Toner replenishing device and image forming apparatus using the same

(19)

(11)

EP 1 220 050 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	02.01.2003 Bulletin 2003/01

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	03.07.2002 Bulletin 2002/27

(21)	Application number: 01130525.7

(22)	Date of filing: 21.12.2001

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: G03G 15/08

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30)

Priority:

25.12.2000 JP 2000391984
23.03.2001 JP 2001084554
03.10.2001 JP 2001307850
12.10.2001 JP 2001315096

(71)	Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
	Tokyo 143-8555 (JP)

(72)	Inventor:
	Tanaka, Shuji Chigasaki-shi, Kanagawa (JP)

(74)	Representative: Schwabe - Sandmair - Marx
	Stuntzstrasse 16 81677 München 81677 München (DE)

(54)	Toner replenishing device and image forming apparatus using the same

(57) A toner replenishing device of the present invention includes a casing for accommodating a toner. The casing is made up of a lower case formed with an opening for receiving the toner container, and an upper case for covering the opening of the lower case. A locking member locks the upper case closing the opening to the lower case. The locking member is configured to loose the function of locking the upper case to the lower case when unlocking the former from the latter.

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