Patent ID: 6259877
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: G03G,Y10S

Abstract:
A toner cartridge for use in a toner supply device for supplying a toner to an image forming system for forming an optional image including characters and pictures with said toner, said toner cartridge comprising:a toner container having a cylindrical shape having an opening at a tip end thereof, said toner container being filled with a toner therein, said toner container having a spiral protruding portion formed in an inner peripheral surface thereof, and said toner container causing said toner, which is housed therein, toward said opening in an axial direction thereof when being rotated about an axis thereof;a substantially cup-shaped cap engaging said opening and having a toner discharging hole for discharging said toner carried in said toner container, said cap being fixed to said toner container at a predetermined positional relationship when said cap is mounted on said toner container, so that said discharging hole always faces in a predetermined direction when said toner container is turned in a certain rotational direction with respect to said axis thereof; anda cylindrical cover engaging said cap so as to reciprocate in axial directions with respect to said cap between a first position on a tip end side and a second position on a base end side, said cylindrical cover closing said discharging hole to prevent said toner from being discharged at said first position, and opening said discharging hole to allow said toner to be discharged at said second position.