Toner cartridge

Abstract

A toner cartridge includes a housing and a shutter inserted therein. The housing has a first partially cylindrical wall and a box-like portion that communicates with the first partially cylindrical wall. The shutter has a second partially cylindrical wall inserted inside the first partially cylindrical wall such that the second partially cylindrical wall is slidable on and concentric with an inner surface of the first partially cylindrical wall. The shutter has a supporting member that engages the housing to support the shutter such that the second partially cylindrical wall is in pressure contact with the first partially cylindrical wall. The supporting member may be in the shape of an arcuate member or ring that engages a part of the box-like portion so that the shutter is rotatably supported in the housing by the part and the first partially cylindrical wall. The housing has a projection or rib that inwardly projects toward the first partially cylindrical wall. The projection abuts the arcuate member so that the shutter is rotatably supported in the housing by the arcuate member and the first partially cylindrical wall.

1. A toner cartridge comprising:
 a housing having a first partially cylindrical wall and a non-cylindrical portion that communicates with a partially cylindrical space defined by the first partially cylindrical wall;  
 a shutter within the partially cylindrical space, the shutter having a second partially cylindrical wall, slidably engaging an inner surface of the first partially cylindrical wall, and  
 a supporting member that urges said shutter against the inner surface of the first partially cylindrical wall.  
 
     
     
       2. The toner cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said supporting member is an arcuate member that extends across circumferential ends of the second partially cylindrical wall and engages a part of said non-cylindrical portion so that said shutter is rotatably supported in said housing by the part and the first partially cylindrical wall. 
     
     
       3. The toner cartridge according to  claim 2 , wherein said housing has a projection that inwardly projects toward the first partially cylindrical wall;
 wherein the projection abuts the arcuate member so that said shutter is rotatably supported in said housing by the arcuate member and the first partially cylindrical wall.  
 
     
     
       4. The toner cartridge according to  claim 3 , wherein the projection has a stepped portion formed therein, said supporting member engages the stepped portion so that said shutter is positioned relative to said housing. 
     
     
       5. The toner cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said supporting member is at least one ring member that engages the second partially cylindrical wall and a part of said housing so that said shutter is rotatably supported in said housing by the housing part and the first partially cylindrical wall. 
     
     
       6. The toner cartridge according to  claim 5 , wherein said housing has a projection that inwardly projects toward the first partially cylindrical wall;
 wherein the projection abuts the ring member so that said shutter is rotatably supported in said housing by the ring member and the first partially cylindrical wall.  
 
     
     
       7. The toner cartridge according to  claim 6 , wherein the projection has a stepped portion formed therein, and wherein said supporting member engages the stepped portion so that said shutter is positioned relative to said housing. 
     
     
       8. The toner cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said shutter has a toner exit formed in the second partially cylindrical wall and a sealing member that is provided on an outer surface of the second partially cylindrical wall to surround the toner exit,
 wherein said housing has a first engagement portion and said shutter has a second engagement portion that engages the first engagement portion, the first engagement portion defining an extent of rotation of said second partially cylindrical wall relative to said first partially cylindrical wall.  
 
     
     
       9. The toner cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing has a toner exit formed therein,
 wherein said shutter is movable between a toner discharging position and a toner non-discharging position, further comprising a sealing member provided on a location of an outer surface of said shutter such that the sealing member surround the toner exit when said shutter is at the toner non-discharging position.  
 
     
     
       10. The toner cartridge according to  claim 9 , wherein when said shutter is at the toner-discharging position, the second partially cylindrical wall is aligned with the first partially cylindrical wall such that the second partially cylindrical wall is outside of a space defined by said non-cylindrical portion. 
     
     
       11. The toner cartridge according to  claim 10 , wherein the sealing member is provided such that the sealing member is outside of the space defined by said non-cylindrical portion when said shutter is at the toner-discharging position and when said shutter is at the toner non-discharging discharging position. 
     
     
       12. The toner cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said shutter has a first cylindrical portion adjacent the second partially cylindrical wall, said housing has a second cylindrical portion into which the first cylindrical portion is slidably inserted,
 wherein the second cylindrical portion has a sealing member that wraps around the first cylindrical portion to seal a gap between the first cylindrical portion and second the cylindrical portion.  
 
     
     
       13. The toner cartridge according to  claim 12 , wherein the sealing member has longitudinal ends with shapes that fit together in a manner avoiding overlap. 
     
     
       14. The toner cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing extends in a longitudinal direction and has a small width portion and a large width portion adjacent to the small width portion. 
     
     
       15. The toner cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing extends in a longitudinal direction and has a side plate that closes one of longitudinal ends of said housing,
 wherein the side plate has a first engagement portion extending toward said housing and engages said housing, and said housing has a second engagement portion extending toward and engaging the side plate.  
 
     
     
       16. The toner cartridge according to  claim 15 , further comprising a sealing member sandwiched between said housing and the side plate. 
     
     
       17. The toner cartridge according to  claim 15 , wherein a first one of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion is formed such that a second one of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion is sandwiched by the first one of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion. 
     
     
       18. The toner cartridge according to  claim 1 , further comprising a toner agitating member that extends in a longitudinal direction of said shutter, a drive section at one of two longitudinal ends of said shutter, and a sealing member that provides a seal between said shutter and the drive section,
 wherein the drive section drives the toner agitating member in rotation.  
 
     
     
       19. The toner cartridge according to  claim 18 , wherein said shutter has a cylindrical portion adjacent the second partially cylindrical wall, and a closing wall that closes the cylindrical portion and is located between the drive section and the cylindrical portion,
 wherein the closing wall has at least one projection that engages the sealing member to prevent the sealing member from rotating when the drive section drives the toner agitating member in rotation.  
 
     
     
       20. The toner cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said shutter has a cylindrical portion adjacent the second partially cylindrical wall, the cylindrical portion having an operating member exposed on an outside of said housing so that the operating member can be operated externally. 
     
     
       21. A toner cartridge comprising:
 a housing having a first portion defined by a first arcuate wall and a second portion defined by a non-arcuate wall; and  
 a shutter provided in said housing and having a second arcuate wall that is slidable along an inner surface of the first arcuate wall; and  
   a supporting member that urges said shutter against the inner surface of the first arcuate wall .  
 
     
     
       22. The  A toner cartridgeaccording to  claim 21  , wherein  comprising:
 a housing having a first portion defined by a first arcuate wall and a second portion defined by a non- arcuate wall; and    
   a shutter provided in said housing and having a second arcuate wall that is slidable along an inner surface of the first wall,  said shutter further comprisesincluding a first cylindrical portion andthat includes the second arcuate wall;  
   wherein  said housing comprises a part that supports the first cylindrical portion such that the first cylindrical portion is rotatable about an axis relative to said housing and the second arcuate wall is slidable in an arcuate path on the first arcuate wall.  
 
     
     
       23. The toner cartridge according to  claim 22 , wherein said shutter longitudinally extends in a direction parallel to the axis, the first cylindrical portion is formed at at least one longitudinal end of said shutter;
 wherein said housing longitudinally extends in a direction parallel to the axis, and the part that supports the first cylindrical portion is at a longitudinal end of said housing.  
 
     
     
       24. The toner cartridge according to  claim 23 , wherein the first cylindrical portion comprises an operating member exposed on said housing so that when the operating member is operated, the operating member causes said shutter to rotate about the axis. 
     
     
       25. The toner cartridge according to  claim 24 , wherein said housing has a second cylindrical portion into which the first cylindrical portion is slidably inserted,
 wherein the first cylindrical portion has a sealing member that wraps around the first cylindrical portion to seal a gap between the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion.  
 
     
     
       26. The toner cartridge according to  claim 25 , wherein the sealing member has longitudinal ends with shapes that fit together in a manner avoiding overlap. 
     
     
       27. The toner cartridge according to  claim 22 , wherein said shutter longitudinally extends in a direction parallel to the axis and has a toner-discharging opening formed therein,
 wherein the first cylindrical portion is formed near the toner-discharging opening and supported such that the first cylindrical portion is slidable on the first arcuate wall.  
 
     
     
       28. The toner cartridge according to  claim 27 , wherein the part is a projection that inwardly projects toward the first arcuate wall;
 wherein the projection and the first arcuate wall engage the first cylindrical portion to hold the first cylindrical portion therebetween such that the first cylindrical portion is rotatable.  
 
     
     
       29. The toner cartridge according to  claim 27 , wherein said housing has a toner exit formed therein,
 wherein said shutter is movable between a toner discharging position and a toner non-discharging position, further comprising: 
 a sealing member provided on a location of an outer surface of said shutter such that the sealing member surround the toner exit when said shutter is at the toner non-discharging position.  
 
 
     
     
       30. The tone  toner cartridge according to  claim 22 , wherein said shutter has a toner exit formed in the second arcuate wall, further comprising a sealing member that is provided on an outer surface of the second arcuate wall to surround the toner exit,
 wherein said housing has a first engagement portion and said shutter has a second engagement portion that engages the first engagement portion, the first engagement portion defining an extent of rotation of said second arcuate wall relative to the first arcuate wall.  
 
     
     
       31. The toner cartridge according to  claim 21 , wherein said supporting member attached to said shutter and engages a part that is attached to the second portion of the housing.  
     
     
       32. The toner cartridge according to  claim 31 , wherein said supporting member is an arcuate member extending from the second arcuate wall of the shutter and forms a cylindrical portion together with said second arcuate wall, and the part that is attached to the second portion of the housing projects from said non- arcuate wall.    
     
     
       33. The toner cartridge according to  claim 32 , wherein said arcuate member slides on the part that is attached to the second portion of the housing when the shutter slidably moves along the inner surface of the first arcuate wall.  
     
     
       34. The toner cartridge according to  claim 21 , wherein said housing has a toner exit, and wherein said shutter is movable between a toner discharging position in which toner is discharged through said toner exit, and a toner non- discharging position.    
     
     
       35. The toner cartridge according to  claim 34 , wherein said shutter has a sealing member on an outer surface of said shutter, sealing a gap between the first arcuate wall and the second arcuate wall.  
     
     
       36. The toner cartridge according to  claim 21 , further comprising a sealing member sealing a gap between the first outer wall and the second arcuate wall.  
     
     
       37. The toner cartridge according to  claim 36 , wherein the sealing member is on an outer surface of said shutter.