JP2003280344A - Toner replenishment device and toner container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce scatter of a toner. <P>SOLUTION: A toner replenishment device includes: a developing device 100 including a developing container 100A with a receiving opening 108; and a toner container 200 which has a replenishment opening shutter 217 and a screw member 230 and can be loaded in the developing container 100A in a freely separable state. In the toner container 200, a rotary shutter member 240 is arranged relatively rotatably with the screw member 230 and the rotary shutter member 240 has a discharge opening 242 and a rotating operation guided pin 244. The rotary shutter member 240 is so rotatable as to open and close the replenishment opening 215. The developing container 100A has a rotating operation guide groove 122 that the rotating operation guided pin 244 engages when the toner container 200 is loaded and unloaded to guide the pin to rotate the rotary shutter member 240. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,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 device and a toner replenishing device for replenishing toner to a developing device in an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine, an electrostatic printer or an electrostatic facsimile. Regarding the toner container used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine, an electrostatic printer or an electrostatic facsimile, it is well known that an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum is coated with toner. And a developing device for developing the toner image into a toner image. In this developing device, the toner contained in the developing container is consumed as the developing process is performed, so it is necessary to replenish the toner appropriately. Then, such toner replenishment is conveniently performed by mounting the toner container on the developing container and discharging the toner in the toner container into the developing container.

One typical example of a replenishing device for replenishing toner to a developing container of a developing device comprises a developing container having a toner receiving opening on the upper surface, and a toner container detachably attached to the developing container. I have it. The toner container is provided with a toner replenishment opening that opens on the lower surface, and a replenishment opening shutter that is slidable below the replenishment opening between a closed position that closes the replenishment opening and an open position that opens the replenishment opening, and toner replenishment. And a screw member that conveys to the opening. When the toner container is engaged with the developing container and moved in the mounting direction which is one of the longitudinal directions of the developing container, the replenishment opening shutter provided in the toner container slides from the closed position to the open position in conjunction with the movement. Can be moved. The toner container is attached to the developing container, and the receiving opening of the developing container and the supply opening of the toner container are in communication with each other. When the screw member in the toner container is driven to rotate based on the detection signal of the toner concentration sensor arranged in the developing container, the toner contained in the toner container passes through the replenishment opening and the receiving opening to the inside of the developing container. Will be replenished.
When the toner container is moved in the detaching direction, the replenishing opening shutter is slid from the open position to the closed position, the replenishing opening of the toner container is closed, and the toner container can be detached from the developing container.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned toner replenishing device, the replenishing opening of the toner container is a replenishing opening which is slidably moved below the replenishing opening in association with the attaching / detaching operation of the toner container to / from the developing container. Since it can be opened and closed only by the opening shutter, the toner may scatter around the replenishing opening and contaminate the surroundings when the replenishing opening shutter is opened and closed at the time of attachment / detachment. Further, in the state where the toner container is not attached to the developing container, the replenishment opening is closed by the replenishment opening shutter. The toner in the toner container may be discharged and pollute the surroundings. Therefore, it is required to solve the above-mentioned technical problems without complicating the overall structure and making it difficult and difficult to attach and detach the toner container to and from the developing container.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel toner replenishing device and a toner container which can reduce toner scattering when the toner container is attached to and detached from the developing container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new toner replenishing device and a toner container which have a relatively simple structure and which can easily and stably attach and detach the toner container to and from the developing container. That is.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel toner container in which the replenishment opening is prevented from being accidentally opened when the developing container is not mounted.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new toner container which does not require so-called separate disposal.

[0009]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device including a developing container having a toner receiving opening opened on an upper surface; a toner replenishing opening opening on a lower surface; On the lower side, a replenishment opening shutter that is movable between a closed position that closes the replenishment opening and an open position that opens the replenishment opening, and a screw member that conveys toner to the replenishment opening, and engages with a developing container to develop In a toner replenishing device including a toner container detachably mountable in a developing container by moving the container in one of the longitudinal directions of the container, a rotary shutter member having a substantially cylindrical shape is provided in the toner container. Is provided so as to be relatively rotatable along the outer peripheral surface of the screw member, the toner discharge opening and the rotationally actuated guided member are provided in the rotary shutter member, and the rotary shutter member is Above the opening, it is possible to rotate between a closed position for closing the replenishment opening and an open position where the discharge opening is aligned with the replenishment opening and opens the replenishment opening. A rotation actuating guide means is provided for guiding the rotating shutter member to rotate by engaging the guide means, and when the toner container is engaged with the developing container and moved in the mounting direction, the replenishment opening shutter causes the developing container to move. Is rotated relative to the open position by being locked by a part of the rotary shutter member, and the rotary operation guided means is engaged with and guided by the rotary operation guide means to rotate the rotary shutter member from the closed position to the open position. There is provided a toner replenishing device, characterized in that the receiving opening, the replenishing opening and the discharging opening are communicated with each other. The developing container is provided with a receiving opening shutter movable between a closed position for closing the receiving opening and an open position for opening the receiving opening, and when the toner container is engaged with the developing container and moved in the mounting direction, It is preferable that the receiving opening shutter be locked to a part of the toner container and moved from the closed position to the open position. A region of the rotary shutter member near one end in the mounting direction is disposed in a region near one end of the toner container in the mounting direction, and the rotationally actuated guided means is a radius from an outer peripheral surface in a region near the one end of the rotary shutter member. The rotationally actuated guided pin extending outward in the direction, and the rotationally actuated guide means is disposed in a region near one end of the developing container in one of the longitudinal directions, and the rotationally actuated guided pin is provided in the longitudinal direction. It is composed of a rotation operation guide groove that spirally extends in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the movement locus, and when the toner container is engaged with the developing container and moved in the mounting direction, the rotation operation guided pin causes the rotation operation guide pin to rotate. The rotary shutter member is preferably rotated by a predetermined angle from the closed position to the open position by being engaged with and guided by the groove. The rotary operation guide groove has a substantially cross section in a cross section, and an open end of the channel shape is directed to one side in the width direction of the developing container at one end portion on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the rotary operation guide groove. It is preferable that the other end portion on one side of the longitudinal direction is directed to the upper side of the developing container and extends spirally downward from the one end portion toward the other end portion. Locking means for releasably locking the rotary shutter member in the closed position is provided in a region near the one end of the toner container,
The lock means is an outer peripheral surface of the rotary shutter member, and a lock pin extending radially outward from the outer peripheral surface in the vicinity of the opposite side to the mounting direction with respect to the rotationally actuated guided pin, and a vertical direction of the toner container. A lock elastic member rotatably disposed in the toner container about an axis extending therethrough, and the lock pin is different in angular position in the circumferential direction from the rotationally actuated guided pin by the predetermined angle. The elastic member includes an arm portion that releasably blocks the rotation movement of the lock pin, and the arm portion exists on the rotation locus of the lock pin and substantially blocks the rotation movement of the lock pin to thereby prevent the rotation shutter member. By allowing the rotational movement of the lock pin by retracting from the rotation path of the lock pin against the elastic force of the lock position that locks in the closed position and the other part of the lock elastic member. Rolling between an unlocked position for allowing rotation between a closed position and an open position of the shutter member is rotatable, it is preferable. In the area near the one end of the toner container, a flat lower surface extending parallel to the axis of the rotary shutter member at intervals above the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shutter member, and the axis of the rotary shutter member with respect to the axis of the rotary shutter member. A side wall that extends from the lower surface so as to extend parallel to the axis on one side in the width direction of the toner container that is a direction orthogonal to the side surface, and on the lower surface, near the tip of the side wall in the mounting direction. At the position, the shaft hangs down from the lower surface, and the lock elastic member is rotatably supported by the shaft, and the lock elastic member extends above the rotary shutter member from the shaft along the lower surface. The arm portion that extends across the arm, an intermediate portion that extends from the tip of the arm portion along the lower surface in a direction opposite to the mounting direction, and an inversion that reverses while curving from the tip of the intermediate portion along the lower surface. And parts,
An elastic acting portion extending from the tip of the reversing portion toward the side wall in the mounting direction along the lower surface, and is integrally formed from a synthetic resin having elasticity. A tip end of the elastic action portion in a state in which a notch or a recess extending in the axial direction of the rotary shutter member from one side surface facing the mounting direction to the other side surface is formed and the lock elastic member is positioned at the lock position. Is positioned in contact with or close to the side wall, and the tip of the lock pin is removably fitted in the notch or the recess of the arm to substantially prevent rotational movement of the lock pin. , Is preferred. The developing container is provided with a lock releasing means for releasing the lock of the rotary shutter member, and the lock releasing means is provided with a lock releasing protrusion extending in the direction opposite to the mounting direction of the toner container from the vicinity of the rotation operation guide groove. Becomes
When the toner container is engaged with the developing container and moved in the mounting direction, at least the rotationally actuated guided pin is engaged with and guided by the rotationally actuated guide groove to rotate the rotary shutter member from the closed position to the open position. Before the operation is started, it is preferable that the lock release protrusion locks the arm portion of the lock elastic member to relatively rotate the arm portion around the axis from the lock position to the lock release position. The lock release protrusion is disposed on the movement path in the longitudinal direction of the tip end region of the arm portion of the lock elastic member, and when the toner container is engaged with the developing container and moved in the mounting direction, the lock release protrusion is formed. Contacting the tip region of the arm portion and forcing the tip region of the arm portion in a direction opposite to the mounting direction, the tip of the elastic action portion is pressed against the side wall and at least the elastic action portion is elastically deformed. The arm portion is rotated around the axis against the elastic force from the locked position to the unlocked position, so that the tip portion of the lock pin moves from the notch or the recess of the arm portion to the rotary shutter member. It is preferable that the lock pin is disengaged in the axial direction to allow the rotational movement of the lock pin. When the toner container attached to the developing container is moved in the detaching direction, the lock release protrusion releases the forcing of the tip end region of the arm portion of the lock elastic member, and the arm portion releases the elasticity of the lock elastic member. It is rotated around the axis from the unlocked position to the locked position by the restoring force, and the rotation actuated guided pin engaged in the rotation actuation guide groove is guided in the rotation actuation guide groove to rotate from the open position to the closed position. It is preferable that the notch or the recess is fitted to the lock pin of the rotary shutter member that is made to lock the rotary shutter member in the closed position. A leaf spring member is disposed in a region on the other side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the receiving opening on the upper surface of the developing container so as to extend in the longitudinal direction, and one end portion of the leaf spring member on one side in the longitudinal direction. Is inclined obliquely toward one end and upward, a protrusion having a vertical cross-section of a substantially inverted V shape is formed at an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction, and the other end in the longitudinal direction is an upper surface of the developing container. Is fixed to the upper surface of the developing container, and a gap is formed between the lower surface of the area other than at least the other end of the leaf spring member and the upper surface of the developing container. With respect to the other end of the replenishment opening shutter in the longitudinal direction, a projection is formed on the lower surface of the vicinity of the other side of the toner container, and when the toner container mounted in the developing container is moved in the detaching direction from the mounting position. , The supply opening shutter is The other end of the slider on the other side in the longitudinal direction is locked to the one end of the leaf spring member and is relatively prevented from moving in the disengagement direction, thereby relatively moving from the open position to the closed position. Then, at the same time as or immediately after the replenishment opening shutter is moved from the open position to the closed position, the protrusion of the toner container abuts against the protrusion of the leaf spring member to force the plate downward. It is preferable that the one end of the spring member is displaced downward against the elastic force of the leaf spring member to release the locking of the supply opening shutter by the one end of the leaf spring member.

According to another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to move between a toner replenishment opening that opens on the lower surface and a closed position that closes the replenishment opening and an open position that opens the replenishment opening below the replenishment opening. A toner container provided with a replenishment opening shutter and a screw member that conveys toner to the replenishment opening, the development container being engaged with a development container that is included in the development container and has a toner receiving opening that opens on the upper surface. In the toner container that is detachably mounted in the developing container by being moved in one mounting direction, which is one of the longitudinal directions, the substantially cylindrical rotary shutter member is relatively rotatable along the outer peripheral surface of the screw member. The toner discharge opening and the rotationally actuated guided member are disposed on the rotary shutter member, and the rotary shutter member is closed above the replenishment opening to close the replenishment opening. And the discharge opening is rotatable between an opening position in which the discharge opening is aligned with the replenishment opening and opens the replenishment opening, and when the developing operation container is engaged with the developing container and moved in the mounting direction, The replenishing opening shutter is engaged with a part of the developing container and relatively moved from the closed position to the open position, and the rotationally actuated guided means is engaged with and guided by the rotationally actuated guide means so that the rotational shutter member is Provided is a toner container, which is rotated from a closed position to an open position, and a supply opening and a discharge opening are communicated with a receiving opening. A region of the rotary shutter member near one end in the mounting direction is arranged in a region near one end in the mounting direction,
The rotationally actuated guided means preferably comprises a rotationally actuated guided pin extending radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shutter member in a region near the one end. Locking means for releasably locking the rotary shutter member in the closed position is disposed in a region near the one end, and the locking means is an outer peripheral surface of the rotary shutter member and is attached to the rotationally actuated guided pin. The lock pin is provided with a lock pin extending radially outward from the outer peripheral surface in the vicinity of the opposite side to the direction, and a lock elastic member rotatably arranged around an axis extending in the vertical direction. The angular position in the circumferential direction differs from the guided pin by the predetermined angle, and the lock elastic member includes an arm portion that releasably blocks the rotational movement of the lock pin, and the arm portion is on the rotation path of the lock pin. A lock position for locking the rotary shutter member in the closed position by substantially blocking the rotational movement of the lock pin,
Allows rotation between the closed position and the open position of the rotary shutter member by withdrawing from the rotational path of the lock pin and allowing the rotational movement of the lock pin against the elastic force of the other part of the lock elastic member. It is preferably rotatable to and from the unlocked position. In a region near the one end, a flat lower surface extending parallel to the axis of the rotary shutter member at intervals above the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shutter member, and orthogonal to the axis of the rotary shutter member. A side wall that extends from the lower surface so as to extend parallel to the axis on one side in the width direction that is the direction of the shaft, and the shaft is provided on the lower surface near the tip of the side wall in the mounting direction. Hangs from the lower surface, and the lock elastic member is rotatably supported by the shaft, and the lock elastic member extends from the shaft along the lower surface and above the rotary shutter member across the rotary shutter member. Section, an intermediate section extending from the tip of the arm section along the lower surface in a direction opposite to the mounting direction, a reversing section that is bent from the tip of the intermediate section along the lower surface while being reversed, and a tip of the reversing section. To the mounting direction An elastic acting portion extending along the lower surface toward the wall and integrally formed from an elastic synthetic resin, and the arm portion includes a side surface facing the mounting direction in the arm portion. A notch or a recess extending in the axial direction of the rotary shutter member toward the other side surface is formed, and in a state where the lock elastic member is positioned at the lock position, the tip of the elastic action portion abuts or comes close to the side wall. Preferably, the tip of the lock pin is removably fitted in the notch or the recess of the arm portion to substantially prevent the rotational movement of the lock pin. It is preferable that all the constituent members are made of synthetic resin.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a toner replenishing device constructed according to the present invention and a toner container used therein will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 12 shows a color printer 2 which is an image forming apparatus provided with an embodiment of a toner replenishing device constructed according to the present invention and a toner container used therein. The printer 2 includes a printer body 4. A photoconductor drum 6 is arranged in the center of a printer body 4 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A charger 8 and a developing unit 1 for yellow toner are provided around the photosensitive drum 6.
0, magenta toner developing unit 12, cyan toner developing unit 14, black toner developing device 1
6, an intermediate transfer member 18, a cleaning device 20, and the like are provided. A toner container 22 containing black toner is disposed above the intermediate transfer member 18. An exposure scanning unit 24 is arranged above the toner container 22. A secondary transfer roller 26 is disposed below the intermediate transfer member 18, and the secondary transfer roller 26 is
An endless belt 28 is disposed on the downstream side of the. A fixing device 30 is arranged downstream of the endless belt 28.
As will be described later with reference to FIG. 13, the developing units 10, 12 and 14 respectively include the developing devices 10A and 12A.
A and 14A.

At the time of color printing, the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 6 is charged by the charger 8 for each color, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 6 by the exposure scanning unit 24. Image development device 10A, 12A, 14A
And 16 develop the toner images of the respective colors.
The toner images of the respective colors are sequentially superposed and transferred onto the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer member 18, and transferred by the secondary transfer roller 26 onto the transfer paper 32 fed from the paper feed cassette (not shown) provided in the printer body 4. To be done. The transfer paper 32 on which the color image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 30 by the endless belt 28 and fixed. Transfer paper 3 with a fixed color image
2 is discharged to the left of the printer body 4 in FIG. 1 or to a discharge tray 34 provided on the upper surface of the printer body 4.

Referring to FIGS. 12 to 14, the yellow toner developing unit 10 includes a developing device 10A including a developing container 10a and a toner container 10B containing yellow toner. The toner container 10B engages with the upper portion of the developing container 10a,
It can be inserted into the developing container 10a from the front side so as to be freely drawn out.

As clearly shown in FIG. 14, a lock leaf spring member having a vertically long rectangular flat shape is formed on the upper surface of the toner container 10B on the front side in the longitudinal direction (consisting of the lid member of the toner container 10B). 11 is disposed so as to extend from the front corner to the rear in the longitudinal direction. The lock leaf spring member 11, which is integrally formed of an appropriate synthetic resin having elasticity, has a rectangular cutout 11a having a planar rectangular shape extending from the center in the longitudinal direction to the vicinity of the rear end in the central portion in the width direction, and the notch 11a. Notch 1 from rear end
A plane rectangular tongue piece 11b extending in the front direction along the notch 11a is formed on the lower inside of the la 1a. Protrusions 11c extending outward in the lateral direction are formed on both sides of the lock leaf spring member 11 on the front side. Lock leaf spring member 1
The rear end of the tongue piece 11b is fixed to the upper surface of the toner container 10B by a fixing means that does not use metal, for example, by adhesion.
Since the front end of the lock plate spring member 11 is pressed against the upper surface of the toner container 10B, the lock leaf spring member 11 is constantly urged by its elastic force so that the front side is lifted upward with the rear end as a fulcrum. The protrusion 11c of the lock leaf spring member 11 is brought into contact with a pair of locking piece portions 10B-1 having an L-shaped cross section from the lower side, which is disposed on the upper surface portion of the toner container 10B. Movement is restricted. Since an appropriate gap is formed between the lower surface of the lock leaf spring member 11 excluding the rear end portion and the tip portion of the tongue piece 11b and the upper surface portion of the toner container 10B, the front side of the lock leaf spring member 11 is formed. Can be pushed downward against its elastic force. A locked projection 11d extending upward from the upper surface is formed on the front upper surface of the lock leaf spring member 11. The upper surface of the locked projection 11d is inclined downward from the front to the rear. A locking hole 10c having a rectangular planar shape is formed at the front end of the cover member 10b covering the upper surface of the developing container 10a in the longitudinal direction.

Below the cover member 10b of the developing container 10a, there is formed a housing space in which the toner container 10B can be housed so as to be drawn out. When the toner container 10B is inserted into the accommodation space of the developing container 10a from the front and slidably moved to the mounting position, the locked protrusion 11d of the lock leaf spring member 11 is pressed against the lower surface of the cover member 10b and the lock leaf spring is pressed. The member 11 is elastically displaced downward to get over and is locked in the locking hole 10c. Toner container 10
B is firmly attached to the developing container 10a. When detaching the toner container 10B from the developing container 10a, if the front side of the lock leaf spring member 11 is pushed down against its elastic force, the locking hole 1 of the locked projection 11d is released.
The lock for 0c is released, and the toner container 10B can be easily pulled out from the mounting position to the front side with respect to the developing container 10a. Instead of the locking hole 10c, a locking recess or a locking protrusion may be formed on the lower surface of the cover member 10b.

The magenta toner developing unit 12 comprises a developing device 12A including a developing container 12a, and a toner container 12B containing magenta toner. The toner container 12B engages with the upper portion of the developing container 12a and can be inserted into the developing container 12a from the front side of the printer body 4 so as to be freely drawn out. Toner container 1
2B and the developing container 12a are provided with a lock leaf spring member 11 and a locking hole 10c (not shown) having substantially the same configuration as described above.

The cyan toner developing unit 14 includes a developing device 14A having a developing container 14a, and a toner container 14B containing cyan toner. The toner container 14B engages with the upper portion of the developing container 14a and can be inserted into the developing container 14a from the front side of the printer body 4 so as to be freely drawn out. Toner container 14B
The developing container 14a and the developing container 14a are respectively provided with the lock leaf spring member 11 and the locking hole 10c (not shown) having substantially the same configurations as described above.

The toner container 22 in which the black toner is stored can be inserted into the storage space 4a provided in the printer body 4 so as to be drawn out from the front side. The developing device 16 for black toner includes a developing container 16a, and the developing container 16a is provided with a toner receiving opening (not shown) that is opened on the upper surface of the developing container 16a. On the other hand, the printer body 4 is provided with a toner receiving opening (not shown) which is opened in the lower surface (bottom surface) of the accommodation space 4a.
These two receiving openings are communicated with each other via a toner supply pipe (not shown). A screw feeder (not shown) is arranged in the toner supply pipe. Further, the toner container 22 is provided with a toner replenishment opening that opens on the lower surface of the toner container 22. When the toner container 22 is mounted in the accommodation space 4 a of the printer body 4, the toner container 22 has a replenishment opening and the accommodation space 4 a.
The receiving opening arranged in a is communicated. The black toner contained in the toner container 22 is replenished to the developing device 16 by the screw feeder through the toner replenishing pipe. A lock leaf spring member 11 and a locking hole 10c (not shown), which have substantially the same configurations as those described above, are provided on the ceiling portions of the toner container 22 and the storage space 4a, respectively.

From the toner container 10B, the toner container 12B, the toner container 14B and the toner container 22, the corresponding developing devices 10A, 12A and 14 are selected.
Toners are supplied to A and 16 respectively by the developing device 1
This is performed based on the detection signal of a toner density sensor (not shown) provided in 0A, 12A, 14A and 16. Further, the developing units 10, 12 and 14 and the developing device 16 can be inserted as a process unit from the printer main body 4 toward the front so as to be freely drawn out.

Next, embodiments of the toner replenishing device and the toner container used therein according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The toner replenishing device according to the present invention includes a developing container 100A (see FIG. 1) included in the developing device 100.
And a toner container 200 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).
It has and. As will be easily understood from the following description, the toner replenishing device and the toner container used therefor according to the present invention include the developing units 10, 12 and 1 described above.
4 and toner containers 10B, 12B and 14B used for them. Further, the present invention is also applied to the toner replenishing device including the developing device 16 and the toner container 22 and the toner container 22 used therein.

First, the developing device 100 will be described.
Referring to FIG. 1, a developing device 100 for developing using a two-component developer composed of a carrier and a toner includes a developing container 100A, a cylindrical sleeve member disposed in the developing container 100A, and a sleeve member inside the developing container 100A. And a stirring and transporting member (not shown) for stirring and transporting the developer contained in the developing container 100A. A well-known configuration may be used as the basic configuration of the developing device 100 itself, and since it does not form the feature of the present invention, further detailed description will be omitted.

A vertically long developing container 100A made of an appropriate synthetic resin is spaced from the top wall 102 that substantially closes the internal space from above and the width direction of the developing container 100A, that is, the width direction of the top wall 102. And side walls 104 and 105 which are upright from the upper surface of the ceiling wall 102 so as to extend parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction, and one of the longitudinal direction of the developing container 100A, that is, the longitudinal direction of the ceiling wall 102 (in FIG. An end wall 106 which is upright from the upper surface of the ceiling wall 102 at one end in the upper direction and is connected to one end in the longitudinal direction of the side walls 104 and 105. Therefore, the upper surface of the top wall 102 is surrounded by the side walls 104 and 105 and the end wall 106 on both sides in the width direction and one end in the longitudinal direction, and the upper end and the other end in the longitudinal direction are open. The top wall 102 that defines the upper surface of the developing container 100A has a substantially rectangular shape that is vertically long in a plan view, and the upper surface is a flat surface except for a partial region. Of the sidewalls 104 and 105,
The height from the upper surface of the ceiling wall 102 to the upper ends 104a and 105a is substantially the same as each other, and is substantially constant from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction.

A central region in the longitudinal direction of the ceiling wall 102, and between the center in the width direction and the side wall 104 on one side in the width direction, a constant height (for example, 3 to 4) from the upper surface of the ceiling wall 102 is provided.
A protrusion 107 that extends to a height of about mm) is provided. The protruding portion 107 has a substantially rectangular shape that is vertically long in the longitudinal direction, and the toner receiving opening 108 (FIG. 2) that opens on the flat upper surface (and thus the upper surface of the ceiling wall 102) and the lower surface of the protruding portion 107 is formed on the protruding portion 107. 1 and FIG. 7) are formed. As clearly shown in FIG. 7, the upper surface around the receiving opening 108 which is relatively elongated in the longitudinal direction is covered with a sealing member 109 made of a foamed synthetic resin having elasticity. The sealing member 109 provided in the protruding portion 107 and having a vertically long and slender substantially rectangular plane shape is flat at almost the same height in almost all regions of the upper surface, but the upper surface of one end portion on the other side in the longitudinal direction. Are formed to be slightly higher than the upper surface of the above region. In the protrusion 107,
The other end 107a in the longitudinal direction serves to connect the toner container 200 to the developing container 100, as will be easily understood from the following description.
When the developer container 100A is locked in A and is moved in the mounting direction which is one of the longitudinal directions of the developing container 100A, the supply opening shutter 217
Is configured to move the supply opening shutter 217 relatively from the closed position to the open position. Therefore, this stopper exists on the locus of movement of the supply opening shutter 217 in the mounting direction. The region of the ceiling wall 102 where the protrusion 107 is formed is formed slightly lower than the flat surface of the other region of the ceiling wall 102.

Projection 1 on the top wall 102 of the developing container 100A
At 07, a closed position for closing the receiving opening 108 (see FIG. 1)
And an open position for opening the receiving opening 108 (see FIGS. 7 and 9)
A receiving opening shutter 110 is provided which is slidable in the longitudinal direction of the developing container 100A. The receiving opening shutter 110 is arranged so as to cover the upper surface and both side surfaces of the seal member 109 and slidable in the longitudinal direction with respect to the seal member 109. The receiving opening shutter 110 formed of an appropriate synthetic resin has a rectangular shape that is vertically long in the longitudinal direction when viewed from a plane. A pair of guides 112 for guiding the receiving opening shutter 110 along the longitudinal direction are provided on the upper surface of the protrusion 107.
Are arranged so as to extend in the longitudinal direction along the outside of both side surfaces of the receiving opening shutter 110 and the upper surfaces of both side portions. Only one of the guides 112 is shown in FIG. A pair of tension coil springs 114 are disposed between one end of the receiving opening shutter 110 on one side in the longitudinal direction on both sides in the width direction and one end of the protruding portion 107 on the other side in the longitudinal direction. ing. The receiving aperture shutter 110 is positioned in the closed position by each of the tension coil springs 114. In addition, the projecting portion 107 having the receiving opening 108 formed therein, the pair of guides 112 formed on the projecting portion 107, the seal member 109 disposed on the projecting portion 107, the receiving opening shutter 110, and the pair of tension coil springs 114 are provided. It can be formed as a unit, and can be detachably fastened to the upper surface of the ceiling wall 102 with a screw (not shown).
It is preferable for improving workability in assembling and disassembling, maintainability and the like.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 9 and 11, the ceiling wall 1
A block portion 120 is integrally formed in a region near one end in the longitudinal direction on the upper surface of 02, which is an extension of the receiving opening shutter 110 in the longitudinal direction so as to extend upward from the upper surface of the ceiling wall 102. Has been done. A rotation operation guide groove 122 is formed in the block portion 120. As will be easily understood from the description below, the rotation operation guide groove 122 is disposed in the toner container 200 by engagement with a rotation operation guided pin 244 described later when the toner container 200 is attached and detached. The rotary shutter member 240, which will be described later, is guided to rotate, and spirally extends in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the movement locus of the rotationally actuated guided pin 244 in the longitudinal direction. More specifically, the rotary operation guide groove 122 that constitutes the rotary operation guide means has a substantially channel-shaped cross section, and the open end of the rotary operation guide groove 122 is
At one end portion on the other side (obliquely lower right side in FIG. 1) in the longitudinal direction, it is oriented substantially horizontally in one of the width directions of the developing container 100A (left side in FIG. 11), and the rotation operation guide groove 122, At the other end of the one side in the longitudinal direction (the diagonally upper left side in FIG. 1), the other end is directed to the upper side of the developing container 100A, and from the one end of the block section 120 on the other side in the longitudinal direction. It spirally extends downward toward the other end on one side in the longitudinal direction.

The block portion 120 is also provided with an unlocking protrusion 124. A lock release protrusion 124 for releasing a lock of a rotary shutter member 240, which will be described later, provided in the toner container 200 is provided with a rotation operation guide groove 122.
From the upper position of the one end portion of the rotation operation guide groove 122 toward the other direction in the longitudinal direction of the developing container 100A, which is the direction opposite to the mounting direction of the toner container 200, that is, the separating direction. And extends linearly and parallel to the upper surface of the ceiling wall 102. The lock releasing projection 124 that constitutes the lock releasing means has an L-shaped cross section. The unlocking protrusion 124 is a locked protrusion 259 formed on the lower end region of the arm portion 252 of the lock elastic member 250, which will be described later, of the toner container 200.
Are arranged on a movement locus in the mounting direction.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 9, the developing container 100.
A leaf spring member 130 is mounted on the upper surface of the ceiling wall 102 of A. The leaf spring member 130 made of an appropriate synthetic resin having elasticity is provided in a region between the projecting portion 107 which is a region where the receiving opening 108 is arranged and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the developing container 100A. Are arranged so as to extend in the longitudinal direction along the upper surface of the ceiling wall 102. The leaf spring member 130 has a rectangular planar shape that is vertically long in the longitudinal direction as a whole. One end 132 in the longitudinal direction of the leaf spring member 130 is inclined obliquely toward one end 132a in the longitudinal direction and upward. Leaf spring member 13
A protrusion 134 having a substantially V-shaped vertical cross section is formed at an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of 0. The projecting portion 134 has two slanted portions 1 that slant upwards relatively gently.
It is composed of 34a and 134b. Leaf spring member 1
A recess 133 having a rectangular planar shape is formed at the other end of the longitudinal direction of 30. The flat lower surface of the recess 133 is located at a lower position that projects downward than the lower surfaces of other portions. A hole (not shown) for mounting with a screw is formed in the center of the recess 133. In addition, the leaf spring member 130 also includes the leaf spring member 1 from the center portion in the width direction of the protrusion 134.
A rectangular notch 136 extending toward the other end in the longitudinal direction of 30 is formed. A tongue piece 1 that extends obliquely downward from the base end of the notch 136 on the other end side in the longitudinal direction toward the one side in the longitudinal direction along the upper surface of the ceiling wall 102.
37 is formed.

The leaf spring member 130 configured as described above
The recess 133 formed at the other end in the longitudinal direction is removably fastened to the ceiling wall 102 by a screw 139.
With the other end of the leaf spring member 130 fixed to the upper surface of the ceiling wall 102, the lower surface of the tip of the tongue piece 137 abuts against the upper surface of the ceiling wall 102 or is elastically pressed with a slight pressure. As a result, the leaf spring member 13 is provided between the lower surface of the area other than the other end of the leaf spring member 130 and the upper surface of the ceiling wall 102.
An appropriate gap is formed to allow an elastic displacement of zero. Thereby, at least one end 132a of the leaf spring member 130,
The area where the protrusions 134 are formed is the leaf spring member 13
The elastic force of the leaf spring member 130 itself when it is elastically displaced toward the upper surface of the top wall 102 from the mounting position of 0 by elastically displacing it toward the upper surface and is released. Can return to the original mounting position. Further, with the leaf spring member 130 mounted on the upper surface of the ceiling wall 102, the one end 132 a and the top region of the protrusion 134 are the replenishment opening shutter 217 disposed in the toner container 200 and a part of the toner container 200. The lower end of a certain protrusion 216c (both of which will be described later) exists on the locus of movement of the toner container 200 in the mounting direction and the detaching direction. The top surface of the top wall 102, in which the leaf spring member 130 is disposed, is formed slightly lower than the flat surface of the other area (the area where the protrusion 107 is formed). On the same plane). In addition, the leaf spring member 1
30 has at least the other end in the longitudinal direction fixed to the upper surface of the ceiling wall 102, and a region of the leaf spring member 130 where at least one end 132a and the protrusion 134 are formed is located on the ceiling wall 102 from the attachment position. There is another embodiment in which the notch 136 and the tongue piece 137 are not formed because it is elastically displaced toward the upper surface and returned to the original mounting position by the elastic force.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, a cover member made of an appropriate synthetic resin is detachably attached to the developing container 100A so as to cover the upper surface thereof. An accommodation space for the toner container 200 is formed below the cover member.
This cover member has substantially the same configuration as the cover member 10b, a part of which is shown in FIG. 14, and the lower surfaces on both sides in the width direction of the cover member have upper ends 104a and 105a of the side walls 104 and 105. A space is provided above each of the above, and they are mounted so as to straddle them in the width direction of the developing container 100A. Side walls 104 and 10 of the developing container 100A
The gaps provided between the upper ends 104a and 105a of the toner cartridge 5 and the lower surfaces of both side portions of the cover member are respectively described below in the width direction both side portions (the flange portion 214, the flange portion 222, and the seal member) of the toner container 200. It is possible to smoothly guide the sliding movement of the developing container 100 </ b> A in the longitudinal direction on both sides of the overlapping portion 224). An engaging hole (not shown) having a rectangular plane shape is formed at the front end in the longitudinal direction of the cover member that covers the upper surface of the developing container 100A. This locking hole has substantially the same structure as the locking hole 10c formed in the cover member 10b shown in FIG.

Next, a description will be given of the toner container 200 detachably mountable on the developing container 100A by engaging with the developing container 100A and moving the developing container 100A in one mounting direction in the longitudinal direction. All of the toner containers 200 according to the present invention are made of appropriate synthetic resin members, and no metal is used. The other longitudinal direction of the developing container 100A is the detaching direction (that is, the pulling direction) of the toner container 200.
2 to 4, the toner container 200 includes a main body 210 and a lid member 220. The vertically long main body 210 formed of an appropriate synthetic resin has a bottom wall 211.
And a pair of side walls 2 arranged on both sides of the bottom wall 211 in the width direction.
12 and a pair of end walls 213 arranged at both ends of the bottom wall 211 in the longitudinal direction. A flange portion 214 that extends laterally outward is formed at the upper end of each of the side walls 212. A flange portion extending to the other side in the longitudinal direction is formed at the upper end portion of the end wall 213 on the one side in the longitudinal direction, and the flange portion extending to the other side in the longitudinal direction is formed at the upper end portion of the end wall 213 on the other side in the longitudinal direction. A flange portion (not shown) extending to the other side in the longitudinal direction is formed.

A flange portion 222 is formed on the peripheral edge of a vertically long lid member 220 made of an appropriate synthetic resin. An annular seal member 2 is provided on the upper surface and the upper surface of each flange portion of the end wall 213.
By being superposed via 24, it is mounted so as to cover the upper end opening of the main body 210. It should be noted that one or one end in the longitudinal direction of the toner container 200 is diagonally upper left or diagonally upper left in FIG. 2, left or left end in FIG.
And the other or the other end in the longitudinal direction respectively indicate the lower right corner or the lower right corner in FIG. 2, and the right side or the right end not shown in FIG. 3, respectively. One of the longitudinal directions of the toner container 200 coincides with the mounting direction, and the other longitudinal direction coincides with the detaching direction. The other end portion of the lid member 220 in the longitudinal direction is provided with
A lock leaf spring member 11 having substantially the same construction as that shown in FIG. 4 is provided.

A position in the central region of the bottom wall 211 in the longitudinal direction, which is slightly closer to the one side in the longitudinal direction than the center, and the widthwise center of the toner container 200 and one side in the widthwise direction (right side in FIG. 4). A toner replenishment opening 215 is formed on the lower surface and the upper surface (inner surface) of the bottom wall 211 at a position between the toner supply opening 215 and the side wall 212. More specifically, the bottom wall 211 has a constant width in a substantially central region in the longitudinal direction between the center in the width direction and the side wall 212 on the one side in the width direction of the bottom wall 211. A rectangular protruding region 216 is formed by a pair of side surfaces 216b extending in a straight line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the toner container 200 and a lower surface 216a formed between the lower ends of the side surfaces 216b. ing. In the embodiment, the lower surface 216a formed by the ribs arranged in a grid and the lower ends of the frame portions
Have a vertically elongated rectangular shape or strip shape, and are positioned on a substantially common plane. The replenishment opening 215 having a rectangular planar shape that is vertically long in the longitudinal direction is formed between the center of the lower surface 216a in the longitudinal direction and one end on one side in the longitudinal direction, and the lower surface 216a and the upper surface (inner surface). It is open to. The projecting area 216 is arranged at least over a range in which a supply opening shutter 217 described later slides in the longitudinal direction. Each of the side surfaces 216b is formed with a guide groove extending in the longitudinal direction along each of the side surfaces 216b.

As clearly shown in FIG. 4, the bottom wall 211
In the projecting area 216, the upper surface of the area where the replenishment opening 215 is formed, that is, the inner surface of the toner container 200 is formed so that the transverse cross section has a substantially arc shape. The arc-shaped axis is substantially common to the axis of the rotary shutter member 240 described later, and the radius of the arc is
It is formed to be slightly larger than the radius of the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 240A (described later) of the rotary shutter member 240. The inner surface of the protruding region 216 of the bottom wall 211, which has the above-mentioned arc shape, has a large-diameter cylindrical portion 240 of the rotary shutter member 240.
It is formed over the range where A is present. Figure 4
In the figure, reference numeral 202 denotes a toner container 200 for stirring the toner contained in the toner container 200.
The numeral 204 designates a stirring member rotatably arranged therein, the numeral 204 designates the rotation shaft of another stirring member, and the numeral 206 designates an opening for toner replenishment arranged in the other end wall 213 in the longitudinal direction. There is. The other stirring members including the stirring member 202 and the rotating shaft 204 are all made of an appropriate synthetic resin. The toner supply opening 206 is detachably closed by a lid made of an appropriate synthetic resin after the toner container 200 is filled with a predetermined amount of toner.

Below the projecting region 216 of the bottom wall 211, that is, below the supply opening 215, the supply opening shutter 21 is provided.
7 is disposed slidably in the longitudinal direction between a closed position (see FIGS. 2 to 4) that closes the supply opening 215 and an open position (see FIGS. 8 to 10) that opens the supply opening 215. ing. The supply opening shutter 217 made of an appropriate synthetic resin has a vertically long rectangular shape in the longitudinal direction when viewed from a plane, and flange portions 217a extending upward are formed on both sides in the width direction thereof. Guided protrusions are formed inside each of the flange portions 217a, and in the supply opening shutter 217, the guided protrusions of the flange portion 217a guide the corresponding side surfaces 216b of the protruding region 216 of the bottom wall 211. By fitting in the groove, the protruding area 2
It is mounted so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction along the line 16.

The flange portion 21 of the supply opening shutter 217
Between the inner side surface of 7a and the corresponding side surface 216b, the slide movement of the supply opening shutter 217 in the longitudinal direction is released within a certain range with the supply opening shutter 217 positioned at the closed position. A regulation means (not shown) for freely regulating is provided. The restricting means can be easily configured by forming an appropriate number of appropriate movement restricting protrusions with each other. Then, the not-shown movement-regulating projection formed inside the flange portion 217a of the supply opening shutter 217 rides over the corresponding not-shown movement-regulating projection formed outside the corresponding side surface 216b by elastic deformation of the flange portion 217a. Thus, it becomes possible to forcibly allow the sliding movement of the supply opening shutter 217 in the longitudinal direction. On the upper surface of the supply opening shutter 217, a seal member (not shown) that seals the lower surface 216a of the projecting region 216 including the peripheral portion of the supply opening 215 in the closed position so as to be relatively slidable,
For example, it is preferable to arrange a synthetic resin film in order to improve the sealing property. It is preferable that the seal member is configured to project from the both ends of the replenishment opening shutter 217 in the longitudinal direction by a predetermined length in order to reduce the leakage of toner more effectively.

One end of the protruding region 216 of the bottom wall 211 in the longitudinal direction is defined by a step portion 219 which will be described later and extends at a right angle from one end of the lower surface 216a of the protruding region 216 toward the lower surface of the bottom wall 211. The other end of the projecting region 216 in the longitudinal direction extends from the other end of each of the side walls 216b to the bottom wall 21.
1 is defined by a relatively short wall extending in the width direction. The lower surface 216a of the projecting area 216 has a lower surface 216a.
Is slightly extended from the other end toward the other in the longitudinal direction. A lower surface region of the bottom wall 211 between the other end of the extension of the lower surface 216a in the longitudinal direction and the other end of the bottom wall 211 in the longitudinal direction is substantially the same as the lower surface 216a of the protruding region 216. A lower surface region 2 extending in the longitudinal direction with a width
It consists of 16c. The lower surface area 216c is formed of a flat surface slightly lower than the lower surface 216a, and has a protruding area 216.
Has a rectangular shape or a strip shape that is slightly longer than the lower surface 216a. The lower surface 216a of the projecting area 216 and the strip-shaped lower surface area 2
A step is formed at the boundary with 16c. Bottom wall 211
In the above, the protruding region 216 and the strip-shaped lower surface region 21
One side of the toner container 200 in the width direction of 6c is continuous with the side wall 212, and the protruding region 2
Another flat lower surface area 211A exists on the other side of the 16 and the strip-shaped lower surface area 216c in the width direction of the toner container 200. The other flat lower surface area 211A of the bottom wall 211 is slightly lower than the lower surface 216a of the protruding area 216 and the strip-shaped lower surface area 216c. The protruding area 2
16 and a flat lower surface region 211A parallel to the other side in the width direction, a recess 211B is formed, and a strip-shaped lower surface region 216c and another flat lower surface region 216c parallel to the other side in the width direction. The inclined step portion 2 is provided between the lower surface area 211A and the lower surface area 211A.
11D is formed.

Lower surface 216 of protruding region 216 of bottom wall 211
a, the lower surface of the replenishment opening shutter 217 (see FIG. 9) positioned at the open position at a position near the other side of the toner container 200 with respect to the other end on the other side in the longitudinal direction, in the embodiment. A projection 216d is formed on the lower surface area 21 at one end of the strip-shaped lower surface area 216c in the longitudinal direction.
6c, the lower surface region 216c is extended downward and extends linearly over substantially the entire width direction. Protrusion 216d
Has a fixed width that matches the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall 211 and a lower end whose transverse cross section broken in the longitudinal direction is semicircular. The bottom end of the protrusion 216d has a supply opening shutter 217.
Is substantially flush with the lower surface of the. The lower surface of the supply opening shutter 217 exists on the same plane as or slightly higher than the lower surface area 211A of the bottom wall 211.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the toner container 200 includes a screw member 230 for conveying the toner contained in the toner container 200 to the replenishment opening 215, and an outer periphery of the screw member 230. A relative rotation unit U including a rotation shutter member 240 having a substantially cylindrical shape, which is arranged on the outer side in the radial direction of the screw member 230 so as to be relatively rotatable along the surface, is provided. The screw member 230 formed of an appropriate synthetic resin is a shaft 23 in which a screw 232 is integrally formed.
3 and another shaft 234 made of an appropriate synthetic resin.
And a shaft 233 arranged on the other side in the longitudinal direction.
In the axial direction, one end portion on one side in the longitudinal direction and the other end portion on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the other shaft 234 arranged on the one side in the longitudinal direction in the axial direction are prevented from rotating relative to each other. It is detachably connected. The rotary shutter member 240 formed of an appropriate synthetic resin includes a large-diameter cylindrical portion 240A arranged on the other side in the longitudinal direction and a small-diameter cylindrical portion 240B arranged on one side in the longitudinal direction, One end on one side in the longitudinal direction of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 240A and the other end on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 240B are connected to each other in an axially detachable manner so as not to rotate relative to each other. ing.

The relative rotation unit U constructed in this way
The end of the shaft 233 on the other side in the longitudinal direction is the bottom wall 21.
1. The support portion 216 disposed on the inner surface side of the first protruding region 216.
It is rotatably supported by s (see FIG. 3). The end of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 240A on the other side in the longitudinal direction has a shaft 233.
Is relatively rotatably supported at a position in the vicinity of the other end in the longitudinal direction. A position of the small diameter cylindrical portion 240B in the vicinity of the other end portion on the other side in the longitudinal direction is rotatably supported by a support portion 211s (see FIG. 3) arranged on the inner surface side of the other region of the bottom wall 211. One end of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 240B on one side in the longitudinal direction is rotatably supported by one end of the other shaft 234 on one side in the longitudinal direction. A region of the rotary shutter member 240 near one end in the mounting direction is arranged in a region near one end in the mounting direction of the toner container 200.

A partial region 218 of the bottom wall 211 extending from one end in the longitudinal direction of the protruding region 216 of the bottom wall 211 toward one end in the longitudinal direction of the toner container 200.
Has an arc shape that covers at least a lower region from the axial center of the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 240A to the other end region of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 240B on the other side in the longitudinal direction.
The lower surface 216a of the protruding region 216 of the bottom wall 211 is located slightly below the arcuate lowermost end 218a of the partial region 218. With such a configuration, a step portion 219 extending in the width direction of the toner container 200 is formed at the boundary between the protruding region 216 and the partial region 218 having an arc shape. The step portion 219 extends upward from one end of the lower surface 216a of the protruding region 216 in the longitudinal direction at right angles to the lower surface 216a toward the peripheral surface of the partial region 218. As will be easily understood from the description below, the step portion 219 is formed in the longitudinal direction of the receiving opening shutter 110 disposed in the developing container 100A when the toner container 200 is moved in the mounting direction. The other end is locked (specifically, brought into contact with the other end) to slide the receiving opening shutter 110 from the closed position to the open position, which is a locking part that is a part of the toner container 200.

A toner discharge opening 242 (see FIGS. 4, 9 and 10) and a pair of toner supply openings 243 (see FIGS. 5 and 9) are formed in the large-diameter cylindrical portion 240A. There is. The supply openings 243 are formed at the same angular position in the circumferential direction with the discharge opening 242 sandwiched in the axial direction, and the discharge openings 242 are arranged at a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction with respect to each of the supply openings 243, in the embodiment. It is formed at an angular position deviated by 90 ° in the direction. As will be easily understood from the description below, the rotary shutter member 240 is provided with the replenishment opening 215.
And a closed position where the large-diameter cylindrical portion 240A closes the supply opening 215 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) and an open position where the discharge opening 242 aligns with the supply opening 215 and opens the supply opening 215 (FIGS. 9 and 4). (See 10), and can be rotated. The outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 240A has a protruding region 21 of the bottom wall 211.
6 is positioned so as to be relatively rotatable with a gap on the inner surface of the circular arc shape.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6, and 11, the small diameter cylindrical portion 240B of the rotary shutter member 240 is provided with a rotationally actuated guided pin 244 constituting a rotationally actuated guided means. It is set up. Rotationally operated guided pin 244
Extends radially outward from the outer peripheral surface in the region near the one end of the small diameter cylindrical portion 240B. The rotationally actuated guided pin 244 is formed at the same circumferential angular position as the discharge opening 242 formed in the large-diameter cylindrical portion 240A. Note that FIG. 5 shows a state in which the rotary shutter member 240 is positioned at the open position.

Locking means for releasably locking the rotary shutter member 240 at the closed position is provided in a region near the one end of the toner container 200. This locking means is a small diameter cylindrical portion 240 of the rotary shutter member 240.
A lock pin 245 that extends radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the rotationally actuated guided pin 244 in the vicinity of the opposite side to the mounting direction with respect to the rotationally actuated guided pin 244, and extends in the vertical direction of the toner container 200. And a lock elastic member 250 disposed in the toner container 200 so as to be rotatable around a shaft 250A.

The lock pin 245 is at the predetermined angle with respect to the rotationally actuated guided pin 244, 90 in the embodiment.
It is arranged so that the angular position in the circumferential direction is different by only °. The lock pin 245 has substantially the same diameter as the rotationally actuated guided pin 244, but is shorter than the rotationally actuated guided pin 244. On the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 240B, at a position 180 ° opposite to the lock pin 245, another pin 246 extending radially outward from the outer peripheral surface is formed. The other pins 246 have substantially the same shape and size as the lock pins 245, and are arranged on a common axis. The lock elastic member 250 includes the lock pin 245.
It includes an arm portion 252 that releasably blocks the rotational movement of the. The arm portion 252 exists on the rotation locus of the lock pin 245 and substantially blocks the rotational movement of the lock pin 245 to lock the rotary shutter member 240 in the closed position (in FIGS. 2 and 6). (See the position indicated by the solid line) and the elastic force of the other part of the lock elastic member 250 to withdraw from the rotation locus of the lock pin 245 to allow the rotational movement of the lock pin 245, thereby rotating the shutter member 240. Can be rotated between a lock release position (see a position indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8) that allows rotation between the closed position and the open position.

More specifically, in the region near the one end of the bottom wall 211 of the toner container 200, the rotary shutter member 240 is spaced above the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter cylindrical portion 240B of the rotary shutter member 240. The flat lower surface 211a extending parallel to the axis and the axis of the rotary shutter member 240 on one side (left side in FIG. 6) in the width direction of the toner container 200 which is a direction orthogonal to the axis. Lower surface 211a so as to extend parallel to
And a side wall 211b that hangs from the side. Side wall 2
11b extends in the mounting direction from an end portion of the arc-shaped partial area 218 of the bottom wall 211 on the mounting direction side, and the tip of the side wall 211b and the toner container 200.
Of the lower surface 211 between the end wall 213 and the end wall 213 on the mounting direction side.
a is formed. On the lower surface 211a, the side wall 21
The shaft 250A hangs from the lower surface 211a at a position near the tip of the mounting direction 1b. The proximal end portion of the arm portion 252 of the lock elastic member 250 has a shaft 250A.
It is rotatably supported by.

The lock elastic member 250 will be described below in a state in which it is positioned at the home position (lock position) where external force does not act (see the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 6). The lock elastic member 250 integrally formed of an appropriate synthetic resin having elasticity crosses the small-diameter cylindrical portion 240B of the rotary shutter member 240 substantially right above the rotary shutter member 250 along the lower surface 211a from the shaft 250A. And the arm portion 252 that extends
An intermediate portion 254 extending from the tip of 2 along the lower surface 211a in a direction (separation direction) opposite to the mounting direction;
4 is curved along the lower surface 211a from the tip of No. 4 and is inverted to the mounting direction side, and the lower surface 211a from the tip of the inverting section 255 toward the side wall 211b in the mounting direction.
And an elastic action portion 256 extending along the. The lock elastic member 250 has substantially the same thickness as a whole, but the plate-shaped arm portion 252 is formed to have a relatively wide width so that the arm portion 252 is not elastically deformed. ing. On the other hand, the other intermediate portion 254, the reversal portion 255, and the elastic action portion 256 have a width considerably narrower than that of the arm portion 252, and are configured so that elastic deformation is effectively performed.

The arm portion 252 has a notch 25 extending in the axial direction of the rotary shutter member 240 from one side surface facing the mounting direction to the other side surface of the arm portion 252.
7 are formed. The cutout 257 is formed on the lock pin 24.
The lock pin 245 has a width larger than the diameter of 5 and can be detachably fitted to the tip of the lock pin 245. Arm 252
Has its proximal end rotatably supported by the shaft 250A, and the proximal end is formed with a projection 258 extending radially outward, as clearly shown in FIG. . A stopper 213a corresponding to the protrusion 258 is formed on the end wall 213 on the mounting direction side so as to extend in the detaching direction. One side surface of the protrusion 258 is positioned in contact with or close to one side surface of the stopper 213a. With this arrangement, the arm portion 252 is prevented from rotating clockwise in FIG. 6, but is allowed to rotate counterclockwise. A locked projection 259 that projects downward is formed on the lower surface of the one end of the arm portion 252 that is on the mounting direction side. The lower surface of the locked projection 259 on the mounting direction side is formed with an inclined surface that is inclined downward in the detaching direction. As will be described later, the toner container 20
When 0 is engaged with the developing container 200A and moved in the mounting direction, the inclined surface of the locked projection 259 of the arm 252 is relatively locked to the tip of the lock release projection 124 ( 6), the arm portion 252 is relatively rotated about the axis 250A in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.

As clearly shown in FIG. 6, with the lock elastic member 250, and thus the arm portion 252, positioned at the lock position, the tip of the elastic action portion 256 is positioned in contact with or close to the side wall 211b. The lock pin 245 is attached to the small-diameter cylindrical portion 24 of the rotary shutter member 240.
0B from the outer peripheral surface to the lower surface 21 of the toner container 200.
The lock pin 245 is positioned so as to extend upward toward 1a, and the tip of the lock pin 245 has a notch 257 in the arm 252.
It is removably fitted in the inside (note that in FIG. 6 and FIG. 9, the other pin 246 which is coaxial with the lock pin 245 is omitted for easy understanding).
By fitting the tip end of the lock pin 245 into the notch 257, the tip end of the lock pin 245 will not be located in the notch 257 no matter which direction the rotational torque acts on the rotary shutter member 240. Since the lock pin 245 is brought into contact with one of the side faces, the rotational movement of the lock pin 245 is substantially prevented (a gap provided between the tip end of the lock pin 245 and one of the side faces of the notch 257). Only a slight rotational movement of the minute is allowed). Rotary shutter member 240
Rotation actuated pin 24 disposed on the small diameter cylindrical portion 240B of
4 is positioned so as to extend substantially parallel to the lower surface 211a from the outer peripheral surface at the angular position deviated from the lock pin by 90 ° toward the other side (right side in FIG. 6) in the width direction of the toner container 200. The cutout 257 is provided as a means for preventing the rotation of the lock pin 245.
Instead of this, a recess (not shown) having a similar planar shape may be formed at the same position of the arm portion 252.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, a pair of locking members arranged at intervals in the width direction are provided outside the end wall 213 on one side in the longitudinal direction of the toner container 200. The rods 260 and 262 and the tip of the other shaft 234 of the screw member 230 extend. A locking portion 264 disposed at one end of the shaft of the stirring member 202 (see FIG. 4) extends outside the end wall 213. Correspondingly, as shown in FIG. 1, inside the end wall 106 on one side in the longitudinal direction of the developing container 100A, as shown in FIG. Are formed. Inside the end wall 106, a locked portion 106c disposed on a drive shaft for driving the other shaft 234 of the screw member 230, and the stirring member 202.
Locked portion 106d disposed on a drive shaft for driving
Is extending. Locked part 1 arranged on each of the drive shafts
06c and 106d are arranged so as to be movable by a predetermined amount in the mounting direction via spring means arranged respectively.

Next, referring to FIGS. 6 to 11, the toner container 200 shown in FIG. 2 is replaced with the developing container 100A shown in FIG.
When the toner container 200 is mounted on the toner container 200, first, the front end portion of the toner container 200 on one side in the longitudinal direction is engaged with the other side of the developing container 100A in the longitudinal direction and moved in the mounting direction to a mounting position (not shown). FIG. 9 shows the toner container 2 in a state where the toner container 200 is positioned at the mounting position.
00 and the developing container 100A are partially shown. When the toner container 200 is moved to the mounting position, the lock leaf spring member 11 arranged on the lid member 220 is the locking hole formed on the cover member (not shown) of the developing container 100A (see FIG. 14 for both). The toner container 200 is detachably mounted at the mounting position. The locking rods 260 and 262 of the toner container 200 respectively correspond to the developing container 10
It is removably fitted and locked in the locked holes 106a and 106b of 0A. Further, the other shaft 234 of the screw member 230 of the toner container 200 is detachably drivably coupled to the locked portion 106c of the drive shaft of the developing container 100A, and the shaft locking portion 264 of the stirring member 202 is connected to the developing container. 100A
Is removably drivingly coupled to the locked portion 106d of the drive shaft. By disposing the spring means in the locked portions 106c and 106d, the other shaft 234 and the locking portion 26 are respectively provided.
When the locking angle phases in the circumferential direction do not coincide with each other at the time of driving connection with 4, the locked portions 106c and 106d are once moved in the mounting direction against the spring force, and occur at the start of driving. Due to the relative rotation between them, the locking angle phases are automatically matched and the locked portions 106c and 106d are locked.
Are returned to their original positions by the spring force, and mutual drive connection is automatically performed. As described above, the toner container 200 is housed in the housing space formed between the upper portion of the developing container 100A and the cover member, and is detachably mounted at a predetermined mounting position.

Developer container 100 of toner container 200
The mounting on A will be described more specifically. At the time of mounting, first, the front end portions of the widthwise both sides of the toner container 200 (widthwise both sides including the flange portion 214, the flange portion 222, and the overlapping portion of the seal member 224) are respectively attached to the top wall of the developing container 100A. The upper ends 104a and 105 of the side walls 104 and 105 arranged at 102
It is placed on a and is slid in the mounting direction along the above-mentioned gap provided between the above-mentioned cover member (not shown) that covers the upper surface of the developing container 100A and the lower surfaces on both sides in the width direction. . Each of the gaps on both sides of the developing container 100A prevents both sides of the toner container 200 from floating upward and contributes to smooth sliding movement. Further, since the upper ends of both side walls 212, which are directly below each of the flanges 214 of the toner container 200, are positioned inside the upper ends of the side walls 104 and 105 of the developing container 100A with a slight gap, Movement of the toner container 200 in the width direction is restricted. With the above configuration, the sliding movement of the toner container 200 in the mounting direction with respect to the developing container 100A is smoothly guided, which contributes to facilitation and smoothness of the mounting operation. By this slide movement,
The step portion 219, which is a part of the toner container 200, formed on the lower surface of the toner container 200 has the developing container 1
00A, one end of the receiving opening shutter 110 on the other side in the longitudinal direction is locked (abutting on one end), and the receiving opening shutter 110 resists the spring force of each tension coil spring 114. Slide from the closed position to the open position in the same direction. As a result, the receiving opening 1 of the developing container 100A
08 is opened.

Further, the replenishment opening 2 of the toner container 200
One end on one side in the longitudinal direction of the replenishment opening shutter 217 disposed on the lower side of 15 is the top wall 1 of the developing container 100A.
The other end 1 of the protrusion 107 arranged in the longitudinal direction 02 in the longitudinal direction.
Since the movement of the replenishment opening shutter 217 in the mounting direction is relatively blocked by being locked (contacted) with 07a, the replenishment opening shutter 217 is relatively moved from the closed position to the open position in the detaching direction. You can slide it. as a result,
The lower side of the supply opening 215 of the toner container 200 is opened. In the state where the replenishment opening shutter 217 is positioned at the open position, the other end of the replenishment opening shutter 217 on the other side in the longitudinal direction is arranged on the projection 216d provided on the lower surface of the toner container 200 and the developing container 100A. The leaf spring member 130 is positioned close to the one end 132a (see FIG. 9).

Furthermore, at least the rotationally actuated guided pin 244 of the toner container 200 is connected to the developing container 100A.
Before the rotary shutter member 240 starts to rotate from the closed position to the open position by being engaged with and guided by the rotation operation guide groove 122 of the developing container 100A.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a locked protruding portion 25 which is a tip end region of the arm portion 252 of the lock elastic member 250 of the toner container 200.
Lock the inclined surface of 9 (contact the inclined surface). The lock release protrusion 124 relatively urges the locked protrusion 259 of the arm portion 252 in the direction opposite to the mounting direction, so that the tip end of the elastic action portion 256 is pressed against the side wall 211b to at least the elastic action portion. 256 is elastically deformed. The arm portion 252 is rotated around the axis 250A from the locked position to the unlocked position against the elastic force (see the position indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 6). Lock pin 24
The distal end of 5 is disengaged from the inside of the notch 257 of the arm portion 252 in the axial direction of the rotary shutter member 240 (the mounting direction), and the rotational movement of the lock pin 245 is allowed (enabled). Note that FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 9 and is a cross-sectional view showing only a main part thereof, and thus is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the toner container 200 is moved to the mounting position. However, in order to facilitate understanding, regarding the lock elastic member 250, the lock elastic member 250 located in the lock position and the lock release protrusion 124 are disposed.
The relative positional relationship between the side wall 211b and the side wall 211b is not shown in a sectional view.

Subsequently, since the rotation operation guided pin 244 is engaged with and guided by the rotation operation guide groove 122,
The rotary shutter member 240 is rotated from the closed position to the open position by a predetermined angle of approximately 90 °. The discharge opening 242 of the rotary shutter member 240 is aligned with the supply opening 215 inside the supply opening 215. As a result, the supply opening 215 and the discharge opening 242 of the toner container 200 are aligned with each other and communicated with the receiving opening 108 of the developing container 100A. Toner supply opening 243 disposed in the large-diameter cylindrical portion 240A of the rotary shutter member 240.
Each of which is directed upwards. As a result, the toner contained in the toner container 200 is effectively supplied to the screw member 230 through each of the supply openings 243.
The screw member 230 efficiently discharges the opening 242.
Be transported to. When the screw member 230 in the toner container 200 is rotationally driven based on the detection signal of the toner concentration sensor (not shown) provided in the developing container 100A, the toner contained in the toner container 200 is
The toner is replenished into the developing container 100A through the discharge opening 242, the replenishment opening 215 and the receiving opening 108.

As described above, in the process of engaging the one end of the toner container 200 on one side in the longitudinal direction with the developing container 100A and moving it in the mounting direction, the inverted V-shaped protrusion of the leaf spring member 130. The replenishment opening of the toner container 200 is formed by the relatively gentle inclined portions 134a and 134b, and the one end 132 of the leaf spring member 130 is also inclined relatively gently upward in the mounting direction. Even if a part of the shutter 217 first comes into contact with the inclined portion 134b on the other side in the longitudinal direction and then comes into contact with the one end portion 132 inclined upward, they do not resist the elastic force of the leaf spring member 130. It can be pushed down easily to smoothly get over, and the opening of the supply opening shutter 217 can be surely prevented. The protrusions 216d formed on the lower surface of the toner container 200 are processed in the same manner, and the inclined portion 134b of the leaf spring member 130 and the one end portion 1 are formed.
You can get over 32 smoothly.

The toner contained in the toner container 200 is consumed, and the toner container 200 is transferred to the developing container 100.
When the toner container 200 is to be released from A, the front side of the lock leaf spring member 11 (see FIG. 14) of the toner container 200 is pushed downward against its elastic force to lock the protruding portion 11d.
The engagement with the engagement hole 10c may be released, and the toner container 200 may be slid with respect to the developing container 100A in the detaching direction opposite to the attaching direction. Developer container 100
The receiving opening shutter 110 of A has a tension coil spring 114.
Each spring force automatically returns from the open position to the closed position. The receiving opening 108 is closed by a receiving opening shutter 110.

The other end of the replenishment opening shutter 217 of the toner container 200 on the other side in the longitudinal direction is locked to one end 132a of the leaf spring member 130 arranged in the developing container 100A. (Contacted),
Since the movement in the detaching direction is relatively blocked, the sliding movement is relatively performed from the open position to the closed position. The lower side of the supply opening 215 is closed by a supply opening shutter 217. Then, at the same time as or immediately after the replenishment opening shutter 217 is returned from the open position to the closed position (moved to the closed position) as described above, the protrusion 216d disposed on the toner container 200 is a plate. The leaf spring member 1 is brought into contact with the inclined portion 134a on one side in the longitudinal direction of the inverted V-shaped protrusion 134 of the spring member 130.
Since it is forced downward against the elastic force of 30, the one end 132a of the leaf spring member 130 is attached to the top wall 192 of the developing container 100A.
Is displaced downward toward the upper surface of the leaf spring member 13
The locking of the one end 132a of 0 to the replenishment opening shutter 217 is released. As a result, the replenishment opening shutter 2
17 is moved in the detaching direction while being positioned at the closed position. Further, as described above, the inverted V-shaped projection portion 134 of the leaf spring member 130 has the relatively gentle slope portion 1.
Since it is composed of 34a and 134b, in the process of moving the toner container 200 in the detaching direction,
Even if the lower end portion of the replenishment opening shutter 217 of the toner container 200 abuts on the inclined portion 134a on one side in the longitudinal direction, it can be easily pushed down against the elastic force of the leaf spring member 130 to smoothly get over. , Supply opening shutter 21
Opening of 7 is reliably prevented.

Further, as described above, the developing container 1
When the toner container 200 mounted on the toner container 200A is moved in the detaching direction, the rotation operation guided pin 245 arranged on the toner container 200 is engaged with the rotation operation guide groove 122 arranged on the developing container 100A. The rotary operation guided pin 245 thus guided is guided to the rotary operation guide groove 122, whereby the rotary shutter member 240 disposed in the toner container 200 is rotated by 90 ° which is a predetermined angle from the open position to the closed position. . In addition, the lock release protrusion 12
4, the force applied to the tip region of the arm portion 252 of the lock elastic member 250 is released, and the arm portion 252 is
The rotary shutter member 240 is rotated about the shaft 250A from the unlocked position to the locked position by the elastic restoring force of the lock elastic member and then rotated to the closed position.
The lock pin 245 is fitted with the notch 257.
As a result, the rotary shutter member 240 is locked in the closed position. The upper side of the supply opening 215 is closed by the rotary shutter member 240.

In the toner container 200 not attached to the developing container 100 as described above, the lower side of the replenishing opening 215 is closed by the replenishing opening shutter 217, and the upper side (inner surface) of the replenishing opening 215 is a rotary shutter member. It is closed by a large diameter cylindrical portion 240A of 240. That is, since the replenishment opening 215 is closed at the top and bottom by the double shutter mechanism, the toner container 200 is closed.
It is possible to sufficiently prevent the toner contained in the toner from leaking out during transportation or the like.

The rotary shutter member 240 is ejected unless the lock elastic member 250, and therefore the arm portion 252, is rotated to unlock the lock pin 245 and the rotary shutter member 240 is rotated from the closed position to the open position. Aperture 242 cannot be aligned with refill aperture 215. Therefore, temporarily, the supply opening shutter 21
7 is erroneously operated or an unintended external force acts on the refill opening shutter 217 to open the lower side of the refill opening 215, the rotary shutter member 240 is erroneously operated or an unintended external force acts to close the rotary shutter member 240. Since it is practically impossible to rotationally move from the open position to the open position, accidental opening of the upper side of the supply opening 215 is sufficiently reliably prevented. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the toner contained inside from leaking out during transportation of the toner container 200. That is, unless the toner container 200 is attached to the developing container 100A as described above, it is substantially impossible to move both the replenishment opening shutter 217 and the rotary shutter member 240 from the closed position to the open position. Toner leakage, such as during transportation of the container 200, and therefore toner contamination is sufficiently prevented.

Further, the replenishment opening 2 of the toner container 200
No. 15 is closed by the double shutter mechanism composed of the replenishment opening shutter 217 and the rotary shutter member 240 at the upper and lower sides of the toner container 15.
It is possible to reduce toner spillage and scattering at the time of attachment / detachment to / from the developing container 100A.

In the present invention, the toner container 2 is also used.
00 can be automatically and firmly attached to the mounting position of the developing container 100A by simply engaging the developing container 100A and slidingly moving it in the mounting direction (the above-mentioned lock leaf spring member 11 and the locking hole). Cooperation). Moreover, the receiving opening shutter 110 of the developing container 100A, the toner container 2
00 supply opening shutter 217 and rotary shutter member 2
40 is moved from the closed position to the open position in association with the sliding movement in the mounting direction, and
The 0A receiving opening 108 can be communicated with the replenishing opening 215 and the discharging opening 242 of the toner container 200. As a result, it is possible to mount the toner container 200 on the developing container 100A easily, stably and accurately while reducing toner spillage and scattering. Further, the developing container 1 of the toner container 200
The disengagement from 00A can be easily performed by pushing down the tip of the lock leaf spring member 11 to release the engagement with the engagement hole, and pulling it out as it is.
Moreover, the receiving opening shutter 110 of the developing container 100A,
The supply opening shutter 217 and the rotary shutter member 240 of the toner container 200 are moved from the open position to the closed position in association with the sliding movement in the detaching direction, and the receiving opening 108 of the developing container 100A and the toner container 200 are moved. The supply opening 215 and the discharge opening 242 can be closed. As a result, the developer container 1 of the toner container 200 is reduced while reducing toner spillage and scattering.
It is possible to easily, stably, and accurately disengage from 00A. According to the present invention, the toner container 200 can be easily attached to and detached from the developing container 100A by an operation with one hand.

Further, since the toner container 200 does not use a metal as its constituent member and all the constituent members are made of synthetic resin, it is light in weight as a whole and, at the time of disposal, is combined with the metal. It does not need to be separated from the resin and matches the needs of the times.

The preferred embodiments of the toner replenishing device and the toner container used therein according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes or modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the developing container 100A
Include a closed position for closing the receiving opening 108 and the receiving opening 108.
The receiving opening shutter 110 that is slidably movable between the opening position and the opening position is provided.
There are other embodiments that do not comprise zero.

[0066]

According to the toner replenishing device of the present invention,
When attaching or detaching the toner container to or from the developing container,
It is possible to reduce toner scattering. The toner replenishing device according to the present invention also has a relatively simple structure.
The toner container can be easily and stably attached to and detached from the developing container. According to the toner container of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the replenishment opening from being accidentally opened when the toner container is not attached to the developing container. The toner container according to the invention also eliminates the so-called separate disposal.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a developing device forming a part of a toner replenishing device according to the present invention, as viewed from above.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a toner container, which constitutes another part of the toner supply device according to the present invention, as viewed from below.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a main part of the toner container shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

5 is a perspective view showing a relative rotation unit including a screw member and a rotary shutter member provided in the toner container shown in FIG. 2, and is a perspective view showing the same operation mode as that shown in FIG. 8; Fig.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a part of the toner container shown in FIG. 2 seen from the lower surface.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another operation mode of the developing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another operation mode of the toner container shown in FIG.

9 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the toner container shown in FIG. 2 is attached to the developing device shown in FIG. 1 (the same vertical cross-sectional view as the main-part vertical cross-sectional view of the toner container shown in FIG. 8); FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a part of the developing device.

10 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.

11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 9, showing only a main part thereof.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a color printer to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view for explaining a configuration of a portion related to the present invention in the color printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a part of a state where the toner container 10B shown in FIG. 13 is partially attached to the developing container 10a.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Lock leaf spring member 10c Locking hole 100 developing device 100A developer container 102 sky wall 108 receiving opening 110 receiving aperture shutter 122 Rotation guide groove 124 Lock release protrusion 130 leaf spring member 200 toner container 215 Supply opening 216 Protrusion 217 Supply opening shutter 230 screw member 240 rotary shutter member 242 discharge opening 244 Rotationally operated guided pin 245 lock pin 250 Lock elastic member 252 arm 257 cutout

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2H077 AA02 AA05 AA09 AA35 AB02                       AB12 BA01 BA08 BA09

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A developing device including a developing container having a toner receiving opening opened on an upper surface; a toner replenishing opening opened on a lower surface, and a closed position and a replenishing opening below the replenishing opening for closing the replenishing opening. And a screw member that conveys toner to the supply opening, and engages with the developing container to move the developing container in one mounting direction, which is one of the longitudinal directions of the developing container. In the toner replenishing device including a toner container detachably attachable to the developing container, a rotary shutter member is provided in the toner container so as to be rotatable relative to the outer peripheral surface of the screw member. Is provided with a toner discharge opening and a rotationally actuated guided member, and the rotary shutter member has a closed position that closes the supply opening and a discharge opening on the upper side of the supply opening. It is rotatable between an open position to open The combined supply opening,
The developing container is provided with a rotation actuating guide means that engages with a rotation actuated guided means when the toner container is attached or detached, and guides the rotary shutter member to rotate. When moved to the mounting position in the mounting direction, the replenishment opening shutter is locked to a part of the developing container and relatively moved from the closed position to the open position,
The rotary operation guided means is engaged with and guided by the rotary operation guide means to rotate the rotary shutter member from the closed position to the open position, and the receiving opening, the replenishing opening and the discharging opening are communicated with each other. Toner supply device. 2. The developing container is provided with a receiving opening shutter which is movable between a closed position for closing the receiving opening and an open position for opening the receiving opening, and the toner container is engaged with the developing container to attach the toner container in the mounting direction. 2. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving opening shutter is engaged with a part of the toner container and moved from the closed position to the open position when moved to the mounting position. 3. A region of the rotary shutter member near one end in the mounting direction is arranged in a region near one end in the mounting direction of the toner container, and the rotary operation guided member comprises:
The rotary shutter member comprises a rotationally actuated guided pin extending radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shutter member in the region near the one end, and the rotational actuating guide means is disposed in the region near one end in the one longitudinal direction of the developing container. And a rotation operation guide groove spirally extending in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the movement trajectory of the rotation operation guided pin in the longitudinal direction. 2. The rotary shutter guided pin is engaged with and guided by the rotary working guide groove when moved to the mounting position, whereby the rotary shutter member is rotated by a predetermined angle from the closed position to the open position. The toner supply device according to claim 2. 4. The rotation actuating guide groove has a substantially channel-shaped cross section, and an open end of the channel-like is formed in the width direction of the developing container at one end of the rotation actuating guide groove on the other side in the longitudinal direction. The one end of the longitudinal direction, the other end of the one side in the longitudinal direction is directed upward of the developing container, and extends in a spiral shape downward from the one end toward the other end. 3. The toner replenishing device according to item 3. 5. A lock means for releasably locking the rotary shutter member at a closed position is provided in a region near the one end of the toner container, and the lock means is an outer peripheral surface of the rotary shutter member, A lock pin, which extends radially outward from the outer peripheral surface in the vicinity of the opposite side to the mounting direction with respect to the actuated guided pin, and is arranged in the toner container so as to be rotatable around an axis extending in the vertical direction of the toner container. And a lock elastic member, the lock pin is different in angular position in the circumferential direction from the rotationally actuated guided pin by the predetermined angle, and the lock elastic member releasably blocks the rotational movement of the lock pin. The arm portion is located on the rotation path of the lock pin and substantially blocks the rotational movement of the lock pin to lock the rotary shutter member in the closed position. Between the closed position and the open position of the rotary shutter member by allowing the rotary movement of the lock pin by retracting from the rotation path of the lock pin against the elastic force of the lock elastic member and other portions of the lock elastic member. 5. The toner replenishing device according to claim 3, wherein the toner replenishing device is rotatable with respect to a lock release position that allows rotation of the toner. 6. A flat lower surface extending parallel to the axis of the rotary shutter member at a space above the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shutter member in a region near the one end of the toner container, and an axis line of the rotary shutter member. On the other hand, a side wall hanging from the lower surface is formed so as to extend parallel to the axis on one side in the width direction of the toner container which is a direction orthogonal to the axis, and the mounting of the side wall on the lower surface is performed. In the vicinity of the tip in the direction, the shaft hangs from the lower surface, and the lock elastic member is rotatably supported by the shaft. The lock elastic member extends from the shaft along the lower surface of the rotary shutter member. The arm portion that extends above the rotary shutter member, an intermediate portion that extends from the tip of the arm portion along the lower surface in a direction opposite to the mounting direction, and a curve that extends from the tip of the intermediate portion along the lower surface. Na And an inversion part that inverts from the inversion part, and an elastic action part that extends from the tip of the inversion part along the lower surface toward the side wall in the mounting direction, and is integrally formed of an elastic synthetic resin. Is formed with a notch or a recess that extends in the axial direction of the rotary shutter member from one side surface facing the mounting direction to the other side surface of the arm portion, and the lock elastic member is positioned at the lock position. The tip end of the elastic action portion is positioned in contact with or close to the side wall, and the tip end portion of the lock pin is removably fitted in the notch or the recess of the arm portion to rotate the lock pin. The toner replenishing device according to claim 5, wherein is substantially prevented. 7. The developing container is provided with a lock releasing means for releasing the lock of the rotary shutter member, and the lock releasing means extends from the vicinity of the rotation operation guide groove in a direction opposite to the mounting direction of the toner container. When the toner container is engaged with the developing container and moved in the mounting direction, at least the rotationally actuated guided pin is engaged with and guided by the rotationally actuated guide groove to close the rotational shutter member. Before starting the rotation operation from the position to the open position, the lock release projection locks the arm portion of the lock elastic member to rotate the arm portion around the axis relatively from the lock position to the lock release position. The toner supply device according to claim 6, wherein 8. The lock release protrusion is disposed on the movement track in the longitudinal direction of the tip end region of the arm portion of the lock elastic member, and engages the toner container with the developing container to move in the mounting direction. And the lock release projection abuts the tip end region of the arm portion to force the tip end region of the arm portion in a direction opposite to the mounting direction, whereby the tip end of the elastic action portion is pressed against the side wall and at least elastic. Since the action portion is elastically deformed and the arm portion is rotated around the axis from the lock position to the unlock position against the elastic force, the tip of the lock pin is in the notch or the recess of the arm portion. 8. The toner replenishing device according to claim 7, wherein the rotary shutter member is disengaged from the rotary shutter member in the axial direction to allow the rotational movement of the lock pin. 9. When the toner container mounted in the developing container is moved in the detaching direction from the mounting position, the lock release protrusion releases the forcing of the tip end region of the arm portion of the lock elastic member, and the arm portion. Is rotated about the axis from the unlocked position to the locked position by the elastic restoring force of the lock elastic member, and the rotationally actuated guided pin engaged with the rotationally actuating guide groove is guided in the rotationally actuating guide groove. 9. The toner replenishing device according to claim 8, wherein a notch or a recess is fitted to a lock pin of the rotary shutter member that is rotated from the open position to the closed position by, so that the rotary shutter member is locked at the closed position. 10. A leaf spring member is disposed in a region on the other side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the receiving opening on the upper surface of the developing container so as to extend in the longitudinal direction. One end on one side is obliquely inclined toward one end and upward, and a protrusion having a substantially V-shaped vertical cross section is formed at an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction, and the other end in the longitudinal direction is formed. Is fixed to the upper surface of the developing container, and a gap that allows elastic displacement of the plate spring member is formed between the lower surface of the area other than at least the other end of the plate spring member and the upper surface of the developing container. A protrusion is formed on the lower surface of the replenishment opening shutter positioned at the open position in the vicinity of the other end of the toner container with respect to the other end in the longitudinal direction, and the toner container mounted in the developing container is separated from the mounting position. Moving in the direction
The replenishment opening shutter is configured such that the other end of the replenishment opening shutter on the other side in the longitudinal direction is locked to the one end of the leaf spring member to relatively prevent the replenishment opening shutter from moving from the open position. The protrusion of the toner container comes into contact with the protrusion of the leaf spring member at the same time as or immediately after the replenishment opening shutter is moved from the open position to the closed position. The lock of the replenishing opening shutter by the one end of the leaf spring member is released by forcing the one end of the leaf spring member downwardly against the elastic force of the leaf spring member. Item 9. The toner replenishing device according to any one of items 9. 11. A toner replenishment opening opening on the lower surface,
Below the replenishment opening, a replenishment opening shutter that is movable between a closed position that closes the replenishment opening and an open position that opens the replenishment opening,
A toner container provided with a screw member that conveys toner to a replenishment opening, which is engaged with a developing container that is included in the developing container and that has a toner receiving opening that opens on the upper surface, and is one of the longitudinal directions of the developing container. In the toner container that is detachably mounted in the developing container by being moved in the mounting direction, the rotary shutter member is relatively rotatably arranged along the outer peripheral surface of the screw member, and the rotary shutter member includes the toner. The discharge opening and the rotationally actuated guided member are provided, and the rotary shutter member has a closed position that closes the supply opening and an open position that the discharge opening is aligned with the supply opening and that opens the supply opening above the supply opening. It can rotate between
When the developing container provided with the rotation operation guide means is engaged and moved in the mounting direction, the supply opening shutter is engaged with a part of the developing container and relatively moves from the closed position to the open position. The rotation operation guided means is engaged with and guided by the rotation operation guide means to rotate the rotary shutter member from the closed position to the open position, and the supply opening and the discharge opening are communicated with the receiving opening. Characteristic toner container. 12. A region of the rotary shutter member near one end in the mounting direction is arranged in a region near one end in the mounting direction, and the rotary operation guided means is an outer peripheral surface in a region near the one end of the rotary shutter member. The toner container according to claim 11, comprising a rotationally actuated guided pin extending radially outward from the toner container. 13. A lock means for releasably locking the rotary shutter member at a closed position is provided in a region near the one end, and the lock means is an outer peripheral surface of the rotary shutter member and is guided by rotation. A lock pin provided with a lock pin extending radially outward from the outer peripheral surface near the opposite side to the mounting direction with respect to the pin, and a lock elastic member rotatably arranged around an axis extending in the vertical direction. The pin differs from the rotationally actuated guided pin in the angular position in the circumferential direction by the predetermined angle, the lock elastic member includes an arm portion that releasably blocks the rotational movement of the lock pin, and the arm portion is a lock. The lock position, which exists on the rotation path of the pin and substantially blocks the rotational movement of the lock pin, locks the rotary shutter member in the closed position, and the lock position against the elastic force of the other part of the lock elastic member. The lock pin can be rotated between a lock release position that allows rotation between a closed position and an open position of the rotary shutter member by retracting from the locus of rotation of the lock pin and allowing rotational movement of the lock pin. 12. The toner container according to 12. 14. A flat lower surface extending in parallel with the axis of the rotary shutter member at a space above the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shutter member in a region near the one end, with respect to the axis of the rotary shutter member, A side wall hanging down from the lower surface is formed so as to extend parallel to the axis on one side in the width direction that is a direction orthogonal to the axis, and on the lower surface,
At a position near the tip in the mounting direction, the shaft hangs from the lower surface, and the lock elastic member is rotatably supported by the shaft, and the lock elastic member rotates from the shaft along the lower surface. The arm portion extending above the member across the rotary shutter member, the intermediate portion extending from the tip of the arm portion along the lower surface in the direction opposite to the mounting direction, and from the tip of the intermediate portion along the lower surface. A reversing portion that is bent while curving; and an elastic acting portion that extends from the tip of the reversing portion along the lower surface toward the side wall in the mounting direction, and is integrally formed of an elastic synthetic resin. The arm portion is formed with a notch or a recess that extends in the axial direction of the rotary shutter member from one side surface facing the mounting direction to the other side surface of the arm portion, and the lock elastic member is positioned at the lock position. State, the tip of the elastic action portion,
Positioned in contact with or close to the side wall, the tip of the lock pin is releasably fitted in the notch or recess of the arm to substantially prevent rotational movement of the lock pin. Item 13. The toner container according to Item 13. 15. The toner container according to claim 11, wherein all the constituent members are made of synthetic resin.