Patent ID: 6047153
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
A toner container mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:a toner containing portion for containing toner;a rotatable toner stirring member for stirring the toner contained in said toner containing portion;a helical gear for receiving a driving force for rotating said stirring member, said helical gear being movable in a thrust direction which is substantially crossing with a direction of rotation thereof;an opposite member opposed to an internal surface of said toner containing portion with a gap therebetween, said opposite member being rotatable together with said helical gear, wherein said opposite member functions as a locking member for preventing the helical gear from disengaging from a toner frame constituting said toner containing portion;wherein said helical gear produces a thrust force in a direction of maintaining said gap when said helical gear is rotated.