Container storage box for deformable container containing fine particles for image formation

Abstract

A container storage box of the present invention holds a flexible container that includes a flexible part and is capable of discharging its fluid contents for an image forming apparatus. The flexible container is taken out of the container storage box and is placed in a container loading part of the image forming apparatus. The container storage box has rigid sidewalls that prevent the flexible container from deforming during storage. The rigid sidewalls keep the flexible a container in a configuration that is adapted to a container loading part of the image forming apparatus.

1 . A container storage box for storage of a deformable container which comprises a flexible region and is capable of discharging fluidity contents for image formation when placed into a container loading part of an image forming apparatus, the container storage box comprising sidewall faces which are rigid to prevent random deformation of the deformable container during storage, 
 characterized in that said sidewall faces are provided to regulate a configuration of the deformable container in a configuration accommodated in the container loading part when the deformable container is placed in the image forming apparatus.    
   
   
       2 . The container storage box according to  claim 1  characterized in that the container storage box comprises rectangular portions having a plurality of sidewall faces, at least two opposing ones of the plurality of sidewall faces regulating the configuration of the container and fixing a position of the container by contact-surface resistance with the container during storage.  
   
   
       3 . The container storage box according to  claim 1  characterized in that space is provided at an upper part of the container contained in the container storage box.  
   
   
       4 . The container storage box according to  claim 2  characterized in that one of said at least two opposing sidewall faces is not parallel to the other, and a gap between said at least two opposing sidewall faces is gradually tapered.  
   
   
       5 . The container storage box according to  claim 4  characterized in that the container storage box comprises an opening face which is different from the plurality of sidewall faces and located at one of sides of said at least two opposing sidewall faces where a gap is larger than at the other side of said at least two opposing sidewall faces.  
   
   
       6 . The container storage box according to  claim 5  characterized in that a tongue-shaped lid piece which is foldable to open or close said opening face is provided via a hinge part in said opening face, and a flap which is rotatable in a direction to open or close said opening face is provided via a hinge part at a position opposed to said tongue-shaped lid piece in said opening face, and the hinge part of said flap includes an insertion opening for inserting said tongue-shaped lid piece.  
   
   
       7 . The container storage box according to  claim 6  characterized in that a cutout is formed in a base of an insertion part of said flap where said tongue-shaped lid piece is inserted.  
   
   
       8 . The container storage box according to  claim 5  characterized in that the opening face is perpendicular to one of said at least two opposing sidewall faces.  
   
   
       9 . The container storage box according to  claim 4  characterized in that the remaining two opposing ones of the plurality of sidewall faces, other than said at least two opposing sidewall faces, have a gap therebetween that is gradually tapered.  
   
   
       10 . The container storage box according to  claim 1  characterized in that the container storage box comprises an opening face which is different from the plurality of sidewall faces and located at one of sides of said at least two opposing sidewall faces where a gap is larger than at the other side of said at least two opposing sidewall faces, and a small-area face which is different from the plurality of sidewall faces and opposite to the opening face.  
   
   
       11 . The container storage box according to  claim 10  characterized in that the small-area face is located in the middle of a sheet material which is produced when the container storage box is disassembled.  
   
   
       12 . The container storage box according to  claim 4  characterized in that the container storage box comprises a projection provided at a side of said one of said at least two opposing sidewall faces.  
   
   
       13 . The container storage box according to  claim 5  characterized in that a ridgeline where one of said at least two opposing sidewall faces and the opening face intersect by an acute angle serves as a hinge of the opening face.  
   
   
       14 . The container storage box according to  claim 4  characterized in that the container storage box comprises an indication about the contents of the container, and the container storage box with the indication being arranged so that a slanting one of said at least two opposing sidewall faces is placed upside.  
   
   
       15 . The container storage box according to  claim 4  characterized in that the container storage box comprises a first indication which identifies the contents of the container, and a second indication which indicates how to handle the container and the contents of the container, and the container storage box with the first and second indications being arranged so that the first indication is placed on one of said at least two opposing sidewall faces and the second indication is placed on the other face.  
   
   
       16 . The container storage box according to  claim 13  characterized in that an indication is provided on the opening face, and the container storage box with the indication being arranged so that the hinge of the acute angle ridgeline is placed upside of the indication.  
   
   
       17 . The container storage box according to  claim 1  characterized in that the sidewall faces are made of a sheet material which is bendable to form the container storage box, and perforations are provided on the sheet material without affecting a strength of the container storage box in an assembly state.  
   
   
       18 . The container storage box according to  claim 13  characterized in that perforations are provided on the ridgeline without affecting a strength of the container storage box in an assembly state.  
   
   
       19 . The container storage box according to  claim 1  characterized in that the container storage box comprises a shock absorbing material which secures the deformable container by contact-surface resistance, and the container storage box is in a configuration of a rectangular prism.  
   
   
       20 . The container storage box according to  claim 1  characterized in that the container storage box comprises a partial lamination end, and rounded surfaces R are provided at bending portions on a side of inner walls of the box and at the partial lamination end.  
   
   
       21 . The container storage box according to  claim 1  characterized in that the container storage box is made of either a cardboard material or a corrugated cardboard material.  
   
   
       22 . The container storage box according to  claim 1  characterized in that the deformable container is either a toner storage container or a developer storage container.