JP2003295591A - Developer replenishment apparatus, image forming apparatus and developer replenishment container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developer replenishment apparatus which has improved operability and minimizes a cost load on an image forming apparatus main body by dispensing with phase matching of a developer replenishment container when detaching the developer replenishment container, and to provide an image forming apparatus provided with the same and a developer replenishment container to be used for it. <P>SOLUTION: When the developer replenishment container 1 is attached and detached, the size of the container-receiving opening part 400a is made variable by arranging a displacement member 400b to displace the passing through area of the container 1. When attaching the container 1, phase matching of an attaching control protrusion 400c and a recess part 1e is performed for preventing interchangeability. When detaching, the container passes through a position where a projecting part and the protrusion 400c does not interfere with each other to thereby dispense with phase matching. <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 color of a developer stored in a developer supply container when the developer supply container is attached to a developer supply device of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer. The present invention relates to a developer replenishing device, an image forming apparatus, and a developer replenishing container in which the developer replenishing container can be attached without making a mistake.

[0002]

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

In recent years, the image forming apparatus main body and the developer replenishing container have been made common among the respective models for cost reduction. However, when completely made common, the developers of different colors and types are stored. The adverse effect that the developer supply container is erroneously set occurs.

Therefore, in order to prevent erroneous setting of a developer replenishing container containing different developers in the image forming apparatus main body, for example, a concave portion provided in the image forming apparatus main body and a convex portion provided in the developer replenishing container. In order to prevent compatibility with the developer replenishing container in which different types of developers are stored, a means is taken.

[0005]

However, in the recent developer replenishment system, since the developer is an extremely fine powder, the developer replenishing container is provided in the image forming apparatus so that the developer does not scatter during the developer replenishing work. A method has been adopted in which the developer is placed inside the main body and the developer is discharged little by little through a small opening.

As such a developer replenishing system, there is, for example, the developer replenishing system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-44000, and the developer replenishing container used here is a substantially cylindrical bottle shape. It has been proposed that the developer is conveyed to and discharged from the main body of the image forming apparatus by being driven and rotated by the main body of the developer supply container itself.

However, in order to prevent the compatibility of the developer supply container used in such a developer supply system, a method using a combination of ruggedness as shown in the prior art (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-120205). In the gazette), the developer replenishing container rotates with respect to the image forming apparatus main body after being attached to the image forming apparatus main body. Positioning is forced so that the positional relationship of the concavo-convex, which is a compatible means, is matched, and the operability is deteriorated.

Further, in order to prevent deterioration in operability, when the user detaches the developer supply container, the developer is always provided on the image forming apparatus main body side so that the positional relationship of the unevenness, which is an incompatible means, always matches. Means such as providing a mechanism for controlling the rotation stop position of the supply container can be considered, but this is not a decisive means because the main body of the image forming apparatus becomes complicated and the cost increases.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems.
The purpose is to improve the operability when the developer supply container is replaced by the user without the need for phasing when detaching the developer supply container with a simple configuration. It is possible to determine whether or not the developer supply container is the correct one at the initial stage, and the developer supply container containing the developer of a different color or type can be set incorrectly without forcing the user to perform troublesome work. It is possible to surely prevent, it is not necessary to provide the image forming apparatus main body with a mechanism for aligning the container phase when the developer supply container is detached, and the image forming apparatus main body can be made compact and the cost can be reduced.
By configuring the movement of the displacing means at the time of mounting and detaching the developer replenishing container to be linked to the detaching work of the developer replenishing container, the operation steps can be reduced and the operability can be improved. An apparatus, an image forming apparatus including the apparatus, and a developer supply container that can be used for the apparatus are provided.

[0010]

A developer replenishing device according to the present invention for achieving the above object conveys a developer by rotating a cylindrical developer replenishing container mounted on an image forming apparatus main body. In a developer replenishing device that replenishes developer by discharging, the developer replenishing device includes a developer replenishing container insertion opening for receiving the developer replenishing container,
A developer replenishing container mounting portion in which the developer replenishing container inserted through the developer replenishing container insertion port is mounted, and a mounting control unit provided in the developer replenishing device for controlling mounting of the developer replenishing container. And is provided in the developer supply container mounting portion, and is restricted by the mounting control unit when the developer supply container is mounted, and avoids the restriction of the mounting control unit when the developer supply container is detached. And a displacement means for displacing the developer replenishing container in the developer replenishing container mounting portion in a direction intersecting the mounting direction when the developer replenishing container is attached and detached. The container is characterized in that it has a mounted control section that is regulated by the mounting control section.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the user can perform the phase adjustment of the mounting control section and the mounted control section only when mounting, and then the developer replenishing container rotates in the developer replenishing device. Even if the phase between the mounting control part and the mounted control part changes due to the above, it is not necessary to perform the phase adjustment at the time of detachment, and it is sufficient to simply pull out the developer replenishing container as it is. It is possible to provide a developer replenishing device having a function of preventing compatibility.

Further, a rotation stop position control mechanism for the developer replenishing container, which has been conventionally provided to prevent the user from performing phase adjustment at the time of separation, is not required, and a simple means such as a displacement means is incorporated to reduce the Cost reduction and space saving can be achieved.

Further, the mounting control section has at least one or more projections protruding inward in the radial direction of the developer supply container insertion port so that mounting of the developer supply container can be controlled. The mounted control portion provided in the developer supply container has a protrusion protruding substantially all around the outer periphery of the cylindrical developer supply container main body of the developer supply container and the protrusion. The developer is replenished only when the protrusion of the mounting control unit and the recess provided in the protrusion of the mounted control unit are provided. The container can be attached to the image forming apparatus main body.

According to the above structure, a reliable compatibility preventing mechanism is achieved with a simple structure, and since the user's only work is the simple operation of aligning the projection and the recess, operability is improved. An excellent developer replenishing device can be provided.

Further, the displacing means provided in the developer replenishing container mounting portion is provided in the developer replenishing device and the mounting control portion provided in the developer replenishing device when the developer replenishing container is mounted. The mounting position of the developer supply container is regulated in a state where the protruding portion of the mounted control unit provided interferes with the mounting control unit and the mounted control when the developer supply container is detached. It is characterized in that the portion is displaced to a position where it does not interfere with the projecting portion.

According to the above construction, the compatibility of the developer supply container can be surely prevented only by the cheap and simple means of the displacement means. Therefore, the developer supply container conventionally provided in the developer supply device. Since the rotation stop position control mechanism and the like are not required, cost reduction and space saving of the developer replenishing device and the image forming apparatus can be achieved.

Further, when the developer supply container is detached, the user does not need to be aware of the alignment of the mounting control unit and the mounted control unit, etc., so that the developer replenishment excellent in operability can be performed without feeling any troublesome operation. A device can be provided.

Further, the displacing means provided in the developer replenishing container mounting portion is provided with the mounting control portion and the developer replenishing container provided in the developer replenishing device except when the developer replenishing container is detached. A biasing means for biasing the developer replenishing container to a position that regulates the mounting position of the developer replenishing container in a state in which the protruding portion of the mounted control portion provided in
When detaching the developer supply container, the developer supply container is detached at a position where the mounting control unit and the protrusion of the mounted control unit do not interfere with each other in association with the detaching operation of the developer supply container. It is displaced against the urging force of the urging means so as to be separable, and by further detaching the developer replenishing container, a force against the urging force of the urging means is exerted from the developer replenishing container. After being no longer received, the displacing means returns to the position where the mounting position of the developer supply container is restricted by the urging force of the urging means.

According to the above construction, the displacement means is semi-automatically operated by interlocking the movement of the displacement means between the regulated position and the non-regulated position with the biasing means and the user's operation of detaching the developer supply container. A developer replenishing device having a more reliable developer replenishment container compatibility prevention mechanism is provided because it does not force the user to move it and has excellent operability, and it can prevent forgetting to move the displacement means. Can be provided.

Further, the mounting control section provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus and the displacing means provided in the developer supply container mounting section are located upstream of the developer supply container mounting section in the developer supply container mounting direction. When the user supplies the developer replenishing container, when the user replaces the developer replenishing container, the mounting control unit is located closest to the portion where the developer replenishing container is mounted. It is possible to easily check the mounting control section without performing any special operation of and to easily perform the phase matching operation.

Further, even if the user tries to mount the wrong developer supply container, the mistake can be noticed in the initial stage of the mounting operation, so that the operability is excellent.

Further, the protrusion of the mounting control section provided in the developer replenishing device is substantially perpendicular to the mounting axis of the developer replenishing container on the side facing the developer replenishing container to be mounted. An inclined surface that has a surface that intersects with and that gradually protrudes toward the passage area of the developer supply container on the side facing the developer supply container to be detached, as it goes in the detaching direction of the developer supply container. When the developer replenishing container is mounted with a simple structure, the projecting portion of the developer replenishing container and the protrusion of the mounting control unit provided in the developer replenishing device are mounted on the developer replenishing container. Since the surface that intersects with the axial direction at a right angle is in contact with the surface, the compatibility preventing function can be surely exhibited, and when the developer replenishing container is detached, the protruding portion and the protrusion should be prevented. Even if there is interference, the direction of the passage area of the developer supply container Since the developer replenishment container is brought into contact with the projecting inclined surface, the developer replenishing container can be smoothly detached by being guided to the inclined surface, resulting in excellent operability and reliable compatibility of the developer replenishing container. It is possible to provide a developer replenishing device capable of preventing the above.

Further, the mounting control unit is different in at least one or more of the arrangement interval of the protrusions formed according to the type of the image forming apparatus main body, the width of the protrusions, and the shape of the protrusions. When at least one of the arrangement interval of the recesses, the width of the recesses, and the shape of the recesses provided in the projecting portion of the developer supply container is different, it is possible to reliably develop different types of development with a simple configuration. It is possible to provide a developer replenishing device capable of reliably preventing erroneous mounting of the developer replenishing container.

Further, in the developer replenishing container, since only the concave portion needs to be changed in order to make a different kind of developer replenishing container, most of the developer replenishing container can be made common and therefore the kind of developer replenishing container Since it is not necessary to create a different developer supply container for each time, efficiency can be improved during manufacturing and transportation.

Further, the displacement amount of the developer replenishing container which is displaced by the displacing means during mounting and detaching is 1.5 mm.
When set to 15 mm or less, a reliable developer supply container compatibility preventing mechanism is achieved even when the displacement amount by the displacement means is small, and the developer supply container mounting portion of the developer supply device is provided. It is possible to provide a developer replenishing device that can efficiently use a space and can greatly contribute to downsizing of an image forming apparatus main body and cost reduction.

Further, the developer replenishing container according to the present invention is a developer replenishing container that can be mounted on the developer replenishing device, and the mounted control section provided in the developer replenishing container is the image replenishing container. It is provided on a peripheral surface of an end portion on the downstream side in the mounting direction of the developer supply container to the main body of the forming apparatus.

According to the above arrangement, when the user replaces the developer supply container, the mount control unit is located at the very beginning of the part where the developer supply container is mounted. The developer replenishing device has excellent operability, and even if the user tries to attach the wrong developer replenishing container, he / she can notice the mistake at the initial stage of the mounting operation. You can do it.

A developer replenishing container attachable to the developer replenishing device, wherein the projecting portion provided with the recess has a cavity for communicating with a developer accommodating portion in the developer replenishing container body. In this case, the developer can be stored also in the protrusion, and the space efficiency can be improved.

Further, since the internal volume of the developer supply container can be secured as compared with the case where there is no cavity inside the projecting portion, the projecting portion can be made sufficiently large and the user can easily control the mounted state. The operability can be improved because the existence of the part can be recognized. Further, the compatibility of the developer replenishing container can be more surely prevented by increasing the size of the mounted control section, and the reliability of the compatibility preventing mechanism can be improved.

Further, in the developer replenishing container attachable to the developer replenishing device, provided inside the developer replenishing container attachable to the developer replenishing device, and by rotating the developer replenishing container. The developer transporting / discharging means for transporting / discharging the developer contained therein is a spiral groove or a spiral protrusion provided on the inner wall surface of the substantially cylindrical developer supply container. In this case, it is possible to provide a developer replenishing container having an excellent developer discharging performance with a simple structure, and even in such a developer replenishing container, compatibility can be surely prevented. A container can be provided. .

Further, in the developer replenishing container attachable to the developer replenishing device, provided inside the developer replenishing container attachable to the developer replenishing device, and by rotating the developer replenishing container, A developer transporting / discharging means for transporting / discharging the developer stored therein is provided continuously inside the developer replenishing container body so as to extend in the rotation axis direction. A partition wall provided so as to divide the interior into a plurality of parts, the partition wall being arranged at a position passing through a cross section of an opening for discharging the developer, and the partition wall being further provided with the developer supply container. Is provided so as to project from the partition wall, and at least one end of the protrusion has a portion for guiding the developer conveyed to the opening for discharging the developer. When the developer is conveyed in the rotation axis direction of the developer replenishing container by the partition wall and the protrusion, it is possible to provide a developer replenishing container having excellent developer discharging performance with a simple configuration, Even in such a developer supply container, it is possible to provide a developer supply container capable of reliably preventing compatibility.

[0032]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a developer replenishing device according to the present invention, an image forming apparatus including the same, and a developer replenishing container usable in the same will be specifically described. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing the structure of an image forming apparatus equipped with a developer supply device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of an image forming device equipped with a developer supply device according to the present invention. Three
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing how the developer supply container according to the present invention is attached to the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a front view showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus equipped with the developer supply device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the structure of an image forming apparatus equipped with a developer replenishing device according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the image forming device showing a state in which a developer replenishing container replacement cover is opened. 7A and 7B are views showing the mounting operation of the developer supply container. FIG. 7A is at the start of mounting the developer supply container, FIG. 7B is during mounting of the developer supply container, and FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view showing the state when the mounting of the developer supply container is completed.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an embodiment of the developer replenishing container according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 shows a drive transmitting portion when the drive shaft is provided on the developer replenishing container main body side. 11 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing an embodiment, FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing another embodiment of the developer supply container according to the present invention, FIG.
FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the drive transmission portion when the drive shaft is provided on the sealing member side.

FIG. 12 (a) is a front view showing an embodiment of the sealing member, FIG. 12 (b) is a side view seen from the X direction in FIG. 12 (a), and FIG. 12 (c) is a view. 12 (a) is a side view seen from the Y direction, FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line ZZ of FIG. 12 (b),
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the driving force transmitting portion and the driving force receiving portion of the sealing member.

FIG. 15 shows how the driving force transmitting portion and the driving force receiving portion of the sealing member of the developer supply container are engaged.
FIG. 15A is a partial cross-sectional view showing the state before the developer supply container is inserted, FIG. 15B is the state during the insertion of the developer supply container, and FIG.

FIG. 16 shows how the driving force transmitting portion and the driving force receiving portion of the sealing member of the developer supply container are disengaged.
Fig. 16 (a) is before disengagement, Fig. 16 (b) is during disengagement,
16 (c) is a partial cross-sectional view showing the time when the disengagement is completed.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the driving force transmitting portion and the driving force receiving portion of the sealing member, FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the sealing member shown in FIG. 17, and FIG. 19B is a side view showing another embodiment of the stop member, FIG. 19B is a front view showing another embodiment of the sealing member, and FIG. 19C is a view showing another embodiment of the sealing member.
It is sectional drawing which followed the arrow line ZZ of (a).

FIG. 20 is a sectional view showing a state in which the driving force receiving portion and the driving force transmitting portion of the sealing member of FIG. 19 are engaged, and FIG. 21 is the sealing shown in FIG. 19 provided in the developer supply container. FIG. 21 (a) shows a state in which the driving force receiving portion and the driving force transmitting portion of the member are disengaged.
21B is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state before the engagement is released, FIG. 21B is a state during the engagement release, and FIG.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the developer supply container according to the present invention, and FIG. 23 shows a state in which the developer supply container according to the present invention is inserted into the developer supply device according to the present invention. FIG. 24 is a schematic view showing various arrangement examples of concave portions which are the mounted control portions provided in the developer supply container according to the present invention.

FIG. 25 shows a state where the projection of the developer supply device and the recess of the developer supply container are in phase when the developer supply container of the present invention is mounted in the developer supply device of the present invention. FIG. 26 is a front view showing that the protrusion of the developer replenishing device and the recess of the developer replenishing container are out of phase when the developer replenishing container according to the present invention is mounted on the developer replenishing device according to the present invention. It is a front view showing the situation.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the developer supply container according to the present invention is inserted into a position where the mounting control unit and the mounted control unit interfere with each other when mounting the developer supply device according to the present invention. 28 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing a state in the middle of attaching or detaching the developer supply container according to the present invention to the developer supply device according to the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing a state where the developer replenishing container according to the present invention is completely attached to the developer replenishing device according to the present invention, and FIG. 30 is a developer replenishing container according to the present invention for developing. FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing a state in which the projecting portion of the developer supply container is moving the displacement means when the developer supply container is detached from the developer supply device.

FIG. 31 shows that when the developer replenishing container according to the present invention is detached from the developer replenishing device according to the present invention, the projecting portion of the developer replenishing container exceeds the mounting control portion of the developer replenishing device, It is a cross-sectional view showing a state of being pulled out along the supply container attachment / detachment guide portion.

32 (a) and 32 (b) are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the developer replenishing container receiving opening of the developer replenishing device according to the present invention as seen from inside the image forming apparatus main body, and FIG. FIG. 33 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a developer supply container receiving opening of the developer supply device according to the invention, and FIG. 33 (a) is a perspective view showing a case where the displacing means is at the position when the developer supply container is mounted;
(b) is a perspective view showing a case where the displacing means is at the position when the developer supply container is detached.

First, the construction of the first embodiment of the developer replenishing device according to the present invention, the image forming apparatus equipped with the same, and the developer replenishing container usable therefor will be described with reference to FIGS.

[Overall Structure of Image Forming Apparatus] In FIGS. 1 to 6, the image forming apparatus 100 equipped with the developer replenishing device according to the present invention is configured as an electrophotographic copying machine.

In FIG. 1, a document table glass 102 is provided on the upper part of the image forming apparatus 100.
The original 101 is placed on the 02 with the read image surface facing downward. Then, an optical image corresponding to the image information of the original 101 is formed by the plurality of mirrors M and lenses Ln of the optical unit 103 as an image forming unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 104 which serves as an image carrier.
Image on top.

Numerals 105 to 108 are sheet cassettes for accommodating sheets P as recording media. These sheet cassettes 105
Of the sheets P stacked on the sheets 108 to 108, the operation unit 100 shown in FIG.
The optimum paper P is selected from the paper size information of the sheet cassettes 105 to 108 based on the information input by the user from a or the paper size of the original 101. Here, the recording medium is not limited to the paper P, and an OHP sheet or the like can be appropriately selected.

Then, one sheet of paper P transported by the feeding / separating devices 105A to 108A is transported to the registration roller 110 via the transport unit 109, and the rotation of the photosensitive drum 104 and the optical unit.
The sheet is conveyed by synchronizing the scan timing of 103.

Incidentally, 111 and 112 are a transfer discharger and a separation discharger. Here, the transfer discharger 111 transfers the developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 104 to the paper P. Then, the sheet P on which the developer image is transferred by the separation discharger 112 is separated from the photoconductor drum 104.

Thereafter, the sheet P conveyed by the conveying section 113 is heated and pressed by the fixing section 114, and the sheet P is conveyed.
After the upper developer image is fixed, in the case of one-sided copy, it passes through the discharge reversal unit 115 and is discharged to the discharge tray 117 by the discharge roller 116. Further, in the case of double-sided copying, the re-feeding / conveying path 11 is controlled by the flapper 118 of the discharge reversing unit 115.
After being conveyed to the registration rollers 110 via 9, 120, it is discharged to the discharge tray 117 by following the same route as in the case of single-sided copying.

Further, in the case of multiple copy, the paper P passes through the discharge reversal unit 115, and once the discharge roller 116 partially discharges it out of the apparatus, the end of the paper P passes through the flapper 118, and the discharge roller is discharged. The flapper 118 is controlled at the timing when it is still nipped by 116, and the discharge roller 116 is rotated in the reverse direction, whereby the sheet is again conveyed into the apparatus.

After that, after being conveyed to the registration roller 110 via the re-feeding conveyance paths 119 and 120, it is ejected to the ejection tray 117 along the same route as in the case of single-sided copying.

In the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 having the above structure, the developing section 201 and the cleaner section are provided around the photosensitive drum 104.
202, a primary charger 203, etc. are arranged. Here, the developing unit 201 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 104 by the optical unit 103 according to the image information of the original 101 using a developer.

A cylindrical developer replenishing container 1 for replenishing the developer to the developing section 201 is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 by the user. Here, the developing unit 201 has a developer hopper 201a and a developing device 201b. The developer hopper 201a has a stirring member 201c for stirring the developer supplied from the developer supply container 1.

The developer agitated by the agitating member 201c is sent to the developing device 201b by the magnet roller 201d. The developing device 201b has a developing roller 201f and a feeding member 201e, and a magnet roller 201d is used as a developer hopper.
The developer sent from 201a is sent to the developing roller 201f by the sending member 201e, and the photosensitive drum 201f is sent by the developing roller 201f.
Supplied to 104.

The cleaner section 202 is for removing the developer remaining on the photosensitive drum 104. Also,
The primary charger 203 is for charging the photosensitive drum 104.

[Developer Replenishing Device] Next, the configuration of the developer replenishing device 400 that best represents the features of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the developer replenishing device 400 replenishes the developer by conveying and discharging the developer by rotating a cylindrical developer replenishing container 1 mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. Is.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the user opens the developer supply container replacement cover (hereinafter referred to as "replacement front cover") 15, which is a part of the exterior cover shown in FIGS.
The developer replenishing device 400 is accessible, and the developer replenishing container 1 is attached to and detached from the developer replenishing device 400 to replenish the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 with the developer.

Here, the configuration of the developer replenishing device 400 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 23 and 33. FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the developer replenishing device 400 installed in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 and the developer replenishing container 1 attached thereto.
3A and 3B are perspective views of the vicinity of a container receiving opening 400a for receiving the developer supply container 1 of the developer supply device 400 as viewed from the inside of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100.

As shown in FIG. 23, the developer replenishing device 400 is
A container receiving opening 400a which is an insertion port of the developer supplying container 1 for receiving the mounted developer supplying container 1, and the developer supplying container 1 inserted from the container receiving opening 400a is mounted and set. A container pedestal 400b that serves as a developer supply container mounting unit, a mounting control protrusion 400c that is a mounting control unit that controls the mounting of the developer supply container 1 according to the type of developer used in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100, and development. Agent supply container 1
When the developer replenishing container 1 is mounted and detached, the developer replenishing container 1 is regulated by the mounting control protrusion 400c that serves as a mounting control unit and is avoided when the developer is detached. Displacement member 400d which is a displacement means for displacing the developer replenishing container 1 in the mounting portion in a direction intersecting the mounting direction to displace the passage area of the developer replenishing container 1, and a container when the developer replenishing container 1 is detached. Receiving opening 400a and container pedestal 400b
Container attaching / detaching guide portion 400e which serves as a guide when the developer supply container 1 is detached so that the stepped portion between and can be easily overcome.
(See FIG. 33) and a displacement means guide portion 400f (see FIG. 33) that serves as a guide when the displacement member 400d moves, and the functions and roles of these members will be described later. It will be described in detail in the method of replacing the supply container.

[Developer Replenishing Container] Next, the developer replenishing container 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.
8 and 9, the developer replenishing container 1 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a developer replenishing opening 1a having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the container main body 1A is provided at a substantially center of one end surface thereof. Has been done.

The developer replenishing opening 1a is provided with a sealing member 2 for closing the developer replenishing opening 1a. As shown in FIG. By sliding in the axial direction (direction of arrows a and b in FIG. 7), the opening / closing operation of the developer replenishing opening 1a is performed.

The engagement protrusion 3 which is elastically deformable at the tip of the sealing member 2 and the engagement of the engagement protrusion 3 with the main body drive unit 20 (see FIG. 7) on the main body side of the image forming apparatus 100 are released. The engaging projection 3 is engaged with the main body drive section 20 and has a function of transmitting the rotational drive to the developer supply container 1. The configurations of the engagement protrusion 3 and the engagement release portion 4 will be described in detail later.

First, the internal structure of the developer supply container 1 will be described. As described above, the developer supply container 1 has a substantially cylindrical shape, is arranged substantially horizontally in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100, and is configured to rotate by being rotationally driven by the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. There is.

As shown in FIG. 8, a spiral projection 1c is provided on the inner wall surface of the developer supply container 1, and the developer is supplied along the spiral projection 1c as the developer supply container 1 rotates. Is conveyed in the axial direction, and the developer is discharged from the developer replenishing opening 1a provided on the end surface of the developer replenishing container 1.

Further, as shown in FIG. 22, the developer replenishing container 1 is provided with a developer replenishing container 1 main body, which is a mounting control portion, at the end of the developer replenishing container 1 on the side of the developer replenishing opening 1a. A protrusion 1d that protrudes from the outer diameter is provided on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion of the container, and the protrusion 1d has a recess 1e corresponding to the type of the developer supply container 1, that is, as shown in FIG. At least one or more recesses 1e are provided corresponding to the mounting control protrusions 400c which are mounting control units provided on the developer replenishing device 400 side.

On the other hand, a mounting control protrusion 400c which serves as a mounting control unit.
As shown in FIG. 23, at least at one or more locations projecting inward in the radial direction of the container receiving opening 400a which is the insertion port of the developer supply container 1 so that the mounting of the developer supply container 1 can be controlled. It is provided.

As shown in FIG. 27, the mounting control projection 400c intersects the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1 on the side facing the mounted developer supply container 1 at a substantially right angle. A developer supply container 1 that has a locking surface 400c1 and is detached
On the side opposite to the above, there is provided an inclined surface 400c2 which gradually projects toward the passage area of the developer supply container 1 as it goes in the detaching direction of the developer supply container 1.

The projecting portion 1d, which is the mounted control portion provided in the developer supply container 1, is provided on the peripheral surface of the downstream end portion in the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1 to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. It is regulated by a mounting control protrusion 400c which is a mounting control unit provided in the agent replenishing device 400.

The protruding portion 1d and the recessed portion 1 which are the mounted control portions.
e and a mounting control protrusion 400c which is a mounting control unit provided on the developer replenishing device 400 side,
Only the specific developer supply container 1 containing the developer used in the main body can be attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. The details of this configuration will be described in the description of the method of replacing the developer supply container 1.

Regarding the internal structure of the developer supply container 1 according to the present invention, the shape and structure of the developer supply container 1 are particularly limited as long as the developer is discharged by the rotation (rotation) of the developer supply container 1. Not a thing.

That is, the gist of the present invention is to provide a feature in the structure for preventing the compatibility between the developer replenishing container 1 which discharges the developer by being rotationally driven and the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, as for the internal structure of the developer supply container 1, as the developer transporting / discharging means which is generally well known as in the present embodiment, the developer supply container 1 has a spiral projection 1c formed on the inner wall surface thereof. And developer supply container 1
Other structures such as a spiral groove formed on the inner wall surface of the above may be used.

For example, as a modification, the inside of the developer supply container 1 as shown in FIG. 10 may be used. In this modification, a plate serving as a partition wall that is provided continuously inside the main body of the developer supply container 1 as a developer transporting / discharging means so as to extend in the rotation axis direction and divides the inside of the main body of the developer supply container 1 into a plurality of parts. -Shaped baffle member 40 is provided, the baffle member 40 is arranged at a position passing through the cross section of the developer replenishing opening 1a for discharging the developer, and the surface of the baffle member 40 is in the direction of the rotation axis of the developer replenishing container 1. A plurality of inclined protrusions 40a each having a surface inclined with respect to each other are provided so as to protrude from the baffle member 40, and one end of each of the inclined protrusions 40a stores the developer conveyed to the developer replenishing opening 1a for discharging the developer. The baffle member 40 and the inclined projection 40a convey the developer in the direction of the rotation axis of the developer supply container 1, and finally the inclined projection 40
It is configured to be discharged from a through the developer replenishment opening 1a.

That is, the principle of discharging the developer in the developer supply container 1 shown in FIG. 10 is that the developer scraped up by the baffle member 40 by the rotation of the developer supply container 1 slides on the surface of the baffle member 40. It falls and is conveyed to the front in the axial direction of the developer supply container 1 by the inclined projection 40a.

By repeating this operation, the developer in the developer replenishing container 1 is sequentially stirred and conveyed, and is discharged from the developer replenishing opening 1a.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, as described above, the container body 1A of the developer supply container 1 is provided with the developer supply opening 1a at one end surface thereof, and the container body is provided in the developer supply opening 1a. A drive shaft 1b provided integrally with 1A projects from the developer supply opening 1a. The drive shaft 1b is located substantially on the central axis of the developer replenishing opening 1a, and is inserted into and engaged with an engagement hole 2a provided in the sealing member 2.

Since the drive shaft 1b is for transmitting the rotational drive force from the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 via the sealing member 2 to the container main body 1A, the sectional shape of the drive shaft 1b transmits the rotational drive force. The shapes are possible such as a quadrangular cross section, a cross section H cut shape, and a cross section D cut shape.

The drive shaft 1b is fixed to the container body 1A by a conventionally known means. The drive shaft 1b may be provided integrally with the sealing member 2 as shown in FIG. 11 without being fixed to the container body 1A. In that case, it is necessary to provide an engaging hole 2a for transmitting the driving force from the drive shaft 1b on the developer supply container 1 side. In this modified example, the engaging hole 2a is provided in the component member 1a1 of the developer supply opening 1a. In this embodiment, the drive shaft 1b is fixed to the container body 1A.

[Method for Replacing Developer Replenishing Container] Next, a method for replacing the developer replenishing container 1 according to the present invention will be described. When substantially all of the developer in the developer supply container 1 is consumed in the image forming apparatus 100 in the image forming process, the developer supply container empty detection means (not shown) provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 develops the developer. It is detected that the developer in the replenishing container 1 is exhausted, and the user is notified of that fact by the display means 100b such as a liquid crystal shown in FIGS.

In the present embodiment, the replacement of the developer supply container 1 is performed by the user himself, and the procedure is as follows.
First, in the image forming apparatus 100, the closed front cover 15 for rotation is rotated about the hinge 18 to open it to the position shown by the broken line in FIG.

By interlocking with the operation of opening the front cover 15 for replacement, the container main body 1A in the state of FIG. 7C is moved in the direction of arrow a shown in FIG. The sealing member 2 which has moved and has opened the developer replenishing opening 1a separated from the container body 1A until then, is press-fitted into the developer replenishing opening 1a to fit the developer replenishing opening 1a.
Is closed and the state shown in FIG.

Next, the user installs the developer replenishing container 1 in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100, which has no developer, as shown in FIG.
The direction opposite to the arrow a direction shown in (a) (arrow b in FIG. 7C)
Direction) and remove it from the main body of the image forming apparatus 100.

Then, the user uses the new developer supply container 1
7 is inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 in the direction of arrow a shown in FIG. 7A, and then the replacement front cover 15 is closed. And
As described above, in conjunction with the operation of closing the replacement front cover 15, the developer replenishing unit opening / closing means separates the sealing member 2 from the container body 1A as shown in FIG. The opening 1a is opened. The above is the developer supply container 1
Is the replacement procedure.

[Compatibility Prevention Mechanism] When replacing the developer replenishing container 1 described above, the most unavoidable thing is that the developer replenishing container 1 in which different types of developers are stored is mistakenly placed in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. Is to set. Here, the compatibility prevention mechanism for preventing erroneous setting of the developer supply container 1 will be described in detail.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the developer replenishing container 1 which best represents the features of the present invention, and FIG. 23 is a developer replenishing device 400 and the developer replenishing container mounted therein, which best shows the features of the present invention. It is a perspective view of FIG.

As described above, the developer replenishing container 1 has a projecting portion 1d which serves as a mounted control portion over substantially the entire circumference of the container body 1A.
And, at least one or more recesses 1e provided in the projecting portion 1d are provided at the side end portion of the developer replenishing opening 1a for discharging the developer in the container body 1A of the developer replenishing container 1. In the container receiving opening 400a for receiving the developer replenishing container 1 of the developer replenishing device 400, a mounting control protrusion 400c, which is a mounting control unit, is provided for the color and type of the developer used in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. The developer replenishment container 1 mounted in combination with the recessed portion 1e serving as a mounting control portion provided in the developer replenishment container 1 controls whether or not the developer replenishment container 1 can be mounted.

23 to 33, the situation when the developer replenishing container 1 is attached to the developer replenishing device 400 of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described in detail step by step, and also the compatibility in the present invention will be described. A configuration for preventing this will be described.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the developer replenishing device 400 and the developer replenishing container 1 attached to it.
From this state, the developer replenishing container 1 is aligned while the recessed portion 1e, which is the mounted control unit provided in the developer replenishing container 1, and the mounting control protrusion 400c, which is the mounting control unit provided in the developer replenishing device 400, are in phase with each other. 23 is inserted in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 23, and the developer supply container 1 is mounted.

In FIG. 27, the developer replenishing container 1 is inserted (mounted) in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 27, and the mounting control protrusion 400c which is the mounting control portion of the developer replenishing device 1 and the developer replenishing container 1 are provided. It shows a state in which the developer supply container 1 is inserted to a position where it interferes with the protruding portion 1d which is the mounted control portion.

At this time, the displacing member 400d provided in the developer replenishing device 400 is surely equipped with the mounting control projection 400c which is the mounting control portion provided in the developer replenishing device 400, and the developer replenishing container 1.
The passage area of the developer replenishing container 1 in the developer replenishing device 400 is regulated so that the protruding portion 1d, which is the mounted control portion provided in the above, interferes with the protruding portion 1d.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 25, the mounting control protrusion 400, which is the mounting control portion provided in the developer replenishing device 400, is used.
The developer replenishing container 1 can pass through the mounting control protrusion 400c only when the phase and the combination of c and the recessed portion 1e provided in the protruding portion 1d which is the mounted control portion provided in the developer replenishing container 1 match. After that, the displacement member 400d is out of regulation.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 28, the developer replenishing container 1 is arranged at a position one step lower than the displacement member 400d.
Then, the developer supply container 1 moves on the container support 400b of the developer supply device 400 in the direction of arrow a in FIG.
As shown in, the mounting is completed.

On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 26, when the recess 1e and the mounting control projection 400c do not match in phase or combination, the developer supply container 1 cannot pass through the mounting control projection 400c, and the It cannot be installed. FIG. 26 shows an example in which the recess 1e and the mounting control protrusion 400c are out of phase.

Here, it is desirable that the protruding portion 1d, which is the mounted control portion provided in the developer supply container 1, is provided so as to protrude from the outermost peripheral portion of the developer supply container 1 by 1 mm to 10 mm, More preferably, it is projected from 2 mm to 5 mm.

If the protrusion amount of the protrusion 1d is smaller than 1 mm, the mounting control provided on the developer replenishing device 400 side is taken into consideration in consideration of the component size tolerance, the backlash when mounting the developer replenishing container 1, and the like. The amount of engagement with the mounting control protrusion 400c, which is a portion, becomes small, and considering the deformation of each member at the time of mounting, it may not be possible to obtain a sufficient compatibility prevention effect. If the amount of protrusion is small, the visibility for the user is deteriorated and the operability at the time of phase matching is reduced, which is not preferable.

Further, when the protruding amount of the protruding portion 1d is larger than 10 mm, the above-mentioned adverse effects are solved, but the outermost diameter of the developer supply container 1 becomes large, so that the developer of the developer supply device 400 is increased. The container receiving opening 400a and the container receiving base 400b for receiving the supply container 1 must be enlarged,
Further, for the outermost diameter, a developer supply container 1 which is a developer storage portion
As described above, the outer diameter of the substantially cylindrical portion of the container body 1A becomes small and the developer filling amount decreases, which is not preferable in terms of space efficiency. From the above viewpoint, in the present embodiment, the protrusion amount of the protrusion 1d from the developer supply container 1 is 3
mm.

As for the mounting control protrusions 400c serving as a mounting control unit, the width of the mounting control protrusions 400c formed corresponding to the type of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100, the arrangement interval of the mounting control protrusions 400c,
The number of mounting control protrusions 400c and the shape of the mounting control protrusions 400c can be arbitrarily set and provided.

Regarding the recess 1e provided in the protrusion 1d serving as the mounting control section, the width of the recess 1e, the arrangement interval of the recesses 1e, and the recess 1e corresponding to the type of the developer supply container 1.
, And the shape of the concave portion 1e can be arbitrarily set and provided.

Then, the mounting control protrusion 40 serving as a mounting control unit
The developer supply container 1 is configured to be attachable to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 only when 0c and the recessed portion 1e provided in the protrusion 1d serving as the attachment control portion match.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 24, two recesses 1e are provided so that only one type of developer supply container 1 can be mounted on one type of developer supply device 400.
Is provided and the arrangement interval is changed to distinguish the type from the developer supply container 1 for another model.

That is, in FIG. 24 (a), two recesses 1
FIG. 24B shows an example in which e are arranged at intervals of 10 ° about the axial center of the developer supply container 1. In FIG. 24B, two recesses 1e are formed at 20 ° about the axial center of the developer supply container 1.
24 (c), the two recesses 1e are arranged with the center of the axis of the developer supply container 1 as the center.
An example in which the two recesses 1e are arranged at intervals of 0 ° is shown in FIG. 24 (d), and two recesses 1e are arranged at intervals of 40 ° around the axial center of the developer supply container 1.

As a result, one developer supply container 1
It becomes possible to classify into the developer supply container 1 of the type,
For example, a large cost reduction can be achieved by sharing a large part of the developer supply container 1 for supplying the four color developers to the color copying machine, and by nesting the mold only in the concave portion 1e.

Basically, the mounting positions of the mounting control protrusion 400c, which is the mounting control unit provided in the developer replenishing device 400, and the protrusion 1d and the recess 1e, which are the mounted control units provided in the developer replenishing container 1, are basically the same. Before the developer replenishing container 1 is completely attached to the developer replenishing device 400 and the sealing member 2 of the developer replenishing container 1 is opened, the developer replenishing container containing different developers as described above. Any position may be used as long as it can prevent the mounting of 1.

However, the mounting control projection 400c, which is the mounting control portion of the developer replenishing device 400, and the protruding portion 1d and the recessed portion 1e, which are the mounting control portions of the developer replenishing container 1, for the user to perform the phase alignment at the time of mounting. It is desirable that the developer supply container 1 can be easily visually recognized. Furthermore, if a developer supply container 1 of a different type is to be installed, it is known that the developer supply container 1 of a different type is provided to the user at the initial stage of the installation operation as much as possible. As can be seen, the mounting control protrusion 400c, which is the mounting control unit on the developer replenishing device 400 side, is provided as close to the container receiving opening 400a as possible, and the projecting portion 1d and the recessed portion which are mounted control units on the developer replenishing container 1 side are provided. 1e is preferably provided on the downstream side in the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1.

In this embodiment, in FIG. 23, the mounting control projection 400c, which serves as the mounting control section of the developer replenishing device 400, is arranged at a position 10 mm from the end face of the receiving opening 400a of the developer replenishing container 1. 22. The protruding portion 1d and the recessed portion 1e, which are the mounted control portions of the developer replenishing opening 1a of the container body 1A in FIG.
It was arranged at a position of 5 mm from the side end surface of the.

Next, the operation of detaching the developer supply container 1 from the developer supply device 400 for replacing the developer supply container 1 will be described in detail. When the developer replenishing container 1 is pulled out from the developer replenishing device 400 in order to detach the developer replenishing container 1 from the mounted state of the developer replenishing container 1 shown in FIG. The container pedestal 400b of the replenishing device 400 is moved to the state shown in FIG.

Further, the drawing showing the developer supply container 1 in the detaching direction.
When it is moved in the direction of arrow b of 28, the protruding portion 1d which is the mounted control portion of the developer supply container 1 and the displacement member 400d which is the displacement means provided in the developer supply device 400 come into contact with each other.

When the developer replenishing container 1 is further pulled out, the displacement member 400d is pushed by the projecting portion 1d, and the displacing means guide portion provided in the container receiving opening 400a of the developer replenishing container 1 shown in FIG. 32 (a). Figure within 400f in the direction of arrow b in Figure 30
The state transits from the state 28 to the state shown in FIG. That is, the displacement member 40
0d transits from the state shown in FIG. 33 (a) to the state shown in FIG. 33 (b).

As shown in FIG. 30, the developer replenishing container 1 passes through the mounting control protrusion 400c, which serves as a mounting control unit of the developer replenishing device 400, at a position lower by the thickness of the displacement member 400d than when mounted. A mounting control protrusion 400c, which is a mounting control unit provided in the developer supply device 400, and the developer supply container 1.
It becomes possible to move to a position where the mounting control protrusion 400c serving as the mounting control unit is not regulated without interfering with the protrusion 1d serving as the mounted control unit provided in the.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 31, when the developer replenishing container 1 is further pulled out in the direction of arrow b in FIG. 31, the role of a guide when the developer replenishing container 1 provided in the developer replenishing device 400 is detached. The developer supply container 1 is pulled out while moving slightly upward along the container attachment / detachment guide portion 400e which is an inclined portion, and the developer supply container 1 can be completely detached from the developer supply device 400. Becomes

The container attachment / detachment guide portion 400e is the developer supply container 1
It is provided so that the inclination angle is 5 to 60 degrees so that it can be pulled out smoothly without feeling resistance when it is detached. If the inclination angle of the container attachment / detachment guide portion 400e is larger than 60 degrees (the inclination is steep), the resistance when pulling out the developer supply container 1 may increase and the operability may be deteriorated. If the inclination angle of the portion 400e is less than 5 degrees (the inclination is gentle), the resistance when pulling out the developer supply container 1 is reduced, but the amount of movement of the developer supply container 1 becomes too large, and this is also operated. In the present embodiment, an example in which the angle is set to 45 degrees is shown because there is a possibility that the property may be deteriorated.

The size of the displacing member 400d serving as the displacing means is not restricted by the gist of the present invention, and therefore the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 (the developer replenishing device 40
The optimum one may be appropriately selected according to the space constraint of 0).

However, the thickness of the displacing member 400d is substantially the same as the protruding amount of the protruding portion 1d provided in the developer supply container 1 from the container body 1A in order to surely perform the above series of operations. Since it is preferable to set the thickness of the displacement member 400d, the thickness of the displacement member 400d is set to 2.5 mm in this embodiment.

Further, the displacing member 400d returns to the original position shown in FIGS. 27 and 33 (a) in conjunction with the lever operation by the user, the opening / closing operation of the replacement front cover 15 serving as the developer replenishing door, and the like. When the developer replenishing container 1 is attached again, the passage area of the developer replenishing container 1 and the mounting control projection 400c provided on the developer replenishing device 400 are provided in the passage area of the developer replenishing container 1 as described above. Can be regulated at a position where they interfere with each other.

That is, when the developer replenishing container 1 is mounted, the displacing member 400d serving as the displacing means has a mounting control projection 400c provided on the developer replenishing device 400 and a projecting portion 1d provided on the developer replenishing container 1. Developer replenishing device 400
When the developer replenishing container 1 is detached, the mounting control protrusion 400c and the protruding portion 1d are displaced so as not to interfere with each other.

The mounting control projection 400c serving as the mounting control section and the displacing member 400d serving as the displacing means are provided on the upstream side in the mounting direction of the developer replenishing container 1 with respect to the developer replenishing opening 1a serving as the mounting portion of the developer replenishing container 1. ing.

It is preferable to set the amount of displacement of the developer supply container 1 which is displaced by the displacement member 400d serving as the displacement means at the time of attachment and detachment at 1.5 mm or more and 15 mm or less.

Here, the displacement member 400d is shown in FIGS.
As a mechanism for returning to the original position shown in (a), in addition to the method of interlocking with the operation by the user as described above, for example, conventionally known biasing means such as a leaf spring or a coil spring is used, The displacement member 400d is biased so that it is in the original position, and when the developer supply container 1 is detached, the projecting portion 1d of the developer supply container 1 and the displacement member 400d interfere with each other. By pulling out the developer supply container 1, the displacement member 400d moves in the displacement means guide portion 400f against the urging force of the urging means, and is provided in the developer supply container 1 as shown in FIG. 27 and 33, when the interference with the protruding portion 1d is eliminated, the urging force of the urging means is automatically applied.
It may be configured to return to the original position shown in (a).

That is, the urging means includes a mounting control projection 400c which serves as a mounting control section and a projecting section 1 which serves as a mounted control section except when the developer replenishing container 1 is detached.
When the developer replenishing container 1 is detached, it is interlocked with the detaching operation of the developer replenishing container 1 by urging the developer replenishing container 1 to a position that regulates the mounting position of the developer replenishing container 1 in a state where it interferes with Then, the developer supply container 1 is displaced against the biasing force of the biasing means so that the developer supply container 1 can be detached at a position where the mounting control protrusion 400c and the protrusion 1d do not interfere with each other, and the developer supply container 1 is detached. As a result, after the developer replenishing container 1 is no longer subjected to the force against the urging force of the urging means, the displacing member 40 is again moved to the position for restricting the mounting position of the developer replenishing container 1 by the urging force of the urging means.
Configured to return 0d.

With the configuration in which the displacement member 400d is provided as described above, a mounting control functioning as a mounting control section provided in the developer replenishing device 400 at the time of mounting the developer replenishing container 1 can be performed with a simple and inexpensive structure. When the developer supply container 1 is securely attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 only by the operation of aligning the combination of the protrusion 400c and the recessed portion 1e provided in the developer supply container 1 and serving as a mounting control section. Compatibility can be prevented.

When the developer supply container 1 is detached, the mounting control projection 400c is not aligned with the recess 1e, and the user simply pulls out the developer supply container 1 to smoothly perform development. The agent supply container 1 can be detached, and the operability can be greatly improved.

Further, when the displacement member 400d serving as the displacement means is not provided, in order to improve the operability, the rotation stop position regulating means for the developer supply container 1 had to be provided in the developer supply device 400. By providing the member 400d, the necessity thereof is eliminated, and the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 can be made compact and the cost can be reduced.

[Developer Replenishing Operation] Next, referring to FIGS.
The developer replenishing operation of the developer replenishing container 1 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7A to 7
FIG. 6C is a diagram showing, for each stage, a state of a process of inserting the developer supply container 1 in the present embodiment into the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 to supply the developer.

As shown in FIG. 7, the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with a developer replenishing device 400, and the developer replenishing device 400 is connected to the developer replenishing container 1 to connect the developer replenishing container 1 to the developer replenishing container 1. Main body drive unit 20 that serves as a drive force transmission unit for rotational drive
Is provided. The main body drive unit 20 is rotatably supported by bearings 23, and is rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown) provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100.

The developer hopper 201 is provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100.
A partition wall 25 that forms a developer replenishing passage 24 communicating with a is provided, and this partition wall 25 rotatably supports a part of the developer replenishing container 1 and seals the developer replenishing passage 24. , 26b are fixed. Further, a screw member 27 for conveying the replenished developer to the developer hopper 201a is arranged in the developer replenishing path 24.

FIG. 7A shows a state in which the developer supply container 1 is inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. At one end surface of the tip of the developer supply container 1, a cylindrical developer supply opening 1a is provided in the present embodiment. The developer supply opening 1a has a tip opening formed by the sealing member 2. It is in a sealed state.

In FIG. 7B, the insertion of the developer replenishing container 1 is further advanced, and the engaging protrusion 3 as a locking portion provided at the tip of the sealing member 2 drives the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. It is shown engaged with section 20. The engagement between the main body drive unit 20 and the sealing member 2 is performed by the insertion force when the user inserts the developer supply container 1.

At this time, since the sealing member 2 is locked in the thrust direction (axial direction) with the main body drive portion 20 by the locking surface 3b provided on the engaging projection 3, the sealing member 2 is locked by the locking surface 3b. It is in a positionally fixed state to the main body drive unit 20 unless is released.

FIG. 7C shows the sealing member 2 and the main body drive unit 20.
After the and are engaged, the slide member 300 is retracted in the direction of the arrow b in FIG. 7C in conjunction with the closing operation of the replacement front cover 15, so that the developer supply container 1 is also retracted and the relative sealing is performed. Stop member 2
Is separated from the developer replenishing container 1 and the developer replenishing opening 1a is opened, so that the developer can be replenished.

At this time, the container body 1A of the developer supply container 1
The drive shaft 1b fixed to is never completely disengaged from the sealing member 2, and a part of the drive shaft 1b remains in the sealing member 2. The drive shaft 1b has a non-circular cross-sectional shape capable of transmitting rotational drive, such as a quadrangle or a triangle.

When a motor (not shown) is driven in this state, the rotational driving force is transmitted from the main body drive unit 20 to the sealing member 2 and further from the sealing member 2 to the drive shaft 1b, whereby the developer supply container 1 Is configured to rotate. That is, the sealing member 2 has two functions of sealing the developer and at the same time transmitting the rotational driving force of the developer supply container 1.

Further, the developer supply container 1 is provided with a container receiving stand 400b.
Since it is rotatably supported by the container receiving roller 28 provided in the above, it can rotate smoothly even with a slight driving torque. This container receiving roller 28 is the container body 1
Four locations are provided at positions that are saddles with respect to A. The container receiving roller 28 is the developer supply device 4 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100.
It is rotatably installed at 00.

As the developer replenishing container 1 rotates in this manner, the developer contained in the developer replenishing container 1 is sequentially discharged from the developer replenishing opening 1a, and the developer replenishing path is formed.
An image forming apparatus using a screw member 27 provided in 24
100 The toner is conveyed to the developer hopper 201a on the main body side, and the developer is replenished.

[Sealing Member] Next, the structure of the sealing member 2 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. 12 and 13
2, the sealing member 2 includes a sealing portion 2b that seals the developer supply opening 1a of the developer supply container 1 so that the developer can be opened, and a driving force receiving portion that engages with the main body drive unit 20 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. It has a cylindrical coupling engagement portion 2c.

The outer diameter of the sealing portion 2b is the developer replenishing opening portion 1a.
It is set to be an appropriate amount larger than the inner diameter of. Then, the sealing member 2 is press-fitted into the developer supply opening 1a to seal the developer supply opening, which is the developer supply opening 1a, by the sealing member 2.

As described above, the sealing member 2 has the engaging hole 2a for engaging the drive shaft 1b and transmitting the drive force received from the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 to the drive shaft 1b. The engagement hole 2a is formed across the sealing portion 2b and the coupling engagement portion 2c.

The engagement hole 2a has a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the drive shaft 1b and is slightly larger than the drive shaft 1b. As a result, the drive shaft 1b is loosely fitted in the engagement hole 2a. In addition, the engagement hole 2a is the drive shaft 1b.
It has the same cross section and is polygonal. In this embodiment, the engaging hole 2a and the drive shaft 1b have a square cross section.

The drive shaft 1b is loosely fitted in the engagement hole 2a, so that the container body 1A and the sealing member 2 of the developer supply container 1 are locked to each other in the rotation direction of the container body 1A. On the other hand, the container body 1A is configured to be movable in the axial direction.

As a result, when the developer replenishing container 1 is mounted on the developer replenishing device 400, the sealing member 2 and the container body 1A can be separated from each other as will be described later, and the developer replenishing port serving as a developer supply port can be provided. It is possible to open (open) the opening 1a.

The engagement length between the engagement hole 2a and the drive shaft 1b is such that it does not come off when the sealing member 2 and the container body 1A are separated from each other. Thereby, even if the sealing member 2 is separated from the developer supply container 1, the drive shaft 1b can receive the driving force via the sealing member 2.

Next, the engaging projection 3 will be described in detail.
The sealing member 2 is provided with an engaging projection 3 on a coupling engaging portion 2c which serves as a driving force receiving portion for receiving a driving force from the main body of the image forming apparatus 100.

As shown in FIG. 14, the engagement protrusion 3 projects outward in the radial direction from the cylindrical surface of the coupling engagement portion 2c of the sealing member 2 and transmits the driving force in the rotational direction. And a locking surface 3b for locking the sealing member 2 to the main body drive unit 20 side when the developer supply container 1 and the sealing member 2 are separated from each other. ing.

That is, the engagement projection 3 has two different functions, that is, the rotational driving of the developer replenishing container 1 and the position regulation of the developer replenishing container 1, performed by the drive receiving surface 3a and the locking surface 3b.

According to the above-mentioned structure, since the opening / closing operation of the sealing member 2 and the driving force transmission operation can be performed by one sealing member 2, the developer supply container 1 having a compact and inexpensive structure can be provided.

Incidentally, it is basically preferable that the engaging projection 3 is provided integrally with the sealing member 2 from the viewpoint of reducing the number of parts, but only the engaging projection 3 is incorporated into the sealing member 2 as a separate part. However, it does not matter even if it is configured.

When the engaging projection 3 is provided integrally with the sealing member 2, the slit groove 2 is formed on both drive receiving surfaces 3a of the engaging projection 3.
It is preferable to provide e or the like so that only the engaging projection 3 can be elastically deformed freely. The reason is that the engagement projection 3 is displaced by the action of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 to perform a drive transmission canceling operation described later.

In this embodiment, the engaging projection 3 is formed integrally with the sealing member 2. Further, at the tip of the engaging projection 3, the sealing member 2 is at the main body drive unit 2 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100.
It has a tapered surface 3c so that it can be smoothly inserted when it is inserted into 0.

Next, the structure of the releasing unit will be described with reference to FIGS. The engagement protrusions 3 are provided at two locations on the circumference of the coupling engagement portion 2c of the sealing member 2 in opposite directions, but the engagement release portion 4 serves as a connecting portion that connects the engagement protrusions 3 to each other. Is provided.

When a force is applied in the direction of arrow b in FIG. 13, the engagement releasing portion 4 plays a role of elastically deforming the engagement projection 3 in the direction of arrow d as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. When the force in the direction of arrow b in FIG. 13 is removed, the original shape is restored again. Therefore, it is preferable that the disengagement portion 4 is made relatively thin so as to be easily elastically deformed, and is made of a material suitable for it.

Sealing member 2 including such disengagement portion 4
The resin is preferably manufactured by injection molding a resin such as plastic, but other materials and manufacturing methods may be used, or the resin may be divided and joined arbitrarily. Further, the sealing member 2 is required to have appropriate elasticity in order to press-fit and fit into the developer replenishing opening 1a to seal it.

Low density polyethylene is most preferable as the material of the sealing member 2, and then polypropylene, linear polyamide such as nylon, high density polyethylene, polyester, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer), HIPS (high impact polystyrene) or the like can be preferably used.

As described above, by making the coupling engaging portion 2c and the engagement releasing portion 4 which are the driving force receiving portions elastic members capable of elastically deforming, the main body driving unit 20 can be utilized by utilizing elastic deformation.
Also, the coupling engagement portion 2c that serves as the driving force receiving portion can be easily engaged and disengaged.

Further, since the above materials have appropriate elasticity, it is possible to easily engage and disengage the main body drive portion 20 and the coupling engagement portion 2c serving as the driving force receiving portion,
Moreover, it has sufficient durability.

Further, since the engagement releasing portion 4 has a bridge shape for connecting the engagement protrusions 3, the one engagement releasing portion 4 is pressed to uniformly displace the plurality of engagement protrusions 3. Can be exerted.

Incidentally, the engagement releasing portion 4 does not necessarily need to connect the engaging protrusions 3 with each other as described above and integrate them, and as shown in the modified examples shown in FIGS. It may be provided independently of the mating protrusion 3.

[Driving Force Receiving Portion] Next, the structure of the coupling engaging portion 2c provided on the sealing member 2 as a driving force receiving portion will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the sealing member 2 includes a coupling engagement portion 2c formed in a cylindrical shape as a driving force receiving portion, and from the main body driving portion 20 serving as a driving force transmission portion of the developer replenishing device 400. It is designed to receive the driving force of.

The coupling engagement portion 2c, which serves as a cylindrical driving force receiving portion of the sealing member 2, is provided with the elastically deformable flexible engagement projections 3 facing each other at two locations as described above. The engagement protrusion 3 is in a state in which it can be easily elastically deformed by being pressed. Further, an engagement releasing portion 4 is provided so as to connect the engagement protrusions 3 to each other.
And the disengagement portion 4 are integrated.

On the other hand, the main body drive unit 20 provided on the main body side of the image forming apparatus 100 is configured to engage with the engagement protrusion 3 of the sealing member 2, and the sealing member 2 is inserted into the main body drive unit 20. The inner diameter of the tip of the main body drive unit 20 is provided with a tapered surface 20b so that the inner diameter gradually decreases so that the main body drive unit 20 can be smoothly inserted.

With this tapered surface 20b, the sealing member 2 is smoothly inserted into the main body drive unit 20. In addition, the main body drive unit 20
Is an engaging rib for rotating the developer supply container 1.
20a is provided. The engaging rib 20a is the sealing member 2
After the is inserted, the engaging projection 3 is hooked to transmit the rotational drive.

Next, how the main body drive unit 20 and the sealing member 2 are engaged will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15A shows a state in which the user inserts the developer supply container 1 in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 15A to set a new developer supply container 1 in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100. That is, the state before engaging with the main body drive unit 20 in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100.

As the insertion of the developer supply container 1 progresses, FIG.
As shown in (b), the engagement projection 3 provided on the sealing member 2 comes into contact with the tapered surface 20b of the main body drive unit 20, and the tapered surface 20b.
It is inserted while elastically deforming while gradually bending inward while being guided by.

As shown in FIG. 15 (c), the developer replenishing container 1 is further inserted, and the straight portion continues to the tapered surface 20b.
The bending of the engaging projection 3 that has passed 20 g is released in the space portion 20 h without the engaging rib 20 a, and the engaging projection 3 is engaged with the main body drive unit 20 here. In this state, the engagement protrusion 3 is firmly engaged with the main body drive unit 20, and the position of the sealing member 2 in the thrust direction (axial direction) is fixed.

Therefore, even if the developer replenishing container 1 is subsequently retracted in the direction of arrow b in FIG. 7 (c) as shown in FIG. 7 (c), the sealing member 2 remains together with the developer replenishing container 1. It is firmly fixed to the main body drive unit 20 without being retracted by being pulled by.

On the other hand, since only the developer supply container 1 is retracted, the sealing member 2 and the developer supply container 1 are reliably separated,
The developer supply opening 1a is opened. The retracting operation of the developer supply container 1 is performed by the replacement front cover 1 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100.
The developer replenishing container 1 may be slid in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of 5.

[Disengagement Method] Next, the engagement disengagement between the engagement projection 3 and the main body drive section 20 will be described with reference to FIG.
When the developer supply is completed and the developer supply container 1 becomes empty,
The old developer supply container 1 must be removed and replaced with a new developer supply container 1. At that time, it is necessary to release the engagement between the sealing member 2 and the main body drive unit 20 which have been engaged until then.

As shown in FIG. 16, a pushing member 21 is provided inside the main body of the image forming apparatus 100, more specifically inside the main body drive section 20. The pushing member 21 is configured to be movable in the same direction as the axial direction of the drive shaft 1b of the developer supply container 1.

FIG. 16 (a) shows a state in which the developer replenishment is completed and the developer replenishing opening 1a of the developer replenishing container 1 is opened. When the engagement between the main body drive unit 20 and the sealing member 2 is released, the pushing member 21 is inserted into the engagement releasing unit 4 provided at the tip of the sealing member 2 in the direction of arrow e in FIG. 16
As shown in (b), the disengagement portion 4 bends in the direction of the arrow e, and at the same time, the engagement protrusion 3 integrated with the disengagement portion 4 also falls inward.

As a result, the engagement between the engagement protrusion 3 and the main body drive unit 20 is released. After that, the pushing member 21 is further indicated by an arrow
By advancing in the direction, as shown in FIG. 16C, the pushing member 21 presses the sealing member 2 into the developer replenishing opening 1a,
Here, the developer supply opening 1a of the developer supply container 1 is sealed.

Further, as the pushing member 21 advances in the direction of arrow e, the developer supply container 1 itself is retracted this time, and the developer supply container 1 is slid to a position where the user can easily take it out.

Regarding the drive configuration of this pushing member 21,
Interlocking with the opening / closing operation of the replacement front cover 15 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100, when the replacement front cover 15 is opened, the pushing member 21 moves in the direction of arrow e, and the main body drive unit 20 and the developer supply container 1 The sealing member 2 may be separated and the replacement front cover 15 may be closed to move in the direction of arrow f in FIG. 16 (c), or an independent separating operation using a separate drive motor or the like. It may be configured to perform.

Furthermore, instead of the interlocking operation with the replacement front cover 15 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100, a separate manual lever is provided,
Various configurations are conceivable, such as a configuration in which the separation operation is performed in conjunction with this.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 can be securely operated only by inserting the developer supply container 1.
Since the engagement can be engaged with the main body and the disengagement portion 4 can be easily released at the time of taking out, the replenishment operation of the developer supply container 1 can be performed with a very simple operation and configuration. I can. Therefore, the developer supply container 1 having high operability can be provided.

Further, the drive transmission of the developer replenishing container 1 can be released, and at the same time, the opening / closing operation of the developer replenishing opening 1a can be realized at the same time. Further, in spite of such a very simple operation and a simple, inexpensive and compact structure, reliable and highly reliable drive transmission can be realized.

Further, when transmitting the rotational drive to the developer supply container 1, a rotary bearing mechanism is not required, and the structure is simple, and there are adverse effects such as developer leakage, torque increase, and generation of coarse particles in the bearing portion. It is possible to provide a developer supply container 1 that does not have a developer.

[Other Form of Sealing Member] Next, another form of the sealing member 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that members having the same functions as those of the above-mentioned members are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, the engagement releasing portion (release protrusion) 4 is provided not on the inner side of the coupling engaging portion 2c of the cylindrical portion of the sealing member 2 but on the outer peripheral surface thereof.
In addition, in the present embodiment, the engagement protrusion 3 and the engagement release portion 4 are arranged at four positions in the circumferential direction of the coupling engagement portion 2c.
I set up some places.

Further, depending on the structure of the engagement releasing portion 4, in the present embodiment, the pushing member 21 is not a shaft-like member that slides back and forth from the axial center of the main body driving portion 20 on the main body side of the image forming apparatus 100. Without the main body drive unit 20 as shown in FIG.
It is configured to be slidable back and forth in a cylindrical shape so as to cover the outer periphery of the above, and to be engageable with the engagement releasing portion 4 formed of a release protrusion.

Further, the inner peripheral surface of the tip end portion of the cylindrical pushing member 21 is provided with a taper portion 21a formed in a taper shape such that the inner diameter increases toward the tip end, that is, the wall thickness becomes thin, and at the time of engagement. At, the taper portion 21a engages with the top portion of the disengagement portion 4.

Further, slit grooves 2e are formed on both sides of the supporting portion 2f provided with the engaging projection 3 and the engaging release portion 4, and the engaging projection 3 and the engaging release portion 4 are formed by the slit grooves 2e. It is configured to elastically deform inward.

FIG. 21A shows a state in which the developer replenishment is completed and the developer replenishing opening 1a of the developer replenishing container 1 is opened. When the engagement between the main body drive unit 20 and the sealing member 2 is released, as shown in FIG. 21 (b), the pushing member 21 is attached to the engagement releasing unit 4 provided at the tip of the sealing member 2 by the arrow e. When it is inserted in the direction, the disengagement portion 4 is pressed inward by the inner peripheral surface of the pushing member 21 and is bent in the direction of arrow d, and at the same time, the engagement protrusion 3 integrated with the disengagement portion 4 also falls inward. . As a result, the engagement between the engagement protrusion 3 and the main body drive unit 20 is released.

After that, by further pushing the pushing member 21 in the direction of the arrow e in FIG. 21C, the sealing member 2 reaches the sealing position of the developer supply container 1 as shown in FIG. Will be returned. Next, the pushing member 21 further retracts the developer supply container 1 itself to slide the developer supply container 1 to a position where the user can easily take out the developer supply container 1.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by providing the engagement releasing portion 4 on the outer peripheral surface of the coupling engaging portion 2c formed of the cylindrical portion, the same effect as the above can be obtained.
Further, such a form is more suitable for improving productivity because the mold can be easily removed when the sealing member 2 is manufactured by injection molding of resin.

34 to 36, the structure of the second embodiment of the developer replenishing device according to the present invention, the image forming apparatus equipped with the same, and the developer replenishing container usable therefor will be described. 34 (a) and 34 (b) are views of the vicinity of the developer replenishing container receiving opening when the developer replenishing container is mounted in the second embodiment of the developer replenishing device according to the present invention as seen from outside the image forming apparatus main body. It is a perspective view and a cross-sectional view.

Further, FIGS. 35 (a) and 35 (b) show an image forming apparatus in the vicinity of the developer replenishing container receiving opening when the developer replenishing container is detached in the second embodiment of the developer replenishing device according to the present invention. FIG. 36 is a perspective view and a transverse sectional view as seen from the outside of the main body, and FIG. 36 is a schematic explanatory view showing an operation state of the displacement means of the second embodiment.
The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 34 to 36, the moving direction of the displacing member 400d, which serves as a displacing means when the developer replenishing container 1 is detached, is accompanied by the detachment of the developer replenishing container 1. After the developer replenishing container 1 is moved in the detaching direction, the hinge
It is configured so as to rotate about 400i along a displacement means movement guide portion 400g.

The displacement member 400d is normally moved by the urging force of the urging means (not shown) in the direction of arrow c in FIG.
36 (a) is maintained, and when the developer supply container 1 is mounted, as shown in FIG. 36 (a), the displacement member 400d
In order to prevent the displacement member 400d from rotating around the hinge 400i by the displacement means movement guide portion 400g provided on the developer replenishing device 400, the protrusion 400h provided on the same is mounted as in the first embodiment. Mounted by restricting the passage area of the developer replenishing container 1 to the upper side by the thickness of the displacement member 400d so that the mounting control protrusion 400c serving as the mounting control unit and the protrusion 1d serving as the mounted control unit interfere with each other. The compatibility of the developer supply container 1 is prevented by the mounting control protrusion 400c serving as a control unit.

When the developer replenishing container 1 is detached, the developer replenishing container 1 is pulled out in the same manner as in the first embodiment. 1d and the displacement member 400d come into contact with each other, and further the developer supply container 1
36 (b), the displacing member 400d is moved to the left in FIG. 36 (b) against the urging force of the urging means not shown in the displacing means movement guide portion 400g, as shown in FIG. 36 (b). When the developer supply container 1 is further moved in the detaching direction, the hinge 40
It rotates about 0i and becomes the state shown in FIGS. 35 and 36 (c).

Then, the developer replenishing container 1 is no longer restricted by the passage position of the displacement member 400d, and by extension, the developer replenishing device.
Interference with the mounting control protrusion 400c serving as a mounting control unit provided in 400 is avoided, and then the container is pulled out along the container attaching / detaching guide unit 400e in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the developer replenishing container without any trouble. 1 can be detached.

At this time, the displacement member 400d is the developer supply container 1
As soon as there is no interference with the displacement member 400d, the urging force of the urging means (not shown) provided on the displacement member 400d returns to the state of FIGS. 34 and 36 (a) to prevent the compatibility of the developer supply container 1 again. Is possible.

With the configuration in which the displacing member 400d is provided as described above, a mounting control functioning as a mounting control unit provided in the developer replenishing apparatus 1 when the developer replenishing container 1 is mounted is made with a simple and inexpensive structure. When the developer supply container 1 is securely attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 by an operation of only aligning the combination of the protrusion 400c and the recessed portion 1e provided in the developer supply container 1 and serving as a mounting control portion. Compatibility can be prevented.

Further, when the developer supply container 1 is detached, the user does not have to align the mounting control protrusion 400c with the recessed portion 1e, and the user simply pulls out the developer supply container 1 to smoothly carry out the development. The supply container 1 can be detached, and the operability can be greatly improved.

Further, when the displacement member 400d is not provided, it is necessary to provide the developer supply device 400 with the rotation stop position regulating means for the developer supply container 1 in order to improve the operability. This is no longer necessary, and the image forming apparatus 100
The main body can be made compact and the cost can be reduced.

Next, with reference to FIG. 37, the structure of the third embodiment of the developer replenishing device according to the present invention, the image forming apparatus having the same, and the developer replenishing container usable in the same will be described. FIG. 37 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing the configuration of the third embodiment of the developer supply container according to the present invention. The same components as those in the above-described embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 37, the projecting portion 1d, which is the mounted control portion provided in the developer replenishing container 1, has a cavity 1f therein, and the container of the developer replenishing container 1 is It communicates with the developer storage portion in the main body 1A.

With such a structure, the developer can be accommodated in the cavity 1f of the protrusion 1d, and the space efficiency can be improved. Further, as compared with the case where there is no cavity 1f inside the protruding portion 1d, the inner volume of the developer supply container 1 can be secured, so that the protruding portion 1d can be made sufficiently large and the user can replenish the developer. It is possible to easily recognize the presence of the protruding portion 1d and the concave portion 1e, which are the mounting control portions, in the container 1, and it is possible to improve the operability. Further, the protrusion 1d serving as a mounting control unit
By taking a large value, compatibility can be prevented more reliably and reliability can be improved.

[0197]

Since the present invention has the above-described structure and operation, it is possible to eliminate the need for phase adjustment when the developer replenishing container is detached with a simple structure. It is possible to improve the operability when exchanging the agent supply container, and it is not necessary to provide the image forming apparatus main body with a mechanism for aligning the container phase when the developer supply container is detached. And cost reduction are achieved.

Further, since the movement of the displacing means at the time of mounting and detaching the developer replenishing container is configured to be linked with the detaching operation of the developer replenishing container, the number of operating steps can be reduced and the operability is improved. Can be improved.

Further, it is possible to surely prevent the trouble that the developer replenishing container accommodating the developers of different colors and types is erroneously set without a troublesome work for the user with a simple structure.

Further, when the developer replenishing container is attached, it is possible to discriminate whether or not the developer replenishing container is correct at the initial stage, and the operability can be improved.

Further, since the developer can be stored in the projecting portion of the developer supply container, more developer can be filled and space efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a developer replenishing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a developer replenishing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing how the developer supply container according to the present invention is attached to an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus including a developer replenishing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a developer replenishing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the image forming apparatus showing a state where the developer supply container replacement cover is opened.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a mounting operation of the developer supply container,
4A is a sectional view showing a state where the mounting of the developer supply container is started, FIG. 4B is a state during mounting of the developer supply container, and FIG.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an embodiment of a developer supply container according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing an example of a drive transmission unit when a drive shaft is provided on the developer supply container body side.

FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing another embodiment of the developer supply container according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the drive transmission portion when the drive shaft is provided on the sealing member side.

FIG. 12 (a) is a front view showing an embodiment of a sealing member,
(B) is the side view seen from the X direction of (a), (c) is the side view seen from the Y direction of (a).

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ZZ of FIG. 12 (b).

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the driving force transmitting portion and the driving force receiving portion of the sealing member.

15A and 15B show how the driving force transmitting portion and the driving force receiving portion of the sealing member of the developer supply container are engaged, where FIG. 15A is before insertion of the developer supply container, and FIG. While inserting the container,
FIG. 7C is a partial cross-sectional view showing the state when the insertion of the developer supply container is completed.

16A and 16B show a state of disengagement between the driving force transmitting portion and the driving force receiving portion of the sealing member of the developer supply container, FIG. 16A being before engagement disengagement, FIG. FIG. 7C is a partial cross-sectional view showing the time when the engagement release is completed.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the driving force transmitting portion and the driving force receiving portion of the sealing member.

18 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing member shown in FIG.

FIG. 19 (a) is a side view showing another embodiment of the sealing member,
(B) is a front view showing another embodiment of the sealing member, and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ZZ of (a) showing another embodiment of the sealing member.

20 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the driving force receiving portion and the driving force transmitting portion of the sealing member of FIG. 19 are engaged.

FIG. 21 shows how the driving force receiving portion and the driving force transmitting portion of the sealing member shown in FIG. 19 provided in the developer supply container are disengaged, and (a) shows the state before the engagement is released and (b) shows the state. ) Is disengaged, (c)
[Fig. 4] is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state when disengagement is completed.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing an example of a developer supply container according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing how the developer supply container according to the present invention is inserted into the developer supply device according to the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing various arrangement examples of concave portions which are the mounted control portions provided in the developer supply container according to the present invention.

FIG. 25 shows a state where a protrusion of the developer supply device and a recess of the developer supply container are in phase when the developer supply container according to the present invention is attached to the developer supply device according to the present invention. It is a front view.

FIG. 26 shows a state where a protrusion of the developer supply device and a recess of the developer supply container are out of phase when the developer supply container according to the present invention is mounted on the developer supply device according to the present invention. It is a front view.

FIG. 27 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing a state where the developer supply container according to the present invention is inserted into a position where the mounting control unit and the mounted control unit interfere with each other when mounting the developer supply device according to the present invention. .

FIG. 28 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing a state in the middle of attaching or detaching the developer supply container according to the present invention to the developer supply device according to the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing a state in which the developer supply container according to the present invention is completely attached to the developer supply device according to the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing a state where the projecting portion of the developer supply container moves the displacement means when the developer supply container according to the present invention is detached from the developer supply device according to the present invention. .

FIG. 31: When the developer supply container according to the present invention is detached from the developer supply device according to the present invention, the protruding portion of the developer supply container exceeds the mounting control portion of the developer supply device, and the developer supply container It is a cross-sectional view showing a state of being pulled out along the attachment / detachment guide portion.

32 (a) and 32 (b) are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the developer supply container receiving opening of the developer supply device according to the present invention as seen from inside the image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a developer replenishing container receiving opening of the developer replenishing device according to the present invention, and FIG. , (B) are perspective views showing a case where the displacing means is at the position when the developer supply container is detached.

34A and 34B are views of the vicinity of the developer supply container receiving opening when the developer supply container is mounted in the second embodiment of the developer supply device according to the present invention from the outside of the image forming apparatus main body. It is the seeing perspective view and the cross-sectional view.

FIGS. 35 (a) and 35 (b) are views showing the vicinity of the developer supply container receiving opening when the developer supply container is detached from the outside of the image forming apparatus main body in the second embodiment of the developer supply device according to the present invention. It is the perspective view and cross-sectional view seen from.

FIG. 36 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an operating condition of the displacement means of the second embodiment.

FIG. 37 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing the configuration of the third embodiment of the developer supply container according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Developer supply container, 1A ... Container body, 1a ... Developer supply opening, 1a1 ... Constituent member, 1b ... Drive shaft, 1c ... Spiral projection, 1d ... Projection, 1e ... Recess, 1f ... Cavity, 2 …
Sealing member, 2a ... Engaging hole, 2b ... Sealing part, 2c ... Coupling engaging part, 2e ... Slit groove, 2f ... Support part, 3 ...
Engaging projections 3a ... Drive receiving surface, 3b ... Engaging surface, 3c ... Tapered surface, 4 ... Engagement releasing portion, 15 ... Replacement front cover, 18 ... Hinge, 20 ... Main body driving portion, 20a ... Engaging rib , 20b ... Tapered surface, 20g ... Straight portion, 20h ... Space portion, 21 ... Extruding member, 21a ... Tapered portion, 23 ... Bearing, 24 ... Developer replenishing passage, 25 ... Partition wall, 26a, 26b ... Inner / outer bearing, 27 ... Screw member, 28 ... Container receiving roller, 40 ... Baffle member, 40a ... Inclined protrusion, 100 ... Image forming apparatus, 100a ... Operation part, 100b ... Display means, 101 ... Original, 102 ... Original platen glass,
103 ... Optical part, 104 ... Photosensitive drum, 105-108 ... Sheet cassette, 105A-108A ... Feed / separation device, 109 ... Conveying part, 110
... Registration roller, 111 ... Transfer discharger, 112 ... Separation discharger, 113 ... Conveying section, 114 ... Fixing section, 115 ...
... Ejection roller, 117 ... Ejection tray, 118 ... Flapper, 11
9, 120 ... Re-feeding / conveying path, 201 ... Developing section, 201a ... Developer hopper, 201b ... Developing device, 201c ... Stirring member, 201d ... Magnet roller, 201f ... Developing roller, 201e ... Feeding member, 202 ...
Cleaner part, 203 ... Primary charger, 300 ... Slide member, 40
0: developer replenishing device, 400a ... container receiving opening, 400b
… Container cradle, 400c… Mounting control protrusion, 400c1… Locking surface, 4
00c2 ... Inclined surface, 400d ... Displacement member, 400e ... Container attachment / detachment guide section, 400f ... Displacement means guide section, 400g ... Displacement means movement guide section, 400h ... Protrusion, 400i ... Hinge, Ln ... Lens, M ...
Mirror, P ... Paper

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A developer replenishing device for replenishing the developer by transporting and discharging the developer by rotating a cylindrical developer replenishing container mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus. A developer replenishing container insertion opening for receiving the developer replenishing container; a developer replenishing container mounting portion in which the developer replenishing container inserted through the developer replenishing container insertion port is mounted; A mounting control unit that is provided in the replenishing device and that controls mounting of the developer replenishing container, and that is provided in the developer replenishing container mounting unit, and is regulated by the mounting control unit when the developer replenishing container is mounted, When the developer supply container is detached, the developer supply container is attached and detached so that the developer control container is prevented from being regulated by the attachment control unit. Interchange with the mounting direction A displacement means for displacing in a direction, wherein the developer supply container developer replenishing apparatus characterized by having the mounting control unit which regulated the mounting control unit. 2. The mounting control section has at least one protrusion protruding radially inward of the developer supply container insertion opening so that mounting of the developer supply container can be controlled. The mounted control portion provided in the developer supply container has a protruding portion that protrudes over substantially the entire circumference on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion of the cylindrical developer supply container body of the developer supply container, and the protruding portion. The developer is provided and has a recess corresponding to the mounting control unit, and the developer is provided only when the protrusion of the mounting control unit and the recess provided in the protrusion of the mounted control unit match. The developer replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein a replenishing container is attachable to the main body of the image forming apparatus. 3. The displacing means provided in the developer replenishing container mounting portion is provided in the mounting control portion and the developer replenishing container provided in the developer replenishing device when the developer replenishing container is mounted. The mounting position of the developer supply container is regulated in a state where the protruding portion of the mounted control unit provided interferes with the mounting control unit and the mounted control when the developer supply container is detached. 2. The developer replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer replenishing device is displaced to a position where it does not interfere with the projecting portion. 4. The displacement control means provided in the developer replenishing container mounting portion is provided with the mounting control portion and the developer replenishing container provided in the developer replenishing device except when the developer replenishing container is detached. The developer replenishment container is provided with a biasing means for biasing the developer replenishment container to a position that regulates the mounting position of the developer replenishment container in a state where it interferes with the protrusion of the mounted control unit. When the container is detached, the developer replenishing container can be detached at a position where the mounting control unit and the protrusion of the mounted control unit do not interfere with each other in association with the detaching operation of the developer replenishing container. After being displaced against the urging force of the urging means, and further, by removing the developer replenishing container, the developer replenishing container no longer receives the force against the urging force of the urging means. Is loaded by the urging force of the urging means. Developer supply device according to claim 3, characterized in that again the displacement means to return to a position for restricting the position. 5. The mounting control section provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus and the displacement means provided in the developer supply container mounting section are upstream of the developer supply container mounting section in the developer supply container mounting section. The developer supply device according to claim 1, wherein the developer supply device is provided on the side. 6. The protrusion of the mounting control unit provided in the developer replenishing device is substantially perpendicular to the mounting axis of the developer replenishing container on the side facing the mounted developer replenishing container. An inclined surface that has a surface that intersects with and that gradually protrudes toward the passage area of the developer supply container on the side facing the developer supply container to be detached, as it goes in the detaching direction of the developer supply container. The developer supply device according to claim 1, wherein the developer supply device is provided. 7. The mounting control unit is different in at least one or more of an arrangement interval of the protrusions, a width of the protrusions, and a shape of the protrusions that are formed according to the type of the image forming apparatus main body, and the mounting control unit corresponds to that 3. The developer replenishment according to claim 2, wherein at least one or more of an arrangement interval of the recesses provided in the projecting portion of the developer supply container, a width of the recess, and a shape of the recess are different from each other. apparatus. 8. The displacement amount of the developer replenishing container, which is displaced by the displacing means during mounting and dismounting, is set to be not less than 1.5 mm and not more than 15 mm. Developer supply device. 9. An image forming apparatus equipped with the developer replenishing device according to claim 1, further comprising image forming means for forming an image. 10. A developer replenishing container mountable to the developer replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the mounted control section provided in the developer replenishing container is:
A developer supply container, which is provided on a peripheral surface of an end portion on a downstream side in a mounting direction of the developer supply container to the main body of the image forming apparatus. 11. A developer replenishing container mountable to the developer replenishing device according to claim 2 or 7, wherein the protrusion provided with the recess is provided in the developer replenishing container main body. A developer replenishing container having a cavity communicating with a developer accommodating portion. 12. A developer supply container mountable to the developer supply device according to claim 1, wherein the developer supply container is provided inside the developer supply container mountable to the developer supply device. Further, a developer transporting / discharging means for transporting / discharging the developer contained therein by the rotation of the developer replenishing container is provided on the inner wall surface of the substantially cylindrical developer replenishing container. A developer supply container, which is a spiral groove or a spiral protrusion formed. 13. A developer supply container mountable to the developer supply device according to claim 1, wherein the developer supply container is provided inside the developer supply container mountable to the developer supply device. Further, as the developer replenishing container rotates, the developer conveying / discharging means for conveying / discharging the developer housed therein extends inside the developer replenishing container main body in the rotation axis direction. The partition wall is provided continuously, and has a partition wall provided so as to divide the inside of the developer supply container body into a plurality of parts, and the partition wall is disposed at a position passing through an opening section for discharging the developer, Further, on the partition wall, a projection having a surface inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the developer supply container is provided so as to project from the partition wall, and at least one end of the projection is an opening for discharging the developer. To carry Has a portion for guiding the by developer,
A developer replenishing container, characterized in that the partition wall and the protrusion convey the developer in a direction of a rotation axis of the developer replenishing container.