US 12,105,442 B2
Toner container and image forming system
Goshi Ozaki, Kanagawa (JP); Hiroyuki Munetsugu, Kanagawa (JP); Teruhiko Sasaki, Shizuoka (JP); Tachio Kawai, Tokyo (JP); Akinobu Hirayama, Shizuoka (JP); and Toshiki Fujino, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Oct. 5, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/376,899.
Application 18/376,899 is a division of application No. 18/116,910, filed on Mar. 3, 2023, granted, now 11,822,265.
Application 18/116,910 is a division of application No. 17/900,039, filed on Aug. 31, 2022, granted, now 11,662,673, issued on May 30, 2023.
Application 17/900,039 is a division of application No. 17/899,758, filed on Aug. 31, 2022, granted, now 11,592,766, issued on Feb. 28, 2023.
Application 17/899,758 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2021/045722, filed on Dec. 6, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-202977 (JP), filed on Dec. 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0036496 A1, Feb. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/0886 (2013.01) [G03G 15/0865 (2013.01); G03G 15/087 (2013.01); G03G 15/0874 (2013.01); G03G 2215/0673 (2013.01); G03G 2215/0682 (2013.01); G03G 2215/0692 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming system comprising a toner container and an image forming apparatus to which the toner container is mountable,
wherein the toner container includes:
an accommodating portion configured to accommodate toner,
a discharge portion provided with an opening for discharging the toner from the accommodating portion to outside of the toner container, and
a projection that includes an inner peripheral surface centered on a central axis of the toner container, the projection being provided below the opening of the discharge portion, and the projection projecting downward when the toner container is oriented in a predetermined direction in which the central axis extends in a direction of gravity and at least a part of the discharge portion is below the accommodating portion,
wherein the discharge portion is configured to face outward in a radial direction of an imaginary circle centered on the central axis, and
wherein, when the toner container is oriented in the predetermined direction, the projection has a downward guide surface facing downward outside of the inner peripheral surface and inside of the opening of the discharge portion in the radial direction, and an upward guide surface facing upward,
wherein the image forming apparatus includes a mounting portion to which the toner container is mountable, the mounting portion being provided with a rotatable guided member, and
wherein, when the toner container is moved down in a direction of the central axis toward the mounting portion in a state in which the toner container is oriented in the predetermined direction, (i) the downward guide surface is configured to guide the guided member so that the guided member is rotated in a rotational direction about the central axis, and (ii) the upward guide surface is configured to guide the guided member so that the guided member is moved up after the guided member is rotated in the rotational direction by the downward guide surface.