CN108323188B

CN108323188B - Developer container and image forming apparatus including the same

Info

Publication number: CN108323188B
Application number: CN201780003257.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 江藤大辅
Original assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc
Current assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc
Priority date: 2017-07-07
Filing date: 2017-07-07
Publication date: 2021-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 2037-07-07
Also published as: CN108323188A; JP6481796B1; WO2019008763A1; RU2675406C1; JPWO2019008763A1

Abstract

The toner container (30) includes a container body (37), a shaft (33), and a moving wall (32). The moving wall (32) can move in a first direction along the shaft (33) while conveying the toner in the container body (37) to the toner discharge port (377). The movable wall (32) has a wall plate (321), a seal member (322), and a wall body (323). The sealing member (322) is sandwiched between the wall plate (321) and the wall body (323), forms the outer peripheral surface of the movable wall (32), and is compressed and deformed by coming into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the container body (37).

Description

Developer container and image forming apparatus including the same

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a developer container for containing developer and an image forming apparatus including the developer container.

Background

Conventionally, as a developer container for containing developer, a container provided in an image forming apparatus is known. The image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing device, and a developer container. When a developer is supplied from a developing device to an image carrier, an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier is developed to form a developer image. The developer container includes a developer discharge port, and supplies a replenishment developer to a replenishment port provided in the developing device.

Patent document 1 discloses a developer container provided with a movable wall that is movable along a shaft while conveying developer to a developer discharge port. In this technique, a male screw portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of a shaft is engaged with a female screw portion provided on a bearing portion of a movable wall, and the movable wall moves in accordance with the rotation of the shaft. Further, a band-shaped seal member is wound around the movable wall. The sealing member is in close contact with the container main body of the developer container to prevent toner from leaking from the periphery of the movable wall.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2015-125333

Disclosure of Invention

The developer container described in patent document 1 has a problem that the seal member is deformed or damaged along with the movement of the movable wall, and the seal member is likely to be curled.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a developer container in which separation of a sealing member from a moving wall due to travel of the moving wall is suppressed, and an image forming apparatus including the developer container.

A developer container according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a container body having an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space extending cylindrically in a first direction, and formed with a developer discharge port opening so as to communicate with the internal space and allowing discharge of a developer; a shaft that is disposed in the internal space so as to extend in the first direction and that is rotatably supported by the container main body; and a moving wall having an outer peripheral surface disposed in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the container body and a conveying surface defining a storage space for storing the developer together with the inner peripheral surface of the container body, the moving wall being movable in the first direction along the shaft in the internal space while conveying the developer in the internal space to the developer discharge port, wherein the moving wall includes: a downstream side wall portion including a first bearing portion through which the shaft is inserted and the conveying surface; an upstream side wall portion including a second bearing portion through which the shaft is inserted, the upstream side wall portion being disposed on the first upstream side relative to the downstream side wall portion; and a seal member that includes a third bearing portion through which the shaft is inserted, and that is sandwiched between the downstream side wall portion and the upstream side wall portion in the first direction to form the outer peripheral surface of the movable wall, and that is compressively deformed by abutting against the inner peripheral surface of the container body, wherein the upstream side wall portion has a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion disposed on a downstream side in the first direction from the large diameter portion, and has a stepped shape in the first direction such that the outer peripheral portion of the seal member is allowed to enter a stepped portion between the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion by the movement of the movable wall in the first direction.

According to the present configuration, the movable wall includes the upstream side wall portion, the downstream side wall portion, and the seal member. The sealing member is sandwiched by the downstream side wall portion and the upstream side wall portion in the first direction. Therefore, as compared with a structure in which a band-shaped seal member is fixed around the movable wall, the seal member is prevented from being detached from the movable wall along with the movement of the movable wall.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state in which a part of a housing is opened.

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view showing an internal configuration of a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where a developer is replenished to the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the inside of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a movable wall of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a movable wall of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a wall body portion of a movable wall of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a movable wall of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a pressing member of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a pressing member of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a pressing member of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the movable wall, the pressing member, and the shaft of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view of a state in which the pressing member is engaged with the movable wall.

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the movable wall, the pressing member, and the shaft of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view of a state in which engagement between the pressing member and the movable wall is released.

Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which the engagement between the pressing member and the movable wall is released.

Fig. 22 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the developer container of fig. 9.

Fig. 23 is an exploded perspective view of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 24 is an exploded perspective view of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 25 is an exploded perspective view of a ratchet mechanism of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 26 is an exploded perspective view of a ratchet mechanism of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 27 is a perspective view of a ratchet mechanism of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 28 is a perspective view of a ratchet mechanism of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 29 is an enlarged plan view of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 30 is a sectional view of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 31 is a sectional view of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 32 is a sectional view of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 33 is a sectional view of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 34 is a sectional view of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 35 is a sectional view of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 36 is a sectional view of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 37 is a perspective view of a shaft portion of a developer storage container according to a modified embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 38 is a perspective view of a shaft portion of another developer container, as compared with the developer container according to the modified embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a printer 100 (image forming apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer 100 shown in fig. 1 and 2. The printer 100 as the image forming apparatus shown in fig. 1 to 3 is a so-called monochrome printer, but in other embodiments, the image forming apparatus may be a color printer, a facsimile apparatus, a multifunction peripheral having functions of these, or another apparatus for forming a toner image on a sheet. In addition, terms indicating directions such as "up", "down", "front", "rear", "left" and "right" used in the following description are only for clarifying the description, and do not limit the principle of the image forming apparatus at all.

The printer 100 includes a housing 101 that houses various devices for forming an image on a sheet S. The housing 101 includes: an upper wall 102 defining an upper face of the casing 101; a bottom wall 103 (fig. 3) defining a bottom surface of the housing 101; a body rear wall 105 (fig. 3) between the upper wall 102 and the bottom wall 103; and a body front wall 104 located forward of the body rear wall 105. The housing 101 includes a main body internal space 107 in which various devices are disposed. A sheet conveyance path PP for conveying a sheet S in a predetermined conveyance direction extends in the main body internal space 107 of the housing 101. The printer 100 further includes an opening/closing cover 100C openably/closably attached to the housing 101.

The opening/closing cover 100C includes a front wall upper portion 104B as an upper portion of the main body front wall 104; and an upper wall front portion 102B as a front portion of the upper wall 102. The opening/closing cover 100C is openable and closable in the vertical direction with a hinge shaft (not shown) of the pair of arm portions 108 disposed at both ends in the horizontal direction as a fulcrum (fig. 2). In the opened state of the opening/closing cover 100C, the upper part of the main body internal space 107 is opened to the outside. On the other hand, in the closed state of the opening/closing cover 200C, the upper part of the main body internal space 107 is closed.

A paper discharge portion 102A is disposed in the center of the upper wall 102. The paper discharge portion 102A includes an inclined surface inclined downward from the front portion to the rear portion of the upper wall 102. A sheet S on which an image is formed in an image forming unit 120 described later is discharged to the sheet discharge unit 102A. Further, a manual feed tray 104A is disposed at the center portion in the vertical direction of the main body front wall 104. The manual feed tray 104A is vertically rotatable (arrow DT in fig. 3) with the lower end as a fulcrum.

Referring to fig. 3, the printer 100 includes a cassette 110, a pickup roller 112, a first paper feed roller 113, a second paper feed roller 114, a conveyance roller 115, a registration roller pair 116, an image forming portion 120, and a fixing device 130.

The cassette 110 accommodates a sheet S therein. The cartridge 110 is provided with a lift plate 111. The lift plate 111 is inclined so as to push the leading edge of the sheet S upward. The cartridge 110 is extractable forward with respect to the housing 101.

The pickup roller 112 is disposed on the leading edge of the sheet S pushed up by the lift plate 111. If the pickup roller 112 rotates, the sheet S is drawn out from the cassette 110.

The first feed roller 113 is disposed downstream of the pickup roller 112 and feeds the sheet S further downstream. The second sheet feeding roller 114 is disposed inside (behind) a fulcrum of the manual sheet feeding tray 104A, and draws the sheet S on the manual sheet feeding tray 104A into the housing 101.

The conveyance roller 115 is disposed downstream of the first paper feed roller 113 and the second paper feed roller 114 in the sheet conveyance direction. The conveying roller 115 conveys the sheet S fed by the first and second

sheet feeding rollers

113 and 114 further downstream.

The registration roller pair 116 has a function of correcting oblique conveyance of the sheet S. Accordingly, the position of the image formed on the sheet S is adjusted. The registration roller pair 116 feeds the sheet S to the image forming unit 120 in accordance with the image forming timing of the image forming unit 120.

The image forming unit 120 includes a photosensitive drum 121 (image bearing member), a charger 122, an exposure device 123, a developing device 20, a toner container 30 (developer container), a transfer roller 126 (transfer unit), and a cleaning device 127.

The photosensitive drum 121 has a cylindrical shape. The photosensitive drum 121 has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a toner image (developer image) corresponding to the electrostatic latent image is carried on the surface. The charger 122 is applied with a predetermined voltage to substantially uniformly charge the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121.

The exposure device 123 irradiates the circumferential surface of the photoconductive drum 121 charged by the charger 122 with laser light. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121.

The developing device 20 supplies toner to the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. The toner container 30 supplies toner (replenishment developer) to the developing device 20. The toner container 30 is detachably disposed in the developing device 20. If the developing device 20 supplies toner to the photosensitive drum 121, the electrostatic latent image formed on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121 is developed (visualized). As a result, a toner image (developer image) is formed on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121.

The transfer roller 126 is disposed below the photosensitive drum 121 so as to face the photosensitive drum 121 with the sheet conveyance path PP therebetween. The transfer roller 126 forms a transfer nip portion with the photosensitive drum 121, and transfers the toner image to the sheet S.

The cleaning device 127 removes toner remaining on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121 after the toner image is transferred to the sheet S.

The fixing device 130 is disposed downstream of the image forming unit 120 in the conveying direction, and fixes the toner image on the sheet S. The fixing device 130 includes: a heating roller 131 for fusing toner on the sheet S; and a pressure roller 132 for bringing the sheet S into close contact with the heat roller 131.

The printer 100 further includes: a conveying roller pair 133 disposed downstream of the fixing device 130; and a discharge roller pair 134 disposed downstream of the conveying roller pair 133. The sheet S is conveyed upward by the conveying roller pair 133, and is finally discharged from the housing 101 by the discharge roller pair 134. The sheet S discharged from the housing 101 is stacked on the sheet discharge portion 102A.

< relating to developing device >

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing an internal structure of the developing device 20. The developing device 20 includes a developing casing 210 (casing) in a box shape elongated in one direction (the axial direction, the left-right direction of the developing roller 21). The developing casing 210 has a storage space 220 (developer conveyance passage). The developing roller 21, the first agitating screw 23 (developer conveying member), the second agitating screw 24, and the toner replenishing port 25 are disposed in the storage space 220. In the present embodiment, a one-component developing method is applied, and the storage space 220 is filled with toner as a developer. On the other hand, in the case of the two-component development method, a toner and a carrier made of a magnetic material are mixed and filled as a developer. The toner is stirred and transported in the storage space 220, and is sequentially supplied from the developing roller 21 to the photosensitive drum 121 to develop the electrostatic latent image.

The developing roller 21 has a cylindrical shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the developing casing 210, and has a rotationally driven cylindrical portion on the outer periphery. The storage space 220 of the developing casing 210 is covered by a ceiling, not shown, and is divided into a first conveyance path 221 and a second conveyance path 222, which are long in the left-right direction, by a partition plate 22 extending in the left-right direction. The partition plate 22 is shorter than the width of the developing casing 210 in the left-right direction, and a first communication passage 223 and a second communication passage 224 that communicate the first conveyance passage 221 and the second conveyance passage 222 are provided at the left end and the right end of the partition plate 22. Accordingly, a circulation path from the first conveyance path 221, the second communication path 224, the second conveyance path 222 to the first communication path 223 is formed in the storage space 220. The toner is conveyed in the circulation path in the counterclockwise direction in fig. 4.

The toner replenishment port 25 (developer replenishment port) is an opening portion that opens in the ceiling of the developing housing 210, and is disposed near the upper left end of the first conveyance path 221. Toner replenishment port 25 is disposed opposite to the above-described circulation path, and has a function of receiving replenishment toner (replenishment developer) replenished from toner discharge port 377 (fig. 4) of toner container 30 into storage space 220.

The first stirring screw 23 is disposed in the first conveyance path 221. The first stirring screw 23 includes a first rotary shaft 23a and a first helical blade 23b spirally protruding in the circumferential direction of the first rotary shaft 23 a. The first agitating screw 23 is rotationally driven by rotating (arrow r2) about the first rotation shaft 23a, thereby conveying the toner in the arrow D1 direction of fig. 4. The first agitating screw 23 conveys the developer through the toner replenishment port 25 at a position facing the first conveyance path 221. Accordingly, first stirring screw 23 has a function of mixing and conveying the new toner flowing in from toner replenishment port 25 and the toner carried into first conveyance path 221 from the side of second conveyance path 222. A first blade 23c is disposed on the downstream side of the first agitating screw 23 in the toner conveying direction (direction D1). First blade 23c rotates together with first rotation shaft 23a, and delivers toner from first conveyance path 221 to second conveyance path 222 in the direction of arrow D4 in fig. 4.

The second stirring screw 24 is disposed in the second conveyance path 222. The second stirring screw 24 includes a second rotating shaft 24a and a second helical blade 24b that protrudes in a helical shape in the circumferential direction of the second rotating shaft 24 a. The second stirring screw 24 is rotationally driven around the second rotation shaft 24a (arrow r1), and supplies the toner to the developing roller 21 while conveying the toner in the direction of arrow D2 in fig. 4. A second blade 24c is disposed on the downstream side of the second agitating screw 24 in the toner conveying direction (direction D2). Second blade 24c rotates together with second rotation shaft 24a, and hands over the toner from second conveyance path 222 to first conveyance path 221 in the direction of arrow D3 in fig. 4.

The toner container 30 (fig. 3) is disposed above the toner replenishment port 25 of the developing housing 210. The toner container 30 is provided with a toner discharge port 377 (fig. 4). The toner discharge port 377 is disposed at the bottom of the toner container 30 so as to correspond to the toner supply port 25 of the developing device 20. The toner dropped from the toner discharge port 377 is supplied to the developing device 20 through the toner supply port 25.

< replenishment of toner >

Next, the flow of the toner newly supplied from the toner supply port 25 will be described. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the toner supply port 25 disposed in the developing device 20 and the toner discharge port 377 disposed in the toner container 30.

The replenishment toner T2 supplied from the toner discharge port 377 of the toner container 30 falls into the first conveying path 221 to be mixed with the already existing toner T1, and is conveyed in the direction of arrow D1 by the first stirring screw 23. At this time, the toners T1 and T2 are stirred and charged.

The first agitating screw 23 includes a suppression blade 28 (conveyance capability suppression portion) that locally suppresses the conveyance capability of the developer on the downstream side of the toner replenishment port 25 in the toner conveyance direction. In the present embodiment, the suppression blade 28 is a plate-like member disposed between the adjacent first helical blades 23b of the first agitating screw 23. By the suppression blade 28 rotating around the first rotation shaft 23a, the toner conveyed from the upstream side of the suppression blade 28 starts to stagnate. Then, these toner accumulations accumulate to a position on the upstream side of the suppression blade 28 where the toner replenishment port 25 faces the first conveyance path 221. As a result, a retention portion 29 of the developer (developer retention portion) is formed near the inlet of the toner replenishment port 25. Further, a first helical blade 23b is disposed in a region facing the toner replenishment port 25 (fig. 4). In another embodiment, the conveyance ability suppressing portion may be formed by a region where the first helical blade 23b of the first stirring screw 23 is partially missing and the first rotary shaft 23a is partially exposed in the axial direction. In this structure as well, the conveyance capability of the first agitating screw 23 is locally suppressed, and therefore, a retention portion of the developer is formed.

If the replenishment toner T2 is replenished from the toner replenishment port 25 and the amount of toner in the storage space 220 increases, the toner accumulated in the retention portion 29 clogs (seals) the toner replenishment port 25, and the replenishment of more toner is suppressed. Further, the first helical blade 23b rotates to lift the developer in the storage space 220 around the toner replenishment port 25 upward. As a result, the sealing action of the toner replenishing port 25 of the retention portion 29 is increased. Thereafter, if the toner in the storage space 220 is consumed from the developing roller 21 and the amount of toner accumulated in the accumulating portion 29 decreases, the amount of toner blocking the toner supply port 25 decreases, and a gap is formed between the accumulating portion 29 and the toner supply port 25. As a result, the replenishment toner T2 flows into the storage space 220 again from the toner replenishment port 25. Thus, in the present embodiment, a volume replenishment type toner replenishment form is adopted in which the amount of toner to be replenished is adjusted in accordance with the decrease in the amount of toner accumulated in the retention section 29. Therefore, even if the developing housing 210 of the developing device 20 does not have a sensor for detecting the amount of toner, the toner can be replenished to the developing device 20.

< installation of toner container to developing device >

Fig. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the toner container 30 and the developing device 20 according to the present embodiment, respectively. The toner container 30 is attachable to and detachable from the developing device 20 in the housing 101.

The toner container 30 includes a lid portion 31, a container main body 37, a cover 39, and a container shutter 30S (fig. 6).

The container body 37 is a main body portion of the toner container 30, and contains toner therein. The lid 31 closes the left end of the container body 37. A cover 39 is mounted on the right end portion of the container body 37.

The container shutter 30S is slidably supported by the container body 37. The container shutter 30S has a function of closing and opening the toner discharge port 377 of the container body 37. The container shutter 30S has a shutter main body 30S1, a shutter lock 30S2, and an unlocking portion 30S 3. The shutter main body 30S1 is a main body portion of the container shutter 30S, and has a function of closing and opening the toner discharge port 377. The shutter body 30S1 is slidably supported by the container body 37. The shutter lock 30S2 is swingably supported on the shutter main body 30S 1. The shutter lock 30S2 has a function of allowing and restricting sliding movement of the shutter main body 30S1 with respect to the container main body 37. The unlocking portion 30S3 is a protruding piece provided in the shutter lock portion 30S 2. When the unlocking portion 30S3 is pressed, a lock piece, not shown, provided in the shutter lock portion 30S2 is disengaged from an engagement portion formed in the container body 37, and the shutter body 30S1 is slidably moved.

Referring to fig. 2, if the opening/closing cover 100C of the casing 101 is opened upward, the container mounting portion 109 provided in the developing housing 210 of the developing device 20 is exposed to the outside of the casing 101. Referring to fig. 7, the developing casing 210 includes a pair of casing left walls 210L and a pair of casing right walls 210R. The container mounting portion 109 is formed between the case left wall 210L and the case right wall 210R. In the present embodiment, the toner container 30 is attached to the container mounting portion 109 from an obliquely upper direction (see arrow DC in fig. 6). At this time, the cover 39 of the toner container 30 is disposed on the housing right wall 210R side, and the lid portion 31 of the toner container 30 is disposed on the housing left wall 210L side. The developing casing 210 includes a left guide groove 201L and a right guide groove 201R (fig. 7).

The left guide groove 201L and the right guide groove 201R are groove portions formed in the case left wall 210L and the case right wall 210R, respectively. The left guide groove 201L and the right guide groove 201R guide the attachment of the toner container 30 to the container attachment portion 109. Therefore, the inlet sides of the left guide groove 201L and the right guide groove 201R are formed to extend in the mounting direction of the toner container 30 (arrow DC direction of fig. 7). On the other hand, the rear sides of the left guide groove 201L and the right guide groove 201R are formed in a fan shape as described later so as to allow rotation of the first guide part 312 (fig. 8) and the second guide part 391 (fig. 6).

Further, referring to fig. 7, the developing device 20 includes a first transmission gear 211, a second transmission gear 212, and a third transmission gear 213. The printer 100 includes a first motor M1, a second motor M2, and a controller 50 (fig. 7) provided in the housing 101. The first transmission gear 211, the second transmission gear 212, and the third transmission gear 213 are gears rotatably supported on the housing right wall 210R. The first transmission gear 211 is connected to the second transmission gear 212. The first transmission gear 211 is connected to the developing roller 21, the first stirring screw 23, and the second stirring screw 24 via a gear group, not shown. If the developing device 20 is mounted to the cabinet 101, the first motor M1 is connected to the third transfer gear 213, and the second motor M2 is connected to the first transfer gear 211.

The first motor M1 rotates a shaft 33 of the toner container 30, which will be described later, via the third transmission gear 213, thereby moving a moving wall 32 of the toner container 30, which will be described later. That is, the third transmission gear 213 engages with a second container gear 382 of the toner container 30, which will be described later, and transmits the driving force of the first motor M1 to the second container gear 382. The second motor M2 rotates the developing roller 21, the first agitating screw 23, and the second agitating screw 24 of the developing device 20 via the first transmission gear 211. The second motor M2 rotates the stirring member 35, described later, of the toner container 30 via the first transmission gear 211 and the second transmission gear 212. The controller 50 controls the first motor M1 and the second motor M2 to drive the developing device 20 and the toner container 30 during a printing operation of the printer 100.

Further, the developing housing 200 includes a lock release button 202, the toner supply port 25 (developer supply port), a release projection 206, a pair of container shutter fixing portions 207, a pair of shutter springs 208 (urging members), and a housing shutter 210S.

The lock release button 202 is a push button supported slidably on the housing right wall 210R. The lock release button 202 has a function of locking the attitude of the toner container 30 attached to the container attachment portion 109 or a function of releasing the lock. The lock release button 202 includes a lock engagement piece 202S. The lock engagement piece 202S is a claw formed on the front side portion of the case right wall 210R so as to protrude toward the container mounting portion 109. The developing device 20 is provided with a lock biasing spring, not shown. The lock biasing spring is a coil spring that is disposed inside the housing right wall 210R and biases the lock release button 202 forward. The lock engagement piece 202S has a function of locking the attitude resistance of the toner container 30 attached to the container attachment portion 109. On the other hand, if the lock release button 202 is pressed against the urging force of the lock urging spring, the lock engagement piece 202S is separated from the toner container 30, and the lock function for the toner container 30 is released.

The toner replenishment port 25 is an opening that is substantially rectangular and opens in the ceiling of the developing housing 200 (fig. 7). The toner replenishment port 25 communicates with the inside of the developing housing 200. The toner replenishment port 25 is disposed opposite the toner container 30 attached to the container attachment portion 109. The toner discharged from the toner discharge port 377 of the toner container 30 flows into the inside of the developing housing 200 from the toner replenishment port 25.

The releasing projection 206 is a projection provided adjacent to the rear of the toner replenishment port 25 and projecting from the ceiling of the developing housing 200. The releasing projection 206 has a function of pressing a lock releasing portion 30S3 (fig. 6) of the container shutter 30S of the toner container 30 when the toner container 30 is attached to the container attachment portion 109. In other words, the release protrusion 206 allows the sliding movement of the container shutter 30S.

The pair of container shutter fixing portions 207 are protruding portions protruding from the ceiling of the developing housing 200 so as to sandwich the releasing protruding portion 206 in the left-right direction. The container gate fixing portion 207 has a substantially trapezoidal shape when viewed in a cross direction to the left-right direction. Further, a wedge-shaped notch is formed in the front side surface of the container shutter fixing portion 207. When the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 109, a part of the container shutter 30S of the toner container 30 engages with the notch portion. As a result, the container shutter fixing portion 207 fixes the container shutter 30S and restricts movement (rotation) of the container shutter 30S. Further, the container shutter fixing portion 207 allows the rotation of the container body 37 in the second rotation direction when the toner container 30 is mounted.

The pair of shutter springs 208 are a pair of spring members disposed on the outer sides of the pair of container shutter fixing portions 207 in the left-right direction. The shutter spring 208 is disposed so as to extend in the front-rear direction. The rear end portions of the pair of shutter springs 208 are respectively locked to the ceiling plate of the developing housing 200. The tip ends of the pair of shutter springs 208 are respectively engaged with the left and right rotation ends of the housing shutter 210S.

The casing shutter 210S is supported by the developing casing 200 so as to be slidable with respect to the toner replenishment port 25. The case shutter 210S closes or opens the toner replenishment port 25.

The pair of shutter springs 208 apply a force to the case shutter 210S in a direction in which the case shutter 210S closes the toner replenishment port 25. If the toner container 30 is detached from the developing device 20, the housing shutter 210S seals the toner replenishment port 25 by the urging force of the pair of shutter springs 208.

Further, if the toner container 30 is mounted to the container mount 109, the case shutter 210S may press the container main body 37 of the toner container 30. Therefore, the shutter spring 208 applies a force in a direction in which the housing shutter 210S blocks the toner replenishment port 25 to the toner container 30 attached to the container mounting portion 109 via the housing shutter 210S.

< Structure of toner Container >

Next, the toner container 30 (developer container) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be further described with reference to fig. 8 to 11 in addition to fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 9 and 10 are sectional views of the toner container 30. Fig. 9 shows a state in which a movable wall 32 described later is disposed at an initial position, and fig. 10 shows a state in which the movable wall 32 is disposed at a final position. Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the inside of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment, and shows a state in which the container main body 37 is detached.

The toner container 30 has a cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction (first direction, arrow DA direction in fig. 9). The toner container 30 contains a replenishment toner (developer) therein. The toner container 30 includes not only the above-described lid portion 31, container body 37 (container body), and cap 39, but also a moving wall 32, a shaft 33, a pressing member 34, an agitating member 35, a toner sensor (not shown), a first container gear 381, a second container gear 382, a ratchet gear 383, and a ratchet shaft 384.

The lid 31 is fixed to the container body 37 and seals the opening of the container body 37. The lid 31 supports the second shaft end 332 (fig. 9) of the shaft 33 rotatably. The cover 31 includes a first guide 312. The first guide 312 is a protrusion formed to extend in the vertical direction on the left side surface (outer surface) of the cover 31. The first guide 312 has a function of guiding the toner container 30 to be attached to the developing device 20.

The container body 37 is a main body portion of the toner container 30 in a cylindrical shape. The container body 37 includes an inner peripheral surface 37K and an inner space 37H. The inner peripheral surface 37K is an inner peripheral surface of the container body 37, and extends cylindrically in the longitudinal direction (first direction, arrow DA direction in fig. 9) of the toner container 30.

Further, the container body 37 includes a right wall 375 (fig. 9) and a protruding wall 376 (see fig. 24). The right wall 375 is a wall portion that is disposed on one end side (right end side) of the container body 37 in the first direction and blocks the inside of the container body 37. The internal space 37H is defined by the inner peripheral surface 37K formed by the container body 37, the right wall 375, and the lid 31. Further, an area between the right wall 375 and the moving wall 32 in the internal space 37H is a housing space 37S. The storage space 37S is a space for storing toner in the toner container 30.

As shown in fig. 9, the container body 37 is opened (opened) at the opposite side of the first direction of the right wall 375. If the lid 31 is fixed to the opening, the lid 31 closes the internal space 37H of the container body 37. The outer peripheral edge of the lid 31 is ultrasonically welded to the container body 37.

Referring to fig. 24, the protruding wall 376 protrudes to the right of the outer peripheral surface of the container main body 37 than the right wall 375. The cover 39 is attached to the protruding wall 376.

Further, the container main body 37 includes the toner discharge port 377 (developer discharge port) and a main body bearing portion 37J (fig. 9) described above. The toner discharge port 377 is an opening communicating with the inner peripheral surface 37K (the internal space 37H) and opened in the lower surface of the container body 37. As shown in fig. 9, the toner discharge port 377 is opened to communicate with the internal space 37H at a lower surface portion of a right end portion (one end portion in the first direction) of the container main body 37. In other words, the toner discharge port 377 is disposed adjacent to the right wall 375 in the first direction. The toner discharge port 377 has a predetermined length in the first direction, has a predetermined width along an arc shape of the bottom of the container body 37, and is opened in a rectangular shape. In the present embodiment, the toner discharge port 377 is opened at a position shifted rearward and upward in the circumferential direction with respect to the lower end portion of the bottom portion of the container main body 37. The toner discharge port 377 allows toner to be discharged from the housing space 37S to the developing device 20.

The main body bearing portion 37J (fig. 9) is a bearing formed on the right wall 375. The shaft 33 is inserted through the main body bearing portion 37J. At this time, the right end side (first shaft end 331) of the shaft 33 protrudes outward of the container body 37.

The movable wall 32 is a wall portion disposed facing the first direction inside the container body 37 (inside space 37H). The movable wall 32 receives a driving force from the pressing member 34 with the rotation of the shaft 33. The movable wall 32 defines one end surface (left end surface) of the housing space 37S in the first direction. The other end surface (right end surface) of the housing space 37S in the first direction is defined by a right wall 375. The moving wall 32 has a function of moving the toner in the housing space 37S from an initial position on one end side to a final position on the other end side in the first direction in the internal space 37H while conveying the toner to the toner discharge port 377 during a period from when the use of the toner container 30 is started to when the use is ended. In the present embodiment, the initial position of the moving wall 32 is disposed on the right side (the first direction downstream side) of the cap 31 (fig. 9), and the final position is disposed on the left side (the first direction upstream side) of the toner discharge port 377 (fig. 10). Further, the structure of the movable wall 32 will be described in detail later.

The shaft 33 is rotatably supported by the right wall 375 of the container body 37 and the lid portion 31 so as to extend in the first direction in the internal space 37H. The shaft 33 includes a first shaft end 331, a second shaft end 332, a male screw 333 (first engaging portion), and a moving wall stopper 334.

Referring to fig. 9, the first shaft end 331 is a distal end of the shaft 33 that protrudes to the right through the main body bearing portion 37J. A pair of D-surfaces is formed on the circumferential surface of the first shaft end 331 (see fig. 24). The first shaft end 331 engages with the ratchet shaft 384. As a result, the shaft 33 and the ratchet shaft 384 can rotate integrally. The second shaft end 332 is the left end of the shaft 33. The second shaft end 332 is axially supported by the shaft hole formed in the lid 31 as described above.

The male screw 333 is a screw portion formed spirally in the first direction on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 33 in the internal space 37H. In the present embodiment, the male screw 333 is disposed in the shaft 33 shown in fig. 9 from a region adjacent to the cap 31 to a region located on the upstream side in the first direction (arrow DA in fig. 9) with respect to the toner discharge port 377.

The moving wall stopper 334 is continuously disposed on the first downstream side of the male screw 333. The moving wall stopper 334 is a region of the shaft 33 in the internal space 37H, which is only a shaft portion and partially lacks the male screw 333. The moving wall stopper 334 is located on the first upstream side of the toner discharge port 377 above the toner discharge port 377 with respect to the toner discharge port 377.

The pressing member 34 (fig. 9) is disposed on the first direction upstream side of the moving wall 32. The pressing member 34 is a cylindrical member that allows the shaft 33 to be inserted therein, and has a function of pressing the movable wall 32 in the first direction. The structure of the pushing member 34 will be described in detail later.

The stirring member 35 is disposed along the right wall 375 above the toner discharge port 377. The stirring member 35 stirs the toner in the housing space 37S and sends the toner out of the toner discharge port 377. In the present embodiment, the stirring member 35 rotates around the shaft 33 and relatively to the shaft 33. The stirring member 35 includes a plate portion 35A, a plurality of blade portions 35B, and a stirring bearing portion 35C. The plate portion 35A is a plate-like portion disposed along the right wall 375, and is rotatable about the shaft 33. The plurality of blade portions 35B are blade portions extending from the plate portion 35A toward the first upstream side, i.e., toward the moving wall 32. The blade 35B rotates circumferentially above the toner discharge port 377 around the shaft 33. The agitation bearing portion 35C is a cylindrical portion extending rightward from the plate portion 35A, and accommodates the shaft 33 therein. Further, the distal end portion of the stirring bearing portion 35C may be engaged with the first container gear 381.

The first tank gear 381 transmits a rotational driving force to the stirring member 35. The first container gear 381 is connected to the second motor M2 through the first transmission gear 211 and the second transmission gear 212 of the developing device 20. In the present embodiment, the first container gear 381 is rotationally driven in synchronization with the developing roller 21, the first agitating screw 23, and the second agitating screw 24 of the developing device 20. The first container gear 381 is connected to the distal end of the agitation bearing portion 35C of the agitation member 35 penetrating the main body bearing portion 37J. As a result, the first container gear 381 and the stirring member 35 rotate integrally.

The second container gear 382 transmits a rotational driving force to the shaft 33. The second container gear 382 is disposed on the same axis as the shaft 33. The second container gear 382 is connected to the first motor M1 via the third transmission gear 213. The second container gear 382 is rotated by the driving force generated by the first motor M1, and can rotate the shaft 33. As shown in fig. 9, the right end of the shaft 33 is disposed so as to penetrate the stirring member 35. The second container gear 382 is connected (fixed) to the distal end portion (first shaft end portion 331) of the shaft 33 via a ratchet gear 383 and a ratchet shaft 384. The ratchet mechanism for connecting the second container gear 382 to the shaft 33 will be described in detail later.

The cover 39 is attached to the container body 37. The cover 39 has a function of exposing a part of the first container gear 381 and the second container gear 382 in the circumferential direction to the outside and covering the other part of the first container gear 381 and the second container gear 382 in the circumferential direction. The cover 39 includes the second guide portion 391 (fig. 9 and 11), the container engagement portion 392, and the gear opening portion 39K (fig. 6).

The second guide portion 391 is a protrusion protruding rightward in the vertical direction on the right side surface of the cover 39. The second guide portion 391 has a function of guiding the toner container 30 to be attached to the developing device 20 together with the first guide portion 312 of the cover 31. The container engagement portion 392 is a protrusion that is provided on the right side surface of the cover 39 so as to protrude at a distance from the second guide portion 391. The lock engagement piece 202S of the lock release button 202 can be engaged with the container engagement portion 392.

The gear opening 39K is an opening in which the lower surface of the cover 39 is opened in a semicircular arc shape. When the cover 39 is attached to the container main body 37, a part of the gear teeth of the first container gear 381 and the second container gear 382 is exposed to the outside of the toner container 30 through the gear opening 39K. As a result, when the toner container 30 is mounted in the developing housing 210 of the developing device 20, the first container gear 381 and the second container gear 382 engage with the second transmission gear 212 and the third transmission gear 213, respectively (fig. 7).

The toner sensor is a sensor fixed to the container main body 37. The toner sensor is disposed above the toner discharge port 377 in the circumferential direction. The toner sensor TS is a sensor formed of a magnetic permeability sensor (magnetic sensor) or a piezoelectric element. In the case where the toner sensor is formed of a piezoelectric element, a sensor portion of the toner sensor is exposed to the housing space 37S. The toner sensor outputs a HIGH signal (+5V) by the toner pressed against the housing space 37S. Further, in a case where there is almost no toner above the toner sensor, the toner sensor outputs a LOW signal (0V). The output signal of the toner sensor is referred to by the control section 50 (fig. 7). In addition, when the toner sensor is a magnetic permeability sensor, the sensor does not need to be in direct contact with the toner. Therefore, the toner sensor may be fixed to the outer wall of the container main body 37. In another embodiment, the toner sensor may be disposed on the developing housing 210 side (apparatus main body side) of the developing apparatus 20 so as to face the outer wall of the container main body 37.

< movement of moving wall >

The first guide 312 of the lid portion 31 and the second guide 391 of the cover 39 are guided by the pair of left and

right guide grooves

201L and 201R of the developing device 20, and the toner container 30 is attached to the container attachment portion 109 by the user (fig. 6 and 7). When the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 109, the container shutter 30S is moved, and the toner discharge port 377 is opened. As a result, toner discharge port 377 is disposed to face the upper side of toner supply port 25 (fig. 4 and 5).

Thus, if a new toner container 30 is attached to the printer 100, the control unit 50 (fig. 7) drives the first motor M1 to rotate the shaft 33 via the second container gear 382 engaged with the third transmission gear 213. As a result, the pressing member 34 moves the moving wall 32 toward the toner discharge port 377 in the first direction (arrow DA in fig. 9) by the engagement of the male screw portion 333 of the shaft 33 with a female screw portion 34J of the pressing member 34, which will be described later. After that, if the moving wall 32 moves a predetermined distance rightward from the initial position, the housing space 37S is filled with the toner, and the toner sensor outputs a HIGH signal corresponding to the full state. The control unit 50 receives a HIGH signal output from the toner sensor, and stops the rotation of the shaft 33 to stop the movement of the movable wall 32.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the volume replenishment type toner replenishment form is adopted as shown in fig. 5. Therefore, when the retention portion 29 (fig. 5) on the developing device 20 side closes the toner replenishment port 25 from below, the replenishment toner does not fall from the toner container 30. On the other hand, if toner is supplied from the developing roller 21 of the developing device 20 to the photosensitive drum 121 and the toner in the retention portion 29 decreases, the toner flows into the developing device 20 through the toner supply port 25 from the toner discharge port 377. As a result, in the housing space 37S of the toner container 30, the toner around the toner sensor disappears, and the toner sensor outputs a LOW signal. The control section 50 receives the signal, drives the first motor M1, and moves the moving wall 32 further toward the toner discharge port 377 until the toner sensor outputs a HIGH signal.

In addition, the control section 50 drives the second motor M2 to rotationally drive the developing roller 21 and the like in accordance with the developing operation of the developing device 20. In conjunction with this rotation operation, the stirring member 35 rotates via the first container gear 381 engaged with the second transmission gear 212. As a result, the stirring member 35 disposed on the right end side of the housing space 37S rotates around the shaft 33, and therefore, the toner above the toner discharge port 377 is stably stirred. This increases the fluidity of the toner, and the toner stably drops from the toner discharge port 377.

If the printing operation is repeated and the toner in the housing space 37S of the toner container 30 continues to be used, the moving wall 32 reaches the final position in front of the toner discharge port 377. Thereby, the moving wall 32 is gradually moved in the first direction, and the toner in the housing space 37S is conveyed to the toner discharge port 377 while being pressed by the moving wall 32. At this time, the housing space 37S is gradually reduced while the movable wall 32 reaches the final position. Therefore, the space itself in which the toner remains gradually disappears inside the toner container 30. As a result, the amount of toner remaining in the housing space 37S of the container body 37 at the end of use is reduced as compared with a conventional toner container in which the volume of the housing space does not change.

In the present embodiment, the moving wall 32 stops at a final position slightly upstream in the first direction from the toner discharge port 377. Specifically, when the female screw portion 34J of the pressing member 34 reaches the moving wall stopper 334 with the movement of the moving wall 32, the engagement between the male screw portion 333 and the female screw portion 34J is released. As a result, the transmission of the moving force from the shaft 33 to the pressing member 34 is eliminated, and the moving wall 32 is stopped at the final position.

Detailed construction of movable walls

Fig. 12 and 13 are exploded perspective views of the movable wall 32 of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment, and are perspective views from different viewpoints. In addition, in fig. 12, the pressing member 34 is also shown. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the wall main body portion 323 of the moving wall 32. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the moving wall 32.

Referring to fig. 12 and 13, the movable wall 32 includes a wall plate 321 (downstream side wall portion), a seal member 322, and a wall main body portion 323 (upstream side wall portion). In other words, in the present embodiment, the moving wall 32 is formed of 3 plate-like members. The wall plate 321, the seal member 322, and the outer peripheral portion of the wall body 323 have similar shapes to each other. That is, the lower end portion of the moving wall 32 has an arc shape protruding downward, the upper end portion of the moving wall 32 is formed by a horizontal flat portion, and both side portions of the moving wall 32 are formed by inclined portions connecting the arc shape and the flat portion.

The wall plate 321 is disposed on the most downstream side in the first direction in the movable wall 32. The wall plate 321 is formed by resin molding. The wall plate 321 includes a plate main body 321A, 4 (a plurality of) studs 321B, and 4 (a plurality of) engagement pieces 321C. The plate main body 321A is a main body portion of the wall plate 321, and is a plate-shaped portion facing in the left-right direction. A plate shaft hole 321H (first bearing portion) is opened in a central portion of the plate main body 321A. The shaft 33 is inserted into the plate shaft hole 321H. Further, the right side surface of the plate main body 321A constitutes a conveying surface 320S. The conveyance surface 320S defines a toner accommodating space 37S together with the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37. Further, the conveying surface 320S conveys the toner while pressing the toner in the storage space 37S with the movement of the moving wall 32.

The 4 studs 321B (a plurality of positioning projections) project leftward (toward the wall body 323) from the left side surface of the plate body 321A. The stud 321B has a cylindrical shape, and the distal end portion thereof has a tapered shape. In the present embodiment, 2 studs 321B are arranged above the plate shaft hole 321H at intervals in the front-rear direction, and 2 studs 321B are arranged below the plate shaft hole 321H at intervals in the front-rear direction. The 4 studs 321B have a function of positioning the wall plate 321 on the wall main body portion 323.

The 4 engaging pieces 321C (a plurality of engaging pieces) are provided to protrude leftward (toward the wall body 323) from the left side surface of the plate body 321A, similarly to the studs 321B. The engaging piece 321C has a hook shape and a claw shape at its distal end portion. In the present embodiment, 1 engaging piece 321C is disposed above the

plate shaft hole

321H, 2 studs 321B are disposed in front of and behind the plate shaft hole 321H, and 1 stud 321B is disposed below the plate shaft hole 321H. In other words, the 4 engaging pieces 321C are arranged between the 4 studs 321B in the circumferential direction. The 4 engaging pieces 321C have a function of fixing the wall plate 321 to the wall body 323.

The seal member 322 is a central portion of the movable wall 32 in the first direction, and is disposed at a position sandwiched between the wall plate 321 and the wall body 323. The sealing member 322 is formed of a polyurethane material having a predetermined thickness in the first direction. A seal shaft hole 322H (third bearing portion) is opened in the center portion of the seal member 322. The shaft 33 is inserted into the seal shaft hole 322H. In the

seal member

322, 4 stud insertion holes 322B (a plurality of third openings) and 4 engaging piece insertion holes 322C (a plurality of first openings) are opened so as to surround the seal shaft hole 322H. The 4 stud insertion holes 322B allow the 4 studs 321B to be inserted therethrough, respectively. Similarly, the 4 engaging piece insertion holes 322C allow the 4 engaging pieces 321C to be inserted therethrough, respectively. As a result, the positions of the wall plate 321 and the seal member 322 with respect to the wall main body 323 of the movable wall 32 are restricted. In other words, the sealing member 322 is restricted in the up-down and right-left directions. The outer peripheral portion of the seal member 322 forms an outer peripheral surface 32K (fig. 9) of the movable wall 32. The outer peripheral surface 32K is disposed in contact with the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37 and is compressed and deformed.

The wall body 323 is disposed on the first direction upstream side of the wall plate 321 and the seal member 322, that is, on the first direction most upstream side of the movable wall 32. The wall main body portion 323 is formed by resin molding. As shown in fig. 13, the wall main body portion 323 includes a large diameter portion 323S and a small diameter portion 323T. That is, the wall body 323 has a stepped shape in the first direction, and has a shape in which the first direction downstream side (small diameter portion 323T) is smaller than the first direction upstream side (large diameter portion 323S) by one turn. A cylindrical portion 323J (wall cylindrical portion) is disposed at the center of the wall body portion 323 (fig. 14). The cylindrical portion 323J has a cylindrical shape protruding from the wall body portion 323 toward the first direction upstream side. A wall main body shaft hole 323H (second bearing portion) is formed in the cylindrical portion 323J (fig. 13). The shaft 33 is inserted into the wall body shaft hole 323H. The cylindrical portion 323J is inserted into the cylinder of the pressing member 34. A distal end portion (distal end portion) of the cylindrical portion 323J on the first upstream side is annular, and functions as a pressed portion 323J1 (fig. 14) pressed by a pressing member 34 described later. The pressed portion 323J1 contacts a pressing surface 34F of the pressing member 34, which will be described later, and the entire circumference of the shaft 33.

As shown in fig. 14, the wall body 323 includes 4 stud receiving portions 323B (a plurality of second opening portions), 4 wall engaging portions 323C (a plurality of engaged portions), and 4 wall surface ribs 323L. The 4 stud receiving portions 323B allow the 4 studs 321B to be inserted therethrough, respectively. Similarly, the 4 wall engaging portions 323C allow the 4 engaging pieces 321C to be engaged with each other (fig. 15). The 4 wall surface ribs 323L are ribs protruding from the left side surface of the wall body 323, and extend to connect the stud receiving portion 323B and the wall engaging portion 323C, respectively. In addition, the 4 wall-surface ribs 323L have 1 first wall-surface rib 323L1 and 3 second wall- surface ribs 323L 2. The first wall surface rib 323L1 extends upward from the upper end of the cylindrical portion 323J. The 3 second wall-surface ribs 323L2 extend radially outward from the left and right ends and the lower end of the cylindrical portion 323J, respectively. Further, an insertion hole H (engaged portion) is formed in the first wall surface rib 323L 1. The insertion hole H is an opening formed to penetrate the first wall surface rib 323L1 in the front-rear direction, and is configured to allow insertion of a pressing member engagement portion 34K of the pressing member 34, which will be described later.

Further, referring to fig. 13, on the right side surface of the

wall body portion

323, 3 seal pressing ribs 323F (restricting portions) are provided in a ring shape along the circumferential direction of the shaft 33 so as to surround the peripheries of the 4 stud receiving portions 323B and the 4 wall engaging portions 323C and protrude toward the seal member 322. The 3 seal pressing ribs 323F are ribs each having a shape similar to the outer peripheral shape of the wall main body portion 323, and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the radial direction. The outermost seal pressing rib 323F is disposed in the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the small diameter portion 323T. The innermost seal pressing rib 323F is disposed close to the 4 stud receiving portions 323B and the 4 wall engaging portions 323C. These seal pressing ribs 323F have a function of pressing the seal member 322 by coming into contact with the side surface of the seal member 322, and restricting the radial base position of the compression-deformed portion of the seal member 322.

Referring to fig. 13, a plurality of outer circumferential ribs 323R are disposed at intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer circumferential portion of the large diameter portion 323S. The plurality of outer circumferential ribs 323R maintain the posture of the movable wall 32 by slightly contacting the inner circumferential surface 37K of the container body 37.

Referring to fig. 9 and 13, if the wall plate 321, the seal member 322, and the wall body 323 are integrated, the outer peripheral portion of the seal member 322 is disposed at the outermost side in the radial direction. As a result, the outer peripheral portion of the seal member 322 (the outer peripheral surface 32K of the movable wall 32) is compressed and deformed by the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37. As a result, the toner in the housing space 37S is prevented from flowing out from between the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37 and the outer peripheral surface 32K of the movable wall 32 toward the upstream side in the moving direction of the movable wall 32. At this time, the position of the base end portion in the radial direction of the compression-deformed portion is restricted by the plurality of seal pressing ribs 323F. Therefore, the compressed portion of the outer peripheral portion of the seal member 322 is limited, and a strong pressing force can be maintained against the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container main body 37. Further, the outer peripheral portion of the large diameter portion 323S of the wall body portion 323 and the outer peripheral portion of the wall plate 321 are disposed at a portion slightly radially inward of the outer peripheral portion of the seal member 322. Thus, the planar (plate-like) sealing member 322 is sandwiched between the wall plate 321 and the wall body 323, and the outer peripheral portion of the sealing member 322 is prevented from being detached due to the movement of the movable wall 32. In other words, the flip-over of the relief seal is prevented, compared to a structure in which a band-shaped seal member is wound around the outer peripheral portion of the moving wall 32. Further, a small diameter portion 323T is disposed at a portion radially inward of the large diameter portion 323S. As a result, when the movable wall 32 moves in the first direction, the outer peripheral portion of the seal member 322 is allowed to enter the step portion between the large diameter portion 323S and the small diameter portion 323T on the first upstream side. Therefore, the outer peripheral portion of the seal member 322 is prevented from being damaged by an excessive load applied thereto.

Referring to fig. 12 and 13, if the seal member 322 is sandwiched between the wall plate 321 and the wall body 323, the seal member 322 is crushed at the peripheral portion of the seal shaft hole 322H, and forms a shaft seal portion on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 33 so as to be in close contact with the entire circumferential surface. The shaft seal portion is disposed on the first upstream side with respect to a female screw portion 34J of a pressing member 34 (fig. 9). Therefore, the shaft seal portion contacts the male screw portion 333 of the shaft 33 before the female screw portion 34J, and cleans the toner adhering to the male screw portion 333. Further, the shaft seal portion is annular in shape so as to surround the shaft 33, and therefore, is closely attached to the shaft 33 in the entire circumferential direction of the shaft 33. Therefore, the toner in the housing space 37S is prevented from flowing out to the upstream side in the moving direction of the moving wall 32 through the bearing portion of the moving wall 32.

< Structure of pushing Member >

Fig. 16 to 18 are perspective views of the pressing member 34 of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the movable wall 32, the pressing member 34, and the shaft 33 of the toner container 30, and is a perspective view of a state in which the pressing member 34 is engaged with the movable wall 32. Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the movable wall 32, the pressing member 34, and the shaft 33 of the toner container 30, and is a perspective view of a state in which the engagement between the pressing member 34 and the movable wall 32 is released. Fig. 21 is a sectional view of the toner container 30, and is a sectional view of a state in which the engagement between the pressing member 34 and the movable wall 32 is released. Fig. 22 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the toner container 30 (the pressing member 34) of fig. 9.

The pressing member 34 is disposed on the first direction upstream side of the moving wall 32 (fig. 9). The pushing member 34 has a cylindrical shape. The outer peripheral surface of the pressing member 34 is disposed at a radially inward interval from the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37 (fig. 9). The pressing member 34 has a first cylindrical portion 34A (second bearing portion) and a second cylindrical portion 34B. The first cylindrical portion 34A has a slightly smaller diameter than the second cylindrical portion 34B, and is disposed on the first upstream side with respect to the second cylindrical portion 34B. The shaft 33 is inserted into the first cylindrical portion 34A and the second cylindrical portion 34B. The pressing member 34 has a female screw portion 34J (second engaging portion), a pressing surface 34F (pressing portion), and a pressing member engaging portion 34K.

The female screw portion 34J is a helical screw portion formed on the inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion 34A. The female screw portion 34J has a function of moving the pressing member 34 in the first direction by engaging with the male screw portion 333 of the shaft 33.

The pressing surface 34F has a function of pressing the movable wall 32 to the first direction downstream side. The pressing surface 34F is formed in a ring shape in a step portion between the first cylindrical portion 34A and the second cylindrical portion 34B inside the cylinder of the pressing member 34. The pressing surface 34F presses the pressed portion 323J1 (fig. 14) of the movable wall 32 in the first direction around the shaft 33.

The pressing member engaging portion 34K protrudes radially from a first downstream side portion of the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 34B, and includes a distal end portion extending in the circumferential direction. The insertion hole H of the movable wall 32 allows the distal end portion of the pressing member engaging portion 34K to engage in the circumferential direction (fig. 19 and 20).

Further, a first notch portion 34L1 and 3 second notch portions 34L2 are formed on the first downstream side of the second cylindrical portion 34B, respectively (fig. 16). The first cutout portion 34L1 is defined by a first facing surface 34P1 and a second facing surface 34P2 having steps. The first facing surface 34P1 is disposed radially inward of the distal end portion (bent portion) of the pressing member engagement portion 34K. The 3 second cut portions 34L2 are each shaped such that the end surface of the second cylindrical portion 34B is cut in a rectangular shape. When the pressing member 34 presses the movable wall 32, the first wall surface rib 323L1 and the second wall surface rib 323L2 are inserted into the first notch portion 34L1 and the second notch portion 34L2, respectively (fig. 14).

Further, if the shaft 33 rotates in a predetermined first rotational direction (arrow R1 in fig. 19), the pressing surface 34F presses the movable wall 32 in association with the engagement of the male screw portion 333 and the female screw portion 34J, and the pressing member 34 moves in the first direction integrally with the movable wall 32. Further, if the shaft 33 rotates in a second rotational direction (arrow R2 in fig. 20) opposite to the first rotational direction, the pressing member 34 moves relatively to the moving wall 32 in the first direction upstream side in accordance with the engagement of the male screw part 333 and the female screw part 34J.

Referring to fig. 21 and 22, in the present modified embodiment, the screw thread of the male screw part 333 and the screw thread of the female screw part 34J have characteristics in terms of shape. That is, referring to fig. 22, the male screw part 333 has a first male slope 333A (first slope surface) and a second male slope 333B (second slope surface).

The first male inclined surface 333A is disposed on the downstream side in the first direction with respect to the ridge line of the male screw portion 333, and is formed by an inclined surface that is inclined so as to become thinner toward the first direction. In other words, the first male slope 333A is inclined so as to extend radially inward in the first direction. The second male inclined surface 333B is disposed on the first direction upstream side with respect to the ridge line of the male screw portion 333, and is formed by an inclined surface that is inclined so as to become wider toward the first direction on the opposite side of the first male inclined surface 333A. In other words, the second male slope 333B is inclined so as to extend radially outward in the first direction. Further, the second male slope 333B is more slowly inclined with respect to the first direction than the first male slope 333A.

Further, the female screw portion 34J has a first female slope 34J1 (third slope surface) and a second female slope 34J2 (fourth slope surface).

The first female slope 34J1 is disposed on the first direction upstream side with respect to the ridge line of the female spiral portion 34J, and is formed by a slope that is inclined so as to become wider toward the first direction. In other words, the first female slope 34J1 is inclined so as to extend radially inward in the first direction. The second female slope 34J2 is disposed on the first downstream side with respect to the ridge of the female spiral portion 34J, and is formed by an inclined surface that is inclined so as to become narrower toward the first direction on the opposite side of the first female slope 34J 1. In other words, the second female slope surface 34J2 is inclined so as to extend radially outward in the first direction. The second female slope 34J2 is more slowly inclined with respect to the first direction than the first female slope 34J 1.

According to such a configuration, when the shaft 33 rotates in the second rotation direction (arrow R2 in fig. 20), the rotational torque applied to the shaft 33 accompanying the engagement between the second male inclined surface 333B of the male screw part 333 and the second female inclined surface 34J2 of the female screw part 34J is larger than the rotational torque applied to the shaft 33 accompanying the engagement between the first male inclined surface 333A of the shaft 33 and the first female inclined surface 34J1 of the female screw part 34J when the shaft 33 rotates in the first rotation direction (arrow R1 in fig. 19). When the shaft 33 rotates in the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction, the pitch of the male screw portions 333 is the same, but when the shaft 33 rotates in the second rotational direction, the component force in the radial direction of the force generated by the contact between the second male inclined surface 333B and the second female inclined surface 34J2 is large, and therefore, a large torque is generated on the shaft 33. Therefore, the load for rotating the shaft 33 is increased, and the amount of movement of the pressing member 34 can be reduced. Therefore, the pressing member 34 and the movable wall 32 are easily fitted again by manual operation and rotation of the shaft 33.

< related to ratchet structure >

Fig. 23 and 24 are exploded perspective views of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 25 and 26 are exploded perspective views of the ratchet mechanism of the toner container 30. Fig. 27 and 28 are perspective views of the ratchet mechanism of the toner container 30.

In the present embodiment, the second container gear 382, the ratchet gear 383, and the ratchet shaft 384 include a ratchet mechanism that transmits a rotational driving force to the shaft 33.

Referring to fig. 25 and 26, the second container gear 382 includes a cylindrical portion 382S and a disk-shaped gear portion 382T connected to the cylindrical portion 382S. Gear teeth, not shown, are formed on the outer periphery of the gear portion 382T. The shaft portion 384T of the ratchet shaft 384 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 382S. The cylindrical portion 382S has an engagement portion 382A extending in the axial direction of the ratchet shaft 384 (the axial direction of the shaft 33).

The ratchet gear 383 has a cylindrical shape, and a shaft part 384T of the ratchet shaft 384 can be inserted therein. The ratchet gear 383 is disposed between the shaft 33 and the second container gear 382 in the axial direction and is rotatable about the axis of the shaft 33. The ratchet gear 383 has an engaging portion 383A extending in the axial direction of the ratchet shaft 384 and a slope portion 383B facing the engaging portion 383A in the circumferential direction. Further, the ratchet gear 383 has: an engaging portion 383C disposed on the opposite side of the engaging portion 383A and the inclined portion 383B in the axial direction and extending in the axial direction of the ratchet shaft 384; and an inclined portion 383D that faces the engaging portion 383C in the circumferential direction.

Further, the ratchet shaft 384 is disposed between the second container gear 382 and the shaft 33 in the axial direction, and is rotatable integrally with the shaft 33. The ratchet shaft 384 includes a base end part 384S and a shaft part 384T. The base end part 384S has a substantially cylindrical shape. The base end part 384S includes a pair of D-surface shapes in the cylinder. The first shaft end 331 (fig. 24) of the shaft 33 is inserted into the base end 384S and engaged therewith. As a result, the shaft 33 and the ratchet shaft 384 can rotate integrally. The shaft part 384T extends in the axial direction from the base end part 384S. The shaft part 384T has an outer diameter smaller than that of the base end part 384S. The proximal end 384S includes an engagement portion 384A extending in the axial direction of the ratchet shaft 384 and an inclined portion 384B facing the engagement portion 384A in the circumferential direction.

As shown in fig. 27 and 28, after the ratchet gear 383 is fitted around the ratchet shaft 384, the cylindrical portion 382S of the second container gear 382 is fitted around the ratchet shaft 384. As a result, the engaging portion 382A is disposed to face the engaging portion 383C in the circumferential direction around the ratchet shaft 384, and the engaging portion 384A is disposed to face the engaging portion 383A. When the second container gear 382 rotates in the first rotation direction (arrow R1 in fig. 19 and arrow DG1 in fig. 27), the engagement portion 382A moves along the inclined portion 383D to press the ratchet gear 383 in the axial direction toward the base end portion 384S. Then, the engagement portion 382A abuts against the engagement portion 383C to press the engagement portion 383C in the first rotational direction. Further, the engagement portion 383A abuts on the engagement portion 384A to press the engagement portion 384A in the first rotation direction. As a result, the shaft 33 connected to the ratchet shaft 384 rotates in the first rotational direction. That is, the pressing member 34 and the movable wall 32 move in the first Direction (DA).

On the other hand, if the second container gear 382 rotates in the second rotation direction (arrow R2 in fig. 20, arrow DG2 in fig. 28), the engagement portion 382A is disposed apart from the engagement portion 383C in the circumferential direction. Further, the engaging portion 382B of the second container gear 382 presses the engaging portion 383E of the ratchet gear 383 in the second rotational direction. As a result, the ratchet gear 383 rotates in the second rotational direction. At this time, since the ratchet shaft 384 does not press the ratchet gear 383 toward the shaft part 384T, the engagement between the ratchet gear 383 and the ratchet shaft 384 (the engaging part 384A) is released, and the ratchet gear 383 idles in the second rotation direction. As a result, the rotational force in the second rotational direction is not transmitted to the ratchet shaft 384, and as a result, the shaft 33 does not rotate in the second rotational direction. That is, the movement of the pressing member 34 and the movable wall 32 in the first Direction (DA) is suppressed with the rotation of the second container gear 382 in the second rotational direction. Further, since the shaft 33 does not rotate in the second rotational direction, the pressing member 34 does not move relatively to the moving wall 32 in the first direction upstream side. Therefore, when the toner container 30 is removed from the developing device 20 of the printer 100, even if the user erroneously rotates the second container gear 382 in the second rotational direction, the movement wall 32 is prevented from moving upstream in the first direction.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the ratchet mechanism formed by the second container gear 382, the ratchet gear 383, and the ratchet shaft 384 transmits the rotational driving force of the second container gear 382 in the first rotational direction to the shaft 33, and blocks the transmission of the rotational driving force of the second container gear 382 in the second rotational direction to the shaft 33.

In the present embodiment, first container gear 381 has a cylindrical shape so as to include a connecting portion between first shaft end 331 of shaft 33 and base end 384S of ratchet shaft 384. Therefore, regardless of the connection state of the first container gear 381 and the shaft 33, the rotational force of the first container gear 381 can be stably transmitted to the stirring bearing portion 35C of the stirring member 35.

< toner container mounting/dismounting >

Fig. 29 is an enlarged plan view of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 30 to 36 are sectional views of the toner container 30. Fig. 30, 33, and 34 are cross sections including the front-rear direction and the up-down direction (cross sections passing through the second guide portion 391) at the cross section position a-a in fig. 29. Fig. 31 and 35 are cross sections including the front-rear direction and the up-down direction (cross sections passing through the second container gear 382) at the cross section position B-B in fig. 29. Further, fig. 32 and 36 are cross sections including the front-rear direction and the up-down direction (cross sections passing through the first container gear 381) at the cross section position C-C of fig. 29.

If the container shutter 30S is erroneously moved from a position blocking the toner discharge port 377 while the toner container 30 is attached to the developing device 20, the toner is exposed from the toner discharge port 377. In the present embodiment, in the state where the toner container 30 is alone, the container shutter 30S is prevented from sliding from the toner discharge port 377 as described above. Therefore, when the toner container 30 is stored and transported as a single body, the toner discharge port 377 is stably sealed by the container shutter 30S.

When the toner container 30 is replaced, the toner container 30 is mounted to the developing device 20 by the user of the printer 100 as described above. At this time, when the user inserts the first guide 312 and the second guide 391 of the toner container 30 into the left guide groove 201L and the right guide groove 201R, the toner container 30 is attached to the first position of the container mounting portion 109 while being guided by the left guide groove 201L and the right guide groove 201R in the arrow DC direction of fig. 7. The posture of the toner container 30 at this time is defined as a first posture (fig. 34 to 36).

At this time, the releasing projection 206 of the developing housing 200 presses the unlocking portion 30S3 of the container shutter 30S of the toner container 30. As a result, the shutter lock 30S2 swings, the lock of the container shutter 30S by the shutter lock 30S2 is released, and the container shutter 30S can slide.

On the other hand, when the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 109 in the first posture, a part of the container shutter 30S engages with the wedge-shaped notch portions of the pair of container shutter fixing portions 207 (fig. 7). As a result, the container shutter 30S is fixed to the container shutter fixing portion 207. Thereafter, the container main body 37 of the toner container 30 is rotated in the first mounting rotation direction (the direction of arrow DM in fig. 7) about the axial center in the left-right direction from the first position by the user. At this time, the toner discharge port 377 slides relative to the container shutter 30S, and the container body 37 reaches the second position. In the second position, the opened toner discharge port 377 communicates with the toner supply port 25 of the developing device 20. In other words, the toner discharge port 30S moves in the first mounting rotation direction together with the container main body 37. As a result, the toner discharge port 377 is disengaged from the fixed container shutter 30S, and the opened toner discharge port 377 is positioned above the toner supply port 25 and can communicate with the toner supply port 25. The posture of the toner container 30 at this time is defined as a second posture (fig. 30 to 32).

In a state where the toner container 30 is not mounted on the container mounting portion 109, the case shutter 210S (fig. 7) closes the toner replenishment port 25. Further, if the toner container 30 is attached to the container mounting portion 109 in the first posture, a part of the container main body 37 of the toner container 30 is disposed to face the case shutter 210S. Then, if the toner container 30 is rotated in the first mounting rotation direction to change the posture from the first posture to the second posture as described above, the container main body 37 presses the housing shutter 210S in the first mounting rotation direction against the urging force of the pair of shutter springs 208. As a result, the case shutter 210S slides in the first mounting rotation direction together with the container main body 37 of the toner container 30, and the toner replenishment port 25 is opened as shown in fig. 7. Therefore, the toner discharge port 377 and the toner replenishment port 25 can communicate in the vertical direction.

Fig. 30 to 32 show a state in which the toner container 30 is mounted at the second position in the second posture as described above. At this time, the lock engagement piece 202S of the lock release button 202 engages with the container engagement portion 392 of the toner container 30. Therefore, the toner container 30 is prevented from being rotated by mistake in the second mounting rotation direction (arrow DN in fig. 33) opposite to the first mounting rotation direction. In the state of fig. 30, if the user presses the lock release button 202, the lock engagement piece 202S is disengaged from the container engagement portion 392 (arrow DL of fig. 33). As a result, since the force for restricting the rotation of the toner container 30 is eliminated, the container body 37 of the toner container 30 is rotated in the second attachment rotation direction (arrow DN in fig. 33) by the biasing force of the pair of shutter springs 208 (fig. 7). At this time, the case shutter 210S is moved by the pair of shutter springs 208 to a position where the toner replenishment port 25 is closed. The case shutter 210S rotates the container body 37 in the second attachment rotation direction while engaging with a part of the container body 37.

As a result, the toner container 30 is again disposed at the first position in the first posture (fig. 34, 35, and 36). At this time, the second guide portion 391 is disposed so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the right guide groove 201R. The first guide 312 of the toner container 30 is also arranged to extend in the longitudinal direction of the left guide groove 201L. That is, the toner container 30 can be detached from the container mounting portion 109 (fig. 7) in the mounting direction DC. Further, while the toner container 30 reaches the first position from the second position, the second container gear 382 of the toner container 30 engages with the third transmission gear 213 of the developing device 20 (fig. 35), and the first container gear 381 of the toner container 30 engages with the second transmission gear 212 of the developing device 20 (fig. 36).

Here, in the present embodiment, when the toner container 30 is detached, the second rotational direction (arrow DN in fig. 33) in which the container body 37 of the toner container 30 rotates by pressing the lock release button 202 is the same as the direction (arrow DG1 in fig. 27) in which the ratchet mechanism of the toner container 30 transmits the rotational driving force to the shaft 33. In other words, when the lock release button 202 is pressed and the container main body 37 is rotated in the second attachment rotation direction by the biasing force of the pair of gate springs 208, the second container gear 382 engaged with the third transmission gear 213 of the developing device 20 is rotated in the direction of the arrow DG2 in fig. 28 relative to the container main body 37. At this time, the connection between the second container gear 382 and the shaft 33 is released by the action of the above-described ratchet mechanism. Therefore, the moving load of the moving wall 32 is not applied to the rotational operation of the toner container 30, and the rotational movement of the toner container 30 to the first position is stably achieved.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, if the shaft 33 rotates in the first rotational direction (R1), the pressing member 34 presses the moving wall 32 to move in the first direction, and the toner in the housing space 37S can be discharged from the toner discharge port 377. Further, if the shaft 33 rotates in the second rotational direction (R2), the pressing member 34 leaves the moving wall 32 to move toward the upstream side in the first direction. Therefore, the distribution state of the toner on the downstream side in the first direction with respect to the moving wall 32 is suppressed from changing greatly, and the discharge of the toner is stably maintained. Therefore, when the toner container 30 is maintained, even if the operator removes the ratchet mechanism of the toner container 30 and then directly rotates the shaft 33, the movement of the moving wall 32 in the first upstream direction is prevented. As a result, when the toner container 30 is mounted on the printer 100 again, the position of the moving wall 32 in the first direction is reproduced, and the distribution of the toner in the housing space 37S is stably maintained. Therefore, the same pressing force as that before the toner container 30 is removed is applied to the toner around the toner supply port 25 and the toner discharge port 377, and the toner supply from the toner container 30 to the developing device 20 is stably maintained. This operational effect is also shown in the function of the ratchet mechanism described above to prevent the movable wall 32 from moving upstream in the first direction.

In the present embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the pressing member 34 is disposed at a radially inward interval from the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37. Therefore, the pressing member 34 is set compact, and the load applied to the shaft 33 is reduced as compared with the case where the pressing member 34 is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container main body 37.

In the present embodiment, the pressing surface 34F of the pressing member 34 presses the pressed portion 323J1 of the movable wall 32 in the first direction in the entire circumferential direction around the shaft 33. Therefore, the moving wall 32 receives the urging force from the urging member 34 in the entire circumferential direction around the shaft 33. As a result, the conveying surface 320S of the moving wall 32 is suppressed from being inclined with respect to the shaft 33.

In the present embodiment, the cylindrical portion 323J of the movable wall 32 is housed in the cylindrical pressing member 34. Further, the pressing member 34 presses a pressed portion 323J1 formed at the distal end portion of the cylindrical portion 323J. Therefore, the urging force is stably applied from the urging member 34 to the moving wall 32. In other words, the contact area between the pressing member 34 and the movable wall 32 is stably maintained as compared with a case where the distal end portion of the cylindrical portion 323J of the movable wall 32 is pressed by the distal end portion of the cylindrical pressing member 34.

In the present embodiment, the pressing member 34 has a pressing member engaging portion 34K, and the pressing member engaging portion 34K protrudes in the radial direction and includes a distal end portion extending in the circumferential direction. Further, an insertion hole H that allows the distal end portion of the pressing member engaging portion 34K to engage in the circumferential direction is formed in the moving wall 32. Then, if the shaft 33 is rotated in the first rotational direction, the distal end portion of the pressing member engaging portion 34K engages with the insertion hole H and the male screw portion 333 engages with the female screw portion 34J, the pressing surface 34F presses the pressed portion 323J1 of the moving wall 32, and the pressing member 34 moves in the first direction integrally with the moving wall 32. Therefore, the movement of both the moving wall 32 and the pressing member 34 is stably maintained. Further, even if the toner container 30 is held in a posture in which the shaft 33 extends in the vertical direction, the pressing member 34 is prevented from separating from the movable wall 32 and falling along the shaft 33. Further, if the shaft 33 is rotated in the second rotational direction, the engagement between the pressing member engaging portion 34K of the pressing member 34 and the insertion hole H of the moving wall 32 is released, and the pressing surface 34F is disposed at a distance in the first upstream side with respect to the pressed portion 323J1 of the moving wall 32. Therefore, the movable wall 32 is prevented from being erroneously moved to the upstream side in the first direction together with the pressing member 34.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 22, the male screw part 333 includes a first male slope 333A and a second male slope 333B, and the female screw part 34J includes a first female slope 34J1 and a second female slope 34J 2. Therefore, the rotational torque applied to the shaft 33 when the shaft 33 rotates in the second rotational direction can be increased. Therefore, even if the shaft 33 rotates in the second rotational direction, the pressing member 34 is prevented from largely separating from the moving wall 32.

In the present embodiment, the volume replenishment type developing device 20 is used, and the toner in the housing space 37S applies pressure to the toner around the toner discharge port 377 and the toner replenishment port 25, thereby performing the toner replenishment operation from the toner container 30 to the developing device 20. Further, the distribution state of the toner in the housing space 37S is not largely changed by the action of the moving wall 32 and the pressing member 34, and therefore the toner is stably replenished to the developing housing 210 of the developing device 20.

Further, in the present embodiment, if the second container gear 382 rotates in the first rotational direction, the ratchet mechanism connects the second container gear 382 and the shaft 33 to rotate the shaft 33 in the first rotational direction, thereby allowing the movable wall 32 to move in the first direction. Further, if the second container gear 382 rotates in the second rotational direction, the ratchet mechanism releases the connection of the second container gear 382 with the shaft 33, and restricts the rotation of the shaft 33 in the first rotational direction, thereby restricting the movement of the moving wall 32 in the first direction and the direction opposite to the first direction. Therefore, if the second container gear 382 rotates in the first rotational direction, the toner in the housing space 37S can be discharged from the toner discharge port 377 by the movement of the moving wall 32 in the first direction. Further, even if the second container gear 382 rotates in the second rotation direction, the distribution state of the toner located on the downstream side in the first direction with respect to the moving wall 32 is suppressed from largely changing, and the discharge of the toner is stably maintained. As a result, an image can be stably formed on a sheet.

In the present embodiment, rotation of the shaft 33 in the first rotational direction can be permitted and rotation in the second rotational direction can be restricted by a ratchet mechanism including the cylindrical portion 382S of the second container gear 382, the ratchet gear 383, and the ratchet shaft 384. As a result, the movement of the movable wall 32 in the first direction is allowed, and the movement in the direction opposite to the first direction is restricted. In particular, if the second container gear 382 rotates in the first rotational direction, the cylindrical portion 382S, the ratchet gear 383, and the ratchet shaft 384 rotate integrally in the first rotational direction, and the shaft 33 rotates in the first rotational direction. Further, if the second container gear 382 rotates in the second rotational direction, at least one of the connection of the cylindrical portion 382S with the ratchet gear 383 and the connection of the ratchet gear 383 with the ratchet shaft 384 is released, so that the rotation of the shaft 33 in the first rotational direction is restricted.

In the present embodiment, the right guide groove 201R and the left guide groove 201L are shaped such that: the toner container 30 is attached to the container attachment portion 109 in a first posture while being guided in the predetermined attachment direction DC by the right guide groove 201R and the left guide groove 201L, and the container shutter 30S is fixed to the container shutter fixing portion 207, and if the container body 37 rotates in a first attachment rotation Direction (DM) about an axial center extending in the first direction, the toner discharge port 377 moves the container shutter 30S relative to each other, and the toner container 30 is held in a second posture by the locking engagement piece 202S, and the toner discharge port 377 opened from the container shutter 30S is allowed to communicate with the toner supply port 25. Further, if the lock release button 202 is pressed in the state where the toner container 30 is in the second posture, the engagement of the lock engagement piece 202S with the toner container 30 is released, and the toner container 30 is rotated in the second attachment rotation Direction (DN) opposite to the first attachment rotation direction by the urging force of the shutter spring 208, and the posture is changed from the second posture to the first posture. Further, the ratchet mechanism (restricting mechanism) of the toner container 30 allows the second container gear 382 to rotate relative to the container body 37 in the second rotational direction by engagement with the third transmission gear 213 when the container body 37 of the toner container 30 rotates in the second attachment rotational direction by the urging force of the shutter spring 208. As a result, when the lock release button 202 is pressed and the posture of the toner container 30 is changed from the second posture to the first posture, a large load is suppressed from being applied to the rotation of the toner container 30 by the engagement of the second container gear 382 with the third transmission gear 213. At this time, since the connection between the second container gear 382 and the shaft 33 is released, the moving load of the moving wall 32 on the rotation of the toner container 30 is suppressed.

The printer 100 including the toner container 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above. According to this configuration, the toner container 30 and the printer 100 including the toner container 30 are provided in which a large change in the distribution state of the toner in the housing space 37S due to the reverse movement of the moving wall 32 is suppressed. On the other hand, the present invention is not limited to this, and the following modified embodiments can be adopted, for example.

(1) In the above-described embodiment, the monochrome printer is described as the printer 100, but the present invention is not limited to this. In particular, when the printer 100 is a tandem color printer, the respective toner containers 30 can be mounted in the housing 101 so as to be adjacent to each other from above in accordance with the multicolor toner after the opening/closing cover 100C (fig. 2) of the printer 100 is opened.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the moving wall 32 is moved from the cover portion 31 side to the right wall 375 side, but the present invention is not limited to this. The toner discharge port 377 is open on the cover 31 side, and the moving wall 32 is movable from the right wall 375 side to the cover 31 side. Further, the opening position of the toner discharge port 377 is not limited to the above-described position. The toner discharge port 377 may be opened at the lowermost portion of the container main body 37, or may be opened at another position.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the volume replenishment type toner replenishment mode is described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The developing housing 210 of the developing device 20 may be provided with a toner sensor, not shown, and the moving wall 32 may be moved based on an output of the toner sensor to replenish the toner from the toner container 30 to the developing device 20. The developing device 20 is not limited to the one-component developing system, and may adopt a two-component developing system.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, the stud 321B and the engaging piece 321C are provided to protrude from the wall plate 321 of the movable wall 32, but the stud 321B and the engaging piece 321C may be provided to protrude from the wall body portion 323 side toward the wall plate 321. The number and position of the studs 321B and the engagement pieces 321C are not limited to the above numbers and positions. The seal pressing rib 323F abutting against the seal member 322 may be disposed on the wall plate 321 side, or may be disposed on both the wall plate 321 and the wall body 323. The number and shape of the seal pressing ribs 323F are not limited to those described above. The seal pressing rib 323F is not limited to a structure that continuously extends in the circumferential direction of the shaft 33, and may be disposed at a predetermined interval.

(5) Fig. 37 is a perspective view of the shaft 33 of the toner container (developer container) according to the modified embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 38 is a perspective view of the shaft 33Z of another toner container compared with the toner container according to the present modified embodiment. In the shaft 33 shown in fig. 37, a distal end portion 333T is arranged at an end portion of the male screw portion 333 which is located closest to the moving wall stopper portion 334. The distal end portion 333T is slowly connected to the shaft portion of the shaft 33 in such a manner that the outer diameter of the outer peripheral edge of the thread of the male screw portion 333 is gradually reduced. On the other hand, in the shaft 33Z shown in fig. 38, the distal end portion 333TZ is arranged at the end of the male screw portion 333Z which is located closest to the moving wall stopper portion 334Z. The distal end portion 333TZ includes a side surface discontinuous with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 33Z. In other words, the distal end portion 333TZ has a shape in which the male screw portion 333Z is cut at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction. If the shaft 33Z is inserted into the seal shaft hole 322H (fig. 13) of the seal member 322 of the movable wall 32, the seal shaft hole 322H is in close contact with the shaft 33Z in the circumferential direction. However, in the distal end portion 333TZ, a substantially triangular gap is likely to be generated at the contact portion between the shaft 33Z and the seal shaft hole 322H. As a result, as indicated by an arrow DZ in fig. 38, the toner in the housing space 37S (fig. 9) may enter the inside of the seal shaft hole 322H. On the other hand, in the shaft 33 shown in fig. 37, the distal end portion 333T is gently inclined in the circumferential direction. Therefore, a gap is less likely to be formed in the contact portion between the shaft 33 and the seal shaft hole 322H at the distal end portion 333T. As a result, the toner is prevented from entering the inside of the seal shaft hole 322H. The structure of fig. 38 is not excluded from the structure of the present invention.

Claims

1. A developer accommodating container, comprising:

a container body having an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space extending cylindrically in a first direction, and formed with a developer discharge port opening so as to communicate with the internal space and allowing discharge of a developer;

a shaft that is disposed in the internal space so as to extend in the first direction and that is rotatably supported by the container main body; and

a moving wall having an outer peripheral surface disposed in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the container body and a conveying surface defining a storage space for storing the developer together with the inner peripheral surface of the container body, the moving wall being movable in the first direction along the shaft in the internal space while conveying the developer in the internal space toward the developer discharge port,

the movable wall has:

a downstream side wall portion including a first bearing portion through which the shaft is inserted and the conveying surface;

an upstream side wall portion including a second bearing portion through which the shaft is inserted, the upstream side wall portion being disposed on the first upstream side relative to the downstream side wall portion; and

a seal member that includes a third bearing portion through which the shaft is inserted, that is sandwiched between the downstream side wall portion and the upstream side wall portion in the first direction, that forms the outer peripheral surface of the movable wall, and that is compressively deformed by abutting against the inner peripheral surface of the container body,

the developer container is characterized in that,

the upstream side wall portion has a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion disposed on a downstream side in the first direction from the large diameter portion, and is stepped in the first direction so that an outer peripheral portion of the seal member is allowed to enter a step portion between the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion by the movement of the moving wall in the first direction.

2. Developer container according to claim 1, characterized in that,

one of the downstream side wall portion and the upstream side wall portion has a plurality of engaging pieces protruding toward the other of the downstream side wall portion and the upstream side wall portion,

the other wall portion has a plurality of engaged portions for allowing the engagement of the plurality of engagement pieces,

the sealing member has a plurality of first openings through which the plurality of engaging pieces are allowed to be inserted, respectively.

3. Developer container according to claim 2, characterized in that,

one of the wall portions has a plurality of positioning projections provided so as to project toward the other wall portion,

the other wall portion has a plurality of second openings for allowing the positioning protrusions to be inserted therethrough,

the seal member has a plurality of third openings through which the plurality of positioning projections are allowed to be inserted, respectively.

4. Developer container according to claim 1, characterized in that,

at least one of the downstream side wall portion and the upstream side wall portion has a regulating portion that regulates a base end position of the compression deformation of the seal member by coming into contact with a side surface of the seal member.

5. Developer container according to claim 4, characterized in that,

the restricting portion is a rib provided to protrude from a wall surface of the one wall portion toward the seal member and extending in a circumferential direction of the shaft.

6. Developer container according to claim 5, characterized in that,

the rib extends annularly throughout the circumferential direction.

7. Developer container according to claim 1, characterized in that,

the third bearing portion of the seal member is closely attached to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft in the entire circumferential direction.

8. Developer container according to claim 1, characterized in that,

the shaft has a first engaging portion formed spirally in the first direction on an outer peripheral surface thereof,

the developer container further includes a pressing member disposed on the first direction upstream side of the movable wall,

the pushing member has: a fourth bearing part through which the shaft is inserted; a second engaging portion disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the fourth bearing portion and engageable with the first engaging portion; and a pressing portion for pressing the movable wall in the first direction,

the urging member moves as follows:

when the shaft is rotated in a first rotational direction, the pressing portion presses the moving wall in association with the engagement between the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion, and the pressing member moves in the first direction integrally with the moving wall;

when the axial direction is rotated in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, the pressing member relatively moves the movable wall toward the upstream side in the first direction in accordance with the engagement between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion.

9. The developer container according to claim 8, wherein the first engaging portion comprises:

a first inclined surface inclined so as to extend radially inward in the first direction; and

a second inclined surface that is arranged on the opposite side of the first inclined surface with respect to the ridge line of the first engagement portion, is inclined so as to extend radially outward in the first direction, and is inclined more gradually than the first inclined surface,

the second engaging portion is a spiral protrusion portion having:

a third inclined surface inclined so as to extend radially inward in the first direction; and

a fourth inclined surface that is arranged on the opposite side of the third inclined surface with respect to the ridge line of the second engagement portion, is inclined so as to extend radially outward in the first direction, and is inclined more gradually than the third inclined surface,

a rotational torque applied to the shaft accompanying engagement of the second inclined surface of the first engaging portion and the fourth inclined surface of the second engaging portion when the shaft is rotated in the second rotational direction is larger than a rotational torque applied to the shaft accompanying engagement of the first inclined surface of the first engaging portion and the third inclined surface of the second engaging portion when the shaft is rotated in the first rotational direction.

10. An image forming apparatus, characterized by comprising:

a developer accommodating container according to claim 1;

an image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof and carrying a developer image;

a developing device that replenishes the developer from the developer container and supplies the developer to the image carrier; and

and a transfer unit configured to transfer the developer image from the image carrier to a sheet.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the developing device comprises:

a housing provided with a developer conveyance path for conveying the developer in a predetermined conveyance direction;

a developer replenishment port that opens in the housing below the developer discharge port and receives the developer from the developer accommodating container to the developer conveyance passage;

a developer conveying member, disposed in the developer conveying passage, that conveys the developer in the conveying direction; and

and a conveyance capability suppressing portion that locally suppresses a capability of the developer conveyance member to convey the developer in the conveyance direction at a portion located on a downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the developer replenishment port.