Patent ID: 9329527
Filing Date: 2016-05-03
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. A toner case comprising: a case main body configured to be attached to and detached from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus and store toner; a toner discharge outlet formed on the case main body; an opening/closing member configured to open and close the toner discharge outlet and be moved between an opening position and a closing position; a lever member configured to be operated between a first operation position and a second operation position such that the lever member at the first operation position allows the opening/closing member to be positioned at the closing position, and the lever member at the second operation position allows the opening/closing member to be positioned at the opening position; a lock member configured to be moved between a lock position and an unlock position such that the lock member at the lock position abuts on both the opening/closing member and the lever member, locks the opening/closing member to the closing position and locks the lever member to the first operation position, and the lock member at the unlock position is separated from both the opening/closing member and the lever member and allows the opening/closing member and the lever member to be released from respective locks; a first extended portion provided on the lever member and extending in a pivoting direction of the lever member; and a second extended portion provided on the lock member and configured to be elastically deformed in a diameter direction of an arcing trajectory drawn by the first extended portion when the first extended portion is displaced as the lever member pivots, rigidity of the second extended portion being higher in a direction along the trajectory than in the diameter direction, wherein when the case main body is in an attached attitude where the case main body is attached to the apparatus main body, the lock member is positioned at the unlock position, and when the case main body is in an unattached attitude where the case main body is not attached to the apparatus main body, the lock member is positioned at the lock position, the opening/closing member includes a first engaged portion and is configured to open and close the toner discharge outlet by pivoting around a predetermined first pivotal axis, the lock member includes a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion and is axially supported so as to pivot around a second pivotal axis that is parallel to the first pivotal axis, the lever member includes a second engaged portion and is axially supported by a side wall of the case main body so as to pivot around a third pivotal axis that is parallel to the first pivotal axis, when the lock member is positioned at the lock position, the first engaging portion is engaged with the first engaged portion so as to lock the opening/closing member to the closing position, and when the lock member is pivoted from the lock position to the unlock position, the first engaging portion is separated from the first engaged portion and is released from an engagement with the first engaged portion so as to release the opening/closing member from a lock, when the lock member is positioned at the lock position, the second engaging portion is engaged with the second engaged portion so as to lock the lever member to the first operation position, and when the lock member is pivoted from the lock position to the unlock position, the second engaging portion is separated from the second engaged portion and is released from an engagement with the second engaged portion so as to release the lever member from a lock, and when the lever member is pivoted in a state where the lock member is positioned at the unlock position, the second extended portion slides on the first extended portion while being deformed in the diameter direction upon receiving a force from the first extending portion.