EP1014214A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toner container and image forming method and apparatus using the same
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1999-12-21
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2019-12-21
Abstract
Abstract In an image forming apparatus, a toner container removably set on the apparatus and a developing section included in the apparatus are communicated to each other by a delivery passage. Toner can be delivered from the toner container to the developing section via the delivery passage by a stream of air even when the container and developing section are located at remote positions.
Inventors
- 👤 Seiji Terazawa
- 👤 Tetsuya Kusano
- 👤 Satoshi Muramatsu
- 👤 Nobuo Kasahara
- 👤 Fumio Ogata
- 👤 Takeshi Tamaru
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:55
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822; G03G15/0877; G03G15/0879; G03G15/0848; G03G15/0849; G03G15/0855; G03G15/0865; G03G15/0874; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/06; G03G2215/066; G03G2215/0682; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S222/00; Y10S222/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 138
Claim 1
Independent Claim
37 words
A toner container for an electrophotographic image forming
apparatus, comprising: a toner outlet for discharging toner; and a mating portion for allowing said toner outlet to mate with
an elongate matter and remain in a mating position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
16 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mating
portion comprises a tubular body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
a bottom and a side wall connecting said bottom and said toner outlet
and including reduced structure sequentially reduced in size toward
said toner outlet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 3, wherein a surface
of said side wall forming said reduced structure is inclined relative
to a section of said tubular body by an angle of about 45 degrees to
about 90 degrees.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 3, further comprising
pressure adjusting means provided on one of said bottom and said side.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A toner container for an electrophotographic image forming
apparatus, comprising: a toner outlet implemented by a tubular body for discharging
toner; and a mating portion for allowing said toner outlet to mate with
an elongate matter and remain in a mating position; said toner container being packed with toner.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 6, wherein assuming
that said toner container is packed with the toner to a packing density
determined by dividing a weight (g) of the toner by a capacity (cm 3 )
of said toner container, said packing density is 0.7 g/cm 3 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 7, wherein said toner
outlet is sealed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 8, further comprising
a cap for sealing said toner outlet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 8, further comprising
a sheet adhered to a section of said tubular body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 7, wherein the toner
is delivered from said toner container to a developing section of said
image forming apparatus by an air stream.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A toner container for an electrophotographic image forming
apparatus, comprising: a toner outlet implemented by a tubular body; a mating portion for allowing said toner outlet to mate with
an elongate matter and remain in a mating position; and a tight contact enhancing mechanism for enhancing tight
contact between said mating portion and the elongate matter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 12, wherein said
tight contact enhancing member is provided on a surface of said
tubular body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 12, wherein said
mating portion comprises said tubular body and said tight contact
enhancing mechanism positioned in said tubular body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 12, wherein said
mating portion comprises said tubular body and said tight contact
enhancing mechanism positioned on an outer periphery of said tubular
body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 12, wherein said
tight contact enhancing mechanism comprises an elastic member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 14, wherein said
tight contact enhancing mechanism comprises a flat elastic member
sized to cover an inside of a section of said tubular body and formed
with slits in direction of thickness, said elastic member being fitted
in at least one tubular body and adhered to an inner periphery of said
tubular body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 12, further
comprising a bottom and a side wall connecting said bottom and said
toner outlet and including reduced structure sequentially reduced in
size toward said toner outlet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 18, wherein a surface
of said side wall forming said reduced structure is inclined relative
to a section of said tubular body by an angle of about 45 degrees to
about 90 degrees.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 18, wherein said
bottom has four sides, at least one of four sides forming said side
wall being inclined relative to a section of said tubular body by less
than 90 degrees.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 18, further
comprising pressure adjusting means provided on said bottom and said
side wall.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
65 words
A toner container for an electrophotographic image forming
apparatus, comprising: a toner outlet implemented by a tubular body for discharging
toner; a mating portion for allowing said toner outlet to mate with
an elongate matter and remain in a mating position; and tight contact enhancing mechanism for enhancing tight contact
between said mating portion and the elongate matter; said toner container being packed with toner.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 6, wherein assuming
that said toner container is packed with the toner to a packing density
determined by dividing a weight (g) of the toner by a capacity (cm 3 )
of said toner container, said packing density is 0.7 g/cm 3 .
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 22, wherein said
toner outlet is sealed.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
52 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 24, wherein said
toner outlet is sealed by a flat elastic member sized to cover an
inside of a section of said tubular body and formed with slits in
direction of thickness, said elastic member being adhered to an inner
periphery of said tubular body.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 24, further
comprising a cap for sealing said toner outlet.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
61 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 26, wherein one of
a screw and a screw thread is formed in one of an inner periphery and
an outer periphery of said tubular body while the other of the screw
and the screw thread is formed in said cap, said cap sealing said toner
outlet in threaded engagement with said tubular body.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 24, further
comprising a sheet adhered to a section of said tubular body.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 22, wherein the toner
is delivered from said toner container to a developing section of said
image forming apparatus by an air stream.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
60 words
A toner container for an electrophotographic image forming
apparatus, comprising: a sack formed of a flexible material; a toner outlet for discharging toner; and a mating portion for allowing said toner outlet to mate with
an elongate matter and remain in a mating position; said sack being deformable in accordance with an air pressure
to thereby vary a capacity thereof.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 30, wherein the
flexible material is about 20 µm to about 200 µm thick.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 30, wherein the
flexible material comprises a resin film.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 30, wherein said
toner outlet comprises a tubular body including a connecting portion
for connecting said toner outlet to an opening formed in said sack
and said mating portion.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
41 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 33, wherein a wall
of said sack adjoining an end portion of said tubular body extending
from an end of said connecting portion is substantially parallel to
an outer periphery of said connecting portion.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 33, wherein said
mating portion of said tubular body has an inside diameter greater
than an inside diameter of said connecting portion.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 33, wherein said
connecting portion has a ship-like section.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 33, further
comprising a flange extending radially outward from a position
between said mating portion and said connecting portion substantially
in parallel to a section of said tubular body.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 33, wherein said
mating portion and said connecting portion are separable from each
other.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
35 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 30, further
comprising a bottom and a side wall connecting said bottom and said
toner outlet and including reduced structure sequentially reduced in
size toward said toner outlet.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
40 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 39, wherein a surface
of said side wall forming said reduced structure is inclined relative
to a section of said tubular body by an angle of about 45 degrees to
about 90 degrees.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
39 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 39, wherein said
bottom has four sides, at least one of four sides forming said side
wall being inclined relative to a section of said tubular body by less
than 90 degrees.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 39, further
comprising pressure adjusting means provided on one of said bottom
and said side wall.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
69 words
A toner container for an electrophotographic image forming
apparatus, comprising: a sack formed of a flexible material; a toner outlet implemented by a tubular body for discharging
toner; and a mating portion for allowing said toner outlet to mate with
an elongate matter and remain in a mating position; said sack being packed with toner and deformable in accordance
with an air pressure to thereby vary a capacity thereof.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
14 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 43, wherein said
toner outlet is sealed.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
52 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 44, wherein said
toner outlet is scaled by a flat elastic member sized to cover an
inside of a section of said tubular body and formed with slits in
direction of thickness, said elastic member being adhered to an inner
periphery of said tubular body.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 44 further comprising
a cap for sealing said toner outlet.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
61 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 46, wherein one of
a screw and a screw thread is formed in one of an inner periphery and
an outer periphery of said tubular body while the other of the screw
and the screw thread is formed in said cap, said cap sealing said toner
outlet in threaded engagement with said tubular body.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 4, further comprising
a sheet adhered to a section of said tubular body.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
20 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 43, further
comprising position preserving means for preserving a position of
said sack.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
24 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 49, wherein said
position preserving means comprises a box-like member surrounding an
entire periphery of said sack.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
30 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 43, wherein the toner
is delivered from said toner container to a developing section of said
image forming apparatus by an air stream.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
106 words
A toner container for an electrophotographic image forming
apparatus, comprising: a sack formed of a flexible material; a toner outlet implemented by a tubular body for discharging
toner; and a mating portion for allowing said toner outlet to mate with
an elongate matter and remain in a mating position;
said sack being deformable in accordance with an air pressure
to thereby vary a capacity thereof; wherein assuming that said toner container is packed with
toner to a packing density determined by dividing a weight (g) of the
toner by a capacity (cm 3 ) of said toner container, said packing density
is 0.7 g/cm 3 .
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
14 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 52, wherein said
toner outlet is sealed.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
52 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 53, wherein said
toner outlet is sealed by a flat elastic member sized to cover an
inside of a section of said tubular body and formed with slits in
direction of thickness, said elastic member being adhered to an inner
periphery of said tubular body.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
17 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 53, further
comprising a cap for sealing said toner outlet.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
61 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 55, wherein one of
a screw and a screw thread is formed in one of an inner periphery and
an outer periphery of said tubular body while the other of the screw
and the screw thread is formed in said cap, said cap sealing said toner
outlet in threaded engagement with said tubular body.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
20 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 53, further
comprising a sheet adhered to a section of said tubular body.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
20 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 52, further
comprising position preserving means for preserving a position of
said sack.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
24 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 58, wherein said
position preserving means comprises a box-like member surrounding an
entire periphery of said sack.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
30 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 52, wherein the toner
is delivered from said toner container to a developing section of said
image forming apparatus by an air stream.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
140 words
A toner container for an electrophotographic image forming
apparatus, comprising: a sack formed of a flexible material; a toner outlet implemented by a tubular body for discharging
toner; and a mating portion for allowing said toner outlet to mate with
an elongate matter and remain in a mating position; said sack being deformable in accordance with an air pressure
to thereby vary a capacity thereof; wherein assuming that said toner container is packed with
toner, that said toner container has a maximum capacity Cmax, and that
said toner container packed with the toner and sealed has a capacity
Ctoner + Cair where Ctoner and Cair respectively denote a capacity
occupied by the toner and a capacity occupied by air, said toner
container is packed with the toner to satisfy a relation: (Cmax) - {(Ctoner) + (Cair)} ≥ 0.1 x (Cair)
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
50 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 61, wherein assuming
that said toner container is packed with the toner to a packing density
determined by dividing a weight (g) of the toner by a capacity (cm 3 )
of said toner container, said packing density is 0.7 g/cm 3 .
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
14 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 62, wherein said
toner outlet is sealed.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
52 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 63, wherein said
toner outlet is sealed by a flat elastic member sized to cover an
inside of a section of said tubular body and formed with slits in
direction of thickness, said elastic member being adhered to an inner
periphery of said tubular body.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
17 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 63, further
comprising a cap for sealing said toner outlet.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
61 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 65, wherein one of
a screw and a screw thread is formed in one of an inner periphery and
an outer periphery of said tubular body while the other of the screw
and the screw thread is formed in said cap, said cap sealing said toner
outlet in threaded engagement with said tubular body.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
20 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 63, further
comprising a sheet adhered to a section of said tubular body.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
20 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 61, further
comprising position preserving means for preserving a position of
said sack.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
24 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 68, wherein said
position preserving means comprises a box-like member surrounding an
entire periphery of said sack.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
30 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 61, wherein the toner
is delivered from said toner container to a developing section of said
image forming apparatus by an air stream.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
77 words
A toner container for an electrophotographic image forming
apparatus, comprising: a sack formed of a flexible material; a toner outlet for discharging toner; a mating portion for allowing said toner outlet to mate with
an elongate matter and remain in a mating position; and a tight contact enhancing mechanism for enhancing tight
contact between said mating portion and the elongate matter; said sack being deformable in accordance with an air pressure
to thereby vary a capacity thereof.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
30 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 71, wherein said
toner outlet comprises a tubular body, said tight contact enhancing
mechanism being provided on a surface of said tubular body.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
27 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 71, wherein said
mating portion comprises a tubular body and said tight contact
enhancing mechanism positioned in said tubular body.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
31 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 71, wherein said
mating portion comprises a tubular body and said tight contact
enhancing mechanism positioned on an outer periphery of said tubular
body.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
18 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 71, wherein said
tight contact enhancing mechanism comprises an elastic member.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
60 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 73, wherein said
tight contact enhancing mechanism comprises a flat elastic member
sized to cover an inside of a section of said tubular body and formed
with slits in direction of thickness, said elastic member being fitted
in at least one tubular body and adhered to an inner periphery of said
tubular body.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
21 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 30, wherein the
flexible material is about 20 µm to about 200 µm thick.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
16 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 71, wherein the
flexible material comprises a resin film.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
35 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 71, wherein said
toner outlet comprises tubular body including a connecting portion
for connecting said toner outlet to an opening formed in said sack
and said mating portion.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
41 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 79, wherein a wall
of said sack adjoining an end portion of said tubular body extending
from an end of said connecting portion is substantially parallel to
an outer periphery of said connecting portion.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
29 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 79, wherein said
mating portion of said tubular body has an inside diameter greater
than an inside diameter of said connecting portion.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
16 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 79, wherein said
connecting portion has a ship-like section.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
36 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 79, further
comprising a flange extending radially outward from a position
between said mating portion and said connecting portion substantially
in parallel to a section of said tubular body.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
21 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 79, wherein said
mating portion and said connecting portion are separable from each
other.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
35 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 71, further
comprising a bottom and a side wall connecting said bottom and said
toner outlet and including reduced structure sequentially reduced in
size toward said toner outlet.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
41 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 85, where in a surface
of said side wall forming said reduced structure is inclined relative
to a section of said tubular body by an angle of about 45 degrees to
about 90 degrees.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
39 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 85, wherein said
bottom has four sides, at least one of four sides forming said side
wall being inclined relative to a section of said tubular body by less
than 90 degrees.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
23 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 85, further
comprising pressure adjusting means provided on one of said bottom
and said side wall
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
86 words
A toner container for an electrophotographic image forming
apparatus, comprising: a sack formed of a flexible material; a toner outlet implemented by a tubular body for discharging
toner; a mating portion for allowing said toner outlet to mate with
an elongate matter and remain in a mating position; and a tight contact enhancing mechanism for enhancing tight
contact between said mating portion and the elongate matter; said sack being packed with toner and deformable in accordance
with an air pressure to thereby vary a capacity thereof.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
14 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 89, wherein said
toner outlet is sealed.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
52 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 90, wherein said
toner outlet is sealed by a flat elastic member sized to cover an
inside of a section of said tubular body and formed with slits in
direction of thickness, said elastic member being adhered to an inner
periphery of said tubular body.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
17 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 90, further
comprising a cap for sealing said toner outlet.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
61 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 92, wherein one of
a screw and a screw thread is formed in one of an inner periphery and
an outer periphery of said tubular body while the other of the screw
and the screw thread is formed in said cap, said cap sealing said toner
outlet in threaded engagement with said tubular body.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
20 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 90, further
comprising a sheet adhered to the section of a tubular body.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
20 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 89, further
comprising position preserving means for preserving a position of
said sack.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
24 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 95, wherein said
position preserving means comprises a box-like member surrounding an
entire periphery of said sack.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
30 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 7, wherein the toner
is delivered from said toner container to a developing section of said
image forming apparatus by an air stream.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
127 words
A toner container for an electrophotographic image forming
apparatus, comprising: a sack formed of a flexible material; a toner outlet implemented by a tubular body for discharging
toner; a mating portion for allowing said toner outlet to mate with
an elongate matter and remain in a mating position; and a tight contact enhancing mechanism for enhancing tight
contact between said mating portion and the elongate matter; said sack being packed with toner and deformable in accordance
with an air pressure to thereby vary a capacity thereof; wherein assuming that said toner container is packed with
toner to a packing density determined by dividing a weight (g) of the
toner by a capacity (cm 3 ) of said toner container, said packing density
is 0.7 g/cm 3 .
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
14 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 98, wherein said
toner outlet is sealed.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
52 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 99, wherein said
toner outlet is sealed by a flat elastic member sized to cover an
inside of a section of said tubular body and formed with slits in
direction of thickness, said elastic member being adhered to an inner
periphery of said tubular body.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
17 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 99, further
comprising a cap for sealing said toner outlet.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
61 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 101, wherein one
of a screw and a screw thread is formed in one of an inner periphery
and an outer periphery of said tubular body while the other of the
screw and the screw thread is formed in said cap, said cap sealing
said toner outlet in threaded engagement with said tubular body.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
20 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 99, further
comprising a sheet adhered to the section of said tubular body.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
20 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 98, further
comprising position preserving means for preserving a position of
said sack.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
24 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 104, wherein said
position preserving means comprises a box-like member surrounding an
entire periphery of said sack.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
30 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 98, wherein the
toner is delivered from said toner container to a developing section
of said image forming apparatus by an air stream.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
161 words
A toner container for an electrophotographic image
forming apparatus, comprising: a sack formed of a flexible material; a toner outlet implemented by a tubular body for discharging
toner; a mating portion for allowing said toner outlet to mate with
an elongate matter and remain in a mating position; and a tight contact enhancing mechanism for enhancing tight
contact between said mating portion and the elongate matter; said sack being packed with toner and deformable in accordance
with an air pressure to thereby vary a capacity thereof; wherein assuming that said toner container is packed with
toner, that said toner container has a maximum capacity Cmax, and that
said toner container packed with the toner and sealed has a capacity
Ctoner + Cair where Ctoner and Cair respectively denote a capacity
occupied by the toner and a capacity occupied by air, said toner
container is packed with the toner to satisfy a relation: (Cmax) - {(Ctoner) + (Cair)} ≥ 0.1 x (Cair)
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
50 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 107, wherein
assuming that said toner container is packed with the toner to a
packing density determined by dividing a weight (g) of the toner by
a capacity (cm 3 ) of said toner container, said packing density is 0.7
g/cm 3 .
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
14 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 107, wherein said
toner outlet is sealed.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
52 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 109, wherein said
toner outlet is sealed by a flat elastic member sized to cover an
inside of a section of said tubular body and formed with slits in
direction of thickness, said elastic member being adhered to an inner
periphery of said tubular body.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
17 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 109, further
comprising a cap for sealing said toner outlet.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
61 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 111, wherein one
of a screw and a screw thread is formed in one of an inner periphery
and an outer periphery of said tubular body while the other of the
screw and the screw thread is formed in said cap, said cap sealing
said toner outlet in threaded engagement with said tubular body.
Claim 113
Dependent Claim
20 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 109, further
comprising a sheet adhered to the section of said tubular body.
Claim 114
Dependent Claim
20 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 107, further
comprising position preserving means for preserving a position of
said sack.
Claim 115
Dependent Claim
24 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 114, wherein said
position preserving means comprises a box-like member surrounding an
entire periphery of said sack.
Claim 116
Dependent Claim
30 words
A toner container as claimed in claim 107, wherein the
toner is delivered from said toner container to a developing section
of said image forming apparatus by an air stream.
Claim 117
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a method of packing toner in a toner container
including a sack formed of a flexible material and a toner outlet and
deformable in accordance with an air pressure to thereby vary a
capacity thereof, said toner container is packed with the toner with
said sack reduced in capacity beforehand.
Claim 118
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 117, wherein said toner is
packed with the toner with air being sucked out of said toner
container.
Claim 119
Dependent Claim
60 words
An electrophotographic image forming method comprising
the steps of: setting a toner container packed with toner on an image forming
apparatus including a developing section; setting up a toner delivery passage between said toner
container and said developing section; and delivering the toner from said toner container to said
developing section via said toner delivery path with an air stream.
Claim 120
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 119, wherein said toner
delivery path is substantially hermetically closed at least during
delivery of the toner.
Claim 121
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 119, wherein said toner
delivery passage connects a toner outlet of said toner container and
said developing section by elongate toner delivering means.
Claim 122
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 121, wherein said toner
delivering means comprises air stream generating means for generating
the air stream.
Claim 123
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 122, wherein said air stream
generating means comprises at least one of air sucking means and air
sending means.
Claim 124
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 119, said toner outlet
comprises a tubular body, a tight contact enhancing mechanism being
provided on an outer periphery of said tubular body.
Claim 125
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus
comprising: a developing section; and elongate toner delivering means; said developing section and one end of said toner delivering
means being connected to each other.
Claim 126
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 125, wherein said toner
delivering means comprises air stream generating means.
Claim 127
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 126, wherein said air
stream generating means comprises at least one of air sucking means
and air sending means.
Claim 128
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 126, wherein said air
stream generating means comprises air sending means including an air
delivery port to which an air conduit is connected.
Claim 129
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 128, wherein said toner
delivering means comprises air sending means, a nozzle and a toner
conduit, said nozzle including a tubular toner outlet portion and a
tubular air inlet portion extending throughout said nozzle, said air
delivery port of said air sending means and said air inlet portion
being directly connected or connected via said air conduit, said toner
outlet portion being connected to one end of said toner conduit whose
other end is connected to said developing section.
Claim 130
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 129, wherein said toner
delivering means further comprises air sucking means including a
suction port connected to said toner outlet portion either directly
or via a first toner conduit and a delivery port connected to said
developing section either directly or via a second toner conduit.
Claim 131
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 128, wherein a toner
container including a toner outlet implemented by a tubular body and
packed with toner is removably set on said apparatus, said tubular
body being connected to said nozzle.
Claim 132
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 131, a tight contact
enhancing mechanism is provided on said tubular body.
Claim 133
Dependent Claim
78 words
An image forming apparatus using a toner container
including a toner outlet implemented by a tubular body, a mating
portion for allowing said toner outlet to mate with an elongate matter
and an air inlet, said image forming apparatus comprising: a developing section; and a toner conduit including air flow generating means; said air inlet of said toner container being connected to one
end of said toner conduit while said toner outlet being connected to
said developing section.
Claim 134
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 133, wherein said air
stream generating means comprises air sucking means including a toner
suction port connected to a first toner conduit and an air delivery
port connected to said developing section either directly or via a
second toner conduit.
Claim 135
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 134, further comprising
a tight contact enhancing mechanism provided on an end of said first
toner conduit not connected to said toner suction port for enhancing
tight contact between said mating portion of said toner container and
the elongate matter.
Claim 136
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 135, wherein said toner
container is packed with toner.
Claim 137
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 136, wherein said tubular
body of said toner container and said end of said first toner conduit
not connected to said toner suction port are connected to each other.
Claim 138
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 137, wherein said tight
contact enhancing mechanism is provided on said tubular body of said
toner container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPH0720705A
Cited
JPH07281519A
Cited
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