JP2000227706A - Image forming device and toner storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To arbitrarily set the set position of a toner storage container, to facilitate the replacement of the container, and to make a mechanism simple and inexpensive, by providing the main body of an image forming device with an air supply part which is inserted into the toner storage container and pulled therefrom. SOLUTION: The main body of an image forming device is provided with a set part 40 in which a toner storage container 20 is set. When the toner storage container 20 is set in the set part 40, a nozzle 45 fixed in position pierces through the valve body 22 of a seal valve 21 via a slit of a minute width, and consequently its front end enters the container. With the toner storage container 20 set in the set part 40, an air inflow aperture 47 and a toner discharge aperture 48 are positioned slightly higher than the bottom of the toner storage container. By such a one-touch operation that the toner storage container 20 is dropped into the set part 40, the nozzle 45 provided on the main body side of the image forming device opens the seal valve 21 and enters as far as a specific position, so that the setting of the toner storage container 20 is completed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer for supplying toner stored in a toner storage container detachably mounted to an image forming apparatus main body to a developing device. And the like, and an image forming apparatus and a toner storage container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a toner container such as a toner bottle or a toner cartridge is set in an image forming apparatus main body.
A replenisher for supplying toner from the container to the developing unit is widely known. In this type of image forming apparatus, since the toner is a consumable product, the storage container needs to be replaced when the toner is used over time. Since the replacement of the toner storage container is one of the tasks that are avoided by the user, various proposals have conventionally been made so that the replacement operation of the toner storage container can be performed more comfortably.

[0003] For example, assuming that the user does not need to touch the toner bottle, the toner bottle is placed on a support, and when the support is returned to a predetermined position, the toner bottle is opened in conjunction with the returning operation. Has been proposed. Further, a container in which a storage container formed of a flexible bag is set in a developing unit and the opened container is compressed and left as it is has been proposed.

[0004]

However, since the former method has a complicated mechanism and increases costs, it is presently used only for a model called a relatively high-end machine.
In addition, the latter method requires a place to store the opened container, and furthermore, when the container is cut open, the toner is supplied to the developing unit by its own weight, so the position for setting the container is natural. There is also a problem that it is limited to the upper side of the developing unit.

[0005] The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive image forming apparatus and a toner storage container in which the set position of the toner storage container can be set arbitrarily, the operation of replacing the container is extremely easy, and the mechanism is simple.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus for replenishing a developing device with toner contained in a toner container which is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body. Wherein the air supply unit is provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus so as to be inserted into and removed from the container when the toner container is attached and detached.

The present invention is effective when the toner stored in the toner container is discharged out of the container via a toner discharge section. Further, in the present invention, the air supply unit is provided on a projection member which enters the toner storage container when the toner storage container is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, and comes out of the container when the toner storage container is removed from the image forming apparatus main body. And it is effective.

Further, the present invention is effective when the projection member is formed with an air passage for the air supply portion and a toner discharge passage for the toner discharge portion. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for replenishing a developing device with toner stored in a toner storage container detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus main body. And means for supplying air to the container to discharge the toner stored in the container to the outside of the container, and toner transfer means for transferring the toner discharged from the container to the developing device.

Further, the present invention is effective when the toner transfer means sucks and transfers the toner discharged out of the container. Furthermore, the present invention is effective when the toner transfer means is a suction type single screw pump.

Further, the present invention is effective when the toner transfer means discharges and transfers the toner discharged out of the container. Furthermore, the present invention is effective when the toner transfer means is a discharge type single screw pump.

Further, according to the present invention, if a deaeration means for discharging the air supplied into the toner container to the outside of the toner transfer path is provided between the discharge means and the toner transfer means, the effect is obtained. It is a target.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the toner container used in the image forming apparatus is a closed container. Furthermore, the present invention is effective when the container is provided with a valve that can be opened and closed.

Still further, according to the present invention, when the valve which can be opened / closed is opened by inserting a projecting member provided on the main body of the image forming apparatus and closed by pulling out the projecting member,
It is effective.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a toner replenishing mechanism used in an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a developing device on which the toner is replenished.

In FIG. 1, the toner replenishing mechanism of the present embodiment replenishes toner to a developing device 10 which is a predetermined portion.
0, a toner transfer means for applying a toner transfer force for transferring the toner stored in the toner storage container 20 to the developing device 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the developing device 10 includes a developing sleeve 11 opposed to the photosensitive member 1 as an image carrier, a first stirring screw 12, and a second stirring screw 13. Provided. The developer in the developing device 10 is circulated so as to be conveyed from left to right in FIG. 2 by the first stirring screw 12 and from right to left by the second stirring screw 13. During this circulation, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 1 is developed by the developer transferred to the developing sleeve 11 in the middle of the transport path.

As shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 10 has a first stirring screw 1 at the front end of the developing device.
2, a toner receiving port 14 is provided at a position corresponding to
A connection member 15 is attached to the toner receiving port 14, and a toner transfer tube 16 as a transfer member is detachably connected to the connection member 15. Connection member 15
An air filter 17 is provided in a part of the developing device, and only air in a mixture of the toner and the air flow is evacuated from the developing device to prevent toner from scattering from the connecting member 15 and the developing device 10 during toner supply. I have. The toner replenishment position is not limited to one end of the developing device 10 and is arbitrary and is not particularly limited. Further, the developing device 10 is not limited to the illustrated example, but may be of various types that require toner supply.

The toner container 20 is provided with the developing device 10
And is set as an independent unit, and set at an appropriate position in the image forming apparatus main body. The space between the toner storage container 20 and the developing device 10 is connected via the toner transfer tube 16. The toner transfer tube 16 is a flexible tube having a diameter of, for example, 4 to 10 mm, and a rubber material having excellent toner resistance (for example, polyurethane, nitrile, EPDM, silicon, or the like).
It is extremely effective to use a tube made of a flexible tube, and a flexible tube can be easily piped in any direction of up, down, left, and right.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are a front view and a bottom view, respectively, of the toner container 20. The toner container 20 is a trapezoidal hexagonal box whose width decreases as the front and back sides thereof go downward. It is configured in a shape. The toner storage container 20 has a closed structure and is made of resin such as polyethylene or nylon or paper, and has a seal valve 21 as a self-closing valve on the bottom surface. This seal valve 21 is a valve body 22 made of an elastic body such as foam sponge.
And a fixing member 23 for fixing this to the container 20. At the center of the valve element 22, a cross-shaped, penetrating minute width slit 24 is formed (see FIG. 4). The toner storage container 20 can be formed of a hard case made of resin.
It is made of a flexible sheet made of resin or paper of about 200 μm in a single layer or multiple layers. Applying an aluminum vapor deposition process to the front or back surface of these sheets is effective for measures against static electricity and moisture.

The toner container 20 thus constructed
Since the container itself is flexible, it is easier to handle during transportation and storage than a hard case, and requires no storage space. Further, the used toner storage container 20 is collected from a user to a manufacturer, and is subjected to a recycling / reuse or incineration process. However, since the toner storage container 20 is a flexible bag, it can be folded and transported. In addition, the advantage that it is easy to handle at the time of storage and storage, and does not take up storage space at the time of transportation and storage further increases, and the cost of collection and distribution from the user to the manufacturer can be significantly reduced. It is advantageous to use the same material or the same type of material for the toner storage container 20 and the seal valve 21 because the labor for separating the two during recycling can be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state in which the toner container 20 is set in the image forming apparatus main body. 5, the toner storage container 20 is set in the image forming apparatus main body in the vertical direction shown in FIG.
Is provided. The position where this set part 40 is provided is
It may be a location on the inside of the apparatus that appears when the door, cover, or the like of the image forming apparatus main body is opened, or a location that appears outside the apparatus. The set portion 40 has a support frame 41 in which an upper portion is formed with an opening for attaching and detaching the container,
The space formed by the support frame 41 and the machine frame 42 of the image forming apparatus main body has a shape corresponding to the toner storage container 1. A recess 43 into which the seal valve 21 is fitted is formed at the bottom of the set portion 40, and a cylindrical nozzle 45 as a projection member is fixedly arranged at the center of the bottom of the recess 43.

As shown in FIG. 6, the nozzle 45 has a pointed portion 46 having a conical cross section at the upper portion, and the air inlet 47 and the toner outlet 48 are substantially the same height level after the pointed portion 46. It is provided in. Inside the nozzle body 45, an air passage 49 and a toner passage 50 communicating with an air inlet 47 and a toner outlet 48, respectively, are provided with partition walls 51.
Is formed by The toner passage 50 extends to the lower end of the nozzle 45, is bent leftward, and reaches the toner connection port 52. Further, the air passage 49 is bent rightward in FIG.
3 has been reached. The toner transfer tube 16 is fitted into the toner connection port 52. On the other hand, in the case of the present embodiment, the air connection port 53 is connected to the air transfer pipe 31 of the air pump 30 also serving as a toner transfer unit.

The toner storage container 20 is provided with the setting unit 40
, The nozzle 45 having a fixed position penetrates the valve body 22 of the seal valve 21 through the minute width slit 24, and the tip enters the container. At this time, since the valve body 22 of the seal valve 21 is made of an elastic body and the pointed end 46 is provided at the tip of the nozzle 45, the head of the nozzle 45 can smoothly enter the container. Toner storage container 2
When 0 is set in the setting section 40, the air inlet 47 and the toner outlet 48 are located slightly above the bottom of the toner container.

As described above, by a one-touch operation of dropping the toner storage container 20 into the set section 40, the nozzle 45 provided on the image forming apparatus main body side opens the seal valve 21 and enters the predetermined position. As shown in FIG. 8, the setting of the toner container 20 is completed.

Here, when a toner replenishment command is issued, the air pump 30 is operated, and air from the pump is supplied to the air transfer pipe 31, the air passage 49 and the air inlet 4.
The toner flows into the toner storage container 1 through the toner container 7. Since this air flows in from near the bottom of the toner container 1,
The accommodated toner layer is diffused and fluidized and exits upward. When the air supply by the air pump 30 is continued, the air pressure in the container increases because the toner container 20 is a substantially closed container, and the toner is discharged from the toner outlet 48 by the discharge pressure of the air and the gravity of the toner itself. The toner is transferred to the toner receiving port 14 via the toner passage 50 and the toner transfer tube 16, and the toner is supplied to the developing device 10.

The toner stored in the toner storage container 20 can be transferred to the developing device 10 by air pressure. At this time, the air jetted into the container can smoothly and reliably transfer the toner by air pressure by fluidizing the toner. Further, since the toner container 20 has a funnel shape toward the nozzle 45, almost all of the toner in the container is discharged without remaining. Air is sent to the developing device 10 together with the toner.
7, no problem such as toner scattering is caused.

In the transfer of the toner by the air pressure, no mechanical stress is applied to the toner and the toner is fluidized by the air, so that the occurrence of the toner aggregation, the cross-linking phenomenon and the like can be prevented. Further, the transfer of the toner by air pressure is such that the stored toner is discharged without remaining in the bag while the physical properties of the toner are always stable regardless of the amount of the stored toner in the container.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing the results of an experiment performed using the apparatus shown in FIG. 5, in which the vertical axis represents the cumulative amount of toner discharged from the toner storage container, and the horizontal axis represents the supply to the toner container. This is the cumulative supply time of the air.

The air pump used in this experiment has a single performance of a maximum static pressure of 18 Kpa and a maximum flow rate of 1.9 L / Min. The toner container 20 is made of polyethylene and has a thickness of 1
The test was performed in an environment of 25 ° C. and 60% humidity using a sheet manufactured from a sheet of 00 μm. The toner used was (A) Ricoh color toner type F, (B)
Used Ricoh PPC toner type 8200.

As a result, as is clear from the graph of FIG. 9, it is confirmed that both the toners (A) and (B) can obtain a toner discharge amount proportional to the air supply time, and that the toner can be stably discharged. . Further, in this experiment, it was also confirmed that the amount of discharged toner can be controlled by controlling the operation time of the air pump.

From the experimental results, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can supply toner only by controlling the on / off of the air pump. Therefore, the apparatus configuration can be greatly simplified, and a compact and low-cost image can be formed. It becomes possible to provide a forming apparatus. Further, since an on-off valve or the like is not required in the toner transfer path, stable toner transfer performance and high durability can be sufficiently ensured.

Normally, when supplying toner to the developing device of the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to replenish a large amount of toner to the developing device in a short time as in an image forming apparatus which performs printing / copying at a high speed and wide-width printing / copying. There is a wide variety of demands, some of which are good and those which require only a small amount of toner supply. The toner supply device of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 can meet all of these requirements by selecting the maximum static pressure and the maximum air discharge amount of the air pump 30 used. Further, since the maximum flow rate of the air pump 30 when there is no load is very small, that is, 2.0 L / Min, air can be easily removed by a developing device or the like, and the occurrence of toner scattering or the like can be easily prevented.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention, in which a suction type single-axis eccentric screw pump 60 is attached to the mechanism of FIG. 5 as toner transfer means.
Therefore, the same members as those shown in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the common parts is omitted. FIG.
1 and 12 are external views of the toner supply mechanism shown in FIG.

In FIG. 10, a toner connection port 52 is connected to a suction port 61 of a screw pump 60 through a relay pipe 54.
It is connected to the. The configuration of the screw pump 60 is such that the rotor 62 is formed in an eccentric screw shape with a rigid material such as a metal, and the screw 62 is formed in a double-screw shape made of an elastic material such as rubber, and is fixed and installed. And a holder 64 made of a resin material or the like that wraps the stator 63 and forms a powder conveyance path. The rotor 62 is provided with a gear 7 drivingly connected to a drive motor 70.
1, 72 and the drive shaft 73 are driven to rotate. Due to the rotation of the rotor 62, a strong self-sucking force is generated in the pump, so that the toner can be sucked from the suction part 61 at the tip of the holder 64 and the sucked toner can be sent out from the discharge part 65 near the drive shaft 73. An air supply unit 66 is provided on the toner discharge side of the screw pump 60, and the air supply unit 66 is connected to the air pump 30 via an air transfer pipe 67. Fluidization of the toner to be sent out by the air supplied from the air pump 30 is promoted, and toner transfer by the screw pump 60 is ensured. Although the suction screw pump 60 is driven by a dedicated motor, the drive may be transmitted via a main motor and a clutch (not shown) in the image forming apparatus.

The toner replenishing mechanism configured as described above includes
When the toner is replenished, air is supplied to the toner container 20 by the operation of the air pump 30 in the same manner as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, so that the toner layer is fluidized and the air pressure is increased. And it is discharged out of the container via the nozzle 45 by the suction force of the screw pump 60 and the like. The discharged toner is supplied to a screw pump 60
Is transferred to the toner receiving port 14 through the discharge section 65 and the toner transfer tube 16, and the toner is supplied to the developing device 10.

It is known that the single-axis eccentric screw pump 60 is capable of continuous quantitative transfer at a high solid-gas ratio, and that an accurate amount of toner transfer in proportion to the rotation speed of the rotor 62 can be obtained. Therefore, the amount of toner transferred may be controlled by controlling the driving time of the screw pump. In addition, it is advantageous that the mechanism of the screw pump 60 is unitized, and the unitized screw pump mechanism is manufactured and manufactured.
Machine maintenance becomes easier.

For driving and controlling the image forming apparatus, a drive motor and an air pump are driven and controlled by a power outlet (not shown), a power supply, a switch (not shown), and a control circuit. These may use a conventionally well-known technique.

The toner replenishment control thus configured is performed by detecting a change in the mixture ratio of toner and carrier based on a conventionally known magnetic permeability detector (not shown) provided in a part of the developing device 10. If the detected value is less than a predetermined value, the screw pump 60 and the air pump 30 are driven to transfer the toner in the toner container 20 to the developing device 10. Then, the toner supply by this transfer is stopped when the concentration of the developer becomes equal to or more than a predetermined value.

By these controls, the developing device 10 always contains the developer having a constant developer concentration, and a stable developing process is guaranteed. When the developer concentration is detected by the magnetic permeability detector to be lower than a predetermined value, and when this exceeds a predetermined number of times / time, the toner container 20
It is determined that there is no toner in the printer, and a warning that the operator can understand is issued to an operation unit or a display unit provided in a main body (not shown) such as a copying machine or a printer. Thus, the toner container 20 can be replaced at an appropriate time.

Instead of the magnetic permeability detector, it is also possible to detect the density of a toner image formed on a conventionally known photosensitive drum, and perform the same toner supply control. The air pump 30 has a maximum flow rate of 2.0 L / Mi when no load is applied.
Since n is very small, air can be easily removed by a developing device or the like, and toner scattering or the like can be easily prevented.

In order to ensure the reliability of the toner transfer by the screw pump 60, the timing of the supply of air from the air pump 30 is important, and the supply of air should be started before the drive of the screw pump 60. Is essential. As a result, residual toner in the toner transfer tube 16 and the like can be prevented, and stable toner transfer can be achieved.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a discharge type single-axis eccentric screw pump 80 is used as a toner transfer means in the mechanism shown in FIG.
Is attached. Therefore, the same members as those shown in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the common parts is omitted. 15 and 16 are external views of the toner supply mechanism shown in FIG.

In FIG. 14, the toner connection port 52 is connected to a pump holding member 90 for holding a discharge type single-axis eccentric screw pump 80. The pump holding member 90 is provided with a toner receiving portion 91 for receiving the toner fed together with the air from the toner connection port 52, and an air filter 92 as a deaeration means is provided in a part thereof, for example, on the upper portion.

The discharge type single-axis eccentric screw pump 8
Numeral 0 denotes a rotor 82 formed in an eccentric screw shape with a rigid material such as metal or plastic, and a stator 83 made of an elastic body such as rubber and fixed and installed.
And a holder 84 made of a resin material or the like that supports these.
And Screw pump 80 of the present embodiment
Uses a drive motor 93 shown in FIG. 15 as a drive source, and the drive motor 93 and the rotor 82 include gears 94 and 95 and a drive shaft 9.
It is drivingly connected via 6. In this case, the drive shaft 96
Is positioned in the toner receiving portion 91, and when rotated in a screw shape, transfers the toner in the toner receiving portion 91 to the screw pump 80 side. Reference numeral 97 denotes a bracket that fixes the powder pump unit to the image forming apparatus main body.

An air inlet 85 and a toner outlet 86 are formed in the holder 84 of the discharge type screw pump 80, and the air pump 30 is connected to the air inlet 85 through an air transfer pipe 87. . The discharge type screw pump 60 is not limited to the dedicated motor, but may be configured to transmit its drive via a main motor and a clutch (not shown) in the image forming apparatus.

The toner replenishing mechanism thus configured is
At the time of toner replenishment, air is fed into the toner storage container 20 by the operation of the air pump 30 in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIG. 5, and the toner layer is fluidized and discharged out of the container via the nozzle 45 by the air pressure. Is done. The discharged toner is transferred to the toner receiving portion 91 via the toner connection port 52. When the drive motor 93 is driven to rotate, the drive shaft 96 transfers the toner to the screw pump 80 side and the rotor 82 Is rotated and the screw pump 80 is operated, so that the toner is discharged from the toner discharge holes 8.
6 is discharged. At the same time as or slightly before or after the operation of the screw pump 80, air is supplied from the air pump 30 to the screw pump 80, and the toner is transferred together with the air through the toner transfer tube 16 to the toner receiving port 14 of the developing unit. 10 is supplied with toner.

Discharge type single-axis eccentric screw pump 80
Also, it is known that a constant quantitative transfer is possible at a high solid-gas ratio, and an accurate transfer amount of the toner in proportion to the rotation speed of the rotor 82 is obtained. Therefore, the amount of toner transferred may be controlled by controlling the driving time of the screw pump.
The excess air sent to the toner receiving section 91 together with the toner is discharged from the air filter 92.

By the way, it is known that the toner used in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus has a very poor fluidity and is difficult to transfer. In the present invention, since the toner is transferred in the toner transfer tube in a state of a mixture with air, little mechanical stress is applied to the toner. Furthermore, there is no drive load on the transfer member. From these, the maintenance of the toner characteristics and the assurance of the toner transfer are achieved,
The reliability and durability of the toner replenishing device are sufficiently ensured. Furthermore, the configuration of the toner replenishing device can be simplified, so that low power consumption and low cost can be achieved by reducing the driving load.

Further, the toner replenishing mechanism just needs to connect only the flexible toner transfer tube to the developing device 10 of the image forming apparatus, and there is no scattering of the toner, so that there is no problem of dust and it is safe. is there. In addition, since there is no restriction on the installation position and location of the toner replenishing device with respect to the developing device, it is possible to provide the toner replenishing mechanism at a place where the user can easily replace the toner storage (supply) container.

Further, since the toner container 20 of the present invention need only be provided with a simple self-closing valve, the structure of the container is simple, and the container can be easily replaced.
Pollution can be prevented. Further, there is almost no residual toner in the container, and the container can be economically processed and used safely and hygienically after use.

Since the toner container 20 is flexible, the container is less bulky than conventional hard bottles such as cartridges and bottles, so that it can be easily handled during transportation and storage, and the storage space during transportation and storage can be reduced. I will not take it. Furthermore, the used toner storage container 20 is taken from a user to a maker, and is recycled, reused, or incinerated. However, since the toner storage container is a flexible bag, it can be folded, and can be transported or used. The advantage of good handling at the time of storage and no space required at the time of transportation and storage is further increased, and the cost of collection and distribution from the user to the manufacturer can be significantly reduced.

Further, according to the developing device 10, since the toner replenishing device is not provided, not only the structure of the developing device is extremely simplified, but also the driving of the developing device is performed by driving the developing sleeve and the screw for supplying the toner. Therefore, the size, simplification, and cost reduction, high reliability, power saving, and easy maintenance of the developing device can be achieved. Needless to say, the above-described effects can be obtained as a whole of the image forming apparatus.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified. For example, the configuration of the developing device to which the toner is replenished may be arbitrary, and the present invention can be applied to an apparatus using a one-component developer instead of a two-component developer as in the above embodiment.

[0054]

According to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the operation of replacing the toner container can be performed very easily.

According to the fifth to tenth aspects, the toner in the toner container can be stably and reliably transferred to the developing device. According to the configuration of the eleventh to thirteenth aspects, it is possible to provide a toner storage container in which toner scattering, contamination, and the like hardly occur during replacement.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a toner receiving unit of the developing device.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a toner container according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a toner storage container set state according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the toner storage container set state.

FIG. 8 is a side view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a graph showing an experimental result using the toner storage mechanism of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a toner storage container set state according to another embodiment of the present invention.

11 is a front view showing a state where the toner container is set in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a rear view of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for describing a configuration of a toner supply mechanism of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a toner storage container set state according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

15 is a front view showing the toner container set state in FIG. 14. FIG.

FIG. 16 is a rear view of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 developing device 20 toner container 21 seal valve 30 air pump 40 set part 45 nozzle 60, 80 screw pump

Claims (13)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus configured to replenish toner stored in a toner storage container detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body to a developing device; An image forming apparatus comprising: an air supply unit that is inserted into and removed from the container when the container is attached and detached. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner stored in the toner storage is discharged out of the container via a toner discharge unit. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air supply unit enters into the toner storage container when the toner storage container is mounted on the image forming device main body, and is removed from the image forming device main body. An image forming apparatus provided on a projection member coming out of a container. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion has an air passage for the air supply unit and a toner discharge passage for the toner discharge unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: 5. An image forming apparatus for replenishing toner contained in a toner container detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus main body to a developing device, wherein air is supplied into the toner container. An image forming apparatus comprising: means for discharging toner stored in the container to the outside of the container; and toner transfer means for transferring the toner discharged from the container by the discharging means to the developing device. 6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said toner transfer means sucks and transfers the toner discharged out of the container. 7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said toner transfer means is a suction type single screw pump. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said toner transfer means discharges and transfers the toner discharged out of the container. 9. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said toner transfer means is a discharge type single screw pump. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, 8 or 9, wherein the air supplied into the toner container is discharged between the discharge unit and the toner transfer unit to outside the toner transfer path. An image forming apparatus, comprising: 11. The toner container used in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container is a closed container. 12. The toner storage container according to claim 11, wherein the container is provided with a valve that can be opened and closed. 13. The toner container according to claim 12, wherein the openable / closable valve is opened by inserting a projection member provided on the image forming apparatus main body, and is closed by removing the projection member. Characteristic toner storage container.