US 12,242,214 B2
Toner container with shutter portion lockable with removal of toner container from attachment portion, and image forming apparatus having same
Riku Minamoto, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., Osaka (JP)
Filed by KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., Osaka (JP)
Filed on Oct. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/496,778.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-173920 (JP), filed on Oct. 31, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0142895 A1, May 2, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/0886 (2013.01) [G03G 15/0875 (2013.01); G03G 2215/0692 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A toner container that is detachably attached to an attachment portion of an image forming apparatus, the toner container comprising:
a storage portion configured to store toner;
a feeding portion formed with a feeding port that communicates between an inner portion and an outer portion of the storage portion;
a shutter portion configured to close the feeding port;
a shutter linking mechanism that, when receiving a force in a first direction from a force applying portion provided on the attachment portion, is configured to move a linking portion that is one of the feeding portion and the shutter portion from a closed position where the feeding port is closed by the shutter portion to an open position where the feeding port is open; and when receiving a force in a second direction from the force applying portion, is configured to move the linking portion from the open position to the closed position; and
a shutter lock mechanism including an engaged portion integrally formed with the linking portion and an engaging portion that restricts movement of the linking portion to the open position side by engaging with the engaged portion, and that, when the toner container is attached to the attachment portion, is configured to move the engaging portion from an engaging position to a released position; and when the toner container is removed from the attachment portion, is configured to move the engaging portion from the released position to the engaging position, wherein
the released position is a position separated from the engaged portion,
when the engaging portion is at the engaging position, the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion in both a case where the linking portion is at the closed position, and a case where the linking portion is at a semi-closed position between the closed position and the open position,
when the linking portion is at a region from the semi-closed position to the closed position, the shutter portion closes the feeding port, and
the engaged portion includes:
a first engaged portion configured to engage with the engaging portion when the linking portion is at the closed position; and
a second engaged portion configured to engage with the engaging portion when the linking portion is at the semi-closed position.