JP2005107141A - Toner supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To securely prevent toner from being scattered in a replacement operation of a toner reservoir container, in which a toner discharging hole of the toner reservoir container can be securely opened/closed. <P>SOLUTION: The device includes: an engagement arm 53 protruding from a shutter member 50; a rectangular tube 291 of a toner receiving part 29, which opens a shutter member 50 by preventing accompanied movement of the shutter member 50 by a toner cartridge 30; a rear side engagement protrusion strip 201 which interferes with the engagement arm 53 when the toner cartridge 30 is attached to or detached from a developing device 20 so as to shut the shutter; a guided protrusion 531 provided to the engagement arm 53 of the shutter member 50; and a guide member 63 provided to the side of a side plate 61 of a casing 60, for guiding the relative movement of the guided protrusion 531. The guide member 63 is provided with a loop path whose shape is set so that the route for passing the guided protrusion 531 when the toner cartridge 30 is attached to the developing device 20 is different from that when the toner cartridge 30 is detached from the developing device 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner supply device that is detachably attached to a developing device of an image forming apparatus applied to a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and various printers.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a toner cartridge 90 shown in FIG. 13 described in Patent Document 1 that is detachably mounted on a developing device of an image forming apparatus is known. The toner cartridge 90 is detachably attached to a developing device 96 (only a part of the developing device 96 is shown in FIG. 13) built in the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, and stores toner stored therein. It is for replenishing 96.

  The toner cartridge 90 includes a box-shaped toner storage container 91 having a substantially elliptical shape when viewed from the side, a square flange 92 provided at the bottom of the toner storage container 91, and a shutter externally fitted to the square flange 92. A member 93 is provided. A toner discharge hole 911 extending in the vertical direction for discharging the toner in the toner storage container 91 is provided at the center position of the square flange 92. The toner discharge hole 911 is closed by a shutter member 93 before the toner cartridge 90 is attached to the developing device 96, thereby preventing leakage of toner.

  On the other hand, the developing device 96 is provided with a guide groove 97 into which the shutter member 93 is fitted in a sliding state on the top plate, and the toner cartridge 90 is developed by fitting the shutter member 93 into the guide groove 97 from the horizontal direction. The device 96 is to be mounted. A toner receiving hole 971 corresponding to the toner discharge hole 911 is provided at the groove bottom at the back of the guide groove 97 (right side in FIG. 13), and at the back and both sides of the toner receiving hole 971. Engagement side walls 98 are erected so as to surround the three sides.

  Then, as the shutter member 93 is inserted into the guide groove 97, the shutter member 93 comes into contact with the engaging side wall 98, thereby preventing further intrusion of the shutter member 93, whereas the square flange 92 is prevented. Can be fitted between the both wall portions of the engagement side wall 98, so that the toner discharge hole 911 is opposed to the toner receiving hole 971, and the toner in the toner storage container 91 is transferred to the toner discharge hole 971. 911 and the toner receiving hole 971 are supplied to the developing device 96.

  When all the toner in the toner storage container 91 is consumed, the used toner cartridge 90 must be replaced with a new toner cartridge 90. In this replacement, the square flange 92 of the used toner cartridge 90 is moved in the direction away from the engagement side wall 98, and the shutter member 93 can be pulled out from the guide groove 97, but the toner discharge hole 911 is opened. When the toner is pulled out in a state, the toner remaining in the toner storage container 91 is discharged to the outside from the toner discharge hole 911, and the surroundings are contaminated.

  In order to eliminate such inconvenience, the one in the cited document 1 has a shutter member 93 having a structure as shown in FIG. That is, the shutter member 93 includes a flat plate 931 on which the square flange 92 is placed, a pair of side plates 932 in the width direction that are erected from both sides of the flat plate 931 so as to sandwich the square flange 92 from the left and right, and each side plate 932. Each U-shaped groove 934 formed between each top plate 933 and the flat plate 931 includes a pair of widthwise top plates 933 extending from the upper edge portion of the top plate 933 toward each other. The both side edge portions of the square flange 92 are fitted into each other.

  A claw portion 94 is provided so as to project outward from one flat plate 931, the side plate 932, and the top plate 933 (left side in FIG. 14). The claw portion 94 has a base portion 941 projecting outward on the entrance side of the shutter member 93 and a variable shape projecting from the base portion 941 toward the back and capable of elastic deformation in the horizontal direction. A portion 942, a guided portion 943 that protrudes inward from the tip of the deformable portion 942, and a locking portion 944 that protrudes outward.

  The guided portion 943 has a protruding amount set so that the tip of the guided portion 943 interferes with the side edge portion of the square flange 92, while the inner side edge portion of the square flange 92 avoids the interference. A notch 921 is formed at the top. Then, in a state where the flat plate 931 of the shutter member 93 closes the toner discharge hole 911 of the toner storage container 91, the guided portion 943 is fitted into the notch 921, and the deformable portion 942 is not elastically deformed. Has been.

  The notched portion 921 is provided with an inclined edge portion 922 that interferes with the guided portion 943, and the rectangular flange 92 and the shutter member 93 are arranged in a direction in which the inclined edge portion 922 and the guided portion 943 interfere with each other. Are moved relative to each other, the guided portion 943 rides on the inclined edge portion 922, whereby the deformable portion 942 is elastically deformed outward.

  On the other hand, on one side wall (left side in FIG. 13) of the guide groove 97 of the developing device 96, there is a protrusion 972 that protrudes inward from the front (opposite to the back) position of the toner receiving hole 971. Is provided. The protrusion 972 has a protruding amount so that the guided portion 943 of the claw portion 94 of the shutter member 93 interferes with the locking portion 944 of the claw portion 94 when the guided portion 943 rides on the side edge portion of the square flange 92. .

  An attachment / detachment operation of the thus configured toner cartridge 90 with respect to the developing device 96 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the attaching / detaching operation of the toner cartridge 90 with respect to the developing device 96. FIG. 15A is a state in which the shutter member 93 of the toner cartridge 90 is fitted in the guide groove 97 of the developing device 96. (B) shows a state in which the shutter member 93 comes into contact with the engaging side wall 98 of the developing device 96 and the toner discharge hole 911 is opened. (C) shows that the rectangular flange 92 of the toner cartridge 90 starts to be pulled out from the guide groove 97. As a result, the engaging portion 944 of the shutter member 93 interferes with the protrusion 972 of the developing device 96, and (D) shows the toner cartridge 90 when the square flange 92 is pulled out while the engaging portion 944 interferes with the protrusion 972. Each of the toner discharge holes 911 is closed. In FIG. 15, the state in which the toner discharge hole 911 is closed by the flat plate 931 of the shutter member 93 is represented by hatching.

  First, a state shown in FIG. 15A is an initial state in which the shutter member 93 of the toner cartridge 90 is fitted in the guide groove 97 of the developing device 96, and the guided portion 943 of the shutter member 93 is a square flange 92. Therefore, the engaging portion 944 of the shutter member 93 does not interfere with the protrusion 972 of the developing device 96.

  In this state, as indicated by an arrow, when the toner cartridge 90 is moved and the shutter member 93 is slid in the guide groove 97, the side plate 932 of the shutter member 93 comes into contact with the engaging side wall 98 of the developing device 96. Since further movement is prevented, only the square flange 92 integral with the toner storage container 91 is fitted between the pair of engagement side walls 98 as shown in FIG. The toner discharge hole 911 that has been closed by the flange 92 is opened, and the toner discharge hole 911 faces the toner receiving hole 971 of the developing device 96. As a result, the toner storage container 91 and the developing device 96 communicate with each other via the toner discharge hole 911 and the toner receiving hole 971, and the toner stored in the toner storage container 91 is supplied into the developing device 96. It will be.

  In this state, the guided portion 943 of the shutter member 93 is detached from the notch 921 of the rectangular flange 92 and abuts on the side edge of the rectangular flange 92, and the locking portion 944 is elastically deformed by the deformable portion 942. Is overhanging outward.

  Next, when the toner storage container 91 is pulled forward (downward on the paper surface of FIG. 15) in order to remove the toner cartridge 90 from the developing device 96, the shutter member 93 also moves along with the square flange 92 integral with the toner storage container 91. However, as shown in FIG. 15C, since the protruding locking portion 944 interferes with the projection 972, the shutter member 93 is prevented from further movement, and only the square flange 92 slides. As shown in FIG. 15D, the toner discharge hole 911 of the toner storage container 91 is closed by the flat plate 931 of the shutter member 93.

When the toner container 91 is continuously pulled out in this state, the guided portion 943 is again fitted into the cutout portion 921 of the square flange 92, and thereby the locking portion 944 is returned to the original position so that the protrusion 972 is not moved. The interference is eliminated, and the state returns to the state shown in FIG. In this state, the toner cartridge 90 is removed from the developing device 96.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-142915

  In the present invention, in view of the existence of the prior art described in Patent Document 1, the toner discharge hole of the toner storage container can be more reliably opened and closed in the attaching / detaching operation of the toner storage container with respect to the developing device. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a toner supply device which can reliably prevent the toner from being scattered when the toner storage container is replaced.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner supply device comprising a toner storage container detachably mounted on the device main body so as to supply toner to a developing device that supplies toner to a photosensitive drum built in the device main body. The toner storage container includes a toner supply container formed between a toner supply opening for the developing device, a closed position for closing the opening, and an open position for opening the opening. A shutter member capable of changing a position, and an opening / closing structure for opening / closing the shutter member in accordance with an attaching / detaching operation of the toner storage container with respect to the developing device, wherein the opening / closing structure attaches the toner storage container to the developing device. At the time of mounting, the shutter member is opened by preventing the accompanying movement with the toner storage container by interfering with the developing device side first interference portion provided in the developing device. A first interference portion on the shutter member side provided on the shutter member, an elastic arm having a guided protrusion at the tip, which protrudes from the shutter member in a mounting direction of the toner storage container with respect to the developing device, When the toner storage container is detached from the developing device, the elastic arm of the elastic arm prevents the accompanying movement with the toner storage container by interfering with the developing device side second interference portion provided in the developing device and closes the shutter member. A shutter member side second interference portion provided at a front end, and a guide member provided in the toner storage container that guides relative movement of the guided protrusion when the toner storage container is attached to and detached from the developing device. The guide member is formed on the guided protrusion when the toner storage container is attached to the developing device and when the guide member is detached from the developing device. And it is characterized in that it comprises a loop path which is to shape set to pass through since the route.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner supply device including a toner storage container that is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body so as to supply toner to a developing device that supplies toner to a photosensitive drum built in the apparatus main body. The toner storage container includes a toner supply container formed between a toner supply opening for the developing device, a closed position for closing the opening, and an open position for opening the opening. A shutter member capable of changing a position, and an opening / closing structure for opening / closing the shutter member in accordance with an attaching / detaching operation of the toner storage container with respect to the developing device, wherein the opening / closing structure attaches the toner storage container to the developing device. When attached, the shutter member is opened by preventing the accompanying movement with the toner storage container by interfering with the developing device side first interference portion provided in the developing device. A shutter member side first interference portion provided on the shutter member, an elastic arm projecting from the shutter member in a mounting direction of the toner storage container with respect to the developing device, and the toner storage container being detached from the developing device. The shutter member side provided at the tip of the elastic arm closes the shutter member by preventing the accompanying movement with the toner storage container by interfering with the developing device side second interference part provided in the developing device. Relative movement of the second interference portion, the guided protrusion provided on the toner storage container so as to face the tip of the elastic arm, and the guided protrusion when the toner storage container is attached to and detached from the developing device. And a guide member provided on the distal end side of the elastic arm for guiding, the guide member having the toner storage container mounted on the developing device. It is characterized in that comprises a loop path which the shape has been set in order to pass different paths to the guide projection in a time that is detached from the developing device and the time.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the loop path is a straight shape that guides the guided protrusion relatively linearly with respect to the sliding movement of the toner storage container relative to the developing device. A path, a slope-like path for relatively moving the guided projection located in a state where the shutter member is set at the closed position, and a position on the top of the slope-shaped path. And an inclined path that relatively guides the guided projection toward the straight path.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner supply device comprising a toner storage container that is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body so as to supply toner to a developing device that supplies toner to a photosensitive drum built in the apparatus main body. The toner storage container includes a toner supply container formed between a toner supply opening for the developing device, a closed position for closing the opening, and an open position for opening the opening. A shutter member whose position can be changed, and an opening / closing structure that opens and closes the shutter member in accordance with an attaching / detaching operation of the toner storage container with respect to the developing device, and the shutter member is attached to the toner storage container A shutter opening restricting structure for restricting the opening of the shutter member, wherein the toner storage container is provided with the developing device. And it is characterized in that it is configured to release the opening restriction of the shutter member upon being et mounted.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the fourth aspect, the shutter opening restricting structure is provided on the shutter member so as to extend in a mounting direction with respect to the toner storage container and has an elastic hook. A hook arm that can be deformed, a guide member that elastically deforms the hook arm with the shutter member closing the opening, and a locking hook that is elastically deformed while being guided by the guide member. The toner storage container is configured to include a locking protrusion protruding from the toner storage container.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the guide member formed on the toner storage container side is provided with the loop path for guiding the guided protrusion formed on the elastic arm side, and the loop path is formed in the toner storage container. Since the shape is set so that different paths can be passed through the guided projections when the toner is attached to the developing device and when it is detached from the developing device, the shutter member is attached by attaching the toner storage container to the developing device. The guided projection passes through different routes in the loop path when the position is set to the open position and when the toner storage container is detached from the developing device and the shutter member is set to the closed position. Relative movement of the guided projection with respect to the toner storage container is not forced without forcible elastic deformation, so that the toner storage container can be securely connected to the developing device. Or the shutter member is opened despite not attached, it is possible to the toner storage container in a state where the shutter member is not securely closed to prevent reliably the inconvenience that would be removed from the developing device.

  Therefore, when the toner storage container is attached to or detached from the developing device, the toner in the toner storage container is scattered outside due to the shutter member not being able to operate reliably in cooperation with the toner storage container. Can be reliably prevented.

  Since the guided projection is formed on the elastic arm side and the guide member is formed on the toner storage container side, the guided projection moves while the guided projection moves due to the elastic deformation of the elastic arm accompanying the movement of the toner storage container. Be guided to. As described above, since the moving projection is an extremely small guided projection as compared with the guide member, the shutter member opening / closing structure can be made compact.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the guided projection is formed on the toner storage container side and the guide member is formed on the elastic arm side, the guided projection does not move relative to the guide member, and the toner storage is performed. Although the guide member does not swing due to the elastic deformation of the elastic arm accompanying the movement of the container, the guided projection is relatively guided to the loop path. The shutter member opening / closing structure having such a configuration is effective as a countermeasure when it is difficult to provide the guide member in the toner storage container due to various design restrictions.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the loop path includes a straight path that guides the guided protrusion relatively linearly with respect to the sliding movement of the toner storage container relative to the developing device, and the shutter member is positioned at the closed position. Relative movement of the guided protrusion positioned in the set state toward the guided protrusion and the guided protrusion positioned at the top of the slope-shaped path relative to the straight path In addition, the guide projection can be reciprocated along different paths while having a simple structure.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shutter opening restriction structure for restricting the opening of the shutter member in a state where the shutter member is mounted on the toner storage container. Since the release restriction of the shutter member is released when the developing device is mounted, the shutter member is surely prevented from being inadvertently opened, and the toner storage container is developed when necessary. When attached to the apparatus, the shutter member can be opened.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the shutter opening restricting structure is provided on the shutter member so as to extend in the mounting direction with respect to the toner storage container, and has a hook arm having a locking hook and capable of elastic deformation, and the shutter. A guide member that elastically deforms the hook arm in a state where the member closes the opening, and a locking member that protrudes from the toner storage container so as to be locked in a state that the hook arm is elastically deformed while being guided by the guide member. Since the structure is provided with the locking projection, the effect of the invention according to claim 4 is ensured after ensuring a simple structure (that is, the shutter member is reliably prevented from being opened carelessly). When necessary, that is, when the toner storage container is mounted on the developing device, the effect of being able to open the shutter member can be obtained.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus to which a toner supply device according to the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a paper feeding unit 12 that feeds stored paper as needed, and an image formation that transfers a predetermined image onto the paper fed from the paper feeding unit 12. The apparatus main body (apparatus main body) 11 is equipped with a fixing section 14 for fixing the transferred image transferred to the sheet by the image forming section 13 and the fixing process is performed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 11. It is formed by providing a paper discharge unit 15 for discharging the subsequent paper.

  The sheet feeding unit 12 feeds a stack of sheets stacked and loaded in the sheet feeding cassette 121 from the uppermost sheet one by one toward the image forming unit 13 by the rotation operation of the sheet feeding roller 122. ing.

  The image forming unit 13 is disposed at a substantially central position in the apparatus main body 11 and forms a predetermined toner image on a sheet by an electrophotographic process. The image forming unit 13 includes a photoconductive drum 131 rotatably supported on a photoconductor, a charging unit 132 sequentially disposed around the photoconductive drum 131 along the rotation direction, and an exposure. A unit 133, a developing unit 134, and a cleaning unit 135 are provided. The sheet discharged from the sheet feeding cassette 121 by driving the sheet feeding roller 122 is fed toward the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131 by driving the conveyance belt 136.

  The developing unit 134 is attached to and detached from the developing device 20 that supplies toner to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131 to form a toner image on the peripheral surface, and the developing device 20 that supplies toner to the developing device 20. A free toner cartridge (toner storage container) 30 is provided. The developing device 20 and the toner cartridge 30 will be described in detail later.

  The fixing unit 14 is disposed on the downstream side of the conveyance belt 136 and includes a fixing roller 141 including a heating roller 142 and a pressure roller 143. Then, the fixing unit 14 passes the sheet on which the toner image is transferred in the image forming unit 13 between the heating roller 142 and the pressure roller 143, and thereby the toner image on the sheet is heated by the heating roller 142. It is supposed to settle.

  The basic operation of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described. The peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131 that rotates clockwise in FIG. 1 is uniformly charged by the charging unit 132, and a document image reading apparatus (not shown) is illustrated. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface by the laser beam from the exposure unit 133 (laser unit or the like) based on the image information read by the above. By supplying toner from the developing device 20 of the developing unit 134 toward the electrostatic latent image, a toner image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131.

  The sheet fed from the sheet feeding cassette 121 of the sheet feeding unit 12 is supplied by driving the conveyor belt 136 toward the photosensitive drum 131 on which the toner image is formed as described above. The toner image on the surface is transferred to the paper. Then, the sheet on which the toner image is transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 131 and is conveyed toward the fixing unit 14 by driving the conveying belt 136, and the transferred image is fixed on the sheet by the heat treatment by the heating roller 142 here. The The sheet after the fixing process is discharged onto a discharge tray 151 of the discharge unit 15.

  The photosensitive drum 131 after the toner image on the peripheral surface is transferred to the paper is cleaned by the cleaning unit 134.

  2 and 3 are perspective views showing an embodiment of the toner cartridge 30 according to the present invention and a developing device 20 to which the toner cartridge 30 is detachably mounted. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the toner cartridge 30 as a developing device. FIG. 3 shows a state before the toner cartridge 30 is attached to the developing device 20. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view in plan view showing the positional relationship between the toner cartridge 30 and the developing device 20, and FIG. 4A is a state immediately before the toner cartridge 30 is mounted on the developing device 20. These show the states in which the toner cartridge 30 is mounted on the developing device 20.

  2 and 3, the XX direction is referred to as the width direction, and the YY direction is referred to as the front-rear direction. In particular, the -X direction is leftward, the + X direction is rightward, the -Y direction is forward, and the + Y direction is forward. It is called the back. Incidentally, the left and right direction display of the toner cartridge 30 is opposite to the left and right direction display of the developing device 20 (direction display while viewing FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 20 includes a stirrer provided with, for example, a stirring blade for stirring the toner supplied from the toner cartridge 30 in the developing device main body 21 having an L shape in a side view. A developing roller for supplying the toner after stirring to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131 (FIG. 1) is built in. The developing device main body 21 includes a pair of side plates 22 in the width direction. In each side plate 22, the vertical dimension of the front part 221 is set to be longer than the vertical dimension of the rear part 222, and the front part 221 and the rear part 222 have an L shape.

  A bottom plate 23 is installed between the lower edges of the pair of side plates 22, and a rear plate 24 is installed between the rear edges of the rear portion 222. Further, the lower top plate 25 is installed between the upper edges of the rear portion 222, while the intermediate plate 26 is installed between the rear edges of the front portion 221. Further, an upper top plate 27 is installed between the front portions 221. Further, a front plate 28 is installed between the front edge portions of the front portion 221, and the developing device main body 21 is provided with a toner stirring space surrounded and sealed by these plates 22 to 28. The front plate 28 is provided with a toner supply port 281 that is long in the width direction facing the developing roller, and the toner in the developing device 20 is supplied to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131 through the toner supply port 281. It has come to be.

  A toner receiving portion 29 having a toner receiving receiving opening 290 having a rectangular shape in plan view is provided on the left side of the lower top plate 25. As shown by an arrow A in FIG. The right end side of the toner cartridge 30 is fitted from the left end side of the developing device main body 21 so that the toner cartridge 30 is slid while being guided by the intermediate plate 26 and the upper top plate 27 and is mounted on the developing device 20. The toner is filled into the developing device 20 through the receiving opening 290.

  The toner cartridge 30 has a box-shaped cartridge main body 31 having substantially the same length (width dimension) as the developing device 20 and having a stirring device (not shown) inside, and the toner at the bottom of the cartridge main body 31. A gate member 40 provided corresponding to the receiving portion 29 is provided.

  The cartridge body 31 includes a pair of side plates 32 in the width direction, a bottom plate 33 installed between the lower edges of the side plates 32, and a front plate 34 installed between the front edges of the pair of side plates 32. And a rear plate 35 provided between the rear edges. A lid 36 is attached to the upper surface opening of the cartridge body 31.

  The gate member 40 is provided on the front side of the bottom plate 33 at a position slightly to the left of the intermediate position in the width direction so as to correspond to the toner receiving portion 29, as shown in FIG. The toner cartridge 30 is fitted from the right side to the left side of the developing device 20 at the mounting position of the developing device main body 21 (inner corner formed by the lower top plate 25 and the intermediate plate 26). (B), a toner supply opening 511 (to be described later) on the toner cartridge 30 side is opened, whereby the toner in the toner cartridge 30 is moved to the developing device 20.

  5 to 7 are perspective views showing an embodiment of the gate member 40. FIG. 5A shows a shutter member 50 as one element constituting the gate member 40, and FIG. ) Shows a casing 60 as another element constituting the gate member 40. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the shutter member 50 is mounted on the casing 60. FIG. 6A shows a state in which the toner supply opening 511 of the casing 60 is closed by the shutter member 50 (that is, the shutter member). (B) shows a state in which the toner supply opening 511 of the casing 60 is opened (that is, a state in which the shutter member 50 is set in the open position). . Further, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the gate member 40 as viewed from the back side. (A) is a state where the shutter member 50 is set at the closed position, and (B) is a state where the shutter member 50 is at the open position. Each of the positions set is shown. In FIG. 7, the shutter member 50 is marked with a dot to make it easy to distinguish from the casing 60. Also in FIGS. 5 to 7, the direction display by X and Y is the same as in FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5A, the shutter member 50 is attached to the casing 60 so as to be able to move forward and backward, and includes a shutter plate 51 having a long rectangular shape in the width direction. The rear upper arm portion 52 projecting rearward from the left end portion of the shutter plate 51, and the engaging arm (elastic arm) projecting in parallel to the shutter plate 51 from the front end portion of the rear upper arm portion 52 to the right. 53, a front upper arm portion 54 that protrudes forward from the left end portion of the shutter plate 51, and a hook arm 55 that protrudes from the tip of the front upper arm portion 54 to the right substantially parallel to the shutter plate 51. Configured.

  The shutter plate 51 is provided with a toner supply opening 511 at a position slightly to the right of the center in the width direction, and a guided protrusion 512 that protrudes from the right edge toward the right. ing. Further, a stopper edge (first shutter member side first interference) is provided at the right end of the shutter plate 51 so as to extend downward from the shutter plate 51 while being sandwiched between the rear upper arm portion 52 and the front upper arm portion 54. Part) 56 is provided.

  At the tip of the engagement arm 53, there is provided a guided projection 531 projecting upward, and a hook 534 having an arrowhead shape tapered toward the right projecting downward ( A shutter member side second interference portion) is provided. The guided protrusion 531 includes a vertical portion 532 standing from the tip of the engagement arm 53 and a horizontal portion 533 bent forward from the upper end portion of the vertical portion 532. The guided projection 531 is guided by a guide member 63 described later provided on the casing 60 while elastically deforming the engaging arm 53, and the hook 534 is provided on the toner receiving portion 29 of the developing device 20. It can be engaged with a rear side engaging protrusion (developing device side second interference portion) 201 (FIG. 2) extending in the width direction provided in the vicinity of the rear side.

  The casing 60 is for mounting the shutter member 50 so as to be movable forward and backward in the left-right direction, and is fixed integrally to the bottom plate 33 of the cartridge body 31 as shown in FIG. The casing 60 protrudes from the pair of side plates 61 in the front-rear direction, the bottom plate 62 installed between the pair of side plates 61, and the rear side plate 61 corresponding to the engagement arm 53 of the shutter member 50. A guide member 63 is provided.

  An installation plate 611 (FIG. 6) is installed between the right end portions of the pair of side plates 61, and the guided projection piece 512 of the shutter plate 51 is slidably contacted with the center portion of the installation plate 611 in the front-rear direction. A through groove 612 is provided to allow the shutter plate 51 to pass through, and the guided projection piece 512 is fitted into the through groove 612 so that the relative forward / reverse movement in the casing 60 does not fluctuate stably. To be done.

  The inner dimension between the pair of side plates 61 is set larger than the front-rear width dimension of the shutter plate 51, and the gap dimension between the casing 60 and the bottom plates 33 and 62 of the cartridge body 31 is larger than the thickness dimension of the shutter plate 51. A shutter plate mounting space 64 in which the shutter plate 51 can be mounted is formed in a space which is set to a small size and is surrounded by the pair of side plates 61 and the bottom plates 33 and 62.

  A cutout window 621 formed in a state of being cut from the left edge is provided at a position slightly to the left of the center portion in the front-rear direction of the bottom plate 62, and the toner supply opening 511 of the shutter plate 51 is provided with this cutout. The toner stored in the toner cartridge 30 facing the notch window 621 is discharged to the outside through the toner supply opening 511 and the notch window 621 (therefore, the toner cartridge 30 is developed by the developing device 20). In this state, the toner in the toner cartridge 30 is supplied toward the developing device 20).

  On the other hand, the bottom plate 33 of the cartridge body 31 is provided with a pair of front and rear locking plates 331 extending in the width direction at the mounting position of the casing 60. The outer dimension between the pair of locking plates 331 is set to be slightly larger than the inner dimension between the pair of side plates 61. By fitting the pair of side plates 61 to the pair of locking plates 331, the casing 60 is mounted on the cartridge body. 31 is attached.

  Further, on the opposing surfaces of the side plates 61, locking protrusions 65 (see FIG. 6) extending in the front-rear direction are provided so as to protrude in directions opposite to each other. A locking hole 332 corresponding to the protrusion 65 is formed, and when the locking protrusion 65 is fitted into the locking hole 332, the side plate 61 of the casing 60 is prevented from coming off from the locking plate 331. Yes. In this state, the shutter plate 51 is fitted between the side plates 61 of the casing 60 fixed to the bottom plate 33 of the cartridge main body 31, so that the shutter plate 51 moves forward and backward in the width direction with the toner in the cartridge main body 31 placed thereon. It can move.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, a seal member is entirely adhered to the upper surface of the shutter plate 51, leaving the peripheral portions in three directions. Even if the shutter member 50 moves forward and backward in the width direction in the casing 60 due to the presence of the seal member, the toner stored in the cartridge main body 31 is transferred to the toner supply opening 511 of the shutter plate 51 and the bottom plate of the casing 60. It is sealed so as not to leak outside without passing through the notch window 621.

  The shutter member 50 is in a closed position where the toner supply opening 511 is closed by the bottom plate 62 of the casing 60 as shown in FIG. 6A in a state where the shutter plate 51 is fitted in the shutter plate mounting space 64. As shown in FIG. 6B, the position of the toner supply opening 511 is changed between the open position facing the notch 621 of the casing 60 when the shutter plate 51 is pulled out from the shutter plate mounting space 64. It is possible.

  The guide member 63 opens and closes the shutter member 50 via the engagement arm 53 in accordance with the relative movement of the shutter plate 51 in the width direction with respect to the casing 60 by the attachment / detachment operation of the toner cartridge 30 with respect to the developing device 20. Yes, and protrudes from the outer surface of the rear side plate 61.

  The guide member 63 includes a straight guide protrusion 631 extending in the left-right direction, an inclined guide protrusion 632 inclined upward from the right end portion of the straight guide protrusion 631 toward the right, and the inclined guide protrusion 631. A triangular guide plate 633 having a substantially isosceles triangular shape in a front view provided immediately below the strip 632 and a guide slope formed by cutting out the upper portion of the right oblique side of the triangular guide plate 633 ( Slope-shaped path) 634.

  As shown in FIG. 6 (a), the straight guide protrusion 631 has an upper surface of a substantially central portion of the engagement arm 53 in a state where the shutter plate 51 is mounted on the casing 60 and is set at the closed position. The installation position is set so as to come into contact with. The straight guide protrusion 631 has a thickness dimension (a dimension in a direction parallel to the surface of the side plate 61 and a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the straight guide protrusion 631 extends) of the lower surface of the horizontal portion 533 of the engagement arm 53. And is set slightly thinner than the distance between the engagement arm 53 and the upper surface of the engagement arm 53.

  In the inclined guide protrusion 632, the protrusion amount from the side plate 61 is set to be the same as the protrusion amount of the straight guide protrusion 631.

  The triangular guide plate 633 has an amount of protrusion from the side plate 61 set to approximately ½ of the thickness dimension of the inclined guide protrusion 632. The triangular guide plate 633 is arranged such that the right end portion thereof faces the guided projection 531 of the engagement arm 53 of the shutter member 50 in a state where the shutter member 50 is set at the closed position ((A) in FIG. 6). The width dimension is set.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the guide slope 634 is formed in a state where the upper portion of the substantially right half of the triangular guide plate 633 is scraped downward toward the right. The guide slope 634 is inclined so that the guided projection 531 of the shutter member 50 set at the closed position faces the downhill position.

  On the other hand, the toner receiving portion 29 (FIG. 2) of the developing device main body 21 includes a square tube (developing device side first interference portion) 291 erected on the lower top plate 25. The rectangular cylinder 291 is shaped so that its upper right edge interferes with the stopper edge 56 of the shutter plate 51 when the toner cartridge 30 is slid from the right end of the developing device main body 21.

  According to the guide member 63, the guided projection 531 is first formed into a straight shape by inserting the shutter plate 51 from the left side toward the shutter plate mounting space 64 of the casing 60 with the guided projecting piece 512 at the head. It is in a state of being externally fitted to the guide protrusion 631, and the horizontal portion 533 of the guided protrusion 531 is continuously guided to the upper surface of the inclined guide protrusion 632, whereby the engagement arm 53 advances while bending upward, Finally, the guided protrusion 531 that has escaped from the inclined guide protrusion 632 faces the downhill position of the guide slope 634, whereby the shutter member 50 is mounted on the casing 60 as shown in FIG. become.

  Next, when the toner cartridge 30 with the shutter member 50 mounted on the casing 60 is mounted on the developing device 20, the stopper edge portion 56 of the shutter member 50 stops against the square tube 291 of the toner cartridge 30. As a result, the casing 60 integral with the cartridge main body 31 can continue to move forward, while the shutter member 50 is prevented from moving forward, so that only the casing 60 remains to the left while the shutter member 50 remains in that position. Will move forward. As the casing 60 moves forward with the shutter member 50 left, the bottom plate 62 of the casing 60 is disengaged from the toner supply opening 511 of the shutter plate 51 as shown in FIG. The inside of the apparatus main body 21 is in communication with each other via the toner supply opening 511.

  Further, when the casing 60 moves forward, the horizontal portion 533 of the guided projection 531 of the engaging arm 53 is guided by the guide slope 634 of the guide member 63 and reaches the triangular guide plate 633, and subsequently the inclined guide protrusion 632 and Guided sequentially by the lower surface of the straight guide protrusion 631 and curved downward, the hook 534 has a left end of the rear side engagement protrusion 201 of the developing device main body 21 as shown in FIG. It will be in the state engaged with the surface.

  Therefore, when the toner cartridge 30 is pulled out from the developing device 20, the shutter member 50 is moved until the guided protrusion 531 is detached from the straight guide protrusion 631 by the engagement of the hook 534 with the rear engagement protrusion 201. Accordingly, the toner supply opening 511 is closed by the bottom plate 62 of the casing 60, and after the closing is completed (that is, the state shown in FIG. 6A). The toner cartridge 30 is separated from the developing device 20.

  Hereinafter, the hook arm 55 will be described based on FIG. 5A and FIG. 8 with reference to other drawings as necessary. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the gate member 40 when the toner cartridge 30 is turned upside down and viewed from the back side. The direction display by X and Y in FIG. 8 is the same as in FIG.

  The hook arm 55 is for stabilizing the mounting state of the shutter member 50 on the casing 60 and preventing the shutter plate 51 from being inadvertently opened. As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 5 (A), the hook arm 55 rises first from the front end position of the front upper arm portion 54 toward the left (first downward in FIG. 8; In the following description, since FIG. 5 is used as a reference, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the top and bottom are reversed in FIG. 8) and the shutter from the tip of this tip-up part 551 toward the right. It consists of a parallel part 552 extending in parallel with the plate 51. The leading part 551 and the parallel part 552 are dimensioned to have substantially the same length.

  A locking hook 553 projecting downward is provided at an intermediate position of the parallel portion 552, and the tip of the parallel portion 552 is bent in an arc shape downward. The circular arc part 556 formed in (1) is provided. The locking hook 553 has a vertical surface 554 that stands perpendicular to the parallel portion 552, and an inclined surface 555 that is inclined upward from the vertical surface 554 to the right.

  On the other hand, a locking projection 613 as shown in FIG. 8 protrudes from the casing 60 on the outer surface side of the front side plate 61. The locking projection 613 is set at a protruding position so that the right end edge of the locking protrusion 613 contacts the vertical surface 554 of the locking hook 553 in a state where the shutter member 50 is set at the closed position. Accordingly, when the shutter member 50 is positioned at the closed position and the vertical surface 554 of the locking hook 553 comes into contact with the locking projection 613, the shutter member 50 is blocked by the locking projection 613 and from the casing 60. It cannot be pulled out.

  The casing 60 is provided with a concave arc-shaped guide stopper (guide member) 614 at a position corresponding to the arc portion 556 of the hook arm 55 at the upper right edge of the front side plate 61. Therefore, when the shutter plate 51 is inserted into the shutter plate mounting space 64 of the casing 60, the arc portion 556 of the hook arm 55 is moved to the guide stopper (guide member) 614 immediately before the shutter member 50 is set at the closed position. The hook arm 55 is bent because it is guided by the guide stopper 614 and continues downward, so that the hook hook 553 faces the right end edge of the lock projection 613 downward, and thereby the lock hook 553. Is securely locked to the locking protrusion 613.

  On the other hand, the developing device main body 21 (FIG. 2) is provided with a front engagement protrusion 202 in a state of being bulged rearward from the intermediate plate 26 at the left front position of the square tube 291. This front side engaging protrusion 202 is provided corresponding to the inclined surface 555 of the locking hook 553 of the hook arm 55, and when the toner cartridge 30 is slid from the left side of the developing device 20, it is inclined. The installation position is set so as to interfere with the surface 555.

  Therefore, when the toner cartridge 30 is mounted on the developing device 20 while being slid, the inclined surface 555 of the hook arm 55 interferes with the front engagement protrusion 202 and is thereby bent upwardly by the hook arm 55. The engagement state of the vertical surface 554 with respect to the locking projection 613 is released, so that the shutter member 50 can move in the direction of coming out of the casing 60.

  Then, when the toner cartridge 30 is slid with respect to the developing device 20, the toner cartridge 30 which has been set to the closed position as described above is repositioned to the open position. In this state, the locking hook 553 interferes with the locking projection 613, so that the toner cartridge 30 is pulled out from the developing device 20 and thus the shutter member 50 is When the position is changed from the open position to the closed position, the arc portion 556 is guided again by the guide stopper 614 to forcibly engage the engaging arm 53 with the locking projection 613, so that the toner cartridge 30 is removed from the developing device 20. The shutter plate 51 is never opened in the pulled out state.

  FIG. 9 is a side view for explaining the operation of the structure for preventing the shutter member 50 from being detached. FIG. 9A is a state immediately before the shutter plate 51 is fitted into the casing 60, and FIG. The state where the plate 51 is being fitted into the casing 60, (c) is the state where the fitting of the shutter plate 51 into the casing 60 is completed, and (d) is the state where the toner cartridge 30 is being attached to the developing device 20. Show.

  First, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), when the shutter plate 51 is inserted into the shutter plate mounting space 64 from the opening on the left end surface of the casing 60, the inclined surface 555 of the locking hook 553 has a casing. 9 and is guided by an inclination by interfering with a locking projection 613 provided on the outer surface side of the outer surface 60, thereby escaping upward. As a result, the hook arm 55 is bent upward as shown in FIG. The arc portion 556 formed at the right end portion of the hook arm 55 of the shutter member 50 contacts the root portion of the arc surface of the guide stopper 614 formed on the outer surface of the casing 60. In this state, the lower end portion of the locking hook 553 of the hook arm 55 is substantially opposed to the right end edge of the locking projection 613 of the casing 60.

  When the shutter plate 51 is further pushed into the shutter plate mounting space 64 in this state, the arc portion 556 of the hook arm 55 is guided by the arc surface of the guide stopper 614 and goes downward, so that the hook arm 55 bends downward. Thus, as shown in FIG. 9C, the vertical surface 554 of the locking hook 553 is locked to the right end edge of the locking projection 613. Accordingly, once the shutter member 50 is attached to the casing 60, the shutter plate 51 is opened and the toner is supplied without the shutter member 50 being set at the open position except when the toner cartridge 30 is attached to the developing device 20. Inconveniences such as toner leaking out of the opening 511 are reliably prevented.

  On the other hand, when the toner cartridge 30 is mounted on the developing device 20, the toner cartridge 30 is slid with respect to the developing device 20. At this time, as shown in FIG. The front engaging protrusion 202 of the developing device 20 abuts on the inclined surface 555 of the locking hook 553 of the hook arm 55 of the shutter member 50, and the inclined surface 555 moves upward as the casing 60 moves to the right. Therefore, the engaging state of the locking hook 553 with respect to the locking projection 613 is canceled, and the stopper edge 56 of the shutter member 50 abuts against the square tube 291 of the developing device 20, thereby the shutter member 50. Since further movement is prevented, only the casing 60 moves to the right without moving the shutter member 50. The shutter member 50 I will be located set in an open position of the toner supply opening 511 is opened.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the engagement arm 53 and the guide member 63 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a movement locus of the guided projection 531 when the guided projection 531 moves relative to the casing 60. FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the engagement arm 53 and the guide member 63 for explaining the movement of the engagement arm 53 that operates while being guided by the guide member 63. In addition, about the direction display by X and Y in FIG. 11, it is the same as that of the case of FIG.

  First, in a state where the shutter member 50 is mounted on the casing 60 (FIG. 6A), the guided protrusion 531 of the engagement arm 53 is guided by the guide member 63 as shown in FIG. 634 is located slightly to the right. At this time, the relative position of the guided projection 531 with respect to the guide member 63 is the position shown in FIG. 10A (note that the katakana with parentheses in FIG. 10 are combined with the katakana with parentheses in FIG. 11). ). In this state, the toner supply opening 511 of the shutter plate 51 is closed by the bottom plate 62 of the casing 60 as shown in FIG.

  Next, when the toner cartridge 30 is attached to the developing device 20, the engaging arm 53 stops its stopper edge 56 against the square tube 291 of the developing device 20 as shown in FIG. As a result, only the guide member 63 integral with the toner cartridge 30 moves to the right, whereby the guided projection 531 is guided with the engagement arm 53 curved backward. As shown in FIG. 11B, the guide slope 634 is brought into contact with the triangular guide plate 633 at a position below the inclined guide ridge 632. This position is shown in FIG.

  When the movement of the toner cartridge 30 toward the right is continued, the guided protrusion 531 is moved downward by the inclined lower surface of the inclined guide protrusion 632 of the guide member 63 as shown in FIG. As a result, the engagement arm 53 is elastically deformed rearward and downward and becomes twisted. The position of the guided projection 531 in this state is indicated by (c) in FIG.

  When the mounting of the toner cartridge 30 to the developing device 20 is completed, the guided protrusion 531 is pressed against the lower surface of the straight guide protrusion 631 of the guide member 63 as shown in FIG. As a result, the engaging arm 53 is bent downward. By this bending, the hook 534 of the engagement arm 53 is engaged with the rear side engagement protrusion 201 of the developing device 20. In addition, the bending toward the rear of the engagement arm 53 is eliminated. The position of the guided projection 531 at this time is indicated by (D) in FIG.

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 6B, the shutter plate 51 is set to the open posture and the toner supply opening 511 is opened, so that the toner in the toner cartridge 30 passes through the toner supply opening 511. Thus, the toner is supplied into the developing device main body 21.

  When removing the empty toner cartridge 30 from the developing device 20, the toner cartridge 30 is slid leftward with respect to the developing device 20. As a result, the guide member 63 moves to the left as shown in FIG. 11E, but the hook 534 of the engagement arm 53 is engaged with the rear side engagement protrusion 201 integral with the developing device 20. Therefore, the engagement arm 53 and thus the shutter member 50 do not move, whereby the toner supply opening 511 of the shutter plate 51 is sequentially closed by the bottom plate 62 of the casing 60. The position of the guided projection 531 at this time is indicated by (e) in FIG.

  When the toner supply opening 511 of the shutter plate 51 is completely closed by the bottom plate 62 of the casing 60, the guided projection 531 is moved to the original state shown in FIG. To return to the position, the hook 534 is disengaged from the rear side engaging protrusion 201, and the shutter member 50 is pulled out of the developing device 20 along with the toner cartridge 30 via the casing 60.

  Incidentally, in a state where the toner cartridge 30 is removed from the developing device 20, the locking hook 553 of the hook arm 55 of the shutter member 50 is engaged with the locking projection 613 of the casing 60, so the shutter plate 51 is not prepared. Therefore, there is no inconvenience that the toner remaining in the cartridge main body 31 is scattered outside.

  As described above in detail, the toner supply device according to the present embodiment is a device main body that supplies toner to the developing device 20 that supplies toner toward the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 131 built in the device main body 11. 11, the toner cartridge 30 having a toner supply opening 511 for supplying toner to the developing device 20 at the bottom, and the toner cartridge 30 formed around the toner supply opening 511. An opening / closing operation unit that opens and closes the toner supply opening 511 is provided.

  The opening / closing operation unit has a closing position for closing the toner supply opening 511 and an opening position for opening the toner supply opening 511 (this toner supply opening 511 is provided in the shutter plate 51 of the shutter member 50). And a shutter member 50 that can change the position of the toner cartridge 30 between them, and an opening / closing structure that opens and closes the shutter member 50 in accordance with an attaching / detaching operation of the toner cartridge 30 with respect to the developing device 20.

  The opening / closing structure prevents the shutter member 50 from moving together with the engaging cartridge 53 projecting from the shutter member 50 and the toner cartridge 30 of the shutter member 50 when the toner cartridge 30 is attached to the developing device 20. And a developing device that closes the shutter by interfering with the engaging arm 53 when the toner cartridge 30 is detached from the developing device 20 (removed) from the developing device 20 as the developing device-side first interference portion. Relative relationship between the rear side engaging protrusion 201 as the second side interference portion, the guided protrusion 531 provided on the engaging arm 53 of the shutter member 50, and the guided protrusion 531 provided on the side plate 61 side of the casing 60. And a guide member 63 for guiding the movement.

  The guide member 63 is a straight guide protrusion whose shape is set so that the guided protrusion 531 passes through different paths when the toner cartridge 30 is attached to the developing device 20 and when the toner cartridge 30 is detached from the developing device 20. A loop path including a strip 631, an inclined guide protrusion 632, a triangular guide plate 633, and a guide slope 634 is provided.

  According to the toner supply device, when the shutter member 50 is set to the open position by mounting the toner cartridge 30 to the developing device 20, the toner cartridge 30 is detached from the developing device 20 and the shutter member 50 is closed. Since the guided projection 531 passes through different routes in the loop path when the position is set at the position, compared to the conventional case where the guided projection 531 reciprocates while elastically deforming the same route, The engaging arm 53 is not forced to be elastically deformed, and the relative movement of the guided protrusion 531 with respect to the toner cartridge 30 becomes smooth, and thus the toner cartridge 30 is not securely attached to the developing device 20. The shutter member 50 is not opened or the shutter member 50 is not securely closed. Can be over cartridge 30 is securely prevent a disadvantage that would be removed from the developing device 20.

  Therefore, when the toner cartridge 30 is attached to or detached from the developing device 20, the toner in the toner cartridge 30 is scattered outside because the shutter member 50 cannot be reliably operated in cooperation with the toner cartridge 30. It is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of inconvenience.

  Since the guided protrusion 531 is formed on the engaging arm 53 side and the guide member 63 is formed on the toner cartridge 30 side, the guided protrusion 531 is caused by elastic deformation of the engaging arm 53 accompanying the movement of the toner cartridge 30. Is guided to the loop route while moving. As described above, since the guided projection 531 is much smaller than the guide member 63 in the moving direction, it is possible to contribute to downsizing the opening / closing structure of the shutter member 50.

  Further, the linear guide protrusion 631 that relatively linearly guides the guided protrusion 531 with respect to the sliding movement of the toner cartridge 30 with respect to the developing device 20, and the shutter member 50 are set in the closed position. The guide slope 634 that relatively moves the guided projection 531 to be guided in the direction of the guided projection 531, and the guided projection 531 positioned on the top of the guide slope 634 is relatively guided toward the straight path. By forming the guide member 63 from the inclined guide ridge 632 to be moved and the triangular guide plate 633 which is flush with the top of the guide slope 634, the guide member 63 is different from the guided protrusion 531 in a simple structure. It is possible to reciprocate along the route.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and includes the following contents.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the hook arm 55 of the shutter member 50 that has been elastically deformed so that the locking hook 553 engages with the locking projection 613 of the casing 60 due to interference with the guide stopper 614 of the casing 60 is restored. This is done by the inclined surface 555 of the locking hook 553 interfering with the front engaging protrusion 202 of the developing device 20, but instead of making it interfere with the leading part 551. Also good.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the guided projection 512 is provided on the shutter plate 51, but the present invention is not limited to providing the guided projection 512 on the shutter plate 51, There is no need to provide it.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the hook 534 provided at the tip of the engagement arm 53 is projected downward, but instead of this, it may be projected outward. . However, in such a case, the shape of the guide member 63 is changed, and the shape is set so that the engagement arm 53 is bent outward as the toner cartridge 30 slides toward the developing device 20. It is necessary to provide the rear side engaging protrusion 201 with which the hook 534 is engaged not on the lower part of the engaging arm 53 but on the side part.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the guide member 63 for guiding the guided projection 531 provided at the tip of the engagement arm 53 is provided on the casing 60 side. Instead, as shown in FIG. As described above, another embodiment in which the guide member is provided at the tip of the engagement arm 53 while the guided projection is provided on the casing 60 side may be employed.

  12A and 12B are diagrams showing another embodiment of the opening / closing structure of the shutter plate 51. FIG. 12A is a perspective view for explanation, and FIG. The direction display by X and Y in FIG. 12 is the same as in FIG. 12 mainly shows the arrowhead 57, and it is necessary to refer to FIG. 2, FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and the like for other parts such as the developing device 20 and the shutter plate 51 whenever necessary.

  In the open / close structure of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12 (a), a guided projection 66 projects from the side plate 61 at the rear of the casing 60 in place of the previous guide member 63, while being engaged. An arrowhead portion 57 having a guide portion 58 provided therein is provided at the tip of the arm 53 in place of the guided projection 531 and the hook 534.

  The arrowhead part 57 includes a hook part 571 corresponding to the hook 534 at the lower part and a guide member mounting part 572 formed at the upper part of the hook part 571. A guide portion 58 as shown in FIG. 12B is formed on the surface of the guide member mounting portion 572 facing the guided projection 66.

  The guide portion 58 includes an inverted trapezoidal protrusion passage circulation path (loop path) 581 formed of a groove through which the guided protrusion 66 passes as the casing 60 moves forward and backward. The protrusion passage circulation path 581 includes a lower path 582 extending in the left-right direction at the lower part of the guide part 58, an inclined path 583 formed forward from the right end of the lower path 582, and the inclined path. The upper path 584 extends from the upper end of 583 toward the left, and the vertical path 585 descends from the left end of the upper path 584 toward the lower path 582.

  In the lower path 582, a slope 586 that rises forward to the right is formed, whereby the inclined path 583 has a shallower groove depth than the other paths. The tip of the guided projection 66 is in contact with the groove bottom surface of the projection passage circulation path 581.

  According to such an opening / closing structure of the shutter plate 51, the guided protrusion 66 is not changed in position with respect to the casing 60 by attaching the toner cartridge 30 to the developing device 20. Is displaced relatively in the projection passage circulation path 581, and the elastic deformation of the engagement arm 53 thereby opens and closes the shutter plate 51 according to the attachment / detachment operation of the toner cartridge 30 with respect to the developing device 20. ing.

  Then, (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) showing the position of the guided projection 66 in the projection passing circulation path 581 in (b) of FIG. Corresponding to (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) indicating the position of the guide protrusion 531.

  According to the toner supply device of this embodiment, the guided projection 66 is formed on the toner cartridge 30 side, and the guide portion 58 is formed on the engagement arm 53 side. The guide projection 58 is relatively guided to the projection passage circulation path 581 loop path while the guide portion 58 swings by the elastic deformation of the engagement arm 53 accompanying the movement of the toner cartridge 30 without moving. The opening / closing structure of the shutter member 50 having such a configuration is effective as a countermeasure when it is difficult to provide the guide member 63 in the toner cartridge 30 due to various design restrictions.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus to which a toner supply device according to the present invention is applied. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a toner cartridge according to the present invention and a developing device in which the toner cartridge is detachably mounted, and shows a state before the toner cartridge is mounted in the developing device. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a toner cartridge according to the present invention and a developing device in which the toner cartridge is detachably mounted, and shows a state in which the toner cartridge is mounted in the developing device. 2A and 2B are explanatory views in plan view showing the positional relationship between the toner cartridge and the developing device. FIG. 2A is a state immediately before the toner cartridge is mounted on the developing device, and FIG. Each state is shown. It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of a gate member, (A) shows the shutter member as one element which comprises a gate member, (B) shows the casing as another element which comprises a gate member, respectively. ing. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the shutter member is mounted on the casing, in which (a) is a state in which the toner supply opening of the casing is closed by the shutter member (that is, a state in which the shutter member is positioned at the closed position); (B) shows a state where the toner supply opening of the casing is opened (that is, a state where the shutter member 50 is set at the open position). It is the perspective view which looked at the gate member from the back side, (a) shows the state where the shutter member is set to the closed position, (b) shows the state where the shutter member is set to the open position, respectively. Yes. In FIG. 7, the shutter member is marked with a stippling to facilitate identification from the casing. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a gate member as viewed from the back side with the toner cartridge turned upside down. It is explanatory drawing of the side view for demonstrating the effect | action of the retaining structure of a shutter member, (A) is a state immediately before a shutter plate is fitted in a casing, (B) is while a shutter plate is fitted in a casing. A state (C) shows a state where the shutter plate has been fitted into the casing, and (D) shows a state where the toner cartridge is being attached to the developing device. It is a figure which shows the movement locus | trajectory of the said guide protrusion when the to-be-guided protrusion moves relatively with respect to a casing. It is an enlarged perspective view of the engagement arm and the guide member for explaining the movement of the engagement arm that operates while being guided by the guide member. It is a figure which shows other embodiment of the opening / closing structure of a shutter board | plate, (A) is a perspective view for description, (B) is a B line view of (A). FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a conventional toner cartridge. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a shutter member applied to the toner cartridge of FIG. 13. FIGS. 14A and 14B are explanatory views for explaining an attaching / detaching operation of the toner cartridge with respect to the developing device of FIG. 13, in which FIG. (C) is a state where the toner discharge hole is opened by engaging with the engaging side wall of the developing device, and (c) in FIG. In the state of interference, (d) shows a state in which the toner discharge hole of the toner cartridge is closed by pulling out the square flange in a state where the engaging portion interferes with the protrusion.

Explanation of symbols

10 image forming apparatus 11 device main body (device main body)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Paper feed part 121 Paper feed cassette 13 Image formation part 131 Photoconductor drum 132 Charging unit 133 Exposure unit 134 Development unit 14 Fixing part 141 Fixing roller 142 Heating roller 15 Paper discharge part 20 Developing device 201 Back side engagement protrusion (development) Device side second interference unit)
202 Front engaging protrusion 21 Developing device main body 22 Side plate 221 Front portion 222 Rear portion 23 Bottom plate 24 Rear plate 25 Lower top plate 26 Intermediate plate 27 Upper top plate 28 Front plate 281 Toner supply port 29 Toner receiving portion 291 Square tube ( Development device side first interference part)
30 Toner cartridge (toner storage container)
31 Cartridge Body 32 Side Plate 33 Bottom Plate 331 Locking Plate 332 Locking Hole 34 Front Plate 35 Rear Plate 36 Lid 40 Gate Member 50 Shutter Member 51 Shutter Plate 511 Toner Supply Opening 512 Guided Projection Piece 52 Rear Upper Arm 53 Engagement Arm (Elastic arm) 531 Guided projection 532 Vertical portion 533 Horizontal portion 534 Hook 54 Front upper arm portion 55 Hook arm 551 Front rising portion 552 Parallel portion 553 Locking hook 554 Vertical surface 555 Inclined surface 556 Arc portion 56 Stopper edge (shutter member) Side first interference part)
57 Arrowhead 571 Hook (Shutter member side second interference part)
58 Guide part 581 Protrusion passage circulation path (loop path)
582 Lower path 583 Inclined path 584 Upper path 585 Vertical path 586 Slope 60 Casing 61 Side plate 611 Construction plate 612 Through groove 613 Locking protrusion 614 Guide stopper (guide member) 62 Bottom plate 621 Notch window 63 Guide member 631 Straight guide protrusion 632 Inclined guide ridge 633 Triangular guide plate 634 Guide slope (slope path)
64 Shutter plate mounting space 65 Locking protrusion 66 Guided protrusion

Claims (5)

A toner supply device including a toner storage container that is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body so as to supply toner to a developing device that supplies toner to a photosensitive drum built in the apparatus main body.
The toner storage container is repositioned with respect to the toner storage container between an opening for supplying toner to the developing device, a closed position for closing the opening, and an open position for opening the opening. A possible shutter member, and an opening / closing structure for opening / closing the shutter member in accordance with an attaching / detaching operation of the toner storage container with respect to the developing device,
When the toner storage container is attached to the developing device, the opening / closing structure prevents the accompanying movement with the toner storage container by interfering with the developing device side first interference portion provided in the developing device and opens the shutter member. A shutter member side first interference portion provided on the shutter member;
An elastic arm having a guided projection at the tip thereof, protruding from the shutter member in the mounting direction of the toner storage container with respect to the developing device;
The elastic arm that closes the shutter member by preventing the accompanying movement with the toner storage container by interfering with the second interference portion on the development apparatus side provided in the development apparatus when the toner storage container is detached from the development apparatus. A shutter member side second interference portion provided at the tip of
A guide member provided in the toner storage container that guides relative movement with the guided projection when the toner storage container is attached to and detached from the developing device;
The guide member includes a loop path that is shaped so that different paths can be passed through the guided projection when the toner storage container is attached to the developing device and when the toner storage container is detached from the developing device. A toner supply device. A toner supply device including a toner storage container that is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body so as to supply toner to a developing device that supplies toner to a photosensitive drum built in the apparatus main body.
The toner storage container is repositioned with respect to the toner storage container between an opening for supplying toner to the developing device, a closed position for closing the opening, and an open position for opening the opening. A possible shutter member, and an opening / closing structure for opening / closing the shutter member in accordance with an attaching / detaching operation of the toner storage container with respect to the developing device,
When the toner storage container is attached to the developing device, the opening / closing structure interferes with the developing device side first interference portion provided in the developing device, thereby preventing the accompanying movement with the toner storage container and opening the shutter member. A shutter member side first interference portion provided on the shutter member;
An elastic arm projecting from the shutter member in the mounting direction of the toner storage container with respect to the developing device;
The elastic arm that closes the shutter member by preventing the accompanying movement with the toner storage container by interfering with the second interference portion on the development apparatus side provided in the development apparatus when the toner storage container is detached from the development apparatus. A shutter member side second interference portion provided at the tip of
A guided projection provided on the toner storage container so as to face the tip of the elastic arm;
A guide member provided on the distal end side of the elastic arm for guiding relative movement with the guided projection when the toner storage container is attached to and detached from the developing device;
The guide member includes a loop path that is shaped so that different paths can be passed through the guided projection when the toner storage container is attached to the developing device and when the toner storage container is detached from the developing device. A toner supply device.   The loop path is positioned in a state where the guided protrusion is relatively linearly guided relative to the sliding movement of the toner storage container with respect to the developing device, and the shutter member is positioned at the closed position. A slope-shaped path for relatively moving the guided protrusion toward the guided protrusion, and the guided protrusion positioned at the top of the slope-shaped path is relatively guided toward the straight path. The toner supply device according to claim 1, further comprising an inclined path. A toner supply device including a toner storage container that is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body so as to supply toner to a developing device that supplies toner to a photosensitive drum built in the apparatus main body.
The toner storage container is repositioned with respect to the toner storage container between an opening for supplying toner to the developing device, a closed position for closing the opening, and an open position for opening the opening. A possible shutter member, and an opening / closing structure for opening / closing the shutter member in accordance with an attaching / detaching operation of the toner storage container with respect to the developing device,
A shutter opening restricting structure for restricting the opening of the shutter member in a state where the shutter member is mounted on the toner storage container;
The toner supply device according to claim 1, wherein the shutter opening restriction structure is configured to release the opening restriction of the shutter member when the toner storage container is attached to the developing device.   The shutter opening restricting structure is provided on the shutter member so as to extend in a mounting direction with respect to the toner storage container, and has a hook arm having a latching hook and capable of elastic deformation, and the shutter member closes the opening. A guide member that elastically deforms the hook arm in a state in which the hook arm is guided, and a locking projection that protrudes from the toner storage container so that the locking hook is locked in a state where the hook arm is elastically deformed while being guided by the guide member. The toner supply device according to claim 4, wherein the toner supply device is provided.