JP2010197655A - Cap for developer container and developer container - Google Patents

Abstract

A cap for a developer container capable of preventing a developer from being ejected when the filling port is blocked while simultaneously reducing the size of the developer container and increasing the size of the filling port. A developer container is provided.
A fitting portion 11 of a cap 5 is fitted into a filling port 4 when the cap 5 is attached to a toner box 1. Since the outline of the fitting part 11 when viewed from the mounting direction X is an ellipse, the filling port 4 is also elliptical according to the fitting part 11. Thereby, the enlargement of the filling port 4 can be achieved only by increasing the length (major axis) of the major axis of the ellipse of the filling port 4. A protruding portion 12 is provided on the outer peripheral surface 11 </ b> A of the fitting portion 11. The protruding portion 12 protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting portion 11 in the direction Y orthogonal to the mounting direction X, and faces the section screen 6 of the filling port 4 when the cap 5 is mounted on the toner box 1. To do.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer container provided in an image forming apparatus, and a cap attached to the developer container for closing a developer filling port formed in the developer container.

As a developer container, a toner container for storing toner is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
In the toner container described in Patent Document 1, a toner discharge port and a toner filling port are formed. When image formation is performed in the image forming apparatus, the toner contained in the toner container is discharged from the toner discharge port and supplied to a developing device or the like. When the amount of toner in the toner container decreases to a predetermined amount along with image formation, the toner container is replenished with toner from the toner filling port.

  Here, the toner filling port is normally closed by a toner cap, and the toner in the toner container is prevented from leaking from the toner filling port. When the toner container is replenished with toner, the toner cap is removed and the toner filling port is opened.

JP 2002-323811 A

  In order to shorten the filling time of the toner into the toner container, it is effective to increase the size of the toner filling port. However, recently, as the image forming apparatus has been downsized, the toner container has been downsized, and there is a limit to increasing the toner filling port while arranging the necessary parts in the toner container. In particular, since the toner filling port of the toner container described in Patent Document 1 has a perfect circle shape, the toner container is made small while the toner filling port is enlarged while keeping the perfect circle shape while avoiding the necessary parts described above. It is difficult.

On the other hand, when the toner filling port is enlarged, if the toner filling port is suddenly closed with a toner cap, the internal pressure of the toner container suddenly rises, and the toner in the toner container is ejected from the toner discharge port with that momentum. There is a risk of soiling.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cap for a developer container capable of preventing the developer from being ejected when the filling port is closed, while simultaneously reducing the size of the developer container and increasing the size of the filling port. Another object is to provide a developer container including this cap.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a cap attached to the developer container for closing the developer filling port formed in the developer container for containing the developer. When the cap is mounted on the developer container, the portion of the developer container that borders the filling port is caught from the upstream side in the mounting direction of the cap with respect to the developer container. Projecting from the flange portion to the downstream side in the mounting direction, the contour when viewed from the mounting direction forms an ellipse, and fits into the filling port when the cap is mounted on the developer container. A fitting portion that contacts an annular section screen that divides the filling port in the developer container, and an outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion that is provided on the upstream side in the mounting direction, and in the direction orthogonal to the mounting direction. Protrude outward than the peripheral surface, said cap to said developer container is characterized in that it comprises a projecting portion facing the Ward screen when mounted.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the outer peripheral surface is provided over the entire area in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface, and is located downstream of the protruding portion in the mounting direction. A contact portion that contacts the section screen when the cap is attached to the developer container, and the protruding portion protrudes more outwardly than the outer peripheral surface in the orthogonal direction. It is characterized by having.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the protruding portion is provided in a portion having the smallest curvature radius on the outer peripheral surface.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing formed with a filling port for containing the developer and receiving the developer to be filled, and a cap mounted on the housing for closing the filling port. In the developer container, the filling port has an elliptical shape, and an annular section screen defining the filling port in the housing extends along a mounting direction of the cap with respect to the housing. A groove is formed over the entire area in the mounting direction, and the cap is mounted on a portion of the casing that borders the filling port when the cap is mounted on the casing. Hooks that are hooked from the upstream side in the direction, projecting from the hooks to the downstream side in the mounting direction, the outline when viewed from the mounting direction is an ellipse, and the filling when the cap is mounted on the housing Fit in mouth A fitting portion that contacts the section screen, and is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion on the upstream side in the mounting direction, protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction, and And a protrusion that fits into the groove when the cap is attached to the body.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 4, wherein the outer peripheral surface is provided over the entire area in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface, and is located downstream of the protrusion in the mounting direction. A contact portion that comes into contact with the section screen when the cap is attached to the housing, and the protruding portion protrudes more outwardly from the outer peripheral surface in the orthogonal direction than the contact portion. It is characterized by that.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the projecting portion is provided in a portion having the smallest curvature radius on the outer peripheral surface.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the cap for the developer container is attached to the developer container for closing the developer filling port formed in the developer container.
In this cap, when the cap is attached to the developer container, the collar part is attached to the developer container in the direction in which the cap is mounted on the developer container (hereinafter simply referred to as “capture direction”). It is sometimes called “mounting direction”). This can prevent the entire cap from passing through the filling port and fitting into the developer container.

And the fitting part which protrudes from a collar part to a mounting direction downstream is provided in the cap. The fitting portion is fitted into the filling port when the cap is attached to the developer container, and comes into contact with an annular section screen that divides the filling port in the developer container.
Here, since the outline of the fitting part when viewed from the mounting direction is an ellipse, the filling port is also elliptical according to the fitting part. As a result, even if it is difficult to enlarge the filling port similarly due to downsizing of the developer container, if the filling port has an elliptical shape, it is only necessary to increase the length (major axis) of the major axis of the ellipse. Can be increased in size. That is, it is possible to achieve both a reduction in the size of the developer container and an increase in the size of the filling port.

  And the protrusion part is provided in the mounting direction upstream in the outer peripheral surface of a fitting part. When the protruding portion protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction (hereinafter, simply referred to as “orthogonal direction”), and the cap is mounted on the developer container. Opposite to the ward screen. For this reason, the filling port defined in the section screen is inevitably larger than the fitting portion when viewed from the mounting direction (in other words, a predetermined gap is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion and the section screen. Secured.)

As a result, even if the fitting portion is fitted into the filling port vigorously by closing the filling port with the cap, the air in the developer container escapes from the gap to the outside of the developer container. The internal pressure of the developer container does not rise rapidly, and the developer can be prevented from being ejected.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the developer from being ejected when the filling port is closed, while at the same time reducing the size of the developer container and increasing the size of the filling port.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the contact portion that comes into contact with the section screen when the cap is mounted on the developer container is located on the downstream side in the mounting direction with respect to the protruding portion on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion. It is provided over the entire region in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface.
Here, since the protruding portion protrudes from the contact portion toward the outer side of the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion in the orthogonal direction, the filling port defined in the section screen is seen from the fitting direction of the fitting portion. It becomes larger than the outer peripheral surface (contact portion). Accordingly, when the cap is attached to the developer container and the filling port is closed with the cap, the air in the developer container is removed between the outer peripheral surface (contact portion) of the fitting portion and the section screen. A gap for escaping out of the container can be ensured.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the protruding portion is provided at a portion having the smallest curvature radius on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion. For this reason, even when the cap is deformed when the cap is mounted on the developer container, the protrusion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion with the smallest radius of curvature (the most difficult to deform portion) is almost deformed. It is possible to face the section screen stably without doing.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the developer container is mounted on the housing for accommodating the developer and having a filling port for receiving the filled developer, and for closing the filling port. And a cap.
Here, a groove extending along the mounting direction of the cap with respect to the casing (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “mounting direction”) is provided on the annular section screen that partitions the filling port in the casing. It is formed over the whole area.

And in this cap, when a cap is mounted | worn with a housing | casing, a collar part is hooked from the upstream in a mounting direction with respect to the part which borders a filling port in a housing | casing. As a result, it is possible to prevent the entire cap from passing through the filling port and fitting into the housing.
And the fitting part which protrudes from a collar part to a mounting direction downstream is provided in the cap. The fitting portion fits into the filling port when the cap is attached to the housing and contacts the section screen.

  Here, the outline of the fitting part when viewed from the mounting direction is an ellipse, and the filling port is also elliptical according to the fitting part. As a result, even if it is difficult to enlarge the filling port similarly due to downsizing of the developer container, if the filling port has an elliptical shape, it is only necessary to increase the length (major axis) of the major axis of the ellipse. Can be increased in size. That is, it is possible to make the developer container smaller and the filling port larger.

  And the protrusion part is provided in the mounting direction upstream in the outer peripheral surface of a fitting part. The protruding portion protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “orthogonal direction”), and is separated when the cap is mounted on the housing. Fits into the groove on the screen. Therefore, the filling port defined in the section screen is inevitably larger than the fitting portion by the groove as viewed from the mounting direction (in other words, between the outer peripheral surface of the fitting section and the section screen). , A predetermined gap corresponding to the groove is secured).

As a result, even if the fitting part is fitted into the filling port vigorously by closing the filling port with the cap, the air in the case escapes from the gap (groove) to the outside of the case. Is prevented from rising rapidly, and the developer can be prevented from being ejected.
In the state where the cap is attached to the housing, the projecting portion fits into the groove of the partition screen and closes the groove, so that the developer in the housing does not leak from this groove. Further, when the cap is attached to the housing, the protruding portion fits into the groove, so that the cap can be attached to the housing in the correct posture.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the developer from being ejected when the filling port is closed, while at the same time reducing the size of the developer container and increasing the size of the filling port.
According to the invention described in claim 5, when the cap is mounted on the housing, the contact portion that comes into contact with the section screen is located on the outer peripheral surface on the downstream side in the mounting direction with respect to the protruding portion on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion. It is provided over the whole area in the circumferential direction.

  Here, since the protruding portion protrudes from the contact portion toward the outer side of the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion in the orthogonal direction, the filling port defined in the section screen is seen from the fitting direction of the fitting portion. It becomes larger than the outer peripheral surface (contact portion). As a result, when the cap is attached to the housing and the filling port is closed with the cap, a gap for allowing the air inside the housing to escape outside the housing between the outer peripheral surface (contact portion) of the fitting portion and the partition screen Can be ensured.

  According to invention of Claim 6, the protrusion part is provided in the part with the smallest curvature radius in the outer peripheral surface of a fitting part. Therefore, even if the cap is deformed when the cap is attached to the housing, the protrusion provided on the portion having the smallest radius of curvature (the portion that is most difficult to deform) on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion is almost deformed. And can be stably fitted into the groove.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a toner box as an example of a developer container of the present invention, where (a) illustrates a state viewed from the lower right, and (b) illustrates a state viewed from the upper right. Show. (A) is a front view of the toner box with the toner cap removed, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of (a), and (c) is a cross-sectional view of B of (a). It is -B arrow sectional drawing. An example of the cap of the present invention is shown, (a) is a view seen from the front, (b) is a view seen from below, (c) is a view seen from the right side, (D) is the figure seen from the left front, (e) is the figure seen from the left back. (A) is a front view of the toner box in a state before the toner cap is attached, (b) is a sectional view taken along the line CC of (a), and (c) is (a). It is DD sectional view taken on the line. (A) is a front view of the toner box in a state where the toner cap is being attached, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE of (a), and (c) is (a). It is FF arrow sectional drawing of. (A) is a front view of the toner box with a toner cap attached, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line GG of (a), and (c) is a cross-sectional view of H of (a). It is -H arrow sectional drawing.

1. Configuration of Toner Box FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a toner box as an example of a developer container of the present invention, where (a) shows a state viewed from the lower right, and (b) Indicates a state viewed from the upper right. In addition, when referring to a direction, the illustrated direction arrow is referred to (the same applies to other drawings). Here, the horizontal direction and the width direction are the same, and the vertical direction and the vertical direction are the same. The horizontal direction includes the width direction and the front-rear direction.

Referring to FIG. 1, a toner box 1 contains a developer such as toner in a case 2 described later. Here, although a powdery developer is assumed as the developer, a liquid developer may be used.
The toner box 1 is used in an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer. Specifically, the toner box 1 contributes to image formation by supplying the stored toner to a developing device in the image forming apparatus.

  Here, for example, in the case of a laser printer, the developing device includes a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a developer that carries the toner of the toner box 1 and supplies it to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member. A carrier is mainly included. The toner box 1 itself may constitute a developing cartridge provided with a developer carrier, or a process cartridge provided with both a developer carrier and a photoreceptor.

The toner box 1 is, for example, a hollow body that is long in a predetermined direction (here, the front-rear direction). The toner box 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape in which all of the front, rear, left, right, upper, and lower sides are flat, but the shape of the toner box 1 may be any shape as long as it can accommodate toner. May be.
The toner box 1 includes a housing 2 that forms an outline thereof. As shown in FIG. 1B, in the housing 2, a supply port 3 is formed on the right surface, and a filling port 4 is formed on the front surface. Both the supply port 3 and the filling port 4 communicate with the inside of the housing 2.

During the image formation described above, the toner accommodated in the housing 2 is discharged from the supply port 3 and supplied to the developing device described above.
When the toner in the housing 2 decreases to some extent along with image formation, new toner is replenished to the housing 2 from the filling port 4. In addition, when the toner box 1 is manufactured, the toner is filled into the housing 2 from the filling port 4. That is, the filling port 4 receives the toner to be filled.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1A, the toner box 1 includes a cap 5 for closing the filling port 4. As described above, when the housing 2 is filled (supplemented) with toner from the filling port 4, the cap 5 is attached to the housing 2 so that the toner in the housing 2 does not leak from the filling port 4. Close mouth 4.
Next, the filling port 4 and the cap 5 will be described in detail. Here, as will be described later, the cap 5 is attached to the housing 2 to close the filling port 4 by being moved to the rear side while being positioned on the front side with respect to the filling port 4. That is, the mounting direction of the cap 5 with respect to the housing 2 (toner box 1) (the mounting direction X, see also FIGS. 4 to 6 described later) is the direction toward the rear side.
(1) Filling Port In FIG. 2, (a) is a front view of the toner box with the toner cap removed, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in (a). c) is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the filling port 4 is elliptical when viewed from the front side, and penetrates the front wall of the housing 2 in the front-rear direction (thickness direction). Here, in the ellipse formed by the filling port 4, the major axis is along the left-right direction (see also FIG. 2A).
Here, on the front wall of the housing 2, the section screen 6 that partitions the filling port 4 has an annular shape that is elliptical when viewed from the front side.

  And in the section screen 6, the groove | channel 7 is formed in each of the part corresponded to the both left and right ends (namely, part with the smallest curvature radius) of the filling port 4. FIG. Of the two left and right grooves 7, the left groove 7 is referred to as a left groove 7A, and the right groove 7 is referred to as a right groove 7B. When viewed from the front side, the left groove 7A has an arc shape that bulges to the left side, and the right groove 7B has an arc shape that bulges to the right side (see also FIG. 2A). Each groove 7 extends linearly along the front-rear direction (the mounting direction X described above), and is formed over the entire area of the section screen 6 in the front-rear direction (the mounting direction X) (FIG. 2B and FIG. (See also 2 (c)). Therefore, each groove 7 is not only the section screen 6 but also the front and rear surfaces of the front wall of the housing 2 are notched and exposed to the front and rear of the front wall of the housing 2 (inside the housing 2). ing.

Here, each groove 7 is also a part of the filling port 4, and the arc surface of each groove 7 is also a part of the section screen 6. Therefore, the filling port 4 has an elliptical shape as described above when viewed from the front side. Strictly speaking, both ends of the filling port 4 in the longitudinal direction (here, the left-right direction) are elliptical to the filling port 4. It protrudes outward from the locus (see also FIG. 2 (a)). Similarly to the filling port 4, also in the section screen 6, both ends in the longitudinal direction (left and right direction) protrude outward from the elliptical trajectory of the section screen 6 (see also FIG. 2A).
(2) Cap FIG. 3 shows an example of the cap of the present invention, (a) is a view seen from the front, (b) is a view seen from below, and (c) is It is the figure seen from the right side, (d) is the figure seen from the left front, (e) is the figure seen from the left back.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the cap 5 has an elliptical shape substantially similar to the above-described filling port 4 (see FIG. 1B) when viewed from the front side. That is, in a state where the cap 5 is mounted on the housing 2, the major axis of the ellipse formed by the cap 5 is along the left-right direction.
Specifically, with reference to FIG. 3, the cap 5 is formed of an elastic material such as rubber, and integrally includes a flange portion 10, a fitting portion 11, and a protruding portion 12.

The collar portion 10 forms the front end of the cap 5. As shown in FIGS. 3D and 3E, the flange portion 10 has an elliptical shape when viewed from the front side, and has a thin plate shape in the front-rear direction.
The fitting portion 11 is a cylindrical body that protrudes from the flange portion 10 to the rear side (downstream side in the mounting direction X described above). Specifically, the contour of the fitting portion 11 when viewed from the front-rear direction (here, the rear side, that is, the downstream side of the mounting direction X) is an elliptical shape, and is similar to the contour of the flange portion 10. , Smaller than the contour of the flange 10 (see FIG. 3E).

The whole area of the front end edge of the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting part 11 is connected to the whole area of the inner peripheral edge of the annular flange part 10 without a gap.
A portion surrounded by the rear end edge of the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting portion 11 is closed by an elliptical thin plate (referred to as a closing plate 13) having the same size as the outline of the fitting portion 11 when viewed from the rear side. (See FIG. 3E). The closing plate 13 is a part of the fitting portion 11.

With reference to FIG.3 (d), the cylindrical part 14 which protrudes to the front side is integrally provided in the approximate center position of the front surface of the closing board 13 when it sees from the front side. The cylindrical portion 14 is disposed inside the inner peripheral surface 11B so as not to contact the inner peripheral surface 11B of the fitting portion 11.
As shown in FIG. 3B and FIG. 3E, the protruding portion 12 has each front end portion in the portion having the smallest curvature radius (the left and right end portions of the outer peripheral surface 11A) on the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting portion 11. (Upstream side in the mounting direction X described above).

  The left protruding portion 12A protrudes from the left end portion of the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting portion 11 so as to bulge out to the left side in an arc shape. The right protruding portion 12B protrudes from the right end portion of the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting portion 11 so as to bulge in an arc shape to the right side. That is, each protrusion 12 is more than the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting portion 11 in the orthogonal direction (the orthogonal direction Y, see FIGS. 4 to 6 described later) of the mounting direction X (the direction toward the rear side) described above. It protrudes outward. Moreover, the front end of each protrusion part 12 is connected to the rear surface of the collar part 10 (refer FIG.3 (b)). The corners of each protrusion 12 are rounded.

As shown in FIGS. 3B to 3E, the contact portion 15 and the two ribs 16 are integrally provided on the outer peripheral surface 11 </ b> A of the fitting portion 11.
Both of these contact portions 15 and ribs 16 are provided over the entire area in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 11A. That is, the contact portion 15 and the rib 16 are annular shapes that form an ellipse having substantially the same size as the outline of the fitting portion 11 when viewed from the rear side. The contact portion 15 and the rib 16 both project outward from the outer peripheral surface 11A in the above-described orthogonal direction Y (specifically, the direction from the outer peripheral surface 11A toward the outside of the fitting portion 11). Yes.

  As shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the contact portion 15 is on the rear side (downstream side in the mounting direction X described above) with respect to the left and right protruding portions 12. Is provided at the rear end of the outer peripheral surface 11A. Here, as shown in FIG. 3B, the left and right protrusions 12 are the outer peripheral surfaces in the above-described orthogonal direction Y (specifically, the direction extending left and right from the outer peripheral surface 11A toward the outside of the fitting portion 11). It protrudes from the contact portion 15 toward the outside of 11A.

  And as shown in FIG.3 (b) and FIG.3 (c), the whole outer peripheral surface of the contact part 15 is outer peripheral surface 11A (namely, fitting part 11) toward the back side (downstream side in the mounting direction X). It is inclined to head toward the inside. The lower end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the contact portion 15 coincides with the lower end portion of the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting portion 11. Here, the connection portion between the lower end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the contact portion 15 (in other words, the lower end portion of the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting portion 11) and the above-described closing plate 13 is rounded.

The two ribs 16 are arranged at an interval in the front-rear direction in a region in front of the contact portion 15 on the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting portion 11 (that is, between the contact portion 15 and the flange portion 10). Of the two ribs 16, the rear rib 16 is referred to as a rear rib 16A, and the front rib 16 is referred to as a front rib 16B.
The rear rib 16A is located between the left and right protrusions 12 and the contact part 15 in the front-rear direction, and does not contact any of the left and right protrusions 12 or the contact part 15. The amount of protrusion from the outer peripheral surface 11A in the orthogonal direction Y (the direction from the outer peripheral surface 11A toward the outside of the fitting portion 11) of the rear rib 16A is the amount of protrusion from the outer peripheral surface 11A in the orthogonal direction Y of the front end portion of the contact portion 15. Is almost the same.

The front rib 16B coincides with the left and right protruding portions 12 (specifically, the rear end portion of each protruding portion 12) in the front-rear direction. That is, the front rib 16B is provided across the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting portion 11 and the outer peripheral surfaces of the left and right projecting portions 12, and the above-described orthogonal direction Y (from the outer peripheral surface 11A to the fitting portion 11). Projecting from the outer peripheral surfaces of the fitting part 11 and the left and right projecting parts 12. Such a front rib 16B has an elliptical annular shape as described above when viewed from the rear side. Strictly speaking, both ends of the front rib 16B in the longitudinal direction (herein, the left-right direction) have front ribs 16B. Projecting outward from the locus of the ellipse (see FIG. 3E). The amount of protrusion of the front rib 16B from the outer peripheral surface of the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting portion 11 and the left and right protruding portions 12 is substantially the same as the amount of protrusion of the rear rib 16A from the outer peripheral surface 11A.
(3) Attaching the Cap to the Housing Next, attaching the cap 5 to the housing 2 will be described.

  4A is a front view of the toner box in a state before the toner cap is attached, FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 4A, and FIG. It is DD sectional view taken on the line of (a). 5A is a front view of the toner box in a state where the toner cap is being attached, FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE of FIG. 5A, and FIG. It is FF arrow sectional drawing of (a). 6A is a front view of the toner box in a state where the toner cap is attached, FIG. 6B is a sectional view taken along the line GG in FIG. 6A, and FIG. It is HH arrow sectional drawing of a).

  When the cap 5 is attached to the housing 2, first, as described above, the cap 5 is disposed on the front side with respect to the filling port 4 as shown in FIG. 4. At this time, the cap 5 is arranged so that the cap 5 closes the filling port 4 when viewed from the front side (so that the filling port 4 cannot be seen) (see FIG. 4A). That is, when viewed from the front side, the major axis of the ellipse formed by the cap 5 coincides with the major axis of the ellipse formed by the filling port 4, and the minor axis of the ellipse formed by the cap 5 is the minor axis of the ellipse formed by the filling port 4. Furthermore, among the left and right protrusions 12 of the cap 5, the left protrusion 12A matches the left groove 7 (left groove 7A) of the section screen 6, and the right protrusion 12B is the right groove. 7 (right groove 7B) (see FIG. 4C).

Next, when the cap 5 is linearly moved to the rear side (that is, the downstream side in the mounting direction X described above) in this state, in the cap 5, as shown in FIG. It is inserted into the filling port 4 in order from the part.
At this time, the outer peripheral surface 11 </ b> A of the fitting portion 11 moves to the rear side while facing the section screen 6 that partitions the filling port 4 in the housing 2 from the inside of the filling port 4. Specifically, the outer peripheral surface of the contact portion 15 provided at the rear end portion of the outer peripheral surface 11 </ b> A of the fitting portion 11 slides rearward while making surface contact with the section screen 6.

  At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the contact portion 15 (in other words, the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting portion 11) contacts the entire area other than the left and right grooves 7 in the circumferential direction of the section screen 6 in the annular section screen 6. ing. That is, the left and right grooves 7 are not closed, and the inside and outside of the housing 2 are communicated. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5C, a gap 20 corresponding to the left and right grooves 7 is secured between the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting portion 11 and the section screen 6, and the filling port 4 is completely Is not blocked. Thereby, even if the fitting part 11 is inserted into the filling port 4 and the filling port 4 is closed, even if the internal pressure of the housing 2 increases, the air in the housing 2 flows from the gap 20. Escape out of the housing 2 (see dashed arrow Z).

  Then, when the cap 5 is continuously moved linearly to the rear side and the fitting portion 11 is inserted into the filling port 4, not only the contact portion 15 but also the rear rib 16 </ b> A is in contact with the section screen 6, (Not shown). At this time, both the contact portion 15 and the rear rib 16A do not block the left and right grooves 7, and the above-described gap 20 is continuously secured. Therefore, the air in the housing 2 continues to escape from the gap 20 to the outside of the housing 2 (see the broken arrow Z).

Further, when the cap 5 is linearly moved to the rear side and the fitting portion 11 is inserted into the filling port 4, not only the contact portion 15 and the rear rib 16 A but also the front rib 16 B, as shown in FIG. In contrast, while sliding, it slides backward.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 6 (c), in the fitting portion 11, the left protrusion 12A fits in the left groove 7 (left groove 7A) without any gap, and the right protrusion 12B is in the right groove 7 ( Fit into the right groove 7B) without any gaps. The front rib 16B is in contact with the entire area in the circumferential direction of the section screen 6 including the arc surfaces of the left and right grooves 7, thereby eliminating the gap 20 described above, so that the filling port 4 is completely closed. (Refer to FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C).

6 (b) and 6 (c), the flange portion 10 of the cap 5 is on the front side (upstream in the mounting direction X) at the portion that borders the filling port 4 on the outer surface (front surface) of the housing 2. If it is hooked from the side, the movement of the cap 5 to the rear side stops, and the mounting of the cap 5 to the housing 2 is completed.
At this time, the front rib 16B is continuously in contact with the entire area in the circumferential direction of the section screen 6 (including the arc surfaces of the left and right grooves 7), and the flange portion 10 is on the front surface of the housing 2. The whole area of the portion bordering the filling port 4 is in contact with the gap from the front side. Therefore, the filling port 4 is blocked by the cap 5 at two locations, that is, a position on the front surface side of the housing 2 and a position in the front-rear direction of the section screen 6. At this time, the rear end of the fitting portion 11 of the cap 5 and the rear end of the section screen 6 are substantially aligned in the front-rear direction, and the entire area of the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting section 11 is separated from the section screen. 6 almost faces the entire area.

In addition, in FIG.5 (b), FIG.6 (b), and FIG.6 (c), although there exists a part shown as the contact part 15 and each rib 16 biting into the section screen 6, in fact, In this part, the corresponding parts in the contact portion 15 and each rib 16 are compressed by contacting the section screen 6.
Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, when the cap 5 is attached to the housing 2, the fitting portion 11 of the cap 5 is fitted to the filling port 4 and contacts the section screen 6 (specifically, The contact portion 15 and the rib 16 are in contact with the section screen 6). Further, when the cap 5 is attached to the housing 2, the left and right protrusions 12 are fitted into the corresponding grooves 7, and the section screen 6 (specifically, the arc surface of the corresponding groove 7) It faces from the inside of the filling port 4.

In addition, in order to remove the cap 5 from the housing | casing 2, what is necessary is just to pinch the collar part 10 of the cap 5 and to pull it to the front side (upstream side in the mounting direction X). As a result, the entire cap 5 moves to the front side, and when the fitting portion 11 is completely removed from the filling port 4 to the front side, the removal of the cap 5 from the housing 2 is completed.
2. As described above, the cap 5 for the toner box 1 is attached to the toner box 1 in order to close the toner filling port 4 formed in the toner box 1 as shown in FIG. The

  In this cap 5, as shown in FIG. 6, the collar portion 10 is a cap for the toner box 1 with respect to a portion bordering the filling port 4 in the toner box 1 when the cap 5 is attached to the toner box 1. 5 is hooked from the upstream side (here, the front side) in the mounting direction X (here, the direction toward the rear side) (see FIGS. 6B and 6C). Thereby, it is possible to prevent the entire cap 5 from passing through the filling port 4 and fitting into the toner box 1.

The cap 5 is provided with a fitting portion 11 that protrudes from the collar portion 10 to the downstream side (here, the rear side) in the mounting direction X. The fitting portion 11 is fitted into the filling port 4 when the cap 5 is attached to the toner box 1, and the annular section screen 6 (see FIG. 1B) that partitions the filling port 4 in the toner box 1. Contact.
Here, since the outline of the fitting part 11 when viewed from the mounting direction X (front-rear direction) is an ellipse (see FIG. 3D and FIG. 3E), the fitting part 11 depends on the fitting part 11. The filling port 4 also has an elliptical shape (see FIG. 1B). As a result, even if it is difficult to enlarge the filling port 4 by reducing the size of the toner box 1, if the filling port 4 has an elliptical shape, the filling can be performed simply by increasing the length (major axis) of the major axis of the ellipse. The size of the mouth 4 can be increased. That is, it is possible to make the toner box 1 smaller and the filling port 4 larger.

  And as shown in FIG.6 (c), the protrusion part 12 is provided in the upstream (in this case front end part) of the mounting direction X in 11 A of outer peripheral surfaces of the fitting part 11. As shown in FIG. The protruding portion 12 protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting portion 11 in a direction Y (herein, the left-right direction) orthogonal to the mounting direction X, and when the cap 5 is mounted on the toner box 1, the section screen 6 is projected. Opposite to. Therefore, the filling port 4 partitioned in the section screen 6 is necessarily larger than the fitting portion 11 when viewed from the mounting direction X, and a predetermined gap is formed between the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting portion 11 and the section screen 6. The gap 20 (see FIG. 5C) is secured.

Accordingly, even if the fitting portion 11 is vigorously fitted to the filling port 4 by suddenly closing the filling port 4 with the cap 5, the air in the toner box 1 escapes from the gap 20 to the outside of the toner box 1. Therefore (see the broken line arrow Z in FIG. 5C), the internal pressure of the toner box 1 does not rise rapidly, and the toner can be prevented from being ejected from the supply port 3 (see FIG. 1).
As a result, the toner box 1 can be prevented from being ejected when the filling port 4 is closed while at the same time reducing the size of the toner box 1 and increasing the size of the filling port 4.
(2) The contact portion 15 that contacts the section screen 6 when the cap 5 is attached to the toner box 1 is located downstream in the attachment direction X from the protruding portion 12 on the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting portion 11 (rear here) Side) is provided over the entire area of the outer peripheral surface 11A in the circumferential direction (see also FIG. 3).

Here, since the protrusion part 12 protrudes rather than the contact part 15 toward the outer side of 11 A of outer peripheral surfaces of the fitting part 11 in the orthogonal direction Y, the filling port 4 divided by the division screen 6 is the mounting direction X When viewed from the top, the outer peripheral surface 11A (contact portion 15) of the fitting portion 11 becomes larger. As a result, when the cap 5 is attached to the toner box 1 and the filling port 4 is closed with the cap 5, the toner box 1 has a gap between the outer peripheral surface 11 A (contact portion 15) of the fitting portion 11 and the section screen 6. It is possible to ensure the gap 20 for allowing the air to escape to the outside of the toner box 1 (see FIG. 5C).
(3) The protrusion part 12 is provided in the part with the smallest curvature radius in 11 A of outer peripheral surfaces of the fitting part 11 (refer FIG. 3). Therefore, even when the cap 5 is deformed when the cap 5 is attached to the toner box 1, the protruding portion 12 provided on the outer peripheral surface 11 </ b> A of the fitting portion 11 at the portion with the smallest radius of curvature (the portion that is most difficult to deform). Can stably face the section screen 6 with almost no deformation.
(4) As shown in FIG. 1, the toner box 1 is mounted on the housing 2 in which the toner is stored and the housing 2 in which the filling port 4 for receiving the toner to be filled is formed and the filling port 4 is closed. The cap 5 is provided.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1B, in the casing 2, the annular section screen 6 that partitions the filling port 4 has a mounting direction X (here, a direction toward the rear side) of the cap 5 with respect to the casing 2. ) That extend along the mounting direction X is formed.
And in this cap 5, as shown in FIG. 6, when the cap 5 is mounted | worn with the housing | casing 2, the collar part 10 is mounting direction X with respect to the part which borders the filling port 4 in the housing | casing 2. As shown in FIG. (See FIG. 6 (b) and FIG. 6 (c)). Thereby, it is possible to prevent the entire cap 5 from passing through the filling port 4 and fitting into the housing 2.

The cap 5 is provided with a fitting portion 11 that protrudes from the collar portion 10 to the downstream side (here, the rear side) in the mounting direction X. The fitting portion 11 is fitted into the filling port 4 when the cap 5 is attached to the housing 2 and is in contact with the section screen 6.
Here, the outline of the fitting part 11 when viewed from the mounting direction X (front-rear direction) is an ellipse (see FIGS. 3D and 3E), and depending on the fitting part 11, The filling port 4 is also elliptical (see FIG. 1B). As a result, even if it is difficult to enlarge the filling port 4 by reducing the size of the toner box 1, if the filling port 4 has an elliptical shape, the filling can be performed simply by increasing the length (major axis) of the major axis of the ellipse. The size of the mouth 4 can be increased. That is, it is possible to make the toner box 1 smaller and the filling port 4 larger.

  And as shown in FIG.6 (c), the protrusion part 12 is provided in the upstream (in this case front end part) of the mounting direction X in 11 A of outer peripheral surfaces of the fitting part 11. As shown in FIG. The protruding portion 12 protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting portion 11 in a direction Y (in this case, the left-right direction) orthogonal to the mounting direction X, and when the cap 5 is mounted on the housing 2, the section screen 6 The groove 7 is fitted. Therefore, the filling port 4 partitioned into the partition screen 6 is necessarily larger than the fitting portion 11 by the groove 7 when viewed from the mounting direction X, and the outer peripheral surface 11A of the fitting portion 11 and the partition screen 6 A predetermined gap 20 (see FIG. 5C) corresponding to the groove 7 is secured between the two.

Thereby, even if the fitting part 11 fits into the filling port 4 vigorously by closing the filling port 4 with the cap 5, the air in the case 2 passes from the gap 20 (groove 7) to the case. 2 (see the broken line arrow Z in FIG. 5C), the internal pressure of the housing 2 does not increase rapidly, and toner can be prevented from being ejected from the supply port 3 (see FIG. 1). it can.
In the state where the cap 5 is mounted on the housing 2 as shown in FIG. 6C, the projecting portion 12 is fitted in the groove 7 of the section screen 6 and closes the groove 7, so that the groove 7 The toner in the housing 2 does not leak from. Further, when the cap 5 is attached to the housing 2, the protrusion 12 is fitted into the groove 7, so that the cap 5 can be attached to the housing 2 in a correct posture.

As a result, the toner box 1 can be prevented from being ejected when the filling port 4 is closed while at the same time reducing the size of the toner box 1 and increasing the size of the filling port 4.
(5) When the cap 5 is mounted on the housing 2, the contact portion 15 that comes into contact with the section screen 6 is located downstream in the mounting direction X from the protruding portion 12 on the outer peripheral surface 11 </ b> A of the fitting portion 11 (rear here) The outer peripheral surface 11A is provided over the entire area in the circumferential direction.

Here, since the protrusion part 12 protrudes rather than the contact part 15 toward the outer side of 11 A of outer peripheral surfaces of the fitting part 11 in the orthogonal direction Y, the filling port 4 divided by the division screen 6 is the mounting direction X When viewed from the top, the outer peripheral surface 11A (contact portion 15) of the fitting portion 11 becomes larger. Thus, when the cap 5 is attached to the housing 2 and the filling port 4 is closed with the cap 5, the inside of the housing 2 is between the outer peripheral surface 11 </ b> A (contact portion 15) of the fitting portion 11 and the section screen 6. It is possible to reliably secure the gap 20 for allowing the air to escape outside the housing 2 (see FIG. 5C).
(6) The protrusion part 12 is provided in the part with the smallest curvature radius in 11 A of outer peripheral surfaces of the fitting part 11 (refer FIG. 3). Therefore, even when the cap 5 is deformed when the cap 5 is attached to the housing 2, the protruding portion 12 provided on the outer peripheral surface 11 </ b> A of the fitting portion 11 having the smallest radius of curvature (the portion that is most difficult to deform). Can be stably fitted into the groove 7 with almost no deformation.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toner box 2 Housing | casing 4 Filling port 5 Cap 6 Section screen 7 Groove 10 Eave part 11 Fitting part 11A Outer peripheral surface 12 Protrusion part 15 Contact part X Mounting direction Y Orthogonal direction

Claims (6)

A cap attached to the developer container for closing a developer filling port formed in the developer container for accommodating the developer;
When the cap is mounted on the developer container, the hook part that is hooked from the upstream side in the mounting direction of the cap with respect to the developer container with respect to a portion that borders the filling port in the developer container When,
Projecting from the flange portion downstream in the mounting direction, the contour when viewed from the mounting direction is an ellipse, and fitted into the filling port when the cap is mounted on the developer container, and the developing A fitting portion that contacts an annular section screen that partitions the filling port in the agent container;
Provided on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion on the upstream side in the mounting direction, protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction, and when the cap is mounted on the developer container A cap for a developer container, characterized by comprising a projecting portion facing the section screen The outer peripheral surface is provided over the entire region in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface, is located on the downstream side in the mounting direction with respect to the projecting portion, and is displayed on the section screen when the cap is mounted on the developer container. With a contact part to contact,
2. The developer container cap according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion protrudes from the contact portion toward the outside of the outer peripheral surface in the orthogonal direction.   3. The developer container cap according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is provided in a portion having a smallest radius of curvature on the outer peripheral surface. 4. A developer container comprising: a housing that contains a developer and a filling port that receives the filled developer; and a cap that is attached to the housing to close the filling port;
The filling port has an elliptical shape,
In the casing, a groove extending along the mounting direction of the cap with respect to the casing is formed over the entire area in the mounting direction on the annular section screen that partitions the filling port.
The cap is
When the cap is attached to the housing, a hook that is hooked from the upstream side in the mounting direction with respect to a portion that borders the filling port in the housing;
Projecting from the collar part downstream in the mounting direction, the outline when viewed from the mounting direction is an ellipse, and fitted into the filling port when the cap is mounted on the housing, on the section screen A mating portion to contact;
Provided on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion on the upstream side in the mounting direction, protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface in a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction, and into the groove when the cap is mounted on the housing. A developer container, comprising: a protruding portion to be fitted. The outer peripheral surface is provided over the entire area in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface, is located on the downstream side in the mounting direction with respect to the protrusion, and contacts the section screen when the cap is mounted on the housing. With a contact,
The developer container according to claim 4, wherein the protruding portion protrudes from the contact portion toward the outside of the outer peripheral surface in the orthogonal direction.   6. The developer container according to claim 4, wherein the protruding portion is provided in a portion having the smallest curvature radius on the outer peripheral surface. 7.

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