JP2007065392A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a driving power transmission mechanism compact and low in manufacturing cost. <P>SOLUTION: The driving power transmission mechanism has a housing 130, a coupling member 131, a shaft member 132, a first transmission mechanism 133, and a second transmission mechanism 134. The housing 130 is mounted on a color printer primary body 11. The coupling member 131 is mounted on the housing 130 rotatably on a shaft and coupled with a driving motor. The shaft member 132 is mounted on the housing 130 rotatably on the shaft and movably along the shaft. The first transmission mechanism 133 is mounted on the housing 130 between the coupling member 131 and shaft member 132 and transmits the driving power of the driving motor from the coupling member 131 to the shaft member 132 so that the shaft member 132 can move along the shaft. The second transmission mechanism 134 is mounted on the housing 130 between the coupling member 131 and shaft member 132 and transmits the driving power of the driving motor from the coupling member 131 to the shaft member 132 so that the shaft member 132 can rotate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  A conventional color image forming apparatus mainly includes an image forming apparatus main body, a plurality of photosensitive drums, a plurality of developing devices, a plurality of toner containers, and a plurality of driving force transmission mechanisms (patent). Reference 1). The photosensitive drum is rotatably mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. The developing device is for supplying toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum, and is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. The toner container includes a toner container main body, a toner stirring member, and a toner transport member. The toner container main body is mounted side by side on the image forming apparatus main body. The toner agitating member is for agitating the toner stored in the toner container main body, and is rotatably mounted inside the toner container main body. The toner conveying member is for conveying the toner agitated by the toner agitating member, and is rotatably mounted inside the toner container main body. The drive force transmission mechanism includes a housing attached to the image forming apparatus main body, drive means such as a drive motor attached to the housing, and a transmission mechanism for transmitting the drive force of the drive motor to the toner stirring member. Yes.

In such a color image forming apparatus, when each driving motor of the driving force transmission mechanism rotates, the toner stirring member is rotated through the transmission mechanism. When the toner agitating member rotates, the toner conveying member is rotated through a gear provided between the toner agitating member and the toner conveying member.
JP-A-9-160338

  In the conventional color image forming apparatus, a plurality of driving force transmission mechanisms are mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus in order to individually drive the toner stirring members of the plurality of toner storage containers. In such a color image forming apparatus, the size of each housing itself becomes large so that a drive motor can be attached to each housing of the plurality of drive force transmission mechanisms. As the size of each housing of the driving force transmission mechanism increases as described above, a space for mounting a plurality of housings on the image forming apparatus main body has to be secured inside the image forming apparatus main body. It becomes difficult to miniaturize the image forming apparatus.

  On the other hand, in the conventional color image forming apparatus, a driving motor is mounted on each of the plurality of driving force transmission mechanisms. In such a color image forming apparatus, a plurality of driving motors corresponding to the number of driving force transmission mechanisms must be prepared. Therefore, as the number of driving force transmission mechanisms increases, the driving force transmission mechanism, that is, color image formation. The manufacturing cost of the device may be increased.

  The subject of this invention is aiming at size reduction of a driving force transmission mechanism, and reduction of the manufacturing cost of a driving force transmission mechanism.

  An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect includes an image forming apparatus main body, an image carrier, a developing device, a plurality of toner containers, and a driving force transmission mechanism. The image carrier is rotatably mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. The developing device is for supplying toner to the surface of the image carrier, and is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. Each of the plurality of toner storage containers includes a toner storage container main body, a toner stirring member, and a discharge toner transport member. The toner container main body is mounted side by side on the image forming apparatus main body. The toner agitating member is for agitating the toner accommodated in the toner container main body, and is rotatably mounted inside the toner container main body. The discharging toner transport member is for transporting the toner stirred by the toner stirring member and discharging it from the toner container main body, and is rotatably mounted inside the toner container main body.

  The driving force transmission mechanism includes a housing, a connecting shaft member, a shaft member, a first transmission mechanism, and a second transmission mechanism. The housing is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. The connecting shaft member is mounted on the housing so as to be rotatable around the shaft, and is connected to the driving means. The shaft member is attached to the housing so as to be rotatable about the axis and movable in the axial direction. The first transmission mechanism is mounted on the housing between the coupling shaft member and the shaft member, and transmits the driving force of the driving means from the coupling shaft member to the shaft member so that the shaft member can be moved in the axial direction. The second transmission mechanism is mounted on the housing between the connecting shaft member and the shaft member, and transmits the driving force of the driving means from the connecting shaft member to the shaft member so that the shaft member can be rotated.

  In this image forming apparatus, the housing of the driving force transmission function is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus so that the shaft member of the driving force transmission mechanism is different from the rotation shaft of the discharge toner conveying member. Then, the shaft member is moved in the axial direction by the driving force transmitted to the shaft member in the first transmission mechanism, and the shaft member is rotated by the driving force transmitted to the shaft member in the second transmission mechanism. As a result, the discharge toner conveying member to be driven is rotated.

  Here, the shaft member is moved stepwise in the axial direction by one driving force transmission mechanism, and the shaft member is rotated after the shaft member is moved, so that the driving force of the driving means is discharged to each of the plurality of toner storage containers. It can be input to the conveying member. That is, it is possible to individually input each of the plurality of toner storage containers. Thereby, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of driving means, and the driving force transmission mechanism can be downsized and the manufacturing cost of the driving force transmission mechanism can be reduced. In addition, since the housing of the driving force transmission function is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body so that the shaft member of the driving force transmission mechanism and the rotating shaft of the toner conveying member for discharge are misaligned, the driving force transmission mechanism is If the plurality of toner container main bodies are arranged side by side, the width in one direction of the image forming apparatus main body (direction orthogonal to the parallel direction) can be reduced. That is, the image forming apparatus can be downsized.

  An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect includes an image forming apparatus main body, an image carrier, a developing device, a plurality of toner storage containers, a transport toner storage section, and a driving force transmission mechanism. The image carrier is rotatably mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. The developing device is for supplying toner to the surface of the image carrier and is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus. Each of the plurality of toner storage containers includes a toner storage container main body, a toner stirring member, and a toner transport member. The toner container main body is mounted side by side on the image forming apparatus main body. The toner agitating member is for agitating the toner accommodated in the toner container main body, and is rotatably mounted inside the toner container main body. The toner conveying member is for conveying the toner agitated by the toner agitating member, and is rotatably mounted inside the toner container main body. The transport toner storage unit is provided in the vicinity of the toner storage container main body. The transport toner storage unit includes a transport toner storage unit body and a discharge toner transport member. The transport toner storage unit main body stores the toner transported by the toner transport member. The discharge toner transport member is for transporting the toner stored in the transport toner storage unit main body and discharging the toner from the transport toner storage unit main body, and is rotatably mounted inside the transport toner storage unit main body.

  The driving force transmission mechanism includes a housing, a connecting shaft member, a shaft member, a first transmission mechanism, and a second transmission mechanism. The housing is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. The connecting shaft member is mounted on the housing so as to be rotatable around the shaft, and is connected to the driving means. The shaft member is attached to the housing so as to be rotatable about the axis and movable in the axial direction. The first transmission mechanism is mounted on the housing between the connecting shaft member and the shaft member, and transmits the driving force of the driving means from the connecting shaft member to the shaft member so that the shaft member can be moved in the axial direction. The second transmission mechanism is mounted on the housing between the connecting shaft member and the shaft member, and transmits the driving force of the driving means from the connecting shaft member to the shaft member so that the shaft member can be rotated.

  In this image forming apparatus, the housing of the driving force transmission function is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus so that the shaft member of the driving force transmission mechanism is different from the rotation shaft of the discharge toner conveying member. Then, the shaft member is moved in the axial direction by the driving force transmitted to the shaft member in the first transmission mechanism, and the shaft member is rotated by the driving force transmitted to the shaft member in the second transmission mechanism. As a result, the discharge toner conveying member to be driven is rotated.

  Here, the driving force of the driving means is arranged in the vicinity of each of the plurality of toner storage containers by moving the shaft member in the axial direction stepwise by one driving force transmission mechanism and rotating the shaft member after the movement of the shaft member. It is possible to input to the discharged toner conveying member. Thereby, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of driving means, and the driving force transmission mechanism can be downsized and the manufacturing cost of the driving force transmission mechanism can be reduced. In addition, since the housing of the driving force transmission function is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body so that the shaft member of the driving force transmission mechanism and the rotating shaft of the toner conveying member for discharge are misaligned, the driving force transmission mechanism is If the plurality of toner container main bodies are arranged side by side, the width in one direction of the image forming apparatus main body (direction orthogonal to the parallel direction) can be reduced. That is, the image forming apparatus can be downsized.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, further comprising: a movement detection sensor for detecting the movement of the shaft member; and a control unit for controlling the movement amount of the shaft member. I have. In this case, since the movement of the shaft member is detected by the movement detection sensor and the movement amount of the shaft member is controlled by the control unit, the shaft member can be accurately moved in the axial direction.

  An image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the shaft member has a plurality of first gears. The plurality of first gears are disposed on the shaft portion at an interval in the axial direction, and are mounted so as not to rotate around the shaft portion. The discharge toner conveying member has a second gear that is mounted so as not to rotate around the rotation axis. In such an image forming apparatus, when the shaft member is moved in the axial direction in the first transmission mechanism, one of the plurality of first gears is the second gear of the discharge toner transport member to be driven. To mesh.

  In this case, when the shaft member is moved in the axial direction, any one of the plurality of first gears meshes with the second gear of the discharge toner transport member to be driven, so that the driving force is discharged to the discharge toner. Individual inputs can be made to the conveying member.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein one of the first gear and the second gear is a helical gear, and the other of the first gear and the second gear. Is a gear that can mesh with the Hasuba gear.

  In this case, one of the first gear and the second gear is a helical gear, and the other of the first gear and the second gear is a gear that can mesh with the helical gear. Even if the rotational axis of the toner conveying member is different, the driving force can be reliably transmitted from the shaft member to the discharging toner conveying member.

  An image forming apparatus according to a seventh aspect is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, further comprising a toner supply member for supplying toner to the developing device. The toner supply member is provided between the toner container and the developing device. In such an image forming apparatus, a discharge toner transport member on at least one side of the toner container main bodies disposed on both sides of the plurality of toner container main bodies arranged side by side, and a discharge toner transport member A discharge portion for discharging the conveyed toner to the toner supply member is disposed on the adjacent toner container main body side.

  In this case, the discharge toner conveying member and the discharge portion on at least one side of the toner container main bodies arranged on both sides are arranged on the adjacent toner container main body side. As a result, even if the volume of at least one of the toner container main bodies disposed on both sides is increased, the toner supply path of the toner replenishing member that supplies toner from the toner container to the developing device is reduced. Can be shortened.

  For example, four conventional toner container main bodies are arranged side by side in the order of a yellow toner container main body, a magenta toner container main body, a cyan toner container main body, and a black toner container main body in this order. Consider a case where the toner supply ports of the developing device are arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the developing device.

  Since the toner contained in the black toner container main body is used more frequently than the toner contained in other toner container bodies, the black toner container body containing the black toner is generally used. In particular, it is formed larger in the parallel direction of the container body than other toner container bodies. Then, the first interval between the discharge port of the yellow toner container main body and the discharge port of the magenta toner container main body, and the first interval between the discharge port of the magenta toner container main body and the discharge port of the cyan toner container main body. Although the two intervals are the same interval, the third interval between the discharge port of the cyan toner container main body and the discharge port of the black toner container main body becomes larger than the first interval and the second interval. Then, only the toner supply path of the black toner replenishing member that supplies toner from the discharge port of the black toner container main body to the supply port of the corresponding developing device may become long.

  However, in the present invention, the discharge toner conveying member and the discharge portion of the black toner storage container main body are disposed on the adjacent toner storage container main body side, that is, the cyan toner storage container main body side. As a result, the third interval between the discharge port of the cyan toner container main body and the discharge port of the black toner container main body can be made substantially the same as the first interval and the second interval. For this reason, the toner supply path of the black toner supply member that supplies toner from the discharge port of the black toner container main body to the supply port of the corresponding developing device is substantially the same as the toner supply path of the other toner supply members. Can be length.

  An image forming apparatus according to an eighth aspect is the image forming apparatus according to the seventh aspect, wherein each of the plurality of toner storage containers further includes a shutter member and a shutter opening / closing mechanism. The shutter member is for blocking discharge of the toner stored in the toner container main body to the outside, and is attached to the toner container main body. The shutter opening / closing mechanism is attached to the toner container main body so that the shutter member can take the open position and the toner blocking position.

  Among the plurality of toner container main bodies arranged side by side, the shutter opening / closing mechanism of the other toner container main bodies excluding at least one of the toner container main bodies arranged on both sides includes an operation member and a third gear. Have. The operation member is rotatably attached to the toner container main body, and is operated to position the shutter member at the open position and the toner blocking position. The third gear is attached to the shutter member and engages with the operation member. On the other hand, the shutter opening / closing mechanism of at least one of the toner container main bodies arranged on both sides among the plurality of toner container main bodies arranged side by side includes an operation member, a fourth gear, and a fifth gear. Have. The fourth gear is attached to the shutter member. The fifth gear is attached to the toner container main body between the operation member and the fourth gear, and engages with the operation member and the fourth gear.

  In this case, even if the toner transporting member and the discharging portion on at least one side of the toner container main body disposed on both sides are disposed on the adjacent toner container main body side, the toner container disposed on both sides is disposed. Since the shutter opening / closing mechanism of at least one of the container main body has the fifth gear engaged with the operation member and the fourth gear, the rotation direction of the operation member is set to the shutter of the other toner containing container main body. The rotation direction of the operating member of the opening / closing mechanism can be the same direction. That is, the rotation direction of the operation members of all the toner container main bodies, that is, the operation direction can be made the same direction.

  According to the present invention, the shaft member is moved stepwise in the axial direction by one driving force transmission mechanism, and the shaft member is rotated after the shaft member is moved. This can be input to the discharging toner conveying member. That is, it is possible to individually input each of the plurality of toner storage containers. Thereby, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of driving means, and the driving force transmission mechanism can be downsized and the manufacturing cost of the driving force transmission mechanism can be reduced. In addition, since the housing of the driving force transmission function is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body so that the shaft member of the driving force transmission mechanism and the rotating shaft of the toner conveying member for discharge are misaligned, the driving force transmission mechanism is If the plurality of toner container main bodies are arranged side by side, the width in one direction of the image forming apparatus main body (direction orthogonal to the parallel direction) can be reduced. That is, the image forming apparatus can be downsized.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a color printer in which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted. As shown in FIGS. 1, 6, and 7, the color printer 100 mainly includes a color printer main body 11, an image forming unit 10, a toner container 8, a transport toner storage unit 50, and a driving force transmission mechanism 30. A movement detection sensor 31, a control unit (not shown), and a toner supply pipe 13. The image forming unit 10 is provided substantially at the center of the color printer main body 11.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 10 includes a photosensitive drum 1, a charging device 2, a rotary developing device 4, a transfer device 5, a cleaning device 6, and a laser unit 12. The charging device 2, the rotary developing device 4, the transfer device 5, the cleaning device 6, and the laser unit 12 are disposed around the photosensitive drum 1. A fixing device 7 is disposed downstream of the photosensitive drum 1 in the sheet conveyance direction. The fixing device 7 is a device for fixing the transferred toner image to a transfer material. A paper feed unit 20 is provided below the image forming unit 10, and a paper feed roller 9 is provided in the paper feed direction from the paper feed unit.

  The photosensitive drum 1 is rotatably mounted inside the color printer main body 11. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by the laser unit 12. The charging device 2 is installed above the photosensitive drum 1 and is a device for uniformly charging the photosensitive drum 1.

  The transfer device 5 is a device for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 to a sheet, and includes an intermediate transfer belt 51, primary transfer rollers 52 and 53, a driving roller 55, a secondary transfer counter roller 54, and a secondary transfer. A roller 56 is provided. The intermediate transfer belt 51 is wound around each of the primary transfer rollers 52 and 53, the driving roller 55, and the secondary transfer counter roller 54. The intermediate transfer belt 51 is rotated around the primary transfer rollers 52 and 53, the drive roller 55, and the secondary transfer counter roller 54 by the drive force of the drive roller 55. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 51, and the transferred toner image is temporarily held. The secondary transfer roller 56 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 51 at a position facing the secondary transfer counter roller 54. The secondary transfer roller 56 secondarily transfers the toner image onto the transfer material.

  The cleaning device 6 is a device for removing deposits such as residual developer remaining on the photosensitive drum 1. In the color printer 100, a cleaning blade is provided.

  The laser unit 12 is mounted inside the color printer main body 11. The laser unit 12 scans the photosensitive drum 1 based on image information processed by a controller (not shown) to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1. The laser unit 12 includes a semiconductor laser, various lenses, a polygon mirror, a mirror rotation motor, and the like.

  The toner container 8 is a container for supplying toner to the rotary developing device 4. The toner container 8 includes a plurality of containers such as a yellow container 8Y, a magenta container 8M, a cyan container 8C, and a black container 8B. The plurality of containers 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8B are mounted side by side inside the color printer main body 11.

  Each of the plurality of toner containers 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8B includes toner container bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, and 8Ba, toner stirring members 81Y, 81M, 81C, and 81B, and toner as shown in FIGS. Conveying members 82Y, 82M, 82C, 82B, shutter members 84Y, 84M, 84C, 84B, and shutter opening / closing mechanisms 85Y, 85M, 85C, 85B are provided.

  The plurality of toner container bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, and 8Ba are arranged above the photosensitive drum 1 in the direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 1, that is, the direction of the rotation axis 41 of the rotary developing device 4, and the color printer body. 11 is mounted inside. The plurality of toner container main bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, and 8Ba include toner agitating portions 80Ya, 80Ma, 80Ca, and 80Ba that are spaces for agitating the toner and toner conveying portions 80Yb, 80Mb, and a space for conveying the toner. 80Cb, 80Bb. The toner agitating portions 80Ya, 80Ma, 80Ca, 80Ba are formed in a substantially semicircular shape on the lower surface side. The toner conveying portions 80Yb, 80Mb, 80Cb, and 80Bb are formed in a substantially semicircular shape on the lower surface side. Here, the toner conveying portion 80Bb of the black toner container main body 8Ba is formed on the cyan toner container main body 8Ca side.

  On the lower surface of the toner conveying portions 80Yb, 80Mb, 80Cb, and 80Bb, toner conveyed by toner conveying members 82Y, 82M, 82C, and 82B, which will be described later, is conveyed to a conveying toner accommodating portion 50 such as conveying toner accommodating portion main bodies 50Y and 50M. , 50C, 50B, second openings 80Yc, 80Mc, 80Cc, 80Bc, for example, openings are formed. Here, the second discharge portions 80Yc, 80Mc, 80Cc, 80Bc are formed on the shutter opening / closing mechanisms 85Y, 85M, 85C, 85B side of the lower surface of the toner transport portions 80Yb, 80Mb, 80Cb, 80Bb.

  Each of the plurality of toner containers 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8B includes a first intermediate gear 86Y, 86M, 86C, and 86B and container coupling gears 88Y, 88M, 88C, and 88B, as shown in FIGS. And have. The first intermediate gears 86Y, 86M, 86C, 86B are rotatably mounted on the side surfaces of the toner container bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, 8Ba on the shutter opening / closing mechanisms 85Y, 85M, 85C, 85B side. The first intermediate gears 86Y, 86M, 86C, 86B are two-stage gears composed of a large diameter gear and a small diameter gear. The large diameter gears of the first intermediate gears 86Y, 86M, 86C, 86B are containers rotatably mounted on the side surfaces of the toner container bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, 8Ba below the first intermediate gears 86Y, 86M, 86C, 86B. The coupling gears 88Y, 88M, 88C, and 88B are engaged. The small diameter gears of the first intermediate gears 86Y, 86M, 86C, 86B mesh with the second member rotating gears 182Y, 182M, 182C, 182B.

  Here, the black toner container 8B has a second intermediate gear 87B. The second intermediate gear 87B is rotatably mounted on the side surface of the toner container main body 8Ba on the shutter opening / closing mechanism 85B side. The second intermediate gear 87B is disposed between the small diameter gear of the first intermediate gear 86B and a third member rotating gear 181B of the toner agitating member 81B described later, and the small diameter gear and the third member of the first intermediate gear 86B. It meshes with the rotating gear 181B.

  The toner agitating members 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81B are for agitating the toner contained in the toner container main bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, 8Ba, and rotate inside the toner container main bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, 8Ba. It is installed freely. Here, the toner stirring members 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81B are rotatably mounted on the toner stirring portions 80Ya, 80Ma, 80Ca, 80Ba of the toner container bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, 8Ba. The toner stirring members 81Y, 81M, 81C, and 81B have third member rotation gears 181Y, 181M, 181C, and 181B that are non-rotatably mounted around the rotation shaft. The third member rotating gears 181Y, 181M, and 181C mesh with the small diameter gears of the first intermediate gears 86Y, 86M, and 86C. The third member rotating gear 181B meshes with the second intermediate gear 87B.

  The toner conveying members 82Y, 82M, 82C, and 82B are for conveying the toner agitated by the toner agitating members 81Y, 81M, 81C, and 81B, and rotate inside the toner container bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, and 8Ba. It is installed freely. Here, the toner conveying members 82Y, 82M, 82C, and 82B are rotatably attached to the toner conveying portions 80Yb, 80Mb, 80Cb, and 80Bb of the toner container main bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, and 8Ba. Further, the toner conveying member 82B of the black toner container main body 8Ba is disposed on the adjacent toner container main body side, that is, the cyan toner container main body 8Ca side. Here, the toner conveying member 82B of the black toner container main body 8Ba is rotatably mounted on a toner conveying portion 80Bb provided on the cyan toner container main body 8Ca side.

  The toner conveying members 82Y, 82M, 82C, and 82B have second member rotation gears 182Y, 182M, 182C, and 182B that are non-rotatably mounted around the rotation axis. The second member rotating gears 182Y, 182M, 182C, 182B mesh with the small diameter gears of the first intermediate gears 86Y, 86M, 86C, 86B.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the shutter members 84Y, 84M, 84C, and 84B prevent the toner contained in the toner container bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, and 8Ba from leaking out of the toner container bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, and 8Ba. It is for shutting off. The shutter members 84Y, 84M, 84C, and 84B are formed in a cylindrical shape. The shutter members 84Y, 84M, 84C, 84B have first openings 84Ya, 84Ma, 84Ca, 84Ba and second openings 84Yb, 84Mb, 84Cb, 84Bb. Such shutter members 84Y, 84M, 84C, and 84B are rotatably mounted inside the toner conveying portions 80Yb, 80Mb, 80Cb, and 80Bb.

  The shutter opening / closing mechanisms 85Y, 85M, 85C, and 85B are configured so that the shutter members 84Y, 84M, 84C, and 84B and the toner container main body 8Ya, It is mounted on 8Ma, 8Ca, 8Ba. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the shutter members 84Y, 84M, and 84C are in the toner blocking position and the shutter member 84B is in the open position.

  The (first) shutter opening / closing mechanisms 85Y, 85M, and 85C mounted on the toner container main bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, and 8Ca are the first operation members 185Y, 185M, and 185C and the first engagement gears (third gears) 285Y and 285M. , 285C. The first operation members 185Y, 185M, and 185C are for positioning the shutter members 84Y, 84M, and 84C to the open position and the toner blocking position, and are rotatably mounted on the toner container main bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, and 8Ca. Has been. The first operating members 185Y, 185M and 185C have first gear portions 185Ya, 185Ma and 185Ca as shown in FIGS. The first engagement gears 285Y, 285M, 285C are attached to one end of the shutter members 84Y, 84M, 84C. The tooth portions of the first engagement gears 285Y, 285M, 285C mesh with the first operation members 185Y, 185M, 185C, that is, the first gear portions 185Ya, 185Ma, 185Ca of the first operation members 185Y, 185M, 185C.

  In the first shutter opening / closing mechanisms 85Y, 85M, 85C, when the first operating members 185Y, 185M, 185C are rotated counterclockwise, the first gear portions 185Ya, 185Ma, 185Ca of the first operating members 185Y, 185M, 185C are used. The first engagement gears 285Y, 285M, and 285C that are meshed with each other rotate clockwise. Then, the shutter members 84Y, 84M, and 84C also rotate clockwise, and the shutter members 84Y, 84M, and 84C are positioned at the open positions. That is, the first openings 84Ya, 84Ma, 84Ca, and 84Ba of the shutter members 84Y, 84M, and 84C are disposed above the rotation shafts of the shutter members 84Y, 84M, and 84C. Then, the positions of the second discharge portions 80Yc, 80Mc, 80Cc, and 80Bc in which the second openings 84Yb, 84Mb, 84Cb, and 84Bb of the shutter members 84Y, 84M, and 84C are formed on the lower surface of the toner conveying portions 80Yb, 80Mb, and 80Cb Is positioned.

  In addition, when the first operating members 185Y, 185M, and 185C are rotated clockwise from this state, the first engagement is engaged with the first gear portions 185Ya, 185Ma, and 185Ca of the first operating members 185Y, 185M, and 185C. The gears 285Y, 285M, and 285C rotate counterclockwise. Then, the shutter members 84Y, 84M, 84C are also rotated counterclockwise, and the shutter members 84Y, 84M, 84C are positioned at the toner blocking positions. That is, the first openings 84Ya, 84Ma, 84Ca, and 84Ba of the shutter members 84Y, 84M, and 84C are disposed on the side surface side of the color printer main body 11. The second openings 84Yb, 84Mb, 84Cb, 84Bb of the shutter members 84Y, 84M, 84C are arranged on the side away from the side surface of the color printer main body 11.

  The (second) shutter opening / closing mechanism 85B mounted on the toner container main body 8Ba includes a second operation member 185B, a second engagement gear (fourth gear) 285B, and a third engagement gear (fifth gear) 385B. Have. The second operation member 185B is for positioning the shutter member 84B between the open position and the toner blocking position, and is rotatably attached to the toner container main body 8Ba. The second operation member 185B has a second gear portion 185Ba. The second engagement gear 285B is attached to one end of the shutter member 84B. The third engagement gear 385B is rotatably mounted on the toner container main body 8Ba between the second operation member 185B and the second engagement gear 285B. The third engagement gear 385B is engaged with the second operation member 185B, that is, the second gear portion 185Ba of the second operation member 185B and the second engagement gear 285B.

  In the second shutter opening / closing mechanism 85B, when the second operation member 185B is rotated counterclockwise, the third engagement gear 385B meshed with the second gear portion 185Ba of the second operation member 185B is rotated clockwise, The second engagement gear 285B meshed with the third engagement gear 385B rotates counterclockwise. Then, the shutter member 84B also rotates counterclockwise, and the shutter member 84B is positioned at the open position. That is, the first opening 84Ba of the shutter member 84B is disposed above the rotation axis of the shutter member. Then, the second opening (not shown) of the shutter member 84B is positioned at the position of the second discharge portion 80Bc formed on the lower surface of the toner conveyance portion 80Bb.

  Further, when the second operating member 185B is rotated clockwise from this state, the third engaging gear 385B meshed with the second gear portion 185Ba of the second operating member 185B rotates counterclockwise, The second engagement gear 285B meshed with the engagement gear 385B rotates clockwise. Then, the shutter member 84B also rotates clockwise, and the shutter member 84B is positioned at the toner blocking position. That is, the first opening 84Ba of the shutter member 84B is disposed on the side surface side of the color printer main body 11. A second opening (not shown) of the shutter member 84 </ b> B is disposed on the side away from the side surface of the color printer main body 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 5, and 8, the transport toner storage unit 50 is provided in the vicinity of each of the plurality of toner container bodies 8 </ b> Ya, 8 </ b> Ma, 8 </ b> Ca, and 8 </ b> Ba. Here, the transport toner accommodating portion 50 is provided below each of the plurality of toner container main bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, 8Ba, for example, below a portion where the toner transport members 82Y, 82M, 82C, 82B are mounted. The transport toner storage unit 50 includes transport toner storage unit bodies 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50B, discharge toner transport members 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51B, and first discharge units 52Y, 52M, 52C, and 52B. ing.

  The transport toner storage unit main bodies 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50B are portions that store the toner transported by the toner transport members 82Y, 82M, 82C, and 82B, and are attached to the color printer main body 11.

  The discharge toner transport members 51Y, 51M, 51C, 51B are for transporting the toner stored in the transport toner storage unit main bodies 50Y, 50M, 50C, 50B and discharging the toner from the transport toner storage unit main body 50. The toner container main bodies 50Y, 50M, 50C and 50B are rotatably mounted. The discharge toner conveying members 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51B include first member rotation gears 151Y, 151M, 151C, and 151B, coupling gears 152Y, 152M, 152C, and 152B, and biasing members 153Y, 153M, 153C, and 153B.

  The first member rotation gears 151Y, 151M, 151C, and 151B are non-rotatably mounted around the rotation shafts of the discharge toner transport members 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51B. The first member rotating gears 151Y, 151M, 151C, and 151B are second helical gears that can mesh with the first helical gears (shaft gears) 132d, 132e, and 132f.

  The coupling gears 152Y, 152M, 152C, and 152B cannot rotate around the rotation shafts of the discharge toner conveying members 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51B on the outer end side of the first member rotating gears 151Y, 151M, 151C, and 151B. It is installed. The coupling gears 152Y, 152M, 152C, and 152B are used when the containers 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8B, that is, the toner container main bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, and 8Ba are mounted on the color printer main body 11, respectively. , 88M, 88C, 88B are non-rotatably coupled.

  The urging members 153Y, 153M, 153C, 153B, for example, coil springs, are used for discharging the toner conveying members 51Y, 51M between the first member rotating gears 151Y, 151M, 151C, 151B and the coupling gears 152Y, 152M, 152C, 152B. , 51C and 51B, and the coupling gears 152Y, 152M, 152C and 152B are biased outward in the axial direction of the first member rotating gears 151Y, 151M, 151C and 151B. Accordingly, the coupling gears 152Y, 152M, 152C, and 152B and the container coupling gears 88Y, 88M, 88C, and 88B can be reliably connected.

  The first discharge units 52Y, 52M, 52C, and 52B discharge the toner conveyed by the discharge toner conveyance members 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51B from the conveyance toner storage unit main bodies 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50B to the toner supply pipe side. It is an opening to do. The first discharge sections 52Y, 52M, 52C, and 52B are formed on the side surfaces of the transport toner storage section main bodies 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50B in the toner transport direction. Here, the first discharge portion 52B of the black toner container main body 8Ba is disposed on the adjacent toner container main body, that is, the cyan toner container main body 8Ca side.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the driving force transmission mechanism 30 includes a housing 130, a connecting member 131, a shaft member 132, a first transmission mechanism 133, and a second transmission mechanism 134. The housing 130 is attached to the color printer main body 11. The housing 130 is mounted on the color printer main body 11 so that the shaft member 132 is in conflict with the rotation shafts of the discharge toner transport members 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51B. Here, the housing 130 is mounted on the color printer main body 11 so as to be adjacent to the black container main body 8Ba among the toner container main bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, 8Ba arranged side by side.

  The connecting member 131 is connected to driving means such as a driving motor (not shown). The connecting member 131 is disposed at a predetermined interval from the shaft portion 131a, the first transmission gear 131b that is non-rotatably mounted on the shaft portion 131a, and the non-rotatably mounted on the shaft portion 131a. The second transmission gear 131c is provided.

  The shaft member 132 includes a shaft portion 132a, a rack 132b, a shaft rotation gear 132c, and a plurality of shaft portion gears (first gears) 132d, 132e, and 132f. The shaft portion 132a is attached to the housing 130 so as to be rotatable about the axis and movable in the axial direction. The rack 132b is mounted on the shaft portion 132a so as to be rotatable with respect to the shaft portion 132a and not movable in the axial direction. The rack 132b has a tooth part 132g and a protruding part 132h. The tooth part 132g is provided so as to protrude in the direction away from the shaft part 132a, that is, the direction on the connecting member 131 side. The protruding portion 132h is provided so as to be substantially parallel to the axial direction of the shaft portion 132a. Here, the protruding portion 132h is substantially parallel to the axial direction of the shaft portion 132a and the shaft member 132 is mounted on the housing 130, and the first transmission gear row 133b of the first transmission mechanism 133, which will be described later, from the side of the housing. It is provided so as to protrude outward. The shaft rotation gear 132c is mounted on the shaft portion 132a so as not to rotate.

  A plurality of shaft gears, for example, the three first to third shaft gears 132d, 132e, and 132f are non-rotatably mounted on the shaft portion at intervals. Here, the first shaft gear 132d, the second shaft gear 132e, and the third shaft gear 132f are arranged in a direction in which the first to third shaft gears 132d, 132e, and 132f are separated from the housing 130. Are attached to the shaft portion 132a in a non-rotatable manner at intervals. These first to third shaft portion gears 132d, 132e, and 132f are first helical gears.

  The first transmission mechanism 133 is for transmitting the driving force of the drive motor from the connecting member 131 to the shaft member 132 so that the shaft member 132 can be moved in the axial direction. The first transmission mechanism 133 is attached to the housing 130 between the connecting member 131 and the shaft member 132.

  The first transmission mechanism 133 includes a first clutch 133a, a first transmission gear train 133b, a transmission gear shaft 133c, and a worm gear 133d. The first clutch 133a has a third transmission gear 134e that meshes with a first transmission gear mounted on the connecting member 131, and is turned on and off in a state where the driving force from the connecting member 131 is transmitted and a state where it is not transmitted. To do. The first transmission gear train 133b is for transmitting the driving force from the first clutch 133a to the shaft member 132 side, and includes a plurality of gears that mesh with each other. The plurality of gears of the first transmission gear train 133b are mounted side by side in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft member 132 on one side surface of the housing 130. The transmission gear shaft 133c is non-rotatably attached to the output side gear of the first transmission gear train 133b. The worm gear 133d is non-rotatably attached to the transmission gear shaft 133c, and meshes with the teeth 132g of the rack 132b. Accordingly, when the worm gear 133d meshed with the tooth portion 132g of the rack 132b rotates, the rack 132b can move the shaft member 132 in the axial direction in conjunction with the rotation of the worm gear 133d. Further, when any one of the first to third shaft gears 132d, 132e, 132f is engaged with any one of the first member rotating gears 151Y, 151M, 151C, and B, the shaft 132a is rotated. Even if a thrust force is generated, the tooth portion 132g of the rack 132b meshes with the worm gear 133d, so that the rack 132b moves in the axial direction of the shaft portion 132a by the meshing force between the tooth portion 132g of the rack 132b and the worm gear 133d. It does not move.

  The second transmission mechanism 134 is for transmitting the driving force of the drive motor from the connecting member 131 to the shaft member 132 so that the shaft member 132 can be rotated. The second transmission mechanism 134 is attached to the housing 130 between the connecting member 131 and the shaft member 132.

  The second transmission mechanism 134 includes a second clutch 134a and a second transmission gear train 134b. The second clutch 134a has a fourth transmission gear 134c that meshes with the second transmission gear 131c attached to the connecting member 131, and is in a state of transmitting a driving force from the connecting member 131 and a state of non-transmitting. Turn on and off. The second transmission gear train 134b is for transmitting the driving force from the second clutch 134a to the shaft member 132 side, and is composed of a plurality of gears that mesh with each other. Each of the plurality of gears of the second transmission gear train 134 b is mounted side by side in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the shaft member 132 on the side surface facing one side surface of the housing 130. The gear on the output side of the second transmission gear train 134 b meshes with the shaft rotation gear 132 c of the shaft member 132. The shaft rotation gear 132c is formed long in the axial direction so as to always mesh with the gear on the output side of the second transmission gear train 134b when the shaft member 132 moves in the axial direction. As a result, when the second transmission gear train 134b rotates, the shaft member 132 moves together with the shaft rotation gear 132c engaged with the output side gear of the second transmission gear train 134b in conjunction with the rotation of the second transmission gear train 134b. Rotate.

  In such a driving force transmission mechanism 30, when the shaft member 132 is moved in the axial direction by the driving force transmitted to the shaft member 132 in the first transmission mechanism 133, the first to third shaft gears 132d, 132e, Any one of 132f meshes with any one of the first member rotating gears 151Y, 151M, 151C, 151B of the discharge toner conveying members 51Y, 51M, 51C, 51B to be driven. When the shaft member 132 is rotated by the driving force transmitted to the shaft member 132 in the second transmission mechanism 134, any one of the discharge toner transport members 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51B can be rotated.

  The movement detection sensor 31 is for detecting the movement of the shaft member 132. The movement detection sensor 31 is attached to the color printer main body 11 at a position spaced apart from the side surface of the housing 130 to which the first transmission gear train 133b is attached. The movement detection sensor 31 has two sensor units 31a. The two sensor units 31a are arranged at a predetermined interval so as to face each other. Between these two sensor parts 31a, the tip part of the protrusion part 132h of the rack 132b can be inserted and removed. Here, when the rack 132b of the shaft member 132 is located at the position farthest from the toner container 8, the protrusion 132h of the rack 132b is located between the two sensor parts 31a. When the protruding portion 132h of the rack 132b is located between the two sensor portions 31a, the home position of the shaft member 132 is defined. When the shaft member 132 moves from the home position to the toner container 8 side, the protrusion 132h of the rack 132b is detached from between the two sensor portions 31a. Thus, when the protrusion 132h of the rack 132b is separated from between the two sensor portions 31a, the sensor portion 31a of the movement detection sensor 31 recognizes that the shaft member 132 has moved.

  The shaft member 132 is basically located at the home position, and the first shaft gear 132d located on the housing 130 side among the first to third shaft gears 132d, 132e, 132f is black. The first member rotating gear 151B of the discharging toner conveying member 51B is engaged.

  The control unit controls the drive motor, the first clutch 133a, and the second clutch 134a. By this control unit, the movement amount of the shaft member 132 and the rotation amount of the shaft member 132 are controlled via the driving force transmission mechanism 30, and the first clutch 133a and the second clutch 134a are switched on and off.

  For example, when transporting black toner, the shaft member 132 is basically at the home position, so the control unit turns off the first clutch 133a and turns on the second clutch 134a to turn on the shaft member 132, that is, the black member. The first shaft gear 132d meshed with the first member rotation gear 151B of the discharge toner conveying member 51B is rotated by a predetermined amount.

  For example, when transporting yellow toner, the control unit turns on the first clutch 133a and turns off the second clutch 134a, moves the shaft member 132 by a predetermined amount, and moves the third shaft portion gear of the shaft member 132. 132f is meshed with the first member rotation gear 151Y of the yellow discharge toner conveying member 51Y. Then, the control unit turns off the first clutch 133a and turns on the second clutch 134a, and the third shaft portion of the shaft member 132 meshed with the first member rotation gear 151Y of the yellow discharge toner conveying member 51Y. The gear 132f is rotated by a predetermined amount.

  For example, when conveying magenta toner, the control unit turns on the first clutch 133a and turns off the second clutch 134a, moves the shaft member 132 by a predetermined amount, and shifts the second shaft portion gear of the shaft member 132. 132e is engaged with the first member rotation gear 151M of the magenta discharge toner conveying member 51M. Then, the control unit turns off the first clutch 133a and turns on the second clutch 134a, and the second shaft portion of the shaft member 132 meshed with the first member rotation gear 151M of the magenta discharge toner conveying member 51M. The gear 132e is rotated by a predetermined amount.

  For example, when transporting cyan toner, the control unit turns on the first clutch 133a and turns off the second clutch 134a, moves the shaft member 132 by a predetermined amount, and shifts the shaft member 132 to the first shaft portion gear. 132d is meshed with the first member rotating gear 151C of the cyan discharging toner conveying member 51C. Then, the control unit turns off the first clutch 133a and turns on the second clutch 134a, and the first shaft portion of the shaft member 132 meshed with the first member rotation gear 151C of the cyan discharge toner conveying member 51C. The gear 132d is rotated by a predetermined amount.

  Thus, when the shaft member 132 is moved and the shaft gears 132d, 132f, 132e of the shaft member are rotated by a predetermined amount, the first member rotation gears 151Y, 151M, which mesh with the shaft gears 132d, 132f, 132e, 151C and 151B rotate. Then, the discharge toner transport members 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51B rotate and the respective color toners are transported toward the first discharge portions 52Y, 52M, 52C, and 52B.

  Further, when the discharge toner transport members 51Y, 51M, 51C, 51B rotate, the container coupling gear connected to the coupling gears 152Y, 152M, 152C, 152B of the discharge toner transport members 51Y, 51M, 51C, 51B. 88Y, 88M, 88C, and 88B rotate, and the first intermediate gears 86Y, 86M, 86C, and 86B rotate. Then, the second intermediate gear 87B and the second member rotating gears 182Y, 182M, 182C, 182B meshed with the first intermediate gears 86Y, 86M, 86C, 86B rotate. The toner agitating members 81Y, corresponding to the third member rotating gear 181B meshed with the second intermediate gear 87B and the third member rotating gears 181Y, 181M, 181C meshed with the first intermediate gears 86Y, 86M, 86C, respectively. 81M, 81C, 81B and toner conveying members 82Y, 82M, 82C, 82B corresponding to the second member rotating gears 182Y, 182M, 182C, 182B respectively rotate. Thereby, the toner accommodated in the toner container main bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, 8Ba can be stirred and conveyed to the second discharge portions 80Yc, 80Mc, 80Cc, 80Bc.

  As described above, the shaft member gears 132d, 132f, and 132e are meshed with the first member rotation gears 151Y, 151M, 151C, and 151B and rotated, thereby rotating the toner stirring members 81Y, 81M, 81C, and 81B, and discharging. The toner conveying members 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51B and the toner conveying members 82Y, 82M, 82C, and 82B can be rotated, and the toner is transferred from the toner container bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, and 8Ba to the toner conveying portions 80Yb and 80Mb. , 80Cb, 80Bb and can be transported toward the first discharge portions 52Y, 52M, 52C, 52B in the toner transport portions 80Yb, 80Mb, 80Cb, 80Bb.

  After each color toner is conveyed, the control unit turns on the first clutch 133a and turns off the second clutch 134a, and moves the shaft member 132 to the home position.

  On the other hand, when each color toner is continuously conveyed, first, the control unit turns off the first clutch 133a and turns on the second clutch 134a, and the shaft member 132 in the home position, that is, the black discharge toner. The first shaft gear 132d meshed with the first member rotation gear 151B of the transport member 51B is rotated by a predetermined amount.

  Next, the control unit turns on the first clutch 133a and turns off the second clutch 134a, moves the shaft member 132 by a predetermined amount, and moves the third shaft gear 132f of the shaft member 132 to the yellow discharge toner. The first member rotating gear 151Y of the conveying member 51Y is engaged with the first member rotating gear 151Y. Then, the control unit turns off the first clutch 133a and turns on the second clutch 134a, and the third shaft portion of the shaft member 132 meshed with the first member rotation gear 151Y of the yellow discharge toner conveying member 51Y. The gear 132f is rotated by a predetermined amount.

Subsequently, the control unit turns on the first clutch 133a and turns off the second clutch 134a, moves the shaft member 132 by a predetermined amount, and moves the second shaft portion gear 132e of the shaft member 132 to the magenta discharge toner. The first member rotating gear 151M of the conveying member 51M is engaged. Then, the control unit turns off the first clutch 133a and turns on the second clutch 134a, and the second shaft portion of the shaft member 132 meshed with the first member rotation gear 151M of the magenta discharge toner conveying member 51M. The gear 132e is rotated by a predetermined amount.

  Finally, the control unit turns on the first clutch 133a and turns off the second clutch 134a, moves the shaft member 132 by a predetermined amount, and moves the first shaft gear 132d of the shaft member 132 to the cyan discharge toner. Engage with the first member rotating gear 151C of the conveying member 51C. Then, the control unit turns off the first clutch 133a and turns on the second clutch 134a, and the first shaft portion of the shaft member 132 meshed with the first member rotation gear 151C of the cyan discharge toner conveying member 51C. The gear 132d is rotated by a predetermined amount.

  Thus, when the shaft member 132 is moved stepwise and the shaft gears 132d, 132f, 132e of the shaft member are rotated by a predetermined amount, the first member rotation gear 151Y meshed with the shaft gears 132d, 132f, 132e. , 151M, 151C, 151B rotate. Then, the discharge toner transport members 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51B rotate and the respective color toners are transported toward the first discharge portions 52Y, 52M, 52C, and 52B. Further, when the discharge toner transport members 51Y, 51M, 51C, 51B rotate, the container coupling gear connected to the coupling gears 152Y, 152M, 152C, 152B of the discharge toner transport members 51Y, 51M, 51C, 51B. 88Y, 88M, 88C, and 88B rotate, and the first intermediate gears 86Y, 86M, 86C, and 86B rotate. Then, the second intermediate gears 87Y, 87M, 87C, 87B and the second member rotating gears 182Y, 182M, 182C, 182B meshed with the first intermediate gears 86Y, 86M, 86C, 86B rotate, and the second intermediate gears. Toner stirring members 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81B having third member rotation gears 181Y, 181M, 181C, 181B meshed with 87Y, 87M, 87C, 87B and second member rotation gears 182Y, 182M, 182C, 182B The toner conveying members 82Y, 82M, 82C, and 82B having the rotation rotate. Thereby, the toner accommodated in the toner container main bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, 8Ba can be stirred and conveyed to the second discharge portions 80Yc, 80Mc, 80Cc, 80Bc.

  In this way, the shaft agitation gears 132d, 132f, 132e of the shaft member are sequentially meshed with the first member rotation gears 151Y, 151M, 151C, 151B and rotated, thereby rotating the toner agitating members 81Y, 81M, 81C, 81B, and discharging. The toner transport members 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51B and the toner transport members 82Y, 82M, 82C, and 82B can be rotated, and the toners are transferred from the toner container bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, and 8Ba to the toner transport unit 80Yb, The toner can be transported to 80Mb, 80Cb, 80Bb, and transported toward the first discharge sections 52Y, 52M, 52C, 52B in the toner transport sections 80Yb, 80Mb, 80Cb, 80Bb.

  In addition, after each color toner is continuously conveyed, the control unit turns on the first clutch 133a and turns off the second clutch 134a, and moves the shaft member 132 to the home position.

  A plurality of toner supply pipes 13, for example, four toner supply pipes 13 each have a toner supply tube 13a. Each of the four toner supply pipes 13 is connected to a corresponding first discharge portion 52Y, 52M, 52C, 52B via a toner supply tube 13a. These four toner supply pipes 13 are arranged side by side in the direction of the rotary shaft 41 of the rotary developing device 4 between the toner container 8 and the rotary developing device 4. The four toner supply pipes 13 are arranged between the laser unit 12 and the photosensitive drum 1.

  Each of the four toner supply pipes 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13B is inserted into the rotary developing device 4 at a predetermined rotational position of the rotary developing device 4, so that each color toner is supplied to the rotary developing device 4. For example, the toner supply pipe 13Y attached to the first discharge portion 52Y via the toner supply tube 13a supplies yellow toner to a yellow developing device 4Y of the rotary developing device 4 described later. A toner supply pipe 13M attached to the first discharge portion 52M via the toner supply tube 13a supplies magenta toner to a magenta developing device 4M of the rotary developing device 4 described later. A toner supply pipe 13C attached to the first discharge portion 52C via the toner supply tube 13a supplies cyan toner to a cyan developing device 4C of the rotary developing device 4 described later. A toner supply pipe 13B attached to the first discharge portion 52B via the toner supply tube 13a supplies black toner to a black developing device 4B of the rotary developing device 4 described later.

  The rotary developing device 4 is a device for supplying toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, and forms a toner image on the photosensitive drum 1. The rotary developing device 4 is rotatably mounted inside the color printer main body 11. The rotary developing device 4 includes a rotary rack 40 and a plurality of developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4B.

  The rotary rack 40 has a rotating shaft 41, and is rotatably mounted on the color printer main body 11 through the rotating shaft 41. The rotary rack 40 sequentially moves each of the plurality of developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4B to a developing position facing the photosensitive drum 1 while rotating around a rotating shaft 41 by a rotating unit (not shown).

  The four developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4B are arranged adjacent to each other around the rotation shaft 41 and are held by the rotary rack 40. Here, the yellow developing unit 4Y, the magenta developing unit 4M, the cyan developing unit 4C, and the black developing unit 4B are arranged in the order of 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4B in the circumferential direction of the rotary rack 40, that is, the circumferential direction around the rotation shaft 41. Are arranged side by side and held by the rotary rack 40. These four developing units 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4B are arranged at intervals of about 90 degrees in the circumferential direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, each of the four developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4B includes a developing device body 4a, a developing device toner stirring member 4b, a developing roller 4c, and a toner supply roller 4d.

  The developing device toner agitating member 4b is for agitating the toner contained in the developing device main body 4a, and is rotatably mounted in the developing device main body 4a. Here, the developing device toner stirring member 4b is rotatably mounted inside the developing device main body 4a on the side away from the photosensitive drum 1 and the developing roller 4c, that is, on the rotary shaft 41 side of the rotary rack 40.

  The developing roller 4c is for attaching the toner contained in the developing device main body 4a to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. The developing roller 4c has a rotating shaft, and is rotatably mounted inside the developing device main body 4a via this rotating shaft. Here, the developing roller 4 c is rotatably mounted inside the developing device body 4 a on the outer peripheral surface side of the rotary rack 40.

  The toner supply roller 4d is for supplying toner from the developing device toner stirring member 4b side to the developing roller 4c side, and between the developing device toner stirring member 4b and the developing roller 4c, It is rotatably mounted inside.

  In the color printer 100 as described above, the shaft member 132 is moved in the axial direction by one driving force transmission mechanism 30 and the shaft member 132 is rotated after the shaft member 132 is moved, whereby the driving force of the driving motor is discharged to the discharge toner. Input can be made to the conveying members 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51B. Thereby, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of drive motors, and the driving force transmission mechanism 30 can be downsized and the manufacturing cost of the driving force transmission mechanism 30 can be reduced. In addition, the housing 130 of the driving force transmission mechanism 30 is mounted on the color printer main body 11 so that the shaft member 132 of the driving force transmission mechanism 30 conflicts with the rotation shafts of the discharge toner transport members 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51B. Therefore, if the driving force transmission mechanism 30 is arranged side by side in the plurality of toner container main bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, 8Ba, the width in one direction of the color printer main body 11 (direction orthogonal to the container parallel direction) is reduced. can do. That is, the color printer 100 can be reduced in size.

  Further, the tooth portion 132g of the rack 132b of the shaft member 132 meshing with the worm gear 133d of the first transmission mechanism 133 moves the shaft member 132 in the axial direction in conjunction with the rotation of the worm gear 133d. At this time, the shaft member 132 can be accurately moved in the axial direction while the worm gear 133d and the rack 132b are reliably engaged by the thrust force generated in the rotation axis direction of the worm gear 133d.

  Subsequently, since the movement of the shaft member 132 is detected by the movement detection sensor and the movement amount and the rotation amount of the shaft member 132 are controlled by the control unit, the shaft member 132 can be accurately moved and rotated in the axial direction. it can.

  Subsequently, when the shaft member 132 is moved in the axial direction, any one of the plurality of shaft gears 132d, 132e, and 132f of the discharge toner transport members 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51B to be driven is used. Since the first member rotating gears 151Y, 151M, 151C, and 151B mesh with each other, the driving force can be individually input to the discharging toner conveying members 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51B.

  Subsequently, since the shaft gears 132d, 132e, and 132f are first helical gears and the first member rotating gears 151Y, 151M, 151C, and 151B are second helical gears, the shaft member 132 is for discharge. Even if the rotational axes of the toner conveying members 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51B are different, the driving force can be reliably transmitted from the shaft member 132 to the toner conveying members 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51B for discharging.

  Finally, the black discharge toner conveying member 51B and the discharge portion 52B are disposed on the cyan container body 8Ca side. As a result, the axial distance between the black discharge toner transport member 51B and the cyan discharge toner transport member 51C can be shortened. Therefore, the gear meshing with the first member rotation gear 151B of the black discharge toner conveyance member 51B and the first member rotation gear 151C of the cyan discharge toner conveyance member 51C is provided by only one shaft portion gear 132d. be able to. That is, even if the shaft portion 132a of the shaft member 132 is not provided with four shaft portion gears, only the three shaft portion gears 132d, 132e, and 132f are prepared, and the discharge toner conveying members 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51B are prepared. Can be rotated. Further, by disposing the black discharge toner conveying member 51B and the discharge portion 52B on the cyan container main body 8Ca side, the toner is transferred from the black container main body 8Ba to the black developing device 4B even if the black container main body 8Ba has a large volume. The toner supply path of the toner replenishing member that supplies the toner can be shortened. Further, since the second shutter opening / closing mechanism 85B of the black container body 8Ba has the third engagement gear 385B that meshes with the second operation member 185B and the second engagement gear 285B, the second operation member 185B. Can be made the same as the rotation direction of the first operating members 185Y, 185M, 185C of the first shutter opening / closing mechanisms 85Y, 85M, 85C of the other container bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca. That is, the rotation direction of the operation members 185Y, 185M, 185C, and 185B of all the container main bodies 8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, and 8Ba, that is, the operation direction can be made the same direction.

[Other Embodiments]
(A) The present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus having a color printing function, such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile.

  (B) In the above embodiment, an example in which the three shaft portion gears 132d, 132e, and 132f are attached to the shaft portion 132a has been described. However, the number of shaft portion gears is not limited to the above embodiment. There may be four.

  (C) In the above embodiment, an example in which the color printer 100 includes the transport toner storage unit 50 has been described. However, when the color printer 100 does not include the transport toner storage unit 50 (in the case of the color printer 100 corresponding to claim 1), the shaft rotation gear of the shaft member is the second of the toner transport members 82Y, 82M, 82C, and 82B. When the toner conveying members 82Y, 82M, 82C, and 82B are rotated by meshing with the member rotating gears 182Y, 182M, 182C, and 182B, the driving force can be transmitted to the toner container 8. That is, the toner transport members 82Y, 82M, 82C, and 82B serve as the discharge toner transport member in the above-described embodiment. Further, the shaft rotation gear of the shaft member is engaged with at least one idle gear, and this idle gear is engaged with the second member rotation gears 182Y, 182M, 182C, 182B of the toner conveying members 82Y, 82M, 82C, 82B. Accordingly, the toner conveying members 82Y, 82M, 82C, and 82B may be rotated. Even in this case, the driving force can be transmitted to the toner container 8.

1 is a schematic sectional view of a color printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a toner container. FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining the inside of the toner container. The side view which looked at the toner container from one side. The top view which looked at the toner container from the upper part. The perspective view which looked at the driving force transmission mechanism from the upper part. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container as viewed from the facing surface on the one side surface. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one end of a transport toner storage unit.

Explanation of symbols

100 color printer 11 color printer body (image forming apparatus body)
1 Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
4 Rotary development device (Development device)
4Y, 4M, 4C, 4B Developing device 40 Rotary rack 50 Conveying toner container 50Y, 50M, 50C, 50B Conveying toner container main body 51Y, 51M, 51C, 51B Discharge toner conveying member 151Y, 151M, 151C, 151B First Rotating gear (second gear)
52Y, 52M, 52C, 52B 1st discharge part (discharge part)
8 Toner container (toner container)
8Ya, 8Ma, 8Ca, 8Ba Toner container body (toner container body)
81Y, 81M, 81C, 81B Toner stirring member 82Y, 82M, 82C, 82B Toner conveying member 182Y, 182M, 182C, 182B Second member rotating gear 130 Housing 131 Connecting member 131b First transmission gear 131c Second transmission gear 132 Shaft Member 132a Shaft 132b Rack 132c Shaft rotating gear 132d, 132e, 132f Shaft gear (first gear)
84Y, 84M, 84C, 84B Shutter member 85Y, 85M, 85C First shutter opening / closing mechanism (shutter opening / closing mechanism)
85B Second shutter opening / closing mechanism (shutter opening / closing mechanism)
185Y, 185M, 185C First operation member (operation member)
185B second operation member (operation member)
285Y, 285M, 285C First engagement gear (third gear)
285B Second engagement gear (fourth gear)
385B 3rd engagement gear (5th gear)
13 Toner supply pipe (toner supply member)
30 driving force transmission mechanism 133 first transmission mechanism 133a first clutch 133b first transmission gear train 133c transmission gear shaft 133d worm gear 134 second transmission mechanism 134a second clutch 134b second transmission gear train 31 movement detection sensor 132h protrusion

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus main body;
An image carrier that is rotatably mounted on the image forming apparatus body;
A developing device mounted on the image forming apparatus main body for supplying toner to the surface of the image carrier;
A toner container main body mounted side by side on the image forming apparatus main body, a toner agitating member for agitating the toner which is rotatably mounted inside the toner container main body and stored in the toner container main body, A plurality of toner storage containers having a toner transporting member that is rotatably mounted inside the toner storage container body and transports the toner stirred by the toner stirring member and discharges the toner from the toner storage container body;
A housing mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, a connecting shaft member rotatably mounted on the housing and connected to driving means, and mounted on the housing so as to be rotatable about the shaft and movable in the axial direction. And a driving force of the driving means from the connecting shaft member to the shaft member so that the shaft member is mounted between the connecting shaft member and the shaft member and is movable in the axial direction. A first transmission mechanism for transmitting to the shaft, and a driving force of the drive means from the coupling shaft member to the shaft member so that the shaft member is mounted between the coupling shaft member and the shaft member so as to be rotatable. A driving force transmission mechanism having a second transmission mechanism for transmitting to
With
The housing of the driving force transmission function is attached to the image forming apparatus main body so that the shaft member of the driving force transmission mechanism is different from the rotation shaft of the toner transport member for discharge.
By moving the shaft member in the axial direction by the driving force transmitted to the shaft member in the first transmission mechanism and rotating the shaft member by the driving force transmitted to the shaft member in the second transmission mechanism, Rotating the discharge toner conveying member to be driven;
Image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus main body;
An image carrier that is rotatably mounted on the image forming apparatus body;
A developing device mounted on the image forming apparatus main body for supplying toner to the surface of the image carrier;
A toner container main body mounted side by side on the image forming apparatus main body, a toner agitating member for agitating the toner which is rotatably mounted inside the toner container main body and stored in the toner container main body, A plurality of toner storage containers each having a toner transport member that is rotatably mounted inside the toner storage container body and transports the toner stirred by the toner stirring member;
A transport toner storage unit main body for storing toner transported by the toner transport member, and a transport toner that is rotatably mounted inside the transport toner storage unit main body and transported to the transport toner storage unit main body to transport the toner A toner conveying member for discharging for discharging from the container main body, and a conveying toner container provided in the vicinity of the toner container main body,
A housing mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, a connecting shaft member rotatably mounted on the housing and connected to driving means, and mounted on the housing so as to be rotatable about the shaft and movable in the axial direction. And a driving force of the driving means from the connecting shaft member to the shaft member so that the shaft member is mounted between the connecting shaft member and the shaft member and is movable in the axial direction. A first transmission mechanism for transmitting to the shaft, and a driving force of the drive means from the coupling shaft member to the shaft member so that the shaft member is mounted between the coupling shaft member and the shaft member so as to be rotatable. A driving force transmission mechanism having a second transmission mechanism for transmitting to
With
The housing of the driving force transmission function is attached to the image forming apparatus main body so that the shaft member of the driving force transmission mechanism is different from the rotation shaft of the toner transport member for discharge.
By moving the shaft member in the axial direction by the driving force transmitted to the shaft member in the first transmission mechanism and rotating the shaft member by the driving force transmitted to the shaft member in the second transmission mechanism, Rotating the discharge toner conveying member to be driven;
Image forming apparatus. A movement detection sensor for detecting movement of the shaft member;
A control unit for controlling the amount of movement of the shaft member;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The shaft member has a plurality of first gears that are arranged on the shaft portion at an interval in the axial direction and are non-rotatably mounted around the shaft portion,
The discharge toner conveying member has a second gear that is non-rotatably mounted around the rotation axis,
When the shaft member is moved in the axial direction in the first transmission mechanism, any one of the plurality of first gears meshes with the second gear of the discharge toner conveying member to be driven. ,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. Either one of the first gear and the second gear is a helical gear,
The other of the first gear and the second gear is a gear that can mesh with the helical gear,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4. A toner supply member provided between the toner container and the developing device for supplying toner to the developing device;
In addition,
The discharge toner transport member on at least one side of the toner container main body disposed on both sides of the plurality of toner container main bodies arranged side by side, and the toner transported by the discharge toner transport member A discharge portion for discharging the toner to the toner replenishing member is disposed on the adjacent toner container main body side,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. Each of the plurality of toner storage containers includes a shutter member that is attached to the toner storage container main body and blocks discharge of the toner stored in the toner storage container main body to the outside, and the shutter member is in an open position and a toner blocking state. A shutter opening / closing mechanism attached to the toner container main body so as to be able to take a position,
Among the plurality of toner container main bodies arranged side by side, the shutter opening / closing mechanism of the other toner container main body excluding at least one of the toner container main bodies arranged on both sides is the toner container main body. An operation member that is rotatably attached to the shutter member and is operated to position the shutter member at the open position and the toner blocking position, and a third gear that is attached to the shutter member and engages with the operation member. Have
Among the plurality of toner container main bodies arranged side by side, the shutter opening / closing mechanism of at least one of the toner container main bodies arranged on both sides is provided with the operation member and a fourth member mounted on the shutter member. A gear, and a fifth gear mounted on the toner container main body between the operation member and the fourth gear and engaged with the operation member and the fourth gear.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6.

Images