Toner bottle and toner supplying apparatus using the same

摘要

The present invention relates to a toner bottle having a body with a convexly-shaped spiral rib (45) continuously formed on the inside surface thereof and a tip with an opening for toner to flow therefrom. A section joins the body and the tip, which section has a first circular face having a slope convex portion (46) that slopes toward the inside, and a second circular face having a toner pump-up portion (47), the diameter of which is approximately same as that of said body. There is a shutter (16) rotatably disposed on the tip to normally close the opening. The shutter has an opening that fits over the tip opening when the toner bottle is rotated inside the shutter. The shutter may be made of elastic material, and is composed of arcs having different thicknesses. A thicker one of the arcs is used to keep the tip opening closed except when being used in a toner supplying apparatus. The toner bottle allows the toner to flow in a continuous manner, and prevents users from dirtying their hands when replacing toner bottles.