US 11,953,854 B2
Powder collection container and image forming apparatus including the same
Satoshi Kimura, Sakai (JP)
Assigned to SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Sakai (JP)
Filed by SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Sakai (JP)
Filed on Aug. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/888,386.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-142536 (JP), filed on Sep. 1, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0069650 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. G03G 21/12 (2006.01); G03G 15/08 (2006.01); G03G 21/10 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 21/12 (2013.01) [G03G 15/0886 (2013.01); G03G 21/105 (2013.01); G03G 2221/1624 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A powder collection container for accommodating a powder discharged from a discharge port of a powder discharge device comprising a powder discharger provided with a shutter member that opens and closes the discharge port, the powder collection container comprising:
a moving member that is movable between a first position where the moving member abuts against the shutter member to open the discharge port of the powder discharge device, and a second position where the moving member does not abut against the shutter member and the discharge port of the powder discharge device is not opened;
a first urging member that urges the moving member toward the first position; and
a stopper member that is attachable to and detachable from a powder collection container main body, wherein:
the moving member is provided movably in a predetermined movement direction in the powder collection container main body, in a state in which the moving member is urged toward the first position by an urging force of the first urging member,
in a state in which the stopper member is attached to the powder collection container main body, the stopper member regulates a movement of the moving member to the first position by the urging force of the first urging member, and when the stopper member is detached from the powder collection container main body, the stopper member allows for the movement of the moving member to the first position by the urging force of the first urging member,
the powder collection container main body is provided with a protrusion that protrudes toward the moving member,
the moving member is provided with a through-hole adjacent to a first position side in the predetermined movement direction when the moving member is positioned at the second position, and
when the moving member is positioned at the second position, the stopper member is attachably and detachably inserted into the through-hole and abuts against the protrusion to regulate the movement of the moving member to the first position.