Patent ID: 7577379
Filing Date: 2009-08-18
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A toner container for installation in a toner supply device, comprising: a toner accommodation member having an opening, and a connection member attached to the opening and having a toner supply opening; and a cap member attachable to and detachable from the toner accommodation member, and having a cap member opening configured to receive toner supplied from the toner supply opening of the connection member of the toner accommodation member and to discharge the received toner, wherein: either of the connection member of the toner accommodation member and the cap member includes a protrusion part and the other includes an engaging part to engage with the protrusion part, and the cap member is attached to the toner accommodation member by engaging the protrusion part and the engaging part with each other, the protrusion part elastically deforms during engagement with the engaging part, the protrusion part engages with the engaging part along a longitudinal direction of the engaging part, and a tip in the longitudinal direction of the engaging part is formed broader than an inner side of the engaging part. an internal surface of an end part of the engaging part has a tapered shape which is narrower toward the inner side of the engaging part from the tip thereof. a tip in a longitudinal direction of the protrusion part is narrower than a base side thereof, an end part of an outer border of the protrusion part has a tapered shape which is broader toward the base side of the protrusion part from the tip thereof, the protrusion part is configured to engage with the engaging part by rotating the cap member relative to the connection member, said tapered shapes of the protrusion and engaging part including tapered portions, respectively, said tapered portions having leading ends, and said tapered portions engaging with each other when the leading ends contact each other and the cap is rotated, said toner container further comprising a cylindrical toner guide protrusion protruding from the cap member at a center of the cap member and configured to guide toner when toner is dispensed, said cylindrical toner guide protrusion providing a rotational center when the cap is rotated, said cylindrical toner guide protrusion serving as a guide when the cap is attached to the toner accommodation member, said tapered portions being arranged on a cap side and a bottle side around the cylindrical toner guide protrusion.