JP2007309991A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus in which a toner container is freely attached or detached, the apparatus being designed such that fixing the toner container to the main body of the image forming apparatus, opening the shutter member of the toner container, and releasing a presence/absence detecting mechanism for the toner container can be performed by a single operation. <P>SOLUTION: By rotating a lever member 62 after attaching the toner container 22 to the image forming apparatus 1, a rotatable shutter member 54 is rotated to an opened position via a linking member 60 and, in addition, a lock plate 63 is slide to a fixed position. In addition, a presence/absence detecting member 32 is rotated into a released position by the lower end face of the lock plate 63 slid to the fixed position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer using an electrophotographic method, and in particular, a toner container that replenishes toner to a developing device can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. The present invention relates to a configured image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system, an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum as an image carrier is supplied to the surface of the photosensitive drum by supplying toner from a developing device. The toner image is formed and transferred to a recording material (sheet-like copy paper, plastic film, etc.) to form an image. In such an image forming apparatus, the amount of toner in the developer is limited. When the amount is less than the fixed amount, the toner is supplied from the toner container connected to the developing device to the developing device, and sufficient toner is always supplied from the developing device to the surface of the photosensitive drum.

  In such an image forming apparatus, the toner container can be freely attached to and detached from a toner container mounting portion provided in the image forming apparatus in order to facilitate the toner supply operation when the toner in the toner container runs out. When the toner in the toner container runs out, the toner container can be replenished by removing the empty toner container and installing another toner container filled with toner. .

  Here, in the image forming apparatus in which the toner container is configured to be detachable as described above, after the empty toner container is removed, the image forming operation is started with no new toner container attached. In such a case, the toner in the developing device is quickly consumed, and an image cannot be formed during a series of image forming operations, resulting in a printing failure. In view of this, an image forming apparatus that includes a presence / absence detection mechanism that detects the presence / absence of a toner container and is configured so that an image forming operation cannot be started unless the toner non-detection state is released after the toner container is mounted has been proposed. (For example, Patent Document 1).

  In the toner container configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus as described above, the toner container is attached to the image forming apparatus, is removed from the image forming apparatus, and is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus. If the toner is sometimes discharged from the toner container, there is a problem that the inside or the surrounding of the image forming apparatus is contaminated.

In order to prevent such inconvenience, a shutter member capable of selectively arranging a closed position for closing the toner discharge port and an open position for opening the toner discharge port is provided, and the toner container is not attached to the image forming apparatus. The shutter member is disposed at a closed position for preventing toner discharge, and the toner can be discharged by disposing the shutter member at the open position only when the toner container is mounted on the image forming apparatus. A configured toner container has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2001-042619 A JP 2004-2055887 A

  By the way, in the image forming apparatus in which the toner container is detachably configured as described above, the toner container is not dropped from the toner container mounting portion due to vibration or the like after the toner container is mounted on the image forming apparatus. Thus, it is preferable to provide a fixing mechanism for fixing the toner container to the toner container mounting portion.

  However, the image forming apparatus in which the toner container is detachable includes all of a presence / absence detection mechanism for detecting the presence / absence of the toner container, a shutter member for preventing toner discharge from the toner container, and a fixing mechanism for fixing the toner container. However, if the presence / absence detection mechanism, the shutter member, and the fixing mechanism are installed separately, it is necessary to operate each of them separately after the toner container is mounted, and the replacement work of the toner container becomes complicated. End up.

  In the present invention, in view of the above circumstances, in an image forming apparatus in which a toner container is detachable, the toner container is fixed to the image forming apparatus main body, the shutter member provided in the toner container is opened, and the presence or absence of the toner container is present. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of releasing the detection mechanism in one operation.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a part of the outer cover of the apparatus main body is configured to be openable and closable, and the toner container mounted in the apparatus main body can be detached by opening the outer cover. In the image forming apparatus, the toner container includes an opening / closing means for opening / closing a toner discharge port provided on a bottom surface of the container body, a locking means for fixing the toner container to the apparatus body, the opening / closing means, and the locking means, And an operating means capable of operating the opening / closing means and the locking means at the same time. The apparatus body restricts or cancels the closing of the exterior cover depending on whether or not the toner container is attached. A presence / absence detection mechanism is provided, and the presence / absence detection mechanism closes the exterior cover in conjunction with a lock operation of the toner container by the operation means. It is characterized in that the capacity.

  According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, the opening / closing means is pivotally supported in a container body and is selected between a closed position for closing the toner discharge port and an open position for opening the toner discharge port. The locking shutter is selectively disposed at an attachment / detachment position that is slidably supported on the outer surface of the container main body and allows the toner container to be attached / detached from the apparatus main body, and a fixed position that prevents the toner container from falling off. The operating means is a lever member connected to the rotating shutter member and the lock plate and capable of simultaneously rotating and sliding the rotating shutter member and the lock plate, The presence / absence detection mechanism is selectively arranged between a restricting position that is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body and restricts the closing of the outer cover, and a release position that allows the outer cover to be closed. A presence sensing member being, organic non-sensing member is characterized by being configured to rotate in conjunction with the sliding of the lock plate.

  According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, the toner container includes a rotation restriction position that restricts rotation of the rotation shutter member from a closed position to an open position, and closure of the rotation shutter member. A rotation restricting member that is selectively disposed at a restriction release position that allows the rotation from the position to the open position, and the rotation restricting member is in the state where the toner container is not attached to the apparatus main body. It is arranged at a rotation restricting position, and moves to the restriction releasing position when the toner container is mounted on the apparatus main body.

  According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, a sliding shutter that is selectively disposed outside the bottom surface of the toner container at a closed position for closing the toner discharge port and an open position for opening the toner discharge port. A member is slidably attached, and the sliding shutter member is disposed at the closed position when the toner container is not attached to the apparatus main body, and the toner container is attached to the apparatus main body. And sliding to the open position.

  According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, an urging unit that urges the presence / absence detection member to the restriction position is provided.

  Further, according to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, an open / close detection unit that detects an open / close state of the exterior cover is provided, and an image forming operation is performed only when the open / close detection unit detects the closure of the exterior cover. It is characterized by being able to start.

  According to the first configuration of the present invention, the toner container is fixed to the image forming apparatus main body by the lock unit, the toner discharge port is opened by the opening / closing unit provided in the toner container, and the regulation of the exterior cover is released to the toner container. It can be performed by one operation of operating the provided operating means.

  According to the second configuration of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having the first configuration, after the toner container is mounted on the toner container mounting portion in the image forming apparatus, the lever member is operated. The rotating shutter member and lock plate can be rotated and slid, and the presence / absence detection member rotates in conjunction with the lock plate, so that the lever member can be operated after the toner container is mounted on the apparatus body. In this way, the toner container can be fixed to the image forming apparatus, the toner discharge port can be opened by the rotating shutter member provided in the toner container, and the outer cover can be prevented from being closed by the presence / absence detection mechanism.

  According to the third configuration of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having the second configuration, the toner container is provided in the image forming apparatus by including the rotation restricting member that restricts the rotation of the rotation shutter member. It is possible to prevent the toner discharge port from being accidentally opened in a state where it is not attached to the main body.

  According to the fourth configuration of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having the second or third configuration, the toner container is mounted on the main body of the toner container by providing the sliding shutter member on the bottom surface of the container main body. When the toner container is not attached to the toner container, the toner discharge port is closed by the sliding shutter member, so that the toner is prevented from being discharged and contaminated inside and around the image forming apparatus during or after the toner container is attached or detached. The

  According to the fifth configuration of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having any one of the second to fourth configurations, the presence / absence detection member is biased by the biasing unit so as to rotate toward the restriction position. Therefore, the presence / absence detection member is surely positioned at the prevention position when the toner container is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body and the lock plate is not positioned at the fixed position. It is reliably prevented that the exterior cover is closed while being attached.

  According to the sixth configuration of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus having any one of the first to fifth configurations, the open / close detection means for detecting the open / closed state of the exterior cover is provided, and the open / close detection means is the exterior cover. Since the image forming operation can be started only when the closing of the toner container is detected, the exterior cover will not be closed unless the toner container is mounted. It can be prevented in advance.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and shows a color laser printer as an example. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus showing a state in which the exterior cover is opened. Here, in the following description, a color image forming apparatus is described as an example, but the present invention can be applied not only to a color image forming apparatus but also to a monochrome image forming apparatus. In FIG. 1, the right side is the front side of the image forming apparatus.

  In the lower part of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, a paper feed unit 2 such as a paper feed cassette that accommodates a stack of stacked paper is provided. At one end portion of the paper feeding unit 2, a separation feeding unit 3 for feeding the stacked paper P one by one from the uppermost paper is provided. In addition, a conveyance path 5 is formed above the paper feed unit 2 so as to extend substantially horizontally from the front side of the main body to the rear side of the main body and further upward to reach the paper discharge tray 4 formed on the upper surface of the main body. Then, the separating and feeding means 3, the registration roller pair 6, the secondary transfer roller 7, the fixing roller pair 8, the transport roller pairs 9 and 10, and the paper discharge are sequentially disposed along the transport path 5 from the upstream side in the transport direction of the paper P. A roller pair 11 is arranged.

  An intermediate transfer belt 12 as an intermediate transfer member is rotatably disposed above the horizontal conveyance path 5. The intermediate transfer belt 12 is stretched around a driving roller 13, a driven roller 14, a tension roller 15 and a primary transfer roller 16, and when the driving roller 13 is rotationally driven, a clock as indicated by an arrow A along with the above-described rollers. It is designed to rotate in the direction. A sheet made of dielectric resin is used for the intermediate transfer belt 12, and a belt in which both ends thereof are overlapped and joined to form an endless shape, or a belt without a seam (seamless) is preferably used.

  The driving roller 13 abuts on the secondary transfer roller 7 via the intermediate transfer belt 12 to form a secondary transfer area, and downstream of the abutting portion (secondary transfer area) in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12. The cleaning roller 17 is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 12 so as to be in pressure contact with the driving roller 13. Further, the primary transfer roller 16 is in contact with a photosensitive drum 18 which is an image carrier via the intermediate transfer belt 12.

  The photosensitive drum 18 is driven to rotate counterclockwise by a driving device (not shown), and the charging roller 19, which is a contact type charger, the developing unit 20, the primary transfer roller 16, and the cleaning unit 21 are sequentially arranged from above along the rotation direction. Is arranged. The charging roller 19 abuts on the upper portion of the photosensitive drum 18 and rotates following the rotation of the photosensitive drum 18. A toner container 22 that supplies toner to the developing unit 20 is disposed above the cleaning unit 21, and a laser optical unit 23 that uses a known optical system is disposed above the developing unit 20. Yes.

  The developing unit 20 has a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole, and is supported rotatably at both ends thereof. The interior of the developing unit 20 is divided into four rooms by a cross-shaped partition wall 20a, which corresponds to toner of each color of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). The four developing devices 24K, 24C, 24M, and 24Y are configured. In addition, arrangement | positioning of the image development apparatus to illustrate is an example, Comprising: It is not limited to this.

  Each of the developing devices 24K to 24Y includes developing rollers 25, 26, 27, and 28 that are individually driven to rotate. Further, a driving unit (not shown) is connected to the developing unit 20, and the developing unit 20 rotates by driving the driving unit, and any of the developing rollers 25 to 28 of the developing devices 24 </ b> K to 24 </ b> Y. These are selectively arranged to face the photosensitive drum 18 so that the developing operation is performed.

  An image forming operation performed by the image forming apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described. First, when the photosensitive drum 18 is rotationally driven, the charging roller 19 is driven to rotate, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 18 is uniformly charged. Based on the input image signal, the laser optical unit 23 operates to irradiate the charged photosensitive drum 18 with laser light, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 18. The electrostatic latent image thus formed is developed by the developing unit 20 as described above, and is primarily transferred by the primary transfer roller 16 onto the intermediate transfer belt 12 that rotates clockwise.

  That is, in the case of monochrome image formation, only the developing roller 25 of the developing device 24K is disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum 18 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed to form a black toner image on the photosensitive drum 18, The black toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 18 is transferred onto the rotating intermediate transfer belt 12 by the primary transfer roller 16 to form a monochrome image.

  In the case of color image formation, the developing unit 20 is rotated by driving the driving unit, and the developing rollers 25 to 28 of the four developing devices 24K to 24Y are sequentially and selectively arranged to face the photosensitive drum 18. The toner images of the respective colors are formed on the photosensitive drum 18, and the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 18 are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 12 that is sequentially rotated by the primary transfer roller 16, and these are transferred. A color image is formed by superposition. In the case of color image formation, the cleaning roller 17 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 12 during the primary transfer operation.

  Then, in a predetermined secondary transfer region, the secondary transfer roller 7 feeds the paper P fed from the paper feeding unit 2 by the separation feeding unit 3 and further transported through the transport path 5 by the registration roller pair 6. The monochrome image or the color image on the intermediate transfer belt 12 is secondarily transferred at once. The sheet P on which the monochrome image or the color image is transferred in this manner is conveyed in the substantially horizontal direction through the conveyance path 5, and the toner image on the sheet P is heated and fixed by the fixing roller pair 8. After fixing, the paper P is changed in the transport direction upward at the downstream portion of the transport roller pair 9, further transported on the transport path 5 by the transport roller pair 10, and finally onto the paper discharge tray 4 by the paper discharge roller pair 11. The paper is ejected.

  The untransferred toner that remains on the photosensitive drum 18 without being primary transferred is removed by the cleaning unit 21, and the untransferred toner that remains on the intermediate transfer belt 12 without being secondary transferred is removed by the cleaning roller 17. Removed. The removed toner is conveyed to a waste bottle (not shown) by a toner collecting device such as a collecting screw.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 described above, the toner container 22 disposed in the image forming apparatus 1 is configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus 1 in order to facilitate toner replenishment work. As shown in FIG. 1, a part of the exterior cover 29 on the front side of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 is configured to be rotatable about a support shaft 29a so that the toner container 22 can be attached and detached. This part is opened by rotating in the direction of B and opening.

  Here, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with an opening / closing detection means 30. If the exterior cover 29 is completely closed and the opening / closing detection means 30 does not detect the closure of the exterior cover 29, the image forming operation is started. It is configured not to be able to. As the open / close detection means 30, various conventionally known sensors such as an optical sensor such as a photo interrupter and a physical sensor such as an actuator switch can be used. It is preferable to use an interlock switch that switches between power supply to a predetermined part and its stop, since whether or not an image forming operation can be performed simultaneously with detection of the open / closed state of the exterior cover 29 is preferable.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the image forming apparatus 1, four toner containers 22K, 22C, 22M and 22Y filled with toner of each color are mounted side by side in the left-right direction of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1. ing. The image forming apparatus 1 also includes a presence / absence detection mechanism that detects the presence / absence of each toner container 22. This presence / absence detection mechanism is provided on the inner surface side of the detection window 31 and the presence / absence detection member 32 (see FIG. 7) provided in the lower part of each toner container 22 mounted in the image forming apparatus 1 and the outer cover 29. The projection 33 is constituted.

  In this presence / absence detection mechanism, the projection 33 is provided at a position facing the detection window 31 when the exterior cover 29 is closed, and the projection 33 is inserted into the detection window 31 when the exterior cover 29 is closed. It is configured. The presence / absence detection member 32 closes the detection window 31 when the toner container 22 is not attached to the image forming apparatus 1 or is attached but not fixed, and the toner container 22 is attached and fixed. The detection window 31 is opened only when this is done (see FIG. 7).

  As a result, the outer cover 29 cannot be closed unless all the toner containers 22 are mounted and all the detection windows 31 are opened, and all the toner containers 22 are not mounted. Regardless, the exterior cover 29 is prevented from being accidentally closed. In addition, as described above, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with the opening / closing detection means 30 for detecting the opening / closing of the exterior cover 29, and the image forming operation may start when the exterior cover 29 is not closed. Therefore, the image forming operation cannot be started unless all the toner containers 22 are mounted. The operation of the presence / absence detection member 32 will be described in detail later.

  Next, a toner container attached to the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 is a perspective view of the toner container as seen from above, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the toner container as seen from below, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of the toner container, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary shutter member and the like. It is. 7 is a side sectional view of the toner container showing the tilting of the rotation restricting member. FIG. 7A is a state where the rotation restricting member is in the rotation restricting position, and FIG. The state in the restriction release position is illustrated. 8A and 8B are diagrams illustrating the container fixing mechanism and the presence / absence detecting mechanism. FIG. 8A illustrates a state where the toner container is not fixed, and FIG. 8B illustrates a state where the toner container is fixed. Yes.

  For convenience of explanation, FIGS. 3 and 4 show the gear cover, the drive gear, and the input gear removed, and FIGS. 5 and 6 show the container body and the lid removed. . Here, FIGS. 3 to 6 show only the toner container 22M filled with magenta toner, which will be described. However, even if this becomes the other toner containers 22K, 22C and 22Y, the configuration thereof will be described. Are the same, and are not shown and will not be described again.

  The toner container 22M includes a container body 40 and a lid body 41. A container body 40 having a box shape with an upper surface opened includes a bottom wall 42, a side wall 43 extending substantially vertically upward from both side edges of the bottom wall 42, and a front end wall 44 extending substantially vertically upward from the front edge of the bottom wall 42. The rear end wall (not shown) extends substantially vertically upward from the rear end edge of the bottom wall 42, and a gear cover 45 (see FIG. 2) is attached to the front end wall 44. And the bottom wall 42 has the 1st groove part 46 and the 2nd groove part 47 which are extended in parallel, and both the 1st groove part 46 and the 2nd groove part 47 are the arc shape from which cross-sectional shape protrudes below. Is formed.

  The second groove portion 47 of the bottom wall 42 is formed with a projecting region 47a having a U-shaped cross section, which is biased toward the front end wall 44 side from the longitudinal central portion and protrudes downward. A rectangular toner discharge port 48 is formed in the projecting area 47 a at the center in the longitudinal direction of the second groove 47. Further, the projecting region 47 a of the second groove portion 47 is provided between the closed position where the toner discharge port 48 is closed and the open position where the toner discharge port 48 is opened on the projecting region 47 a in the longitudinal direction of the second groove portion 47. A sliding shutter member 49 that can slide is attached.

  The toner container 22M is mounted on the toner container mounting portion provided in the image forming apparatus 1 and then slid to the rear side of the image forming apparatus 1. 1 is provided with a contact member (not shown) in the toner container mounting portion, and when the toner container is mounted, the sliding shutter member 49 is in contact with the contact member provided in the image forming apparatus 1. The container body 40 is automatically slid toward the front end wall 44 side, and the toner discharge port 48 is opened when the toner container 22M is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1.

  In the container main body 40, the first toner conveying means 50 extending along the first groove portion 46 of the bottom wall 42 and the second toner portion extending along the second groove portion 47 of the bottom wall 42 are provided. The toner conveying means 51 is disposed. The first toner conveying means 50 includes a rotating shaft 50a and a conveying piece 50b fixed to the rotating shaft 50a. The rotating shaft 50a is rotatable between the front end wall 44 and the rear end wall of the container body 40. It is installed. The second toner conveying means 51 is composed of a rotating spiral blade member having a central shaft portion 51a and a spiral blade 51b, and is rotatably mounted between the front end wall 44 and the rear end wall of the container body 40.

  The rotary shaft 50a and the central shaft portion 51a are provided with a hollow cylindrical portion at the end on the front end wall 44 side, and the front end wall 44 of the container body 40 has ends of the rotary shaft 50a and the central shaft portion 51a. A through hole is formed at a position opposite to the portion, and a connecting portion 52a formed integrally with the drive gear 52 via a lever member 62 and a lock plate 63, which will be described later, is formed in the central shaft portion 51a. Are connected to each other through a through hole and fixed to a connecting portion 53a integrally formed with the input gear 53 via an interlocking member 60 and a rotation restricting member 61 described later. In FIG. 6, only a part of the gear teeth of the drive gear 52 and the input gear 53 is illustrated, but actually the gear teeth are formed on the entire circumference of the gear.

  An idle gear (not shown) is rotatably disposed on the inner surface side of the gear cover 45 attached to the front end wall 44, and the drive gear 52 and the input gear 53 are connected by the idle gear, so that the toner container 22M is When mounted on the image forming apparatus 1, the drive is input from a drive transmission gear (not shown) in the image forming apparatus 1 to the input gear 53, so that the first toner conveying unit 50 is driven to rotate and further idle. When the driving force is transmitted to the driving gear 52 via the gear, the second toner conveying means 51 is rotationally driven.

  Furthermore, a semi-cylindrical rotation shutter member 54 is provided in the container body 40, which can rotate to open and close the toner discharge port 48 formed in the second groove portion 47 from the inside. Yes. The rotating shutter member 54 has both end portions 55 and 56 having a cylindrical shape, and is rotatably supported by inserting the second toner conveying means 51 into the both end portions 55 and 56. Yes. The rotating shutter member 54 has a rectangular toner passage opening substantially at the center in the longitudinal direction and having substantially the same size as the toner discharge opening 48 formed in the bottom wall 42 of the container body 40 described above. 57 is formed.

  An interlocking member 60 and a rotation restricting member 61 are provided at positions facing the end 55 of the rotating shutter member 54 via the front end wall 44. The interlocking member 60 has a substantially disc-shaped main body portion 60a in which a gear is formed on the peripheral surface and a through hole is formed in the center portion, and a cylindrical connection portion 60b formed perpendicular to the main body portion 60a. Consists of. The rotation restricting member 61 has a substantially disk shape, and a through hole is formed in the center thereof.

  The connecting portion 60 b of the interlocking member 60 is inserted into the end portion 55 of the rotating shutter member 54 through the through hole of the rotation restricting member 61 and the through hole formed in the front end wall 44. The interlocking member 60 and the rotation restricting member 61 connect the connecting portion 53 a of the input gear 53 by inserting the connecting portion 53 a of the input gear 53 into the through hole of the interlocking member 60 and the rotation restricting member 61. It is rotatably supported at the center.

  Here, a plurality of concave portions 55a are formed on the inner surface of the end portion 55 of the rotating shutter member 54, and a convex portion 60c is formed at a position corresponding to the concave portion 55a on the connecting portion 60b of the interlocking member 60. By engaging the convex portion 60c with the concave portion 55a, the rotating shutter member 54 and the interlocking member 60 rotate integrally. Further, the rotation restricting member 61 is formed with an engaging protrusion 61a protruding forward, and the interlocking member 60 is formed with an engaging hole 60d at a position facing the engaging protrusion 61a. The rotation restricting member 61 is rotated integrally with the interlocking member 60 by engaging the mating protrusion 61a with the engaging hole 60d. That is, the rotation shutter member 54, the interlocking member 60, and the rotation restriction member 61 are configured so that three members rotate together.

  A lever member 62 and a lock plate 63 are provided on the outer surface of the front end wall 44 at a position facing the end portion of the rotation shaft 50a of the first toner conveying means 50 described above. The lever member 62 and the lock plate 63 are a container fixing mechanism that fixes the toner container 22M so that the toner container 22M does not fall off from the container mounting portion when the toner container 22M is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1. It constitutes.

  The lever member 62 includes a plate-like lever main body portion 62a having an arcuate peripheral surface, and an operation lever portion 62b extending radially outward from the lever main body portion 62a, and the peripheral surface of the lever main body portion 62a. Is formed with a gear, and a pinion 62c is integrally formed on the back side. A through hole is formed in the central portion of the lever main body 62a, and the connecting portion 52a of the drive gear 52 is inserted into the through hole, and the lever member 62 is rotatably supported.

  The lock plate 63 is a plate member, and a long hole 63a is provided at the center in the width direction. The long hole 63a is engaged with the pinion 62c of the lever member 62 described above, and the lock plate 63 is slidable along the long hole 63a. Here, a guide projection 44a extending in the vertical direction is formed on the outer surface of the front end wall 44, and the lock plate 63 is slid only in the vertical direction by the guide projection 44a.

  The position where the lock plate 63 is slid to the lower limit is a fixing position for fixing the toner container 22M to the image forming apparatus 1, and the position where the lock plate 63 is slid to the upper limit is an attachment / detachment position where the toner container 22M is allowed to be attached / detached. It has become. Further, a rack 63b that meshes with the pinion 62c is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the long hole 63a, and the sliding of the lock plate 63 can be operated by rotating the lever member 62.

  Further, the gear formed on the peripheral surface of the lever main body 62a of the lever member 62 and the gear formed on the peripheral surface of the main body 60a of the interlocking member 60 are formed so as to mesh with each other. When the member 62 is rotated, the lock plate 63 slides and the interlocking member 60 is also rotated. Further, as described above, when the interlocking member 60 rotates, the rotation shutter member 54 and the rotation regulating member 61 also rotate at the same time.

  Here, a locking hole 61b is formed in the rotation restricting member 61. As shown in FIG. 7A, the toner container 22M is not attached to the image forming apparatus 1, and a sliding shutter member is provided. In the state where 49 is in the closed position for closing the toner discharge port 48, the locking projection 44b formed on the front end wall 44 is engaged with the locking hole 61b and is in a rotation restricting position where it cannot rotate. The rotating shutter member 54 and the interlocking member 60 cannot be rotated, and the lever member 62 cannot be rotated.

  In the state where the locking projections 44b are engaged with the locking holes 61b of the rotation restricting member 61 as described above, the toner passage port 57 formed in the rotating shutter member 54 is formed in the container body 40. The toner discharge port 48 is not opposed, but is directed in a direction facing the side wall 43 of the container body 40, and is positioned at a closed position where the toner discharge port 48 is closed. Accordingly, when the toner container 22M is not attached to the image forming apparatus 1, the toner discharge port 48 is closed by the rotating shutter member 54 provided inside and the sliding shutter member 49 provided outside. Thus, toner leakage is completely prevented. At this time, the lock plate 63 is positioned at the upper limit position.

  7B, the toner container 22M is mounted on the toner container mounting portion of the image forming apparatus 1, and the sliding shutter member 49 is moved toward the front end wall 44 of the container body 40 as described above. When slid, the protrusion 49a formed at the front end of the sliding shutter member 49 pushes the lower end of the rotation restricting member 61 forward, and the rotation restricting member 61 includes the locking hole 61b and the locking protrusion 44b. Is moved to a restriction release position where the engagement is released and rotation is possible. Thereby, the rotation shutter member 54 and the lever member 62 can be rotated.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, when the toner container 22M is attached to the image forming apparatus 1, the restriction by the rotation restricting member 61 is released, and the lever member 62 is rotated clockwise in FIG. The rotating shutter member 54 is disposed at an open position where the toner passage port 57 faces the toner discharge port 48 formed in the bottom wall 42 of the container body 40 and opens the toner discharge port 48. As a result, the toner is discharged from the toner container 22M through the toner passage port 57 and the toner discharge port 48, and is supplied to the developing device 24M.

  The front end wall 44 is formed with a stopper pin 64 protruding forward, the lever member 62 is rotated clockwise, and the toner passage port 57 formed in the rotating shutter member 54 is a container body 40. If the lever member 62 is rotated to a position facing the toner discharge port 48 formed on the surface of the lever member 62, the side surface in the rotation direction of the lever member 62 abuts against the stopper pin 64, as shown in FIG. Is prevented from rotating.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the lock plate 63 is positioned at the attachment / detachment position, the lower end of the lock plate 63 is higher than the upper end of the locking piece 34 provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus 1. Although it is located above, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the lever member 62 is rotated to a position where it abuts against the stopper pin 64 and the lock plate 63 is slid to the fixed position, the lock plate 63 is moved. Is positioned below the upper end of the locking piece 34.

  Here, since the toner container 22M is mounted by being slid to the rear side of the image forming apparatus 1 after being placed on the toner container mounting portion, when the toner container 22M is removed, image formation is performed. The toner container 22M is moved to the front side of the image forming apparatus 1 when the lower end of the lock plate 63 is positioned below the upper end of the locking piece 34. Even if it tries to slide, the lock plate 63 interferes with the locking piece 34 and cannot slide forward, so that the toner container 22M is prevented from falling off.

  Further, when removing the toner container 22M, it is necessary to slide the lock plate 63 to the upper limit position so that the lock plate 63 does not interfere with the locking piece 34, and the lever member 62 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. However, at this time, the rotating shutter member 54 is also rotated via the interlocking member 60 and is positioned at the closed position. That is, when the toner container 22M is removed, the rotating shutter member 54 is always positioned to the closed position, and the toner is discharged in a state where the toner container 22M is not attached to the image forming apparatus 1. Is prevented.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a detection window 31 and a presence / absence detection member 32 constituting the presence / absence detection mechanism described above are provided below the toner container 22 </ b> M mounted in the image forming apparatus 1. The presence / absence detection member 32 has a circular base portion 32a, a closing plate 32b extending radially outward of the base portion 32a, and a contact piece 32c extending radially outward of the base portion 32a and perpendicular to the direction in which the closing plate 32b extends. Is integrally formed and is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft 32d provided at the center of the base portion 32a.

  The presence / absence detection member 32 is rotated so that the closing plate 32b closes the detection window 31 and the exterior cover 29 is closed, and the closing plate 32b opens the detection window 31 and the exterior. The cover 29 can be selectively disposed at a release position that allows the cover 29 to be closed. A hook 32e is formed at the tip of the closing plate 32b, and a tension spring 35 is stretched to connect the hook 32e and a hook (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 1. .

  As shown in FIG. 8, the presence / absence detecting member 32 is arranged such that the contact piece 32c formed integrally with the base portion 32a is positioned on the sliding track of the lock plate 63 constituting the container fixing mechanism described above. As shown in FIG. 8A, when the lock plate 63 is in the attachment / detachment position, the lock plate 63 is positioned to the restriction position by the urging force of the tension spring 35, and as shown in FIG. When the lock plate 63 is slid to the fixed position, the contact piece 32c is pushed down by the lower end surface of the lock plate 63 to be rotated to the release position.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention, after the toner container 22 is mounted on the toner container mounting portion in the image forming apparatus 1, the container fixing mechanism is operated by one operation of rotating the lever member 62. Thus, the toner container 22M can be fixed, the toner discharge port 48 can be opened by the rotating shutter member 54 provided in the toner container 22M, and the outer cover 29 can be prevented from being closed by the presence / absence detection mechanism.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the presence / absence detection member 32 is positioned to the prevention position by the biasing force of the tension spring 35. However, other biasing means such as a compression spring and a leaf spring may be used. In addition, it can be configured to rotate to the prevention position by the weight of the presence / absence detection member 32.

  In the above embodiment, the lever member 62 is rotatably supported, and the lever member 62 is rotated to operate the rotation of the rotation shutter member 54 and the sliding of the lock plate 63. However, this means that the lever member 62 is slidably mounted in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, and is connected to the interlocking member 60 and the lock plate 63 by a rack and a pinion, etc., and the lever member 62 is slid in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction. Thus, the sliding shutter member 54 and the lock plate 63 can be operated to slide.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer using an electrophotographic method, in particular, an image forming apparatus in which a toner cartridge is configured to be detachable from an image forming apparatus main body. .

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus showing a state in which an exterior cover is opened. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toner container as viewed from above. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toner container as viewed from below. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a toner container. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a rotary shutter member and the like. FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the toner container showing the tilting of the rotation restricting member. These are figures explaining operation | movement of a lock plate and a presence-and-absence detection member.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 22K, 22C, 22M, 22Y Toner container 29 Exterior cover 30 Opening / closing detection means 31 Detection window 32 Presence / absence detection member 33 Projection 34 Locking piece 35 Tensile spring 40 Container body 44 Front end wall 44a Guide protrusion 44b Locking protrusion 48 Toner discharge port 49 Sliding shutter member 52 Drive gear 53 Input gear 54 Rotating shutter member (opening / closing means)
57 Toner passage port 60 Interlocking member 61 Rotation restricting member 62 Lever member (operation means)
63 Lock plate (locking means)
64 Stopper pin

Claims (6)

In the image forming apparatus in which a part of the outer cover of the apparatus main body is configured to be openable and closable, and the toner container mounted in the apparatus main body is removable by opening the outer cover.
The toner container includes an opening / closing means for opening / closing a toner discharge port provided on a bottom surface of the container body, a locking means for fixing the toner container to the apparatus body, and the opening / closing means connected to the opening / closing means and the locking means. And operating means capable of simultaneously operating the locking means,
The apparatus main body is provided with a presence / absence detecting mechanism for restricting or releasing the closure of the outer cover according to whether the toner container is attached or not. The presence / absence detecting mechanism is configured to lock the toner container by the operation means. An image forming apparatus, wherein the exterior cover can be closed in conjunction with an operation. The opening / closing means is a rotating shutter member that is rotatably supported in a container body and is selectively disposed at a closed position for closing the toner discharge port and an open position for opening the toner discharge port. Is a lock plate that is slidably supported on the outer surface of the container main body and is selectively disposed at an attaching / detaching position that allows the toner container to be attached / detached from the apparatus main body and a fixed position that prevents the toner container from falling off. A lever member connected to the rotation shutter member and the lock plate, and capable of simultaneously rotating and sliding the rotation shutter member and the lock plate;
The presence / absence detection mechanism is a presence / absence detection member that is rotatably arranged on a restriction position that is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body and restricts the closing of the outer cover and a release position that allows the outer cover to be closed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the presence / absence detecting member is configured to rotate in conjunction with sliding of the lock plate. The toner container includes a rotation restricting position that restricts the rotation of the rotating shutter member from the closed position to the open position, and a restriction that allows the rotation of the rotating shutter member from the closed position to the open position. A rotation restricting member that is selectively arranged at the release position is provided,
The rotation restricting member is disposed at the rotation restricting position when the toner container is not attached to the apparatus main body, and moves to the restriction release position when the toner container is attached to the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. A sliding shutter member selectively disposed at a closed position for closing the toner discharge port and an open position for opening the toner discharge port is slidably attached to the outside of the bottom surface of the toner container.
The sliding shutter member is disposed in the closed position when the toner container is not attached to the apparatus main body, and slides to the open position when the toner container is attached to the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an urging unit that urges the presence / absence detection member toward the restriction position.   2. An open / close detection means for detecting an open / close state of the exterior cover is provided, and an image forming operation can be started only when the open / close detection means detects the closure of the exterior cover. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5.

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