Title of Invention

TONER CARTRIDGE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD OF RECYCLING TONER CARTRIDGE

Abstract Toner cartridge (100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K), image forming apparatus and method of recycling toner cartridge (100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K) are disclosed. The toner cartridge (100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K) comprising a toner receptacle (101Y) having an opening, a receptacle holding member (102Y) wherein the receptacle holding member (102Y) includes a engaging section that engages with the toner receptacle (101Y) and a nozzle inserting section (104Y) formed separately, the engaging section has a cap (105Y) that covers the opening of the bottle while engaging with the toner receptacle (101Y), and a toner storage section (106Y) configured to store the toner and have a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the cap (105Y) so as to fit into the cap (105Y), the nozzle inserting section (104Y) configured to engage with a lower portion of the toner storage section (106Y).
Full Text

DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a technology for
recycling toner cartridges of image forming apparatuses.
BACKGROUND ART
Image forming apparatuses generally employ an
electrophotography method or a direct recording method to
form toner images on a recording medium. Copiers,
facsimile machines, printers are the examples of an image
forming apparatus.
In the electrophotography method, a toner image is
formed first on a latent image carrier, such as a
photosensitive drum, and then the toner image is
transferred to a recording medium. Japanese Patent
Application Laid-open Publication No. 2002-307737
describes the direct recording method. In the direct
recording medium, a toner image is directly formed on a
recording medium.
Because toner is consumed as images are formed, it is
necessary to periodically replenish the toner. In
general, when replenishing the toner, the old and empty
toner cartridge is replaced with a new and full toner
cartridge. To reduce the frequency of replacement of the
toner cartridge, it is better that the toner cartridges
have a larger capacity to accommodate the toner. Japanese
Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2004-18138
and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No.
2004-139031 disclose various toner cartridges.
FIG. 16 is a schematic of a toner replenishing unit of
an image forming apparatus described in Japanese Patent

Application Laid-open Publication No. 2004-18138. In this
conventional art, the toner cartridge is set vertically in
the image forming apparatus. However, this structure
limits the freedom of layout.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a toner cartridge
disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open
Publication No. 2004-139031. This toner cartridge is set
horizontally in an image forming apparatus. However, this
toner cartridge can be attached or detached only from the
upper side of the image forming apparatus.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide a
toner cartridge that can be installed in and detached from
the side surface of an image forming apparatus, and that
can be set not only vertically but also horizontally.
A second object is to provide a toner cartridge that is
configured to prevent misalignment of the receptacle
holding member due to the rotation of the toner
receptacle, and that can be set not only vertically but
also horizontally.
A third object is to provide a toner cartridge that is
configured to discharge a stable amount of toner to the
image forming apparatus, and that can be set not only
vertically but also horizontally so as to allow freedom in
the layout.
The above and other objects, features, advantages and
technical and industrial significance of this invention
will be better understood by reading the following
detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of
the invention, when considered in connection with the

accompanying drawings.
MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEM
According to an aspect of the present invention, a
toner cartridge includes a toner receptacle configured to
accommodate toner, the toner receptacle having an opening,
and a receptacle holding member engaged with the toner
receptacle such that the receptacle holding member covers
or closes the opening and holds the toner receptacle
rotatably, and as the toner receptacle rotates, toner in
the toner receptacle passes to the receptacle holding
member via the opening, wherein the receptacle holding
member includes a pipe insertion section on which an
insertion passage is formed to insert a pipe member
configured to be fixed to an image forming apparatus, and
is formed such that the insertion passage extends along a
direction parallel to a direction of axis of rotation of
the toner receptacle.
According to another aspect of the present invention,
an image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming
unit that forms a toner image on a recording body, a toner
cartridge that accommodates toner to be supplied to the
toner image forming unit and is detachable from the image
forming apparatus, and a suction unit that sucks the toner
in the toner cartridge and carries the toner to the toner
image forming unit, wherein the toner cartridge includes a
toner receptacle configured to accommodate toner, the
toner receptacle having an opening, and a receptacle
holding member engaged with the toner receptacle such that
the receptacle holding member covers or closes the opening
and holds the toner receptacle rotatably, and as the toner
receptacle rotates, toner in the toner receptacle passes

to the receptacle holding member via the opening, wherein
the receptacle holding member includes a pipe insertion
section on which an insertion passage is formed to insert
a pipe member configured to be fixed to an image forming
apparatus, and is formed such that the insertion passage
extends along a direction parallel to a direction of axis
of rotation of the toner receptacle, wherein the suction
unit sucks the toner in the receptacle holding member
through the pipe member inserted into the insertion
member.
According to still another aspect of the present
invention, an image forming apparatus uses a toner
cartridge including a toner receptacle configured to
accommodate toner, the toner receptacle having an opening;
and a receptacle holding member engaged with the toner
receptacle such that the receptacle holding member covers
or closes the opening and holds the toner receptacle
rotatably, and as the toner receptacle rotates, toner in
the toner receptacle passes to the receptacle holding
member via the opening, wherein the receptacle holding
member includes a pipe insertion section on which an
insertion passage is formed to insert a pipe member
configured to be fixed to an image forming apparatus, and
is formed such that the insertion passage extends along a
direction parallel to a direction of axis of rotation of
the toner receptacle, wherein a connecting passage
connects the insertion passage and a toner storage section
in the receptacle holding member, and after toner sent
from the toner receptacle to the receptacle holding member
drops to the connecting passage, the toner flows into the
pipe member through the connecting passage to be
discharged out of the receptacle holding member, and an

airtightness between the insertion passage on a downstream
side in a direction of transportation of toner from the
connecting passage and the pipe member inserted into the
insertion passage is superior than an airtightness between
the toner receptacle on an upstream side in the direction
of transportation of toner from the connecting passage and
the receptacle holding member, the image forming apparatus
includes a carrier unit that carries the toner from the
receptacle holding member to the toner image forming unit
via the pipe member by sucking the toner in the receptacle
holding member through the pipe member.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a
method of recycling a toner cartridge includes a toner
receptacle that accommodates toner and a receptacle
holding member engaged with the toner receptacle such that
the receptacle holding member covers an opening formed in
the toner receptacle and holds the toner receptacle so
that the toner receptacle can rotate, in which after the
toner in the toner receptacle is sent to the receptacle
holding member from the opening by rotation of the toner
receptacle, the toner is discharged out of the receptacle
holding member and then the toner is refilled in the toner
receptacle, wherein the receptacle holding member includes
a pipe insertion section on which an insertion passage is
formed to insert a pipe member configured to be fixed to
an image forming apparatus, and is formed such that the
insertion passage extends along a direction parallel to a
direction of axis of rotation of the toner receptacle, the method includes removing the toner receptacle from the
receptacle holding member, refilling the toner in the
toner receptacle after removing, and setting the toner
receptacle on the receptacle holding member upon

refilling.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic of an internal structure of a
printer according to an embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a detailed side view of a process cartridge
for Y (Yellow) shown in Fig. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective outer view of the toner
cartridge for Y;
FIG. 4 is a perspective of a cartridge engaging section
for Y in a toner replenishing unit;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a disassembled toner
cartridge;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a front end of
the toner cartridge before being set on the toner
replenishing unit;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the front end of
the toner cartridge;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the front end
of the toner cartridge with the toner replenishing unit
being set;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the toner
replenishing unit and its surrounding structure;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a suction pump
for Y in the toner replenishing unit;
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a
projection image in a direction of axis of rotation of a
bottle of a holder in a toner cartridge for M (Magenta);
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a
projection image in a direction of axis of rotation of a
bottle of a holder in a toner cartridge for C (Cyan);
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a

projection image in a direction of axis of rotation of a
bottle of a holder in a toner cartridge for K (Black);
FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a
projection image in a direction of axis of rotation of a
bottle of a holder in a toner cartridge for Y;
FIG. 15 is a front view showing a side plate of the
same toner replenishing unit;
FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional
toner replenishing unit; and
FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a conventional
toner cartridge.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K process cartridge (a part of toner-image
forming unit)
20 optical writing unit (a part of toner-image forming
unit)
40 transferring unit (a part of toner-image forming
unit)
70 toner replenishing unit
71Y cartridge engaging section (a part of positioning
member)
73Y suction nozzle (pipe member)
75Y positioning pin (protrusion)
100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K toner cartridge
101Y bottle (toner receptacle)
102Y holder (receptacle holding member)
104Y nozzle inserting section (inserting section)
105Y cap (a part of engaging section)
106Y toner storage section (a part of engaging section)
107Y 0 ring (non-porous sealing member)
114Y connecting passage

BEST MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be
described below with reference to accompanying drawings.
The present invention is not limited to these embodiments.
An embodiment of an electrophotographic printer
(hereinafter, "printer") is described below as an image
forming apparatus to which the present embodiment is
applied.
FIG. 1 is a schematic of an internal structure of the
printer. The printer includes four process cartridges 1Y,
1M, 1C, and 1K for creating toner images of yellow,
magenta, cyan, and black (hereinafter, "Y, M, C, and K")
colors, respectively. The process cartridges 1Y, 1M, 1C,
and 1K use toner of different colors Y, M, C, and K, , but
have the same structure, and are replaced when they reach
their end of life.
The process cartridge 1Y for creating a Y toner image
is taken as an example in FIG. 2. The process cartridge
1Y includes a photosensitive drum 2Y, a drum cleaning unit
3Y, a decharging unit (not shown), a charging unit 4Y, and
a developing unit 5Y. The process cartridge 1Y is
detachable from the printer, and consumables can be
replaced. The process cartridges 1M, 1C, and 1K also
include photosensitive drums 2M, 2C, and 2K, respectively.
The charging unit 4Y uniformly charges a surface of the
photosensitive drum 2Y that is rotated in a clockwise
direction by a driving unit (not shown) . The charging
unit ' 4Y charges the photosensitive drum 2Y by causing a
charging roller 6Y, which is driven and rotated in a
counterclockwise direction, to contact the photosensitive
drum 2Y, and applying a charging bias by a power supply

(not shown). A charging brush can be employed to contact
the photosensitive drum 2Y, instead of the charging roller
6Y. Moreover, the charging unit 4Y can be a scortoron
charger that performs a non-contact charging process on
the photosensitive drum. The charged surface of the
photosensitive drum 2Y is scanned by being exposed to a
laser light emitted from an optical writing unit, so as to
hold an electrostatic latent image for Y.
The developing unit 5Y includes a first developer
accommodating section 8Y in which a first transporting
screw 7Y is disposed. Moreover, the developing unit 5Y
has a second developer accommodating section 13Y equipped
with a toner density sensor (hereinafter, "T sensor") 9Y
formed by a magnetic permeability sensor, a second
transporting screw 10Y, a developing roll 11Y, and a
doctor blade 12Y. These two developer accommodating
sections accommodate a Y developer (not shown), composed
of a magnetic carrier and negatively charged Y toner. The
first transporting screw 7Y carries the developer Y inside
the first developer accommodating section 8Y from a front
side as viewed in the diagram to a back side by being
driven and rotated by a driving unit (not shown) . The
developer Y then enters into the second developer
accommodating section 13Y through a continuous opening
(not shown) provided in a partition wall between the first
developer accommodating section 8Y and the second
developer accommodating section 13Y. The second
transporting screw 10Y in the second developer
accommodating section 13Y carries the developer Y from the
front side as viewed in the diagram to the back side by
being driven and rotated by a driving unit (not shown) .
Toner density of the developer Y being carried is detected

by the T sensor 9Y fixed at a bottom of the second
developer accommodating section 13Y. Thus, on an upper
side of the second transporting screw 10Y, the developing
roll 11Y including a magnet roller 15Y inside a non-
magnetic pipe 14Y, driven and rotated in the
counterclockwise direction, is disposed in parallel. The
developer Y carried by the second transporting screw 10Y
is drawn up on a surface of the non-magnetic pipe 14Y by a
magnetic force generated by the magnet roller 15Y. Then,
after the thickness of a layer of the developer Y is
regulated by the doctor blade 12Y disposed with a
predetermined distance between the non-magnetic pipe 14Y,
the developer Y is carried up to a developing area facing
the photosensitive drum 2Y, and the toner Y adheres to the
electrostatic latent image for Y on the photosensitive
drum 2Y. Accordingly, a Y toner image is formed on the
photosensitive drum 2Y. The Y developer in which the Y
toner has been consumed by developing is returned to the
second transporting screw 10Y by rotation of the non-
magnetic pipe 14Y. As the Y developer is carried up to a
front side as viewed in the diagram, it returns to the
first developer accommodating section 8Y through the
continuous opening.
A detection result of the magnetic permeability of the
Y developer by the T sensor 9Y is transmitted as a voltage
signal to a controlling section (not shown). Since the
magnetic permeability of the Y developer is correlated
with the toner density of the Y developer, the T sensor
outputs a voltage of a value corresponding to the toner
density of the Y toner. The controlling section is
equipped with a Random Access Memory (RAM) that stores
data of Vtref for Y that is a target value of the output

voltage from the T sensor 9Y, and of Vtref for M, Vtref
for C, and Vtref for K, which are target values of the
output voltage from the T sensor 9Y for the M, C, and K
installed in the other developing units. The developing
unit 5Y compares the value of the output voltage from the
T sensor 9Y and the Vtref for Y, and drives a toner
supplying unit for Y, for a time corresponding to a result
of comparison. Accordingly, an appropriate amount of the
Y toner is supplied in the first developer accommodating
section 8Y for the Y developer, in which the density of
the Y toner has reduced by consumption. Therefore, the
density of the Y toner of the Y developer in the second
developer accommodating section 13Y is maintained in a
predetermined range. A similar toner supply control is
performed for the developers of the process cartridges
(1M, 1C, and 1K) for other colors.
The Y toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 2Y
is subjected to an intermediate- transfer to an
intermediate transfer belt. The drum cleaning unit 3Y
removes toner remaining on the surface of the
photosensitive drum 2Y after the intermediate transfer
process. The surface of the photosensitive drum 2Y is
decharged by the decharging unit. Due to the decharging,
the surface of the photosensitive drum 2Y is initialized
and is ready for the next image formation. In the process
cartridges 1M, 1C, and 1K shown in FIG. 1 M, C, and K
toner images are similarly formed on photosensitive drums
2M, 2C, and 2K, and are transferred to the intermediate
transfer belt.
In FIG. 1, beneath the process cartridges 1Y, 1M, 1C,
and 1K, an optical writing unit 20 is disposed. The
optical writing unit 20, which is a latent-image forming

unit, radiates a laser beam L based on image information
on each photosensitive drum in each of the process
cartridges 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. Thus, electrostatic latent
images for Y, M, C, and K are formed on the photosensitive
drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K, respectively. The optical
writing unit 20 deflects the laser beam L emitted from a
light source by a polygon mirror 21 driven and rotated by
a motor, and radiates the laser beam L on the
photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K.
Beneath the optical writing unit 20, a first paper
feeding cassette 31 and a second paper feeding cassette 32
are disposed such that they overlap in a vertical
direction. In each of these paper feeding cassettes,
sheets of transfer paper P are stacked. A first paper
feeding roller 31a and a second paper feeding roller 32a
are in contact with a top sheet of transfer paper P in the
first paper feeding cassette 31 and the second paper
feeding cassette 32, respectively. When the first paper
feeding roller 31a is driven and rotated in a
counterclockwise direction by a driving unit (not shown),
the transfer paper P at the top in the first paper feeding
cassette 31 is discharged towards a paper feeding passage
33 arranged along a vertical direction on the right side
of the cassettes as viewed in the diagram. Moreover, when
the second paper feeding roller 32a is driven and rotated
in a counterclockwise direction by a driving unit (not
shown) , the transfer paper P at the top in the second
paper feeding cassette 32 is discharged towards the paper
feeding passage 33. A plurality of pairs of transporting
rollers 34 are disposed along the paper feeding passage
33, and the transfer paper P fed to the paper feeding
passage 33 is pinched between these pairs of transporting

rollers 34 and is carried towards an upper side of the
paper feeding passage 33.
At a tail end of the paper feeding passage 33 a pair of
registering rollers 35 is disposed. As the transfer paper
P that is fed by the pair of transporting rollers 34 is
pinched between the pair of registering rollers 35, the
rotation of both the rollers stops for a time. Then, the
pair of registering rollers 35 transfers the transfer
paper P at an appropriate timing towards a secondary
transfer nip.
Above the process cartridges 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K is
provided an intermediate transferring unit 40 including an
intermediate transfer belt 41 that moves endlessly in the
counterclockwise direction. The intermediate transferring
unit 40 further includes a belt cleaning unit 42, a first
bracket 43, a second bracket 44, four primary transfer
rollers 45Y, 45M, 45C, and 45K, a secondary transfer back-
up roller 46, a drive roller 47, an auxiliary roller 48,
and a tension roller 49. The intermediate transfer belt
41 is stretched over these eight rollers, and moves in the
counterclockwise direction by being driven and rotated by
the drive roller 47. The intermediate transfer belt 41 is
pinched between the four primary transfer rollers 45Y,
45M, 45C, and 45K and the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C,
and 2K, forming primary transfer nips, respectively. On a
reverse face (peripheral surface inside the loop) of the
intermediate transfer belt 41, a transfer bias of a
polarity opposite to that of the toner (for example,
positive") is applied. As the intermediate transfer belt
41 passes over the primary transfer nips for the Y, M, C,
and K one after another, the Y, M, C, and K toner images
on the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K are

superimposed and transferred on a front face of the
intermediate transfer belt 41. Thus, a four-color
superimposed toner image (hereinafter, "four-color toner
image") is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 41.
The secondary transfer back-up roller 46 forms a
secondary transfer nip by pinching the intermediate
transfer belt 41 with a secondary transfer roller 50 that
is disposed on an outer side of the intermediate transfer
belt 41. The pair of registering rollers 35 described
earlier feeds the transfer paper P towards the secondary
transfer nip at a timing synchronized with the four-color
toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 41. The
four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt
41 is subjected to a secondary transfer, so as to be
transferred to the transfer paper P at the secondary
transfer nip. The secondary transfer is performed by nip
pressure and a secondary transfer electric field formed
between the secondary transfer back-up roller 46 and the
secondary transfer roller 50 applied with a secondary
transfer bias. Combined with a white color of the
transfer paper, the four-color toner image becomes a full-
color toner image.
Toner remaining after the secondary transfer is adhered
to the intermediate transfer belt 41 after passing through
the secondary transfer nip. This toner is cleaned by the
belt cleaning unit 42.
Above the secondary transfer nip, a fixing unit 6 0
including a pressurizing roller 61 and a fixing belt unit
62 is disposed. The fixing belt unit 62 includes a fixing
belt 64 that moves endlessly in the counterclockwise
direction, being stretched over a heating roller 63, a
tension roller 65, and a drive roller 66. The heating

roller 63 includes a heat generating source such as a
halogen lamp and heats up the fixing belt 64 from a
reverse side. The pressurizing roller 61 is driven and
rotated in the clockwise direction, and is brought in
contact with a front face of the fixing belt 64, opposite
to the heating roller 63. Thus, a fixing nip is formed
between the pressurizing roller 61 and the heating roller
63.
The transfer paper P that passes the secondary transfer
nip, after being separated from the intermediate transfer
belt 41, is fed into the fixing unit 60. When it is
carried from the lower side towards the upper side in the
diagram while being pinched in the fixing nip, it is
heated by the fixing belt 64, and pressurized, so that the
full-color toner image is fixed onto the transfer paper P.
After the fixing process, the transfer paper P is
discharged out from the printer after passing through a
pair of discharge rollers 67. On an upper surface of a
casing of the printer, there is a stacking section 68, and
the transfer paper P discharged from the printer by the
pair of discharge rollers 67 is stacked one after another
in the stacking section 68.
On an upper side of the intermediate transferring unit
40, four toner cartridges 100Y, 100M, 100C, and 100K that
accommodate Y, M, C, and K toners are disposed. The Y, M,
C, and K toners in the toner cartridges 100Y, 100M, 100C,
and 100K are supplied to the developing units of the
processing cartridges 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. Each of these
toner cartridges 100Y, 100M, 100C, and 100K are detachable
from the process cartridges 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K,
respectively.
In the printer, the four process cartridges 1Y, 1M, 1C,

and 1K, the optical writing unit 20, and the intermediate
transferring unit 40 etc. form a toner-image forming unit
that forms a toner image on transfer paper.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the toner
cartridge 100Y. The toner cartridge 100Y includes a
bottle 101Y that accommodates Y toner (not shown) and a
cylinder shaped holder 102Y. The holder 102Y is engaged
with a front end of the bottle 101Y such that it covers an
opening at a front end of the bottle 101Y, and holds the
bottle 101Y so that the bottle 101Y can rotate. A
protrusion 103Y in a form of a screw protrudes from an
outer side towards an inner side of the bottle 101Y, along
its peripheral surface. When the bottle 101Y is rotated
by a drive system (not shown), Y toner in the bottle 101Y
moves along the protrusion 103Y from a bottom of the
bottle 101Y towards a front end side of the bottle 101Y.
Then, the Y toner enters into the holder 102Y through the
opening that is provided on the front end of the bottle
101Y, which is a toner accommodating receptacle.
On an end face of the holder 102Y in an axial direction
of the bottle, a nozzle receiving opening 109Y is formed.
This nozzle receiving opening 109Y is for receiving a
suction nozzle, which is fixed to a side of the printer.
On both sides of the nozzle receiving opening 109Y, there
are positioning-pin receiving openings HOY, each having a
diameter slightly smaller than that of the nozzle
receiving opening. These positioning-pin receiving
openings HOY are formed at a position shifted from an
axis of rotation of the bottle 101Y. Moreover, a pin
insertion passage (not shown) is formed inside each of the
positioning-pin receiving openings HOY, extending along a
direction parallel to the direction of axis of rotation of

the bottle 101Y. The bottle 101Y is made of a resin
material having high rigidity, so as not to be deformed by
an impact when rotated by a driving gear.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a cartridge
engaging section 71Y that is a part of a toner
replenishing unit (described later). This cartridge
engaging section 71Y is fixed on an upper end of a
transporting pipe 72Y for carrying Y toner such that a
suction nozzle 73Y that is a pipe member extends in a
horizontal direction. On a front end portion of the
suction nozzle 73Y, a toner receiving opening 74Y for
receiving Y toner is formed. Moreover, on both sides of
the suction nozzle 73Y, positioning pins 75Y in the form
of a rod are formed, and fixed so that they extend in the
horizontal direction (a direction parallel to the axis of
rotation of the bottle) . A front end portion of the
positioning pin 75Y that is a protrusion of the cartridge
engaging section 71Y, which is a positioning member,
sticks out further than the front end of the suction
nozzle 73Y. Cartridge engaging sections 71M, 71C, and 71K
for the colors other than Y have the same configuration as
the cartridge engaging section 71Y, and also include
transporting pipes 72M, 72C, and 72K, respectively.
When setting the toner cartridge 100Y shown in FIG. 3
on a toner replenishing unit, the two positioning pins 75Y
of the cartridge engaging section 71Y shown in FIG. 4 are
inserted into the two positioning-pin receiving openings
HOY of the holder 102Y. Thus, the toner cartridge for Y
is fixed not only to the toner replenishing unit but also
to the printer. The suction nozzle 73Y shown in FIG. 4 is
inserted into the nozzle receiving opening 109Y of the
toner cartridge for Y shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the toner
cartridge 100Y. The holder 102Y that is a receptacle
holding member of the toner cartridge 100Y includes an
engaging section that engages with the bottle 101Y and a
nozzle inserting section 104Y formed separately. The
manufacturing process is facilitated as these sections are
formed separately. Moreover, the engaging section has a
cap 105Y that covers an opening (not shown) on a front end
of the bottle 101Y while engaging with the bottle 101Y,
and a toner storage section 106Y that temporarily stores
the toner. The cylindrical toner storage section 106Y has
a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the
cylindrical cap 105Y, so as to fit into the cap 105Y. An
0 ring 107Y made of rubber, which is a non-porous
material, is provided between the toner storage section
106Y and the cap 105Y. This maintains a superior
airtightness between an inner peripheral surface of the
cap 105Y and an outer peripheral surface of the toner
storage section 106Y.
A dent is formed on a lower portion of the toner
storage section 106Y, and the nozzle inserting section
104Y is fitted in this dent. An 0 ring 108Y made of
rubber, which is a non-porous material, is provided
between the toner storage section 106Y and the nozzle
inserting section 104Y. This maintains a high
airtightness between a recessed inner peripheral surface
of the toner storage section 106Y and a protruded outer
peripheral surface for fitting the nozzle inserting
section 104Y.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a front end of
the toner cartridge 100Y before being set in the toner
replenishing unit. A cylindrical front end portion of the

bottle 101Y has a diameter smaller than that of a main
unit of the bottle 101Y (hereinafter, "smaller portion"),
and an opening is formed at a front end of this smaller
portion. A gear 111Y having a gear wheel for engaging
with a driving gear sticks out from a peripheral surface
of the smaller portion. A hitching section 112Y that
sticks out a little from an external peripheral surface of
the smaller portion is formed ahead of the gear 111Y
towards the front end side of the bottle 101Y. A
cylindrical space for receiving the smaller portion of the
bottle 101Y is formed in the cap 105Y of the holder 102Y.
A protrusion 113Y sticks out from inner peripheral surface
of the cap 105Y. The smaller portion is rotatably engaged
into the cap 105Y, such that the hitching section 112Y
passes over the protrusion 113Y to be hooked inside the
cap 105Y.
In the nozzle inserting section 104Y, a fitting
protrusion sticks out from an upper surface of a nozzle in
the form of a pipe, and this fitting protrusion is fitted
to a bottom of the toner storage section 106Y inside the
cap 105Y. A connecting passage 114Y is formed in the
fitting protrusion, and this connecting passage 114Y
connects to an insertion passage 115Y that extends in a
direction parallel to the axial direction of the bottle
101Y, in the nozzle. The connecting passage 114Y extends
straight in a direction orthogonal to the direction of
axis of rotation of the bottle 101Y, and therefore, the Y
toner can drop by self-weight into the suction nozzle 73Y
without being stagnated. A rod-shaped shutter member 116Y
has the same diameter as that of the suction nozzle (73Y)
is slidably inserted into the insertion passage 115Y.
Accordingly, when the opening of the connecting passage

114Y is closed by the shutter member 116Y and when the
suction nozzle 73Y is inserted into the insertion passage
115Y, the airtightness between an outside of the holder
102Y and the connecting passage 114Y can be maintained the
same. Thus, when the cartridge that has the suction
nozzle 73Y inserted into the connecting passage 114Y is
not set, it is possible to prevent toner from leaking
outside from the toner storage section 106Y through the
connecting passage 114Y. Furthermore, when the cartridge
is set, deterioration in the transporting ability of toner
by air suction is prevented effectively. Since the
shutter member 116Y is positioned immediately under the
connecting passage 114Y, the connecting passage 114Y and
the insertion passage 115Y are shut from each other. An
end of the insertion passage 115Y corresponds to the
nozzle receiving opening 109Y shown in FIG. 3.
The toner entering into the toner storage section 106Y
from the smaller portion falls by self-weight and
accumulates in the connecting passage 114Y of the nozzle
inserting section 104Y. The fitting protrusion for
fitting the nozzle inserting section 104Y into the toner
storage section 106Y functions as a bottom of the toner
storage section 106Y. Since the connecting passage 114Y
of the fitting protrusion has a conical shape, it
functions as a hopper that collects toner at the bottom
due to a taper. Thus, the toner can drop smoothly. Since
a front end of the connecting passage 114Y is closed by
the shutter member 116Y, the toner does not flow in the
insertion passage 115Y from the connecting passage 114Y.
Moreover, toner is prevented from leaking out from the
insertion passage 115Y before the toner cartridge 100Y is
set. Furthermore, toner can flow in from the toner

storage section 106Y to the suction nozzle 73Y, as the
opening automatically opens when the cartridge is set.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a front end
portion of the toner cartridge 100Y. In this diagram, for
the sake of expediency, the cap (105Y) of the holder 102Y
is omitted. A ring seal 118Y in the form of a ring made
of sponge, which is a porous as well as elastic material,
is fixed by sticking to an end portion of the side of the
bottle 101Y in the toner storage section 106Y. As shown
in FIG. 6, the front end of the bottle 101Y rotatably
engaged with the cap 105Y abuts against the ring seal 118Y
fixed to the end portion of the toner storage section
106Y, so that the bottle 101Y is prevented from shifting.
This improves the airtightness between an inner peripheral
surface of the bottle 101Y that is a toner accommodating
receptacle and an outer peripheral surface of the cap
105Y.
While setting the toner cartridge 100Y on a cartridge
mounting platform of the toner replenishing unit, a door
(not shown), provided on a side plate of the casing of the
printer, is opened. As this door is opened, the cartridge
mounting platform of the toner replenishing unit in the
casing is exposed. The cartridge mounting platform is
provided with four parallel dents in the form of a half
cylinder for mounting parallel the four toner cartridges
100Y, 100M, 100C, and 100K. An operator holds the toner
cartridge 100Y such that the holder 102Y is positioned at
a front end. Then, after mounting the holder 102Y on an
end of the dent for Y from among the four half cylindrical
shaped dents provided on the cartridge mounting platform,
the entire cartridge is moved by sliding along the
direction of axis of rotation of the bottle such that the

entire cartridge is inserted. By this sliding movement,
the toner cartridge 100Y is inserted up to a predetermined
position and set on the cartridge mounting platform.
In FIG. 4 mentioned earlier, the two positioning pins
75Y of the cartridge engaging section 71Y in the toner
replenishing unit stick out more than the front end of the
suction nozzle 73Y. Moreover, the positioning pins 75Y
are tapered, such that the tips are narrow. Half way
through the operation of inserting the toner cartridge
into the cartridge mounting platform, the tapering tips of
these two positioning pins 75Y enter into the two
positioning-pin receiving openings HOY of the toner
cartridge 100Y shown in FIG. 3. Then, when the toner
cartridge 100Y is inserted further, the rear end sides of
the positioning pins 75Y, which are wider than the tips,
enters the positioning-pin receiving opening HOY. This
fixes a position of the toner cartridge 100Y in a
direction orthogonal to the direction of the axis of
rotation, on the cartridge mounting platform.
After this position is fixed, the suction nozzle 73Y in
the cartridge engaging section 71Y of the toner
replenishing unit shown in FIG. 4 enters the nozzle
receiving opening 109Y of the holder 102Y shown in FIG. 3.
Then, at a point where the suction nozzle 73Y is pushed a
certain extent into the insertion passage (115Y), the
setting of the toner cartridge 100Y is completed. Thus,
the toner cartridge can be installed in and detached from
the side surface of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the front end
portion of the toner cartridge 100Y set in the toner
replenishing unit. When the toner cartridge 100Y is set
on the cartridge mounting platform of the toner

replenishing unit (not shown), the suction nozzle 73Y
fixed to the toner replenishing unit is inserted into the
insertion passage 115Y of the nozzle inserting section
104Y in the holder 102Y. At this time, in the insertion
passage 115Y, the shutter member 116Y positioned right
under the connecting passage 114Y moves by sliding from
the right side to the left side in the diagram by being
pushed to the front end of the suction nozzle 73Y inserted
into the insertion passage 115Y. Then, the shutter member
116Y moves away from the position right under the
connecting passage 114Y, to a position right under the
toner receiving opening (74Y in FIG. 4) provided on the
front end portion of the suction nozzle 73Y. Thus, the
toner storage section 106Y and the suction nozzle 73Y are
connected via the connecting passage 114Y of the nozzle
inserting section 104Y. Two 0 rings 117Y made of rubber,
which is a non-porous material, are fixed on an inner
peripheral surface of the insertion passage 115Y. The
suction nozzle 73Y and the shutter member 116Y slide in
the insertion passage 115Y while penetrating an inner
portion of the 0 rings 117Y. One of the two 0 rings 117Y
is located towards an inlet side (nozzle receiving
opening) from the connecting passage 114Y and seals this
location between the insertion passage 115Y and the
suction nozzle73Y, which is a pipe member. Accordingly,
an inflow of air from a gap between an inlet (toner
receiving opening) of the insertion passage 115Y and the
suction nozzle 73Y, to the insertion passage 115Y is
blocked. Another 0 ring 117Y is located towards an outlet
side from the connecting passage 114Y, and seals this
location between the insertion passage 115Y and the
suction nozzle 73Y. Accordingly, an inflow of air from a

gap between the outlet of the insertion passage 115Y and
the suction nozzle 73Y is blocked. As a result, toner
conveyance by suction can be prevented from being
hampered.
The toner cartridge 100Y that is set on the toner
replenishing unit (not shown), causes the gear 111Y of the
bottle 101Y to engage with a driving gear 76Y fixed to the
toner replenishing unit. As the driving gear 76Y is
driven and rotated by a driving source (not shown), due to
the engagement between the driving gear 76Y and the gear
111Y, the bottle 101Y rotates while being held by the
holder 102Y. Accordingly, Y toner in the bottle 101Y is
carried from a rear end side of the bottle 101Y to a front
end side of the bottle 101Y, and flows into the toner
storage section 106Y of the holder 102Y. Then, Y toner is
accumulated in the connecting passage 114Y that has become
a bottom of the toner storage section 106Y.
Due to a counteraction of the rotational motion of the
bottle 101Y, it is assumed that the holder 102Y that
rotatably holds the bottle 101Y is about to rotate on the
cartridge mounting platform. However, an inner wall of
the pin inserting passage inside the positioning-pin
receiving openings 110Y hitches onto the positioning pin
75Y. The rotation of the holder 102Y is prevented, and
therefore, the holder 102Y is prevented from being
misaligned.
In another example, the protrusion and the recession
can be reversed. Specifically, instead of the positioning
pins 75Y, the cartridge engaging 'section 71Y can include a
recessed section that extends in a direction parallel to
the axis of rotation of the bottle. Furthermore, instead
of the pin inserting passage, the holder 102Y can include

a protruding section extending in a direction parallel to
the axis of rotation of the bottle.
In an area of the transporting pipe 72Y connected to
the suction nozzle 73Y (not shown), a suction pump is
connected, and air and toner in the transporting pipe 72Y
is sucked by operation of this suction pump. As the air
and toner are sucked, the suction force is transmitted to
the connecting passage 114Y and the toner storage section
106Y via the transporting pipe 72Y and the suction nozzle
73Y. Then, the Y toner in the toner storage section 106Y
and the connecting passage 114Y is sucked into the suction
nozzle 73Y.
As described above, the gap between the insertion
passage 115Y and the suction nozzle 73Y inserted into the
insertion passage 115Y is sealed by the 0 ring 117Y that
is a non-porous sealing member. On the other hand, a gap
between the cap 105Y of the holder 102Y and the bottle
101Y engaged with the cap 105Y is sealed by the ring seal
118Y that is a porous sealing member. According to this
structure, the airtightness in the gap between the
insertion passage 115Y and the suction nozzle 73Y is
superior than an airtightness in the gap between the
bottle 101Y and the cap 105Y. As a negative pressure is
developed in the suction nozzle 73Y, the connecting
passage 114Y, and the toner storage section 106Y, by
suction of the suction pump, air flows in from outside
through the gap between the bottle 101Y and the cap 105Y,
where the airtightness is inferior. Concretely, the air
reaches the porous ring seal 118Y through a gap between
the inner side of the cap 105Y and an outer side of the
bottle 101Y. Since the airtightness between the insertion
passage 115Y and the suction nozzle 73Y is maintained well

by the 0 ring 117Y, air is prevented from flowing through
this portion into the suction nozzle 73Y. Therefore,
suction force is exerted appropriately from the toner
storage section 106Y to the suction nozzle 73Y. Thus, a
stable amount of the Y toner is discharged from the toner
storage section 106Y to a developing unit 5Yin the
printer.
If the airtightness between the inside and the outside
of the toner cartridge 100Y is too high, air does not flow
into the toner cartridge at all by the suction of the
suction pump. This causes the bottle 101Y to deform due
to excessive negative pressure. However, in the toner
cartridge 100Y, the ring seal 118Y is made of a porous
material. Accordingly, the toner storage section 106Y has
a little negative pressure due to the toner suction, so
that a proper amount of air flows into the toner storage
section 106Y through the ring seal 118Y. This prevents
the deformation of the bottle 101Y caused by to the
excessive negative pressure.
The toner cartridges 100M, 100C, and 100K have the same
structure as the toner cartridge 100Y.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a toner
replenishing unit 70 and its surrounding structure. The
toner replenishing unit 70 includes a cartridge mounting
platform 77, the four cartridge engaging sections 71Y,
71M, 71C, and 71K, and four suction pumps 78Y, 78M, 78C,
and 78K. The cartridge mounting platform 77 has four
dents in the form of a half cylinder for mounting in
parallel the four toner cartridges 100Y, 100M, 100C, and
100K. On a lower side of the cartridge mounting platform
77, four developing units are disposed in positions right
under the toner cartridges of corresponding colors. In

the same diagram, for the sake of expediency, only a
developing unit 5Y from among the four developing units is
shown.
On a side surface of the casing of the printer, the
door that opens when replacing a toner cartridge is
provided. As this door opens, the back side of the toner
replenishing unit 70, as viewed in Fig. 9, is exposed. An
operator sets the toner cartridges 100Y, 100M, 100C, and
100K by pushing them in a longitudinal direction of the
bottle and sliding them on the cartridge mounting platform
77.
At one end of the cartridge mounting platform 77, an
engaging section supporting plate for supporting the four
cartridge engaging sections 71Y, 71M, 71C, and 71K is
installed. Respective suction nozzles of the cartridge
engaging sections 71Y, 71M, 71C, and 71K are inserted into
nozzle insertion passages (not shown) of the toner
cartridges 100Y, 100M, 100C, and 100K, which are mounted
on the cartridge mounting platform 77. At ends of the
transporting pipes 72Y, 72M, 72C, and 72K of the cartridge
engaging sections 71Y, 71M, 71C, and 71K, the suction
pumps 78Y, 78M, 78C, and 78K are connected. A toner
replenishing opening E of each developing unit is
positioned right under each of the suction pumps 78Y, 78M,
78C, and 78K.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the suction pump
78Y from among the four suction pumps 78Y, 78M, 78C, and
78K. This suction pump 78Y is an eccentric screw pump
(popularly known as mono pump) . A pump section 80Y of the
suction pump 78Y includes a rotor 81Y that is processed in
the form of a eccentric double-threaded screw made of a
metal or a highly rigid resin, a stator 82Y made of a

material such as rubber including a hollow section in the
form of the double-threaded screw, and a holder made of
resin that accommodates the rotor 81Y and the stator 82Y.
Furthermore, the suction pump 78Y includes a delivery
section 83Y, and a motor 84Y that rotates the rotor 81Y.
As the rotor 81Y rotates inside the stator 82Y, negative
pressure is developed at a suction side (right side in the
diagram) in the pump section 80Y. Due to this negative
pressure, Y toner in the toner cartridge 100Y is sucked
via the transporting pipe 72Y. Then, the Y toner reaches
the pump section 80Y of the suction pump 78Y and is
delivered from the delivery section 83Y after passing
through the stator 82Y. The Y toner that is delivered is
replenished to the developing unit 5Y after passing
through the toner replenishing opening of the developing
unit positioned right under the delivery section 83Y.
Toner is replenished in the same manner in the developing
units for other colors.
As described above, the bottle in the toner cartridges
100Y, 100M, 100C, and 100K has a long-slender cylindrical
shape along a direction of axis of rotation. Thus, a
rotating peripheral surface can be supported easily as
compared to the case of using an angular shaped bottle.
If only one end of the bottle is held rotatably by the
holder, the other end is apt to bend down due to the
weight of the toner. As a result, a considerable load is
exerted on the holding section, which might cause the
toner cartridge to break. Therefore, it is necessary to
support the other end side of the bottle on the platform.
When the bottle is supported on the platform, and the
peripheral surface of the bottle is angular, the bottle is
caused to bounce. However, if the bottle is cylindrical,

the bottle does not bounce, and can be supported on the
platform.
As shown in FIG. 6, in the toner cartridge 100Y of this
printer, the holder 102Y is structured as follows.
Specifically, the toner storage section 106Y that stores
the Y toner sent from the bottle 101Y and the connecting
passage 114Y that connects the toner storage section 106Y
and the insertion passage 115Y are positioned such that
the insertion passage 115Y, the connecting passage 114Y,
and the toner storage section 106Y are arranged in this
order, in a direction orthogonal to the direction of axis
of rotation of the bottle. Thus, the Y toner that is sent
from the bottle 101Y to the toner storage section 106Y by
its self-weight, can be passed through the connecting
passage 114Y and dropped into the suction nozzle 73Y in
the insertion passage 115Y.
In the present embodiment, a non-recycled cartridge is
used. Similar results can be obtained by using a recycled
cartridge, as the toner cartridges 100Y, 100M, 100C, and
100K.
FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, and FIG. 14 are schematic
diagrams showing an outline of a projection image in the
direction of axis of rotation of the bottle of the holder
in the toner cartridges 100M, 100C, 100K, and 100Y for the
toners M, C, K, and Y. Each diagram shows an outline of a
projection image when the holder is projected from the
rear end side of the bottle to the front end side of the
bottle. Each shape of the projected image is different.
Concretely, in each projection image, a rectangular
protrusion is formed at a top left of a circle. This
protrusion is formed by a guide member that sticks out
from an external peripheral surface of the holder.

However, the shape of these rectangular protrusions
differs slightly according to each holder.
FIG. 15 is a front view showing the side plate of the
toner replenishing unit 70. When the door on the side
plate of the casing of the printer is open, the side plate
of the toner replenishing unit is exposed as shown in FIG.
15. This side plate has four circular shaped openings and
having different shapes. A first, a second, a third, and
a fourth opening counted from the left side in the diagram
are configured to receive toner cartridges for M, C, K,
and Y, respectively. Shapes of the first, the second, the
third, and the fourth openings are same as the outline
shape of the projection images of the holders shown in
FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, and FIG. 14, respectively. For
example, even if an attempt is made to insert the toner
cartridge for Y having the outline shape as shown in FIG.
14 into the first opening on the far left side, the holder
gets hitched onto the opening and insertion is obstructed.
Thus, a toner cartridge is prevented from being set on an
incorrect mounting section.
There are mainly two types of methods for recycling the
toner cartridge 100Y, as described below.
In the first method of recycling, when the toner
cartridge 100Y becomes empty, it is recycled by performing
three steps viz. a disassembling step, a refilling step,
and a reassembling step. In the disassembling step, the
bottle 101Y rotatably engaged with the holder 102Y is
removed by a special purpose tool. When the bottle 101Y
is removed, an opening for toner discharge provided at a
front end of the bottle 101Y is exposed. Next, at the
refilling step, refill toner Y is refilled in the bottle
101Y through this opening. Then, at the reassembling

step, the front end of the bottle 101Y is engaged with the
holder 102Y, so that the toner cartridge 100Y is
reassembled.
Second method of recycling
In the second method of recycling, when the toner
cartridge 100Y becomes empty, it is recycled by performing
three steps viz. a hole making step, a refilling step, and
a hole-closing step. At the hole making step, a hole
drilled through a bottom surface (base) of the rear end of
the bottle 101Y. Next, at the refilling step, refill
toner Y is refilled through the hole, and at the hole
closing step, the hole is closed by welding the same resin
material as that of the bottle 101Y. In another example,
the new toner cartridge 100Y can have an opening formed on
the bottom surface (base) of the rear end of the bottle
101Y, to be closed by sticking a sealing film. The
sealing film may be peeled off or a hole may be made in
the sealing film, to perform the hole making step.
Moreover, at the hole making step, a location of making
the hole need not be at the base of the bottle 101Y; the
hole may be made on a peripheral surface.
These recycling methods can be performed for toner
cartridges corresponding to any other color.
In the above embodiments, a printer that forms a full
color image by using a plurality of image carriers for
each color has been described. However, the present
invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus
that forms a full color image by forming single-color
toner images of different colors on one image carrier and
then superimposing and transferring them one by one to an
intermediate transfer body. Moreover, the present
invention can be applied as well to an image forming

apparatus that forms only a single-color toner image.
Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to an
image forming apparatus that forms a toner image by direct
recording instead of by electrophotography.
According to the present invention, a stable amount of
toner is discharged to an image forming apparatus, and a
toner cartridge can be set not only vertically but also
horizontally so as to allow freedom in the layout.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, a
toner cartridge can be installed in and detached from the
side surface of an image forming apparatus.
Moreover, according to the present invention, a holder
that engages with a toner bottle is prevented from
rotating, and therefore, the holder is prevented from
being misaligned due to rotation of the toner bottle.
Although the invention has been described with respect
to a specific embodiment for a complete and clear
disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited
but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and
alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in
the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein
set forth.

WE CLAIM :
1. A toner cartridge comprising:
a toner receptacle having an opening,
a receptacle holding member wherein
the receptacle holding member comprises an engaging
section that engages with the toner receptacle and a
nozzle inserting section formed separately,
the engaging section has a cap that covers the opening
of the bottle while engaging with the toner receptacle,
and a toner storage section configured to store the toner
and have a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the
cap so as to fit into the cap,
the nozzle inserting section configured to engage with
a lower portion of the toner storage section.
2. The toner cartridge as claimed in claim 1, comprising
the toner which is contained in the toner receptacle.
3. The toner cartridge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
toner is a refilled toner that is refilled into the toner
receptacle after the toner receptacle becomes empty upon
using the toner in an image forming apparatus.
4. The toner cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the nozzle inserting section comprises an insertion
passage configured to receive a nozzle which is a part of
a toner replenishing unit in an image forming apparatus,
and
the insertion passage is connected to the toner storage
section.

5. The toner cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
toner receptacle holding member rotatably holds the toner
receptacle.
6. The toner cartridge as claimed in claim 2, wherein
among a plurality of toner cartridges accommodating toners
of different colors in the toner receptacle set in the
same image forming apparatus, for each toner cartridges,
each of the receptacle holding member comprises:
a projection having a different shape from each other
in the projection image when the receptacle holding member
is projected from the rear end side of the bottle to the
front end side of the bottle for preventing incorrect
mounting the toner cartridge.
7. The toner cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
opening comprises a cylindrical portion whose diameter is
smaller than a diameter of a main body of the bottle.
8. The toner cartridge as claimed in claim 7, comprising:
a gear protruding through an outer surface of the
cylindrical portion, a rotation of the gear causing toner
in the toner receptacle to be discharged from the interior
of the bottle to the receptacle holding member.
9. The toner cartridge as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
toner receptacle comprises:
a protrusion in a form of a screw which protrudes from
an outer side towards an inner side of the toner
receptacle, and the rotation of the gear causing toner in
the toner receptacle to be discharged due to a rotation of
the toner receptacle and the protrusion in a form of a

screw thereof.
10. The toner cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
receptacle holding member comprises:
a projection formed by a guide member that sticks out
from an outer circumference of the receptacle holding
member, the projection configured to indicate a color of
toner corresponding to the toner container.
11. The toner container as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
receptacle holding member comprises: a cylindrical portion
under which is the nozzle insertion section.



Abstract


Toner Cartridge, Image Forming Apparatus,
Method of Recycling Toner Cartridge
Toner cartridge (100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K), image
forming apparatus and method of recycling toner cartridge
(100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K) are disclosed. The toner
cartridge (100Y, 100M, 100C, 100K) comprising a toner
receptacle (101Y) having an opening, a receptacle holding
member (102Y) wherein the receptacle holding member (102Y)
includes a engaging section that engages with the toner
receptacle (101Y) and a nozzle inserting section (104Y)
formed separately, the engaging section has a cap (105Y)
that covers the opening of the bottle while engaging with
the toner receptacle (101Y), and a toner storage section
(106Y) configured to store the toner and have a diameter
smaller than an inner diameter of the cap (105Y) so as to
fit into the cap (105Y), the nozzle inserting section
(104Y) configured to engage with a lower portion of the
toner storage section (106Y).

Documents:

00822-kolnp-2006-correspondence others.pdf

00822-kolnp-2006-correspondence-1.1.pdf

00822-kolnp-2006-description (complete).pdf

822-KOLNP-20006-(13-02-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

822-KOLNP-20006-(13-02-2012)-FORM-3.pdf

822-KOLNP-20006-(13-02-2012)-OTHERS.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(02-04-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(02-04-2012)-OTHERS.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(05-03-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(12-01-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(12-01-2012)-FORM 3.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(12-01-2012)-OTHERS.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(14-09-2011)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(14-09-2011)-OTHERS.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(16-11-2011)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(16-11-2011)-OTHERS.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(22-05-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(25-06-2013)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(28-02-2013)-ANNEXURE TO FORM-3.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(28-02-2013)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(29-10-2013)-ABSTRACT.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(29-10-2013)-CLAIMS.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(29-10-2013)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(29-10-2013)-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(29-10-2013)-DRAWINGS.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(29-10-2013)-FORM-1.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(29-10-2013)-FORM-2.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(29-10-2013)-FORM-3.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(29-10-2013)-FORM-5.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-(29-10-2013)-PA.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-ABSTRACT.pdf

822-kolnp-2006-abstract.tif.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-AMENDED CLAIMS.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-ASSIGNMENT.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-CANCELLED DOCOMENT.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-CANCELLED PAGES.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-CLAIMS-1.1.pdf

822-kolnp-2006-claims.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE 1.1.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE 1.2.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE-1.1.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE-1.4.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE-1.5.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE.1.3.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

822-kolnp-2006-coverletter.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE)-1.1.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-DESCRIPTION COMPLETE.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-DRAWINGS.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-FORM 1-1.1.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-FORM 1-1.2.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-FORM 13-1.1.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-FORM 13.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-FORM 18.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-FORM 3-1.1.pdf

822-kolnp-2006-form1.pdf

822-kolnp-2006-form3.pdf

822-kolnp-2006-form5.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-GPA.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-ABSTRACT.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-CLAIMS.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-DRAWINGS.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-FORM 1.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-FORM 2.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-FORM 3.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-FORM 5.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-SPECIFICATION-COMPLETE.pdf

822-kolnp-2006-international publication.pdf

822-kolnp-2006-international search authority report.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-OTHERS 1.1.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-OTHERS DOCUMENTS.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-OTHERS-1.2.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-OTHERS-1.3.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-OTHERS.pdf

822-kolnp-2006-pctform.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-PETITION UNDER RULE 8(2).pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT-1.1.pdf

822-KOLNP-2006-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

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Patent Number 257808
Indian Patent Application Number 822/KOLNP/2006
PG Journal Number 45/2013
Publication Date 08-Nov-2013
Grant Date 06-Nov-2013
Date of Filing 04-Apr-2006
Name of Patentee RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
Applicant Address 3-6, NAKAMAGOME 1-CHOME, OHTA-KU, TOKYO 143-8555
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 KURENUMA, TAKEROH C/O RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED 3-6, NAKAMAGOME 1-CHOME, OHTA-KU, TOKYO 143-8555
2 TERAZAWA, SEIJI C/O RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED 3-6, NAKAMAGOME 1-CHOME, OHTA-KU, TOKYO 143-8555
3 YAMANE, MASAYUKI C/O RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED 3-6, NAKAMAGOME 1-CHOME, OHTA-KU, TOKYO 143-8555
4 TATSUMI, KENZO C/O RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED 3-6, NAKAMAGOME 1-CHOME, OHTA-KU, TOKYO 143-8555
5 TSUDA, KIYONORI C/O RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED 3-6, NAKAMAGOME 1-CHOME, OHTA-KU, TOKYO 143-8555
6 KITA, EMI C/O RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED 3-6, NAKAMAGOME 1-CHOME, OHTA-KU, TOKYO 143-8555
7 TAGUCHI, NOBUYUKI C/O RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED 3-6, NAKAMAGOME 1-CHOME, OHTA-KU, TOKYO 143-8555
8 NARUMI, SATOSHI C/O RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED 3-6, NAKAMAGOME 1-CHOME, OHTA-KU, TOKYO 143-8555
9 SUDO, KAZUHISA C/O RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED 3-6, NAKAMAGOME 1-CHOME, OHTA-KU, TOKYO 143-8555
10 OGATA, FUMIO C/O RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED 3-6, NAKAMAGOME 1-CHOME, OHTA-KU, TOKYO 143-8555
PCT International Classification Number G03G15/08; G03G15/08
PCT International Application Number PCT/JP2005/014793
PCT International Filing date 2005-08-05
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 2004-241566 2004-08-20 Japan
2 2004-230523 2004-08-06 Japan