JP2003177598A - Toner supply container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reliable toner supply container which is installed in an electrophotographic device body and supplies toner to the device body. <P>SOLUTION: The toner supply container has a toner storage chamber which is held by the device body so as not to rotate and stores toner, and a stirring member which is disposed in the toner storage chamber and stirs toner. The toner supply container also has a toner carrying chamber, smaller than the toner storage chamber, which is disposed below the toner storage chamber and along the length of the toner storage chamber and has a toner supply opening portion at a leading end which extends out from the toner storage chamber. The toner supply container further has a toner carrying member which is disposed in the toner carrying chamber and carries toner toward the toner supply opening. In addition, the toner supply container has a sealing part which is disposed at the leading end of the toner supply opening portion in the direction in which the toner supply opening portion extends out and which seals the toner supply opening portion. Furthermore, the toner supply container has a driving force receiving part that receives driving force from the device body while kept attached to the device body. The toner supply container additionally has a sealing member provided so as to freely rotate integrally with the toner carrying member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner replenishing container attachable to and detachable from a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming system. And, as an example of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
For example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (laser beam printer, LED printer, etc.), a facsimile machine and a word processor are included.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, fine powder toner has been used as a developer in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as electrophotographic copying machines and printers. When the developer in the image forming apparatus main body is consumed, toner is supplied to the image forming apparatus main body using a toner supply container (toner supply container).

Since the toner is an extremely fine powder, the toner supply container is installed inside the main body of the image forming apparatus to prevent the toner from scattering during the toner replenishing work, and the toner is discharged little by little through the small opening. The scheme is known. In such a system, it is difficult for the toner to be naturally discharged by the action of gravity or the like, and some kind of toner conveying means is required.

As a toner replenishing container provided with such toner conveying means, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-1137.
There is a toner supply container disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 96. Here, the toner supply container has a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole, and a relatively small opening for discharging toner is provided at one end portion of the outer peripheral surface thereof. In addition, a spiral toner conveying member is provided inside the container, and penetrates an end wall surface of the container to be driven by the outside of the container.

By the way, a bearing seal mechanism is required in a portion where the side of the conveying member driven by the drive penetrates the end wall surface of the container in order to prevent toner leakage from the through hole. Note that the seal mechanism is generally configured such that a gear member is continuously provided at the end of the conveying member and the seal member is sandwiched between the gear member and the container wall surface. In addition, a donut-shaped wool felt, an oil seal, or the like is often used as the seal member.

The toner replenishing container is used while mounted in the main body of the apparatus, and the toner is conveyed by rotating the toner conveying member by driving from the main body side so that the toner is discharged little by little from the opening. Has become.

On the other hand, as another toner replenishing container having a toner conveying means, there is a toner replenishing container disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-44000. Here, the toner supply container has a cylindrical bottle shape, a spiral protrusion is provided on the inner surface thereof, and a small toner discharge port is provided near the center on one end side.

Unlike the conventional example, this toner replenishing container does not have a built-in conveying member and is used by being installed in the main body of the apparatus. When the container main body is rotated by the drive from the main body side, the toner replenishing container is rotated. And a toner conveying means configured to convey the toner. The toner conveyed to the end portion on the discharge port side is guided by the protruding shape near the opening, lifted to the discharge port near the center of the container, and discharged outside the container.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a further development of the conventional toner supply container described above.

An object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable toner supply container which can be installed inside the main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to supply toner to the main body of the apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toner supply container which is inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toner supply container capable of efficiently discharging the toner from the toner supply opening.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which such a toner supply container can be attached and detached.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is mainly a toner replenishing container detachably attached to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus body, which is held in the apparatus body in a non-rotating state.
A toner accommodating chamber for accommodating toner, an agitating member provided in the toner accommodating chamber for agitating toner, provided along the longitudinal direction of the toner accommodating chamber below the toner accommodating chamber, and having the tip at the toner accommodating chamber A toner conveyance chamber that is smaller than the toner storage chamber in which the toner replenishment opening portion that projects further extends, and a toner conveyance member that is provided in the toner conveyance chamber and that conveys toner toward the toner replenishment opening portion,
A sealing portion that seals the toner replenishing opening provided at the tip of the toner replenishing opening in the extending direction; and a driving force receiving portion that receives a driving force from the apparatus main body when mounted in the apparatus main body. A toner replenishing container, comprising: a sealing member that is provided rotatably integrally with the toner conveying member.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the structure of an electrophotographic copying machine, which is an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which the toner supply container according to the present invention is mounted, will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes an electrophotographic copying machine main body (hereinafter referred to as an apparatus main body). Further, 101 is an original, which is placed on the original table glass 102. And
A plurality of mirrors M of the optical unit 103 are provided with optical images corresponding to image information.
An image is formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 104 by the lens Ln. 105 to 108 are cassettes. Recording media loaded in these cassettes 105 to 108 (hereinafter,
It is called "paper". ) P, the optimum paper is selected from the paper size information of the cassettes 105 to 108 based on the information input by the user from the operation unit 100a or the paper size of the original 101. Here, the recording medium is not limited to paper, and an OHP sheet or the like can be appropriately selected.

Then, the paper feeding / separating devices 105A to 108
One sheet of paper P conveyed by A is conveyed to the registration roller 110 via the conveyance unit 109, and the drum 104
And the scanning timing of the optical unit 103 are synchronized with each other, and the sheet is conveyed. In addition, 111 and 112 are transfer dischargers,
It is a separate discharger. Here, the transfer discharger 111 transfers the toner image formed on the drum 104 onto the paper P. Then, the separation discharger 112 separates the paper P on which the toner image is transferred from the drum 104.

After that, the sheet P conveyed by the conveying section 113 fixes the toner image on the sheet by heat and pressure in the fixing section 114, and then passes through the discharge reversing section 115 in the case of one-sided copying. Then, the paper is ejected to the paper ejection tray 117 by the paper ejection roller 116. Also, in the case of double-sided copying,
By controlling the flapper 118 of the sheet discharge reversing unit 115, the registration roller 11 passes through the sheet re-feeding conveyance paths 119 and 120.
After being conveyed to 0, the sheet is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 117 by following the same route as in the case of single-sided copying.

Further, in the case of multiple copy, the paper P passes through the paper discharge reversing unit 115, and is partially discharged by the paper discharge roller 116 to the outside of the apparatus. Then, after that, the trailing edge of the paper P passes through the flapper 118, and the flapper 118 is controlled at the timing when it is still nipped by the paper discharge roller 116, and the paper discharge roller 116 is rotated in the reverse direction, so that the paper P is conveyed again into the apparatus. To be done. Further after this, the re-feeding conveyance section 1
After being conveyed to the registration rollers 110 via 19 and 120, the sheet is ejected to the sheet ejection tray 117 by following the same route as in the case of single-sided copying.

By the way, in the apparatus main body 100 having the above structure, the developing section 201, the cleaner section 202, the primary charger 203, etc. are arranged around the drum 104. Here, the developing unit 201 transfers information of the original 101 to the optical unit 103.
The electrostatic latent image formed on the drum 104 is developed using toner. The toner replenishing container 1 for replenishing toner to the developing unit 201 is the main body 1 of the apparatus.
00 is detachably provided by the user. Here, the developing unit 201 has a toner hopper 201a and a developing device 201b. The toner hopper 201a is
It has a stirring member 201c for stirring the toner supplied from the toner supply container 1. Then, the toner agitated by the agitating member 201c is sent to the developing device 201b by the magnet roller 201d. Developer 2
01b has a developing roller 201f and a feeding member 201e. The toner sent from the toner hopper 201a by the magnet roller 201d is sent to the developing roller 201f by the sending member 201e, and is supplied to the photosensitive drum 104 by the developing roller 201f.

The cleaner section 202 is for removing the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 104. In addition, the primary charger 203 is connected to the photosensitive drum 104.
Is for charging.

A toner replenishing container replacement cover 15 (hereinafter referred to as a replacement cover) which is a part of the exterior cover shown in FIG.
When the user opens the container as shown in FIG.
However, it is pulled out to a predetermined position by a drive system (not shown). Then, the toner supply container 1 is installed on the container receiving stand 50. When the user takes out the container 1 from the apparatus main body 100, the toner replenishing container 1 placed on the pulled-out container receiving stand 50 is taken out. Here, the cover 15
Is a dedicated cover for attaching / detaching (replacing) the toner supply container 1, and is opened / closed only for attaching / detaching the container 1.
The maintenance of the apparatus main body 100 is performed by the front cover 1
It is performed by opening and closing 00c.

It should be noted that, without passing through the container cradle 50,
The toner supply container 1 is installed directly on the apparatus main body 100, and
You may remove from the apparatus main body 100.

Next, a toner supply container according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
4A is a partial front sectional view of the toner supply container according to the present embodiment. (B) is a side view of the toner supply container. FIG. 6C is a side sectional view of the toner supply container. FIG. 5 is a front cross-sectional view of the toner supply container installed in the main body of the apparatus and opened (opened).

In FIGS. 4 and 5, 1A is a toner replenishing container part which is a toner replenishing container body (hereinafter referred to as a container body).
Is. Here, the powder toner is for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the drum 104, and so-called one-component toner, two-component toner or the like is appropriately selected. Reference numeral 2 denotes the powder toner stored in the container body 1A
Toner hopper 2 which is the supply target attached to 00
It is a conveyance member for supplying to 01a. Reference numeral 3 is a sealing member, 4 is a coupling member, and 9 is a toner receiving port provided in a toner hopper 201a provided in the apparatus main body 100. Then, the toner discharged from the toner supply container 1 is guided into the toner hopper 201a through the receiving port 9. It should be noted that the toner discharged from the toner supply container 1 does not pass through the toner hopper 201a and does not pass through the developing device 201.
It may be configured to be guided to b.

In this specification, the lower portion means a portion located below when the toner replenishing container 1 is attached to the apparatus main body 100, the bottom surface means the bottom surface, and the upper surface means the upper surface.
The lower surface is the lower surface, and the side surface is the lateral surface. In addition, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 14, FIG. 15, FIG. 16, FIG.
23, FIG. 24, FIG. 25, FIG. 26, and FIG. 39 are shown in the same positional relationship as that of the toner replenishing container 1 mounted on the main body of the apparatus.

A cylindrical toner supply opening 1a for supplying the toner stored in the toner storage portion 1n to the apparatus main body is provided at the lower portion of one side surface 1A1 of the container main body 1A. A toner supply port 1g is provided at one end of the toner supply opening 1a. On the other side surface 1B, a receiving portion 1b for rotatably holding the conveying member 2 is formed at a position corresponding to the toner supply opening 1a.
Further, on the outer side of the bottom surface 1D, there is provided an engaging portion 1c which is engaged with a toner replenishing port opening / closing means which will be described later provided in the apparatus main body 100 and moves the toner replenishing container 1 in the attaching / detaching direction. In this embodiment, the engagement portion 1C is a dowel protruding outward from the bottom surface 1D. Further, the upper surface 1E is provided with a recessed portion 1e which serves as a handle which is gripped by the user when the toner supply container 1 to the apparatus main body 100 is attached or taken out. Further, the front and back downward inclined surfaces 1 The user inserts the toner supply container 1 into the apparatus main body 1
Rib-shaped projections 1f for facilitating holding of the container body 1A when mounted on the container 00 are formed substantially parallel to each other along the longitudinal direction of the container.

The container body 1A is preferably made of resin such as plastic by injection molding, blow molding, injection blow molding, or the like, but other materials and manufacturing methods may be used. Also, the container body 1A
May be divided into two or more parts for convenience, and may be integrated by a method such as welding or adhesion.

In this embodiment, two frames, an upper frame and a lower frame, which are injection-molded of high-impact polystyrene, are manufactured by vibration welding. On the other hand, the transport member 2
Is for conveying the toner contained in the container body 1A to the toner supply port 1g. This transport member 2
As shown in FIG. 5, a shaft portion 2A and a spiral rigid conveying blade 2B which is a conveying portion which is provided on the shaft portion 2A and conveys the powder toner in a predetermined direction by the rotation of the shaft portion 2A. Is equipped with. The transport member 2 is attached to the container body 1A in a state where the axis of the shaft portion 2A is substantially aligned with the center of the toner supply port 1g having a substantially circular shape.

The conveying member 2 is not limited to the so-called screw type described in this embodiment,
For example, a flexible blade may be attached to the shaft portion 2A. Also, even if the shaft part and the blade are integrally molded,
Alternatively, it may be a separate body. In addition, in the present embodiment, the shaft portion 2A and the blade 2B are made of plastic and integrally formed.

Further, in the present embodiment, this conveying member 2
Has an extending portion 2C extending inside the cylindrical portion of the toner supply opening 1a. In the present embodiment, the extending portion 2C further projects outside the toner supply opening 1a. Then, the rotational driving force is received from the apparatus main body 100 by the tip portion of the extending portion 2C that projects outward. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the sealing member 3 is attached to this tip portion so as to be movable in the axial direction.

Here, as described later, in this embodiment, the sealing member 3 has four functions. That is, the function of sealing the toner supply opening 1a, the apparatus main body 100
The function of receiving the rotational driving force from the toner carrier, the function of transmitting the rotational driving force to the conveying member 3, and the toner replenishing opening 1a
It has a function of engaging with an engaging member 6 provided in the main body of the apparatus for opening and closing. Therefore, the driving force received by the sealing member 3 from the apparatus main body 100 can be transmitted to the shaft portion 2A via the extending portion 2C to rotate the transport member 2.

Here, one end portion (driving force receiving portion) 2a of the extending portion 2C has a shape capable of receiving the rotational driving force from the apparatus main body 100 via the sealing member 3, in the present embodiment. In, the shape is H-cut. Then, one end of the shaft 2A is supported by the sealing member 3 via the one end 2a of the extending portion 2C. Further, the other end portion 2b of the shaft portion 2A is rotatably engaged with the receiving portion 1b of the container body 1A, whereby the conveying member 2 is rotatably supported when opened.

In the carrying member 2, the carrying blade 2B is not in contact with the inner wall surface 1a1 of the toner replenishing opening 1a, and the inner wall surface of the toner replenishing opening 1a and the shaft portion 2a are substantially horizontal. Is supported by the sealing member 3. By supporting the transport member 2 in this manner, the toner can be transported substantially horizontally toward the toner supply port 1g by the rotation of the transport member 2. Further, fine toner is caught between the inner wall surface 1a1 of the toner replenishing opening 1a and the conveying blade 2B, and is rubbed strongly, so that the inner wall surface 1a1.
It is possible to prevent the toner from being melted and fixed, and to prevent the phenomenon that coarse particles are generated.

It should be noted that, as described above, it is simple and preferable that the conveying member 2 is also made of a resin such as plastic by injection molding or the like, but other materials and manufacturing methods may be used. Further, it may be manufactured by arbitrarily dividing and joining.

Next, the sealing member 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 6, (A) is a front view of the sealing member, (B) is an A arrow view of (A), (C) is a B arrow view of (A), and (D) is a front sectional view. Is.

In FIGS. 6A to 6D, 3b is
It is a sealing portion that is provided on the side of the sealing member 3 that faces the toner supply container 1 and that seals the toner supply port 1 g of the toner supply container 1 so that it can be opened. The outer diameter of the sealing portion 3b is set to be larger than the inner diameter of the toner supply port 1g by an appropriate amount.
Then, the fitting portion 3b1 of the sealing portion 3b is press-fitted from the toner replenishing port 1g to the toner replenishing opening 1a, whereby the sealing member 3 seals the toner replenishing port 1g.

A coupling 3c serves as a driving force transmitted portion for receiving a driving force for rotating the conveying member 2 from the apparatus body 100 when the toner supply container 1 is attached to the apparatus body 100. It is an engaging part. When the sealing member 3 is attached to the container main body 1A, the coupling engaging portion 3c extends from the sealing portion 3b in a direction opposite to the toner container main body 1A and is substantially coaxial with the axis of the shaft 2A of the conveying member 2. It is provided with a protruding portion 3c1 that is formed to extend. The coupling engagement portion 3C includes an elongated (spline-shaped) protrusion (rib) 3d that is provided on the peripheral surface of the protrusion 3c1 and serves as a driving force receiving portion that engages with the coupling member 4. ing. In addition, in the present embodiment, the spline protrusions 3d are provided at four positions at substantially equal intervals.

By the way, the sealing member 3 has an engagement hole as a driving force transmitting portion for transmitting the driving force received from the apparatus main body 100 by engaging with the one end portion 2a of the conveying member 2 to the conveying member 2. This engagement hole 3a having a 3a
b and an opening (hole) formed over the portion where the coupling engaging portion 3c is formed. here,
The engagement hole 3a has an H shape corresponding to the H cut shape of the shaft end portion 2a of the conveying member 2 protruding from the powder toner supply portion 1a, and is formed slightly larger than the shaft end portion 2a. ing. As a result, the shaft end portion 2a is loosely fitted in the engagement hole 3a.

Then, in this way, the shaft end 2a is engaged with the engagement hole 3
By being loosely fitted in a, the transport member 2 and the sealing member 3 are locked to each other in the rotation direction of the transport member 2, while being configured to be movable in the axial direction. Has become. As a result, when the toner supply container is mounted, the sealing member 3 and the container body 1A can be separated from each other as described later, and the powder toner supply port 1g can be opened (opened).

By the way, the engagement length between the engagement hole 3a and the shaft end portion 2a is such that it does not come off when the sealing member 3 and the container body 1A are separated from each other. As a result, even if the sealing member 3 is separated from the container body 1A, the transport member 2 can receive a driving force via the sealing member 3 (coupling engaging portion 3c).

Further, between the coupling engaging portion 3c and the sealing portion 3b, the sealing portion 3b is provided with the toner replenishing opening portion 1a.
A flange portion 3f is provided which abuts against the end portion of the toner replenishing opening portion 1a when the flange portion 3f is pressed into. The outer diameter of the collar portion is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the toner supply opening portion 1a. Then, the collar portion 3f presses the sealing portion 3b into the toner supply opening portion 1a by the length of the fitting portion 3b1.

On the other hand, 3e is a locking projection 3e which is a locking part which is formed at the tip of the coupling engaging part 3c and which is locked by a locking member 6 provided in the apparatus main body 100 shown in FIG. By locking the locking member 6 to the locking protrusion 3e, the sealing member 3 can be fixed when the toner supply port 1g is opened.

By the way, it is preferable that the sealing member 3 having such a configuration is also manufactured by injection molding a resin such as plastic, but other materials and manufacturing methods are also manufactured by arbitrarily dividing and joining. It doesn't matter. Further, the sealing member 3 is required to have appropriate elasticity in order to press-fit and fit the toner replenishing opening portion 1a to seal it. Low density polyethylene is the most preferable material, followed by polypropylene.
Nylon and high density polyethylene can be preferably used.

Next, a method of assembling the toner supply container 1 will be described.

To assemble the toner replenishing container 1, the conveying member 2 is inserted from the toner replenishing port 1g into the lower portion of the container body 1A (see FIG. 5). Next, a predetermined amount of toner (not shown) is filled inside the container body 1A, and finally the toner supply port 1g
Is sealed with the sealing member 3 to complete the toner supply container 1.
As described above, the assembling of the toner supply container 1 is extremely simple, and the number of assembling steps is very small.

The toner may be charged from the toner replenishing port 1g. Alternatively, a toner charging port (not shown) may be provided at an arbitrary position of the container body 1A, and the toner may be replenished from this toner charging port. After filling, it may be sealed with a cap or the like. Alternatively, the container main body 1A may be divided into two or more parts, which are joined together after the toner is filled. Further, if the toner replenishing port 1g of the integrally formed container body 1A also serves as a filling port, no separate cap member is required and no joining process after filling is required.

By the way, since the toner replenishing opening 1a has the conveying member 2 extending therein, it is necessary to secure a size necessary for smoothly discharging the toner. The ratio of the cross-sectional area orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the toner supply opening 1a and the cross-sectional area orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the opening passing portion (shaft portion 2A) of the conveying member 2 will be described. Preferably, the cross-sectional area of the toner replenishing opening 1a is set to be at least twice, preferably at least three times, and most preferably at least five times the cross-sectional area of the shaft portion 2A of the transport member 2.

In this embodiment, it is set to about 9 times. In the present embodiment, the toner supply opening 1a has a cylindrical shape, so the inner diameter of the toner supply opening 1a is
It is set to about 3 times the outer diameter of the shaft portion 2A of the conveying member 2.

On the other hand, if the inner diameter of the toner replenishment opening 1a is too large, the degree of toner stain around the toner replenishment opening 1g tends to be large, and it tends to be difficult to maintain the airtightness under physical distribution conditions and environmental changes. Therefore, the inner diameter of the toner supply opening 1a is preferably set to 40 mm or less.
In this embodiment, it is set to about 24 mm.

Next, a method of replacing the toner supply container will be described.

When the toner in the toner supply container 1 is almost completely consumed in the image forming process, the apparatus main body 100
The user is informed that the toner in the toner supply container 1 is exhausted by the display means 100b (FIG. 2) such as a liquid crystal by the detection by the toner supply container empty detection means (not shown) provided in the.

In this embodiment, the toner replenishing container 1 is replaced by the user himself, and the procedure is as follows.

First, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7A and 7B, the replacement cover 15 in the closed state is replaced with the one shown in FIG.
And, as shown in (C), the hinge 18 is rotated to open it to the position shown by the broken line. In conjunction with the operation of opening the replacement cover 15, the toner replenishing section opening / closing means described later causes
The container body 1A is moved, and the sealing member 3 (FIG. 9), which has been in the state of being separated from the container body 1A and opening the toner supply port 1g until then, is press-fitted into the toner supply opening 1a to supply the toner. The mouth 1g is closed (FIG. 8).

Next, the user pulls out the toner replenishing container 1 in the apparatus main body 100, which is out of the toner, in the direction opposite to the arrow direction shown in FIG.
Remove from 00. Thereafter, the user inserts the new toner supply container 1 into the apparatus main body 100 in the direction of the arrow, and then closes the replacement cover 15 (see (A) and (B)). Then, interlocking with the operation of closing the replacement cover 15, the sealing member 3 is separated from the container body 1A by the toner replenishing portion opening / closing means, and the toner replenishing port 1g is opened.
The above is the procedure for replacing the toner supply container.

Next, regarding the opening / closing operation of the toner replenishing port 1g which is performed in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the replacement cover 15,
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. The structures described below are provided in the apparatus main body 100. 8 and 9, reference numeral 6 denotes a locking member as a locking means that locks the sealing member 3 by locking the locking protrusion 3e of the coupling engaging portion 3c. Reference numeral 57 denotes a support base to which the locking member 6 is attached. The support base 57 is rotatable about a rotation shaft 57a and is biased clockwise by a biasing member 58. Reference numeral 59 is a stopper for positioning the support base 57.

Reference numeral 60 is a slide base slidable by a roller 63 which is rotatably provided. 51 is a container chucking member provided on the slide base 60,
The container chucking member 51 is rotatable about a rotation center 51a, and is biased counterclockwise by a spring 52. Incidentally, 53 is the container chucking member 51.
Is a stopper for positioning.

Here, the container chucking member 51 and the slide base 60 constitute a toner supply container moving member. Further, the container chucking member 51, the slide base 60 and the locking member 6 constitute a toner replenishing port opening / closing means.

On the other hand, the container chucking member 51 has a locking portion 51c for locking the engaging convex portion 1c of the container body 1A. When the engaging protrusion 1c enters in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. 8 when inserting the toner supply container 1 into the apparatus main body 100, the container chucking member 51 causes the spring 5 to move in the direction of arrow D.
Rotates while resisting the elastic force of 2. After this, the engaging protrusion 1
When c enters the locking portion 51c, the chucking member 51
Returns by the elastic force of the spring 52 and locks the engaging convex portion 1c. Then, the chucking member 51 locks the engaging convex portion 1c as described above, so that the toner replenishing container 1 is attached and detached in accordance with the slide of the slide base 60 (see FIGS. 7 and 8).
Can be moved in the directions of arrow A and B).

Reference numeral 54 is a slide shaft held by a support means (not shown) so as to be slidable in the axial direction. The slide shaft 54 is separated from the support base 57 by the biasing member (not shown) as shown by an arrow A (downward in FIG. 8).
Is urged to. The position is determined by the shaft stopper 55.

Reference numeral 56 is a lock member attached to the slide shaft 54. When the slide shaft 54 slides in the direction of the support base 57 as shown by the arrow B, the lock member 56 is provided with the rib-shaped protrusion 5 of the container chucking member 51.
It is for engaging with 1e and locking the container chucking member 51. Here, the arrow A direction is the direction in which the supply container 1 is taken out from the apparatus body 100, and the arrow B direction is the direction in which it is attached to the apparatus body.

By the way, the projection 60a is formed on the slide base 60.
Are formed. The convex portion 60a is engaged with a long hole 61b formed at one end of a swing arm 61 that swings around a swing shaft 61a. Here, this swing arm 61
Is urged clockwise by the elastic force of the urging member 62, and its position is determined by the stopper 64. Further, a groove portion 61d having one end opened is formed at the other end of the swing arm 61.

On the other hand, the replacement cover 15 is provided with a convex portion 15b which enters the groove portion 61d when it is closed. By the protrusion 15b entering the groove 61d, the swing arm 61 can swing counterclockwise against the elastic force of the biasing member 62 in conjunction with the closing operation of the replacement cover 15. .

Further, the wall portion 15 that abuts on the one end portion 54a of the slide shaft 54 when closed by the replacement cover 15.
a is provided. With this wall portion 15a, the slide shaft 54 can be slid in the direction of arrow B in conjunction with the closing operation of the replacement cover 15. Then, by sliding the slide shaft 54 in this manner, the other end 54b of the slide shaft 54 contacts the convex portion 57b of the support base 57. As a result, the support base 57 and the locking member 6 are pushed by the biasing member 5.
It rotates against the elastic force of 8, and the locking member 6 locks the locking projection 3e of the sealing member 3 accordingly.

With this structure, when the toner replenishing container 1 is inserted into the apparatus main body 100 as shown in FIG. 7C, the engaging convex portion 1c provided on the container main body 1 becomes
Enter in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. Thereafter, the engaging convex portion 1C is locked by the locking portion 51c of the container chucking member 51, and in this state, the new toner supply container 1 is mounted on the apparatus main body 100. That is, the position of the toner supply container 1 with respect to the apparatus main body 100 is determined by the engagement convex portion 1C.

Next, the new toner supply container 1 is
When the replacement cover 15 is closed after the mounting, the wall portion 15a of the replacement cover 15 first becomes the one end portion 5 of the slide shaft 54.
The slide shaft 54 slides in the direction of the arrow B while coming into contact with 4a. Then, after this, the other end 54b of the slide shaft 54 comes into contact with the convex portion 57b of the support base 57. As a result, the support base 57 and the locking member 6 rotate against the elastic force of the biasing member 58, and accordingly, the locking member 6 is locked by the locking projection 3 of the sealing member 3.
Lock e.

Further, the lock member 56 of the slide shaft 54
Moves toward the container chucking member 51 as the slide shaft 54 slides, and engages with the rib-shaped protrusion 51e of the container chucking member 51. As a result, the container chucking member 51 is locked.

Further, when the replacement cover 15 is closed to a predetermined position, the convex portion 15b of the replacement cover 15 enters the groove portion 61d of the swing arm 61, and the swing arm 61 is elastically moved by the biasing member 62. Swing counterclockwise against. The swinging of the swinging arm 61 causes the slide base 60 to move.
Slides in the direction of arrow A. Then, along with this, the toner replenishing container 1 whose engaging convex portion 1c is locked by the container chucking member 51 also slides in the same direction.

When the replenishing container 1 moves in the direction of arrow A, the sealing member 3 is locked by the locking member 6 and cannot move in the direction of arrow A. for that reason,
The container body 1A is separated from the sealing member 3, and the toner supply port 1g is opened as shown in FIG. At this time, the toner replenishing opening 1a is provided with the apparatus main body 100 as shown in FIG.
The holder 5 is held in a state where the outer periphery is hermetically sealed by a ring-shaped seal member 7. Therefore, when the replenishing container 1 is mounted on the apparatus main body 100, the replenishing container 1 is provided with the above-described engaging convex portion 1C and the toner replenishing opening 1a.
The position for 00 is determined. In addition, in the present embodiment, the sealing member 3 is supported at a position apart from the toner supply port 1g. As a result, depending on the cohesiveness of the toner, the toner can be separated as much as necessary in order not to hinder the discharge of the toner. As a result, blockage near the discharge port and various problems caused by the blockage do not occur.

On the other hand, when the user opens the replacement cover 15 after the toner in the toner supply container 1 is almost completely consumed,
From the state shown in FIG. 9, the convex portion 15b of the replacement cover 15 comes into contact with the wall portion 61c of the swing arm 61, and the swing arm 61 moves.
Rock clockwise. As a result, the slide base 60
Slides in the direction of arrow B, and the toner supply container 1 also slides in the same direction.

At this time, the container chucking member 51 receives a force in the clockwise direction from the engaging convex portion 1c of the toner supply container 1. However, since the locking member 56 locks the container chucking member 51 in the rotation direction, the engaging protrusion 1c does not come off from the container chucking member 51. As a result, the toner replenishing container 1 slides until the toner replenishing port 1g comes into contact with the flange portion 3f of the sealing member 3,
The toner supply port 1g is closed.

Then, when the replacement cover 15 is further opened, the slide shaft 54 is urged in the direction of arrow A by the urging means as described above.
Move to the prescribed position specified by. Along with this, the locking member 6 rotates clockwise and separates from the sealing member 3. Therefore, the sealing member 3 is unlocked by the locking member 6. Further, the container chucking member 51 is a lock member 56.
Unlocked by.

In this state, the toner supply container 1 can be removed from the apparatus main body 100. Therefore, the user can remove the toner supply container 1 by pulling it out in the direction of arrow A. When the pulling force is applied in the direction of arrow A, the locking of the engagement protrusion 1c by the container chucking member 51 is released.

As described above, when the toner replenishing container 1 is attached to the apparatus main body 100, the locking protrusion 3e of the sealing member 3 is locked by the locking member 6 and the toner replenishing port 1g of the toner replenishing container 1 is inserted. Separated and retained. At this time, the transport member 2
The rotational engagement relationship between the sealing member 3 and the sealing member 3 is maintained as it is.

Therefore, the sealing member 3 is the main body 100 of the apparatus.
By the rotational driving force received from the conveying member 2, the conveying member 2 rotates to gradually replenish the toner to the apparatus main body 100 from the toner replenishing port 1g. In the case of this embodiment, a toner detection sensor 201g is provided in the toner hopper portion. When the detection sensor 201g detects that there is no toner, the sealing member 3 rotates. Then, when the detection sensor 201g detects the presence of toner, the rotation of the sealing member stops. As described above, since the sealing member 3 is intermittently rotated according to the consumption of the toner of the apparatus main body 100, the toner is also intermittently gradually supplied to the apparatus main body 100. However, the toner supply container 1 is
When the toner is attached to
It is also possible to replenish to 0.

On the other hand, when the toner supply container 1 is mounted, the coupling engaging portion 3c of the sealing member 3 engages with the coupling member 4 of the apparatus main body 100 as shown in FIG. Here, the coupling member 4 is for transmitting the driving force of a driving device (not shown) provided in the device main body 100 to the sealing member 3.

FIG. 10 is a view showing the detailed shape of this coupling member. In FIG. 10, (A) is a front view of the coupling member, (B) is a rear view, and (C) is a side sectional view. .
In FIG. 10, 4 a is a gear portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the coupling member 4. The gear unit 4a receives driving from the apparatus main body 100 side.

Further, 4b is a receiving hole formed in the center of the coupling member 4 for receiving the sealing member 3. An engagement groove 4c for engaging with the spline projection 3d of the sealing member 3 described above is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the receiving hole 4b. A tapered guide portion 4d is provided at the end of the receiving hole 4b on the side facing the toner supply container 1.

Here, in this embodiment, the spline projections 3d of the sealing member 3 are formed at four locations on the outer peripheral surface at equal intervals. In addition, the engagement groove 4 of the coupling member 4
12 points c are formed. In this way, the number of engaging grooves 4c is formed more than that of the protrusions 3d, and the guide portion 4
By providing d, even if the spline projection 3d and the engagement groove 4c are out of phase with each other when the toner supply container is attached, they can be reliably engaged with each other. In addition,
The number of the protrusions 3d of the sealing member 3 is not limited to four and can be appropriately selected. Further, the number of the engaging grooves 4c is not limited to 12 and can be appropriately selected.

Next, the discharge of toner will be described.

The coupling member 4 receives a rotational driving force from a drive source (not shown) such as a motor on the apparatus main body 100 side via a drive transmission means (not shown) such as a gear. This driving force is transmitted to the sealing member 3 by the engagement of the engagement groove 4c and the spline projection 3d, and further to the transport member 2 by the engagement of the H-shaped engagement hole 3a and the H-cut tip 2a. Is transmitted. In the present embodiment, the rotation speed of the transport member 2 is set to 25 rotations / minute.

When the conveying member 2 rotates, the toner contained in the container body 1A is conveyed toward the toner replenishing port 1g, and then discharged and dropped from the toner replenishing port 1g and the toner receiving port 9 of the apparatus main body 100 is discharged. Is replenished to the toner hopper 201a. The portion between the toner supply port 1g and the toner receiving port 9 is kept sealed by the seal member 7 as described above, so that the toner discharged from the toner supply port 1g leaks to the outside. , Scattering is prevented.

Although there is a rotary sliding portion in a portion where the sealing member 3 and the apparatus main body 100 are in contact with each other, it is located apart from the toner replenishing opening 1a and is not a portion in direct contact with the toner. No problem such as generation of particles occurs. Further, the position of the rotary sliding portion can be separated from the toner replenishing opening 1a as much as necessary according to the fluidity of the toner, the conveying ability of the conveying member 2, the discharging speed of the toner, and the like.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described first embodiment.

For example, as for the method for removing the sealing member 3, even if the sealing member 3 is locked and fixed and the container body 1A is moved as described above, the container body 1A is fixed and the sealing member 3 is removed. You may move it. However, the rotation driving force is applied to the sealing member 3 from the apparatus main body 100 side as described above. Therefore, if the container body 1A is fixed and the sealing member 3 is moved, the mechanism of that portion becomes complicated, so it is more preferable to fix the sealing member 3.

Further, the rotation speed of the conveying member 2 may be arbitrarily set according to the required toner conveying amount, but if it is too fast, the drive source and the drive transmission mechanism provided in the apparatus main body 100 may be rotated. If the load increases and, on the contrary, it is too slow, the toner may not be sufficiently conveyed. It is preferably set to 3 to 100 rotations / minute, more preferably 5 to 50 rotations / minute.

Further, the shape of the container body 1A may be any shape as long as the space can be effectively used, and the size and capacity of the toner container can be set arbitrarily. For example, if a large-capacity container is used and the toner filling amount is 2
Even if the weight is about kg, only the conveying member 2 is rotationally driven, so that the rotational torque can be set to a level of 2 to 3 kgf · cm. Further, although the sealing member 3 is press-fitted into the powder toner supply unit 1a, it may be sealed by using, for example, a sealing member, or it corresponds to the container body 1A and the sealing member 3. It is also possible to provide a screw portion to be screwed and screw it in for sealing.

By the way, in the first embodiment, the carrier of the carrier member 2 has a spiral shape with high carrying capacity, but the spiral shape V is not always necessary. For example, as shown in FIG. 11 (A), a film-shaped wing portion 2 serving as a carrier is attached to the shaft portion 2A.
It is also possible to use a device with Ba attached. In this case, the toner is discharged by utilizing the fluidity of the toner.
Further, as shown in FIG. 11B, the window 2 is formed on the wing 2Ba.
Providing B1 is more preferable because the driving torque of the conveying member 2 can be reduced.

Next, as a second embodiment of the present invention,
The toner replenishing container 1 having the conveying member 2 having such a wing will be described.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the structure of the conveying member 2 of the toner supply container according to the second example of the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a wing portion of the conveying member 2 mounted by continuously changing the phase with respect to the axial direction of the shaft portion 2A. It should be noted that the transport member 2 provided with such a wing portion 21
Is preferably formed integrally by, for example, a method such as injection molding, but it is also possible to adopt a method in which it is divided into two parts or more and they are integrated by means such as welding or adhesion.

Here, examples of the material of the shaft portion 2A when the transport member 2 is divided into two or more parts include rigid plastic and metal. Further, the wing portion 21 is preferably a sheet-shaped member having flexibility. Specifically, polyester, polypropylene, nylon, polyethylene,
A single layer of fluororesin or a composite layer thereof may be used. The thickness of the wing portion 21 is preferably about 50 μm to 1 mm.

In the present embodiment, the thickness 188-25
It is preferable to use a 0 μm polyester sheet.

Further, the shape of the wing portion 21 does not need to be a special shape such as a trapezoid, and the wing portion 2 can be formed from the center of rotation of the shaft portion 2A.
The length up to the tip of 1 may be substantially the same over the entire length of the blade 21, for example, a rectangular shape. In addition, from the viewpoint of the assembling property of the transport member 2, it is desirable that the wing portion 21 is integrated over the entire length thereof.

As described above, by integrally forming the wing portion 21, the wing portion 21 can be efficiently cut out from the original fabric and the waste of the material can be prevented. Furthermore, the device body 1
Even if the toner 00 is left for a long time and the toner in the container body 1A is solidified, the blades 21 can be integrated to continuously scrape out the toner, and an efficient toner discharging property can be obtained.

Next, a method of attaching the wing portion 21 to the shaft portion 2A will be described.

When the transport member 2 is constructed by being divided into the shaft portion 2A and the blade portion 21, the blade portion 21 is moved in the axial direction of the shaft portion 2A so as to continuously change the phase with respect to the axial direction of the shaft portion 2A. It is necessary to twist it and attach to the shaft part 2.

As a mounting method, as shown in FIG. 12, caulking bosses 22 for mounting the blades 21 are provided at several positions on the body of the shaft 2A. On the other hand, the wings 21
Caulking hole 23 into which caulking boss 22 of shaft 2 is fitted
Provide multiple. Then, the caulking boss 22 is attached to the caulking hole 2
Then, the both are joined by thermal crimping or ultrasonic crimping to be integrated.

On the other hand, when the method of twisting the blade mounting surface of the shaft portion 2A with respect to the axial direction is adopted, as shown in FIG. 13, the mounting surface 2d (shaded portion) of the blade portion 21 of the shaft portion 2 is set to the shaft. It is continuously changed in the axial direction of the portion 2A. Then, the wing portion 21 is attached to the attachment surface 2d by using an adhesive, a double-sided tape or the like, and the both are integrated.

Here, when either of the above two methods is adopted, the phase angle difference of the blade portion 21 with respect to the axial direction is 90.
It is desirable that the angle is about °.

Next, the toner discharging operation of the conveying member 2 thus constructed will be described with reference to FIG.

By rotating the shaft portion 2A of the conveying member 2 in the direction of arrow A shown in the same figure by 0 ° to 360 °, the entire conveying member 2 sequentially rotates in the order of →→→→. Here, as the wing portion 21 bends toward →, the shaft portion 2
It is curved so as to dig into the space formed between A and the lower surface of the inner circumference of the container body 1A. Further, the wing portion 21 rotates →→ while rubbing the inner peripheral lower surface of the container body 1A.

At this time, since the phase of the wing portion 21 continuously changes in the axial direction of the shaft portion 2A, the blade 21 is bent in the axial direction of the shaft portion 2A as shown in FIG. Rotate differently at both ends of the part. As a result, a toner conveying action occurs in the axial direction of the shaft portion 2A, and the toner can be conveyed in the longitudinal direction (lateral direction) of the container body 1A.

Further, since the wing portion 21 is constituted so as to contact the lower surface of the inner peripheral surface of the container body 1A, the toner can be effectively conveyed even when the toner amount in the container body 1A is reduced. As a result, the amount of residual toner in the container after the end of discharge can be reduced.

Further, there is an effect that the toner is sent toward the discharge port even when the wing portion 21 is flipped up when shifting from the state of FIG. That is, the wing portion 21 has the container body 1
In addition to the toner transport effect due to the deflection of the blade portion 21 when it contacts the lower surface of the inner peripheral surface of A, the toner transport effect due to the flipping up of the blade portion 21 enables more efficient toner transportation.

As shown in FIG. 14, the shaft portion 2
If a sufficient length is secured from A to the tip of the wing portion 21, the solidified toner T1 can be discharged while being broken by the elasticity of the wing portion 21. In other words, the height of the container body 1A is high, and the toner supply opening 1a can be adapted to a type of container located below the container body 1A, and a toner supply container having an unlimited shape can be manufactured. The space inside the forming apparatus body can be effectively used.

By the way, when a toner discharging experiment was carried out using the toner replenishing container 1 having the above-mentioned structure, a stable toner discharging property (toner discharging amount per unit time) was obtained, and the toner remained in the container after discharging was completed. Toner amount is only about 10g
Met. Also, the initial rotation torque of the transport member 2 is about 2 kg.
It was f · cm. In this experiment, the transport member 2 was manufactured by using a polyester sheet having a thickness of about 188 μm for the blade portion 21 and sticking it to the ABS shaft portion 2A using a double-sided tape. Further, the container body 1A was filled with about 1,500 g of toner, and the conveying member 2 was set at a rotation speed of about 30 rotations / minute to discharge the toner.

Further, as a result of confirming the change of the discharging property by changing the rotation speed of the conveying member 2 at 20 to 50 rotations / minute, the toner discharge amount per unit time increased with the increase of the rotation speed. From this, it was found that it is possible to control the toner discharge amount per unit time by controlling the rotation number of the transport member 2.

Further, assuming that the toner is solidified in the container body 1A, the container body 1A filled with the toner is tapped, and then an ejection experiment is conducted. For tapping, the container filled with toner is fixed to the tapping table in a posture for discharging, the tapping table is 10 mm high, and the frequency is 2H.
It was carried out by continuously dropping 1000 times in z.

As a result, the same results as in the case where no tapping is performed are obtained with respect to the toner discharging property and the amount of residual toner in the container, and the solidified toner is destroyed by using the conveying member 2 and the toner supply container 1 having the above-described configuration. However, the toner was effectively discharged. However, the initial torque of rotation of the transport member 2 slightly increased to about 5 kgf · cm, but it was not at a level that would cause an excessive load on the drive source.

The rotational torque reaches its maximum when the blade portion 21 enters the solidified toner (between FIG. 14). When the conveying member 2 having a configuration in which the phase of the blade portion 21 in the axial direction is changed is used, the rotational torque can be reduced because the timing at which the blade portion 21 enters the toner differs in the axial direction.

In the case of this embodiment, since the phase of the wing portion 21 is changed with respect to the axial direction, even if a part of the wing portion 21 is in the situation as shown in FIG. Since the situation is as shown in FIG. 14, the wing portion 21 is
The phenomenon of winding around A does not occur.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect of preventing the blade portion from being wound around the shaft portion.

On the other hand, FIG. 16 shows a conveying member 2 according to a second example of the present embodiment, in which a screw body 2e is added in the vicinity of the toner supply opening 1a of the conveying member 2 shown in FIG. ing. A toner replenishing container 1 having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment except that the screw body 2e is added.
The toner discharge experiment was conducted under the same conditions.

As a result, a more stable toner discharging property was obtained as compared with that of the first embodiment, and the amount of residual toner in the container after the discharging was about 10 g. Further, as a result of adding the screw body 2e, the toner discharge amount varies from 5 to 5.
10 g / min, and the toner discharge amount of the first embodiment without the screw body 2e varies (10 to 20).
(g / min), the stability of the amount of discharged toner is improved. The initial rotation torque of the transport member 2 was about 4 kgf · cm.

Further, the number of rotations of the conveying member 2 is set to 20 to 50.
As a result of confirming the change in the discharge property by changing the rotation speed per minute, the toner discharge amount per unit time increased with the increase in the rotation speed. From this, it is understood that the toner discharge amount per unit time can be controlled by controlling the rotation number of the transport member 2.

The toner discharge amount per unit time is
Even if you tap the container in advance to solidify the toner,
Alternatively, even when the user shakes the container to loosen the toner well before mounting the replenishment container 1 on the apparatus main body 100, the state is extremely stable from the initial stage of discharge to the end of the discharge. For example, when the transport member 2 was rotated at 36 rpm, the toner discharge amount changed within the range of 70 to 100 g / min regardless of the state of the toner in advance. Especially when the toner is loosened well, a so-called flushing phenomenon tends to occur in which the highly fluid toner suddenly rushes into the discharge port (toner supply port 1g), and the toner flows out at an unnecessarily high speed. No such phenomenon was observed in the example shown in FIG. This is because the spiral shape of the screw body 2e is arranged at least once around the inside of the cylindrical toner replenishing portion 1a, so that even if the highly fluid toner is flooded, it can be stopped.

Further, the toner replenishing container 1 filled with toner was tapped 1000 times, and then an ejection experiment was conducted. As a result, the same results as in the case where no tapping was performed were obtained with respect to the toner discharging property and the residual toner amount in the container. However, in this case as well, the initial torque of rotation of the transport member 2 slightly increased to about 8 kgf · cm, but it was not at the level of increasing the load of the drive source.

FIG. 17 shows a constitution in which a part of the wing portion 21 of the conveying member 2 shown in FIG. 13 is cut out and a window shape 21a is provided, and the conveying member 2 according to the third example of the present embodiment. Is shown. A toner replenishing container 1 having the same structure as that of the first embodiment except that the window shape 21a is provided is used.
The toner discharge experiment was conducted under the same conditions.

As a result, the toner discharging property and the amount of the residual toner in the container main body 1A after the discharging are the same as those in the first embodiment. The initial rotation torque of the transport member 2 when tapping was not performed was about 2 kgf · cm, as in the first embodiment. Also, the initial torque after tapping 1000 times is about 5 kgf
From 4 cm to about 4 kgf · cm, the initial torque for rotation when the toner is solidified is reduced.

FIG. 18 shows a structure in which the screw member 2e shown in FIG. 16 is added to the conveying member 2 shown in FIG. 17, and shows the conveying member 2 according to the fourth example of the present embodiment. There is. Thus, the screw body 2e and the window shape 21
A toner discharge experiment was conducted under the same conditions using the toner supply container 1 having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment except that a was provided.

As a result, a more stable toner discharging property was obtained as compared with that of the third embodiment, and the amount of residual toner in the container after the discharging was the same as that of the third embodiment. Also, the initial torque of rotation without tapping is
Similar to that of the second embodiment, it was about 4 kgf · cm.
The initial torque after 1000 taps is about 8 kgf · cm to 6 kgf · cm without the window shape.
Fell to.

As described above, by providing the shaft portion 2A of the conveying member 2 with the blade portion 21 whose phase is continuously changed with respect to the axial direction of the shaft portion 2A, the toner conveying action becomes more effective. Also, the amount of toner remaining in the container body can be reduced. Further, the rotational torque can be reduced by providing the window shape at least at one or more places of the wing portion 21.

Further, in the present invention, for example, the replacement cover 15 and the hinge portion 18 thereof may be provided at the positions shown in FIG.

Next, the structure for opening and closing the toner supply port 1g by the replacement cover provided at such a position is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a state in which the replacement cover 15 is open, and FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a state in which the replacement cover 15 is closed. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 8 are used for the description.

19 and 20, reference numeral 19 denotes a toner replenishing container holding member having the toner receiving port 9 as the center of rotation, and the toner replenishing container 1 is mounted on the toner replenishing container holding member 19 at the time of replacement. It is like this. Also,
Reference numeral 20 denotes a guide member having an engaging groove 20a for engaging the engaging convex portion 1c provided on the container body 1A, and the guide member 20 is fixed to the apparatus body 100. Also,
Reference numeral 25 denotes a replacement cover 15 and a toner supply container holding member 19
It is a link 25 that connects and with the connecting portions 25a and 25b. By this link 25, when the replacement cover 15 is closed, the toner supply container holding member 19 is rotated to the position shown in FIG.

With such a configuration, at the time of replacement,
When the user mounts the new toner supply container 1 on the toner supply container holding member 19 and then closes the replacement cover 15, the toner supply container holding member 19 is linked by the link 25.
It rotates to the position shown in FIG. Further, as the toner supply container holding member 19 rotates, the container body 1A also rotates, and the engaging protrusion 1c provided on the container body 1A has a trajectory of 1c → 1C1 → 1C2 as shown in FIG. Pass through. Here, with the rotation of the container body 1A, the sealing member 3 also rotates clockwise, and the locking projection 3e of the sealing member 3 is locked at the position where the engaging projection 1c reaches 1C1. The member 6 is locked.

When the replacement cover 15 is further closed after the sealing member 3 is locked by the locking member 6, the engaging projection 1c enters the engaging groove 20a of the guide member 20,
The toner replenishing container holding member 19 moves along the wall portion 20b of the engaging groove 20a in a direction away from the center of rotation of the toner supply container holding member 19. As a result, the container body 1A is separated from the sealing member locked by the locking member 6, and the toner supply port 1g is opened as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when the user opens the replacement cover 15 from the state shown in FIG. 20 after the toner in the toner supply container 1 has been consumed almost completely, the engaging convex portion 1c of the container body 1A causes the engagement convex portion 1c to fall on the wall of the guide member 20. Move along the section 20c. Along with the movement of the engaging convex portion 1c, the container body 1A moves until the toner replenishing port 1g comes into contact with the collar portion 3f of the sealing member 3, and the toner replenishing port 1g is closed.

Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described.

In this embodiment, the toner supply container is provided with the carrying member and the stirring member which is separate from the carrying member.

Reference numeral 21 is a perspective view of the toner supply container 301 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

22A is a front view of the toner supply container according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 22B is a sectional view thereof. (C) is a left side view of this toner supply container, (D)
Is a right side view of the toner supply container, (E) is a side sectional view of the toner supply container, and (F) is a plan view of the toner supply container. FIG. 23 is a front cross-sectional view showing a state in which the toner supply container is installed in the apparatus main body 100 and the supply opening is opened. FIG. 24 is a front sectional view showing a state in which the toner supply container is installed in the apparatus main body 100 and the supply opening is sealed.

In FIGS. 21 to 24, 301A is a container body, and 302 is a carrying member for carrying the toner contained in the container body 301A toward the toner supply opening 301a. Reference numeral 303 denotes a sealing member for sealing the toner supply port 301g, and 304 denotes a coupling member for transmitting a driving force to the sealing member 303 when the toner supply container is attached to the apparatus main body 100. Reference numeral 305 is a stirring member for stirring the toner in the container body 1A.
A transmission member 306 is engaged with the stirring member 305 and transmits the rotational driving force from the image forming apparatus to the stirring member. Thirty
Reference numeral 7 is a second coupling member that transmits a driving force to the transmission member 306 when the toner supply container is attached to the apparatus main body 100.

Further, 309 is an oil seal for preventing toner leakage.

Here, the toner replenishing container part 301A, which is the toner replenishing container body, will be described with reference to FIG. 25 and FIG. Note that FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the container body.

26A is a front view of the container body, FIG. 26B is a sectional view, FIG. 26C is a left side view, FIG. 26D is a right side view, and FIG. (F) is a plan view.

The toner replenishing container body 1A is provided with a curved portion 301F which becomes narrower toward the bottom, a straight portion 301G having a substantially constant width provided below the curved portion, and below the straight portion. Semicircular semi-circular part 301
H and.

A cylindrical toner supply opening 301a for supplying the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion 1n to the main body of the apparatus is provided at the lower portion of the one side surface 1A1 of the container body 301A. A toner supply port 301g is provided at one end of the toner supply opening 301a. The first side for rotatably holding the conveying member 2 at the position corresponding to the toner supply opening 301a on the other side surface 301B.
The receiving portion 301b is formed. Furthermore, the bottom surface 301D
A positioning portion 301 that is positioned by the apparatus main body 100 when the toner supply container 1 is attached to the apparatus main body 100 is provided on the outside of the. The positioning portion also has a function as an engaging portion 301c for engaging with the toner replenishing port opening / closing means provided in the apparatus main body 100 to move the toner replenishing container 301 in the attaching / detaching direction. In this embodiment, the engaging portion 301C is a dowel protruding outward from the lower surface 301D. Further, the device body 1 is provided on the upper surface 301E.
Handle 301 that is held by the user when the toner supply container 301 is attached to or removed from the apparatus main body 100.
e is provided. A groove 301f for facilitating the holding of the container body 1A when the user mounts the toner supply container 1 on the apparatus main body 100 is formed in the front and back lower inclined surfaces (curved portions) 301F in the longitudinal direction of the container. Are formed substantially parallel to each other.

The first receiving portion 301 on the other side surface 301B
A second receiving portion 301b2 for rotatably supporting the stirring member 305 is provided above b1.

Here, the toner supply opening portion 301a is a side surface 301A1 opposite to the side surface 301B on which the handle 301e is provided in the longitudinal direction of the container body 301A.
It is provided in. Therefore, when the user mounts the toner supply container 301 on the apparatus main body 100, it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally touching the toner supply opening 301a. Further, the toner supply opening 301a is provided on the side surface 301.
It is provided below A1. Therefore, the container body 3
Even if the toner stored in 01A becomes small, the toner can be efficiently discharged.

Here, the toner supply opening is formed on the side surface 301.
20 mm to 40 mm from A, preferably about 27.8 m
It is protruding. Further, the toner supply opening portion 301a is
It has a cylindrical shape, and the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion is 20 mm to
It is 30 mm, more preferably 26 mm to 29 mm, most preferably about 27.6 mm.

As described above, the engaging portion 301C is provided outside the lower surface 301D. The engagement portion 301C is a locking portion 51C provided on the apparatus body 100 when the toner supply container is attached to the apparatus body 100.
(FIG. 8). As described above, the engagement portion 301C is a columnar protrusion (dough) protruding outward from the lower surface 301D. Outer diameter of this cylindrical part 8
Is 5 mm to 12 mm, preferably about 8 mm.
Further, the positioning portion is 2 mm to 8 m from the lower surface 301D.
m, and the engaging portion 301C (positioning portion) is provided with the toner replenishing opening 30 in the longitudinal direction of the lower surface 301D.
60m from the side end surface 301B opposite to the side where 1a is located
It is provided at a position of m to 80 mm, preferably about 71 mm.

The engaging portion (positioning portion) 301C is
It is preferably cylindrical, but may be prismatic, semicircular, or the like.

The side surface 301A1 and the other side surface 301B
In the case of performing a dimensional inspection of the container body before shipping from the factory,
Bosses 301k and 301l for positioning the container body
Two are provided for each.

Reference numeral 301m is a rib for preventing erroneous mounting.

Ribs 3 are provided at different positions for each toner supply container.
By providing 01m, it is possible to prevent the user from mounting another type of container on the apparatus main body.

The container body 301A is preferably made of resin such as plastic by injection molding, blow molding, injection blow molding or the like.
Other materials and manufacturing methods may be used. Also the container body 3
01A may be conveniently manufactured by a method of dividing it into two or more parts and integrating them by means such as welding or adhesion.

In this example, two frames, an upper frame and a lower frame, which were injection-molded of high-impact polystyrene, were vibration-welded to manufacture.

As shown in FIG. 23, the transport member 302 is provided with a shaft portion 302A and a spiral portion which is provided on the shaft portion 302A and which transports the powder toner in a predetermined direction by the rotation of the shaft portion 302A. It has a rigid conveying blade 302B. Then, the transport member 302 has the shaft portion 302.
It is attached to the container body 301A in a state where the axis of A is substantially coincident with the center of the toner supply port 301g having a substantially circular shape.

The transport member 302 is not limited to the so-called screw type described in the present embodiment, but may be, for example, a shaft portion 302A having flexible blades attached thereto. Further, the shaft portion and the blade may be integrally molded or may be separate bodies. In addition, in the present embodiment, the shaft portion 302A and the blade 302B are made of plastic and integrally formed.

Further, in the present embodiment, this conveying member 3
02 has an extending portion 302C extending inside the cylindrical portion of the toner supply opening portion 301a. In the present embodiment, the extending portion 302C further projects to the outside of the toner supply opening 301a. Then, the rotational driving force is received from the apparatus main body 100 by the tip portion of the extending portion 302C protruding outward. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the sealing member 303 is attached to this tip portion so as to be movable in the axial direction.

Here, one end portion (driving force receiving portion) 302a of the extending portion 302C has a shape capable of receiving the rotational driving force from the apparatus main body 100 via the sealing member 303, in the present embodiment. Has a polygonal shape, particularly a quadrangular shape. Then, one end of the shaft 302A is supported by the sealing member 303 via the one end 302a of the extending portion 302C. Further, the other end 3 of the shaft portion 302A
A first bearing member 308 is provided at 02b.
Then, via the first bearing member 308, the container body 301A is rotatably supported when opened.

The carrying member 302 is made up of the carrying blades 3
02B is the inner wall surface 301a1 of the toner supply opening portion 301a.
And the shaft 302a is substantially horizontal with the inner wall surface of the toner supply opening 301a.
Supported by 3. By supporting the transport member 302 in this way, the toner can be transported substantially horizontally toward the toner supply port 301g by the rotation of the transport member 302. Further, the toner supply opening portion 301
The fine toner is caught between the inner wall surface 301a1 of a and the conveying blade 302B, and is strongly rubbed, so that the inner wall surface 301a
It is possible to prevent the toner from being melted and fixed to a1 and prevent the phenomenon that coarse particles are generated.

As described above, it is simple and preferable that the conveying member 2 is also made of a resin such as plastic by a method such as injection molding, but other materials and manufacturing methods may be used. Moreover, you may divide and join arbitrarily and may manufacture.

Next, the sealing member 303 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 27, (A) is a front view of the sealing member, (B) is an A arrow view of (A), (C) is a B arrow view of (A), and (D) is a front sectional view. Is.

In FIGS. 27A to 27D, 303
Reference numeral b denotes a sealing portion which is provided on the side of the sealing member 303 facing the toner supply container 301 and which seals the toner supply port 301g of the toner supply container 301 so as to be opened. The outer diameter of the sealing portion 303b is set to be larger than the inner diameter of the toner supply port 301g by an appropriate amount. And this sealing part 30
When the fitting portion 303b1 of 3b is press-fitted from the toner supply opening 301g to the toner supply opening 301a, the sealing member 303 seals the toner supply opening 301g.

Further, 303c is a toner supply container 301.
Is a coupling engagement portion that serves as a driving force transmitted portion (driving portion) for receiving a driving force for rotating the transport member 302 from the device body 100 when the device is mounted on the device body 100. When the sealing member 303 is attached to the container main body 301A, the coupling engagement portion 303c extends from the sealing portion 303b in the direction opposite to the toner container main body 301A in a direction substantially coaxial with the axis of the shaft portion 302A of the conveying member 302. It is provided with a projecting portion 303c1 formed to extend. The coupling engaging portion 303C is provided on the peripheral surface of the protruding portion 303c1 and includes an elongated (spline-shaped) protrusion (rib) 303d as a driving force receiving portion that engages with the coupling member 304. ing. In the present embodiment, the spline protrusions 3d are provided at two locations at substantially equal intervals.

Specifically, two sealing members are provided at intervals of about 180 ° centering on the longitudinal direction of the sealing member.

The rib 303d projects from the outer peripheral surface of the sealing member by 0.5 mm to 3 mm, preferably about 1.8 mm.

The outer diameter of the protrusion 303C1 is 1
It is 0 mm to 14 mm, preferably about 12 mm.

By the way, the sealing member 303 is engaged with the one end portion 302a of the conveying member 302, and the main body 100 of the apparatus is engaged.
The engaging hole 303a is provided as a driving force transmitting portion for transmitting the driving force received from the conveying member 302. The engagement hole 303a is formed by an opening (hollow portion) formed over a portion where the sealing portion 303b and the coupling engagement portion 303c are formed. Here, the engagement hole 303a is formed in the toner supply opening 301a.
4 of the shaft end portion 302a of the conveying member 302 protruding from the
It has a square shape corresponding to the square shape. And the shaft end 3
It is formed to be slightly larger than 02a, so that the shaft end portion 302a is loosely fitted in the engagement hole 303a.

As the shaft end 302a is loosely fitted in the engagement hole 303a, the conveying member 302 and the sealing member 303 are locked to each other in the rotating direction of the conveying member 302. . On the other hand, they are configured to be movable in the axial direction. As a result, when the toner supply container is attached, the sealing member 303 and the container body 301A can be separated from each other, and the toner supply port 301g can be opened (opened).

By the way, the engagement hole 303a and the shaft end portion 3 are
The length of engagement with 02a is the sealing member 303 and the container body 30.
It has a length that does not come off when it is separated from 1A. As a result, even if the sealing member 303 is separated from the container body 301A, the transport member 302 can receive a driving force via the sealing member 303 (coupling engaging portion 303c).

Between the coupling engagement portion 303c and the sealing portion 303b, when the sealing portion 303b is pressed into the toner replenishing opening portion 301a, the powder toner supply portion 3 is pressed.
A flange 3f is provided which abuts the end of 01a.
An outer diameter of the collar portion is provided with a collar portion 303f that is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the toner supply opening portion 301a (preferably smaller than the outer diameter of the toner supply opening portion 301a). The flange 303f allows the sealing portion 303b to be pressed into the toner supply opening 301a by the length of the sealing portion 303b.

On the other hand, 303e is a coupling engaging portion 30.
3 c is a locking projection 303 e that is a locking portion that is formed at the tip of the 3 c and that is locked by the locking member 6 provided in the apparatus main body 100. By locking the locking member 6 to the locking projection 303e, the sealing member 303 can be fixed when opening the toner supply port 301g.

By the way, the sealing member 30 having such a structure
3 is also preferably manufactured by injection molding a resin such as plastic, but other materials and manufacturing methods may also be manufactured by arbitrarily dividing and joining. Also, the sealing member 3
No. 03 is press-fitted into the toner supply unit 301a to seal it, so that appropriate elasticity is required. As the material, low density polyethylene is most preferable, and then polypropylene, nylon, high density polyethylene and the like can be preferably used.

Reference numeral 303j is a locking groove into which the locking member 6 provided in the apparatus main body 100 fits. The width of the locking groove 303j is 1.5 mm to 5 mm, preferably
It is about 3 mm. The depth of the locking groove is 0.5 mm ~
It is 5 mm, preferably about 2.5 mm.

As described above, the sealing member 303 is
It has a substantially cylindrical fitting portion 303b1 that fits into the toner supply opening portion 303a. Then, this fitting portion 303
A flange portion 303f is provided on a substantially coaxial line with b1. Further, a protrusion 303c1 that protrudes substantially coaxially with the fitting portion 303b1 is provided on the side opposite to the side where the fitting portion 303b1 is provided from the flange portion 303f, and the drive receiving portion 303d is located at the root thereof. Is provided. Also, the protrusion 3
An engaging groove 303c is provided at the front end of 03c1 in the protruding direction, and an engaging portion 303e is provided at the front end. In addition, from the fitting portion 303b1 side, the locking portion 3
A cavity is provided toward the side of 03e, and the driving force transmitting portion 303a is provided in this cavity. Since the locking portion 303e side of the hollow portion is not opened, the fitting portion 3
When 03b1 is fitted into the toner replenishment opening 303a,
The toner that has entered the cavity does not leak out of the container. Therefore, by mounting the sealing member 303, the toner supply opening 303a is sealed.

In the present embodiment as well as the first and second embodiments, the sealing member 303 has four functions. That is, the function of sealing the toner supply opening 301a, the function of receiving the rotational drive force from the apparatus main body 100, the function of transmitting the rotational drive force to the conveying member 303, and the device for opening and closing the toner supply opening 301a. It has a function of engaging with the engaging member 6 provided on the main body. Therefore, the driving force received by the sealing member 303 from the apparatus main body 100 can be transmitted to the shaft portion 302A via the extending portion 302C to rotate the conveying member 302.

Next, the stirring member 305 will be described. 28A is a front view of the stirring member 305, FIG. 28B is a left side view, and FIG. 28C is a right side view. As shown in FIG. 28, the stirring member 305 includes a shaft portion 305a and a rigid blade portion 305.
It has b and the flexible wing part 305c. 29 is an enlarged side view of the rigid wing portion 305, and FIG. 30 is an enlarged view of the flexible wing portion 305c. The shaft portion 305a is manufactured by injection molding a relatively rigid plastic. The rigid wing portion 305b is made of a metal such as stainless steel or a material having extremely high rigidity, and the flexible wing portion 305c is made of a material having low rigidity, such as a plastic film or sheet, or an elastomer sheet. In this example, a polyester sheet was used.

In the bearing portion 301h of the toner supply container body, one end 305d of the stirring member 305 engages with the above-mentioned transmission member 306. The other end 305e engages with the stopper member (second bearing member) 310f in the second receiving portion 301b2 of the toner supply container body. Also, the shaft portion 30
In the present embodiment, 5a is formed by injection molding a plastic having a relatively high rigidity, but other materials such as metal may be used.

The rigid wing portion 305b is conveniently and integrally formed of metal or the like, but other materials or manufacturing methods may be used, or the rigid wing portion 305b may be divided into two or more parts and these may be divided into two or more parts. A method of integration by means such as welding or adhesion may be adopted. In this example, a stainless steel plate having a thickness of about 0.8 mm was pressed and used. The engaging portion of the rigid wing portion 305b with the shaft portion 305a has a shape matched with the shaft portion 305a so as to receive the drive from the shaft portion 305a.
The toner inside the container is agitated by rotating with the rotational movement of a.

At this time, if the notch 305h is provided at one end as shown in FIG. 28, the assembling becomes easier. Further, the rigid blade portion 305b has a plate shape that is substantially parallel to the rotational tangential direction over the entire length, and the downstream side of the blade portion in the rotational direction is bent toward the inner wall surface of the toner supply container. However,
The length r of the bent portion 305b1 shown in FIG. 29 is 2 mm to 8 mm.
It is preferable that the bending angle θ is about 30 mm to about 50 °. More preferably, the length r of the bent portion 305b is about 3 mm to 5 mm, and the bending angle θ is about 45 degrees.

In this example, the bent portion 305b1
The length was about 5 mm and the bending angle was about 45 degrees. The distance from the center of the rotating shaft to the tip of the rigid wing may be appropriately determined according to the size of the container body, but is 7
About 0 to 95% is preferable. In this embodiment, since the inner diameter of the container body is about 44.5 mm, it is about 39.4 m.
m (89%).

The flexible wing portion 305c is made of a material having low rigidity, such as a plastic film or sheet, or an elastomer sheet. And the thickness is about 50
μm to 500 μm is preferable, and 10 is particularly preferable.
0 μm to 300 μm is preferable. In this example, a polyester sheet having a thickness of about 100 μm was used.

The flexible wing portion 305c is attached to the rigid wing portion 305b over the entire length of the bent portion 305b1 so that the tip of the flexible wing portion 305c contacts the inner wall surface of the container body. Then, it rotates while scraping off the toner on the inner wall surface of the container together with the rigid wings. Here, if the length of the flexible wing portion 305c in the radial direction of rotation is set to be about 0.5 mm to 10 mm longer than the distance from the tip of the rigid wing portion 305b to the inner wall surface of the container, the above-mentioned effect can be obtained. It can be increased.

In this example, the length was increased by about 6 mm.
Further, in this embodiment, a double-sided tape 305i (DIC # 8800CH) is used to bond the rigid wing part 305b and the flexible wing part 305c to each other, as shown in FIG.
It was attached to the bent portion 305b of 05b. Alternatively, it may be attached by a conventionally known means such as riveting or caulking, or may be integrally formed with the rigid wing portion.

Further, as shown in FIG. 31, the rigid wing portion 305 is used.
b may be divided in a substantially central portion so as to have a phase difference of 180 degrees with respect to the axial direction, and may be formed in a staggered shape. Here, the number of divisions may be appropriately determined according to the shape and length of the container body, and may be three divisions, four divisions or more. Further, the rigid blade portion 305b may be formed in a spiral shape by continuously changing the phase over the entire length in the longitudinal direction. Further, as shown in the drawing, a notch 305h is formed at both end portions of the rigid blade portion 305b and engaging portions with the shaft portion at the substantially central portion to improve the assembling property. Further, in order to reduce the projected area of the rigid blade portion in the rotation direction and reduce the resistance of the toner, the length of the bent portion of the rigid blade portion is set to about 3 mm. The length and bending angle of the bent portion are 2 to 8 mm and 30 to 50 mm.
The degree is preferably about 3 to 5 mm, more preferably about 45
It is good to set it to a degree.

Further, the rigid wing portion 305b and the flexible wing portion 30
A method of crimping using an aluminum rivet 4i may be used as the joining means of 5c. In this case, if the position of the rivet hole of the flexible wing portion 305c deviates even a slight amount, waviness may occur.
It is advisable to insert perforations or half cuts in the portion corresponding to the bent portion C of the rigid wing portion 305b. Further, the pasting means may be attached by another conventionally known method such as double-sided tape.

Next, a method of assembling the toner supply container 301 will be described.

In the method of assembling the toner supply container 301, first, the carrying member 302 is inserted into the lower portion of the lower frame 301K from above. Then, after inserting the oil seal 309 into the first receiving portion 301b1, the other end portion 3 of the transport member 302 is inserted.
The bearing member 308 is engaged with 02b. Further, the toner supply port 301g is sealed with a sealing member 303. Next, the stirring member 305 is inserted from above. After inserting the oil seal 309 into the container body, the second bearing member 310 and the transmission member 306 are engaged with both ends of the stirring member 305.
Then, the upper frame 301J is vibration-welded to the lower frame 301K.

Next, a predetermined amount of toner is filled in the container body 301A, and the filling port 301i of the toner supply container 301 body is filled.
And the filling port 301i is sealed by the sealing member 311 to complete the process. As described above, the assembling of the toner supply container 301 is extremely simple and the number of assembling steps is very small.

The toner is filled with the toner supply port 301.
You may carry out from g.

Toner supply container 301 according to the present embodiment
In the first embodiment, and when the toner replenishing opening 301a is opened by the toner replenishing portion opening / closing means described above, the container main body 301A has a toner replenishing opening 301a and an engaging portion. Power is added to 301c. At this time, as described above, the engaging portion 301C is not
Toner supply opening 301a in the longitudinal direction of the lower surface of A
Since the container main body 301A is provided on the side opposite to the side on which it is located, it is possible to prevent the container main body 301A from rising relative to the apparatus main body 100. Even if 301A is lifted up, the upper surface 301E is in contact with the top surface portion 100d (FIG. 32) provided on the apparatus main body 100 to prevent the container main body 301A from moving upward by a predetermined distance or more. You can

Also, the engaging protrusion 301 of the toner supply container 301
It is desirable that the toner supply port 301g and the toner supply port 301g are arranged on the same vertical line with respect to the sliding direction of the container as shown in FIG. By arranging in this way, it is possible to prevent the moment in either the left or right direction in FIG. 32 with respect to the sliding direction from being generated in the toner supply container 301. Even if a moment is generated in either the left or right direction, the rib 301j as a lateral restricting portion provided on the side surface 301A1 and 301B is not attached to the apparatus main body 1.
By contacting the side wall portion 100e provided at 00, it is possible to regulate the lateral movement of the container body 301A by a predetermined distance or more.

By the way, the height of the engagement protrusion 301c of the toner supply container 301 is set so that the engagement protrusion 301c and the container chucking member 51 are engaged with each other in order to prevent the engagement protrusion 301c from falling off when the toner supply container 301 slides. (See FIG. 32) is set to be larger than the clearance Y (see FIG. 32) between the container upper portion 301E and the top surface portion 100d of the apparatus body.

The rib 301j in the left-right direction in FIG. 32 of the toner supply container 301 is preferably provided on the upper portion of the toner supply container 301 in order to suppress backlash. In this embodiment, the rib 301j is more than the central portion in the height direction of the toner supply container 1. It is provided on the upper part with a proper clearance with the side wall part 100e.

Next, the drive mechanism of the toner supply container 301 according to this embodiment will be described.

When the toner supply container 301 is mounted, the coupling engaging portion 303c of the sealing member 303 is provided with a first coupling member 304 on the apparatus main body 100 side as shown in FIG.
Engage with. Here, this first coupling member 304
Is a drive device (not shown) provided on the apparatus main body 100 side.
For transmitting the driving force to the sealing member 303.

FIG. 33 shows the first coupling member 30.
It is a figure which shows the detailed shape of FIG.

Reference numeral 512 denotes a gear member having a gear formed on the outer peripheral surface 512a. The gear member 512 is composed of two members, that is, a gear portion 512A and a lid portion 512B, and both are fixed and fixed by snap fitting, adhesion or the like. The biasing means 514 and the moving member 513 are provided inside the gear member 512.
And are provided. The biasing means 514 is a gear member 512.
And the 513b portion of the moving member 513.

FIG. 34 is a detailed view of the gear portion 512, (A) is a front sectional view, and (B) and (C) are side views.
35 is a detailed view of the moving member 513, (A) is a front sectional view, (B) and (C) are side views, and (D) is a front view.

In FIG. 34, the gear portion 512A is provided with four slide guide ribs 512A1 in a circumferential shape. In FIG. 35, the moving member 513 has four slide guide hole portions 513c in a circumferential shape, and the moving member 513 is placed inside the gear member 512 by engaging with the slide guide rib 512A1 of the gear portion 512A described above. It can be slid and moved.

In the moving member 513, 513a is a groove-shaped drive transmitting portion. The drive transmission portion 513a engages with the elongated protrusion 303d of the sealing member 303 to transmit the rotational driving force to the sealing member when the toner supply container 1 is attached to the apparatus main body 100.

In FIG. 33, reference numerals 517 and 515 denote bearing members that rotatably support the gear member 512.
Is an oil seal. The toner discharged from the toner supply port 301g by the oil seal 516 allows the bearing member 5 to receive the toner.
It prevents the gear member 512 from locking by entering 15 and 517. Reference numeral 519 denotes a gear seal member, which prevents the toner discharged from the toner supply port 301g from entering the inside of the gear member 512 when the toner supply container 301 is attached to the apparatus main body 100 by being pressed against the sealing member 303. To do. Drive side plates 511 and 510 support the first coupling member 304. 518
Is a bearing holder, which holds the bearing 515 and the oil seal 516, and is fixed and fixed to the driving side plate 511 by screwing or bonding. A holder seal member 520 prevents toner from leaking between the holder 5 and the bearing holder 518 shown in FIG.

The gear seal member 519 and the holder seal member 518 are a gear member 512 and a bearing holder 518, respectively.
It is fixed to the sheet with a double-sided tape or the like, and the material thereof is an elastic member such as urethane foam.

Next, the operation of the first coupling member 304 will be described. The moving member 513 of the coupling member can be retracted in the direction A of FIG. 33 by the configuration described above. Normally, it is biased by the biasing means 514 to the position shown in FIG. The toner supply container 301 is attached to the main body 1 of the apparatus.
When it is attached to 00, the sealing member 303 enters the coupling member as shown in FIG. At this time, the sealing member 30
And the drive transmission portion 513 of the moving member 513.
If there is a phase with a, the gear member 512 and the moving member 513 rotate due to the drive of the main body (not shown), and the drive transmission unit 5
The sealing member 303 is rotated via 13a. When the projection 303d of the sealing member 303 and the drive transmission portion 513a of the moving member 513 are not in phase, the moving member 51
3 is pushed in the direction A of FIG. 33 by the protrusion 303d of the sealing member 3. Then, the main body drive unit causes the gear member 512,
When the moving member 513 rotates, the protrusion 3 of the sealing member 303
03d and the drive transmission portion 513a of the moving member 513 are in phase with each other, the moving member 513 idles. Then, when the phases match, the moving member 513 is moved by the urging means 514.
33 slides to the state of FIG. 33 in which the drive transmission portion 513a and the elongated protrusion 303d of the sealing member 303 are engaged, and transmits the drive to the sealing member 303.

FIG. 36 is a view showing the detailed shape of the second coupling member 307. 521 is a drive transmission claw. 37A is a front sectional view of the drive transmission claw 521, FIG.
Is a side view, (C) is a front view, and (D) is a top view. In FIG. 37, 521a is a claw portion, 521b is a slide guide portion, 521c is a parallel pin groove portion, and 521d is a spring receiving surface. 38 is a detailed view of the transmission member 306 shown in FIG. 26, where (A) is a front sectional view, (B) and (C) are side views, and (D) is a front view. In FIG. 38, 307a
Is a transmission claw.

In FIG. 36, 522 is a drive shaft,
The drive shaft 522 is rotatably supported by the drive side plates 510 and 511 via bearings 525 and 526. Drive shaft 5
The 22 is provided with a 1-way gear 527, and the 1-way gear 527 is integrally provided with a 1-way clutch 527 a (a member that transmits rotation only in a predetermined rotation direction) at a contact position with the drive shaft 522.

The drive transmission claw 521 is a slide guide 521.
b is slidable by engaging the drive shaft 522, and the parallel pin 523 engages with the parallel pin groove portion to transmit the rotation of the drive shaft 522 to the drive transmitting claw 521. 524 is a biasing means, and the biasing means 524 is in contact with the spring seat 528 and the spring receiving surface 521d of the drive transmission pawl 521.

Next, the operation of the second coupling member 307 will be described. The drive transmission pawl 521 of the second coupling member 307 has the configuration described above and is indicated by A in FIG.
36, and is normally biased by the biasing means 524 to the position shown in FIG. When the toner supply container 301 is attached to the apparatus main body 100, the transmission member 306 enters the second coupling member 307. Here, the transmission claw portion 307 a of the transmission member 307 and the drive transmission claw 521.
If the phase is such that the claw portion 521a of the drive member 521a hits, the drive claw 521a is transmitted by the transmission claw portion 307a of the transmission member 307.
The claw portion 521a is rotated. At this time, the transmission member 30
The drive shaft 522 also rotates with the rotation of No. 6, but the one-way clutch 527a of the one-way gear 527 idles. Therefore, when the toner supply container 301 is attached to the apparatus main body 100, the drive transmission claw 521 and the transmission member 306 interfere with each other. There is nothing to do.

In the toner supply container moved from the state of FIG. 24 to the state of FIG. 23 by the means described above, the drive transmission claw 521 is moved by the urging means 524 as the transmission member 306 is retracted to the left. Therefore, the transmission claw portion 306a of the transmission member 306 and the claw portion 5 of the drive transmission claw 521 are formed.
21a continues to maintain the engaged state.

Accordingly, the transmission of the transmission member 306 is transmitted through the one-way gear 527, the drive shaft 522, and the drive transmission claw 521 by the main body drive means (not shown), and the stirring member 305 further rotates.

Next, the discharge of toner will be described.

When the toner supply container 301 is attached to the apparatus main body 100, the locking portion 303e at the tip of the sealing member 303 is
The container body 3 is locked by the locking member 51C of the image forming apparatus.
It is held at a familiar position from the toner supply port 301g of 01A. At this time, the engaging relationship in the rotational direction between the conveying member 302 and the sealing member 303 is maintained as it is.

Further, the sealing member 303 is engaged with the first coupling member 304 of the apparatus main body at the coupling engaging portion (driving force receiving portion) 303C. First coupling member 304
Is rotationally driven from a drive source (not shown) such as a motor of the apparatus main body via a drive transmission means (not shown) such as a gear, and this is transmitted to the sealing member 303 by engagement with the spline-shaped projection 303d. To be done. Further, the square hole 303a and the conveying member 30
It is transmitted to the transport member 302 by engagement with the second tip 302a. Similarly, the transmission member 306 engaging with the one end 304d of the stirring member 304 engages with the second coupling member 307 of the apparatus main body. The second coupling member 307 of the apparatus main body is rotationally driven by a drive source (not shown) such as a motor of the apparatus main body via a drive transmission means (not shown) such as a gear, and this is engaged with the engaging claw 306a. At stirring member 30
4 is transmitted. The transport member 302 and the stirring member 3
The rotation speeds of 04 were set to about 52 rotations / minute and about 10 rotations / minute, respectively.

When the agitating member 304 rotates, the toner agglomerated due to air being released due to vibration during transportation and long-term storage is released, and further, the toner is conveyed toward the toner replenishing opening 301a by the rotation of the conveying member 302, and the toner is discharged. Supply port 1g
The toner is discharged and dropped from the device and is replenished to the toner hopper 201a of the apparatus main body.

As described above, the toner discharge experiment was conducted using the container having the above-mentioned structure. Fill the container body with toner, rotate the stirring member at about 10 rpm, and the transport member at about 5 rpm.
The toner was discharged at a setting of 2 revolutions / minute. Then, the toner discharged from the container is sieved (opening 75 μm, SU
The amount of coarse particles generated was confirmed using S. Co., Ltd., but no generation of coarse particles was observed. Furthermore, the amount of residual toner in the container is 20
It was g, and the effect of reducing the remaining amount of toner was also confirmed.

In this embodiment, the sealing member 303 is configured to be movable in the axial direction with respect to the conveying member 302. However, as shown in FIG. 39, the sealing member and the conveying member are integrally formed. You may comprise. In FIG. 39, the sealing member 320 has a sealing portion 320a, a driving force receiving portion 320b, and a toner conveying portion 320C. The sealing member 320 is movable in the A direction in FIG. 39 with respect to the container body.

Further, one end of the carrying member 302b does not necessarily have to project outward from the toner replenishing opening 320a. For example, as shown in FIG. 40, the toner transport member may be configured to receive the driving force from the apparatus main body 100 in the toner supply opening 320a or the toner storage portion 301h. In this case, the sealing member 350
Receives a driving force from the apparatus main body 100 by the rib 350b. Then, the driving force is given by the protrusion 350C.
It is transmitted to the toner conveying member 302.

[0213]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a highly reliable toner replenishing container which can be installed inside the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus and replenish toner to the apparatus main body. be able to.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a toner supply container capable of efficiently discharging the toner from the toner supply opening.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an electrophotographic copying machine which is an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a toner supply container according to the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electrophotographic copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which a toner supply container replacement cover of the electrophotographic copying machine is opened and a toner supply container is attached to the electrophotographic copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a front partial cross-sectional view of the toner supply container according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
(C) is a side sectional view.

FIG. 5 is a front cross-sectional view showing a state where the toner supply container is attached to the image forming apparatus main body and is opened (opened).

FIG. 6A is a front view of the sealing member of the toner supply container, FIG. 6B is a view of arrow A of FIG. 6A, and FIG.
An arrow drawing, (D) is a front sectional view.

FIG. 7A is a side view of the electrophotographic copying machine,
FIG. 6B is a front view, and FIG. 6C is a plan view showing a state where the toner supply container replacement cover is opened.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a state of a toner replenishing portion opening / closing means and the like when the replacement cover of the electrophotographic copying machine is opened.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a state of a toner supply port opening / closing means and the like when a replacement cover of the electrophotographic copying machine is closed.

FIG. 10 shows a coupling member of the electrophotographic copying machine,
(A) is a front view, (B) is a rear view, and (C) is a side sectional view.

FIG. 11A is a front view of a carrier according to another example attached to the shaft portion of the carrier member of the toner supply container;
(B) is a front view of a carrier provided with a window.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the structure of a carrying member of the toner supply container according to the first example of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of assembling the conveying member according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a container cross-sectional view showing a toner discharging operation of the toner supply container according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the toner supply container according to the present embodiment, showing the principle of toner discharge.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a structure of a carrying member according to a second example of the present embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a structure of a carrying member according to a third example of the present embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a structure of a transport member according to a fourth example of the present embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a view showing a state of a toner supply port opening / closing means and the like according to another configuration when the replacement cover of the electrophotographic copying machine is opened.

FIG. 20 is a view showing a state of a toner supply port opening / closing means and the like according to another configuration when the replacement cover of the electrophotographic copying machine is closed.

FIG. 21A is a perspective view of the toner supply container according to the third embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the side where the sealing member is provided, and FIG. FIG.

FIG. 22A is a front view, FIG. 22B is a sectional view, and FIG. 22C is a toner supply container according to a third embodiment of the invention.
Is a left side view, (D) is a right side view, (E) is a side sectional view, and (F) is a plan view.

FIG. 23 is a front cross-sectional view showing a state in which the toner supply container is installed in the apparatus main body and the supply opening is sealed.

FIG. 24 is a front cross-sectional view showing a state in which the toner supply container is installed in the apparatus main body and the supply opening is opened.

FIG. 25 (A) is a perspective view of the toner storage container part according to the third embodiment of the present invention as seen from the side where the refill opening is provided, and FIG. 25 (B) is a handle provided. Perspective view seen from the side.

FIG. 26A is a front view of the toner storage container part;
(B) is a sectional view, (C) is a left side view, (D) is a right side view, (E) is a side sectional view, and (F) is a plan view.

FIG. 27A is a front view of the sealing member, and FIG.
A arrow view, (C) is a B arrow view, and (D) is a front sectional view.

28A is a front view of the stirring member, and FIG.
Left side view, (C) right side view.

FIG. 29 is an enlarged side view of the rigid wing portion.

FIG. 30 is an enlarged view of a flexible wing portion.

31 (A) is a front view, FIG. 31 (B) is a left side view, and FIG. 31 (C) is a right side view of a stirring member according to another embodiment.
(D) is a bottom view.

FIG. 32 is a view showing a state where the toner supply container is attached to the apparatus main body.

FIG. 33 is a view showing a detailed shape of the first coupling member.

FIG. 34 is a detailed view of a gear unit.

FIG. 35 is a detailed view of the moving member.

FIG. 36 is a view showing a detailed shape of a second coupling member.

FIG. 37 is a front cross-sectional view of the drive transmission pawl (A).
(B) is a side view, (C) is a front view, and (D) is a top view.

38A is a front sectional view of the transmission member, FIG.
(C) is a side view and (D) is a front view.

FIG. 39 is a view showing an example in which a sealing member and a conveying member are integrally configured.

FIG. 40 is a view showing a modified example of the toner supply container according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Toner supply container 1a Toner supply opening 1g Toner supply port 1A container body 2 Transport members 2A shaft 2B transport blade 2C extension 3 Sealing member 3a Engagement hole 3b Sealing part 3b1 fitting part 3c Coupling engagement part 3d spline protrusion 3e Locking protrusion 4 Coupling member 6 locking member 9 Toner receiving port 15 Replacement cover 18 Hinge part 21,2B 'wings 51 Container chucking member 60 slide stand 100 device body 201 Development Department 201a toner hopper 201b Developing device 15 Replacement cover 100 device body 100a operation unit 100b display means 100c front cover 100d Top part 100e Side wall part 301 toner supply container 301A container body 301A1 side 301B Other side 301D bottom surface 301E top surface 301F curved part 301G Straight part 301H Semicircle 301J upper frame 301K lower frame 301a Toner supply section (toner supply opening section) 301b1 1st receiving part 301b2 2nd receiving part 301c Positioning part (engagement convex part) 301e handle 301f groove 301g Toner supply port 301h bearing part 301i filling port 301j Container guide part 301k boss 301l boss 301m Rib to prevent incorrect mounting 301n toner storage 302 Transport member 302A shaft 302B Conveyor blade 302C extension part 302a One end of the extending portion 302b the other end 303 sealing member 303a Engagement hole as driving force transmission part 303b Sealing part 303b1 Fitting part of sealing part 303c Driving force transmitted portion (driving force receiving portion) 303c1 protrusion 303d protrusion 303e Engagement protrusion that is a locking part 303f collar part 304 First coupling member 305 Stirrer 305a Shaft 305b Rigid wing 305c Flexible wings 305d one end 305e The other end 7 305f Stopper member 305h cutout 305i double-sided tape 306 transmission member 307 Second coupling member 308 First bearing member 309 oil seal 310 Second bearing member (stopper member) 311 sealing member 320 Sealing member (integrated with the conveying member) 320a sealing part 320b Driving force receiving portion 320c toner transport unit 350 Modification of Sealing Member

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kyota Miyazaki             Kyano, 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Within the corporation (72) Inventor Ayumu Murakami             Kyano, 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Within the corporation F term (reference) 2H077 AA02 AA05 AA09 AA25 AA33                       AB02 AB03 AB06 AB07 AB12                       AC04 DA16 DA32

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A toner replenishing container detachably attached to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, the toner containing chamber being non-rotatably held in the apparatus main body and containing toner; An agitating member that is provided to agitate the toner, and the toner that is provided below the toner accommodating chamber along the longitudinal direction of the toner accommodating chamber and has a toner replenishment opening projecting from the toner accommodating chamber at the tip end thereof. A toner transport chamber that is smaller than the storage chamber, a toner transport member that is provided in the toner transport chamber and that transports toner toward the toner replenishment opening, and a toner replenishment opening that is provided at the tip of the toner replenishment opening in the extending direction. And a driving force receiving portion that receives a driving force from the apparatus main body in a state of being attached to the apparatus main body, and integrally rotates with the toner conveying member. Toner supply container and having a sealing member provided to freely. 2. The toner according to claim 1, wherein the toner storage chamber has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and a toner transport chamber portion below the toner storage chamber has a substantially U-shaped cross section smaller than the toner storage chamber. Supply container. 3. The toner replenishing container according to claim 1, wherein the toner transport chamber is provided only in a central portion of the toner storage chamber in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the toner storage chamber. 4. The toner replenishing container according to claim 1, wherein the seal member has a groove-shaped fixing portion whose position is fixed to the apparatus main body. 5. The toner according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion is provided over the entire rotation direction of the seal member, and the driving force receiving portion is provided at a plurality of portions. Supply container. 6. The toner supply container according to claim 5, wherein the fixing portion is provided on the downstream side of the driving force receiving portion in the insertion direction of the container into the apparatus. 7. A moving force receiving portion for receiving a moving force for moving the toner transport chamber from the apparatus to open the opening in a state where the seal member is fixed. Toner supply container according to any one of 1 to 6. 8. The moving force receiving portion is provided on the lower portion of the toner transport chamber in a protruding shape.
Toner supply container. 9. The toner supply container according to claim 1, wherein the toner supply opening has a cylindrical shape. 10. The toner replenishing container according to claim 1, wherein the toner storage chamber has a drive input portion on an end surface thereof, which receives a drive force of the toner stirring member from the apparatus main body. 11. The toner supply container according to claim 10, wherein the drive input portion has a larger diameter than the drive force receiving portion. 12. The toner replenishing container according to claim 1, wherein the seal member is integrally formed coaxially with the toner conveying member. 13. The toner replenishing container according to claim 1, wherein the seal member and the toner conveying member are configured to be slidable while maintaining coaxiality in the longitudinal direction. 14. The toner replenishing container according to claim 13, wherein the toner conveying member includes a rotary shaft extending from the toner replenishing opening and slidably engaged with the seal member. 15. The toner replenishing container according to claim 1, wherein the seal member is configured to be resealable after opening the toner replenishing opening. 16. The toner replenishing container is provided on the front side of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus so that the toner replenishing opening is located above a toner receiving opening provided on the back side of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The toner replenishing container replacement cover is opened to open the toner replenishing container from the opening exposed toward the back of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Item 15. A toner supply container according to any one of items 1 to 15.