JP2002311699A - Developer replenishing container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner replenishing container by which residual toner in a toner replenishing container is eliminated after replenishing toner, which is easily held by a user, whose toner replenishing property is improved, by which toner leakage is eliminated, with which replenishment in a large capacity is attained, and which is inexpensive as a developer replenishing container by which the developer is replenished to a developer receiving container provided at an image forming device. SOLUTION: This container possesses a container main body 1 storing the developer T, an aperture 11 provided on the lower side of the container main body 1 to discharge the developer T and a sealing member 5 to seal so as to be opened and sealed by sliding and moving the aperture 11, and the container main body 1A possesses a narrowed part F1 at a part in a sliding direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developer replenishing container for replenishing a developing device of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer of an electrophotographic type or an electrostatic recording type.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a laser beam printer forms a latent image by selectively exposing a photosensitive drum, which is a uniformly charged image carrier, to a photosensitive drum.
The latent image is visualized with a developer to form a visible image (toner image), and the toner image is transferred to a recording medium to form an image.

When the developer in the image forming apparatus is consumed, toner is supplied to the image forming apparatus using a developer supply container, that is, a toner supply container.

[0004] Since toner is an extremely fine powder,
There is a problem that toner scatters during toner replenishment work and stains the user and surroundings. To address this problem, various types of developer replenishment containers have been proposed and put into practical use.

For example, a flange portion is integrally formed on a box-shaped container body, and a sealing member, ie, a seal, which is a flexible film, is heat-welded to the flange portion, and this is manually peeled off by a user. Opening has conventionally been generally performed.

Further, in order to improve the above problem and to prevent a small amount of toner adhered and remaining inside the used toner supply container from spilling and scattering around, an opening / closing lid for sealing the opening, A toner supply container which can be resealed by adding a shutter has also been proposed and put into practical use (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
-336565).

On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus main body, a developer receiving opening (toner receiving opening) is freely opened and closed in a developer receiving container such as a toner hopper or a developing device which receives toner discharged from a toner supply container. There is a method of providing a developer receiving opening opening / closing lid to cover the cover to reduce scattering of toner and dirt, and to prevent misinsertion of different kinds of toner. Here, as long as a predetermined toner supply container is not securely attached to the toner receiving container, the opening and closing lid of the receiving opening of the toner receiving container is locked so as not to be movable.

Usually, a developer receiving container, which is provided in a developing device in the image forming apparatus and replenishes the developer consumed in the developing device inside the image forming apparatus, is housed in a hopper which is a toner receiving container. When the used toner is consumed and runs short, an announcement of toner supply from the image forming apparatus is displayed to the outside. Accordingly, the user supplies toner to the developer receiving container.

That is, a user sets a developer supply container, that is, a toner supply container, in a hopper which is a developer receiving container inside the image forming apparatus, and a developer discharge opening for discharging toner from the toner supply container. By gradually pulling a seal, which is a sealing member attached to the (toner discharge opening), a shutter as a discharge opening / closing lid of the toner supply container,
The lid for opening and closing the receiving opening of the hopper is also pulled out, and both openings of the toner supply container and the hopper are opened, and the toner in the toner supply container enters the hopper.

This representative example will be described using a conventional example.

Conventional Example 1 First, the configuration and shape of a generally used toner supply container will be described.

A toner supply container 100 having a structure described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-10396 is disclosed in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 9, the toner container 100A is
It is a hexagonal cuboid box shape with facing downward. A flange portion 100B is integrally formed around the box-shaped container body opening 11, and a sliding surface is provided on the lower surface of the flange portion 100B. As shown in the sectional views of FIGS. 3 is slidably fitted in the longitudinal direction. Between the shutter 3 and the sliding surface of the flange 100B,
There is a seal 5 of a flexible film as a sealing member, and the seal 5 is peelably attached to the flange 100B by welding or the like to seal the opening 11. Seal 5
It is also affixed to the seal pull-out member 6 provided at the end of the flange 100B in the pull-out direction of the seal 5.

As a developer receiving container, a hopper 2 installed in a developing device 2 'as shown in FIG.
Is used. In the upper part of the hopper 2, a developer receiving opening 12 is provided.
Is provided.

As shown in FIG. 20A, the toner discharge opening 11 of the toner replenishing container 100 is set to face the toner receiving opening 12 of the hopper 2 which is a toner receiving container, and toner T as a developer is set. Replenish. The procedure of toner supply will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 20B shows a state in which the toner replenishing container 100 is set in the hopper 2. When the setting is completed, in the toner replenishing container 100, the seal pull-out member 6 mounted on the joint surface with the hopper 2 is removed. , Flange 10
The spring automatically jumps out of the flange 100B by the action of a spring (not shown) and a flange fixing member (not shown in JP-A-2000-10396) provided on the flange 100B.

As shown in FIG.
Is applied from the front (front end in the seal pull-out direction) to the rear (front end in the push-in direction) of the flange 100B, and covers the opening 11;
It is folded downward at the rear end of the OB, extended in the pull-out direction, and connected to the seal pull-out member 6 flipped outward. As shown in FIG. 4, the user grips the drawn-out member 6 and pulls out the seal 5, so that the flange 100 around the opening 11 of the container body 100 of the seal 5 is obtained.
The part fixed to B is sequentially peeled from the folded part side,
Release the fixing at the rear part of the shutter 3 and move the position of the folded part of the seal in the direction of pulling out the seal.
The folded portion of the seal 5 pushes the shutter 3 and moves in the opening direction.

As shown in FIG. 20C, when the user pulls the seal pull-out member 6, the upper plate 3a and the lower plate 3b constituting the shutter 3 shown in FIG. The slide cover 4, which is a lid for opening and closing the toner receiving opening of the hopper 2, connected by the projections 3c and 3d at the front and rear ends of the toner supply opening 100 and the toner discharging opening 11 and the toner receiving opening 1 of the toner supply container 100.
2, the toner T in the toner supply container 100 is dropped and supplied into the hopper 2.

FIG. 20 shows a state in which the shutter 3 is completely opened together with the seal 5 and the toner T has entered the hopper 2.
It is shown in (D). It can be seen that the toner T is small in both longitudinal end portions (front and rear ends) A1 and C1 inside the hopper 2 and is large accumulated in the longitudinal central portion B1.

This is because the fluidity of the toner T is very high, and the opening 11 is opposed to the portion to be opened first, and from the rear end A1 of the hopper 2 where the toner T first enters,
When the seal inside the toner supply container 100 is opened, the toner T flows into the central portion B1, so that the amount of the toner T accumulated in the rear end portion A1 decreases, and when the seal 5 is further slid in the pulling-out direction and the opening is continued. , And the toner T is accumulated such that the central portion B1 rises high. At this time, since the seal 5 with the toner T is always sandwiched between the upper and lower portions 3a and 3b of the double-structured shutter 3, the user does not stain his hands.

Then, the seal 5 is attached to the toner supply container 100.
Completely removed from the opening 3 of the toner supply container 100.
When the toner supply container 1 reaches the front end C1, the toner supply container 1
The toner T in 00 moves into the hopper, and the toner T is accumulated in the front end portion C1 in a small amount.

After the developer has been replenished, as shown in FIG. 20E, when the open / close lid 4 of the hopper 2 is closed, the rear end of the open / close lid 4 is closed by the shutter of the toner supply container 100 shown in FIG. 3, the shutter 3 of the toner supply container 100 is pushed and closed, and the shutter 3 of the toner supply container 100 is closed while being pulled into the container main body 100.

Then, the toner supply container 100 is
Returning to the original state shown in (F), the setting to the hopper 2 in the developing device 100 is released.

The toner supply configuration and the shape of the toner supply container are the same regardless of the amount of toner contained in the toner supply container 100.

Conventional Example 2 Next, an example of the shape of a toner supply container of a large capacity supply system in which the amount of toner in the toner supply container is 700 g or more and 2000 g or less will be described.

In the case of a large-capacity toner replenishing container, the toner replenishing interval is widened to reduce the number of toner replenishments of the user, and the toner replenishing container 100A per unit number of copies.
It is possible to reduce the cost by reducing the number of.

In order to increase the capacity of the current toner supply container, the height Z is increased as shown in FIG. 21A, or the direction perpendicular to the shutter opening / closing direction as shown in FIG. In Example 1, there is a method of increasing the width X in the short side direction).

[0027]

However, in the toner supply containers of Conventional Examples 1 and 2 described above, the conventional example 1
As shown in FIG. 20, the central portion B
1 is high, and the height of the toner has exceeded the depth of the hopper 2 and has reached the inside of the toner storage portion 100A of the toner supply container mounted thereon.
The toner T in the central portion B1 that is raised when the shutter 3 and the slide cover 4 slide again when the slide is closed again.
2 and is returned into the toner supply container 100A as shown in FIGS. For this reason, there is a problem that the toner T2 remains in the toner supply container 100A.

Further, the shutter 3 and the slide cover 4
The sliding movement of the toner supply container storage unit 100
A, the toner T2 that has entered the toner supply container 100A
In the inside, the toner T2 aggregates at the end E1 in the longitudinal seal sealing direction (FIG. 20 (F)), and during the operation shown in FIG. 20 (G) when the toner supply container 100A is removed from the hopper 2, the toner T2 is removed. Some T3s fall outside, and carpets, floors,
The problem of sticking to the user occurs.

Conventional toner supply container 1 of large capacity 2
In the case of 01 and 102, in the case of the toner supply container 101 having a high height Z as shown in FIG. 21A, the developing device which is a toner receiving container having a high height Z from the image forming apparatus in order to supply toner T When the toner supply container 101 is pulled out and the toner supply container 101 is set, it is difficult to confirm that the toner supply container 101 is completely set in the development device 21 ′ because the height Z of the hopper chamber 21 of the development device 21 ′ is high. In addition, they may easily interfere with the exterior and built-in devices of the image forming apparatus. Further, in this configuration, since the height R1 of the hopper chamber 21 is high, a large load is applied to the toner T with respect to the toner stirring device 23 in the hopper chamber 21.
The toner agitating device 23 is deformed, or the toner agitation is not sufficiently performed in the portion S1 where the toner T is high, and the toner is solidified to cause an image defect.

As shown in FIG. 21B, the toner supply container 10
When the short width H of 2 is increased, it becomes difficult for the user to hold the toner replenishing container 102 when replenishing the toner, and there is a problem that the toner replenishing container 102 is dropped. For this reason, a problem has not been solved unless a handshake or the like is added to the toner supply container 102 so that the user can easily hold the container and cost is not increased.

FIGS. 21A and 21B both show a conventional example 1.
The problem that the toner accumulation near the central portion B1 of the hopper chambers 21 and 23 at the time of toner replenishment described in 1 cannot be solved, and the toner T2 returns to the toner replenishment container, and the toner replenishment performance deteriorates and the toner leaks. Cannot be solved.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a toner replenishing container in which the toner replenishing container has no residual toner after toner replenishment, is easy for the user to hold, and has improved toner replenishing performance. An object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive toner replenishing container capable of replenishing a large amount of toner without replenishment.

[0033]

The above object is achieved by a developer supply container according to the present invention. In summary, the present invention provides a container body for accommodating a developer, an opening provided below the container body for discharging the developer, and a seal that can be opened by sliding with respect to the opening. A developer supply container for replenishing the developer, wherein the container main body has a crack portion in a part in a sliding direction. .

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the concave portion is provided at a center of gravity of the container body.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the width of the concave portion is H in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction.
1. If the width of the portion different from the cracked portion is H2, H
1 / H2 = 0.5 to 0.75 holds.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the filling rate {(developer volume / total volume of developer supply container) × 100} of the developer contained in the container body is 70% or less.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the width H1 of the rivet portion in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction is 45 mm.
65 mm, and the length of the rivet portion in the sliding direction is 45 mm or more and 150 mm or less, and the rivet portion has a radius of 50 m in the sliding direction of the sealing member.
m or more.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a portion where the side wall of the dent portion contacts the upper surface of the container body has a radius of 5 mm.
mm or more.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the draft S of the side wall at the time of molding the container body is 0 ° <S <20 °.
It is.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the amount of the developer contained in the container body is 700 g or more and 2000 g or more.
g or less.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an opening / closing lid capable of opening and closing the opening in a sliding direction in conjunction with sliding movement of the sealing member, or the sealing member and the opening / closing lid are provided. Are the same.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, when the sealing member is slidably moved to open the developer discharge opening, the first opening area of the container main body has a slidable cross-sectional area. It is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the region that opens after the portion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container body for storing a developer, an opening for discharging the developer, and a sealing member for sealing the opening, and the developer is supplied. A developer supply container, wherein the container main body has a concave portion at a center of gravity of the container main body.

[0044]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a developer supply container according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 A developer supply container, ie, a toner supply container 1 shown in FIG. 1 which is a feature of the present invention will be described. The description will be made on the assumption that the amount of toner filled in the toner supply container 1 is 700 g or more and 2000 g or less.

The toner supply container 1 of this embodiment has the same configuration as that of the toner supply container 100 described in the conventional example 1 except for the shape of the toner storage portion 1A. As shown in FIGS. A substantially box-shaped container with the developer discharge opening 11 for discharging downward, and a seal 5 as a sealing member for sealing the developer discharge opening in the flange portion 1B, and the developer discharge opening 11 is slidably opened and closed. A shutter 3, which is an opening / closing lid, is provided.

FIG. 1 shows a toner supply container 1 according to this embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the shutter 3 and a seal 5 in which a longitudinal side surface, which is a sliding direction, is provided with two concave portions F1 opposed to each other, and the concave portions F1 face each other. Has a narrow width in the short direction X direction.

Further, a crack portion F is formed on the side wall of the toner supply container 1.
As shown in FIG. 13, the crack shape is set so that the center of gravity P of the inner volume of the toner supply container 1 is within a certain range. This is for uniformizing the toner that has fallen into the hopper 2 of the developing device 2 'at the time of toner supply.

In the box-shaped toner supply container 1, one corner G in the pushing direction (rearward direction) of the shutter 3 and the seal 5 is lowered by one step to have a partially stepped shape.
That is, in the longitudinal direction of the container main body 100A, the cross-sectional area of the first opening area is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the opening area after the crack portion F1. This is when refilling the toner
This is to prevent interference with the exterior portion of the main body when the toner supply container is set in the main body. If this interference can be avoided, the front and rear portions of the concave portion F1 may have a cubic shape as shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the toner supply container.
2A, which is a cross-sectional view in the longitudinal direction Y, the toner supply container 1 is composed of a box-shaped toner storage section 1A and a flange 1B around the opening 11. You.

As can be understood by referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 14, a film-like flexible seal 5 is provided on the lower surface of the flange 1B so as to be peelable and prevent toner leakage. It is sufficiently strong to prevent it, for example, by heat fusion. Also, at both ends of the flange 1B, the shutter 3, which is a slidable toner discharge opening / closing lid, loosely sandwiches the folded back seal 5 between the upper shutter 3a and the lower shutter 3b constituting the shutter 3, both ends in the sliding direction. It is fitted with a thin cavity with an opening in the part.

The length of the seal 5 in the sliding direction is set to at least twice the length of the developer accommodating portion of the container body, and is fixed to the flange 1B around the opening 11 of the container body 1 of the seal 5. The remaining part which has not been extended in the rearward direction is folded back at the rear end of the upper shutter 3a,
As shown in FIG. 3, the end portion of the shutter 3 passes through an internal cavity between the upper shutter 3a and the shutter 3b and is pulled out forward, and is fixed to the seal drawing member 6 so as not to be easily peeled off. Although the seal pull-out member 6 is made of a synthetic resin, an end portion of the seal 5 may be formed to form the same shaped portion.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the toner supply container 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, there is provided a spring 7 for causing the seal pull-out member 6 to protrude to the outside, and a kick-out member 8 pushed by the spring 7 to protrude the seal pull-out member 6 to the outside. By the mechanism described above, when the toner supply container 1 is mounted on the toner receiving container 2, the seal pull-out member 6 protrudes outward.

Such a mechanism does not show the features of the present invention and is well known to those skilled in the art, so that the detailed description will be omitted.

In this embodiment, a toner hopper 2 shown in FIG. 5 installed in the main body of the image forming apparatus is used as a developer receiving container, that is, a toner receiving container. In FIG. 5, the toner hopper 2 is integrally installed above the developing device 2 '. The developer in the toner hopper 2 is supplied to the developing device 2 ′ provided with a developer carrier 2 a that supplies a developer to the electrostatic image carrier in the image forming apparatus to form a developed image. Is transported by gravity or a screw (not shown). The upper opening 12 which is a developer receiving opening of the hopper 2 is covered with a slide cover 4 which is a sliding type developer receiving opening opening / closing lid. A recess 4c for inserting the rear end protruding portion 3c of the flange 1B of the toner replenishing container 1 so as to face the front end of the slide cover 4 of the toner hopper 2 in the pushing direction (rear direction), and a guide for guiding the insertion. 4e is formed so as to fit tightly with the toner supply container 1.

The opening of the toner supply container 1 and the hopper 2 may be configured such that the opening 12 of the hopper 2 is as large as possible than the opening 11 of the toner supply container 1. In addition, it is desirable to prevent the guide rail 4e of the shutter 4 of the hopper 2 from being contaminated by the fly of the developer.

The container body of the toner supply container 1 contains an appropriate amount of supply developer (toner) T, and its opening 1
As shown in FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 is covered with a shutter 3 which is a slide-type opening / closing lid that can move back and forth. The lower shutter 3 of the toner supply container 1 is provided with a projection 3c at the rear end thereof so as to be detachably hooked at the rear end of the hopper 2. Further, the projection 3c below the shutter 3 and the front part are provided. The protrusion 3d engages with the concave portions 4c and 4d at the front and rear ends of the upper portion of the shutter 4 of the hopper 2. Therefore, the shutter 4 of the hopper 2 slides back and forth in conjunction with the shutter 3 of the toner supply container, as shown in FIG.

Next, a procedure for replenishing toner by mounting the toner replenishing container 1 in the main body of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.

(1) As shown in FIG. 6, first, the developing device is taken out as follows. The front cover 114 of the image forming apparatus 113 is opened (FIG. 6A). Next, the lever 116 for releasing the developing device 2 'is turned (FIG. 6B). The user holds the handle 117 attached to the developing device 2 ′ and pulls out the developing device 2 ′. The slide cover 4 that seals the developing device 2 ′ appears on the upper surface (FIG. 6C).

(2) As shown in FIG. 7, hold the toner supply container 1 horizontally by hand, and gently shake it left and right several times as indicated by the arrow.

(3) As shown in FIG. 8A, the toner supply container 1 is set on the upper part of the developing device 2 '. The user holds the crack portion F1 of the toner supply container 1 and takes a state in which toner can be supplied.

(4) As shown in FIG. 8B, the toner supply container 1 is pushed from above as indicated by an arrow. At this time, the nail of the toner supply container 1 enters the hole of the developing device 2 'of the main body (see an enlarged view). At this time, the seal pull-out member 6 built in the toner supply container pops out.

(5) As shown in FIG. 9 (a), when the sticker pull-out member 6 is pulled out, the shutter 3 of the toner supply container 1 and the slide cover 4 which seals the developing device 2 'are interlocked with the sticker 5. Then, the hopper chamber in the developing device 2 'is gradually opened.

(6) As shown in FIG. 9B, the upper portion of the toner replenishing container 1 is lightly beaten by hand, and the toner inside falls into the hopper chamber 2.

(7) As shown in FIG. 10A, the slide cover 4 is pushed back to the original position.

(8) As shown in FIG. 10B, when the slide cover 4 is pushed to the position indicated by the arrow, the set of the toner supply container 1 and the developing device 2 'is released.

(9) The empty toner supply container 1 is removed from the developing device 2 'as shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the developing device 2 'is returned to the original position. The developing pressure release lever 116 shown in FIG. 11B is rotated to the pressing position. As shown in FIG.
Close 4 and finish. The toner supply is performed according to the above procedure.

Next, details of the shape of the concave portion F1 of the toner supply container, which is a feature of the present embodiment, will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the straight line J1 (FIG. 1) in the X direction at a position where the width in the short direction X direction is the narrowest in the cracked portion F1. The cross-sectional views along the straight line J2 in the X direction are overlapped with each other at positions other than the portion G.

The toner container 1 has a cracked portion F at the time of molding.
1, the draft S1 on the straight line J1 and the concave portion F
There is a draft S2 other than 1 and 0 ° <S1 <20
°, 0 ° <S2 <20 °. If the gradient is greater than 20 °, it becomes difficult for the user to hold the concave portion F1. When the gradients S1 and S2 approach 0 °, the toner replenishing performance is improved because there is no slippage due to the draft when holding the toner replenishing container 1 by hand.

Contact points R on the top and side surfaces of toner supply container 1
1 and R2 have a radius of 5 mm or more, so that when the user holds the toner supply container 1,
1. Eliminates skin pain caused by R2.

On the other hand, by setting the crack shape F1,
The area of the K1 part of the flange 1B of the toner container at the position of the dent part F1 is increased, so that each of the K1 parts (two places) can be held by hand instead of the F1 part, and the K1 part of the flange 1B can be held by hand. At the time of holding, there may be no inconvenience even if S1, S2> 20 ° and R1, R2 <5 mm out of the above conditions.

Next, FIG. 13 shows the toner supply container 1 having this configuration.
Is a cross-sectional view of the toner storage unit 1A and a flange 1B around the toner storage unit 1A. Center point P in both longitudinal and lateral directions of crack portion F1
Is formed to be the center of gravity of the inner volume of the toner supply container 1. For example, in the toner supply container 1 having the shape shown in FIG. 1 having a portion G with a reduced height Z at one corner of the rear end of the toner container 1A of the toner supply container 1 in the present embodiment, the longitudinal direction (Y
Distances L1 and L2 from both ends of the
1> L2, and distance L1 from the rear end to the center of gravity P
Is longer. Further, in the toner supply container 121 having the shape shown in FIG.
2.

H1 is the width of the cracked portion in the X direction, and H2 is the width of the portion where the cracked portion is in contact with the portion other than the cracked portion (the end portion of the cracked portion in the Y direction) in the X direction. In this embodiment, H2 is the maximum width of the toner supply container 1 in the X direction. H1 / H2 = 0.5
H1 = 45-65m
m and H2 are set to 75 to 100 mm.

In the case where the crack shape F1 is provided near the center of gravity P, the toner supply container 1 is swung right and left as shown in FIG. 7 before the user replenishes the toner. 17A, as shown in FIG. 17A, the toner cannot sufficiently move back and forth in this portion, and the toner that cannot be fully stirred remains deposited on the inside M portion of the portion that moves to the longitudinal crack portion. , And the toner supply is performed as it is, so that there is a problem that a large amount of toner remains in the toner supply container after the toner supply. FIG.
In the toner supply container 131 shown in FIG.
As described above, even when the toner supply container 131 is shaken at the time of toner supply, the toner H in the toner supply container 131 sufficiently passes through the concave portion F1 because the width H1 of the concave portion F1 is narrow. Therefore, there is a problem that the toner T is aggregated at the transition portion M of the cracked portion, and the toner T does not fall into the hopper chamber 2 and remains in the toner supply container 131.

In this embodiment, the flowability of the toner in the crevices is improved by making the shape of H1 ≧ 45 mm or H1 / H2 ≧ 0.5, and the toner supply container is shaken before the toner supply. Following this, the toner flows through the concave portion. Therefore, even if toner is replenished, no toner remains in the container, and the above problem can be solved.

The width L3 of the concave portion in the Y direction (longitudinal direction of the toner replenishing container) is 45 mm ≦ L3 ≦ 150 mm because the user holds the toner replenishing container at the time of toner replenishment. L3 is set to 85 mm so as to surely take four fingers.

The crack shape in the longitudinal direction of the crack portion F1 is as follows.
The shape has a curvature (radius) R2, and in this configuration, 50 mm ≦ R2. When the curvature R2 is smaller than 50 mm, for example, as shown in a toner supply container 132 shown in FIG.
1, the width of the toner supply container 13
Even if the shaker 2 is shaken, the flow of the toner to the cracked portion F1 is deteriorated, and the toner remaining due to the toner aggregation occurs in the portion M which transitions from the width H2 to the width H1. As shown in the present configuration, the concave portion F
This problem can be avoided by providing a curvature R2 ≧ 50 mm to the first lens.

The toner replenishing container 1 having the above-described configuration according to the present embodiment
The toner supply state in the case of using is described with reference to FIG.

First, FIG. 14A shows a state before the toner supply container 1 is set in the hopper 2.

Next, as shown in FIG. 14B, when the toner supply container 1 is set in the hopper 2, the seal pull-out member 6 mounted in the toner supply container 1 pops out.

Next, as shown in FIG. 14C, when the user pulls the seal pull-out member 6, the shutter 3 of the toner supply container 1 and the slide cover 4 of the hopper 2 interlock as shown in FIG. Then, the seal 5 covering the toner discharge opening 11 of the toner supply container 1 is peeled off and opened, and the toner T enters the hopper 2.

FIG. 14D shows a state in which the opening 11 and the toner receiving opening 12 of the hopper are completely opened, and the toner has entered the hopper. At this time, as described above, since the width H1 of the concave portion F1 is smaller than the width H2 of the other portion, the phenomenon that the toner T2 easily accumulates near the center of gravity of the toner supply container, which is a conventional problem, occurs. Instead, the toner T that has fallen into the hopper chamber 2 is uniformly contained in the hopper without rising to the inside of the toner supply container 1. 14E, the shutter 3 and the seal 5 are moved while pressing the slide cover 4 to return the toner supply container 1 to the original state, and even if the setting from the hopper 2 is released, the toner supply container 1 Since the toner does not remain or stick inside, there is no problem that the toner leaks to the outside.

In this embodiment, the amount of toner in the toner supply container is described as 700 g or more. However, even if the amount of toner is 700 g or less, H1 /
The same effect can be obtained if the toner supply container has a shape of H2 = 0.5 to 0.75 and 45 mm ≦ H1 ≦ 65 mm.

In the toner supply container of this configuration, the filling rate (toner volume / all containers of the supply container) × 100 when the toner is filled in the toner supply container is 70% or less.
This is because when filling the toner supply container with toner in the manufacturing process, if the filling rate is more than 70%, the air in the toner supply container cannot be completely eliminated.

The above developer is a one-component developer,
There is no problem whether a two-component developer mixed with a carrier is magnetic or non-magnetic.

The constructions of the developer supply container and the developer receiving container are not limited to those described above. The opening and closing method of the openings for discharging or receiving the two developers may be of a sliding type. It is not necessary to use a seal by using, and the method is not limited to the above method. Although it is easy to use a shutter that opens and closes the developer discharge opening as in this embodiment, the present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which the opening is sealed only with a seal without using a shutter. .

In this embodiment, the sealing member slides in the longitudinal direction to open the opening, but the opening direction of the sliding member is not necessarily limited to the longitudinal direction.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 16 shows the width H1 in the X direction of the cracked portion of the toner supply container.
Is 45 mm or more, and a part of the cracked portion is drawn in some shapes that the user can easily hold the cracked portion during toner replenishment. What has been described in the first embodiment also applies to these toner supply containers 122 and 123.

FIG. 16A illustrates the dent portion F2 of the toner supply container 122.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the same type as that of FIG. The toner supply container 122 is provided with a protrusion rib 119 on the slope of the concave portion so that the cross-sectional shape of the concave portion F2 can easily hold the toner supply container with a finger.

FIG. 16B shows a toner supply container 123 having another shape. Toner supply container 123
In the above, the concave portion F3 is provided with a step 120 to facilitate holding. At this time, as in the first embodiment, H1
By satisfying /H2=0.5 to 0.75, H1 becomes 45
mm or more, even if the toner supply container is a large-capacity toner supply container, the user can reliably hold the toner supply container.

[0092]

As described above, the developer supply container of the present invention can be opened by slidingly moving with respect to the opening provided at the lower part of the container body for discharging the developer. A developer supply container for replenishing the developer having a sealing member for sealing, wherein the container body has a partly squeezed portion in the sliding direction, and particularly, the center of gravity of the developer supply container body. By providing a concave portion in the portion, the user can easily hold the toner replenishing container when replenishing toner, and the replenishing performance is improved. Further, due to the crenel shape, the toner enters the hopper chamber of the developing device uniformly, eliminating the toner returning to the toner supply container and preventing the toner from spilling to the outside. A supply container can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a developer supply container of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a top view of one embodiment of the developer supply container of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a sealed state of an opening of a developer supply container.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of an open / closed state of an opening of a developer supply container.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a developing device including a developer receiving container to which the developer supply container of the present invention is attached.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a developer supply procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a developer supply procedure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a developer supply procedure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a developer supply procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a developer supply procedure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a developer supply procedure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment of a developer supply container of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a top view of one embodiment of the developer supply container of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a detailed explanatory diagram of a toner supply procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the developer supply container of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of another two kinds of embodiments of the developer supply container of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a top view of a developer supply container according to two comparative examples of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an example of a conventional developer supply container.

FIG. 19 is a top view and a cross-sectional view of an example of a conventional developer supply container.

FIG. 20 is a detailed diagram of a procedure for a developer supply container according to the related art.

FIG. 21 is a longitudinal sectional view and a transverse sectional view showing two types of other examples of the conventional developer supply container.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 developer supply container 1A developer storage section 1B flange 2 developer receiving container 2 'developing device 3 shutter (developer discharge opening / closing lid) 4 slide cover (developer receiving opening / closing lid) 5 seal (sealing member) 6 Seal pull-out member 11 Developer discharge opening 12 Developer receiving opening 100 Conventional developer supply container 121 to 123 Developer supply container F1, F2, F3 Crevice portion

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H077 AA02 AA06 AA09 AA18 AA34 AA35 CA11 GA04 3E084 AA06 AA15 AB07 CA03 GA08 GB30 KB10 LA12

Claims (14)

[Claims] A container body for storing the developer; an opening provided below the container body for discharging the developer;
A developer supply container for replenishing the developer, wherein the container body has a crack in a part in the sliding direction. A developer supply container having a portion. 2. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein said concave portion is provided at a center of gravity of said container body. 3. In a direction orthogonal to the sliding direction,
3. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein H1 / H2 = 0.5 to 0.75 is satisfied, where H <b> 1 is a width of the crack portion and H <b> 2 is a width of a portion different from the crack portion. 4. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the width H1 of the crack portion in a direction orthogonal to the sliding direction is 45 mm to 65 mm. 5. A filling rate of the developer contained in the container body {(volume of developer / total volume of developer supply container) × 100}.
5. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the toner supply amount is 70% or less. 6. 6. The length of the cracked portion in the sliding direction is 4
The developer supply container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the developer supply container has a length of 5 mm or more and 150 mm or less. 7. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the concave portion has a radius of curvature of 50 mm or more in the sliding direction of the sealing member. 8. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein a portion where the side wall of the concave portion contacts the upper surface of the container body has a radius of curvature of 5 mm or more. 9. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein a draft S of a side wall of the container main body during molding is 0 ° <S <20 °. . 10. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the amount of the developer contained in the container main body is 700 g or more and 2000 g or less. 11. The developer according to claim 1, further comprising an opening / closing lid capable of opening and closing the opening in a sliding direction in conjunction with the sliding movement of the sealing member. Supply container. 12. The developer supply container according to claim 11, wherein said sealing member and said opening / closing lid are the same. 13. A cross-sectional area in a sliding direction of a first opening region of the container body in a sliding direction of the sealing member is smaller than a cross-sectional area of a region opening after a crack portion. Item 13. The developer supply container according to any one of Items 1 to 12. 14. A developer supply container for replenishing a developer, comprising: a container main body for storing the developer; an opening for discharging the developer; and a sealing member for sealing the opening. 3. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the container body has a concave portion at a center of gravity of the container body.