JP2000047466A - Powder storage container and image forming device with powder storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently fill powder into a powder storage container by providing the container storing powder, a powder stirring member provided in the container and a fixing member fixing the stirring member at the prescribed rotating position. SOLUTION: A stirring member 68 is constituted of a stirring shaft 681 rotatably journalled by bearing members provided at nearly centers of the side face 63 and the opposite side face of a toner storage section 600 and a stirring film 682 adsorbed to the stirring shaft 681 and having the nearly same length as the width in the axial direction in the toner storage section 600. A filling port 64 for filling a toner into the toner storage section 600 is provided on one side face 63 of the toner storage section 600. When the toner is to be filled into a toner container, the toner container is erected to face the filling port 64 upward, and a prescribed quantity of toner is filled into the toner storage section 600 via the filling port 64 by a known toner filling device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a powder container having a stirring member for stirring stored powder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a copying machine, a laser printer, or the like, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum, and is developed by a developing device to form a toner image. The developing device generally includes a developing device main body that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum via a developing roller, and a toner container for replenishing the developing device main body with toner. The structure is removable so that it can be easily replaced.

In such a toner container, a stirring member for stirring the toner is provided in the toner container in order to prevent the stored toner from aggregating and clumping in the container or causing cross-linking. The following has been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-20669). The stirring member includes a rotating shaft and a stirring film attached to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft. The stirring film rotates around the rotating shaft with the rotation of the rotating shaft, and hits the film surface. In general, the toner is stirred while being transported in the rotation direction.

[0004]

However, in the toner container provided with the stirring member as described above, there is a problem that the efficiency of the toner filling operation is reduced. That is, when filling the toner from the filling port of the toner container into the inside of the production line, depending on the position of the stirring film, the toner flowing into the inside hits the stirring film and the fluidity in the container deteriorates. As a result, the filling time is prolonged, and the work efficiency is deteriorated. In the worst case, a hollow portion is formed in the container where the toner does not enter. , And the amount of filling varies for each toner container.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and in a powder container for storing a toner or the like having a stirring member therein, the operation of filling the container with the powder material can be performed efficiently.
It is another object of the present invention to make it difficult for voids or the like to be formed inside, thereby eliminating variations in the filling amount.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a powder container according to the present invention is provided with a container for accommodating a powder and a stirring device provided in the container for stirring the powder by rotation. It is characterized by comprising a member and a fixing member for fixing the stirring member at a predetermined rotation position. Further, the fixing member includes an engagement member that engages with a rotation shaft of the stirring member or a rotating body that rotates with the rotation of the rotation shaft, and an engagement maintaining member that maintains an engagement state of the engagement member. And wherein the engagement state maintained by the engagement maintaining member is released when the rotation shaft or the rotating body receives a rotation force equal to or more than a predetermined magnitude. .

Further, the fixing member includes an engaging member that engages with a rotating shaft of the stirring member or a rotating body that rotates with the rotation of the rotating shaft, and an engaging member that maintains an engaged state by the engaging member. A contact member is provided on the side of the apparatus body on which the powder storage container is mounted, the contact member being in contact with the engagement member when the powder storage container is mounted, and the engagement member is The contact state maintained by the engagement maintaining member is released upon contact with the contact member.

Further, a mounting member for mounting the powder storage container is provided on the apparatus main body side on which the powder storage container is mounted, and the fixing member fixes the stirring member. In this state, even if the powder storage container is to be mounted on the mounting member, the powder storage container is formed in a shape that cannot be mounted on the mounting member. Further, in the image forming apparatus for forming an image using the toner of the developing device, any one of the powder storage containers described above is used as a toner container for supplying the toner to the developing device. .

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a powder container according to the present invention will be described below with reference to an example in which the present invention is applied to a toner container used in an image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, an example in which the toner container is used for a printer will be described. (1) Overall Configuration of Printer First, the overall configuration of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 forms an image by a well-known electrophotographic method, and is roughly divided into an exposure scanning section 10 and an image forming section 20. The printer 1 is connected to an external computer or the like (not shown). When the control unit 100 receives an image signal sent from the external computer, the control unit 100 performs necessary processing on the image signal to generate image data, and The driving signal is output to the laser diode 11 of the scanning unit 10.

The laser diode 11 emits a laser beam in response to the drive signal output from the control unit 100. The laser beam passes through the collimating lens 12 and becomes parallel light. The light is reflected and deflected by the mirror surface of the polygon mirror 13 which is driven to rotate. The deflected laser light passes through the fθ lens 15 and is reflected by the return mirror 16 so that the photosensitive drum 2
1 is exposed and scanned.

Before the photosensitive drum 21 of the image forming unit 20 receives the above-mentioned exposure, the residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum is removed by a cleaner 22, and the photosensitive drum 21 is irradiated with an eraser lamp 23 to be neutralized. If the photosensitive drum 21 is exposed to light while being uniformly charged, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive member on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21.

The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 40, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21. The developing device 40 includes a developing device 50 having a developing roller and a stirring device, and a toner container 60 set on the upper portion of the developing device 50 for appropriately supplying toner to the developing device 50. It is removable so that the user can easily replace it.

Transfer paper (not shown) set in a paper cassette 26 in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 21
Is fed to a transfer position below the photosensitive drum 21 by the feed roller 261, the timing roller pair 25, and the transport belt 27, and at this transfer position, the charge of the transfer charger 28 installed on the back side of the transport belt 27 As a result, the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is transferred onto the transfer paper.

Since the toner image transferred to the transfer paper is in an unstable state in which the toner image is immediately peeled off, the toner image is conveyed to a fixing device 29 by a conveyance belt 27, where the toner image is pressed and fixed at a high temperature, and then discharged. The paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 31 by the pair 30. The exposure scanning unit 10 is opened upward with the hinge 32 as a fulcrum.
, And the handling of a paper jam generated inside the printer 1 can be performed.

(2) Configuration of Toner Container 60 FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the toner container 60. As shown in FIG. 2, the toner container 60 includes a toner storage section 600 for storing toner therein and a toner take-out section 601 for supplying the internal toner to the developing device 50.

The toner container 600 includes a stirring member 68 (see FIG. 4) for stirring the toner in a resin hollow container 61 having an open upper portion, and a transport screw 73 (see FIG. 4) for transporting the toner to the toner extracting portion 601. 4 and the like, and the opening is hermetically closed by a lid member 62.
A filling port 64 for filling the toner container 600 with toner is provided on one side surface 63 of the toner container 600. When filling the toner container 60 with toner, the toner container 60 is set up and the filling port 64 is directed upward,
A known amount of toner is filled into the toner storage section 600 through the filling port 64 by a known toner filling device. When the filling of the toner is completed, the filling port 64 is closed with the lid 641 to prevent the toner from leaking.

The toner take-out portion 601 includes a cylindrical member 67 projecting below the side surface 63 of the toner storage portion 600,
A cylindrical shutter member 65 rotatably mounted in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical member 67. An opening 66 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the shutter member 65, and a lower portion of the peripheral surface of one of the cylindrical members 67 is formed so that the shutter member 65 is rotated and the opening 66 comes to the lowest position so as to be exactly overlapped. Is provided with a discharge port 671 (see FIG. 4), whereby the toner inside is discharged downward.
When the toner container 60 is set at a predetermined position above the developing device 50, the shutter member 65 is rotated so that the opening 66 is at the lowermost position.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the toner container 60 when viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container 60 taken along line.
The stirring member 68 includes a stirring shaft 681 rotatably supported by a bearing member (not shown) provided substantially at the center between the side surface 63 and the side surface 69 of the toner storage unit 600, and the stirring shaft 68.
1 and a stirring film 682 having substantially the same length as the width in the axial direction in the toner storage section 600. In addition, at the protruding end of the stirring shaft 681 from the side surface 69,
The stirring gear 70 is attached.

The stirring film 682 is formed of a polyester film or the like, and is provided with slits (cuts) 683 at positions substantially equally divided into 11 parts in the longitudinal direction.
Wings). Since the length L (see FIG. 3) of each blade of the stirring film 682 in the radial direction of the stirring shaft 681 is longer than the length from the stirring shaft 681 to the bottom surface of the hollow container 61, FIG. When the stirring shaft 681 rotates clockwise and the tip of the stirring film 682 reaches the bottom surface of the hollow container 61, the stirring film 682 rotates while bending. Thereby, the toner in the hollow container 61 is conveyed toward the lower left direction in FIG. 3 while being stirred.

Referring back to FIG. 4, a helical transfer screw 73 for transferring the toner to the toner removal unit 601 is provided below the toner storage unit 600. One end of the shaft of the transfer screw 73 is connected to the side surface 6 of the cylindrical member 67.
The other end is supported by a bearing member (not shown) provided on the side surface 69, and the input gear 72 is mounted on the protruding end thereof. .

FIG. 5 is a side view when the toner container 60 is viewed from the direction of arrow C in FIG. Between the input gear 72 attached to one end of the conveying screw 73 and the stirring gear 70 attached to the stirring shaft 681, the input shaft 72 is rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft 711 erected on the side surface 69. An intermediate gear 71 meshing with both the gear 72 and the stirring gear 70 is provided.

When the toner container 60 is set at a predetermined position above the developing device 50, the input gear 72 meshes with a gear (not shown) connected to a driving shaft of a driving device of the apparatus main body. It is configured as follows. In the present embodiment, at least at the time of filling or transporting the toner, the stirring film 682 is placed at the filling port 6 as shown in FIG.
The rotation of the stirring shaft 681 is fixed so as to be at a position substantially crossing the center of the stirrer 4 (hereinafter, simply referred to as “optimum filling position”).

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container 60 taken along line DD of FIG. 5 and shows only the vicinity of the stirring gear 70. The stirring gear 70 of the toner container 60
, A round hole 700 (FIG. 5) is formed so as to penetrate in parallel with the axial direction of the stirring shaft 681.
The cylindrical pin 691 erected on the top 9 engages, and in this state, the rotation of the stirring film 682 is fixed at the optimal filling position.

The pin 691 is formed integrally with the hollow container 61 and has a diameter of about 2 mm. The diameter of the root 692 is smaller than that of the other parts. It is designed to break when a turning force of the size is applied. When the toner container 60 configured as described above is set at a predetermined position above the developing device 50 and the input gear 72 rotates by receiving the rotational driving force from the apparatus main body, the stirring gear 70 is rotated via the intermediate gear 71. Rotates. By this rotation, the pin 691 is broken at the root 692, and the state in which the stirring gear 70 is temporarily fixed is released.

When the stirring gear 70 is fixed by the above-described method, the stirring film 682 needs to be at the optimum filling position. Therefore, in the toner container 60, the stirring shaft 681 and the stirring gear 70 are mounted. When the stirring gear 70 is mounted on the stirring shaft 681 in accordance with the cross section of the portion formed on the D surface (FIG. 5), the stirring film 682 comes to the optimum filling position and the round hole 700 of the stirring gear 70 Side 6
The configuration is such that the nine pins 691 are inserted. In this way, the stirring film 682 can be fixed at the optimal filling position without adjusting the rotational position at the time of assembly.

Before the toner container 60 is mounted on the apparatus main body (at the time of filling or transporting the toner), the pin 691 is mounted without being easily broken by vibration or the like, and is rotated from the main body side. It must be strong enough to break when force is transmitted. If this condition is satisfied, it is not particularly necessary to make only the root 692 thin. As described above, when the stirring film 682 is fixed so as not to rotate at the above-described optimum filling position, when the toner is filled into the toner container 60 in a production line or the like, a variation in the filling amount is suppressed, and the efficiency of the filling operation is reduced. It can be significantly improved.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the toner container 60 when viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state where the stirring film 682 connects the axis of the stirring shaft 681 to the center of the filling port 64. Rotate clockwise from the line by 0 ° (position crossing substantially the center of the filling port 64), 135 °, 180 °, 225 °, and fix at that position, and fill the toner until reaching the position of the filling port 64. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a result of measuring a toner filling amount at each rotation position when the toner is filled. The experiment was performed five times at the same rotation position of the stirring film 682,
FIG. 8 shows the maximum value and the minimum value of the filling amount and the difference therebetween as the variation amount.

Further, since this variation indicates the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the filling amount, the smaller this value is, the less the movement of the toner is regulated by the stirring film 682, and That is, it is easy to flow into every corner in the container. As can be seen from the table of FIG. 8, the variation in the amount of charged toner is smallest when the angle between the E-line and the stirring film 682 is 0 °.
This is because the toner flowing from the filling port 64 separates into the two sides from the film surface of the stirring film 682 and flows into the inside, and the subsequent movement of the toner is not hindered by the film surface, and the corner inside the container is not hindered. It depends on getting around smoothly. This also reduces the filling time.

Conversely, when the angle between the E-line and the stirring film 682 is 135 ° or 180 °, the dispersion tends to increase. This is because the filling port 6
It is considered that after the toner flows in from No. 4, the toner abuts on the stirring film 682 and is prevented from freely moving inside the container. In particular, at 180 °, the minimum filling amount was extremely small, and the dispersion was large.

From this result, the rotational position for fixing the stirring film 682 is 0 ° (the predetermined rotational position).
Is the optimal position. As described above, when the toner container 60 is mounted on the developing device 40 and a predetermined rotational force is applied to the stirring shaft 681 by the driving device of the main body at the time of supplying the toner, the pin 691 is broken. Becomes

The control unit 100 always receives a detection signal from a density sensor (not shown) for detecting the density of the developer disposed inside the developing device 50, and the toner density has dropped below a predetermined density. When this is detected, the drive device is operated to rotate the input gear 72. Thereby, the stirring gear 70 rotates through the intermediate gear 71, and the hollow container 61
The toner inside is conveyed to the toner take-out section 601 by the conveying screw 73 while being stirred by the stirring member 68, discharged from the opening 66 through the discharge port 671, and supplied into the developing device 50.

As described above, the toner container 60
Before the main body is mounted, the stirring member 68 is temporarily fixed at the above-mentioned optimal filling position, the filling time when filling the toner is shorter than before, and the dispersion of the filling amount is also reduced. Less. Further, as described above, the stirring member 6
By fixing the rotation of 8, the inconvenience that has conventionally occurred during the transportation of the toner container can be prevented. That is, if the stirring member 68 is not fixed, the stirring film 682 vibrates around the stirring shaft 681 under the influence of vibration during transportation of the toner container, and if this continues for a long time, the stirring film 682 fills the container. The toner thus obtained is aggregated, and as a result, the toner may be cross-linked in the container. In particular, when cross-linking occurs in a high-temperature environment, the toner solidifies, and even when the toner container 60 is mounted on the apparatus main body and the stirring film 682 is rotated, the toner can no longer be stirred in powder form, and in the worst case, However, the stirring film 682 cannot be rotated, and as a result, the stirring gear 70 and the like may be damaged. Further, even when the stirring gear 70 is not damaged, the toner may adhere to the inner surface of the container due to aggregation of the toner, and the toner may remain in the container without being stirred.

However, if the agitating film 682 is fixed before the toner container 60 is mounted on the apparatus, as in the case of the toner container 60, the above-described problem during transportation does not occur. It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the following modified examples can be considered. (1) The method of fixing the rotation of the stirring member 68 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and for example, the following configuration is also conceivable.

FIG. 9A shows the boss 81 of the stirring gear 80.
Claw portion 822 of the engaging member 82
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration in which the agitation gear 80 is fixed by engaging. The engagement member 82 is supported by the container side surface 69 via a fixed shaft 821. Further, a projection 83 is provided upright on the upper right part of the fixed shaft 821 on the side surface 69 as a member (engagement maintaining member) for maintaining the above-mentioned engaged state. The protrusion 83 is formed such that its head comes into contact with the engaging member 82. In the above-mentioned engaged state, the engaging member 82 hits the head of the protrusion 83 and cannot rotate freely. I have. As a result, the engaged state is maintained, and the stirring gear 80 is fixed.

FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a state in which the toner container 60 is mounted on the guide 84 on the apparatus main body side and the fixing of the stirring gear 80 is released. When the toner container 60 is moved downward from the state of FIG. 9A in order to mount the toner container 60 on the guide 84, the upper end 823 of the engaging member 82 comes into contact with the upper surface 841 of the guide 84. When the engaging member 82 is further moved downward, it goes over the head of the projection 83 and rotates counterclockwise in FIG. As a result, the claw portion 822 of the engaging member 82 is disengaged from the notch 811 of the stirring gear 80 to release the engaged state, and the stirring gear 80 is not fixed.

In the above description, the projection 83 is used as a member for maintaining the engaged state (engagement maintaining member).
For example, an elastic member such as a spring may be used to urge the engaging member 82 in a clockwise direction about the fixed shaft 821 as a fulcrum. By the way, if the concept of the engaging member and the engagement maintaining member as described above is applied to the embodiment shown in FIG.
9, it can be understood that the engaged state is maintained. From this viewpoint, the joint portion between the engaging portion of the pin 691 with the stirring gear 70 and the side surface 69 of the toner container. Can be regarded as the engagement maintaining member. However, as described above, the engagement release in this case is performed by the pin 691 being broken at the root 692 by the predetermined rotation force of the stirring gear 70 from the apparatus main body.

As shown in FIG. 10, a cover 92 is provided to prevent a user or the like from touching gears such as the agitation gear 70 at the time of toner container replacement or maintenance. A round hole 921 having substantially the same size as the round hole 700 is opened, and a fixing pin 90 is inserted at a position where the round hole 921 faces the round hole 700 to fix the stirring gear 70. Is also good.

At this time, in order to prevent the fixing pin 90 from easily falling off, the head 91 of the fixing pin 90 and the cover 9
2 may be attached with a tape 93 or the like, or when the fixing pin 90 is inserted,
A concave portion 693 having a diameter substantially equal to that of the fixing pin 90 is provided at a position where the tip of the
0 may be fitted into this recess 693. In order to more reliably prevent the falling-off, both of these methods may be executed together.

In the case of the configuration as shown in FIG. 10, when the user mounts the toner container 60 on the apparatus main body, it is necessary to remove the fixing pin 90. At this time, even if the user forgets to remove the fixing pin 90, the fixing pin 9
By making it impossible to attach the toner container 60 with the “0” attached to the apparatus main body, it is possible to notify the user of forgetting to remove the toner container 60.

For example, when the toner container 60 is to be mounted along a guide provided on the apparatus main body side, the head 91 of the fixing pin 90 contacts the guide, and the toner container 60 is mounted at the mounting position. It can be realized by setting the shape of the guide or the insertion position of the fixing pin 90 so that the guide pin cannot be set to the position. Further, a sensor capable of detecting the head 91 at a position where the fixing pin 90 comes at the time of mounting without providing a contact with the guide is provided. 60
Even when is attached, it is also possible to detect the fixing pin 90 and display a message to the effect that "remove the fixing pin of the toner container" on the display section of the operation panel to notify the user.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, a pin 201 for fixing the stirring gear 70 to the cover 200 for preventing the user from touching the stirring gear 70 or the like. It is also conceivable to have a configuration in which the erection is performed. FIG.
FIG. 11A is a side view showing a state where the cover 200 is attached to the side surface 69 of the toner container 60 and the stirring gear 70 is fixed, and FIG. 11B is a GG view of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container 60 taken along line. In addition,
FIG. 11B shows only the vicinity of the stirring gear 70.

The cover 200 is turned upside down and can be attached and detached by engaging with a protruding holding member (not shown) provided on the side surface 69. ), A pin 201 having a diameter slightly smaller than the round hole 700 of the stirring gear 70, which is provided on the inner surface thereof, is inserted into the round hole 700 of the stirring gear 70. The rotation of 70 is fixed. At this time, the tip of the pin 201 is fitted into the concave portion 693 provided on the side surface 69. Also, the cover 200
In this state, the lower surface 203 is formed so as to extend below the bottom surface 611 of the toner container 60 in this state. 210 so that it cannot be mounted at a predetermined position. This is shown in FIG.
As in the case of the example described with reference to FIG.
This is for notifying the state that is fixed.

FIG. 12A is a side view showing a state in which the cover 200 shown in FIG. 11A is mounted upside down on the side surface 69, and FIG.
FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the toner container 60 taken along line HH of FIG. This figure also shows only the vicinity of the stirring gear 70 as in FIG. Since the cover 200 was mounted upside down from the state shown in FIG. 11 (b), FIG. 12 (b)
As shown in FIG. 7, the lower surface 203 is located above and the pins 201 and the upper surface 202 are located below. In this state, the pin 201 of the cover 200 comes off the round hole 700,
The stir gear 70 is released from the fixed state because it is fitted into the concave portion 694 provided on the side surface 69. In addition, since the upper surface 202 is substantially at the same position as the bottom surface 611 of the toner container 60, the toner container can be mounted at a predetermined position.

(2) In the above embodiment, in order to fix the stirring film 682 at a predetermined rotation position, the pin 691 is engaged with the stirring gear 70 mounted on the stirring shaft 681 and fixed. However, the member to be fixed is not limited to the stirring gear 70, for example, the stirring shaft 681.
It may be configured to fix itself using an engaging member or the like, or may be configured to prevent rotation of the stirring film 682 by using an engaging member that directly engages with the stirring film 682. Further, another rotating body (the input gear 72 or the intermediate gear 71 in the above embodiment) that rotates in conjunction with the stirring gear 70 may be fixed.

Further, the fixed member is a stirring shaft 681.
Not only a member (a gear member such as the stirring gear 70) for transmitting the rotational driving force to the rotating member but also a rotating body that rotates with the rotation of the stirring shaft 681 may be used. For example, in a case where a member for fixing the stirring gear 70 or the like cannot be secured on the side surface 69 due to a space, the opposite side surface 63 of the toner container 60 is used.
The rotating shaft may be attached to the projected end of the stirring shaft 681, and a member for fixing the rotating body may be provided on the side surface 63.

(3) In the toner container 60 of the above-described embodiment, when the stirring film 682 is fixed at the above-described predetermined rotation position, the variation in the amount of charged toner is minimized. It goes without saying that it will not be done. The fixing may be performed at an optimum rotation position according to the shape and the position and size of the filling port of the toner container. The optimum rotational position may be determined by, for example, an experiment or the like at a position where the variation in the filling amount is minimized.

Further, the stirring film 682 has a stirring shaft 681.
Even if a plurality of rows are attached around the axis, the optimal rotational position under the conditions is set. (4) Further, the toner container 60 according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described printer, but may be used in other copiers equipped with a developing device using toner, image forming apparatuses such as plain paper facsimile, color / monochrome, and direct recording. Applicable.

Further, the present invention is not limited to use in a toner container used in an image forming apparatus, but can be applied to a powder container used in a field where powder is required to be stored.

[0050]

As described above, according to the powder container of the present invention, the fixing member for fixing the stirring member for stirring the powder stored in the container at a predetermined rotation position is provided. Since the powder can be stored in the powder storage container in a state where the stirring member is fixed by the fixing member, the rotational position of the stirring member varies from container to container as in the related art. As compared with the case where the powder is stored in the powder storage container, the powder is more likely to flow into the powder storage container, and the time required to store the powder is shortened as a whole. The efficiency of the storing operation can be improved.

More specifically, the fixing member maintains an engaged state with the engaging member that engages with the rotating shaft of the stirring member or the rotating body that rotates with the rotation of the rotating shaft. The rotation shaft or the rotating body receives a predetermined rotational force, or the engagement member comes into contact with a contact member provided on the apparatus main body side to maintain the engagement. Since the engaged state maintained by the member is released, when the powder storage container is driven at the latest, the fixed state of the stirring member is released, and the rotation of the stirring member becomes possible.

Also, the fixing member is provided at a position where it cannot be mounted on the mounting member even if the powder storage container in which the fixing member fixes the stirring member is mounted on the mounting member. Further, it is possible to prevent the user from mounting the powder container in a state where the stirring member is fixed to the apparatus main body by mistake. Further, in an image forming apparatus that forms an image on an image carrier by developing with toner in a developing device, since the powder container of the present invention is used as a toner container for supplying toner to the developing device, The work efficiency when filling the toner container with the toner can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing the overall configuration of a printer using a toner container when the powder container according to the present invention is applied to the toner container.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the entire toner container.

FIG. 3 is a side view when the toner container is viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2;

4 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side view when the toner container 60 is viewed from the direction of arrow C in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container taken along line DD in FIG. 5, illustrating only the vicinity of the stirring gear.

FIG. 7 is a side view when the toner container is viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2;

8 is rotated clockwise from 0 °, 135 °, 180 °, and 225 °, respectively, from line E shown in FIG. 7 to fix the film at that position, and to fill the toner until it reaches the position of the filling port. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a result of measuring a toner filling amount at each rotation position when the toner is filled.

FIG. 9A is a view showing a state in which a convex portion of an engaging member is engaged with a concave portion provided on a boss portion of the stirring gear to fix the stirring gear. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a state when the toner container is mounted on the guide on the apparatus main body side, and is a diagram illustrating a state where the fixation of the stirring gear is released.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a method of fixing the stirring gear, which is another example.

FIG. 11A is a side view illustrating a state in which a stirring gear is fixed by a pin protruding from an inner surface of a cover attached to a side surface of the toner container. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the toner container taken along line GG in FIG.

FIG. 12A is a side view showing a state where the cover shown in FIG. 11A is mounted upside down on a side surface. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the toner container taken along line HH in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 60 toner container 61 hollow container 62 lid member 63, 69 side surface 64 filling port 65 shutter member 66 opening 67 cylindrical member 68 stirring member 70 stirring gear 71 intermediate gear 72 input gear 81 boss portion 82 engagement member 83 projection 84, 210 Guide 90 Fixing pin 91 Head 92, 200 Cover 93 Tape 201, 691 Pin 202, 841 Upper surface 203 Lower surface 600 Toner storage unit 601 Toner removal unit 611 Bottom surface 641 Cover 671 Discharge port 681 Stirring shaft 682 Stirring film 693, 694 Recess 700 921 Round hole 811 Notch 822 Claw 823 Upper end

Continuation of the front page F term (reference) 2H077 AA12 AA16 AA18 AB01 AB07 3E062 AA01 AB08 AC02 BA01 BB06 BB09 KA04 KB17

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A container for accommodating powder, a stirring member provided in the container and stirring the powder by rotation, and a fixing member for fixing the stirring member at a predetermined rotation position. Characteristic powder storage container. 2. An engaging member that engages with a rotating shaft of the stirring member or a rotating body that rotates with the rotation of the rotating shaft, and the fixing member maintains an engaged state by the engaging member. The engagement state maintained by the engagement maintaining member is released when the rotating shaft or the rotating body receives a rotational force equal to or more than a predetermined magnitude. The powder container according to claim 1, wherein 3. The engaging member engages with a rotating shaft of the agitating member or a rotating body that rotates with the rotation of the rotating shaft, and the engaging member maintains an engaged state by the engaging member. A contact member is provided on the device body side on which the powder storage container is mounted, the contact member being in contact with the engagement member when the powder storage container is mounted. The powder container according to claim 1, wherein the contact state maintained by the engagement maintaining member is released when the contact member contacts the contact member. 4. A mounting member for mounting the powder storage container is provided on an apparatus body side on which the powder storage container is mounted, wherein the fixing member fixes the stirring member. The powder storage container according to claim 1, wherein the powder storage container is formed in a shape that cannot be mounted on the mounting member even when the powder storage container is mounted on the mounting member in the state of being performed. 5. An image forming apparatus for forming an image by using toner of a developing device, wherein the powder container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, as a toner container for supplying toner to the developing device. An image forming apparatus characterized by using: