) were used. In the same manner as in the toner container, a mixed resin piece was produced to produce a toner container. In the production of the crystalline part, the non-crystalline polystyrene resin pellet was the same type of pellet as the pellet used for the production of the non-crystalline part. The structure around the crystalline part of the obtained toner container was almost as shown in FIG.

(Authentication of toner container)
The X-ray diffraction spectrum was measured in the same manner as in Example 1. In the X-ray diffraction spectrum, an X-ray diffraction peak was observed in a Bragg angle range of 13 ° to 18 °. The intensity of the X-ray diffraction peak was ½ compared to the intensity of the X-ray diffraction peak observed in Example 2. As a result of comparison with the X-ray diffraction spectrum of the mixed resin piece measured in advance, the obtained X-ray diffraction peak was a peak derived from a crystalline polypropylene resin. As a result, it was confirmed that the toner in the toner container is compatible. Further, the crystalline part could not be identified from the appearance of the obtained toner container.

Comparative Example 1
(Manufacture of toner containers)
A toner container was manufactured in the same manner as the toner container of Example 1 except that the PE resin piece was not incorporated into the mold.

(Authentication of toner container)
The X-ray diffraction spectrum was measured in the same manner as in Example 1. In the X-ray diffraction spectrum, no X-ray diffraction peak was observed.

  The obtained results are summarized in Table 1 together with the configuration of the toner container. In Table 1, the content indicates the content (unit: part by mass) of the crystalline resin with respect to 100 parts by mass of the crystalline part. PS, PE, and PP represent an amorphous polystyrene resin, a crystalline polyethylene resin, and a crystalline polypropylene resin, respectively.

  Each of the toner containers of Examples 1 to 3 had a crystalline part containing a crystalline resin such as PE or PP, and an X-ray diffraction peak derived from the crystalline part was observed. In each of the toner containers of Examples 1 to 3, it was impossible to visually identify that the crystalline resin was incorporated in a part of the casing. The toner container of Comparative Example 1 did not have a crystalline part containing a crystalline resin, and no X-ray diffraction peak derived from the crystalline part was observed. As described above, each of the toner containers of Examples 1 to 3 has an identification function that can be easily identified and difficult to counterfeit compared to the toner container of Comparative Example 1.

  The toner container according to the present invention can be attached to an image forming apparatus (for example, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a copier) and used to replenish toner to a developing unit of the image forming apparatus. The toner container authenticity determination method according to the present invention can be used to identify a toner container that is removable from an image forming apparatus.

30 Toner container 100 Case 120 Crystalline part

Claims (8)

A toner container having a resin casing,
The housing includes a crystalline part including a crystalline resin and an amorphous part not including the crystalline resin,
Wherein said crystalline portion and amorphous portion, Ri integrally molded portion der,
A wireless tag,
The wireless tag includes the type of the crystalline resin, the content of the crystalline resin in the crystalline part, the crystallinity of the crystalline resin, the size of the crystalline part, the shape of the crystalline part, A toner container in which information on at least one of the number of crystalline parts and the position of the crystalline parts is stored . ^2. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein an area of the crystalline part is 500 mm ² or more and 2500 mm ² or less on an outer surface of the housing.   The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the crystalline part and the non-crystalline part are colored in the same color at least on the outer surface of the housing.   The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the crystalline part of the casing includes a crystalline resin having a composition different from that of the resin constituting the non-crystalline part.   The said non-crystalline part of the said housing | casing is comprised from an amorphous styrene resin, and the said crystalline part of the said housing | casing is comprised from crystalline olefin resin. The toner container according to Item.   The non-crystalline part of the casing is made of an amorphous styrene resin, and the crystalline part of the casing includes an amorphous styrene resin and a crystalline olefin resin. The toner container as described in any one of -4. An X-ray diffraction spectrum measurement step of irradiating the crystalline part of the casing of the toner container according to any one of claims 1 to 6 with X-rays and measuring an X-ray diffraction spectrum;
A determination step of determining the authenticity of the toner container based on the obtained X-ray diffraction spectrum;
A method for determining the authenticity of a toner container. A reading step of reading the information from the wireless tag of the toner container according to claim 1 ;
An X-ray diffraction spectrum measurement step of measuring an X-ray diffraction spectrum by irradiating the crystalline part of the casing of the toner container with X-rays;
A determination step of determining authenticity of the toner container based on the X-ray diffraction spectrum and the information;
A method for determining the authenticity of a toner container.

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