CN100489682C

CN100489682C - Developer container and image forming apparatus

Info

Publication number: CN100489682C
Application number: CNB2004800066164A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 出口正信; 长滨均; 小山和弥; 林重贵
Original assignee: Sharp Corp
Current assignee: Sharp Corp
Priority date: 2003-03-10
Filing date: 2004-03-10
Publication date: 2009-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 2024-03-10
Also published as: JP2004271995A; CN1759352A; JP4180406B2

Abstract

An object of the invention is to provide a developer receiving vessel which does not have a complicated mechanism by which a vessel main body for storing a developer is rotatably stably supported, the vessel preventing the received developer from coagulating during rotation, and being capable of supplying a developer in powder form to an image forming device main body. A developer receiving vessel (130) includes a vessel main body (131) which is substantially cylindrically formed and in which the developer used for image formation is received, the vessel main body (131) having its axial intermediate portion radially opened, and adapted to transfer the received developer toward the intermediate portion by being rotated around an axis (L131), and a support member (132) supporting the axial intermediate portion of the vessel main body (131) over the entire periphery thereof from radially outside as the vessel main body (131) is rotatable around the axis (L131), and having a guide hole (151) for guiding the developer from the vessel main body (131) to outside.

Description

Developer container and image processing system

Technical field

The present invention relates to deposit the developers such as toner that the image that is used for the electrofax mode forms developer container, and releasably be equipped with the image processing system of described developer container.

Background technology

Figure 58 is the cut-open view of expression as image processing system 2 first prior art, that toner cartridge 1 is installed.Figure 59 is the cut-open view with near the amplification expression development section 3 of toner cartridge 1 and image processing system 2.Among Figure 58 and Figure 59,, omit its thickness for easy understanding.The image processing system 2 of electrophotographic recording such as printing equipment and copy device mode comprises toner cartridge 1 and image processing system main body (simply being expressed as " apparatus main body " later on) 2a.Deposit the toner cartridge 1 of toner, releasably be installed on the development section 3 that apparatus main body 2a had.

Toner cartridge 1 comprises housing 1a, first mixing component 4, second mixing component 5 and donor rollers 6.First and second mixing component 4,5, the interior space that is configured in the housing 1a that deposits not shown toner is in the parking space 7.Detailed says, the zone that first mixing component 4 is configured in parking space 7 is in the first storage area 7a, and another zone that second mixing component 5 is configured in parking space 7 is in second storage area 7b.First mixing component 4, under the state that is installed in apparatus main body 2a, by from the driving force that is arranged at not shown drive division such as motor on the apparatus main body 2a, the edge is around the direction rotation of the arrow U1 of its axis, the toner of the first storage area 7a is left in stirring in, and toner is offered the second storage area 7b.Second mixing component 5 in addition by the driving force from above-mentioned drive division, along the direction rotation around the arrow U2 of its axis, stirs the toner that leaves the second storage area 7b in, and toner is offered donor rollers 6.

First mixing component 4 has plate 4a in addition, this plate 4a can with the inner surface portion butt towards the housing 1a of the first storage area 7a, constitute by macromolecule resin.Second mixing component 5 has plate 5a in addition, this plate 5a can with the inner surface portion butt towards the housing 1a of the second storage area 7b, constitute by macromolecule resin.First and second mixing components 4,5 are rotated in the inside surface butt of above-mentioned

plate

4a, 5a and housing 1a.Tail off even leave the surplus of the toner of parking space 7 thus in, also can scrape and get, thereby the toner that does not offer donor rollers 6 and remain in parking space 7 is reduced as much as possible by

plate

4a, 5a.

Donor rollers 6, its peripheral part is formed by the resin of porous matter such as sponge, by the driving force from above-mentioned drive division, around its axis rotation, will supply to the development section 3 that is arranged on the apparatus main body 2a by the toner that second mixing component 5 provides.Development section 3 is that carrier stirs to toner and the pre-prepd particle of supplying with from toner cartridge 1 with magnetic, generates two composition developing materials.

Apparatus main body 2a shown in Figure 58, also has chart magazine 8, photosensitive drums 9, electro-mechanical part 10, laser explosure portion 11 and photographic fixing portion 12.Chart magazine 8 is preserved and is used to form record images paper.Photosensitive drums 9 is for be provided with the drum cylindraceous of photoreceptor at peripheral part, by the driving force from above-mentioned drive division, along rotating around the arrow U3 of its axis direction.Electro-mechanical part 10, the photoreceptor that makes photosensitive drums 9 is charged and give photonasty.Laser explosure portion 11 exposes with the photoreceptor of laser image to charged photosensitive drums 9, forms electrostatic latent image on photoreceptor.

Development section 3 stirs two composition developing materials, and the photoreceptor of the photosensitive drums 9 that formed electrostatic latent image is supplied with two composition developing materials and developed, and forms the toner image corresponding with electrostatic latent image.Photosensitive drums 9 is transferred to the toner image of photosensitive drums 9 on the recording chart of sending from chart magazine 11.Photographic fixing portion 12, with transfer printing toner image photographic fixing on recording chart of recording chart of toner image.With the toner image photographic fixing and formed record images paper, on the row's of being discharged to paper disc 13.For the toner density that makes the two composition developing materials in the development section 4 is constant, the donor rollers 6 of toner cartridge 1 forms its peripheral part by sponge, and further its rotation is controlled.Thus, donor rollers 6 supplies to development section 3 with an amount of toner under the state of attritive powder.

Figure 60 A is the cut-open view of expression as the toner bottle 15 of second prior art, and Figure 60 B is the skeleton view of the above-mentioned toner bottle 15 of expression.Toner bottle 15 has roughly been formed the round-ended cylinder shape, has been provided with the parking space 16 of depositing toner.In toner bottle 15, be provided with projection tab 17, this projection tab 17, side-prominent in radial direction, be center in the shape of a spiral shape extension to axis direction the other end 15b with axis L20 from end 15a of axis direction.15b is provided with peristome 18 in axis direction the other end of toner bottle 15, and this peristome 18 forms the internal diameter hole littler than remainder, and the external space of parking space 16 and toner bottle 15 is communicated with.

Toner bottle 15 on not shown image processing system main body, makes its axis L15 be parallel to horizontal direction, and above-mentioned peristome 18 is connected with toner supply port on being arranged at the image processing system main body.Under this state, by from the driving force that is arranged at the drive division on the image processing system main body, make toner bottle 15 when its axis L15 rotates, the toner of parking space 16 will be left in, be sent to peristome 18 by projection tab 17, and supply to toner supply port (for example opening flat 7-20705 communique) with reference to the spy from peristome 18.

Figure 61 is the skeleton view of expression as the developer replenishing container 20 of the 3rd prior art.Developer replenishing container 20 is formed the cylindric of two ends closure, is provided with the parking space of depositing toner.Developer replenishing container 20 is provided with: the first projection tab 21a, and side-prominent in radial direction, be center in the shape of a spiral shape extension to axis direction central portion 20c with axis L20 from end 20a of axis direction; With the second projection tab 21b, side-prominent in radial direction, be center in the shape of a spiral shape extension to axis direction central portion 20c with axis L20 from axis direction the other end 20b.At the axis direction central portion 20c of developer replenishing container 20, be formed on the radial direction perforation so that the through hole 22 that the external space of parking space and developer replenishing container 20 is communicated with.

Developer replenishing container 20, on not shown image processing system main body, make its axis L20 be parallel to horizontal direction, axis direction central portion 20c, make its top opening surface to the toner supply port that is arranged on the image processing system main body, be connected with the image processing system main body.Under this state,, developer replenishing container 20 is rotated around axis L20 by from the driving force that is arranged at the drive division on the image processing system main body.Leave the toner of the parking space of developer replenishing container 20 thus in, be sent to axis direction central portion 20c by each

projection tab

21a, 21b, when through hole 22 is configured in position towards the toner supply port, toner is supplied to toner supply port (for example opening flat 8-339115 communique with reference to the spy) via through hole 22.

Figure 62 is the skeleton view of expression as the toner cartridge 25 of the 4th prior art.Toner cartridge 25 is formed the cylindric of two ends closure, is provided with the parking space of depositing toner.Axis direction central portion at toner cartridge 25 forms through hole 26, and this through hole 26 connects along the axis direction extension and at radial direction, and the external space of parking space and toner cartridge 25 is communicated with.

Toner cartridge 25 on not shown image processing system main body, makes its axis L25 be parallel to horizontal direction, and the axis direction central portion makes its top opening surface to the toner supply port that is arranged on the image processing system main body, is connected with the image processing system main body.Under this state,, toner cartridge 25 is rotated around axis L25 by from the driving force that is arranged at the drive division on the image processing system main body.Leave the toner of the parking space of toner cartridge 25 thus in, when the position that through hole 26 is configured in towards the toner supply port, toner is supplied to toner supply port (for example opening flat 6-348127 communique with reference to the spy) via through hole 26.

In recent years, image processing systems such as printing equipment and copy device require to make a large amount of printing high speeds.For example, once can on 999 recording charts, form image at most can in 1 minute, on the recording chart more than 50, forming in the high-speed type image processing system of image.In this image processing system, the setting by the printing number also surpasses 999 continuous printing sometimes.In the image processing system of this high-speed type, need the very large toner cartridge of toner storing capacity, the toner cartridge of the toner that can deposit about 1400 grams is for example also arranged.

In order to deposit so a large amount of toners, as the toner cartridge 1 of above-mentioned first prior art, its parking space 7 shown in Figure 59, is made of two storage area 7a, the 7b of 7b between the mutually different first storage area 7a of shape and second storage area.Therefore toner cartridge 1 shape is very big, is difficult to respect to the operation of apparatus main body 2a loading and unloading toner cartridge 1 by the user.Above-mentioned in addition toner cartridge 1, portion has first mixing component 4, second mixing component 5 and donor rollers 6 within it, and these mechanisms not only complexity but also weight are also big.Therefore above-mentioned toner cartridge 1, not only heavy but also manufacturing cost is high, the consuming cost of toner is also high thereupon.When toner cartridge 1 maximizes in addition, not only return the problem such as guarantee of the difficulty of the packing that produces toner cartridge 1 and conveying and site of storage, when toner cartridge 1 is discarded, also can have problems.In addition by in carrying and the variation of vibration, whereabouts and air pressure during keeping etc., there is the danger that spills toner from the gap of the bearing of first and second mixing component 4,5 of toner cartridge 1 and donor rollers 6.

And then in parking space 7, exist under the state of toner, toner cartridge 1 in various environment during long-time the placement, can be produced the compression of condensing as the toner of powder usually, thereby goes out ready-made blocking in parking space 7.When in this state toner cartridge 1 being installed on the apparatus main body 2a, by the angle position of each mixing component 4,5, the toner that condenses can be to the direction rotation of further condensing.When making 4,5 rotations of each mixing component in this state, provide the burden of drive divisions such as the motor of driving force and gear excessive to each mixing component 4,5 to being used for.So to the burden of drive division when excessive, the worst situation exists following dangerous: because the distortion of plate 4a, the 5a of the locking of motor and each mixing component 4,5 and breakage and the gear that constitutes drive division fall tooth etc., image processing system 1 breaks down.

In recent years, the small particle diameterization of the toner particle of the high image qualityization when being used on recording chart forming image and owing to be used for eutectic that the low-temperature fixing of environmental problem countermeasure carries out and reveal etc., owing to the trend of the condensing of placing the toner that toner cartridge 1 causes becomes obviously, the above-mentioned fault of easy generation becomes.In order to prevent this fault, the user is before the toner cartridge 1 with new toner cartridge 1 and long-time placement is installed in apparatus main body 2a, and the toner that must leave in the toner cartridge 1 is broken out, and makes toner be the state of powder as far as possible.Therefore the user has to carry out massive toner cartridge 1 is shaken up and down the operation of this trouble.

In order to eliminate the problem of this toner cartridge 1, on toner cartridge, be provided for filling the peristome to be opened/closed of toner from the outside, under the state that toner cartridge is broken away from fully from apparatus main body 2a, supply with toner from above-mentioned peristome.But problem such as when supplying with toner, toner cartridge has toner to disperse to fill smoothly.

In the toner bottle 15 of second prior art shown in this external above-mentioned Figure 60 A and Figure 60 B, compare, exist to constitute that amount of parts is few, lightweight and suppressed the advantage of manufacturing cost with the toner cartridge 1 of first prior art.But the toner bottle 15 as new product is full of at toner bottle 15 under the state of toner, makes toner bottle 15 when axis L15 rotates, and has near near the danger that superfluous toner concentrates on the peristome 18, toner condenses peristome 18.

Near peristome 18, condense, hinder danger from toner to the toner supply port of image processing system main body that supply with in order to reduce toner, considered following method: when connecting the power supply of image processing system, or, make toner bottle 15 along rotating in the opposite direction with the side that toner is sent to peristome 18 every the regular time interval.But in this method, owing to do not make toner bottle 15 rotation with during its placement and the difference of the environment of image processing system is set, the state that leaves the toner in the toner bottle 15 in is different, and the Spin Control of the toner bottle 15 that therefore is used to prevent that toner from condensing is difficulty very.

Leave the amount of the toner in the toner bottle 15 in addition in, toner bottle 15 is being installed under the state of image processing system main body, when the upper surface of toner layer is positioned at the low position of ratio open portion 18, even toner bottle 15 rotations may not supply to the toner supply port with toner from peristome 18 yet.

In addition, in the image processing system main body of this toner bottle 15 is installed, in general,, be configured in the face portion of image processing system main body and the central portion of back side portion as the development section of toner supply place.This in addition toner bottle 15, in general, install from the face portion insertion of image processing system main body, therefore only be provided with in the structure of peristome 18 in the end of toner bottle 15, toner bottle 15 is in the size of axis direction, is restricted to the size from the central portion of image processing system main body to face portion.Limit the toner storing capacity of toner bottle 15 thus.

In the developer replenishing container 20 of the 3rd prior art shown in this external above-mentioned Figure 61,, form the through hole 22 that toner is flowed out at axis direction central portion 20c in order to solve the size restrictions of axis direction.But fully with airtight fully very difficulty between the central portion 20c of developer replenishing container 20 of rotation and the image processing system main body, there is following possibility during developer replenishing container 20 rotations: from the toner of through hole 22, between above-mentioned central portion 20c and image processing system main body, spill, and disperse to the image processing system body interior.In the toner cartridge 25 of the 4th prior art shown in above-mentioned in addition Figure 62, also there be the problem identical with the developer replenishing container 20 of the 3rd prior art.

In the toner bottle 15 of second prior art shown in this external above-mentioned Figure 60 A and Figure 60 B, compare with the toner cartridge 1 of first prior art, have constitute that amount of parts is few, lightweight and suppressed the advantage of manufacturing cost.But, change according to remaining toner amount in the toner bottle 15 by making toner bottle 15 rotate the quantity delivered that supplies to the toner supply port for 1 time around axis L15.Quantity delivered when for example making toner bottle 15 rotation 1 time is compared when being positioned at than the low position of axis L15 with the upper surface of toner layer, and this quantity delivered was more when the upper surface of toner layer was positioned at than the high position of axis L15.Thus, the toner bottle 15 as new product is full of in toner bottle 15 under the state of toner, makes toner bottle 15 when axis L15 rotates, and superfluous toner concentrates near peristome 18 danger, that toner condenses and uprises near peristome 18.

Leave the toner amount in the toner bottle 15 in addition in, under the state that toner bottle 15 is installed on the image processing system main body, when the upper surface of toner layer is positioned at than the high position of axis L15, have following possibility: even not rotation of toner bottle 15, toner also flows out to the toner supply port from peristome 18.Leave the amount of the toner in the toner bottle 15 in addition in, under the state that toner bottle 15 is installed on the image processing system main body, when the upper surface of toner layer is positioned at the low position of ratio open portion 18, there is following possibility: even toner bottle 15 rotations do not supply to the toner supply port with toner from peristome 18 yet.

Toner is 4～10 microns a mobile high powder in addition, therefore at through hole 22 under the state of the toner supply port of image processing system main body, when the rotation of developer replenishing container 20 stops, existing toner to flow to the danger of toner supply port in a large number from through hole 22.So will a large amount of toners when the toner supply port supplies to development section, this time toner density of inscribing in the development section become very high, have the danger that existing inequality takes place.For fear of this danger, need new mixing component be set at development section, the problem that exists development section to maximize.

Summary of the invention

So image processing system that the object of the present invention is to provide a kind of developer container and releasably carry described developer container, described developer container, need not have complicated mechanism, just can rotate freely the container body that the ground stable support is deposited developer, prevent that the developer of depositing from condensing in rotation, and with the developer replenishing of powdery to the image processing system main body.

Other purposes of the present invention in addition are the image processing system that a kind of developer container is provided and releasably carries described developer container, described developer container, need not have complicated mechanism, just can rotate freely the container body that the ground stable support is deposited developer, prevent that the developer of depositing from condensing in rotation, and it is constant as far as possible to make the every rotation of container body supply to the quantity delivered of developer of image processing system main body for 1 time, with the developer replenishing of powdery to the image processing system main body.

And then other purposes of the present invention are the image processing system that a kind of developer container is provided and releasably carries described developer container, described developer container, can rotate freely the ground stable support and deposit the container body of developer, the quantity delivered that makes the developer that supplies to the image processing system main body is irrelevant and constant as far as possible with the amount of the developer of depositing, with the developer replenishing of powdery to the image processing system main body.

The present invention is a kind of developer container, can freely carry on image processing system with loading and unloading, it is characterized in that, comprise: container body, be formed the tubular of depositing the developer that is used for image formation, be provided with the exhaust opening that is used to discharge developer, by rotating around axis and the developer of depositing being carried to exhaust opening; And support component,, and be provided with and will be directed to outside via through full week, container body is supported for and can rotates freely around axis from the radial direction outside from the developer that the exhaust opening of container body is discharged.

According to the present invention, make by supporting units support for the container body that can rotate freely around axis when axis rotates, the developer of depositing is carried to the exhaust opening that is arranged on container body.So, support component, at the axis direction intermediate portion supports container body of container body, therefore even the driving force of rotary container main body is applied on the container body, the container body that also can stable support rotates around axis.This external support component is provided with the developer of will discharge from the exhaust opening of container body and is directed to outside via.Can rotate by container body thus, will be directed to the outside by via to the developer that exhaust opening is carried and discharged from exhaust opening.For example in as prior art, only be provided with under the situation of structure of the exhaust opening that the developer that leaves in the container of rotation is discharged, exhaust opening also rotates along with the rotation of container, in order to prevent to escape to undesirable position, need between container that rotates and image processing system, sealing unit be set from the developer that the exhaust opening of this rotation is discharged.On the other hand, in the present invention, leave the developer in the container body in, never the via of the support component that rotates with container body is directed to the outside, therefore can easily realize preventing spilling developer between the via that never is shifted and image processing system as far as possible.And then by rotary container main body only, can leave in simultaneously container body developer conveying and to the discharge of outside.

The invention is characterized in that in addition the exhaust opening of container body is set at roughly pars intermedia of axis direction, support component, from the radial direction outside through full week to the axis direction of the container body that comprises exhaust opening at least roughly pars intermedia support.

According to the present invention, the exhaust opening of container body, be set at roughly pars intermedia of axis direction, therefore carry to exhaust opening by the container body rotation, leave the distolateral developer of container body axis direction one in and leave another distolateral developer of container body axis direction in, near the conflict mutually exhaust opening in container body.For example in the formation of a sort of end of axis direction supplying developing agent to container, exist the developer of carrying to be pressed against perpendicular on the inwall of the axis of an end of container axis direction and the danger of condensing as prior art.In the present invention, can be by near the exhaust opening of container body, promptly do not have in the prior art perpendicular to the axis direction of the wall of axis pars intermedia roughly, make and leave conflicting mutually in the container body in, and it is stirred from the developer of axis direction one side with from the developer of axis direction opposite side.Thus, condense, also can stir it and be powdery by the rotary container main body even leave the developer of container body in.

The invention is characterized in addition, container body, comprise first container portions that forms bottom tube-like, form second container portions of bottom tube-like and form tubular and be provided with the link of exhaust opening, releasably the end of axis direction of link and the open end of first container portions are connected, and releasably the axis direction the other end of link and the open end of second container portions are connected.

According to the present invention, container body comprises first container portions that forms bottom tube-like, forms second container portions of bottom tube-like and forms bottom tube-like and be provided with the link of exhaust opening.End of the axis direction of above-mentioned link, releasably the open end with first container portions is connected.At the axis direction pars intermedia exhaust opening is set thus, can realizes the container body of the tubular of axis direction two ends closure.In addition, when for example all having discharged the developer of depositing, under any one consumption of first container portions, second container portions and link and damaged situation, can only change and consume and damaged part, then deposit developer once again, therefore the recycle that can improve developer container.

The invention is characterized in addition, interior perimembranous in first container portions is provided with first jut, described first jut, side-prominent in radial direction, and from the bottom with the axis be to peristome on the direction at center in the shape of a spiral shape extend, be provided with second jut, described second jut in the interior perimembranous of second container portions, side-prominent in radial direction, and extend going up in the shape of a spiral shape in the opposite direction with a described side that with the axis is the center from the bottom to peristome.

According to the present invention, be provided with first jut in the interior perimembranous of first container portions, described first jut, side-prominent in radial direction, and from the bottom with the axis be to peristome on the direction at center in the shape of a spiral shape extend.By container body is rotated around axis, can easily realize thus: will leave the developer in the first distolateral container portions of the axis direction one of container body in, and carry to the exhaust opening of link by first projection tab.The interior perimembranous of this external second container portions is provided with second jut, and described second jut is side-prominent in radial direction, and shape extends going up in the shape of a spiral in the opposite direction with a described side that with the axis is the center from the bottom to peristome.By container body is rotated around axis, can easily realize thus: will leave the developer of another second distolateral container portions of axis direction of container body in, and carry to the exhaust opening of link by second projection tab.So can easily realize: be the axis direction pars intermedia near the exhaust opening in container body, make and leave in conflicting mutually in the container body, it is stirred from the developer of axis direction one side with from the developer of axis direction opposite side.

The invention is characterized in addition, between distolateral and another distolateral container body and support component of axis direction, be provided with sealing unit through the full Zhou Yanshen of circumferencial direction at axis direction exhaust opening and via, container body.

According to the present invention, at axis direction exhaust opening and via, container body between distolateral and another distolateral container body and support component of axis direction, be provided with sealing unit, therefore can prevent that developer from spilling between container body and support component through the full Zhou Yanshen of circumferencial direction.

The invention is characterized in addition,, between the interior perimembranous of the peripheral part of container body and support component, be provided with the maintaining part that keeps developer at the sense of rotation upstream side of the exhaust opening of container body.

According to the present invention,, between the interior perimembranous of the peripheral part of container body and support component, be provided with the maintaining part that keeps developer at the container body sense of rotation upstream side of the exhaust opening of container body.In container body when rotation thus, be positioned at the maintaining part of sense of rotation upstream side of the exhaust opening of container body, is configured in the position towards via, the developer that is kept in this maintaining part can be offered via, and discharge from via.Container body in addition, be configured to make its parallel axes in surface level, under near the via with support component is configured in the above-below direction central portion the situation, reduce even leave the amount of the developer in the container body in, the developer that also will remain in the link below of container body is kept by maintaining part and is transported to via.Make thus not to be transported to via and the amount of residual developer reduces, can as far as possible all developers be directed to the outside from via.

The invention is characterized in, the said vesse main body, be provided with the recess that is absorbed in to the radial direction inboard at its peripheral part, and above-mentioned exhaust opening forms at above-mentioned recess, above-mentioned support component, from the radial direction outside through full week, the part that comprises recess at least of container body is supported for and can rotates freely around axis.

According to the present invention, make by supporting units support for the container body that can rotate freely around axis when axis rotates, the developer of depositing is carried to the exhaust opening that is arranged on the container body peripheral part.Support component support vessels main body like this, therefore even the driving force of rotary container main body is applied on the container body, the container body that also can stable support rotates around axis.The peripheral part of this external container body is provided with the recess that is absorbed in to the radial direction inboard, therefore at support component the part that comprises recess at least of container body being supported for can be under the state that axis rotates freely, and forms the space (being expressed as " maintenance space " later on) of perimembranous in the recess of container body and exhaust opening and the support component.Carry and from the developer that exhaust opening is discharged to exhaust opening by container body rotation, be discharged to and keep the space.This external support component is provided with the developer of will discharge from the exhaust opening of container body and is directed to outside via.Above-mentioned space because its constancy of volume, therefore can prevent as far as possible: be discharged to the amount of the developer that keeps the space and keep from exhaust opening, depend on the amount of the developer that leaves container body in and change.When therefore container body rotates, developer is discharged to the maintenance space from exhaust opening, maintains developer in the maintenance space based on the amount of the volume that keeps the space.So remain on the developer that keeps the space, be directed to the outside by via, therefore the amount that can as far as possible make the every rotation of container body be discharged to outside developer for 1 time is constant.

For example under the situation of the sort of formation that the exhaust opening that the developer that leaves in the container of rotation is discharged only is set as prior art, exhaust opening also rotates along with the rotation of container, in order to prevent that this developer of discharging from the exhaust opening of rotation from escaping to undesirable position, need be provided with sealing unit between container that rotates and image processing system.On the other hand, in the present invention, leave the developer in the container body in, never the via of the support component that rotates with container body is directed to the outside, therefore can easily realize preventing spilling developer between the via that never is shifted and image processing system as far as possible.And then by rotary container main body only, can leave in simultaneously container body developer conveying and to the discharge of outside.Leave the amount of the developer in the container body in addition in the prior art in, depend on that container body is discharged to the amount of the outer developer of container body when rotating 1 time, but keep from the developer of exhaust opening discharge by maintenance space in the constancy of volume, can be not with depend on the amount that leaves the developer in the container body in, and it is constant as far as possible to make the every rotation of container body be discharged to the amount of outside developer for 1 time.

The invention is characterized in that in addition recess extends and is formed along sense of rotation, and the size of axis direction is formed forr a short time than the size of sense of rotation, exhaust opening forms in the sense of rotation downstream of recess.

According to the present invention, exhaust opening forms in the sense of rotation downstream of recess, therefore can rotate along above-mentioned sense of rotation by making container body, and the developer container in the container body is changed places is discharged to the maintenance space from exhaust opening.And then recess extends and is formed along sense of rotation, and the size of axis direction is formed littler than the size of sense of rotation, therefore also extend along sense of rotation in above-mentioned maintenance space, and the size that is formed axis direction is littler than the size of sense of rotation, turns back in the container body via exhaust opening so can prevent to remain on the developer that keeps in the space as far as possible.Keep the space to extend and be formed along sense of rotation as mentioned above in addition, the size of sense of rotation that therefore can be by suitably setting recess is in the amount of the developer that keeps the space to keep wishing.

The invention is characterized in that in addition recess has the end wall of intersecting with sense of rotation in the end in sense of rotation downstream, exhaust opening forms on the part of end wall.

According to the present invention, recess has the end wall of intersecting with sense of rotation in the end in sense of rotation downstream, and exhaust opening forms on the part of end wall.For example under the situation of above-mentioned end wall exhaust opening integral finish, developer by the container body rotation, and is closely pushed along the recess of container body and the interior perimembranous of support component, thereby is discharged to above-mentioned maintenance space from exhaust opening.In this state by being further rotated container body, remain on the developer that keeps the space, exist by the interior perimembranous of the recess of container body and support component and push and the danger of condensing.In the present invention, exhaust opening forms on the part of end wall, and in other words, the aperture area of exhaust opening is formed littler than the area of end wall, so developer, near the exhaust opening in keeping the space, is discharged to the maintenance space in the mode that spreads.Can make thus to be discharged to that to keep the developer in space be powdery, and can prevent condensing of developer that the rotation owing to the said vesse main body causes as far as possible.The developer of powdery can be directed to the outside by via thus.

The invention is characterized in addition,, be provided with the lead-out unit that the developer of will discharge from the exhaust opening of container body is directed to via in the interior perimembranous of support component.

According to the present invention,, be provided with the lead-out unit that the developer of will discharge from the exhaust opening of container body is directed to via in the interior perimembranous of support component.The developer of discharging and remaining in the above-mentioned maintenance space from the exhaust opening of container body can be directed to via by lead-out unit thus.

The invention is characterized in addition, lead-out unit is formed and has flexible and flexible sheet, and extends to the sense of rotation upstream side, its anchor portion is set at towards the part of the via of support component, free end can with the outer peripheral face elasticity butt in the recess of container body.

According to the present invention, lead-out unit is formed and has flexible and flexible sheet, and extends to the sense of rotation upstream side, its anchor portion is set at towards the part of the via of support component, free end can with the outer peripheral face elasticity butt in the recess of container body.Under the state of container body rotation, by extend to the sense of rotation upstream side and with the recess of container body in the free end of lead-out unit of outer peripheral face elasticity butt, developer in the maintenance space that remains on the sense of rotation downstream is scraped and is got successively, its outer peripheral face from recess is broken away from, and be directed into anchor portion, and then be directed to via.So the developer of discharging and remaining in the above-mentioned maintenance space from the exhaust opening of container body can be directed to via effectively by conductor element.

The invention is characterized in that in addition the free end of lead-out unit forms the angle that surpasses 90 degree and carries out butt with respect to the outer peripheral face in the recess.

According to the present invention, the free end of lead-out unit forms the angle that surpasses 90 degree and carries out butt with respect to the outer peripheral face in the recess.Therefore under the state of container body rotation, lead-out unit, prevents to break away from from the outer peripheral face of recess to the deflection of sense of rotation downstream from the friction force that the outer peripheral face of recess is subjected to by free end, can make free end stably with the outer peripheral face butt of recess.The developer of discharging and remaining in the above-mentioned maintenance space from the exhaust opening of container body can be directed to via effectively by lead-out unit thus.

The invention is characterized in addition, also comprise the envelope stop element, when container body is positioned at A-stage with respect to support component, block exhaust opening,, open exhaust opening by from above-mentioned A-stage rotary container main body.

According to the present invention, the envelope stop element blocks exhaust opening when container body is positioned at A-stage with respect to support component, by from above-mentioned A-stage rotary container main body, open exhaust opening.State in the early stage can easily prevent to discharge developer from container body, and directly remove the envelope stop element without the user, and can pass through the rotary container main body thus, easily opens exhaust opening, the developer that the amount discharge container main body is interior.

The invention is characterized in that in addition the recess of container body and exhaust opening are set at roughly pars intermedia of axis direction.

According to the present invention, the recess of container body and exhaust opening, be set at roughly pars intermedia of axis direction, therefore by the container body rotation to the distolateral developer of exhaust opening axis direction that carry, that leave container body in leave another distolateral developer of axis direction of container body in, near the conflict mutually exhaust opening in container body.For example in as prior art in the formation of an end of the axis direction supplying developing agent of container, the danger that exists the developer of carrying to be pressed and to condense to perpendicular to the inwall of the axis of the end of axis direction of container.In the present invention, near can be by the exhaust opening in container body, promptly not having a wall perpendicular to axis of the prior art axis direction is pars intermedia roughly, leave conflicting mutually of container body in, and it is stirred from the developer of axis direction one side with from the developer of axis direction opposite side.Thus, leave the developer in the container body in,, make it to be powdery thereby also can be it be stirred by the rotary container main body even condense.

The invention is characterized in addition, container body, comprise and form bottom tube-like first container portions, form second container portions of bottom tube-like and form tubular and be provided with recess and the 3rd container portions of exhaust opening, connect the end of axis direction of the 3rd container portions and the open end of first container portions, and connect the axis direction the other end of the 3rd container portions and the open end of second container portions, thus that it is one-body molded.

According to the present invention, container body comprises forming bottom tube-like first container portions, form second container portions of bottom tube-like and forming tubular and be provided with recess and the 3rd container portions of exhaust opening.End of the axis direction of above-mentioned the 3rd container is connected with the open end of first container portions, and axis direction the other end is connected with the open end of second container portions, thereby one-body molded.Can recess and exhaust opening be set at the axis direction pars intermedia thus, realize the container body of the tubular of axis direction two ends closure.The container body that will comprise first container portions, second container portions and the 3rd container portions in addition is one-body molded by for example blow molding etc., thereby easily makes.Can reduce the formation parts of developer container thus.

According to the present invention, be provided with first jut in the interior perimembranous of first container portions, described first jut, side-prominent in radial direction, and from the bottom with the axis be to peristome on the direction at center in the shape of a spiral shape extend.Can rotate around axis by making container body thus, and easily realize: will leave the developer of the first distolateral container portions of the axis direction one of container body in, and carry to the exhaust opening of the 3rd container portions by first projection tab.The interior perimembranous of this external second container portions is provided with second jut, and described second jut is side-prominent in radial direction, and shape extends going up in the shape of a spiral in the opposite direction with a described side that with the axis is the center from the bottom to peristome.Can rotate around axis by making container body thus, and easily realize: will leave the developer of another second distolateral container portions of axis direction of container body in, and carry to the exhaust opening of the 3rd container portions by second projection tab.Can easily realize thus: be the axis direction pars intermedia near the exhaust opening in container body, make and leave conflicting mutually of container body in, thereby it is stirred from the developer of axis direction one side with from the developer of axis direction opposite side.

The invention is characterized in addition, between another container body and support component in distolateral of distolateral and axis direction, be provided with sealing unit at axis direction via, container body of the recess of container body and exhaust opening and support component through the full Zhou Yanshen of circumferencial direction.

According to the present invention, at axis direction via, container body of the recess of container body and exhaust opening and support component between another container body and support component in distolateral of distolateral and axis direction, be provided with sealing unit, therefore can prevent that developer from spilling between container body and support component through the full Zhou Yanshen of circumferencial direction.

The invention is characterized in that in addition the internal diameter of the 3rd container portions of container body is formed bigger than the internal diameter of remainder.

According to the present invention, the internal diameter of the 3rd container portions of container body is formed bigger than the internal diameter of remainder.The developer that becomes powdery has following character: even place as the mountain of point point on surface level, also can become the shape on mountain stably at once.For example under the internal diameter of the 3rd container portions of container body was formed in situation below the internal diameter of remainder, the developer of carrying to exhaust opening by the rotation of container body when the rotation of container body stops, leaving from the 3rd container portions.In this case, the quantitative change of the developer in leaving container body in gets when considerably less, after the rotation of container body begins once more, is difficult to carry to exhaust opening the developer of q.s.Therefore in the present invention, the internal diameter of the 3rd container portions of container body is formed greatlyyer than the internal diameter of remainder, can prevent as far as possible that the developer that temporarily is transported to the 3rd container portions from leaving from the 3rd container portions.When the amount of the developer in leaving container body in is considerably less thus, after the rotation of container body begins once more, can carry the developer of q.s as best one can to exhaust opening.And then all developers that will leave in the container body that can try one's best are discharged to the outside.

The invention is characterized in addition, on the circumferencial direction of container body, be provided with and be arranged at intervals with a plurality of recesses.

According to the present invention, on the circumferencial direction of container body, be provided with and be arranged at intervals with a plurality of recesses, therefore even developer spills from the maintenance space towards the interior perimembranous of the recess of the exhaust opening that forms container body and support component at the sense of rotation upstream side, also can by towards on the circumferencial direction of above-mentioned recess, be provided with other recesses of being configured at interval the sense of rotation upstream side and in the support component other of perimembranous keep spaces, keep the developer that spills.The amount that can make the every rotation of container body 1 time thus as far as possible and be discharged to outside developer is constant.

The invention is characterized in addition, described support component, from full week of radial direction outside process, at least the part that comprises exhaust opening of container body is supported for and can rotates freely around axis, described via, be equipped under the state of image processing system, be configured in the top of the axis of container body.

According to the present invention, make by supporting units support for the container body that can rotate freely around axis when axis rotates, the developer of depositing is carried to the exhaust opening that is arranged on the container body peripheral part.Support component support vessels main body like this, therefore even the driving force of rotary container main body is applied on the container body, the container body that also can stable support rotates around axis.Form on this external support component and will be directed to outside via from the developer that the exhaust opening of container body is discharged.For example in as prior art, only be provided with under the situation of structure of the exhaust opening that the developer that leaves in the container of rotation is discharged, exhaust opening also rotates along with the rotation of container, in order to prevent to escape to undesirable position, need between container that rotates and image processing system, sealing unit be set from the developer that the exhaust opening of this rotation is discharged.On the other hand, in the present invention, leave the developer in the container body in, never the via of the support component that rotates with container body is directed to the outside, therefore can easily realize preventing spilling developer between the via that never is shifted and image processing system as far as possible.And then by rotary container main body only, can leave in simultaneously container body developer conveying and to the discharge of outside.And then above-mentioned via, be equipped under the state of image processing system, be configured in the top of the axis of container body.For example at the state that via is equipped on image processing system, under the situation below the axis that is disposed at container body, be directed to the amount of outside developer from via, depend on the deadweight of developer layer, in other words the amount that depends on the developer of depositing, the amount that the amount of the developer of therefore depositing is directed to outside developer for a long time is also many, and the amount that the amount of the developer of depositing is directed to outside developer after a little while is also few.Therefore can as the present invention by be equipped on the axis that under the state of image processing system via is configured in container body above, and make the quantity delivered of the developer that supplies to the image processing system main body as far as possible, irrelevant and be constant with the amount of the developer of depositing, with developer replenishing to the image processing system main body.

The invention is characterized in addition, be equipped under the state of image processing system that the imaginary line that is connected with the center of via from the axis of container body is angulation with respect to the horizontal plane, is 30 degree～70 degree.

According to the present invention, be equipped under the state of image processing system, the imaginary line that is connected with the center of via from the axis of container body is angulation with respect to the horizontal plane, is 30 degree～70 degree.For example be equipped under the state of image processing system, the imaginary line that is connected with the center of via from the axis of container body, with respect to the horizontal plane under the situation of angulation less than 30 degree, when in developer container, having a lot of developer, there is the many trend of quantitative change of discharging, surpass in above-mentioned angle under the situation of 70 degree, when the developer in the developer container reduces, the possibility that exists discharge rate to tail off.Therefore be equipped under the state of image processing system, make the imaginary line that is connected with the center of via from the axis of container body angulation with respect to the horizontal plane, be 30 degree～70 degree, thereby can make the quantity delivered of the developer that supplies to the image processing system main body, irrelevant and be as far as possible for constant with the amount of the developer of depositing, with developer replenishing to image processing system.

The invention is characterized in addition, the image processing system main body is provided with the supply port opening/closing unit, will be via the developer replenishing mouth of guiding developer to the path connection of development section, switch to out state and close state, developer container, is carried on image processing system under the state of developer replenishing mouth at via, on support component, be provided with the via opening/closing unit that via is switched to out state and close state.

According to the present invention, the image processing system main body is provided with the supply port opening/closing unit, will switch to out state and close state via the developer replenishing mouth of guiding developer to the path connection of development section, therefore can developer replenishing be arrived development section by making the developer replenishing mouth for opening state.Even developer returns the developer supply port from development section via above-mentioned path adverse current, also can be by making the developer replenishing mouth for closing state, and prevent that effectively the developer of adverse current from spilling from the developer replenishing mouth.This external support component is provided with the via opening/closing unit that via is switched to out state and close state, therefore can be by making via for opening state, and container body is rotated around axis, thereby the developer that will leave in the developer container guides to the outside from via.By making via,, can prevent effectively that also the developer that leaves in the developer container is directed to the outside from via in addition even mistake makes container body rotate around axis for closing state.And then developer container, at via under the state of developer replenishing mouth, carried on image processing system, therefore by making developer replenishing mouth and via for opening state, developer container is carried on image processing system, and container body is rotated around axis, thereby the developer that leaves in the developer container can be supplied to the development section of image processing system via via and above-mentioned path.

The invention is characterized in addition, developer container is equipped on the image processing system under following state: via is towards the developer replenishing mouth of image processing system, and realized sealing towards the circumference of the via of developer container with towards the circumference of the developer replenishing mouth of image processing system, the via opening/closing unit, when developer container is equipped on the image processing system, action interlock with the developer replenishing mouth being switched to out state by the supply port opening/closing unit switches to out state with via.

According to the present invention, the via opening/closing unit, when developer container is equipped on the image processing system, with the action interlock that the developer replenishing mouth is switched to out state by the supply port opening/closing unit, via is switched to out state, therefore in that developer container was carried before image processing system, need not to make in advance developer replenishing mouth and via for opening state.Thus, for example developer container was carried before image processing system, make via for opening state in advance, and mistake makes the container body of developer container rotate around axis, can prevent effectively that also the developer that leaves in the developer container is directed to the outside from via.Developer container in addition, be equipped on the image processing system under following state: via is towards the developer replenishing mouth of image processing system, realized sealing towards the circumference of the via of developer container with towards the circumference of the developer replenishing mouth of image processing system.Developer container is being equipped under the state of image processing system thus, container body is rotated around axis, when supplying to the development section of image processing system via via and above-mentioned path, can prevent effectively that developer from escaping to undesirable position will leave developer in the developer container in.

The invention is characterized in that in addition support component can be divided into a plurality of in a circumferential direction.

According to the present invention, support component can be divided into a plurality of in a circumferential direction.Thus during the support vessels main body, cut apart support component in advance, and make support component after cutting apart support the part of the exhaust opening that comprises container body from the radial direction outside or comprise the part of the recess and the exhaust opening of container body, thereby can pass through complete all support vessels main bodys, can easily carry out this assembling operation.

The invention is characterized in that in addition support component is included in the brace table that has the abutting part more than 3 or 3 on the imaginary plane that parallels to the axis at least.

According to the present invention, support component is included in the brace table that has the abutting part more than 3 or 3 on the imaginary plane that parallels to the axis at least, so support component, can by on surface level with the abutting part butt of brace table, make its parallel axes in surface level and the stable support container body.

The invention is characterized in addition, on container body, form releasably be arranged on image processing system on the connecting portion that is connected of drive source.

According to the present invention, in end of axis direction of container body, form releasably be arranged on image processing system on the connecting portion that is connected of drive source.Can be connected with the drive source of image processing system by making above-mentioned connecting portion, container body is applied from above-mentioned drive source drives power, container body is rotated around axis.

The invention is characterized in addition, end of axis direction at container body is provided with connecting portion, length dimension from the support component of container body to the end face of an end of axis direction, be formed littler than the length dimension of end face from support component to axis direction the other end, support component, so that the mode that via is communicated with the developer replenishing mouth is installed on the image processing system, described developer replenishing mouth is communicated with the development section of image processing system main body.

According to the present invention, support component is configured in the axis direction substantial middle portion of container body, therefore be communicated with the developer replenishing mouth and be installed under the state on the image processing system main body at the via that makes support component, support component is configured in the positive back side central portion in the image processing system main body.Can make container body extend to face portion thus, and extend to the back side, compare with existing container and make capacity become very big from positive back side central portion from the positive back side central portion of image processing system main body.In addition can be by making length dimension from the support component of container body to the end face of an end of axis direction, length dimension than the end face from support component to axis direction the other end is little, and, guarantee to be provided with the zone of the drive division that is connected with the connecting portion of the end of axis direction of container body in the back side of image processing system main body portion.

The present invention is a kind of image processing system in addition, it is characterized in that, releasably is equipped with above-mentioned developer container.

According to the present invention, image processing system can releasably carry the developer container of realizing above-mentioned effect.

Description of drawings

Purpose of the present invention, characteristic and advantage obtain clearly by following detailed description and accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is the skeleton view of the developer container 30 of expression first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is the front view of expression developer container 30.

Fig. 3 is the side view of expression developer container 30.

Fig. 4 is the front view of expression container body 31.

Fig. 5 is the front view of expression first container portions 33.

Fig. 6 is the right side view of expression first container portions 33.

Fig. 7 is the front view of expression second container portions 34.

Fig. 8 is the left side view of expression second container portions 34.

Fig. 9 is the skeleton view of expression link 35.

Figure 10 is the front view of expression link 35.

Figure 11 is the cut-open view of expression link 35.

Figure 12 is the front view of expression support component 32.

Figure 13 is the right side view of expression support component 32.

Figure 14 is the decomposition front view of expression support component 32.

Figure 15 is the decomposition right side view of expression support component 32.

Figure 16 is the cut-open view that the profile line S16-S16 from Figure 13 sees.

Figure 17 is the front view of the state of expression assembling developer container 30.

Figure 18 is the cut-open view that the profile line S18-S18 from Figure 17 sees.

Figure 19 is the cut-open view that the profile line S19-S19 from Fig. 3 sees.

Figure 20 is the cut-open view that the profile line S20-S20 from Fig. 2 sees.

Figure 21 is the cut-open view when cutting off the developer container 30 of depositing developer by the imaginary plane that comprises rotation L31.

Figure 22 is the cut-open view when cutting off the developer container 30 of depositing developer by the imaginary plane perpendicular to rotation L31.

Figure 23 is the cut-open view of the image processing system 70 of expression second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 24 will amplify the cut-open view of expression near the toner case 72.

Figure 25 will amplify the vertical view of expression near the toner case 72.

Figure 26 amplifies the skeleton view of expression with main body side connecting portion 83.

Figure 27 is the skeleton view of the developer container 130 of expression the 3rd embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 28 is the front view of expression developer container 130.

Figure 29 is the left side view of expression developer container 130.

Figure 30 is the front view of expression container body 131.

Figure 31 is the left side view of expression container body 131.

Figure 32 is the right side view of expression main body container 131.

Figure 33 is the skeleton view of expression the 3rd container portions 135.

Figure 34 will amplify the front view of expression near the 3rd container portions 135.

Figure 35 A is the cut-open view that the profile line S351-S351 from Figure 34 sees, Figure 35 B is the cut-open view that the profile line S352-S352 from Figure 34 sees.

Figure 36 is the front view of expression support component 132.

Figure 37 is the right side view of expression support component 132.

Figure 38 is the decomposition right side view of expression support component 132.

Figure 39 is the cut-open view that the S39-S39 from Figure 37 sees.

Figure 40 A is the front view of expression seal 147, and Figure 40 B is the figure of expression perpendicular to the section of the circumferencial direction of seal 147.

Figure 41 is the front view of the state of expression assembling developer container 130.

Figure 42 is the cut-open view that the profile line S42-S42 from Figure 41 sees.

Figure 43 is the cut-open view that the profile line S43-S43 from Figure 29 sees.

Figure 44 is the cut-open view that the profile line S44-S44 from Figure 28 sees.

Figure 45 A and Figure 45 B are the figure that a part of XLV of Figure 44 is amplified expression.

Figure 46 A and Figure 46 B are the figure that is used to illustrate the action before the developer of container body 131 along around the sense of rotation R rotation of rotation L131 the time, in the 3rd container portions 135 of container body 131 is directed to the via 151 of support component 132.

Figure 47 A and Figure 47 B are the figure that is used to illustrate the action before the developer of container body 131 along around the sense of rotation R rotation of rotation L131 the time, in the 3rd container portions 135 of container body 131 is directed to the via 151 of support component 132.

Figure 48 is that expression is from the amount of the developer of developer container 130 discharges and the chart of the relation between the time.

Figure 49 is that expression is from the amount of the developer of developer container 130 discharges and the chart of other relations between the time.

Figure 50 is the cut-open view of the image processing system 70A of expression the 4th embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 51 will amplify the cut-open view of expression near the toner case 172.

Figure 52 will amplify the vertical view that shows near the toner case 172.

Figure 53 amplifies the skeleton view of expression with main body side connecting portion 183.

Figure 54 is the cut-open view of the image processing system 70B of the 5th embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 55 will amplify the cut-open view of expression near the toner case 172.

Figure 56 will amplify the vertical view that shows near the toner case 172.

Figure 57 A～Figure 57 C is the vertical view that schematically is illustrated on the image processing system main body 71 change action of baffle portion 165 when carrying developer container 130 and main body baffle portion 197.

Figure 58 is the cut-open view of expression as image processing system 2 first prior art, that toner cartridge 1 is installed.

Figure 59 is the cut-open view with near the amplification expression development section 3 of toner cartridge 1 and image processing system 2.

Figure 60 is the cut-open view of expression as the toner bottle 15 of second prior art, and Figure 60 B is the skeleton view of the above-mentioned toner bottle 15 of expression.

Figure 61 is the skeleton view of expression as the developer replenishing container 20 of the 3rd prior art.

Figure 62 is the skeleton view of expression as the toner cartridge 25 of the 4th prior art.

Embodiment

Below preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is the skeleton view of the developer container 30 of expression first embodiment of the present invention.Fig. 2 is the front view of expression developer container 30.Fig. 3 is the side view of expression developer container 30.Developer container 30 comprises container body 31 and support component 32.Container body 31 is formed roughly cylindricly, deposits the developers such as toner that the image that is used for the electrofax mode forms.Support component 32 is supported for container body 31 can rotate freely around its axis L31.Developer container 30 for example can be deposited the developer of 1400 grams.

Fig. 4 is the front view of expression container body 31.Container body 31 comprises first container portions 33, second container portions 34 and link 35.The length dimension A0 of the axis L31 direction of container body 31 for example can be 450 millimeters.

Fig. 5 is the front view of expression first container portions 33.Fig. 6 is the right side view of expression first container portions 33.First container portions 33 has been formed the round-ended cylinder shape.The length dimension A33 of first container portions, 33 axis directions for example can be 150 millimeters.First container portions 33 is provided with first projection tab 36 in interior perimembranous, and this first projection tab 36 is side-prominent in radial direction, and from as the bottom 33a of an end of axis direction to as the open end 33b of axis direction the other end in the shape of a spiral shape extend.If first projection tab 36 is described in detail then following formation: from bottom 33a, from bottom 33a to open end 33b, with the axis L33 of first container portions 33 as center and the mode that turns clockwise in the shape of a spiral shape extend.The pitch A1 of first projection tab 36 for example can be 30 millimeters.Overhang A2 from the nubbin of perimembranous in first projection tab 36 to the radial direction inboard for example can be 6 millimeters in addition.

Form fitting projection 37 at the bottom 33a of first container portions 33 as connecting portion, from open end 33b to outstanding towards the direction of bottom 33a.Fitting projection 37 is elaborated, and is formed: the section perpendicular to the axis L33 of first container portions 33 is crosswise, and cross section is by axis L33.Fitting projection 37 for example can be 8 millimeters from the nubbin of the bottom 33a overhang A3 to axis L33 direction.The face 33c that outer peripheral face and end face are communicated with among the bottom 33a of this external first container portions 33 is formed: the curved surface shape that tilts to the radial direction inboard gradually from open end 33b to bottom 33a.Be provided with peripheral part the position at interval near bottom 33a at end face, the outstanding and flange part 38 of full Zhou Yanshen along the circumferential direction to the radial direction outside is set from the open end 33b of first container portions 33.In addition, from the end face of the open end 33b of first container portions 33 peripheral part, carve and establish external thread through above-mentioned flange part 38.This first container portions 33 also can form by synthetic resin blow molding manufacturings such as for example tygon.

Fig. 7 is the front view of expression second container portions 34.Fig. 8 is the left side view of expression second container portions 34.First container portions 33 has been formed the round-ended cylinder shape.The length dimension A34 of second container portions, 34 axis directions for example can be 215 millimeters.Second container portions 34 is provided with second projection tab 39 in interior perimembranous, and this second projection tab 39 is side-prominent in radial direction, and from as the bottom 34a of axis direction the other end to as the open end 34b of an end of axis direction in the shape of a spiral shape extend.If second projection tab 39 is described in detail then following formation: from bottom 34a, from bottom 34a to open end 34b, with the axis L34 of second container portions 34 as center and the mode that is rotated counterclockwise in the shape of a spiral shape extend.Second projection tab 39 is extended to the direction of first projection tab, 36 contraries.The pitch A4 of second projection tab 39 for example can be 30 millimeters.Overhang A5 from the nubbin of perimembranous in second projection tab 39 to the radial direction inboard for example can be 6 millimeters in addition.

The face 34c that outer peripheral face and end face are communicated with in the bottom 34a of second container portions 34 is formed: the curved surface shape that tilts to the radial direction inboard gradually from open end 34b to bottom 34a.Be provided with peripheral part the position at interval near bottom 34a at end face, the outstanding and flange part 40 of full Zhou Yanshen along the circumferential direction to the radial direction outside is set from the open end 34b of second container portions 34.In addition, from the end face of the open end 34b of second container portions 34 peripheral part, carve and establish external thread through above-mentioned flange part 40.This second container portions 34, similarly manufactured with first container portions 33.

Second container portions 34 is at the length dimension A34 of axis direction, and is longer at the length dimension A33 of axis direction than first container portions 33, for example is made as long more than 30 millimeters or 30 millimeters.First container portions 33 for example can be 150 millimeters at the length dimension A33 of axis direction, and second container portions 34 for example can be 210 millimeters at the length dimension A34 of axis direction.In addition, first container portions 33 remove the interior perimembranous of first projection tab 36 inside diameter D 33, and second container portions 34 remove the inside diameter D 34 of the interior perimembranous of second projection tab 39, for example can be 105 millimeters.

Fig. 9 is the skeleton view of expression link 35.Figure 10 is the front view of expression link 35.Figure 11 is the cut-open view of expression link 35.Figure 11 is the cut-open view that the profile line S11-S11 from Figure 10 sees.Link 35 roughly is formed cylindric.Link 35 if tell about in detail, then comprises link main body 41 and scrapes and raise parts 42.Link main body 41 comprises first cylindrical portion 43, second cylindrical portion 44 and rib 45.First cylindrical portion 43 and second cylindrical portion 44 are formed cylindric.Carve in the interior perimembranous of first cylindrical portion 43 and second cylindrical portion 44 and to establish internal thread.Link 35 for example can be 80 millimeters at the length dimension A35 of axis direction.

Rib 45 haply, is formed roughly crosswise perpendicular to the section shape of the axis direction of axis L35.First cylindrical portion 43 is fixed in an end at the axis direction of rib 45, fixes the=two cylindrical portion 44 in the other end of axis direction, is provided with on axis direction at interval with above-mentioned first cylindrical portion 43.Rib 45, detailed says, comprises that axial region 46, first stirs sheet material 47a, second and stirs sheet material 47b, the 3rd stirring sheet material 47c and the 4th stirring sheet material 47d.Axial region 46 is formed roughly cylindric, the axis coaxle of its axis and rib 45.

First～the 4th stirs sheet material 47a～47d, roughly is formed tabular.First～the 4th stirs sheet material 47a～47d, to be fixed on axial region from axial region 46 to the outstanding mode in the radial direction outside.With reference to Figure 11, from an end of the axis direction of rib 45 when axis direction is seen, second stirs sheet material 47b, be configured in and be rotated counterclockwise on the position of an angle of 90 degrees around axis L35 from the first stirring sheet material 47a, the 3rd stirs sheet material 47c, be configured in and stir sheet material 47b from second and be rotated counterclockwise around axis L35 on the position of an angle of 90 degrees, the 4th stirs sheet material 47d, is configured in to stir sheet material 47c from the 3rd and be rotated counterclockwise on the position of an angle of 90 degrees around axis L35.

First～the 4th stirs the part of sheet material radial direction outboard end 47a～47d, that be positioned at rib 45 and axis direction central portion, compares with remainder and keeps out of the way in the radial direction inboard.In other words, first～the 4th stirs sheet material 47a～47d, is formed the roughly U font of opening to the radial direction outside of rib 45.In addition, first～the 4th stirs the part of an end of direction, sheet material radial direction outboard end 47a～47d, that be positioned at rib 45 axis, is fixed on the interior perimembranous of first cylindrical portion 43.In addition, first～the 4th stirs the part of direction the other end, sheet material radial direction outboard end 47a～47d, that be positioned at rib 45 axis, is fixed on the interior perimembranous of second cylindrical portion 44.

Scrape and raise parts 42, be the rectangular sheet component of rubber-like, for example constitute by polyethylene terephthalate macromolecule resins such as (being called for short PET).In the present embodiment, being provided with 2 scrapes and raises parts 42.Scrape for one and raise parts 42 and be set to: one end thereof, be fixed on the radial direction outboard end that second between first cylindrical portion 43 and second cylindrical portion 44 stirs sheet material 47b by cementing agent, and stir sheet material 47b from second and stir roughly extension along the circumferential direction of sheet material 47a to first.Another is scraped and raises parts 42 and be set to: be fixed on the free end that the 4th between first cylindrical portion 43 and second cylindrical portion 44 stirs sheet material 47d by cementing agent, and stir sheet material 47d from the 4th and stir sheet material 47c to the 3rd and roughly along the circumferential direction extend.Respectively scrape the free end 42a that raises parts 42, in the mode of giving prominence to the radial direction outside, with respect to the remainder bending from first and second

cylindrical portion

43,44.

From being fixed on the end of respectively scraping the mixing component of raising parts 42 length, be set to that to stir the length of circumferencial direction of first and second

cylindrical portion

43,44 of sheet material 47b through second short than stirring sheet material 47a from first to free end 42a.Therefore between first cylindrical portion 43 and second cylindrical portion 44 of link 35, at least the second stirs sheet material 47b and the 3rd stirs between sheet material 47c, reaches between the 4th stirring sheet material 47d and the first stirring sheet material 47a, is in and is provided with the identical state of state of the exhaust opening that connects at radial direction.

Then with reference to Fig. 4, make external thread engagement, thereby releasably the end of axis direction of link 35 and the open end 33b of first container portions 33 are connected as the open end 33b of the internal thread of first cylindrical portion 43 of the end of axis direction of link 35 and first container portions 33.In addition, make external thread engagement, thereby releasably the axis direction the other end of link 35 and the open end 34b of second container portions 34 are connected as the open end 34b of the internal thread of second cylindrical portion 44 of axis direction the other end of link 35 and second container portions 34.At this moment, the axis L34 of the axis L33 of first container portions 33, second container portions 34 and the axis L35 of link 35 carry out arranged coaxial.So, first container portions 33, second container portions 34 and link 35, releasably connected, when therefore for example all having discharged the developer of depositing, under any one consumption of first container portions 33, second container portions 34 and link 35 and damaged situation, can only change consumption and damaged part, and deposit developer once more, therefore the recycle that can improve developer container 30.

The bottom 33a of first container portions 33 becomes end 33a of axis direction of container body 31, and the bottom 34a of second container portions 34 becomes axis direction the other end 34a of container body 31.So connect first container portions 33, second container portions 34 and link 35, form container body 31.Under this external this state, link 35 is configured in the axis direction pars intermedia that container body 31 is removed axis direction both ends 33a, 34a.Therefore the exhaust opening of link 35 is configured in the axis direction pars intermedia that container body 31 is removed axis direction both ends 33a, 34a.The axis L31 of container body 31 is made of the axis L33 of first container portions 33, the axis L34 of second container portions 34 and the axis L35 of link 35.

Figure 12 is the front view of expression support component 32.Figure 13 is the right side view of expression support component 32.Support component 32 is formed roughly cylindricly, has interior perimembranous 48, and perimembranous 48 supports from the radial direction outside through full week in this: the part that comprises the link at least 35 of the container body 31 that as above constitutes.It is the cylinder inner peripheral surface at center that interior perimembranous 48 has with axis L32.Support component 32 comprises brace table 49 on the imaginary plane of L32 that parallels to the axis, this brace table 49 has the abutting part 49a more than at least 3 or 3.The abutting part 49a of brace table 49, the direction that for example also can be formed with the L32 that parallels to the axis is two rectangular planes of length direction.Can connect by abutting part 49a and the surface level that makes this brace table 49, and be configured to the axis L48 of the interior perimembranous 48 of support component 32 parallel with above-mentioned surface level.Support component 32 is set to bigger at the length dimension A35 of axis direction than link 35 at the length dimension A32 of axis direction.Support component 32 also can be for example 100 millimeters at the length dimension A32 of axis direction.

At the axis direction central portion of support component 32, form to the outstanding vertical outstanding discharge portion 50 in the radial direction outside of direction of brace table 49.Form via 51 at the axis direction central portion of discharge portion 50, these via 51 openings become at radial direction the oval shape that connects, extends to the direction of the axis L32 that is parallel to support component.The internal diameter of the length direction of via 51 is set to that to raise the axis direction size of free end 42a of parts 42 than scraping of link 35 little.Be set at support component 32 under the state of surface level 32, via 51 is above brace table 49, along connecting perpendicular to the axis L48 of the interior perimembranous 48 of support component 32 and the direction that is parallel to surface level.

On this external support component 32, form to conduct and the outstanding jut 52 in the discharge portion 50 rightabout radial directions outsides.Form first guide plate 53 on this external support component 32, this first guide plate 53, to as and the brace table 49 rightabout radial directions outsides outstanding, and parallel to the axis L32 and extend.And then at the central portion of brace table 49, serving as axle and above-mentioned first guide plate 53 axisymmetric positions with axis L32, form second guide plate 54, this second guide plate 54, outstanding to the radial direction outside identical with the outstanding direction of brace table 49, and extend along axis L32.Second guide plate 54, not outstanding to the radial direction outside from brace table 49.

Figure 14 is the decomposition plan view of expression support component 32.Figure 15 is the decomposition right side view of expression support component 32.Support component 32, under the state that is arranged at imaginary plane perpendicular to radial direction, surface level, can be divided into two by the imaginary plane that is parallel to surface level by axis L32, detailed says, can be divided in first support portion 55 above the above-mentioned imaginary plane and second support portion 56 below above-mentioned imaginary plane.

First support portion 55 comprises the part 48a of first guide plate, 53 sides of the part 52a of first guide plate, 53 sides of part 50a, jut 52 of first guide plate, 53 sides of first guide plate 53 in the support component 32, discharge portion 50 and interior perimembranous 48.Second support portion 56 comprises the part 48b of brace table 49 sides of the part 52b of brace table 49 sides of part 50b, jut 52 of brace table 49 sides of brace table 49 in the support component 32, second guide plate 54, discharge portion 50 and interior perimembranous 48.The part 50a of first guide plate, 53 sides of discharge portion 50 in first support portion 55 forms the groove 51a that is trapped in first guide plate, 53 sides.The part 50b of brace table 49 sides of discharge portion 50 in second support portion 56 forms the groove 51b that is trapped in brace table 49 sides.

First support portion 55 and second support portion 56 connect by screw component 57.Detailed says, the part 50a of first guide plate, 53 sides of discharge portion 50 in first support portion 55, with second support portion 56 in the part 50b of brace table 49 sides of discharge portion 50, connect by screw component 57, and the part 52a of first guide plate, 53 sides of jut 52 in first support portion 55, with second support portion 56 in the part 52b of brace table 49 sides of jut 52, connect by screw component 57.At this moment, the groove 51b by the part 50b of brace table 49 sides of discharge portion 50 in the groove 51a of the part 50a of first guide plate, 53 sides of discharge portion 50 in first support portion 55 and second support portion 56 forms via 51.

The cut-open view that Figure 16 sees for the profile line S16-S16 from Figure 13.End of axis direction in the interior perimembranous 48 of support component 32 is provided with first side-prominent in the radial direction protuberance 58, in axis direction the other end, second side-prominent in the radial direction protuberance 59 is set.The internal diameter of first protuberance 58 and second protuberance 59 is set to that to remove the external diameter of peripheral part of each

flange part

38,40 than first and

second container portions

33,34 big slightly.

In addition, in that another is distolateral near axis directions than above-mentioned first protuberance 58 of the end of axis direction of the interior perimembranous 48 of support component 32, with side-prominent in radial direction and be fixed with the first circular seal 60 through the mode of the full Zhou Yanshen of circumferencial direction.In addition, distolateral at above-mentioned second protuberance 59 near axis directions one than axis direction the other end of the interior perimembranous 48 of support component 32, with side-prominent in radial direction and be fixed with the second circular seal 61 through the mode of the full Zhou Yanshen of circumferencial direction.Detailed says, position at first seal 60 of interior perimembranous 48 that should fixed support part 32, formation is absorbed in and passes through the groove of the full Zhou Yanshen of circumferencial direction to the radial direction outside, be embedded in first seal 60 and second seal 61 at this groove, at least limit its displacement, and be fixed on the interior perimembranous 48 of support component 32 to axis direction.First and second seal 60,61, by rubber-like for example synthetic resin such as silicon rubber constitute.First and second protuberance 58,59 of the interior perimembranous 48 of support component 32 and first and second seal 60,61 and the internal diameter of removing the part of above-mentioned groove are set to bigger than the external diameter of first and second cylindrical portion 43,44 of link 35.

Figure 17 is the front view of the state of expression assembling developer container 30.Figure 18 is the cut-open view that the profile line S18-S18 from Figure 17 sees.Before assembling developer container 30, support component 32 is divided into first support portion 55 and second support portion 56.By first support portion 55 and second support portion 56, the part from the radial direction outside to the link 35 that comprises container body 31 is seized on both sides by the arms.Under this state, connect first support portion 55 and second support portion 56 by screw component 57.So, container body 31 is supported from the radial direction outside through full week by support component 32.

Figure 19 is the cut-open view that the profile line S19-S19 from Fig. 3 sees.Figure 20 is the cut-open view that the profile line S20-S20 from Fig. 2 sees.Under the state that container body 31 is supported by support component 32, the axis L32 of the axis L31 of container body 31 and the interior perimembranous 48 of support component 32, complete or basically identical, container body 31 can rotate freely around axis L31 with respect to support component 32.After, the axis L31 with container body 31 is expressed as rotation L31 sometimes.Under this state, when the brace table 49 with support component 32 was arranged on the surface level, first and

second container portions

33,34 of container body 31 was left from surface level, and surface level becomes parallel with rotation L31.

Support component 32 is configured between two

flange parts

38,40 of container body 31.First protuberance 58 of the flange part 38 of first container portions 33 and support component 32 at the interval of axis L31 direction and second protuberance 59 of the flange part 40 of second container portions 34 and support component 32 at the interval of axis L31 direction, be set to little to the degree that can stop developer to pass through.This moment, container body 31 with respect to support component 32, can stop its displacement to rotation L31 one side and the opposing party.

First protuberance 58 of support component 32 is configured between the end face of axis direction one end of the flange part 38 of first container portions 33 and link 35.The inner peripheral surface of first protuberance 58 of support component 32, with axis direction the other end 33b of first container portions 33 in opposite directions.Second protuberance 59 of support component 32 is configured between the end face of the axis direction other end of the flange part 40 of second container portions 34 and link 35.The interval of axis direction the other end 33b of the inner peripheral surface of first protuberance 58 and first container portions 33 and the interior week of second protuberance 59 and and the interval of axis direction the other end 34b of second container portions 34, be set to little to the degree that can stop developer to pass through.

First seal 60 flexibly is connected to the peripheral part of link 35 through full week of circumferencial direction from the radial direction outside, detailed says, is connected to the outer peripheral face of first cylindrical portion 43 of link 35.Second seal 61 flexibly is connected to the peripheral part of link 35 through full week of circumferencial direction from the radial direction outside, detailed says, is connected to the outer peripheral face of second cylindrical portion 44 of link 35.So between the peripheral part of first seal 60 and link 35 and between the peripheral part of second seal 61 and link 35, realized sealing, link 35 can be free to slide with respect to first and

second seal

60,61.

Link 35 respectively scrape the free end 42a that raises parts 42, flexibly be connected on the interior perimembranous 48 of support component 32 of 61 of first seal 60 and second seals.At this moment, respectively scrape and raise the remainder that parts 42 are removed its free end 42b, leave, raise parts 42 and remove between the interior perimembranous 48 of the remainder of its free end 42a and support component 32 scraping, form space 62 from the interior perimembranous 48 of support component 32.Scrape and raise parts 42 and remove the wideest interval A62 in the interval of interior perimembranous 48 of the remainder of its free end 42a and support component 32, for example be set to 8 millimeters.So, between the free end 42a that respectively the scraping of link 35 raised parts 42 and the interior perimembranous 48 of support component 32, realized sealing, free end 42a can be free to slide with respect to interior perimembranous 48.

Figure 21 is the cut-open view when cutting off the developer container 30 of depositing developer by the imaginary plane that comprises rotation L31.The brace table 49 of support component 32 is arranged on the surface level, is depositing under the state of developer, the interior space of container body 31, form following 2 layers: developer layer 63 is occupied by developer; Gas blanket 64 is occupied by the gas of developer layer 63 tops.

Making container body 31, to second container portions 34, is that center be rotated counterclockwise with rotation L31 from first container portions 33.At this moment, the developer of the developer layer 63 of first container portions 33 by first projection tab 36, along axis L31, is being carried from the first throughput direction C1 of first container portions 33 to link 35.In addition, the developer of the developer layer 63 of second container portions 34 by second projection tab 39, along axis L31, is being carried from the second throughput direction C2 of second container portions 34 to link 35 at this moment.So in link 35, conflict mutually to the developer of the first throughput direction C1 with to the developer of the second throughput direction C2, stir developer thus.Be transported to the developer of the link 35 of container body 31, offer the interior perimembranous 48 of support component 32 via link 35.

When the supplying developing agent, developer is applied from the interior perimembranous of first and

second container portions

33,34 of comprising first and

second projection tab

36,39 power to link 35.Leave the amount of developer of container body 31 in when a lot, be configured in overhang A2, A5 with interior developer from the interior perimembranous of first and

second container portions

33,34 to the radial direction inboard of first and

second projection tab

36,39, mainly be stirred by container body 31 rotations, in container body 31, keep balance.

Figure 22 is the cut-open view when cutting off the developer container 30 of depositing developer by the imaginary plane perpendicular to rotation L31.By making container body 31 rotation in link 35 developer of conflict, stir sheet material 47a～47d by first～the 4th of the rib 45 of link 35, stir with the gas of gas blanket 64.As mentioned above, first～the 4th stirs the part of sheet material radial direction outboard end 47a～47d, that be positioned at rib 45 axis direction central portion, compares with remainder and keeps out of the way in the radial direction inboard.Can keep the predetermined strength of rib 45 thus, and reduce the contact area with the developer of the developer layer 63 that conflicts from circumferencial direction by rotating, reduction is from the resistance of the developer of developer 63.

Be transported to the developer of link 35, be provided for the interior perimembranous 48 of support component 32 via link 35, and flow in the space 62 as maintaining part, the remainder of removing its free end 42a in the parts 42 is raised and interior perimembranous 48 interlocks of support component 32 form by scraping in this space 62.Flow into the developer in above-mentioned space 62, be accompanied by the rotation of container body 31, and keep, and scrape along the interior perimembranous 48 of support component 32 by scraping the free end 42a that raises parts 42 and to raise by scraping the interior perimembranous of raising parts 42 and support component 32.So the amount of the developer that keeps in above-mentioned space 62 for example is about 6 grams.The developer in above-mentioned space 62 carries out angular displacement around rotation L31, and is transported to towards the position of the via 51 of support component 32, and discharges to exterior guiding via via 51 under this state.Owing to so discharge developer, so the amount of developer in the container body 31, even the amount of upper surface 63a below via 51 of developer layer 63, developer also can be raised parts 42 and discharges from via 51 by scraping.Can all discharge the developer that leaves in the developer container 30 thus as much as possible.

As above, according to the developer container 30 of present embodiment, can pass through support component 32 stable support container bodies 31, and it is rotated around rotation L31.With deposit developer as the container cylindraceous of prior art and so on so that its axis normal is established when placing the danger that exists the developer of container below to condense in the mode of surface level is upright.In order to prevent condensing of this developer as far as possible, with said vesse so that its parallel axes after the mode of surface level is arranged on the surface level, makes said vesse rotation.In the developer container 30 of present embodiment, be arranged on the surface level by brace table 49 support component 32, the axis L31 that can make container body 31 is parallel to surface level and with its stable configuration.In addition,, also can for example under the state of having closed via 51, make container body 31 rotations, easily stir developer and be powdery by the user even the developer that leaves in the developer container 30 partly condenses.

And then, outer peripheral face and end face are communicated with among axis direction both ends 33a, the 34a of container body 31

face

33c, 34c, be formed the curved surface shape that tilts to the radial direction inboard as mentioned above, even therefore the axis direction both ends 33a of container body 31, any one of 34a are arranged on the surface level, and so that axis L31 perpendicular to the mode of surface level with developer container 30 upright being located on the surface level, also be not easy to topple over.Therefore the user can be prevented so that axis L31 places developer container 30, the principal element that the developer that minimizing is deposited condenses perpendicular to upright the establishing of the mode of surface level.

According to the developer 30 of present embodiment, support component 32 passes through the part that comprises link 35 complete all support vessels main bodys 31 at least from the radial direction outside in addition.And then seal 60,61 is set between container body 31 and support component 32, even therefore container body 31 rotations can prevent that also developer from spilling between container body 31 and support component 32.

Figure 23 is the cut-open view of the image processing system 70 of expression second embodiment of the present invention.Figure 24 will amplify the cut-open view of expression near the toner case 72.Figure 25 will amplify the vertical view of expression near the toner case 72.Figure 23 is the cut-open view of seeing from front externally mounted part 71 sides of image processing system 70, for easy understanding, omits its thickness.So-called front externally mounted part 71a, when typically referring to the user and utilizing image processing system 70 towards user's part.So-called back side externally mounted part 71b is meant: in image processing system 70, from being in the user of above-mentioned front externally mounted part 71a side, be positioned at the part of reverse side with respect to above-mentioned front externally mounted part 71a.Suppose that in addition image processing system 70 is set on the surface level, then the direction from front externally mounted part 71a to back side externally mounted part 71b is that both forward and reverse directions E is parallel to surface level.

The image processing system 70 of electrophotographic recording such as printing equipment and copy device mode comprises above-mentioned developer container 30 and image processing system main body (simply being expressed as " apparatus main body " later on) 71.Developer container 30 via the container loading hatch (not shown) of the freely openable of the front externally mounted part 71a that is arranged on apparatus main body 71, and releasably is installed on the toner case 72 that apparatus main body 71 had.In addition, image processing system main body 71 is provided with basket face portion 93 in the side than the close back side externally mounted part 71b of front externally mounted part 71a, is formed on the peristome that thickness direction connected and can insert logical developer container 30.The image processing system main body 71 in addition, in the side than the close front externally mounted part 71a of the back side externally mounted part 71b basket back side portion 94 are set.By the basket (all not illustrating) that comprises basket face portion 93 and basket back side portion 94, keep the various structures of image processing system main body 71.

Toner case 72 comprises housing 73, developer replenishing portion 74, mixing component 75 and donor rollers 76.The interior space of housing 73 is divided into container receiving space 77 and stirring space 78 at least by developer replenishing portion 74.Container receiving space 77, the front externally mounted part 71a of facing device main body 71 opens.Stirring space 78 is spaces of closing haply.Developer container 30 is configured in the said vesse receiving space 77.

At upper wall portions 73a, form first guide recess 79 that is absorbed in upward and extends along the both forward and reverse directions E of apparatus main body 71 towards the housing 73 of container receiving space 77.First guide recess 79, can be at its length direction, in other words parallel with the both forward and reverse directions E of apparatus main body 71, from front externally mounted part 71a to the installation direction E1 of the direction of back side externally mounted part 71b and as and the rightabout disengaging direction of installation direction E1 E2, first guide plate 53 with the support component 32 of developer container 30 carries out chimeric slidably.This is external with on the above-mentioned upper wall portions 73a lower wall portion 73b in opposite directions of the housing 73 of container receiving space 77, forms second guide recess 80 that is absorbed in and extends along the both forward and reverse directions E of apparatus main body 71 downwards.Second guide recess 80 can be at length direction, in other words at the installation direction E1 of apparatus main body 71 and break away from direction E2, and second guide plate 54 with the support component 32 of developer container 30 carries out chimeric slidably.

Developer replenishing portion 74 is that the interior space segmentation with housing 73 is the plate-shaped member of container receiving space 77 and stirring space 78, is provided with at its thickness direction and connects intercommunicating pore 81 with connection container receiving space 77 and stirring space 78.The below of the intercommunicating pore 81 of this external developer replenishing portion 74 is provided with to the outstanding guide member 82 of container receiving space 77.

Figure 26 amplifies the skeleton view of expression with main body side connecting portion 83.Driving force from the container body 31 rotations drive sources such as motor 84 of apparatus main body 71, that be used to make developer container 30 is delivered to main body side connecting portion 83 via reduction gear such as gear 85.Main body side connecting portion 83 comprises turning axle 86, connects bearing 87 and spring members 88.Turning axle 86, its axis L86 is parallel to the both forward and reverse directions E of apparatus main body 71, can insert axis with rotating freely and hold portion 89, its free end is configured in the container receiving space 77, described bearing portion 89 is set to: connect basket back side portion 94 as the back wall portion of the housing 73 of the back side externally mounted part 71b side of apparatus main body 71 at thickness direction.

Connect bearing 87, be formed roughly discoidly,, rotate freely around axis L86, be connected with the free end of turning axle 86 with turning axle 86 one towards container receiving space 77.Connect bearing 87, with the surface element opposite surfaces 87a of portion towards basket back side portion 94, be formed on axis L86 and go up intersection and roughly be the gomphosis groove 90 that crosswise extends.This gomphosis groove 90 can embed the fitting projection 37 of container body 31.Connect bearing 87 in addition, can on the axis direction of turning axle 86, freely be shifted, and can not come off from the free end of turning axle 86.The spring members of realizing by compression helical spring etc. 88 in addition, be configured between basket back side portion 94 and the connection bearing 87, connection bearing 87 applies the spring force to the direction of leaving from basket back side portion 94, and can not hinder the rotation of turning axle 86 and connection bearing 87.End 33a of axis direction of the fitting projection 37 of the container body 31 by comprising developer container 30 and main body side connecting portion 83 be connected bearing 87, form coupler structure.

When being installed in developer container 30 on the apparatus main body 71, make rotation L31 parallel with installation direction E1, the front externally mounted part 71a from apparatus main body 71 is inserted in the container receiving space 77 of toner case 72 with developer container 30.First guide plate 53 of the support component 32 of developer container 30 is chimeric with first guide recess 79 of housing 73 at this moment, and second guide plate 54 of support component 32 is chimeric with second guide recess 80 of housing 73, stops support component 32 to the displacement of removing installation direction E1 and disengaging direction E2 direction in addition.Under this state, make developer container 30 in installation direction E1 displacement, it is configured in the installation site, this installation site is the position that the intercommunicating pore 81 of the via 51 of discharge portion 50 of support component 32 and developer replenishing portion 74 is communicated with.Main body side connecting portion 83 connection bearing 87 was pressed to installation direction E1 by the fitting projection 37 of container body 31 and shrank back this moment, thus compression spring part 88.

In toner case 72, developer container 30 is being configured under the state of installation site, limiting part (not shown) is set, carry out support component 32 to the restriction of the displacement of installation direction E1 and disengaging direction E2 and the releasing of restriction.Baffle plate (not shown) is set on the discharge portion 50 of the support component 32 of this external developer container 30, this baffle plate, under the state that developer container 30 breaks away from from apparatus main body 71, the via 51 of blocking discharge portion 50, be installed at developer container 30 under the state of installation site of apparatus main body 71, remove the blocking of the via 51 of discharge portion 50, the intercommunicating pore of the developer replenishing portion 74 of above-mentioned via 51 and toner case 72 is communicated with.All discharge when leaving the developer of developer container 30 in, the user removes the restriction of being undertaken by above-mentioned limiting part to support component 32, make developer container 30 to breaking away from direction E2 displacement, developer container 30 is broken away from from apparatus main body 71.

Can be by the discharge portion 50 of carrying support component 32 on the guide member 82 of toner case 72, the intercommunicating pore 81 that carries out the developer replenishing portion 74 of the via 51 of discharge portion 50 of support component 32 and toner case 72 cooperates in the position of above-below direction.In addition, around the via 51 of the discharge portion 50 of the support component 32 of developer container 30 and the developer replenishing portion 74 of toner case 72 around the intercommunicating pore 81 of container receiving space 77 at least any one, seal (not shown) is set, is used to prevent to escape to outside the stirring space 78 to the developer that intercommunicating pore 81 flows down from via 51.

As shown in figure 25, in apparatus main body 71, development section 200 is configured in the central portion of both forward and reverse directions E.This be because, the photosensitive drums 202 of apparatus main body 71 is configured in both forward and reverse directions E central portion on the apparatus main body 71.Be used to make drive divisions such as the drive source 84 of main body side connecting portion 83, mixing component 75 and donor rollers 76 rotations and reduction gear 85 in addition, be configured in the apparatus main body 71 between the basket back side portion 94 and back side externally mounted part 71b.Therefore be configured under the state of installation site at developer container 30, the support component 32 of developer container 30 is configured in the both forward and reverse directions E central portion of apparatus main body 71.In developer container 30, as mentioned above, the length dimension of the end face from the support component 32 of container body 31 to an end 33a of axis direction who forms fitting projection 37 is formed littler than the length dimension of the end face from support component 32 to axis direction the other end 34a.

For example at the toner bottle 15 of first prior art shown in Figure 60 A and 60B, be provided with the peristome 18 of discharging developer and being connected with drive source at end 15a of axis direction, in the case, above-mentioned peristome 18 is configured near the developer replenishing mouth, is the both forward and reverse directions central portion in the image processing system main body.At this moment, the size of the axis direction of existing toner bottle 15 is set to the size of face portion according to the both forward and reverse directions central portion from the image processing system main body, therefore is difficult to make the capacity of container to become big.

In the developer container 30 of the image processing system 70 of embodiment of the present invention, support component 32 is configured in the axis direction substantial middle portion of container body 31, therefore under the state of the installation site in being installed in image processing system main body 71, support component 32 is configured in the both forward and reverse directions E central portion in the apparatus main body 71.Make container body 31 be stretched over face portion thus, and be stretched over the back side from both forward and reverse directions E central portion from the both forward and reverse directions E central portion of apparatus main body 71, thus can make its with existing toner bottle 15 mutually specific storage become very big.In the present embodiment, as shown in figure 25, axis direction the other end 34a of developer container 30 stretches out to front externally mounted part 71a side from basket face portion 93.

In addition by making length dimension from the support component 32 of container body 31 to the end face of an end 33a of axis direction, length dimension than the end face from support component 32 to axis direction the other end 34a is little, thereby can guarantee to be provided with in the back side of apparatus main body 71 one the zone of drive division, this drive division comprises drive source 84 and the reduction gear 85 that is connected with the fitting projection 37 of the end 33a of axis direction of container body 31.So developer container 30 has played following two impayable effects: effectively utilized the space in the apparatus main body 71, and increased the amount of storage of developer as much as possible.

So developer container 30 is being configured under the state of installation site, drive source 84 driven make when connecting bearing 87 rotations, under the chimeric state of the fitting projection 37 of gomphosis groove 90 that connects bearing 87 and developer container 30, container body 31 is rotated around rotation L31.In addition, do not have under the chimeric state at the gomphosis groove 90 that connects bearing 87 and the fitting projection 37 of developer container 30, before the fitting projection 37 of gomphosis groove 90 that connects bearing 87 and developer container 30 is chimeric, in during not long, only connect bearing 87 and produce angular displacement, connect the fitting projection 37 of the gomphosis groove 90 of bearing 87 and developer container 30 when chimeric, apply spring force by spring members 88, the gomphosis groove 90 that connects bearing 87 closely carries out chimeric with the fitting projection 37 of developer container 30.Container body 31 rotates around rotation L31.So the container body 31 by developer container 30 rotates around rotation L31, thereby will leave the developer in the developer container 30 in, via the intercommunicating pore 81 of the developer replenishing portion 74 of the via 51 of the discharge portion 50 of support component 32 and toner case 72, supply to stirring space 78 and leave in wherein.

Mixing component 75 and donor rollers 76 are provided with mutually at interval and extend at the both forward and reverse directions E of apparatus main body 71, and be configured in the stirring space 78.Mixing component 75 can rotate freely around the stirring axis L75 that is parallel to both forward and reverse directions E, has along stirring axis L75 direction to extend and have flexible parts 91 that scrape.Mixing component 75 in addition, by from the driving force that is arranged on the drive source 84 on the apparatus main body 71, see from the front of apparatus main body 71 to be rotated around the clockwise direction J1 that stirs axis L75.Donor rollers 76 can rotate freely around the supply axis L76 that is parallel to both forward and reverse directions E, and its outer circumferential surface section for example is made of the resin of porous matter such as sponge.Donor rollers 76 in addition, by from the driving force that is arranged at the drive source 84 on the apparatus main body 71, see from the apparatus main body front and to rotate around the clockwise direction J2 that stirs axis L76.

Be provided with the wall portion 92 of stirring, this stirs wall portion 92, stirring space towards toner case 72, be communicated with developer replenishing portion 74, both forward and reverse directions E along apparatus main body 71 extends, section shape perpendicular to the stirring axis L75 of mixing component 75 is roughly U word shape, is formed the part cylinder inner peripheral surface shape that open the top.The intercommunicating pore 81 of developer from 1 supplied in the stirring space 78, but the developer of discharging as mentioned above from developer container 30, not only be stirred but also mix and become fine powdery with gas, mobile fabulous, even therefore only supply with from intercommunicating pore 81, also can be in stirring space 78 to stirring the diffusion of axis L75 direction.Leave the developer in the stirring space 78 in,, in stirring space 78, further spread to stirring axis L75 direction by the stirring of mixing component 75.

During mixing component 75 rotation, stir from intercommunicating pore 81 and supply with and leave developer in the stirring space 78 in, and scrape parts 91, its free end with stir wall portion 92 butts, scrape and leave the developer in the stirring space 78 in and offer donor rollers 76.Therefore to donor rollers 76, roughly provide the developer of fine powdery equably in its axis L76 direction.Tail off even leave the surplus of the developer in the stirring space 78 in addition in, also still scrape and get and offer donor rollers 76, therefore can reduce the developer that remains in the stirring space 78, as far as possible up to offering donor rollers 76 by scraping parts 91.Offer the developer of donor rollers 76,, and supply to development section 200 with good state by the rotation of donor rollers 76.

Apparatus main body 71 also comprises development section 200, chart magazine 201, photosensitive drums 202, electro-mechanical part 203, laser explosure portion 204 and photographic fixing portion 205.Development section 200 is that toner and pre-prepd particle with magnetic are that carrier stirs to the developer of supplying with from toner case 72, generates two composition developing materials.

Chart magazine 201 is preserved and is used to form record images paper.Photosensitive drums 202 for be provided with the drum cylindraceous of photoreceptor at peripheral part, is rotated around its axis by the driving force from above-mentioned drive division.Electro-mechanical part 203, the photoreceptor that makes photosensitive drums 202 is charged and give photonasty.Laser explosure portion 204 exposes with the photoreceptor of laser image to charged photosensitive drums 202, forms electrostatic latent image on photoreceptor.

Development section 200 stirs two composition developing materials, and the photoreceptor of the photosensitive drums 202 that formed electrostatic latent image is supplied with two composition developing materials and developed, and forms the toner image corresponding with electrostatic latent image.Photosensitive drums 202 is transferred to the toner image of photosensitive drums 202 on the recording chart of sending from chart magazine 201.Photographic fixing portion 205, with transfer printing toner image photographic fixing on recording chart of recording chart of toner image.With the toner image photographic fixing and formed record images paper, on the row's of being discharged to paper disc 206.For the toner density that makes the two composition developing materials in the development section 200 is constant, donor rollers 76 forms its peripheral part by sponge, and further its rotation is controlled.Thus, donor rollers 76 supplies to development section 200 with an amount of toner under the state of attritive powder.

Below simply the container body 31 of this developer container 30 and the mixing component 75 of toner case 72 and the control of donor rollers 76 are described.Be arranged on the toner surplus test section 95 that stirs wall portion 92, detect the stirring space 78 that leaves toner case 72 in developer (after, be expressed as " toner " sometimes) when tailing off, not shown control part, drive source 84 is controlled, make container body 31 rotations of developer container 30, and toner is supplied to stirring space 78.Make container body 31 rotation preset times, also from toner surplus test section 95 detect the toner amount that leaves stirring space 78 in less than the time, control part, stop the rotation of container body 31, and show the information of representing to change developer container 30 at not shown display part, be notified to the user.Carve at this moment, in the stirring space 78 of toner case 72, deposited a considerable amount of developers.After the stirring space 78 of toner case 72 is deposited developer, the user will become empty developer container 30 and break away from from apparatus main body 71, and the new developer container 30 that will deposit developer is installed on the apparatus main body 71.Thus, even carrying out image at image processing system 70 on recording chart forms midway, because having deposited image in the stirring space 78 of toner case 72 forms needed developer, therefore form operation and just can carry out the supply of developer apparatus main body 71 without interrupt images.

In first prior art shown in this external Figure 59, need change not only the very big but also also very large toner cartridge 1 of weight of shape, but in the present embodiment, only changing developer container 30 gets final product, the user, as long as for example hold the support component 32 and second container portions 34 of developer container 30, from forming first container portions 33 of fitting projection 37, developer container 30 is got final product in installation direction E1 is inserted into the container receiving space 77 of toner case 72 from the basket face portion 93 of apparatus main body 71, very easy.In addition, with developer container 30 when apparatus main body 71 breaks away from, the user as long as hold second container portions 34 of developer container 30, pulls it and gets final product to breaking away from direction E2, and is very easy.

In addition, prevent to condense in order to stir the developer of depositing, be that the user shakes massive toner cartridge 1 up and down in the past, but in the developer container 30 of present embodiment, as long as the user is very easy to around rotation L31 rotary container main body 31.In the developer container 30 of present embodiment, be used to stir the formation of the developer of depositing in addition, compare very simple with existing toner cartridge 1.Developer container 30 in addition, between container body 31 and support component 32, realized sealing, and developer container 30 is installed under the situation of the installation site on the apparatus main body 71, around the via 51 of the discharge portion 50 that interconnects and the intercommunicating pore 81 of developer replenishing portion 74 around any one has realized sealing at least, therefore can prevent to spill developer at the container receiving space 77 of toner case 72 as far as possible.Therefore, when the user carries out the replacing of developer storing appearance 30, can prevent as much as possible that hand is developed agent and makes dirty.

Therefore developer container 30 in addition, are roughly cylindricly, can be housed in the elongated rectangular-shaped packing case, compare with the toner cartridge 1 of first prior art, transport and supply very easy.

Figure 27 is the skeleton view of the developer container 130 of expression third embodiment of the invention.Figure 28 is the front view of expression developer container 130.Figure 29 is the left side view of expression developer container 130.Developer container 130 comprises container body 131 and support component 132.Container body 131 is formed roughly cylindricly, deposits the developers such as toner that the image that is useful on the electrofax mode forms.Support component 132 is supported for container body 131 can rotate freely around its axis L131.Developer container 130 can be deposited for example developer of 1400 grams.After, the axis L131 with container body 131 is expressed as rotation L131 sometimes.

Figure 30 is the front view of expression container body 131.Figure 31 is the left side view of expression container body 131.Figure 32 is the right side view of expression container body 131.Container body 131 comprises first container portions 133, second container portions 134 and the 3rd container portions 135.The length dimension A131 of container body 131 axis L131 directions for example can be 458 millimeters.

First container portions 133 has been formed the round-ended cylinder shape.First container portions 133 for example can be 160 millimeters at the length dimension A133 of axis direction.First container portions 133, as shown in figure 30, perimembranous is provided with first projection tab 136 within it, this first projection tab 136, side-prominent in radial direction, and from extending on shape ground in the shape of a spiral to the open end 133b as axis direction the other end as the bottom 133a of an end of axis direction.If first projection tab 136 is described in detail then following formation: from the bottom 133a of first container portions 133, from bottom 133a to open end 133b, with the axis L133 of first container portions 133 as center and the mode that is rotated counterclockwise in the shape of a spiral shape extend.

At the bottom 133a of first container portions 133,, be formed on from open end 133b to the direction of bottom 133a outstanding fitting projection 137 and supply oral area 145 as connecting portion as Figure 30 and shown in Figure 31.Fitting projection 137 is formed with a plurality ofly, is two at the present embodiment shape.Supply oral area 145 is connecting in rotation L131 direction and opening be a mode with the coaxial circle of the axis L133 of first container portions 133, in the central portion formation of the bottom 133a of first container portions 133.On supply oral area 145, be equipped with form corresponding to its shape, can be at supply oral area 145 loading and unloading ground supplies lids 146, this supply lid 146, realized and the state of the sealing of 145 of supply oral areas under, can not break away from owing to the rotation of container body 131.By supply lid 146 is broken away from from supply oral area 145, and the interior space and the external space of connection container main body 131, can be in container body 131 under this state with developer supply.

Fitting projection 137, detailed says, is configured in the radial direction outside of supply oral area 145, serves as the axle position of symmetry mutually with the axis L133 of first container portions 133.Fitting projection 137, further detailed saying as shown in figure 31, is formed: from the bottom 133a of first container portions 133, with rotation L131 is that the clockwise sense of rotation at center is the upstream side part 137a of sense of rotation R, has the plane of extending perpendicular to circumferencial direction.The downstream part of the sense of rotation R of fitting projection 137 in addition is formed along with to the downstream of sense of rotation R and tilt to axis direction the other end gradually.Fitting projection 137 for example can be 8 millimeters from the remainder of the bottom 133a overhang A137 to axis L133 direction.This fitting projection 137 can (with reference to Figure 53) be loaded and unloaded on the main body side connecting portion 183 that is arranged at image processing system 70A described later, 70B.

The face 133c that outer peripheral face and end face are communicated with among the bottom 133a of this external first container portions 133 as shown in figure 30, is formed: the curved surface shape that tilts to the radial direction inboard gradually from open end 133b to bottom 133a.

Second container portions 134 has been formed the round-ended cylinder shape.The length dimension A134 of second container portions, 134 axis directions for example can be 210 millimeters.Second container portions 134, as shown in figure 30, perimembranous is provided with second projection tab 139 within it, this second projection tab 139, side-prominent in radial direction, and from as the bottom 134a of axis direction the other end to as the open end 134b of an end of axis direction in the shape of a spiral shape extend.If second projection tab 139 is described in detail then following formation: from the bottom 134a of second container portions 134, from bottom 134a to open end 134b, with the axis L134 of second container portions 134 as center and the mode that turns clockwise in the shape of a spiral shape extend.Promptly second projection tab 139 is oppositely extended and is formed with first projection tab 136.The pitch A11 of first projection tab 136 of first container portions 133 and second projection tab 139 of second container portions 134 for example can be 30 millimeters.Overhang A12 from the nubbin of the interior perimembranous of first projection tab 136 and second projection tab 139 to the radial direction inboard for example can be 6 millimeters in addition.

In the bottom 134a of second container portions 134, the face of outer peripheral face and end face connection is formed: the curved surface shape that tilts to the radial direction inboard gradually from open end 134b to bottom 134a at least.Detailed says, the end face 134c of the bottom 134a of second container portions 134 is formed its central part at the spherical calotte shape of giving prominence to the direction of bottom 134a from open end 134b.Be provided with peripheral part the position at interval near bottom 134a at end face, be provided with the compartment of terrain at circumferencial direction and be provided with a plurality ofly, be two in the present embodiment to the outstanding guide protrusion sheets 140 in the radial direction outside from the open end 134b of second container portions 134.Guide protrusion sheet 140 for example can be 2.5 millimeters in the size of axis direction.

Second container portions 134 is at the length dimension A134 of axis direction, and is longer at the length dimension A133 of axis direction than first container portions 133, for example is made as long more than 30 millimeters or 30 millimeters.As mentioned above, first container portions 133 for example can be 150 millimeters at the length dimension A133 of axis direction, and second container portions 134 for example can be 215 millimeters at the length dimension A134 of axis direction.In addition, first container portions 133 remove the interior perimembranous of first projection tab 136 inside diameter D 133, and second container portions 134 remove the inside diameter D 134 of the interior perimembranous of second projection tab 139, for example can be 105 millimeters.

Figure 33 is the skeleton view of expression the 3rd container portions 135.Figure 34 will amplify the front view of expression near the 3rd container portions 135.Figure 35 A is the cut-open view that the profile line S351-S351 from Figure 34 sees, Figure 35 B is the cut-open view that the profile line S352-S352 from Figure 34 sees.Simultaneously also with reference to Figure 30.The 3rd container portions 135 is formed roughly cylindric.The 3rd container portions 135, detailed says, at the axis direction pars intermedia of its peripheral part, the recess that is absorbed in to the radial direction inboard, i.e. first recess 141 and second recess 142 are set, and are provided with and are formed at exhaust opening 143 on first recess 141, that be used to discharge developer.The 3rd container portions 135 for example can be 80 millimeters at the length dimension A135 of axis direction.Remove the inside diameter D 135 of the 3rd container portions 135 of first recess 141 and second recess 142, it is big to be formed the inside diameter D 133, the D134 that liken to first container portions 133 of remainder and second container portions 134.Remove the inside diameter D 135 of the 3rd container portions 135 of first recess 141 and second recess 142, for example can be 110 millimeters.

First recess 141 extends and forms along sense of rotation R, and it is littler than the size A141 of sense of rotation R to be formed the size W141 of axis direction, has the end wall 141a that intersects with sense of rotation R in the end in sense of rotation R downstream.Exhaust opening 143 forms on the part of the end wall 141a in the sense of rotation downstream of first recess 141.Second recess 142 extends and forms along sense of rotation R, and it is littler than the size A142 of sense of rotation R to be formed the size W142 of axis direction, is provided with the compartment of terrain from first recess 141 to the circumferencial direction of the 3rd container portions 135 and is provided with.Preferably, first recess 141 is at the size A141 of sense of rotation R, is 1/4～1/2 of the outer perimeter of the 3rd container portions 135 of removing first recess 141 and second recess 142.First recess 141 for example can be 120 millimeters in the size of sense of rotation R, for example can be 30 millimeters at the size W141 of axis direction.Second recess 142 for example can be 30 millimeters at the size A142 of sense of rotation R in addition, for example can be 120 millimeters at the size W142 of axis direction.

First recess 141, detailed says, also has bottom wall portion 141b, the 141c of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion 141d.The bottom wall portion 141b of first recess 141, extend along sense of rotation R, its sense of rotation R end of downstream side is communicated with the radial direction inside part of end wall 141a, sense of rotation R upstream-side-end, with between first recess 141 and second recess 142, the peripheral part of removing the 3rd container portions 135 of first recess 141 and second recess 142 is communicated with smoothly.Sense of rotation R central portion between the sense of rotation R end of downstream side of the bottom wall portion 141b of first recess 141 and the sense of rotation R upstream-side-end, be configured in the radial direction inboard of the 3rd container portions 135 of removing first recess 141 and second recess 142, roughly forming with the axis L135 of the 3rd container portions 135 is the part drum of axis.The radius-of-curvature of the peripheral part of the sense of rotation R central portion of the bottom wall portion 141b of first recess 141 for example can be 49 millimeters.

The 141c of the first side wall portion of first recess 141, be configured in end side of axis direction of first recess 141, extend along sense of rotation R, its sense of rotation R end of downstream side is communicated with end of axis direction of end wall 141a, its radial direction inside part is communicated with end of axis direction of bottom wall portion 141b, and its radial direction Outboard Sections is communicated with the peripheral part of an end of axis direction of the 3rd container portions 135 of removing first recess 141 and second recess 142.The second side wall portion 141d of first recess 141, be configured in axis direction the other end side of first recess 141, extend along sense of rotation R, its sense of rotation R end of downstream side is communicated with axis direction the other end of end wall 141a, its radial direction inside part is communicated with axis direction the other end of bottom wall portion 141b, and its radial direction outboard end is communicated with the peripheral part of axis direction the other end of the 3rd container portions 135 of removing first recess 141 and second recess 142.The 141c of the first side wall portion of first recess and the second side wall portion 141d, to be provided with from the upright mode that is located at the radial direction outside of bottom wall portion 141b, bottom wall portion 141b is vertical with the 141c of the first side wall portion, and bottom wall portion 141b is vertical with the second side wall portion 141d in addition.

Exhaust opening 143, at the axis direction pars intermedia of the end wall 141a of first recess 141, near the radial direction outside, it is the oblong-shaped of length direction that opening becomes with the axis direction.So exhaust opening 143, in the end wall 141a of first recess 141, than the sense of rotation R end of downstream side of the bottom wall portion 141b of first recess 141 near the radial direction outside and than the sense of rotation R end of downstream side of the 141c of the first side wall portion near axis direction the other end and than the sense of rotation R end of downstream side of the second side wall portion 141d position opening near an end of axis direction.Further detailed saying, the face in the radial direction outside of exhaust opening 143 is communicated with smoothly with inner peripheral surface sense of rotation R downstream, that remove the 3rd container portions 135 of first recess 141 and second recess 142 of first recess 141.

Second recess 142, detailed says, has bottom wall portion 142b, the 142c of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion 142d.The bottom wall portion 142b of second recess 142, extend along sense of rotation R, its sense of rotation R upstream-side-end and end of downstream side, with between first recess 141 and second recess 142, the peripheral part of removing the 3rd container portions 135 of first recess 141 and second recess 142 is communicated with smoothly.Sense of rotation R central portion between the sense of rotation R end of downstream side of the bottom wall portion 142b of second recess 142 and the sense of rotation R upstream-side-end, be configured in the radial direction inboard of the 3rd container portions 135 of removing first recess 141 and second recess 142, roughly forming with the axis L135 of the 3rd container portions 135 is the part drum of axis.The radius-of-curvature of the peripheral part of the sense of rotation R central portion of the bottom wall portion 142b of second recess 142 for example can be 49 millimeters.

The second side wall portion 142c of second recess 142, be configured in end side of axis direction of second recess 142, extend along sense of rotation R, its radial direction inside part is communicated with end of axis direction of bottom wall portion 142b, and its radial direction Outboard Sections is communicated with the peripheral part of an end of axis direction of the 3rd container portions 135 of removing first recess 141 and second recess 142.The second side wall portion 142d of second recess 142, be configured in axis direction the other end side of second recess 142, its radial direction inside part is communicated with axis direction the other end of bottom wall portion 142b, and its radial direction outboard end is communicated with the peripheral part of axis direction the other end of the 3rd container portions 135 of removing first recess 141 and second recess 142.The 142c of the first side wall portion of second recess and the second side wall portion 142d, to be provided with from the upright mode that is located at the radial direction outside of bottom wall portion 142b, bottom wall portion 142b is vertical with the 142c of the first side wall portion, and bottom wall portion 142b is vertical with the second side wall portion 142d in addition.

Remove end of axis direction of first recess 141 and second recess 142 and the peripheral part of axis direction the other end in the 3rd container portions 135, as shown in figure 34, be provided with to the outstanding a plurality of discharge guide plates 144 in the radial direction outside, it is provided with mutually at interval in a circumferential direction, and equally spaced is configured in a circumferential direction.Be arranged at the discharge guide plate 144 of an end of axis direction of the 3rd container portions 135, detailed says, an end tilts to sense of rotation R gradually from axis direction the other end to axis direction.Be arranged at the discharge guide plate 144 of axis direction the other end of the 3rd container portions 135 in addition, detailed says, tilts to sense of rotation R gradually to axis direction the other end from end of axis direction.Remove the overhang of the peripheral part of first recess 141 and second recess 142 from the 3rd container portions 135, for example can be 1 millimeter to the radial direction outside of discharging guide plate 144.The lengthwise dimension of above-mentioned in addition discharge guide plate 144 for example can be 24 millimeters, discharges the length direction of guide plate 144 and the Width angulation φ of the 3rd container portions 136 and for example can be 30 degree.

Container body 131 connects the end of axis direction of the 3rd container portions 135 and the open end 133b of first container portions 133, and connects the axis direction the other end of the 3rd container portions 135 and the open end 134b of second container portions 134, thereby one-body molded.This container body 131 can form by synthetic resin blow molding manufacturings such as for example tygon.Container body 131 can be easily made thus, and the formation number of components and parts of developer container 130 can be reduced.

The bottom 133a of first container portions 133 becomes end 133a of axis direction of container body 131, and the bottom 134a of second container portions 134 becomes axis direction the other end 134a of container body 131.So, form container body 131 so that each axis L133, L134, the coaxial mode of L135 of first container portions 133, second container portions 134 and the 3rd container portions 135 connect it.Under this external this state, the 3rd container portions 135 is configured in the axis direction pars intermedia that container body 131 is removed axis direction both ends 133a, 134a.Therefore the first container recess 141, the second container recess 142 and the exhaust opening 143 of the 3rd container portions 135 are configured in the axis direction pars intermedia that container body 131 is removed axis direction both ends 133a, 134a.The axis L131 of container body 131 is made of the axis L133 of first container portions 133, the axis L134 of second container portions 134 and the axis L135 of the 3rd container portions 135.

Figure 36 is the front view of expression support component 132.Figure 37 is the right side view of expression support component 132.Support component 132 is formed roughly cylindricly, has interior perimembranous 148, and perimembranous 148 supports from the radial direction outside through full week in this: the part that comprises at least the three container portions 135 of the container body 131 that as above constitutes.It is the cylinder inner peripheral surface at center that interior perimembranous 148 has with axis L132.Support component 132 contains brace table 149 on the imaginary plane of L132 that parallels to the axis, this brace table 149 has the abutting part 149a more than at least 3 or 3.The abutting part 149a of brace table 149, the direction that for example also can be formed with the L132 that parallels to the axis is two rectangular planes of length direction.Can connect by abutting part 149a and the surface level that makes this brace table 149, and be configured to the axis L148 of the interior perimembranous 148 of support component 132 parallel with above-mentioned surface level.Support component 132 is set to bigger at the length dimension A135 of axis direction than the 3rd container portions 135 at the length dimension A132 of axis direction.Support component 132 for example can be 100 millimeters at the length dimension A132 of axis direction.

Brace table 149 being set under the planar state of level, on support component 132, a direction that forms at an upper portion thereof to a horizontal direction is the outstanding discharge portion 150 of direction F11 of first horizontal direction.The axis direction pars intermedia of support component 132 forms via 151 in discharge portion 150, this via 151, and a direction F11 connects along above-mentioned first horizontal direction, and opening is at the upwardly extending oval shape in the side of the axis L132 that is parallel to support component.The internal diameter of the length direction of via 151 is set to the size W142 more than or equal to the axis direction of the size W141 of the axis direction of first recess 141 of container body and second recess 142.

The discharge portion 150 of support component 132 is provided with the baffle portion 165 as the via opening/closing unit, and the opening in a direction F11 of first horizontal direction downstream of via 151 is switched to out state and closes state.Baffle portion 165 comprises baffle plate 165a and the 165b of baffle directs portion.The 165b of baffle directs portion, i.e. second horizontal direction extension of horizontal direction along perpendicular to above-mentioned first horizontal direction has via 151 in a direction B11 of second horizontal direction upstream-side-end.Baffle plate 165a is being supported on the 165b of baffle directs portion: can be free to slide displacement on the second horizontal direction other direction B12 that direction B11 of second horizontal direction reaches and direction B11 of above-mentioned second horizontal direction is reverse.

Baffle plate 165a, can be by along the 165b of baffle directs portion transitional slide, the opening that is configured in a direction F11 of first horizontal direction downstream shown in the double dot dash line of Figure 36, that make via 151 is to close closing position P1 and making the opening in a direction F11 of first horizontal direction downstream of via 151 be out the open position P2 of state of state.This outer baffle 165a, restriction is from closing the transitional slide of position P1 to the second horizontal direction other direction B12 downstream, and the transitional slide of restriction from a direction B11 of second horizontal direction end of downstream side of the 165b of baffle directs portion along a direction B11 of second horizontal direction.That is, open position P2 compares in a direction B11 of second horizontal direction downstream with closing position P1, and compares the upstream side at a direction B11 of second horizontal direction with a direction B11 of second horizontal direction end of downstream side of the 165b of baffle directs portion.So, baffle plate 165a is being disposed under the state that closes position P1, by being configured to open position P2 along a direction B11 of second horizontal direction transitional slide, under the state that is disposed at open position P2, close position P1 by being configured to along the second horizontal direction other direction B12 transitional slide.

In addition, support component 132 is provided with as the derivation parts 138 of lead-out unit and as the envelope of envelope stop element and ends sheet 166.Derive parts 138, for example constitute by polyethylene terephthalate macromolecule resins such as (being called for short PET), be formed and have flexible and flexible sheet, its anchor portion is set at the interior perimembranous of support component 132, and detailed saying is set at towards the part of a direction F11 of first horizontal direction upstream-side-end of the via 151 of support component 132.Envelope is ended sheet 166, is formed the sheet with flexibility that for example is made of tygon, and its anchor portion is set at towards the part of a direction F11 of first horizontal direction upstream-side-end of the via 151 of support component 132.The anchor portion that derives parts 138 is laminated in the upper surface part that envelope is ended the anchor portion of sheet 166.Sheet 166 is described in more detail to deriving parts 138 and only sealing later on.

On this external support component 132, form to two outstanding connection juts 152 of the radial direction outside.One connects jut 152, brace table 149 is being set to be configured in the top of discharge portion 150 under the planar state of level, and another connects jut 152, be configured in axis L132 serve as spool and with an above-mentioned position that is connected jut 152 symmetries.On this external support component 132, brace table 149 is being set to form first guide plate 153 under the planar state of level, this first guide plate 153, be configured in the below of discharge portion 150, outstanding to direction F11 of first horizontal direction, and the L132 that parallels to the axis extends.And then on support component 132, brace table 149 is being set under the planar state of level, form second guide plate 154, this second guide plate 154, be configured in the top of discharge portion 150, promptly the first horizontal direction other direction F12 is outstanding to the direction opposite with direction F11 of first horizontal direction, and the L132 that parallels to the axis extends.

Figure 38 is the decomposition right side view of expression support component 132.Support component 132, under the state that is arranged on the surface level, by axis L132, can be by along with the imaginary plane that tilts to direction F11 of first horizontal direction and upward is divided into 2, detailed says, can be divided into: first support portion 155 of above-mentioned imaginary plane below and second support portion 156 of above-mentioned imaginary plane top.First support portion 155 comprises in the support component 132: first guide plate 153, discharge portion 150, respectively connect jut 152 a part 152a, brace table 149, and in the part 148a of first guide plate, 153 sides of perimembranous 148.Second support portion 156 comprises in the support component 132: second guide plate 154, respectively connect another part 152b, and the part 148a of brace table 149 sides of inner peripheral surface 148 of jut 152.

First support portion 155 and second support portion 156 releasably connect by screw component 157.Detailed says, connects the part 152a that respectively connects jut 152 of first support portion 155 and another part 152b that respectively is connected jut 152 of second support portion 156 by screw component 157.Thus during support vessels main body 131, cut apart support component 132 in advance, can support the part that comprises first and second recess 141,142 and exhaust opening 143 of container body 131 from the radial direction outside by making support component 132 after cutting apart, and, can easily carry out this assembling operation through complete all support vessels main bodys 131.

Figure 39 is the cut-open view that the profile line S39-S39 from Figure 37 sees.Simultaneously with reference to Figure 37.In end of axis direction of the interior perimembranous 148 of support component 132, be provided with in radial direction side-prominent and through first support convex 158 of the full Zhou Yanshen of circumferencial direction.In axis direction the other end of the interior perimembranous 148 of support component 132, be provided with in radial direction side-prominent and through second support convex 159 of the full Zhou Yanshen of circumferencial direction.Axis direction the other end of the interior perimembranous 148 of this external support component 132 is provided with the 3rd support convex 160, the 3rd support convex 160, be provided with at interval the side-prominent and full Zhou Yanshen of process circumferencial direction in radial direction in axis direction the other end side of above-mentioned second support convex 159 and with second support convex 159.Second support convex 159 and the 3rd support convex 160 be at the interval of axis direction, and the guide protrusion sheet 140 of second container portions 134 that is set to container main body 131 is big slightly in the size of axis direction, for example can be 3 millimeters.

On first support convex 158 and second support convex 159, be provided with the interval and a plurality of supporting projections sheets 161 side-prominent in radial direction equally spaced respectively are set at circumferencial direction, be 4 in the present embodiment.The leading section of the radial direction inboard of above-mentioned supporting projections sheet 161 has and is bent into the planar supporting surface of cylinder periphery.In each supporting projections sheet 161 of first support convex 158 and second support convex 159, with axis L132 is the imaginary diameter of a circle of the center leading section that passes through each guide protrusion sheet 140, be set to greatlyyer slightly, for example can be 107 millimeters than the external diameter of the peripheral part of removing guide protrusion sheet 140 of the external diameter of the peripheral part of first container portions 133 and second container portions 134.The internal diameter of the 3rd support convex 160 is set to greatlyyer slightly than the external diameter of the peripheral part of removing the guide protrusion sheet of second container portions 134, for example can be 107 millimeters.

With axis direction the other end side adjacency of first support convex 158 in end of axis direction of the interior perimembranous 148 of support component 132, be provided with to the radial direction outside and be absorbed in and through first brace groove 167 of the full Zhou Yanshen of circumferencial direction.With end side adjacency of axis direction of second support convex 159 in axis direction the other end of the interior perimembranous 148 of support component 132, be provided with to the radial direction outside and be absorbed in and through second brace groove 168 of the full Zhou Yanshen of circumferencial direction.Between second support convex 159 and the 3rd support convex 160 of axis direction the other end of the interior perimembranous 148 of this external support component 132, be provided with the 3rd brace groove 169 that is absorbed in and passes through the full Zhou Yanshen of circumferencial direction to the radial direction outside.First brace groove 167 and second brace groove 168 for example can be 7 millimeters in the size of axis direction.The 3rd brace groove 169 is in the size of axis direction, and the axis direction size of guide protrusion sheet 140 of second container portions 134 that is set to container main body 131 is big slightly, for example can be 3 millimeters.

Figure 40 A is the front view of expression seal 147, and Figure 40 B is the figure of expression perpendicular to the section of the circumferencial direction of seal 147.As the seal 147 of sealing unit, synthetic resin such as, for example silicon rubber flexible and flexible by having constitutes.Seal 147 shown in Figure 40 A, is roughly formed circular.Seal 147 shown in Figure 40 B, comprises base portion 147a and abutting part 147b.The base portion 147a of seal 147 is so that it is that OBL mode be formed perpendicular to the section shape that is the circumferencial direction at center with axis L147.The abutting part 147b of seal 147, outstanding from the radial direction inside portion in end of axis direction of base portion 147a, an end tilts to the radial direction outside gradually so that it is from axis direction the other end to axis direction.

The diameter of the interior perimembranous of the base portion 147a of seal 147, the external diameter of the peripheral part of removing guide protrusion sheet 140 that is set to the peripheral part of first container portions 133 of container main body 131 and second container portions is little, for example can be 99 millimeters.The diameter of the base portion 147a of this outside seal may 147 and the peripheral part of abutting part 147b, be set to and be the equal diameters of imaginary circle of the peripheral part of respectively discharging guide plate 144 of center and the 3rd container portions 133 by container body 131 or bigger with rotation L131, for example can be 115 millimeters than above-mentioned imaginary diameter of a circle.This outside seal may 147 is in the size of axis direction, is set to below first and second brace groove 167,168 size at axis direction of support component 132, for example can be 6 millimeters.

Figure 41 is the front view of the state of expression assembling developer container 130.Figure 42 is the cut-open view that the profile line S42-S42 from Figure 41 sees.Before assembling developer container 130, support component 132 is divided into first support portion 155 and second support portion 156.This moment a seal 147 in two seals 147 is installed on first container portions 133 of container body 131 in addition, so that its bonding open end 133b that is wound on first container portions 133, and make the base portion 147a of seal 147 be bonded in the end face of an end of axis direction of the 3rd container portions 135.In addition another seal 147 is installed on second container portions 134 of container body 131, so that its bonding open end 134b that is wound on second container portions 134, be end side of axis direction of guide protrusion sheet 140, and make the base portion 147a of seal 147 be bonded in the end face of axis direction the other end of the 3rd container portions 135.

By first support portion 155 and second support portion 156, seize the part of the 3rd container portions 135 that comprises container body 131 on both sides by the arms from the radial direction outside.Under this state, connect first support portion 155 and second support portion 156 by screw component 157.

Figure 43 is the cut-open view that the profile line S43-S43 from Figure 29 sees.Under state by support component 132 support vessels main bodys 131, the axis L132 of the axis L131 of container body 131 and the interior perimembranous 148 of support component 132, fully or almost consistent, container body 131 can rotate freely around axis L131 with respect to support component 132.Under this state, when being arranged on the brace table 149 of support component 132 on the surface level, first and second container portions 133,134 of container body 131 is separated from surface level, and surface level becomes parallel with rotation L131.

In support component 132, detailed says, each supporting projections sheet 161 of first support convex 158 is with the peripheral part butt of first container portions 133, each supporting projections sheet 161 of second support convex 159 is with the peripheral part butt of removing guide protrusion sheet 140 in second container portions 134.The peripheral part of first container portions 133 like this, each supporting projections sheet 161 by first support convex 158, be provided with equal intervals ground at circumferencial direction and roughly support 4 points, and pass through each supporting projections sheet 161 of second support convex 159, be provided with equal intervals ground at circumferencial direction and roughly support 4 points.Can make between the peripheral part of first container portions 133 and first support convex 158 thus and the friction force of the rotation of the peripheral part of second container portions 134 and the opposing container body 131 between second support convex 159 becomes minimum.

The seal 147 of first container portions 133 is embedded into first groove 167 of support component 132, the abutting part 147b of seal 147, with the axis direction other end of first support convex 158 through full Zhou Jinhang butt.The seal 147 of second container portions 134 is embedded into second brace groove 168 of support component 132, the abutting part 147b of seal 147, with end face of axis direction of second support convex 159 through full Zhou Jinhang butt.By two such seals 147, and the via 151 of first and second recess 141,142 of container body 131 and exhaust opening 143 and support component 132, axis direction one is distolateral and another container body 131 and support component 132 in distolateral of axis direction between, through the full Zhou Shixian of circumferencial direction sealing.

The guide protrusion sheet 140 of second container portions 134 of container body 131, the 3rd brace groove 169 of embedding support component 132 is to limit its transitional slide on axis direction with respect to support component 132.Thus, container body 131 has been limited transitional slide on center position with respect to support component 132.The peripheral part of respectively discharging guide plate 144 of the 3rd container portions 135 of container body 131 is with interior perimembranous 148 butts of support component 132.So, support component 132, is supported for the part that comprises first recess 141 at least of container body 131 can rotate freely around rotation L131 through full week from the radial direction outside.

Figure 44 is the cut-open view that the profile line S44-S44 from Figure 28 sees.Figure 45 A and Figure 45 B are the figure that a part of XLV of Figure 44 is amplified expression.Figure 44 and Figure 45 A are the figure of container body 131 when being positioned at A-stage with respect to support component 132.The via 151 of support component 132 under the state that is equipped on image processing system 70A described later, 70B, is configured in the top of the axis L131 of container body 131.Above-mentioned via 151, detailed says, shown in Figure 45 A, under the state that is equipped on

image processing system

70A, 70B, the imaginary line 210 that is connected with the center of via 151 from the axis L131 of container body 131 is angulation φ with respect to the horizontal plane, is 30 degree～70 degree.In the present embodiment, above-mentioned angle φ for example can be 45 degree.

Derive parts 138, its anchor portion 138a is set at towards the part of a direction F11 of first horizontal direction upstream-side-end of the via 151 of support component 132, and should derive parts 138 extends along sense of rotation R upstream side, free end 138b, can with the 141b of bottom wall portion at least of first recess 141 of the 3rd container portions 135 of container body 131 and the outer peripheral face elasticity butt of the second recess 142b.Derive the free end 138b of parts 138 in addition,, form the angle θ and the butts that surpass 90 degree with respect to the 141b of bottom wall portion at least of first recess 141 of the 3rd container portions 135 of container body 131 and the outer peripheral face of the second recess 142b.Detailed says, above-mentioned angle θ is the outer peripheral face angulation towards bottom wall portion 141b, the 142b of the top of the free end 138b that derives parts 138 and each recess 141,142.

Envelope is ended sheet 166, and its anchor portion 166a is set at towards the part of the first horizontal direction F11 upstream-side-end of the via 151 of support component 132.Envelope is ended the part 166b that sheet 166 is removed anchor portion 166a, when container body 131 is positioned at A-stage with respect to support component 132, covers the 141a of end wall at least of first recess 141, and being set to can be by disengagings such as for example hot melts.State so in the early stage, exhaust opening 143 end sheet 166 by envelope and remove the part 166b of anchor portion 166a and block.State in the early stage thus even the user is configured in open position P2 with the baffle plate 165a mistake of baffle portion 165, also can prevent to discharge the developer that leaves in the container body 131 from via 151.

By container body 131 is rotated along sense of rotation R around rotation L131, envelope is ended sheet 166 and is removed the end wall 141a disengaging of the part 166b of anchor portion 166a from first recess 141, and exhaust opening 143 is opened.Break away from from the end wall 141a of first recess 141 in addition, envelope ends the part 166b that sheet 166 is removed anchor portion 166a, shown in Figure 45 B, in the sense of rotation R downstream of the via 151 of support component 132, be configured between the interior perimembranous 148 of the 3rd container portions 135 of container body 131 and support component 132.The user need not directly remove only sheet 166 of envelope thus, and by rotary container main body 131 exhaust opening 143 is opened.

The brace table 149 of support component 132 is arranged on the surface level, is depositing under the state of developer, the interior space of container body 131, form following 2 layers: developer layer is occupied by developer; Gas blanket is occupied by the gas above the developer layer.See second container portions 134 from first container portions 133, making container body 131 is that the center turns clockwise with rotation L131.The developer of the developer layer of first container portions 133 is being carried from the first throughput direction C11 (with reference to Figure 28) of first container portions 133 to the 3rd container portions 135 along rotation L131 by first projection tab 136 at this moment.In addition this moment second container portions 134 the developer of developer layer, carrying from the second throughput direction C12 (with reference to Figure 28) of second container portions 134 along rotation L131 by second projection tab 139 to the 3rd container portions 135.Around rotation L131 rotary container main body 131, can carry the developer of depositing by so to exhaust opening 143.And then in the 3rd container portions 135, conflict mutually to the developer of the first throughput direction C11 with to the developer of the second throughput direction C12, can stir developer thus.

During the supplying developing agent, developer is applied from the interior perimembranous of first and second container portions 133,134 of comprising first and second projection tab 136,139 power to the 3rd container portions 135.Leave the amount of the developer in the container body 131 in when a lot, at the developer of the overhang A12 from the interior perimembranous of first and second container portions 133,134 to the radial direction inboard of first and second projection tab 136,139 with interior configuration, because container body 131 rotates and mainly is stirred, and keeps balance in container body 131.

Figure 46 A～Figure 46 B and Figure 47 A～Figure 47 B, be the figure that is used to illustrate following action: when rotating on the sense of rotation R of rotation L131, the developer in the 3rd container portions 135 of container body 131 is directed into the action before the via 151 of support component 132 at container body 131.Simultaneously with reference to Figure 33, Figure 35 A～Figure 35 B and Figure 43.Be instructed to by support component 132 under the state that rotation L131 rotates freely at container body 131, form towards first of the interior perimembranous 148 of first recess 141 of the 3rd container portions 135 and support component 132 and keep space 162a.First keeps space 162a, removes exhaust opening 143 and is roughly closed space, is configured in the sense of rotation R upstream side of exhaust opening 143, is communicated with via exhaust opening 143 and container body 131 interior spaces.Form in addition towards second of the inner peripheral surface 148 of second recess 142 of the 3rd container portions 135 and support component 132 and keep space 162b.The second maintenance space 162b is roughly closed space.

Container body 131 rotates on sense of rotation R, from shown in Figure 46 A, exhaust opening 143 and first keeps space 162a to be configured in the state of top of the upper surface 163a of the developer layer 163 in the container body 131, become shown in Figure 46 B, when exhaust opening 143 and first keeps the sense of rotation R downstream portion of space 162a to be configured in the state of below of upper surface 163a of the developer layer 163 in the container body 131, the developer of the developer layer 163 in the container body 131, shown in arrow G 11, flow into first via exhaust opening 143 and keep the sense of rotation R downstream portion in space 162.

As mentioned above, exhaust opening 143, at the axis direction pars intermedia of the end wall 141a of first recess 141, near the radial direction outside, opening is formed thus for being the oblong-shaped of length direction with the axis direction.So exhaust opening 143, in the end wall 141a of first recess 141, compare the position opening of comparing near axis direction the other end and with the sense of rotation R end of downstream side of the second side wall portion 141d near an end of axis direction near the radial direction outside and with the sense of rotation R end of downstream side of the 141c of the first side wall portion comparing with the sense of rotation R end of downstream side of the bottom wall portion 141b of first recess 141.

For example on above-mentioned end wall 141a during all opening of exhaust opening 143, developer, rotate along sense of rotation R by container body 131, and closely push along first recess 141 of container body 131 and the interior perimembranous 148 of support component 132, keep space 162a thereby be discharged to first from exhaust opening 143.Further rotate by container body 131 in this state along sense of rotation R, remain on first developer that keeps in the 162a of space, push by first recess 141 of container body 131 and the interior perimembranous 148 of support component 132, thus the danger that exists developer to condense.In the present embodiment, as mentioned above, discharge portion 143 forms on the part of the end wall 141a of first recess 141, in other words, the aperture area of exhaust opening 143 is formed littler than the area of end wall 141a, so near developer mode with diffusion first exhaust opening 143 that keeps among the 162a of space is discharged to the first maintenance space 162.Can make thus to be discharged to second to keep the developer of space 162a be powdery, and can prevent condensing of developer that the rotation owing to said vesse main body 131 causes as far as possible.

And then the face in the radial direction of exhaust opening 143 outside, be communicated with smoothly with inner peripheral surface sense of rotation R downstream, that remove the 3rd container portions 135 of first recess 141 and second recess 142 of first recess 141.Get considerably lessly even leave the quantitative change of the developer in the container body 131 thus in, developer also can easily flow into the first sense of rotation R downstream portion that keeps space 162a via exhaust opening 143.

From the status container main body 131 shown in Figure 46 B further when sense of rotation R rotates, the developer of the developer layer 163 in the container body 131, flow into the sense of rotation R downstream portion of the first maintenance space 162a via exhaust opening 143, and become the state shown in Figure 47 A: exhaust opening 143A is configured in the top of the upper surface 163a of the developer layer 163 in the container body 131, and first keeps space 162a to be configured in the below of the upper surface 163a of the developer layer 163 in the container body 131.Under the state shown in this Figure 47 A, in the first maintenance space 162a, keep the developer of scheduled volume.So remaining on the amount of the developer of the first maintenance space 162a, for example can be 6 grams.

From the state shown in Figure 47 A, container body 131 further when sense of rotation R rotates, become the state shown in Figure 47 B: the free end 138b of the derivation parts 138 of support component 132, enter first and keep space 162a, and extend to sense of rotation R upstream side, with respect to the periphery of the bottom wall portion 141b of first recess 141 and, form to surpass 90 degree angle θ and with its elasticity butt, slide with respect to this outer peripheral face simultaneously.Remain on first developer that keeps in the 162a of space of the sense of rotation R upstream side of deriving parts 138 this moment, rotate along sense of rotation R by container body 131, and flow to support component 132.

Derive parts 138, will so flow and the developer that comes, the developer that in other words will discharge from the exhaust opening 143 of container body 131, shown in arrow G 12, be directed to via 151 along the upper surface of deriving parts 138.Derive parts 138, slide, get developer, therefore can keep the developer of space 162a all be directed to via 151 with remaining on first as best one can to scrape from this outer peripheral face with respect to the outer peripheral face of the bottom wall portion 141b of first recess 141.So be directed to the developer of via 151, be directed outside and discharge to developer container 130.Container body 131 so around rotation L131 along the every rotation of sense of rotation R 1 time, will discharge the developer of above-mentioned scheduled volume to the outside.

The 3rd container portions 131 is removed the part of first and second recess 141,142 and the interior perimembranous 148 of support component 132, as mentioned above, to stop the friction force of container body 131 in order reducing, and not have whole through the full Zhou Yuqi butt of circumferencial direction around the rotation of rotation L131.Therefore as mentioned above, remaining on the developer of the first maintenance space 162a, is not fully not from first possibility that keeps space 162a to spill.As mentioned above, at end of axis direction of the 3rd container portions 135 first recesses 141 and second recess 142 and the peripheral part of axis direction the other end, be provided with and discharge guide plate 144.Be arranged on the discharge guide plate 144 of an end of axis direction of the 3rd container portions 135, an end tilts to sense of rotation R gradually from axis direction the other end to axis direction, be arranged on the discharge guide plate 144 of axis direction the other end of the 3rd container portions 135, tilt to sense of rotation R to axis direction the other end from end of axis direction, therefore even remaining on first inclination that keeps the developer in the 162a of space to spill to rotation L132 direction one side and opposite side, also can be when sense of rotation R rotates at container body 131, discharge guide plate 144 by each, make its axis direction pars intermedia close concentrated at the 3rd container portions 135 and support component 132.

Form second in addition as mentioned above and keep space 162b, therefore even keep under the situation that the sense of rotation R upstream side of space 162a spills from first remaining on first developer that keeps space 162a, also the developer that spills thus can be reached, remain in the second maintenance space 162b by each discharge guide plate 144 and at the close developer of concentrating of axis direction pars intermedia.When container body 131 rotates along sense of rotation R, become the state shown in Figure 47 A: the free end 138b of the derivation parts 138 of support component 132, enter second and keep space 162b, extend to sense of rotation R upstream side, outer peripheral face with respect to the bottom wall portion 142b of second recess 142, the angle θ that form to surpass 90 degree, and with its elasticity butt, and slide with respect to this outer peripheral face.Remain on second developer that keeps in the 162b of space of the sense of rotation R upstream side of deriving parts 138 this moment, rotate along sense of rotation R by container body 131, and flow, be directed to via 151 to support component 132, and guide, thereby be discharged to the outside of developer container 30.So container body 131 around rotation L131 along the every rotation of sense of rotation R 1 time, even developer keeps space 162a to spill from first, the developer that spills also can be kept by the second maintenance space 162b, therefore can be discharged to the outside by the practical as far as possible developer with above-mentioned scheduled volume.

As mentioned above, brace table 149 is being set under the planar state of level, on support component 132, forming to direction of a horizontal direction at an upper portion thereof is the outstanding discharge portion 150 of direction F11 of first horizontal direction, the axis direction pars intermedia of the support component 132 in discharge portion 150, forming opening is the via 151 of following oval shape: a direction F11 connects along above-mentioned first horizontal direction, extends on the direction of the axis L132 that is parallel to support component.Even when in container body 131, depositing the developer that is full of thus, because the upper surface 163a of developer layer 163 is configured to highly identical with via 151 or is configured in the below of via 151, the developer that prevents that therefore can be practical flows out to via 151 from container body 131.

Figure 48 is that expression is from the amount of the developer of developer container 130 discharges and the chart of the relation between the time.In Figure 48, curve H1 represents in the following cases the amount and the time relation of the developer of discharging from developer container 130: the inside diameter D 135 of the 3rd container portions 135 of container body 131 is formed in the inside diameter D 133 of first and second container portions 133,134, below the D134.This external curve H2 represents in the following cases the amount and the time relation of the developer of discharging from developer container 130: the inside diameter D 135 of the 3rd container portions 135 of container body 131 is formed bigger than inside diameter D 133, the D134 of first and second container portions 133,134.

The developer that becomes powdery has following character: even place as the mountain of point point on surface level, also can become the shape on mountain stably at once.For example be formed under the inside diameter D 133 of first and second container portions 133,134, the situation below the D134 in the inside diameter D 135 of the 3rd container portions 135 of container body 131, the developer of carrying to exhaust opening 143 by the rotation of container body 131, when the rotation of container body 131 stops, leaving from exhaust opening 143.In this case, the quantitative change of the developer in leaving container body 131 in gets when considerably less, after the rotation of container body 131 begins once more, is difficult to carry to exhaust opening 143 developer of q.s.

In the present embodiment, as above-mentioned shown in Figure 34, the internal diameter of the 3rd container portions 135 of container body 131, being formed than remainder is that the inside diameter D 133,134 of first and second container portions 133,134 is big, therefore the quantitative change of the developer in leaving container body 131 in gets when considerably less, can prevent as far as possible that the developer that temporarily is transported to the 3rd container portions 135 from leaving from the 3rd container portions 135.When the amount of the developer in leaving container body 131 in is considerably less thus, after the rotation of container body 131 begins once more, can carry the developer of q.s as best one can to exhaust opening 143.And then all developers that will leave in the container body 131 that can try one's best are discharged to the outside.

Shown in curve H1, be formed under the inside diameter D 133 of first and second container portions 133,134, the situation below the D134 in the inside diameter D 135 of the 3rd container portions 135 of container body 131, when the amount that leaves the developer in the container body 131 in reduced, the discharge rate of developer was corresponding with its acumen and reduce.On the other hand, shown in curve H2, under the inside diameter D 135 of the 3rd container portions 135 of container body 131 is formed than the big situation of inside diameter D 133, the D134 of first and second container portions 133,134, H1 compares with curve, even leaving the amount of the developer in the container body 131 in reduces, the discharge rate of developer was approximately before zero in the amount of developer, kept constant substantially.Therefore, the developer container 130 of present embodiment can carry out the discharge of stable developer through the longer time.

Figure 49 is that expression is from the amount of the developer of developer container 130 discharges and the chart of other relations between the time.In Figure 49, curve H3, the amount of the developer of be illustrated in the state that is equipped on image processing system 70A described later, 70B, under the situation below the axis L131 that via 151 is disposed at container body 131, from developer container 130, discharging and the relation between the time.This external curve H4, the amount of the developer of be illustrated in the state that is equipped on image processing system 70A described later, 70B, under the situation above the axis L131 that via 151 is disposed at container body 131, from developer container 130, discharging and the relation between the time.

Shown in curve H3, under the state that is equipped on

image processing system

70A, 70B, under the situation below the axis L131 that via 151 is disposed at container body 131, leave the amount of developer of container body 131 in when a lot, the discharge rate of developer is also a lot, when the amount that leaves the developer in the container body 131 in reduces, the discharge rate of developer and its sharp correspondingly also reduces.On the other hand, shown in curve H4, at the state that is equipped on image processing system 70A described later, 70B, under the situation above the axis L131 that via 151 is disposed at container body 131, H3 compares with curve, reduces the discharge rate of developer even leave the amount of the developer in the container body 131 in, amount at developer was approximately before zero, kept constant substantially.Therefore, the developer container 130 of present embodiment can carry out the discharge of stable developer through the longer time.

In addition, in developer container 130, under the state that is equipped on

image processing system

70A, 70B, when developer is full of, the position of the above-below direction of the upper surface 163a of developer layer 163 is for via 151 essentially identical positions or below via 151.Thus, shown in the curve H4 of Figure 49, can suppress the discharge rate of the developer in the state of good fluidity.This is external to be equipped under the state of

image processing system

70A, 70B, the imaginary line 210 that is connected with the center of via 151 from the axis L131 of container body 131, with respect to the horizontal plane under the situation of 211 angulations less than 30 degree, experiment surface by the inventor: when in developer container 130, having a lot of developer, have the many trend of quantitative change of discharging.Above-mentioned in addition angle φ surpasses under the situation of 70 degree, when the developer in the developer container 130 reduces, and the possibility that exists discharge rate to tail off.

As above, can and it be rotated around rotation L131 by support component 132 stable support container bodies 131 according to the developer container 130 of present embodiment.To deposit the container cylindraceous of prior art of developer so that its axis normal is established when placing the danger that exists the developer of container below to condense in the mode of surface level is upright.In addition in order to prevent condensing of this developer as far as possible, with said vesse so that its parallel axes when the mode of surface level is arranged on the surface level, makes the said vesse rotation.In the developer container 130 of present embodiment, can be arranged on the surface level by brace table support component 132, make the axis L131 of container body 131 be parallel to surface level and it is carried out stable configuration.Even the developers that leave in addition in the developer container 130 partly condense, for example can the baffle plate 165a of baffle portion 165 be configured in and close position P1 and make container body 131 rotations by the user, be powdery and easily developer is stirred.

And then outer peripheral face and end face are communicated with among axis direction both ends 133a, the 134a of container body 131

face

133c, 134c, be formed curved surface shape as mentioned above to the inboard inclination of radial direction, even therefore the axis direction both ends 133a of container body 131, any one of 134a are arranged on the surface level, and axis L131 is located on the surface level developer container 130 is upright perpendicular to surface level, also be not easy to topple over.Prevent the user thus so that axis L131 places developer container 130 perpendicular to upright the establishing of the mode of surface level, can reduce the principal element that the developer deposited condenses.

According to the developer container 130 of present embodiment, support component 132 passes through full Zhou Jinhang with the part that comprises the 3rd container portions 135 at least of container body 131 from the radial direction outside and supports in addition.And then two seals 147 are set between container body 131 and support component 132, realize sealing as mentioned above, even therefore container body 131 rotations can prevent that also developer from spilling between container body 131 and support component 132.

According to the developer container 130 of present embodiment, the discharge rate of developer depends on that first keeps the volume of space 162a and the rotational speed of container body 131 in addition.In the developer container 130 of present embodiment,, but be not limited to this for groove is provided with 141,142 two of first and second grooves and only at first groove 141 formation of exhaust opening 143 is set.For example, want under the situation that the discharge rate of 1 developer of container body 131 every rotations just increases, can followingly to constitute: make second groove 142 be the shape identical, and exhaust opening 143 is set with first groove 141.Also can further increase the quantity of groove and the quantity of exhaust opening in addition.

Figure 50 is the cut-open view of the image processing system 70A of expression the 4th embodiment of the present invention.Figure 51 will amplify the cut-open view of expression near the toner case 172.Figure 52 will amplify the vertical view of expression near the toner case 172.Figure 50 is the cut-open view of seeing from the front externally mounted part 71a side of image processing system 70A, for easy understanding, and omits its thickness.Image processing system 70A establishes it and is set on the surface level in addition, is both forward and reverse directions E from front externally mounted part 71a to the direction of back side externally mounted part 71b, is parallel to surface level.In addition, in embodiments of the present invention,, omit its explanation to being marked with identical label with the corresponding part of the structure of above-mentioned embodiment.

The image processing system 70A of electrophotographic recording such as printing equipment and copy device mode comprises above-mentioned developer container 130 and image processing system main body (simply being expressed as " apparatus main body " later on) 71.Developer container 130 via the container loading hatch (not shown) of the freely openable of the front externally mounted part 71a that is arranged on apparatus main body 71, and releasably is installed on the toner case 172 that apparatus main body 71 had.In addition, image processing system main body 71 is provided with basket face portion 93 in the side than the close back side externally mounted part 71b of front externally mounted part 71a, is formed on the peristome that thickness direction connected and can insert logical developer container 130.The image processing system main body 71 in addition, in the side than the close front externally mounted part 71a of the back side externally mounted part 71b basket back side portion 94 are set.By the basket (all not illustrating) that comprises basket face portion 93 and basket back side portion 94, keep the various structures of image processing system main body 71.

Toner case 172 comprises housing 173, developer replenishing portion 174, mixing component 175 and donor rollers 176.The interior space of housing 173 is divided into container receiving space 177 and stirring space 178 at least by developer replenishing portion 174.Container receiving space 177, the front externally mounted part 71a of facing device main body 71 opens.Stirring space 178 is spaces of closing haply.Developer container 130 is configured in the said vesse receiving space 177.

At upper wall portions 173a towards the housing 173 of container receiving space 177, form first guide recess 179, this first guide recess 179 can embed first guide plate 153 of the support component 132 of developer container 130, and extends along the both forward and reverse directions E of apparatus main body 71.First guide recess 179, can be at the length direction of first guide plate 153 of the support component 132 of developer container 130, in other words parallel with the both forward and reverse directions E of apparatus main body 71, from front externally mounted part 71a to the installation direction E11 of the direction of back side externally mounted part 71b and as and the rightabout disengaging direction of installation direction E1 E12, carry out chimeric slidably.This is external with on the above-mentioned upper wall portions 173a lower wall portion 173b in opposite directions of the housing 173 of container receiving space 177, form second guide recess 180, this second guide recess 180, can embed second guide plate 154 of the support component 132 of developer container 130, and extend along the both forward and reverse directions E of apparatus main body 71.Second guide recess 180 can be at the length direction of second guide plate 154 of the support component 132 of developer container 130, in other words at the installation direction E11 of apparatus main body 71 and break away from direction E12, carries out chimeric slidably.

Developer replenishing portion 174 is that the interior space segmentation with housing 173 is the plate-shaped member of container receiving space 177 and stirring space 178, is provided with at its thickness direction and connects intercommunicating pore 181 with connection container receiving space 177 and stirring space 178.The below of the intercommunicating pore 181 of this external developer replenishing portion 174 is provided with to the outstanding guide member 182 of container receiving space 177.

Figure 53 amplifies the skeleton view of expression with main body side connecting portion 183.Driving force from the container body 131 rotations drive sources such as motor 84 of apparatus main body 71, that be used to make developer container 130 is delivered to main body side connecting portion 183 via reduction gear such as gear 85.Main body side connecting portion 183 comprises turning axle 186, connects bearing 187 and spring members 188.Turning axle 186, its axis L186 is parallel to the both forward and reverse directions E of apparatus main body 71, can insert axis with rotating freely and hold portion 189, its free end is configured in the container receiving space 177, described bearing portion 189 is set to: connect basket back side portion 94 as the back wall portion of the housing 173 of the back side externally mounted part 71b side of apparatus main body 71 at thickness direction.

Connect bearing 187, be formed roughly discoidly,, rotate freely around axis L186, be connected with the free end of turning axle 186 with turning axle 186 one towards container receiving space 177.Be connected the central portion of bearing 187 towards the surface element opposite surfaces 187a of portion of basket back side portion 94, be provided with the auxiliary flute 196 that can embed supply oral area 145, this supply oral area 145, axis L186 with turning axle 186 is that axis is absorbed in to basket back side portion 94 sides, is installed on the supply lid 146 of developer container 130.The radial direction outside of the above-mentioned auxiliary flute 196 of the above-mentioned surface element 187a of this external connection bearing 187, form a plurality of gomphosis grooves 190, form two in the present embodiment, this gomphosis groove 190, be configured in axis L186 with turning axle 186 and serve as axle and mutually on the position of symmetry, 94 sides are absorbed in to basket back side portion.These gomphosis grooves 190, for each fitting projection 137 corresponding shape of container body 131, make each fitting projection 137 of container body 131 embed gomphosis grooves 190, thereby fitting projection 137 and gomphosis groove 190 are chimeric.

Connect bearing 187 in addition, can on the axis direction of turning axle 186, freely be shifted, and can not come off from the free end of turning axle 186.The spring members of realizing by compression helical spring etc. 188 in addition, be configured between basket back side portion 94 and the connection bearing 187, connection bearing 187 applies the spring force to the direction of leaving from basket back side portion 94, and can not hinder the rotation of turning axle 186 and connection bearing 187.End 133a of axis direction of the fitting projection 137 of the container body 131 by comprising developer container 130 and main body side connecting portion 183 be connected bearing 187, form coupler structure.Therefore the fitting projection 137 of container body 131 can releasably connect with the bearing 187 that is connected of main body side connecting portion 183.

When being installed in developer container 130 on the apparatus main body 171, make rotation L131 parallel with installation direction E11, the front externally mounted part 71a from apparatus main body 71 is inserted in the container receiving space 177 of toner case 172 with developer container 130.First guide plate 153 of the support component 132 of developer container 130 is chimeric with first guide recess 179 of housing 173 at this moment, and second guide plate 154 of support component 132 is chimeric with second guide recess 180 of housing 173, stops support component 132 to the displacement of removing installation direction E11 and disengaging direction E12 direction in addition.Under this state, make developer container 130 in installation direction E11 displacement, it is configured in the installation site, this installation site is the position that the intercommunicating pore 181 of the via 151 of discharge portion 150 of support component 132 and developer replenishing portion 174 is communicated with.Main body side connecting portion 183 connection bearing 187 was pressed to installation direction E11 by the fitting projection 137 of container body 131 and shrank back this moment, thus compression spring part 188.

In toner case 172, developer container 130 is being configured under the state of installation site, limiting part (not shown) is set, carry out support component 132 to the restriction of the displacement of installation direction E11 and disengaging direction E12 and the releasing of restriction.All discharge when leaving the developer of developer container 130 in, the user removes the restriction of being undertaken by above-mentioned limiting part to support component 132, make developer container 130 to breaking away from direction E12 displacement, developer container 130 is broken away from from apparatus main body 71.

Around the intercommunicating pore 181 of container receiving space 177, be provided with the baffle plate shift unit (not shown) of the baffle plate 165a transitional slide of the baffle portion 165 that is used to make developer container 130 in the developer replenishing portion 174 of toner case 172.Make axis direction L131 parallel with installation direction E11, with developer container 130 when the front externally mounted part 71a of apparatus main body 71 inserts the container receiving space 177 of toner case 172, by the baffle plate shift unit, be configured in close position P1 baffle plate 165a at a direction B11 of second horizontal direction transitional slide, when developer container 130 was configured in the installation site, baffle plate 165a was configured in open position P2.Make the developer container 130 that is installed on the apparatus main body 71 and is configured in the installation site break away from direction E12 displacement in addition, thereby when making developer container 130 from apparatus main body 71 disengagings, by the baffle plate shift unit, the baffle plate 165a that is configured in open position P2 is configured in and closes position P1 at the second horizontal direction other direction B12 transitional slide.

In addition, around the via 151 of the discharge portion 150 of the support component 132 of developer container 130 and the developer replenishing portion 174 of toner case 172 around the intercommunicating pore 181 of container receiving space 177 at least any one, seal (not shown) is set, is used to prevent to escape to outside the stirring space 178 to the developer that intercommunicating pore 181 flows down from via 151.

Shown in Figure 52, be used to make drive divisions such as the drive source 84 of main body side connecting portion 183, mixing component 175 and donor rollers 176 rotations and reduction gear 85, be configured on the apparatus main body 71 between the basket back side portion 94 and back side externally mounted part 71b.Therefore be configured under the state of installation site at developer container 130, the support component 132 of developer container 130 is configured in the both forward and reverse directions E central portion of apparatus main body 71.In developer container 130, as mentioned above, the length dimension of the end face from the support component 132 of container body 131 to an end 133a of axis direction who forms fitting projection 137 is formed littler than the length dimension of the end face from support component 132 to axis direction the other end 134a.

In the developer container 130 of the image processing system 70A of embodiment of the present invention, support component 132 is configured in the axis direction pars intermedia of container body 131, therefore under the state of the installation site in being installed in image processing system main body 71, support component 132 is configured in the both forward and reverse directions E pars intermedia in the apparatus main body 71.Make container body 131 be stretched over face portion thus, and be stretched over the back side from both forward and reverse directions E pars intermedia from the both forward and reverse directions E pars intermedia of apparatus main body 71, thus can make its with existing toner bottle 15 mutually specific storage become very big.In the present embodiment, shown in Figure 51, axis direction the other end 134a of developer container 130 stretches out to front externally mounted part 71a side from basket face portion 93.

In addition by making length dimension from the support component 132 of container body 131 to the end face of an end 133a of axis direction, length dimension than the end face from support component 132 to axis direction the other end 134a is little, thereby can guarantee to be provided with in the back side of apparatus main body 71 one the zone of drive division, this drive division comprises drive source 84 and the reduction gear 85 that is connected with the fitting projection 137 of the end 133a of axis direction of container body 131.So developer container 130 has played following two impayable effects: effectively utilized the space in the apparatus main body 71, and increased the amount of storage of developer as much as possible.

So developer container 130 is being configured under the state of installation site, drive source 84 driven make when connecting bearing 187 rotations, under the chimeric state of the fitting projection 137 of gomphosis groove 190 that connects bearing 187 and developer container 130, container body 131 is rotated around rotation L131.In addition, do not have under the chimeric state at the gomphosis groove 190 that connects bearing 187 and the fitting projection 137 of developer container 130, before the fitting projection 137 of gomphosis groove 190 that connects bearing 187 and developer container 130 is chimeric, in during not long, only connect bearing 187 and produce angular displacement, connect the fitting projection 137 of the gomphosis groove 190 of bearing 187 and developer container 130 when chimeric, apply spring force by spring members 188, the gomphosis groove 190 that connects bearing 187 closely carries out chimeric with the fitting projection 137 of developer container 130.Container body 131 rotates around rotation L131.So the container body 131 by developer container 130 rotates around rotation L131, thereby will leave the developer in the developer container 130 in, via the intercommunicating pore 181 of the developer replenishing portion 174 of the via 151 of the discharge portion 150 of support component 132 and toner case 172, supply to stirring space 178 and leave in wherein.

Mixing component 175 and donor rollers 176 are provided with mutually at interval and extend at the both forward and reverse directions E of apparatus main body 71, and be configured in the stirring space 178.Mixing component 175 can rotate freely around the stirring axis L175 that is parallel to both forward and reverse directions E, has along stirring axis L175 direction to extend and have flexible parts 191 that scrape.Mixing component 175 in addition, by from the driving force that is arranged on the drive source 84 on the apparatus main body 71, see from the front of apparatus main body 71 to be rotated around the clockwise direction J11 that stirs axis L175.Donor rollers 176 can rotate freely around the supply axis L176 that is parallel to both forward and reverse directions E, and its outer circumferential surface section for example is made of the resin of porous matter such as sponge.Donor rollers 176 in addition, by from the driving force that is arranged at the drive source 84 on the apparatus main body 71, see from apparatus main body 71 fronts and to rotate around the clockwise direction J12 that stirs axis L176.

Be provided with the wall portion 192 of stirring, this stirs wall portion 192, stirring space 178 towards toner case 172, be communicated with developer replenishing portion 174, both forward and reverse directions E along apparatus main body 71 extends, section shape perpendicular to the stirring axis L175 of mixing component 175 is roughly U word shape, is formed the part cylinder inner peripheral surface shape that open the top.The intercommunicating pore 181 of developer from 1 supplied in the stirring space 178, but the developer of discharging as mentioned above from developer container 130, not only be stirred but also mix and become fine powdery with gas, mobile fabulous, even therefore only supply with from intercommunicating pore 181, also can be in stirring space 178 to stirring the diffusion of axis L175 direction.Leave the developer in the stirring space 178 in,, in stirring space 178, further spread to stirring axis L175 direction by the stirring of mixing component 175.

During mixing component 175 rotations, the developer in the stirring space 178 is left in stirring in from intercommunicating pore 181 supplies, and scrape parts 191, its free end and stirring wall portion 192 butts scrape and leave the developer in the stirring space 178 in and offer donor rollers 176.Therefore to donor rollers 176, roughly provide the developer of fine powdery equably in its axis L176 direction.Tail off even leave the surplus of the developer in the stirring space 178 in addition in, also still scrape and get and offer donor rollers 176, therefore can reduce the developer that remains in the stirring space 178, as far as possible up to offering donor rollers 176 by scraping parts 191.Offer the developer of donor rollers 176,, and supply to development section 200 with good state by the rotation of donor rollers 176.

For the toner density that makes the two composition developing materials in the development section 200 is constant, donor rollers 176 forms its peripheral part by sponge, and further its rotation is controlled.Thus, donor rollers 176 supplies to development section 200 with an amount of toner under the state of attritive powder.

Below simply the container body 131 of this developer container 130 and the mixing component 175 of toner case 172 and the control of donor rollers 176 are described.Be arranged on the toner surplus test section 195 that stirs wall portion 192, detect the stirring space 178 that leaves toner case 172 in developer (after, be expressed as " toner " sometimes) when tailing off, not shown control part, drive source 84 is controlled, make container body 131 rotations of developer container 130, and toner is supplied to stirring space 178.Make container body 131 rotation preset times, also from toner surplus test section 195 detect the toner amount that leaves stirring space 178 in less than the time, control part, stop the rotation of container body 131, and show the information of representing to change developer container 130 at not shown display part, be notified to the user.Carve at this moment, in the stirring space 178 of toner case 172, deposited a considerable amount of developers.After the stirring space 178 of toner case 172 is deposited developer, the user will become empty developer container 130 and break away from from apparatus main body 71, and the new developer container 130 that will deposit developer is installed on the apparatus main body 71.Thus, even carrying out image at image processing system 70A on recording chart forms midway, because having deposited image in the stirring space 178 of toner case 172 forms needed developer, therefore form operation and just can carry out the supply of developer apparatus main body 71 without interrupt images.

In first prior art shown in this external Figure 59, need change not only the very big but also also very large toner cartridge 1 of weight of shape, but in the present embodiment, only changing developer container 130 gets final product, the user, as long as for example hold the support component 132 and second container portions 134 of developer container 130, from forming first container portions 133 of fitting projection 137, developer container 130 is got final product in installation direction E11 is inserted into the container receiving space 177 of toner case 172 from the basket face portion 193 of apparatus main body 71, very easy.In addition, with developer container 130 when apparatus main body 71 breaks away from, the user as long as hold second container portions 134 of developer container 130, pulls it and gets final product to breaking away from direction E12, and is very easy.

In addition, prevent to condense in order to stir the developer of depositing, be that the user shakes massive toner cartridge 1 up and down in the past, but in the developer container 130 of present embodiment, as long as the user is very easy to around rotation L131 rotary container main body 131.In the developer container 130 of present embodiment, be used to stir the formation of the developer of depositing in addition, compare very simple with existing toner cartridge 1.Developer container 130 in addition, between container body 131 and support component 132, realized sealing, and developer container 130 is installed under the situation of the installation site on the apparatus main body 71, around the via 151 of the discharge portion 150 that interconnects and the intercommunicating pore 181 of developer replenishing portion 174 around any one has realized sealing at least, therefore can prevent to spill developer at the container receiving space 177 of toner case 172 as far as possible.Therefore, when the user carries out the replacing of developer container 130, can prevent as much as possible that hand is developed agent and makes dirty.

Therefore developer container 130 in addition, are roughly cylindricly, can be housed in the elongated rectangular-shaped packing case, compare with the toner cartridge 1 of first prior art, transport and supply very easy.

Developer container 130 in addition, and the revolving force that need not be used in rotary container main body 131 as mentioned above is too big, and then the discharge rate of the developer of container body 131 every rotations 1 time is constant basis as far as possible.Need not to improve the rotational speed of container body 131 thus, even low speed also can be supplied with developer to the stirring space 178 of toner case 172, make the discharge rate of developer of container body 131 every rotations 1 time constant as far as possible, can supply with developer to above-mentioned stirring space 178, can make the torque of drive source 84 very little, can make drive source 84 be for example small-sized motor.

Figure 54 is the cut-open view of the image processing system 70B of expression the 5th embodiment of the present invention.Figure 55 will amplify the cut-open view of expression near the toner case 172A.Figure 56 will amplify the vertical view of expression near the toner case 172A.Figure 54 is the cut-open view of seeing from the front externally mounted part 71a side of image processing system 70B, for easy understanding, and omits its thickness.Image processing system 70B establishes it and is set on the surface level in addition, is both forward and reverse directions E from front externally mounted part 71a to the direction of back side externally mounted part 71b, is parallel to surface level.In addition, in embodiments of the present invention,, omit its explanation to being marked with identical label with the corresponding part of the structure of above-mentioned embodiment.

The image processing system 70B of electrophotographic recording such as printing equipment and copy device mode comprises above-mentioned developer container 130 and image processing system main body (simply being expressed as " apparatus main body " later on) 71.Developer container 130 via the container loading hatch (not shown) of the freely openable of the front externally mounted part 71a that is arranged on apparatus main body 71, and releasably is installed on the toner case 172A that apparatus main body 71 had.In addition, image processing system main body 71 is provided with basket face portion 93 in the side than the close back side externally mounted part 71b of front externally mounted part 71a, is formed on the peristome that thickness direction connected and can insert logical developer container 130.The image processing system main body 71 in addition, in the side than the close front externally mounted part 71a of the back side externally mounted part 71b basket back side portion 94 are set.By the basket (all not illustrating) that comprises basket face portion 93 and basket back side portion 94, keep the various structures of image processing system main body 71.

Toner case 172A comprises housing 173, developer replenishing portion 174, mixing component 175 and donor rollers 176.In addition, the similar of the structure of toner case 172A and the toner case 172 of above-mentioned embodiment is omitted its detailed description.

Figure 57 A～Figure 57 C is the vertical view that schematically is illustrated on the image processing system main body 71 change action of baffle portion 165 when carrying developer container 130 and main body baffle portion 197.Apparatus main body 71 is provided with the main body baffle portion 198 as the supply port opening/closing unit, and this main body baffle portion 198 will switch to out state and close state via the developer replenishing mouth 197 of guiding developer to intercommunicating pore 181 connections of development section 200.Main body baffle portion 198 has at installation direction E11 and breaks away from and is free to slide displacement on the direction E12 and is supported on baffle plate 198a in the developer replenishing portion 174.

Developer container 130, is carried on apparatus main body 71 under the state of developer replenishing mouth 197 at via 151, and this moment, developer container 130 was configured on the installation site.In addition at this moment, developer container 130, detailed says, carried on apparatus main body 71 under the following state: the developer replenishing mouth 197 of via 151 facing device main bodys 71, realized sealing towards the circumference of the developer replenishing mouth 197 of the circumference of the via 151 of developer container 130 and facing device main body 71.The baffle portion 165 of developer container 130, when developer container 130 is carried at apparatus main body 71, action interlock with the state of opening that switches to developer replenishing mouth 197 that is undertaken by the main body baffle portion 198 of apparatus main body 71 switches to out state with via 181.

Detailed says, at first shown in Figure 57 A, baffle portion 165 by developer container 130, via 151 becomes the state of closing, and main body baffle portion 198 by apparatus main body 71, developer replenishing mouth 197 becomes the state of closing, and in this state, developer container 130 is housed in the container receiving space 177 of apparatus main body 71.And first guide plate 153 of developer container 130 is chimeric with first guide recess 179 of apparatus main body 71, second guide plate 154 of developer container 130 is chimeric with second guide recess 180 of apparatus main body 71, and developer container 130 is transitional slide on installation direction E11.Then shown in 57B, further make developer container 130 on installation direction E11 during transitional slide, developer replenishing portion 174 butts of the baffle plate 165a of the baffle portion 165 of developer container 130 and apparatus main body 71, and breaking away from transitional slide on the direction E12.This moment apparatus main body 71 the baffle plate 198a of main body baffle portion 198 and discharge portion 150 butts of developer container 130, and on installation direction E11 transitional slide.

Then shown in Figure 57 C, further make developer container 130 transitional slide and when being configured on the installation site on installation direction E11, the baffle plate 165a of the baffle portion 165 of developer container 130 breaking away from further transitional slide on the direction E12, makes via 151 for opening state.This moment apparatus main body 71 the baffle plate 198a of main body baffle portion 198, further transitional slide on installation direction E11 makes developer replenishing mouth 197 for opening state.Become following state this moment: the developer replenishing mouth 197 of via 151 facing device main bodys 71, realized sealing towards the circumference of the developer replenishing mouth 197 of the circumference of the via 151 of developer container 130 and facing device main body 71.

So in apparatus main body 71, be provided with main body baffle portion 198, it will switch to out state and close state via the developer replenishing mouth 197 of guiding developer to intercommunicating pore 181 connections of development section 200, therefore by making developer replenishing mouth 197, just developer replenishing can be arrived development section 200 for opening state.Even developer returns developer supply port 197 from development section 200 via intercommunicating pore 181 adverse currents, also can be by making developer replenishing mouth 197 for closing state, and prevent that effectively the developer of adverse current from spilling from developer replenishing mouth 197.In the discharge portion 150 of the support component 132 of this external developer container 130, be provided with the baffle portion 165 that via 151 is switched to out state and closes state, therefore can be by making via 151 for opening state, and make container body 131 around axis L131 rotation, thereby the developer that will leave in the developer container 130 guides to the outside from via 151.By making via 151,, can prevent effectively that also the developer that leaves in the developer container 130 is directed to the outside from via 151 in addition even mistake makes container body 131 around rotation L131 rotation for closing state.And then developer container 130, at via 151 under the state of developer replenishing mouth 197, carried on apparatus main body 71, therefore by making developer replenishing mouth 197 and via 151 for opening state, developer container 130 is carried on apparatus main body 71, and make container body 131, thereby the developer that leaves in the developer container 130 can be supplied to the development section 200 of apparatus main body 71 via via 151 and intercommunicating pore 181 around rotation L131 rotation.

The baffle portion 165 of developer container 130 in addition, when developer container 130 is equipped on the apparatus main body 71, by with the action interlock that developer replenishing mouth 197 is switched to out state by the main body baffle portion 198 of apparatus main body 71, and via 151 is switched to out state, therefore in that developer container 130 was carried before apparatus main body 71, need not to make in advance developer replenishing mouth 197 and via 151 for opening state.Thus, for example developer container 130 was carried before apparatus main body 71, make via 151 for opening state in advance, and the container body 131 that mistake makes developer container 130 is around axis L131 rotation, also can prevent to leave in developers in the developer container 130 effectively and is directed to from via 151 and outside thisly not wish that situation about taking place occurs.Developer container 130 in addition, be equipped under the following state on the apparatus main body 71: the developer replenishing mouth 197 of via 151 facing device main bodys 71, realized sealing towards the circumference of the developer replenishing mouth 197 of the circumference of the via 151 of developer container 130 and facing device main body 71.Developer container 130 is being equipped under the state of apparatus main body 71 thus, container body 131 is rotated around axis L131, when supplying to the development section 200 of apparatus main body 71 via via 151 and intercommunicating pore 181, can prevent effectively that developer from escaping to undesirable position will leave developer container 130 interior developers in.

By making it to be the structure shown in Figure 54～Figure 56, can obtain advantage and the effect identical in addition with above-mentioned the 4th embodiment.

In the developer container 30,130 of above-mentioned embodiment and

image processing system

70,70A, 70B, handle as the situation that two compositions develop, but only also can be suitable for in the existing system of toner.

The present invention only otherwise break away from its spirit or principal character, can implement with other various ways.Therefore, the only simple example of having a few of above-mentioned embodiment, scope of the present invention is the scope shown in claims, and is not limited to instructions.And then belong to the claim scope distortion and the change all within the scope of the invention.

[utilizing on the industry possibility]

As above according to the present invention, make by the container of support member supports for rotating freely around axis When main body was rotated around axis, the developer of depositing carried out to the tap that is arranged on container body Carry. So, support component, at the axis direction intermediate portion supports container body of container body, Even therefore the driving force of rotary container main body is applied on the container body, also can stablizes and prop up The container body that support is rotated around axis. Be provided with on this external support component from container body The developer that tap is discharged is directed to outside via. Can revolve by container body thus Turn to, will carry and outside the developer that tap is discharged is directed to by via to tap Section. For example in such as prior art, only arrange the developer that leaves in the container of rotation is discharged The situation of discharge pore structure under, tap also rotates along with the rotation of container, for anti-End the developer of discharging from the tap of this rotation and escape to undesirable position, need to revolve Between the container that turns to and the image processing system sealing unit is set. On the other hand, in the present invention, Leave the developer in the container body in, the support component that never rotates with container body Via be directed to the outside, therefore that can easily realize preventing never being shifted leads as far as possible Spill developer between through hole and image processing system. And then pass through only rotary container main body, can Leave in simultaneously container body developer conveying and to the discharge of outside.

In addition according to the present invention, the tap of container body, be arranged on axis direction roughly in Between section, therefore carry to tap by the container body rotation, leave the container body axle in The developer that line direction one is distolateral and leave another the distolateral development of container body axis direction in Agent, near the mutually conflict tap in container body. For example as prior art the sort of to In the formation of an end of the axis direction supplying developing agent of container, there is the developer quilt of carrying Be pressed into perpendicular on the inwall of the axis of an end of container axis direction and the danger of condensing The property. In the present invention, can pass through near the tap of container body, namely to have now skill Perpendicular to the axis direction of the wall of axis pars intermedia roughly, make and leave in the container body in the art Rush mutually from the developer of axis direction one side with from the developer of axis direction opposite side Prominent, and it is stirred. Thus, condense even leave the developer of container body in, also Can stir it by the rotary container main body and be powdery.

In addition according to the present invention, container body comprise the first container section that forms bottom tube-like, Form the second container section of bottom tube-like and formed bottom tube-like and be provided with tap Attaching parts. End of the axis direction of above-mentioned attaching parts releasably holds with first The open end of device section connects. At the axis direction pars intermedia tap is set thus, can realizes The container body of the tubular of axis direction two ends closure. In addition, for example all discharged and to have deposited During developer, any one of the first container section, second container section and attaching parts consume and In the damaged situation, can only change consumption and damaged part, then deposit once again developer, The recirculation that therefore can improve developer container.

In addition according to the present invention, be provided with first jut, institute in the interior perimembranous of the first container section State first jut, side-prominent in the radial direction, and from the bottom to peristome with axis Centered by a direction on extend in the shape of a spiral. Thus by container body is revolved around axis Turn to, can easily realize: will leave distolateral first the holding of the axis direction one of container body in Developer in the device section is carried to the tap of attaching parts by first projection tab. This The interior perimembranous of external second container section is provided with second jut, and described second jut is to half The footpath is side-prominent in the direction, and from the bottom to peristome with centered by axis described one Extend in the shape of a spiral on the direction of opposite direction. Thus by container body is rotated around axis, Can easily realize: another distolateral second container of axis direction that will leave container body in The developer of section is carried to the tap of attaching parts by second projection tab. So can Easily to realize: be the axis direction pars intermedia near the tap in container body, make and deposit Be placed in the container body from the developer of axis direction one side with from the axis direction opposite side Developer conflict mutually, it is stirred.

In addition according to the present invention, at axis direction one tap and via, container body Between distolateral and another distolateral container body and support component of axis direction, be provided with through circle Therefore the sealing unit of the all-round extension of Zhou Fangxiang can prevent that developer is from container body and support Spill between the parts.

In addition according to the present invention, in the container body direction of rotation upstream of the tap of container body Side between the interior perimembranous of the peripheral part of container body and support component, is provided with and keeps developing The maintaining part of agent. When container body rotates thus, be positioned at the rotation side of the tap of container body Upstream the maintaining part of side is configured in the position towards via, can will be kept at this guarantor The developer of holding in the section offers via, and discharges from via. In addition container body, quilt Be configured to make its axis to be parallel to horizontal plane, be configured in upper and lower at the via with support component In near the situation the central portion, reduce even leave the amount of the developer in the container body in, The developer that also will remain in the attaching parts below of container body is kept by maintaining part and is defeated Deliver to via. Make thus not to be transported to via and the amount of residual developer reduces, can As far as possible all developers are directed to the outside from via.

According to the present invention, make by the container body of support member supports for rotating freely around axis When axis rotates, the developer of depositing is advanced to the tap that is arranged on the container body peripheral part Row is carried. Even support component support vessels main body like this is the therefore driving of rotary container main body Power is applied on the container body, the container body that also can stable support rotates around axis. This The peripheral part of external container body is provided with the recess that is absorbed in to the radial direction inboard, is therefore propping up The support part part is supported for the part that comprises at least recess of container body can rotate freely around axis Under the state, form the sky of perimembranous in the recess of container body and tap and the support component Between (being expressed as later on " maintenance space "). Carry also to tap by the container body rotation From the developer that tap is discharged, be discharged to the maintenance space. Arrange on this external support component Have and to be directed to outside via from the developer that the tap of container body is discharged. Above-mentioned sky Between, because therefore its constancy of volume can prevent as far as possible: be discharged to the maintenance space from tap And the amount of the developer that keeps, depend on the amount of the developer that leaves container body in and send out Changing. When therefore container body rotates, developer is discharged to the maintenance space from tap, Keeping the space to maintain developer based on the amount of the volume that keeps the space. So remain on the guarantor Hold the developer in space, be directed to the outside by via, therefore can make container body every as far as possible It is constant rotating the amount that is discharged to outside developer for 1 time. For example only the sort of such as prior art Arrange in the situation of formation of the tap that the developer in the container that will leave rotation in discharges, Tap also rotates along with the rotation of container, discharges in order to prevent this tap from rotation Developer escape to undesirable position, need to the rotation container and image processing system it Between sealing unit is set. On the other hand, in the present invention, leave the development in the container body in Agent, the via of the support component that never rotates with container body is directed to the outside, because of This can easily realize preventing leaking between the via that never is shifted and image processing system as far as possible Go out developer. And then pass through only rotary container main body, can leave simultaneously container body in Developer conveying and to the discharge of outside. Leave in the prior art in addition container body in The amount of interior developer depends on that container body is discharged to outer the showing of container body when rotating 1 time The amount of shadow agent, but keep from the development of tap discharge by the maintenance space in the constancy of volume Agent, can be not with depend on the amount that leaves the developer in the container body in, and make container body The amount that every rotation is discharged to outside developer for 1 time is as far as possible constant.

According to the present invention, tap forms in the direction of rotation downstream of recess, therefore can in addition With by container body is rotated along above-mentioned direction of rotation, that the developer in the container body is easy Ground is discharged to from tap and keeps the space. And then recess extends and is formed along direction of rotation, and And the size of axis direction is formed littler than the size of direction of rotation, therefore above-mentioned maintenance space Also extend along direction of rotation, and be formed the size of axis direction than the size of direction of rotation Little, turn back to via tap so can prevent from remaining on the developer that keeps in the space as far as possible In the container body. Keep in addition the space to extend and be formed along direction of rotation as mentioned above, therefore The size of direction of rotation that can be by suitably setting recess is what keep the space to keep wishing The amount of developer.

According to the present invention, recess has and direction of rotation in the end in direction of rotation downstream in addition The end wall of intersecting, tap forms in the part of end wall. For example in above-mentioned end wall In the situation of tap integral finish, developer, by the container body rotation, and along container The interior perimembranous of the recess of main body and support component is closely pressed, thereby is discharged to from tap State and keep the space. By being further rotated container body, it is empty to remain on maintenance in this state Between developer, exist by the interior perimembranous of the recess of container body and support component and press and condense Danger. In the present invention, tap forms in the part of end wall, in other words, The aperture area of tap is formed littler than the area of end wall, so developer, is keeping Near the tap in the space, be discharged to the maintenance space in the mode that spreads. Thus can the row of making Going out to the developer that keeps the space is powdery, and can prevent because the said vesse main body as far as possible Rotation and the condensing of the developer that causes. The developer of powdery can be passed through via thus Be directed to the outside.

In addition according to the present invention, in the interior perimembranous of support component, be provided with from container body The developer that tap is discharged is directed to the lead-out unit of via. Thus can be with from the container master The developer that the tap of body is discharged and remained in the above-mentioned maintenance space guides by lead-out unit To via.

In addition according to the present invention, lead-out unit is formed and has flexible and flexible sheet, And to the extension of direction of rotation upstream side, its anchor portion is arranged on the conducting towards support component The part in hole, free end can with the recess of container body in outer peripheral face elasticity butt. Holding Under the state of device main body rotation, by extending to the direction of rotation upstream side and recessed with container body The free end of the lead-out unit of the outer peripheral face elasticity butt in the section is successively from remaining on rotation side Developer in the maintenance space of side carries out scraping downstream, makes it from the periphery emaciated face of recess From, and be directed into anchor portion, and then be directed to via. So can be with from container The developer that the tap of main body is discharged and remained in the above-mentioned maintenance space is cut by conductor element Be directed to via on the spot.

According to the present invention, the free end of lead-out unit is with respect to the outer peripheral face in the recess in addition Form the angle that surpasses 90 degree and carry out butt. So under the state of container body rotation, Lead-out unit, the frictional force that is subjected to from the outer peripheral face of recess by free end is to direction of rotation The downstream deflection prevents from breaking away from from the outer peripheral face of recess, can make free end stably with recess The outer peripheral face butt. Above-mentioned guarantor can be discharged and remained on to tap from container body thus The developer of holding in the space is directed to via effectively by lead-out unit.

According to the present invention, the envelope stop element is at the beginning of container body is positioned at respect to support component in addition Phase is blocked tap during state, by from above-mentioned A-stage rotary container main body, opens discharge The hole. State in the early stage can easily prevent from discharging developer from container body thus, and Directly remove the envelope stop element without the user, and can pass through the rotary container main body, easily beat Begin to rehearse and portal, the developer in the amount discharge container main body.

According to the present invention, the recess of container body and tap are arranged on axis direction in addition Pars intermedia roughly, therefore carry to tap by the container body rotation, leave container in The developer that the axis direction one of main body is distolateral and leave the axis direction other end of container body in The developer of side, near the mutually conflict tap in container body. For example as existing skill In the formation of an end of the axis direction supplying developing agent of container, there be carry aobvious in the art The shadow agent is pressed and condenses to the inwall perpendicular to the axis of the end of axis direction of container Dangerous. In the present invention, can be by near the tap in container body, namely do not have The axis direction of the wall perpendicular to axis of the prior art is pars intermedia roughly, leaves container in Main body from the developer of axis direction one side and mutual from the developer of axis direction opposite side Mutually conflict, and it is stirred. Thus, leave the developer in the container body in, even Condense, make it to be powdery thereby also can be by the rotary container main body it be stirred.

In addition according to the present invention, container body, comprise the bottom tube-like first container section that formed, Form the second container section of bottom tube-like and form tubular and be provided with recess and tap The 3rd container section. End of the axis direction of above-mentioned the 3rd container and the first container section open The mouth end connects, and axis direction the other end is connected with the open end of second container section, thereby One-body molded. Can recess and tap be set at the axis direction pars intermedia thus, realize axis The container body of the tubular of direction two ends closure. To comprise in addition the first container section, second container The container body of section and the 3rd container section is by one-body molded such as blow molding etc., thereby easily Ground is made. Can reduce thus the formation parts of developer container.

In addition according to the present invention, be provided with first jut, institute in the interior perimembranous of the first container section State first jut, side-prominent in the radial direction, and from the bottom to peristome with axis Centered by a direction on extend in the shape of a spiral. Thus can be by making container body around axis Rotation, and easily realizing: will leave distolateral first the holding of the axis direction one of container body in The developer of device section is carried to the tap of the 3rd container section by first projection tab. This The interior perimembranous of external second container section is provided with second jut, and described second jut is to half The footpath is side-prominent in the direction, and from the bottom to peristome with centered by axis described one Extend in the shape of a spiral on the direction of opposite direction. Can revolve around axis by making container body thus Turn to, and easily realize: another second distolateral appearance of axis direction that will leave container body in The developer of device section is carried to the tap of the 3rd container section by second projection tab. By This can easily realize: be the axis direction pars intermedia near the tap in container body, Make leave in container body from the developer of axis direction one side and from axis direction another The developer of side conflicts mutually, thereby it is stirred.

In addition according to the present invention, in the recess of container body and leading of tap and support component Another container master in distolateral of the distolateral and axis direction of axis direction through hole, container body Between body and the support component, be provided with the sealing unit through the all-round extension of circumferencial direction, therefore Can prevent that developer from spilling between container body and support component.

According to the present invention, the internal diameter of the 3rd container section of container body is formed than surplus in addition The internal diameter of surplus part is big. The developer that becomes powdery has following character: even on horizontal plane As the mountain of point point, place, also can become at once the stably shape on mountain. For example holding The internal diameter of the 3rd container section of device main body is formed in the following situation of internal diameter of remainder Lower, as to carry to tap by the rotation of container body developer is revolving of container body Turn to when stopping, leaving from the 3rd container section. In this case, in leave container body in The quantitative change of developer gets when considerably less, after the rotation of container body begins again, is difficult to discharge The developer of q.s is carried in the hole. In the present invention, the internal diameter of the 3rd container section of container body, Therefore be formed greatlyyer than the internal diameter of remainder, can prevent from temporarily being transported to the 3rd appearance as far as possible The developer of device section leaves from the 3rd container section. The developer in leaving container body in thus Amount when considerably less, after the rotation of container body begins again, can be as best one can to discharge The developer of q.s is carried in the hole. And then can try one's best will leave in the container body all in Developer is discharged to the outside.

In addition according to the present invention, the circumferencial direction of container body be provided be arranged at intervals with a plurality of Recess, though therefore developer at the direction of rotation upstream side from towards the discharge that forms container body The maintenance space of the recess in hole and the interior perimembranous of support component spills, also can be by towards upper The circumferencial direction of stating recess be provided with the interval and be configured in the direction of rotation upstream side other recesses and Other of perimembranous keep spaces in the support component, keep the developer that spills. Thus can The amount that makes the every rotation of container body 1 time as far as possible and be discharged to outside developer is constant.

According to the present invention, make by the container body of support member supports for rotating freely around axis When axis rotates, the developer of depositing is advanced to the tap that is arranged on the container body peripheral part Row is carried. Even support component support vessels main body like this is the therefore driving of rotary container main body Power is applied on the container body, the container body that also can stable support rotates around axis. This Form on the external support component and will be directed to the outside from the developer that the tap of container body is discharged Via. The development of will leave in the container of rotation for example only is set in such as prior art In the situation of the discharge pore structure that agent is discharged, tap also rotates along with the rotation of container, In order to prevent escaping to undesirable position from the developer that the tap of this rotation is discharged, need To between the container that rotates and image processing system, sealing unit be set. On the other hand, at this In the invention, leave the developer in the container body in, never rotate with container body The via of support component is directed to the outside, therefore can easily realize preventing never as far as possible Spill developer between the via of displacement and image processing system. And then by rotary container master only Body, can leave in simultaneously container body developer conveying and to the discharge of outside. And then above-mentioned via, be equipped under the state of image processing system, be configured in the container master The top of the axis of body. For example at the state that via is equipped on image processing system, joining Place in the situation of below of axis of container body, be directed to outside developer from via Amount, depend on the deadweight of developer layer, in other words depend on the amount of the developer of depositing, because of The amount of the developer that this deposits is directed to outside developer when many amount is also many, the development of depositing The amount of agent is directed to outside developer when few amount is also few. Therefore can pass through such as the present invention Be equipped on the upper of the axis that under the state of image processing system via is configured in container body And deposit side, and as far as possible make the quantity delivered of the developer that supplies to the image processing system main body The amount of developer has nothing to do and is constant, and developer replenishing is arrived the image processing system main body.

According to the present invention, be equipped under the state of image processing system, from container body in addition The imaginary line that is connected with the center of via of axis angulation with respect to the horizontal plane, for 30 degree～70 degree. For example be equipped under the state of image processing system, from container body The imaginary line that axis is connected with the center of via, with respect to the horizontal plane angulation less than In the situation of 30 degree, when in developer container, having a lot of developer, there is discharge rate Become many trend, surpass in above-mentioned angle in the situation of 70 degree, in the developer container When developer reduces, the possibility that exists discharge rate to tail off. Therefore be equipped on image formation dress Under the state of putting, make the imaginary line phase that is connected with the center of via from the axis of container body For the horizontal plane angulation, be 30 degree～70 degree, supply to image shape thereby can make The quantity delivered of the developer of apparatus for converting main body, irrelevant and for be as far as possible with the amount of the developer of depositing Constant, developer replenishing is arrived image processing system.

According to the present invention, be provided with supply port in the image processing system main body and open and close single in addition Unit will via the developer replenishing mouth of guiding developer to the path connection of development section, switch to Open state and close state, therefore can be by making the developer replenishing mouth for opening state, with developer Supply to development section. Even developer returns developer replenishing from development section via above-mentioned path adverse current Mouthful, also can be by making the developer replenishing mouth for closing state, and prevent effectively the development of adverse current Agent spills from the developer replenishing mouth. Be provided with on this external support component via is switched to out State and close the via opening/closing unit of state therefore can be by making via for opening state, And container body is rotated around axis, thereby will leave the developer in the developer container in Draw directed outwards from via. In addition by making via for closing state, even mistake makes the container master Body rotates around axis, also can prevent from effectively leaving in the developer in the developer container Be directed to the outside from via. And then developer container, supply towards developer at via Give under the state of mouth, carried on image processing system, therefore by making the developer replenishing mouth And via carries developer container on image processing system, and makes for opening state Container body rotates around axis, thereby can be with the development of leaving in the developer container Agent supplies to the development section of image processing system via via and above-mentioned path.

According to the present invention, the via opening/closing unit is equipped on figure at developer container in addition When picture forms on the device, and by the supply port opening/closing unit developer replenishing mouth is switched to out shape The action interlock of attitude switches to out state with via, therefore developer container is being taken Be loaded in before the image processing system, need not to make in advance developer replenishing mouth and via for opening shape Attitude. Thus, for example developer container was carried before image processing system, make in advance Via is for opening state, and mistake makes the container body of developer container rotate around axis, also Can prevent effectively that the developer that leaves in the developer container is directed to from via Outside. In addition developer container is equipped on the image processing system under following state: Via is towards the developer replenishing mouth of image processing system, towards leading of developer container The circumference of through hole and realized close towards the circumference of the developer replenishing mouth of image processing system Envelope. In that developer container is equipped under the state of image processing system, make container thus Main body is rotated around axis, will leave developer in the developer container in via via And above-mentioned path can prevent developer when supplying to the development section of image processing system effectively Escape to undesirable position.

According to the present invention, support component can be divided into a plurality of in a circumferential direction in addition. Thus During the support vessels main body, cut apart in advance support component, and make support component after cutting apart from radius The direction outside-supporting comprise container body tap part or comprise the recess of container body And the part of tap, thereby can pass through all-round support vessels main body, can easily carry out This assembling operation.

In addition according to the present invention, support component is included on the imaginary plane that parallels to the axis extremely The brace table that has less the abutting part more than 3 or 3, so support component can pass through On horizontal plane, with the abutting part butt of brace table, make its axis be parallel to horizontal plane and stable The support container body.

According to the present invention, in end of axis direction of container body, formation can be loaded and unloaded in addition Ground be arranged on image processing system on the connecting portion that is connected of drive source. Can be above-mentioned by making Connecting portion is connected with the drive source of image processing system, and container body is applied from above-mentioned driving The driving force in source makes container body be rotated around axis.

In addition according to the present invention, the axis direction that support component is configured in container body roughly in Therefore centre section is communicated with the developer replenishing mouth and is installed in image at the via that makes support component Form under the state on the apparatus main body, support component is configured in the image processing system main body Positive back side central portion. Can make thus container body from the positive back side of image processing system main body Centre section extends to face portion, and extends to the back side from positive back side central portion, with existing container Compare and make capacity become very big. In addition can be by making support component from container body to axis The length dimension of the end face of an end of direction is than from support component to axis direction the other end The length dimension of end face little, and in the back part of image processing system main body, guarantee to arrange with The zone of the drive division that the connecting portion of an end of axis direction of container body connects.

According to the present invention, image processing system can releasably carry the above-mentioned effect that realizes in addition Developer container.

Claims

1. a developer container can freely carry on image processing system with loading and unloading, it is characterized in that, comprising:

Container body is formed the tubular of depositing the developer that is used for image formation, is provided with the exhaust opening that is used to discharge developer, by rotating around axis and the developer of depositing being carried to exhaust opening; With

Support component, from the radial direction outside through full week, container body be supported for around axis rotate freely, and be provided with and will be directed to outside via from the developer that the exhaust opening of container body is discharged,

The exhaust opening of container body is set at the axis direction pars intermedia,

Support component supports the axis direction pars intermedia of the container body that comprises exhaust opening at least,

Container body comprises first container portions that forms bottom tube-like, forms second container portions of bottom tube-like and forms tubular and be provided with the link of exhaust opening,

Releasably the end of axis direction of link and the open end of first container portions are connected, and releasably the axis direction the other end of link and the open end of second container portions are connected,

At the sense of rotation upstream side of the exhaust opening of container body, between the interior perimembranous of the peripheral part of container body and support component, be provided with the maintaining part that keeps developer.

2. developer container according to claim 1 is characterized in that,

Interior perimembranous in first container portions is provided with first jut, and described first jut is side-prominent in radial direction, and from the bottom with the axis be to peristome on the direction at center in the shape of a spiral shape extend,

Interior perimembranous in second container portions is provided with second jut, and described second jut is side-prominent in radial direction, and shape extends going up in the shape of a spiral in the opposite direction with a described side that with the axis is the center from the bottom to peristome.

3. developer container according to claim 1 is characterized in that,

Between container body and support component, promptly near the both ends of the axis direction upper support parts of container body, clamp sealing unit through the full Zhou Yanshen of circumferencial direction of container body.

4. developer container according to claim 1 is characterized in that,

Described support component,, through full week the part that comprises exhaust opening at least of container body is supported for and can rotates freely around axis, described via from the radial direction outside, be equipped under the state of image processing system, be configured in the top of the axis of container body.

5. developer container according to claim 4 is characterized in that,

Be equipped under the state of image processing system, the sagging vertical line of the axis of the middle mind-set container body of via angulation with respect to the horizontal plane is 30 degree～70 degree from the inner peripheral surface of support component.

6. developer container according to claim 4 is characterized in that,

The image processing system main body is provided with the supply port opening/closing unit, will be via the developer replenishing mouth of guiding developer to the connection of the path of development section, switch opening state and close between the state,

Developer container, is carried on image processing system under the state of developer replenishing mouth at via,

On support component, be provided with via is being opened state and closed the via opening/closing unit that switches between the state.

7. developer container according to claim 6 is characterized in that,

Developer container is equipped on the image processing system under following state: via is towards the developer replenishing mouth of image processing system, and realized sealing towards the circumference of the via of developer container with towards the circumference of the developer replenishing mouth of image processing system

The via opening/closing unit, when developer container was equipped on the image processing system, the action interlock with the developer replenishing mouth being switched to out state by the supply port opening/closing unit switched to out state with via.

8. developer container according to claim 1 is characterized in that,

Support component can be divided into a plurality of in a circumferential direction.

9. developer container according to claim 1 is characterized in that,

Support component is included in the brace table that has the abutting part more than 3 on the imaginary plane that parallels to the axis at least.

10. developer container according to claim 1 is characterized in that,

On container body, form releasably be arranged on image processing system on the connecting portion that is connected of drive source.

11. developer container according to claim 10 is characterized in that,

Connecting portion is set at end of axis direction of container body,

Length dimension from the support component of container body to the end face of an end of axis direction, be formed littler than the length dimension of end face from support component to axis direction the other end,

Support component, so that the mode that via is communicated with the developer replenishing mouth is installed on the image processing system, described developer replenishing mouth is communicated with the development section of image processing system main body.

12. a developer container can freely carry on image processing system with loading and unloading, it is characterized in that, comprising:

Support component passes through full week, container body is supported for around axis from the radial direction outside

Rotate freely, and be provided with and be directed to the outside from the developer that the exhaust opening of container body is discharged

Via,

Described container body is provided with the recess that is absorbed in to the radial direction inboard at its peripheral part, and described exhaust opening forms at described recess,

Described support component, from the radial direction outside through full week, the part that comprises recess at least of container body is supported for and can rotates freely around axis.

13. developer container according to claim 12 is characterized in that,

Recess extends and is formed along sense of rotation, and the size of axis direction be formed littler than the size of sense of rotation,

Exhaust opening forms in the sense of rotation downstream of recess.

14. developer container according to claim 12 is characterized in that,

Recess has the end wall of intersecting with sense of rotation in the end in sense of rotation downstream,

Exhaust opening forms on the part of end wall.

15. developer container according to claim 12 is characterized in that,

In the interior perimembranous of support component, be provided with the lead-out unit that the developer of will discharge from the exhaust opening of container body is directed to via.

16. developer container according to claim 15 is characterized in that,

Lead-out unit is formed and has flexible and flexible sheet, and extends to the sense of rotation upstream side, and its anchor portion is set at towards the part of the via of support component, free end can with the outer peripheral face elasticity butt in the recess of container body.

17. developer container according to claim 15 is characterized in that,

The free end of lead-out unit forms the angle that surpasses 90 degree and carries out butt with respect to the outer peripheral face in the recess.

18. developer container according to claim 12 is characterized in that,

Also comprise the envelope stop element, when container body is positioned at A-stage with respect to support component, block exhaust opening,, open exhaust opening by from described A-stage rotary container main body.

19. developer container according to claim 12 is characterized in that,

The recess of container body and exhaust opening are set at the axis direction pars intermedia.

20. developer container according to claim 12 is characterized in that,

Container body comprises forming bottom tube-like first container portions, form second container portions of bottom tube-like and forming tubular and be provided with recess and the 3rd container portions of exhaust opening,

Connect the end of axis direction of the 3rd container portions and the open end of first container portions, and connect the axis direction the other end of the 3rd container portions and the open end of second container portions, thus that it is one-body molded.

21. developer container according to claim 12 is characterized in that,

22. developer container according to claim 12 is characterized in that,

23. developer container according to claim 20 is characterized in that,

The internal diameter of the 3rd container portions of container body is formed bigger than the internal diameter of first container portions and second container portions.

24. developer container according to claim 12 is characterized in that,

On the circumferencial direction of container body, be arranged at intervals with a plurality of recesses.

25. developer container according to claim 12 is characterized in that,

26. developer container according to claim 25 is characterized in that,

27. developer container according to claim 25 is characterized in that,

28. developer container according to claim 27 is characterized in that,

29. developer container according to claim 12 is characterized in that,

30. developer container according to claim 12 is characterized in that,

31. developer container according to claim 12 is characterized in that,

32. developer container according to claim 31 is characterized in that,

Connecting portion is set at end of axis direction of container body,

33. an image processing system is characterized in that,

Releasably be equipped with any described developer container of claim of right1.