Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Fumio Ogata

Seiji Terazawa

Yoshihide Kawamura

Masayuki Yamane

Satoshi Muramatsu

Nobuo Kasahara

Kiyonori Tsuda

Kazuhisa Sudo

Kenzo Tatsumi

Nobuyuki Taguchi

Emi Kita

Takeroh Kurenuma

Satoshi Narumi

Tetsuya Kusano

Takeshi Tamaru

Masato Suzuki

Goro Katsuyama

Yoshiyuki Kimura

Tomoji Ishikawa

Kazuyuki Sugihara

Kenji Maeda

Keisuke Katoh

Masahiro Nakayama

Sieji Terazawa

An insertion passageY for inserting a suction nozzleY fixed to an image forming apparatus is provided on a holderY, and a connecting passageY that connects the insertion passageY and a toner storage sectionY of the holderY is provided. After the toner sent from bottleY to the holderY falls towards the connecting passageY, the toner flows into the suction nozzleY through the connecting passageY and is then discharged out of the holderY. An airtightness between the insertion passageY and the suction nozzleY inserted into the insertion passageY is superior than an airtightness between the bottleY and the holderY engaged with the bottleY.

Toner cartridge, image forming apparatus, method of recycling toner cartridge

An insertion passageY for inserting a suction nozzleY fixed to an image forming apparatus is provided on a holderY, and a connecting passageY that connects the insertion passageY and a toner storage sectionY of the holderY is provided After the toner sent from bottleY to the holderY falls towards the connecting passageY, the toner flows into the suction nozzleY through the connecting passageY and is then discharged out of the holderY An airtightness between the insertion passageY and the suction nozzleY inserted into the insertion passageY is superior than an airtightness between the bottleY and the holderY engaged with the bottleY.

Toner container, image forming apparatus, method of recycling toner container

A toner container for installation in a toner supply device is provided. The toner container includes a toner accommodation member and a cap member freely attachable to and detachable from the toner accommodation member. The toner accommodation member includes a bag member having an opening, and a connection member attached to the opening of the bag member and having a toner supply opening. The cap member is configured to receive toner supplied from the toner supply opening of the connection member of the toner accommodation member and to discharge the received toner. Either of the connection member of the toner accommodation member and the cap member includes a groove part and the other includes a protrusion part to engage with the groove part, and the cap member is attached to the toner accommodation member by engaging the groove part and the protrusion part with each other. The protrusion part elastically deforms to engage with the groove part.

Toner container, toner supply device and image forming apparatus

The present invention relates to a container containing a toner that exhibits sufficient sealing effects and prevents leakage of the content in the container body. The container according to the present invention comprises a container body having a pipe-like aperture, an inner cap fitted to inner side of the aperture in an attachable and detachable fashion, and an outer cap fitted to outer side of the aperture in an attachable and detachable fashion, wherein the aperture is equipped with a first convex that projects ring-wise from the inner side of the aperture and a sealing face that is situated at tip side of the aperture, the inner cap is equipped with a second convex and a resilient sealing portion, the second convex projects ring-wise from the outer side of the inner cap and has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the first convex, the resilient sealing portion contacts with the sealing face resiliently from outside of the aperture to urge the inner cap in a direction so that the second convex presses the first convex, and wherein the outer cap is equipped with a pressing portion that presses the resilient sealing portion so as to move the inner cap to a position where the pressing are released between the first convex and the second convex.

Container, toner container, image forming apparatus, and image forming process

In an image forming apparatus a toner container removably set on the apparatus and a developing section included in the apparatus are communicated to each other by a delivery passage. Toner can be delivered from the toner container to the developing section via the delivery passage by a stream of air even when the container and developing section are located at remote positions.

Toner container configured for toner replenishment through blow system

The present invention relates to a container containing a toner that exhibits sufficient sealing effects and prevents leakage of the content in the container body. The container according to the present invention comprises a container body having a pipe-like aperture, an inner cap fitted to inner side of the aperture in an attachable and detachable fashion, and an outer cap fitted to outer side of the aperture in an attachable and detachable fashion,

In an image forming apparatus, a flexible toner container removably set on the apparatus and a developing section included in the apparatus are communicated to each other by a delivery passage. Toner can be delivered from the toner container to the developing section via the delivery passage by a stream of air even when the container and developing section are located at remote positions.

Flexible toner container and toner delivery apparatus

In an image forming apparatus, a toner container removably set on the apparatus and a developing section included in the apparatus are communicated to each other by a delivery passage. Toner can be delivered from the toner container to the developing section via the delivery passage by a stream of air even when the container and developing section are located at remote positions. An elongated member located on the image forming apparatus extends into the toner container outlet and a mating portion forms a sealing enclosure between the toner container outlet and the elongated member. A tight contact enhancing member may be provided to enhance the contact of the sealing enclosure. The toner container may be a sack formed of flexible material.

Toner container and toner delivery apparatus

A powder container of the present invention is made up of a deformable bag for storing desired powder and a box more rigid than the bag for accommodating the bag. The bag includes an outlet portion for discharging the power. Despite that the bag is flexible, the powder container does not fall down when mounted to an image forming apparatus. Further, the powder container is easy to assemble and easy to transport at the time of collection. A method of assembling the toner container and an image forming apparatus using the same are also disclosed.

Powder container, method of assembling the same and image forming apparatus

In an image forming apparatus, atoner container removably set on the apparatus and a developing section included in the apparatus are communicated to each other by a delivery passage. Toner can be delivered from the toner container to the developing section via the delivery passage by a stream of air even when the container and developing section are located at remote positions.

Toner container and air stream delivering mechanism

A powder container for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a deformable bag and a powder discharging portion made up of a tapered portion and a toner outlet. A buckling reducing device reduces the buckling of part of the bag adjoining the tapered portion and toner outlet. The toner container prevents the discharge of powder from being deteriorated by buckling, thereby reducing the amount of powder to be left in the container. Further, a device is provided for maintaining the upright position of the bag. A toner discharging device for discharging the toner from the toner container is also disclosed.

Powder container for an image forming apparatus and powder discharging device

A developer container for use in an image forming apparatus including a supporting member rotating around a rotation shaft thereof. A plurality of developing devices are arranged on the supporting member, each developing device including a developer supplying device. A plurality of cylindrically-shaped developer containers containing developer are provided, each developer container having an opening and a guide, and each developer container being detachably mounted on the developer supplying device. A container rotating device rotates the developer container, in which the guide is arranged that when one of the developing devices needs to be filled with the developer, the container rotating device rotates the developer container to transfer the developer in the developer container to the opening in accordance with a rotating movement of the developer container.

Image forming apparatus having an improved developer-supplying mechanism and method thereof

A toner container for replenishing toner stored therein to a developing section included in an image forming apparatus includes a body formed with a spiral groove in its inner periphery and coaxially rotatably supported by a replenishing portion via a seal member. The replenishing portion has a toner outlet in its circumferential wall that is selectively blocked or unblocked. While the body is in rotation, the spiral groove conveys toner toward the replenishing portion with the result that the toner is replenished to the developing section via the toner outlet.

Toner container for an image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus including a supporting member rotating around a rotation shaft thereof. A plurality of developing devices are arranged on the supporting member, each developing device including a developer supplying device. A plurality of cylindrically-shaped developer containers containing developer are provided, each developer container having an opening and a guide, and each developer container being detachably mounted on the developer supplying device. A container rotating device rotates the developer container, in which the guide is arranged that when one of the developing devices needs to be filled with the developer, the container rotating device rotates the developer container to transfer the developer in the developer container to the opening in accordance with a rotation movement of the developer container.

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Fuji, Japan

Fumio Ogata