JP2007093697A - Developer supply container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developer supply container displaced when detached. <P>SOLUTION: The developer supply container includes: a container main body storing developer and having an opening for discharging developer; a shutter for sealing the opening; and an operating section for opening the shutter. In the developer supply container, the container main body has: a portion subject to force in the direction in which the container is detached from the main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus; and a first lock portion attached to the main body of the apparatus and also undetachably locked by the locking member of the main body of the apparatus. The operating section has an engaging portion that engages with the releasing member of the main body of the apparatus. Accompanying the movement of the operating section, the engaging portion and the releasing member engage. The releasing member unlocks the first lock portion by the operation of the operating section. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer supply container for supplying a powder developer to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter also simply referred to as “image forming apparatus”) that forms an image using a developer, and an image using the same. The present invention relates to a forming apparatus.

  Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming system. Examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer, etc.), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like.

  An electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a laser beam printer selectively exposes a uniformly charged photosensitive drum to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is developed with a developer to form an image. Thereafter, the image is transferred to a recording medium and image recording is performed.

  In such an apparatus, the developer must be supplied every time the developer runs out. Here, a developer supply container for replenishing the developer to the image forming apparatus is a so-called batch replenishment type developer supply container that replenishes the developer stored in the developer receiving container of the image forming apparatus main body all at once. After installing the developer supply container in the image forming apparatus main body, the developer supply container is left as it is, and is roughly divided into so-called stationary developer supply containers in which the developer is gradually replenished until the developer is used up. The

  In the developer supply container, the container is generally provided with a discharge opening for discharging the stored developer and a shutter member for sealing the discharge opening. Still further, when the shutter member is closed, the container is displaced from the mounting position, so that the user can know when the container is attached and detached, and the developer supply operation of the developer supply container can be performed. Improves.

  Here, an example of the developer supply container and the receiving device configured to displace the container from the mounting position when the shutter member is closed will be described.

  As an example of a conventional apparatus, Patent Document 1 discloses that a developer is provided on the receiving container side in order to make it easier for the operator to confirm that the developer replenishing container can be detached from the receiving container. A configuration is shown in which the refill container is automatically raised from the refill position.

  This conventional example will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 14, the developer replenishing container 103 is provided with a protruding portion 103b, a lid 104, a sheet 105, a sheet drawing member 106, a member to be locked 133, and an urging force receiving portion 134, and on the developer receiving container 101 side, A lid 102, a lock member 107, a spring 108, and a recess 114 are provided.

  The replenishment of the developer into the developer receiving container 101 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The developer replenishing container 3 is mounted at a predetermined position of the developer receiving container 101. That is, while the protrusion 103 b in FIG. 14 is inserted into the recess 114, the urging force receiving portion 134 of the container 103 is mounted on the spring 108 and the member to be locked 133 is mounted on the lock member 107. Then, an urging force is applied from the spring 108 to the urging force receiving portion, but since the member to be locked 133 is locked by the lock member 107, the movement in the urging direction is restricted and the mounted state is obtained. Thereafter, the developer receiving container 101 is opened by pulling the lid 102 in the opening direction, and the developer replenishing container is opened together with the opening of the sheet 105 by pulling the sheet drawing member 106 in the arrow direction as shown in FIG. When the lid 4 is also pulled out, the developer replenishing container 103 is opened, and the developer receiving container 101 is replenished with the developer.

  After replenishment of the developer into the developer receiving container 101, when the lid 102 starts to be pushed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 16, the front end 122 of the lid 102 is engaged with the protrusion 141 of the lid 104 and the lid 104 is pushed and closed. The lid 104 is closed while drawing the sheet 105 and the sheet drawing member 106 drawn out of the developer replenishing container 103. The opening of the developer receiving container 101 is closed by the lid 102 and the opening of the developer replenishing container 103 is closed by the lid 104, but the sheet 105 and the sheet drawing member 106 are slightly protruded from the container main body 103a. The lid 104 is also slightly shifted from the initial mounting state in the opening direction.

When the lid 102 is further pushed in from this state, the lid 104 is completely returned to the initial position, and the cam surface 125 of the lid 102 pushes the claw portion 171 of the lock member 107 as shown in FIG. The member 107 rotates in the direction of the arrow (clockwise in the figure) against the elastic member 109, and the engagement between the claw portion 173 and the protrusion 133 of the developer replenishing container 103 is released, and the urging force shown in FIG. The container 103 is automatically displaced from the mounting position by the biasing force of the receiving portion 134 and the spring 108.
JP-A-9-171289

  In the above configuration, when the developer is replenished to the receiving container 101, the lid 102 of the receiving container 101 must be pulled out, and the sheet pulling member 106 of the developer replenishing container 103 must be pulled out. Since the operation of pushing in 102 is performed, the user operates different members at the time of opening and sealing.

  Also, the operation of pushing the lid 102 must push the lid 102 to the position (FIG. 18C) further than the mounting position (FIG. 18B), and the user stops the operation at the mounting position. there is a possibility.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to provide a developer supply container that can improve operability such as opening, sealing, or replacement of the developer supply container. is there.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a container main body having an opening for containing a developer therein and discharging the developer, a shutter for sealing the opening, and for opening the shutter. In the developer supply container having the operation section, the container main body includes a portion that receives a force for urging the container from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body side in a direction in which the container is detached, and the apparatus main body together with the attachment to the apparatus main body. A first locking portion that is locked to the lock member provided on the side so as not to be removable, and the operation portion includes an engagement portion that engages with a release member provided on the apparatus main body side, The engagement portion and the release member engage with the operation of the operation portion, and the release member releases the lock of the first lock portion by the operation of the operation portion. To do.

  According to the present invention, when replenishing the developer, the developer replenishing container can be displaced in the attaching / detaching direction without performing an extra operation beyond opening and closing using the operating member. The operability such as stopping or replacing the developer supply container can be improved.

  In addition, the unlocking position can be set to an arbitrary position. As a result, the degree of freedom in designing the apparatus main body and the developer supply container can be improved.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Embodiment 1>
(overall structure)
The image forming apparatus main body 100 according to the present embodiment and the developer supply container attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100 will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus main body 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus main body 100 according to the present embodiment as viewed from the left side of the apparatus, and FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating developer transport from the developer supply container to the image forming apparatus main body 100. FIG. 2A is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus main body 100, and FIG. 2B is an external perspective view illustrating the state of the image forming apparatus main body 100 when the developer supply container is replaced. It is.

  In the image forming apparatus main body 100 shown in FIG. 1A, the right side in the drawing is the front side of the apparatus. Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, a display operation unit 24 is provided in the upper part of the apparatus, and an outer cover 21, a feeding cassette 13, and the like that open a conveyance path for jam processing can be operated from the front of the apparatus. Yes.

  The internal structure has four photosensitive drums 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d as image carriers for each color, and is superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 6 as an intermediate transfer member, so that a full-color multicolor image is obtained. This is a four-drum type (inline) printer that achieves high speed by using four drums. The photosensitive drums 1a to 1d and the developing devices 3a to 3d are arranged in a substantially horizontal series below the intermediate transfer belt 6, and are arranged corresponding to the respective colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. A toner cartridge (hereinafter referred to as “toner cartridge”) 31 as an example of a developer supply container that supplies developer to each of the developing devices 3a to 3d is attached and detached from above the apparatus as shown in FIG. It has a possible configuration.

  The photosensitive drums 1a to 1d are uniformly charged by the charging devices 2a to 2d, and then latent images are formed by the exposure devices 4a to 4d, and developed by the developing devices 3a to 3d to form toner images of the respective colors. . The toner images on the photoconductive drums 1a to 1d are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 6 in a superimposed manner by primary transfer rollers 5a to 5d to form color toner images. The intermediate transfer belt 6 is stretched and rotated by a driving roller 7, a driven roller 8 and a tension roller 9. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 6 is secondarily transferred to the sheet by the secondary transfer roller 10. The sheet is fed from a feeding cassette 13 by a pickup roller 14 and conveyed to a secondary transfer unit by a registration roller 15 in synchronization with the intermediate transfer belt 6. The sheet on which the color toner image has been transferred is fixed by applying heat and pressure by the fixing device 11 and discharged outside the apparatus.

  The toner cartridges 30 are each filled with four new developer colors, and a total of four toner cartridges 30 are mounted on the main body. As shown in FIG. 1B, a stirring member 37 is disposed inside the toner cartridge 30, and the developer is discharged from the developer discharge opening 31 d of the toner cartridge 30 by rotating the stirring member 37. Developer is accumulated. A developer metering screw 43 and a conveying screw 44 are arranged below the buffer unit 42 so that the developer in the buffer unit 42 can be fed into the process cartridge.

  Since the amount of developer conveyed by the developer metering screw 43 is divided by the same amount in the space between the screw pitch and the pipe, the discharge amount of the developer can be adjusted by the amount of rotation of the screw. From the video count value, the rotation amount of the developer metering screw 43 is determined by a prescribed table, and an appropriate amount of toner is discharged from the developer metering screw 43. During recording, the conveying screw 44, which is always rotating, feeds toner into the developing device 3. Further, the stirring member 37 of the toner cartridge 30 rotates according to the rotation amount of the developer metering screw 43, and the toner is replenished from the toner cartridge 30 to the buffer unit 42, and the toner amount in the buffer unit 42 is kept constant. It is.

  A toner sensor (not shown) is disposed in the buffer unit 42. When the toner in the toner cartridge 30 runs out, the toner is not discharged to the buffer unit 42, and when the toner in the buffer unit 42 runs out, a signal is sent to the control unit, The user is notified of what color developer supply container is empty. Based on information from the main body, the user opens the cartridge cover 23 of the main body in the Y direction, takes out the empty toner cartridge 30 from the main body in the Z direction, and mounts a new toner cartridge 30 on the main body. Thereafter, when the cartridge cover 23 is closed, the drive is transmitted to the agitating member of the toner cartridge 30 by a signal from the control unit, the buffer is again filled with toner, and the state returns to the recordable state.

Each of the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body as a process cartridge. The process cartridge may have at least one of the primary charging roller and the developing device. In the present embodiment, the photosensitive drum 1, the charging device 2, and the developing device 3 are disposed in the process cartridge. An upper lid 16 that can be opened and closed is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus so that the process cartridge and the intermediate transfer belt 6 in which the photosensitive drum 1 and the developing device 3 are integrated can be replaced.
(Developer supply container)
Next, the toner cartridge 30 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  3A is a perspective view of the toner cartridge, FIG. 3A is a view showing a sealed state, FIG. 3B is a view showing an opened state, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge from another direction. ) Is a diagram showing a sealed state, and (B) is a diagram showing an opened state.

  The toner cartridge 30 is a so-called stationary type that is mounted on the apparatus main body 100 and is replenished with the developer to the supplied portion until it is used as it is and the developer is used up. The toner cartridge 30 is mounted in the posture shown in FIG. 3A when mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 100.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 4A, the toner cartridge 30 is provided with a toner container 31 as an example of a developer container and a handle 32 as an example of an operation member. The toner container 31 is provided with a container body 31a, a shutter rail 31b, an urging force receiving portion 31c, and an opening 31d. The handle 32 includes a handle portion 32a, an engaging portion 32b, a shutter portion 32c that slides along the shutter rail 31b, a notch portion 32d of the engaging portion, and a lock engaging portion 32e. . The toner container 31a is formed by joining two members divided at an arbitrary position by a conventionally known means such as ultrasonic welding, and the handle 32 is integrally formed.

As shown in FIGS. 3B and 4B, the handle 32 is pivotally supported on the inner periphery of the lock engaging portion 32e on both side surfaces of the toner container 31, and the handle portion 32a of the handle 32 is rotated. As a result, the shutter portion 32c rotates, and as a result, the opening portion 31d is opened and the developer can be replenished. In addition, a seal member 33 is provided around the opening portion 31d. By compressing the seal member 33 with the shutter portion 32c, the developer stored in the developer storage portion 31a leaks out. It is preventing.
(Operations when installing and removing the developer supply container)
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation from attachment to detachment of the toner cartridge 30, and FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation at the time of attachment and detachment of the lock member 34 and the main body side lock release member 35 from the apparatus main body. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the details of the engaging portion that engages with the main body side unlocking member 35 in the handle 32, FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the main body side unlocking portion, and FIG. 9 is an operation of the main body side locking member 34; FIG.

  The operation when the toner cartridge 30 is mounted will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the user opens the cartridge cover 23 of the image forming apparatus main body 100 in the Y direction (see FIG. 2B). The toner cartridge 30 is inserted into the toner replenishing device frame 55 of the apparatus main body in the direction of arrow R1 from the upper part of the toner container main body. When the apparatus is further mounted against the urging force of the elastic member 36 on the apparatus main body side, the lock engaging part 32e of the toner cartridge 30 is locked by the lock member 34 on the apparatus main body side and fixed so as not to be removable. The This state is shown in FIGS. 5A and 6A.

  FIGS. 5B and 6B show the state where the handle 32 is rotated from this state and the shutter portion 32c is opened. In this state, the engaging portion 32b of the handle 32 engages with an engaging protrusion 35b (see FIG. 8) provided on the release member 35 on the apparatus main body side. In this state, the toner cartridge 30 is used until the developer stored in the container main body 31a is used up.

  When the developer in the container main body 31a is used up, a message prompting replacement is displayed on the display unit (24 in FIG. 2) on the apparatus main body side to prompt the user to replace the toner cartridge 30. The toner cartridge 30 can be replaced by rotating the handle 38 in the direction opposite to that at the time of opening and sealing the opening 31d with the shutter 32c. This state is shown in FIGS. 5C and 6C.

  Here, when the handle 32 is rotated, the release member 35 moves together with the handle 32 due to the engagement between the engagement portion 32b of the handle 32 and the engagement protrusion 35b provided on the release member 35 on the apparatus main body side. The release member 35 releases the lock between the lock member 34 on the apparatus main body side and the toner cartridge 30e 32e. As a result of the release of the locking, the toner cartridge 30 becomes free in the attaching / detaching direction, and the toner cartridge 30 is attached / detached by the urging force of the urging member 36 on the apparatus main body side (in FIGS. 5D and 6D). R2). This state is shown in FIG. 5 (D) and FIG. 6 (D).

  On the other hand, the engaging portion 32b of the handle 32 and the releasing member 35 are easily disengaged in the toner cartridge attaching / detaching direction by the notch 32d of the engaging portion 32b. The urging force of the urging member 36 displaces the toner cartridge 30 in the attaching / detaching direction, and the engagement is released. After the engagement is released, the release member 35 is forcibly returned to the original position by a separately provided urging means or the like (not shown).

  Next, the engaging portion 32b of the handle 32 will be described with reference to FIG.

  7A to 7C are modified examples of the handle 32. Enlarged views of the engaging portion 32b corresponding thereto are (a) to (c).

  The engaging portion 32 b of the operation portion 32 is engaged with the release member 35 on the main body side by the turning operation of the handle 32, and the engagement is released when the toner cartridge 30 is detached. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7A, the direction of attachment / detachment, that is, the direction that opposes the urging force is cut away. Therefore, the engagement is easily released when the toner cartridge 30 is detached.

  Further, in this configuration, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7B, an inclined surface may be provided in a direction opposite to the urging force, and further, FIGS. 7C and 7C. As shown in FIG. 2, a configuration in which a similar inclined surface is provided by a cylindrical protrusion may be used.

  Next, the unlocking member 35 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The lock release member 35 includes a release portion 35a, an engagement protrusion 35b that engages with the handle 32, and an engagement protrusion 35c that is movably fixed to the toner supply device frame 55. The engagement protrusion 35b may be a simple protrusion as shown in (A), but as shown in (B), the side engaging with the engagement portion 32b of the handle 32 is inclined so that it can be easily engaged. It may be.

  Next, the operation of the lock member 34 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The lock member 34 is provided on the toner supply device frame 55 (see FIG. 5), and the lock member 34 includes a locking portion 34a and a release protrusion 34b. The state when the toner cartridge 30 is mounted is shown in FIG. When the developer in the container main body 31a runs out, the operation unit 32 is rotated by the user's operation. Accordingly, the release member 35 is also moved, the release member 35 comes into contact with the release protrusion 34 b of the lock member 34, and further moves to displace the lock member 34 in a direction away from the toner cartridge 30. As a result, the locking between the locking portion 34a and the locking portion 32e of the handle 32 is released, and the toner cartridge 30 is detached. This state is shown in FIG.

  With the configuration as described above, when supplying the developer, the developer can be replenished and the developer supply container can be detached and displaced only by operating the handle 32. As a result, The operability of the developer supply container could be improved.

  Further, in the conventional configuration, the handle 32 is further rotated from the mounting position to perform the above-described detachment, whereas in the configuration of the present invention, the above-described detachment can be performed by returning the handle 32 to the same position as the mounting position. That is, by adopting this configuration, unnecessary operations that are necessary in the conventional configuration are not required, so that it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the operation is stopped by moving to the position at the time of mounting and cannot be detached.

  Furthermore, the release position can be arbitrarily set according to the positional relationship between the release member and the release position of the lock member. As a result, the degree of freedom in design can be improved.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Since the entire configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description is omitted.
(Developer supply container)
The toner cartridge 30 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the toner cartridge. FIGS. 5B and 5C are perspective views as seen from below the toner cartridge, FIG. 5B shows a sealed state, and FIG. 4C shows an opened state.

  The toner cartridge 30 is a so-called stationary type that is mounted on the apparatus main body 100 and is replenished with the developer to the supplied portion until it is used as it is and the developer is used up. The toner cartridge 30 is mounted in the posture shown in FIG. 3A when mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 100.

  As shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C, the toner cartridge 30 includes a toner container 31 as an example of a developer container, a handle 38 as an example of an operation member, and a shutter as an example of a sealing member. 39 is provided. The toner container 31 is provided with a container body 31a, a shutter rail 31b, an urging force receiving portion 31c, and an opening portion 31d. The handle 38 is provided with a handle portion 38a, an engaging portion 38b, and a gear portion 38c. The shutter 39 is provided with a gear portion 39a and a lock portion 39b (see FIG. 13). The container body 31a is formed by joining two members divided at an arbitrary position by a conventionally known means such as ultrasonic welding, and the handle 38 and the shutter 39 are integrally formed.

  In the present embodiment, the handle 38 and the shutter 39 are provided independently of each other, and the drive of the handle 38 is not transmitted to the shutter 39 before being attached to the apparatus main body 100. Note that the handle 38 and the shutter 39 are each provided with a position restricting portion (not shown) for fixing the initial position.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C, the shutter 39 is rotatably fixed by the shutter rail 31b of the toner container 31. As a result, the opening 31d is opened and the developer is removed. Can be replenished. In addition, a seal member 33 is provided around the opening portion 31d, and the seal member 33 is compressed by the shutter 39 to prevent the developer stored in the developer storage portion 31a from leaking out. ing.
(Operations when installing and removing the developer supply container)
11A and 11B are diagrams for explaining the operation from the mounting state of the toner cartridge 30 to the detachment. FIG. 11A shows the state where the toner cartridge 30 is mounted, and FIG. The opening 31d is unsealed by rotating 39 and the developer can be supplied. (C) rotates the handle 38, seals the opening 31d by the shutter 39, and the toner cartridge 30 (D) shows a state in which the lock member 34 is released and the toner cartridge 30 is displaced in the detaching direction by the urging means 36.

  As described above, also in the present embodiment, the toner cartridge can be replenished by simply operating the operation member 38. After the stored developer is used up, the operation member 38 is used. , The opening 31d is sealed, and the toner cartridge 30 can be displaced in the detaching direction.

  FIG. 12 is a view for explaining the operation for transmitting the drive of the handle 38 and the shutter 39 and the operation at the time of attaching and detaching the lock member 34 and the lock release member 35 on the apparatus main body side. The state before the toner cartridge 30 is attached is shown, (B) shows the state where the toner cartridge 30 is attached, (C) shows the opening 31d by turning the handle 38 and turning the shutter 39. (D) shows a state where the handle 38 is rotated, the opening 31d is sealed by the shutter 39, and the toner cartridge 30 can be detached. ing.

  In FIG. 12A, the handle gear 38 c provided on the handle 38 and the shutter gear 39 a are not engaged with the main body side drive transmission member 40. Thereafter, by attaching the toner cartridge 30 in the direction of the arrow S1, the handle gear 38c and the shutter gear 39a provided on the handle 38 are engaged with the main body side drive transmission member 40. This state is (B). In this state, the drive of the handle 38 is transmitted to the shutter 39 via the main body side drive transmission member 40.

  When the toner cartridge 30 is completely attached, the toner cartridge 30 is fixed so as not to be removable by the lock member 34 on the main body side. In this state, by rotating the handle 38 in the direction of the arrow S2, the drive of the handle 38 is transmitted to the shutter 39 via the main body side drive transmission member 40, and the shutter 39 rotates along the shutter rail 31b. The opening 31d is opened. This state is (C). In this state, the engaging portion 38b of the handle 38 is engaged with an engaging protrusion 35b provided on the release member 35 on the apparatus main body side. In the state (C), the developer stored in the toner cartridge 30 is supplied to the developing device.

  When the developer in the container main body 31a runs out, a message prompting replacement is displayed on the display unit (24 in FIG. 2) on the apparatus main body side to prompt the user to replace the toner cartridge 30. The user rotates the handle 38 in the opposite direction (arrow S3 direction) to the time of opening. Then, the drive is transmitted to the shutter 39 via the main body side drive transmission member 40, and the shutter 39 rotates to a position for sealing the opening 31d. This state is (D). In this state, the release member 35 moves along with the handle 38, and the lock member 34 is displaced away from the toner cartridge 30 by the release member 35 as in the first embodiment, and the lock member 34 and the toner cartridge 30 are moved. Is released. By releasing the lock, the toner cartridge 30 becomes free in the attaching / detaching direction, and the toner cartridge 30 is displaced in the attaching / detaching direction (arrow S4) by the biasing means 37 provided on the main body side.

  Next, the operation state of the shutter 39 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 13A shows the state of the shutter 39 in a state where the toner cartridge 30 is mounted. In this state, the shutter 39 and the developer side shutter 42 are in a fitted state. The developing device side shutter 42 is provided with an opening 42a. Thereafter, the handle 38 is slightly rotated, the drive is transmitted, and the shutter 39 is slightly rotated (B).

  The locking portion 39b of the shutter 39 enters the lower side of the locking portion 43 provided in the frame 55 (L in (B)), and the toner cartridge 30 is also locked when the locking portion 43 and the locking portion 39b are locked. It is fixed so that it cannot be removed. Since the developing device side shutter 42 maintains the fitting with the shutter 39, it rotates with the rotation of the shutter 39. Thereafter, the handle 38 is further rotated, and accordingly, the shutter 39 and the developer-side shutter 42 are also rotated, and the opening 31d (not shown in FIG. 13) and the opening 42a of the developer-side shutter 42 are connected. Match and open. This state is shown in (C). In this state, the shutter lock portion 39b completely enters the lower side of the locking portion 43 and is locked so as not to be attached and detached. In this state, the developer stored in the toner cartridge 30 is supplied to the developing device.

  After the developer stored in the interior is used up, first, the user is prompted to replace by display means (24 in FIG. 2). The user rotates the handle 38 in the direction opposite to that at the time of opening, and the drive is transmitted to the shutter 39 via the main body side drive transmission member 40, and the shutter 39 opens with the developer side shutter 42. It rotates to the position which seals the part 31d. This state is (D). In this state, the locking between the locking portion 43 and the locking portion 39b of the shutter 39 is released and returned to the position where the opening 31d of the shutter 39 is sealed.

  In addition, before the locking between the locking portion 43 and the lock portion 39b of the shutter 39 is released, the locking between the lock member 34 and the toner cartridge 30 is released. The toner cartridge 30 is free in the attaching / detaching direction and the toner cartridge 30 is displaced in the attaching / detaching direction by the biasing means 37 provided on the main body side. is there.

  In the configuration in which the driving of the handle 38 shown in the second embodiment is transmitted to the shutter 39 via the main body side drive transmission member 40 and the shutter 39 is rotated, the handle 38 is used after the toner cartridge 30 is used due to the backlash of the gear. Even if is returned to the position at the time of mounting, the shutter 39 does not necessarily return to the mounting position. Therefore, in order to make the configuration in which the toner cartridge 30 is detached after the shutter 30 is surely returned to the mounting position, the lock member 34 is also locked by the lock portion 39b of the shutter 39, and the lock member 34 is locked. A configuration in which the locking member 34 is released at the same time as or before the locking portion 39b is released is suitable.

  However, the gear phase is fixed and the design assuming a backlash amount is performed, so that the drive of the handle 38 shown in the second embodiment is transmitted to the shutter 39 via the main body side drive transmission member 40, and the shutter 39 is Even in the configuration of rotating, the present invention can be achieved without the locking portion 39b of the shutter 39 being locked.

  Also in the second embodiment, it goes without saying that the shape of the engaging portion 38b provided on the handle 38 may be the various shapes shown in the first embodiment.

  With the above-described configuration, when supplying the developer, the developer can be replenished and the developer supply container can be detached and displaced only by operating the handle 38. As a result, the development can be performed. The operability of the agent supply container could be improved.

  Furthermore, with the above configuration, the developer supply container can be displaced in the detaching direction after the opening 31d is securely sealed by the shutter 39.

  In addition, the release position can be arbitrarily set according to the positional relationship between the release member and the release position of the lock member.

1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus main body. 1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus main body. 1 is a perspective view of a toner cartridge according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention viewed from the other side. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the mounting and demounting operations of the toner cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating operations of a lock member and a release member in the mounting and demounting operations of the toner cartridge according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the handle member concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a figure explaining a cancellation | release member. It is a figure explaining the effect | action of a locking member. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a toner cartridge according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a mounting and demounting operation of a toner cartridge according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a drive transmission state and operations of a lock member and a release member in a mounting and demounting operation of a toner cartridge according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the shutter in the mounting and demounting operations of the toner cartridge according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. It is a perspective view of a conventional toner supply container. It is the figure which started peeling off a seal | sticker. It is the figure which peeled off the seal | sticker. It is a perspective view of a biasing part. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of a locking member.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photosensitive drum 2 Charging device 3 Developing device 4 Exposure device 5 Primary transfer roller 6 Intermediate transfer belt 7 Drive roller 8 Driven roller 9 Tension roller 10 Secondary transfer roller 11 Fixing device 13 Feed cassette 14 Pickup roller 15 Registration roller pair 16 Replenishment conveyance member 17 Developer supply container mounting part 19 Open / close drive relay part 19a Idler gear 19b Small gear 19c Large gear 20 Stirring drive mechanism 21 Exterior cover 23 Cartridge cover 24 Operation display part 30 Toner cartridge 31 Toner container 31a Container body 31b Shutter Rail 31c Energizing force receiving portion 31d Opening portion 32 Handle 32a Handle portion 32b Engaging portion 32c Shutter portion 32d Notch portion 32e Lock engaging portion 32f Inclined surface 32g Inclined portion 33 Seal member 34 Lock member 3 a engaging portion 34b releasing projection 35 lock releasing member 35a releasing portion 35b engaging projection 35c engaging projection 36 agitating member 37 biasing force 38 handle 38a handle portion 38b engaging portion 38c gear portion 39 shutter 39a gear portion 39b locking portion 40 main body Side drive transmission part 42 Developer side shutter 42a Developer side shutter opening 43 Locking part 55 Frame body 100 Image forming apparatus main body 101 Developer receiving container 102 Lid 103 Developer replenishing container 103b Protruding part 104 Lid 105 Sheet 106 Sheet extraction Member 107 Lock member 108 Spring 109 Elastic member 114 Recess 122 Tip 124 Lock part 125 Cam surface 133 Locked part 134 Energizing force receiving part 141 Protrusion 171 Claw part 173 Claw part 174 Rotation support part

Claims (7)

In a developer supply container having a container body containing an developer therein and having an opening for discharging the developer, a shutter for sealing the opening, and an operation unit for opening the shutter,
The container body has a portion that receives a force for urging the container from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body side, and a lock member provided on the apparatus main body side together with the attachment to the apparatus main body. A first locking portion to be locked; and the operation portion includes an engagement portion that engages with a release member provided on the apparatus main body side, and the engagement is performed in accordance with the operation of the operation portion. A developer supply container, wherein the release member engages with the release member, and the release member releases the lock of the first lock portion by the operation of the operation portion.   2. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein a stroke for opening the shutter of the operation portion is substantially equal to a stroke for sealing the shutter. In a developer supply container having a container main body having an opening for containing the developer therein and discharging the developer, a shutter for sealing the opening, and an operation member for opening the shutter. ,
The container main body includes a portion that receives a force for urging the container from the apparatus main body in a direction in which the container is detached, and a first locking member that is attached to the apparatus main body and locked to a lock member provided on the apparatus main body. A locking portion,
The operation member has an engagement portion that engages with a release member provided on the apparatus main body side,
When the developer supply container is mounted on the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, the driving force of the operation member is applied to the shutter so that the operation member moves to open the shutter. A driving force receiving portion for receiving via a driving force transmitting member provided in the
The engagement portion and the release member engage with the operation of the operation member, and the release member releases the lock of the first lock portion by the operation of the operation member. Developer supply container.   6. The developer supply container according to claim 5, wherein the shutter has a second engaging portion that is engaged with the apparatus main body as the shutter moves.   5. The first locking and the second locking, wherein the first locking portion is first released, and the second locking is released at the same time or thereafter. Developer supply container.   The said engaging part is a cylindrical rib, The notch which cancels | releases the said engagement at the time of removal | desorption of the said container is provided in a part of said cylindrical rib. The developer supply container according to any one of the above.   The said engaging part is a cylindrical rib, and the inclined surface which cancels | releases the said engagement at the time of removal | desorption of the said container is provided in a part of said cylindrical rib. The developer supply container according to any one of the above.

Images