IP Library Granted Patent US 10,139,752
Granted Patent B2
US 10,139,752 · App. 15/961,628 · Granted Nov 27, 2018

Image forming apparatus, toner case attachable to image forming apparatus

Inventors: Koji Murata (Osaka, JP); Yoshitaka Tokoro (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
G03G15/0865G03G2215/0692
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,139,752
App. No.
15/961,628
Granted
Nov 27, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A shutter member of a toner case includes a compatible key and an engaged portion. A storage portion for storing the toner case includes a compatible member rockably supported at a position that faces the shutter member during an insertion process of the toner case. The compatible member includes a first contact portion and a first engaging portion. The first contact portion is located on a forward side of a rocking shaft of the compatible member in the insertion direction. The first engaging portion is located on a backward side of the rocking shaft in the insertion direction. During an insertion process of the toner case, the first engaging portion of the compatible member is engaged with the engaged portion so that the shutter member moves from a closing position to an opening position.

Claims (29)

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a toner case including a shutter member configured to move between an opening position and a closing position, wherein when the shutter member is at the opening position, a toner discharge port formed in a bottom portion of the toner case is opened, and when the shutter member is at the closing position, the toner discharge port is closed; and

a case attachment portion configured to support the toner case inserted therein toward a predetermined attachment position such that the toner case is attached at the attachment position in a detachable manner, wherein

the shutter member includes:

a compatible key projecting downward from the shutter member and provided at a compatible position that corresponds to a type of the toner case; and

an engaged portion provided at a position separated from the compatible key in a direction opposite to an insertion direction in which the toner case is inserted in the case attachment portion,

the case attachment portion includes:

a compatible member rockably supported at a position that faces the shutter member during a process in which the toner case is inserted in the case attachment portion, the compatible member including a first contact portion and a first engaging portion, the first contact portion being located on a forward side of a rocking fulcrum in the insertion direction, the first engaging portion being located on a backward side of the rocking fulcrum in the insertion direction,

in a state where the toner case is not inserted in the case attachment portion, the compatible member is disposed at a first position where the first engaging portion is separated from an insertion path of the compatible key, and the first contact portion intersects the insertion path, and

during the process in which the toner case is inserted in the case attachment portion, the compatible member is disposed at a second position where the compatible key comes in contact with the first contact portion and causes the compatible member to rock so that the first contact portion is separated from the insertion path and the first engaging portion is engaged with the engaged portion, and the shutter member moves from the closing position to the opening position.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the toner case includes:

a projection portion projecting downward from the bottom portion and provided on the backward side of the shutter member in the insertion direction,

the case attachment portion includes:

an incompatible member rockably supported at a position separated from the compatible member along a rocking axis direction, the incompatible member including a second contact portion and a second engaging portion, the second contact portion being located on the forward side of the rocking fulcrum in the insertion direction, the second engaging portion being located on the backward side of the rocking fulcrum in the insertion direction, wherein

in a case where an incompatible toner case having a compatible key at a position corresponding to the incompatible member, is attached,

in a state where the incompatible toner case is not inserted, the compatible member is disposed at a third position where the second engaging portion is separated from the insertion path of the compatible key, and the second contact portion intersects the insertion path, and

during a process in which the incompatible toner case is inserted in the case attachment portion, the compatible member is disposed at a fourth position where the compatible key comes in contact with the second contact portion and causes the compatible member to rock so that the second engaging portion is engaged with the projection portion and the second contact portion is separated from the insertion path.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

when the shutter member moves from the closing position to the opening position, the projection portion comes in contact with the shutter member and restricts the shutter member from moving further.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a biasing member configured to, when the toner case is pulled out from the attachment position of the case attachment portion, bias the shutter member toward the closing position.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein

the biasing member is an elastic member provided in the toner case and configured to elastically bias the shutter member from the opening position toward the closing position.

6. A toner case comprising a shutter member configured to move between an opening position and a closing position, wherein when the shutter member is at the opening position, a toner discharge port formed in a bottom portion of the toner case is opened, and when the shutter member is at the closing position, the toner discharge port is closed, the toner case being attachable at a predetermined attachment position in a case attachment portion, wherein

the shutter member includes:

a compatible key projecting downward from the shutter member and provided at a compatible position that corresponds to a type of the toner case; and

an engaged portion provided at a position separated from the compatible key in a direction opposite to an insertion direction in which the toner case is inserted in the case attachment portion, and

during a process in which the toner case is inserted toward the attachment position, a compatible member provided in the case attachment portion is separated from an insertion path of the compatible key, and a part of the compatible member is engaged with the engaged portion in response to separation of the compatible member from the insertion path such that the shutter member moves from the closing position to the opening position.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2018
From: MURATA, KOJI; TOKORO, YOSHITAKA
To: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 045626/0609 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2017-085948 · Apr 25, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180307157A1 · Oct 25, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,554,212