The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 30, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 12, 1997
Shinichi Otsuka, Utsunomiya, JP;
Hiromichi Miyoshi, Utsunomiya, JP;
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
The present invention relates to a toner bottle having a body with a convexly-shaped spiral rib continuously formed on the inside surface thereof and a tip with an opening for toner to flow therefrom. A section for joining the body and the tip includes a first circular face having a slope convex portion that slopes toward the inside, and a second circular face having a toner pump-up portion, the diameter of which is approximately same as that of the body. There is a shutter rotatably disposed on the tip to normally close the opening. The shutter has an opening that fits over the tip opening when the toner bottle is rotated inside the shutter. The shutter may be made of elastic material, and has arcs of different thicknesses. A thicker one of the arcs is used to keep the tip opening closed except when being used in a toner supplying apparatus. The toner bottle allows the toner to flow in a continuous manner, and prevents users from dirtying their hands when replacing toner bottles.