Toner case and image forming apparatus including the toner case
A toner case is directly or indirectly connected to a housing 31 that contains toner at a first connection portion 43 and a second connection portion 44 , and includes: a bracket portion 33 that is formed so as to link the first connection portion 43 and the second connection portion 44; protrusions 51 and 52 that are formed on the bracket portion 33 , allow for attachment of the housing 31 to an apparatus body of a specific model, and do not allow for attachment of the housing 31 to the apparatus body of other models except for the specific model; and a functional member 55 that is installed on the bracket portion 33 and that fulfills a predetermined function.
1. A toner case that is attached to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus, the toner case comprising:
a housing that contains toner;
a toner discharge port that discharges the toner in the housing;
a shutter portion that opens and closes the toner discharge port;
a lever that drives the shutter portion;
a shaft portion that swingably supports the lever;
a bracket portion with which the shaft portion is integrally formed and is directly or indirectly connected to the housing;
a first protrusion; and
a second protrusion, wherein
the bracket portion has a first side wall with one end side directly or indirectly connected to an outer side surface of the housing, a second side wall with one end side directly or indirectly connected to the outer side surface of the housing, and arranged to be opposite to the first side wall, and a third side wall formed so as to link another end side of the first side wall and another end side of the second side wall,
the shaft portion is integrally formed with the third side wall of the bracket portion,
the first protrusion is integrally formed with the first side wall and the third side wall of the bracket portion, and the second protrusion is integrally formed with the second side wall and the third side wall of the bracket portion, and
at least one of the first and second protrusions allowing for attachment of the housing to the apparatus body of a specific model, and not allowing for attachment of the housing to apparatus bodies of other models except for the specific model.
2. The toner case according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the first protrusion and the second protrusion is formed across one end and another end of the third side wall of the bracket portion.
3. An image forming apparatus that includes the toner case according to claim 1 .