Toner container and image forming apparatus
A toner container detachably attached to a toner-container holder of a main body of an image forming apparatus includes a container body that includes an opening, and discharges toner contained in the container body, from the opening; and a held portion that is held by the toner-container holder in a non-rotating manner. The held portion includes an open/close member for opening/closing the toner outlet in synchronization with an attachment/detachment operation of the held portion to/from the toner-container holder.
1. A storage and dispensing device for toner, comprising:
a cap portion through which toner is dispensed, the cap portion having at least a portion which is cylindrical-shaped; and
a storage volume connected to the cap portion, a portion of the storage volume being disposed within an interior of the cylindrical-shaped portion,
the cap portion including:
a projection on an exterior of the cap, the projection corresponding to a particular color of toner, a thickness of the projection in a vertical direction being less than or equal to a radius of the cylindrical-shaped portion,
wherein a distance from a center of the cylindrical-shaped cap portion to an outer edge of the projection is at least 15% greater than a radius of the cylindrical-shaped portion.
2. The storage and dispensing device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the storage and dispensing device is for use in a machine which uses at least two different color toners, and
an outer edge of the projection has a minimum distance from a center of the cylindrical-shaped portion which is greater than a largest radius of a cylindrical-shaped portion of any other toner storage and dispensing device of the machine.
3. The storage and dispensing device according to claim 1 , wherein:
a distance from a center of the cylindrical-shaped cap portion to an outer edge of the projection is at least 25% greater than a radius of the cylindrical-shaped portion.
4. The storage and dispensing device according to claim 1 , wherein:
a distance from a center of the cylindrical-shaped cap portion to an outer edge of the projection is at least 35% greater than a radius of the cylindrical-shaped portion.
5. The storage and dispensing device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
toner stored with the storage and dispensing device.
6. The storage and dispensing device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second projection on an exterior of the cap, the second projection in combination with said projection corresponding to a particular color of toner, a distance from a center of the cylindrical-shaped cap portion to an outer edge of the second projection is at least 15% greater than a radius of the cylindrical-shaped portion.
7. The storage and dispensing device according to claim 6 , wherein:
a distance from a center of the cylindrical-shaped cap portion to an outer edge of each of the two projections is at least 25% greater than a radius of the cylindrical-shaped portion.
8. The storage and dispensing device according to claim 6 , wherein:
a distance from a center of the cylindrical-shaped cap portion to an outer edge of each of the two projections is at least 35% greater than a radius of the cylindrical-shaped portion.
9. The storage and dispensing device according to claim 6 , wherein:
a sum of thicknesses of the two projections in a vertical direction being less than or equal to a radius of the cylindrical-shaped portion.