JP2008275875A - Toner cartridge and developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner cartridge capable of restraining degradation in operability of opening/closing of a first opening, while preventing developer leakage from the first opening, and to provide a developing device to which the toner cartridge is loaded detachably. <P>SOLUTION: In a toner seal 92, the contact pressure of a first sealing part 126 on an outer housing 82 is higher than the contact pressure of a second sealing part 127 on the outer housing 82. Thus, the leakage of toner from an inside passage port 89 can be prevented surely on the inside edge 135 by the first sealing part 126, whose contact pressure with respect to the outer housing 82 is relatively high. Also, the contact pressure of the second sealing part 127, on the outer housing 82 is lower than the contact pressure of the first sealing part 126 on the outer housing 82. Consequently the slide resistance between the outside housing 82 and the toner seal 92, can be reduced, when the inside passage opening 89 is opened or closed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing device and a toner cartridge installed in an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer.

2. Description of the Related Art A toner cartridge that is installed in an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer and stores a developer is known.
For example, as such a toner cartridge, a toner box described in Patent Document 1 has a double structure including a container main body that stores toner and an exterior body that stores the container main body and rotatably supports the container main body.

  A toner discharge port is formed in the container body, and an opening that can face the discharge port is formed in the exterior body. In this toner box, the toner in the container body can be discharged by rotating the container body to open the discharge port so that the discharge port and the opening face each other. On the other hand, by rotating the container body, the discharge port and the opening are shifted from each other to close the discharge port, and the discharge of toner from the discharge port can be regulated.

A seal member is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the container body so as to surround the discharge port. This seal member contacts the inner peripheral surface of the exterior body and closes the gap between the container main body and the exterior body, thereby preventing leakage of the developer from the discharge port.
JP 2003-29515 A

In the toner box of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to always bring the seal member into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the exterior body in order to prevent leakage of the developer. When the container main body is rotated in this state, resistance is generated in the rotation of the container main body due to friction between the seal member and the inner peripheral surface of the exterior body, so that the operability related to opening / closing of the discharge port may be reduced.
An object of the present invention is to provide a toner cartridge capable of suppressing a decrease in operability associated with opening and closing of the first opening while preventing leakage of the developer from the first opening, and the toner cartridge being detachably mounted. An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is a toner cartridge, containing a developer and having a first frame formed with a first opening for allowing the developer to pass therethrough, and the first frame. A second frame that opens and closes the opening; and a seal member that is provided on one of the first frame and the second frame, and prevents leakage of the developer from the first opening by contacting the other. The first frame has a first edge forming the first opening, and the sealing member is disposed on the first edge when the second frame closes the first opening. And a second seal portion disposed at a position away from the first seal portion with respect to the first opening when the second frame closes the first opening. , Contact of the first seal part with the other It is characterized in that is higher than the contact pressure of the second sealing portion to the other.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the first seal portion is provided on one of the first frame and the second frame, protrudes toward the other, and the first seal portion is It is characterized by having a projection that presses toward the other side.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the projection is provided on the first edge portion of the first frame.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 3, wherein the second frame is arranged outside the first frame, and the second frame opens the first opening. The first seal portion is located outside the second frame in the protruding direction of the protrusion.
The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 4, wherein the second frame accommodates the first frame, and the first frame and the second frame can be moved relative to each other. The second frame is formed with a second opening that is larger than the first opening and that opens the first opening when facing the first opening.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the projection is provided over the entire circumference of the first edge.
The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the seal member is disposed on the first frame such that the first seal portion is disposed on the protrusion. It is characterized by being provided.

  The invention according to claim 8 is a developing device comprising a toner cartridge for storing a developer and a housing to which the toner cartridge can be attached and detached, the toner cartridge storing the developer, A first frame having a first opening for allowing the developer to pass therethrough; a second frame for opening and closing the first opening; and one of the first frame and the second frame; A seal member for preventing leakage of the developer from the first opening by contact, the first frame has a first edge that forms the first opening, and the seal member A first seal portion disposed at the first edge when the second frame closes the first opening; and a first seal portion disposed when the second frame closes the first opening. From the first seal part A contact pressure of the first seal portion with respect to the other is higher than a contact pressure of the second seal portion with respect to the other, and the housing includes the second seal portion disposed at a distant position. A third opening capable of receiving the developer is formed opposite to the first opening.

The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 8, wherein the first seal part is provided on one of the first frame and the second frame, protrudes toward the other, and the first seal portion is It is characterized by having a projection that presses toward the other side.
The invention described in claim 10 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 9, the projection is provided on the first edge portion in the first frame.

The invention according to claim 11 is the invention according to claim 10, wherein the second frame is arranged outside the first frame, and the second frame opens the first opening. The first seal portion is located outside the second frame in the protruding direction of the protrusion.
The invention according to claim 12 is the invention according to claim 11, wherein the second frame accommodates the first frame, and the first frame and the second frame can move relative to each other. The second frame has a second opening that is larger than the first opening and that opens the first opening when facing the first opening.

The invention as set forth in claim 13 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 11 or 12, the protrusion is provided over the entire circumference of the first edge portion.
The invention according to claim 14 is the invention according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the seal member is provided on the first frame such that the first seal portion is disposed on the protrusion. It is characterized by being.

The invention according to claim 15 is the invention according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the first seal portion is attached to the casing when the toner cartridge is mounted on the casing. It is characterized by contact.
The invention according to claim 16 is the invention according to claim 15, wherein the protrusion is positioned below the first opening in the state where the toner cartridge is mounted on the housing. The portion to be projected protrudes in the protruding direction from the portion positioned above the first opening.

  According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the eighth to sixteenth aspects, the first seal portion is attached to the casing when the toner cartridge is mounted on the casing. The contact pressure of the portion of the first seal portion that is in contact with and lower than the first opening in the first seal portion is that of the portion of the first seal portion that is located on the upper side of the first opening. It is characterized by being higher than the contact pressure against the body.

According to the first and eighth aspects of the invention, when the second frame opens and closes the first opening, the seal member provided on one of the first frame and the second frame slides on the other. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the developer from leaking from the first opening to the first frame and the second frame not only when stationary but also during the opening / closing operation of the first opening.
In the sealing member, when the second frame closes the first opening, the contact pressure with respect to the other of the first seal portion arranged at the first edge is when the second frame closes the first opening. It is higher than the contact pressure with respect to the other of the 2nd seal part arrange | positioned in the position away from the 1st seal part with respect to the 1st opening. Accordingly, the first seal portion having a relatively high contact pressure with respect to the other can reliably prevent the leakage of the developer from the first opening at the first edge portion. And since the contact pressure of the 2nd seal part with respect to the other becomes lower than the contact pressure of the 1st seal part with respect to the other, compared with the case where the contact pressure in the 2nd seal part is equal to the contact pressure in the 1st seal part. In the opening / closing operation of the first opening, the sliding resistance between the other and the seal member can be reduced.

Further, since the seal member includes not only the first seal portion but also the second seal portion, the seal member is peeled off when the first opening is opened and closed as compared with the case where the seal member includes only the first seal portion. Can be prevented.
As a result, it is possible to suppress deterioration in operability related to opening and closing of the first opening while preventing leakage of the developer from the first opening.

According to invention of Claim 2 and 9, a protrusion presses a 1st seal | sticker part toward the other. Therefore, with a simple configuration, the contact pressure of the first seal part with respect to the other can be made higher than the contact pressure of the second seal part with respect to the other.
According to invention of Claim 3 and 10, protrusion is provided in the 1st edge part in the 1st flame | frame. Therefore, since the projection presses the first seal portion toward the second frame, the contact pressure of the first seal portion with respect to the second frame can be made higher than the contact pressure of the second seal portion with respect to the second frame. .

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the second frame opens the first opening, the first seal portion is positioned outside the second frame in the protruding direction of the protrusion. Therefore, when supplying the developer of the first frame to an apparatus other than the toner cartridge, the developer is prevented from leaking between the first opening and the apparatus by bringing the first seal portion into contact with the apparatus. can do.

  According to the fifth and twelfth aspects of the present invention, since the second frame accommodates the first frame, the toner cartridge can have a double structure. The second opening that is formed in the second frame and opens the first opening when facing the first opening is larger than the first opening. Therefore, when the second frame opens the first opening, the first opening is opened. The seal portion can be reliably disposed outside the second frame.

According to the invention described in claims 6 and 13, since the protrusion is provided over the entire circumference of the first edge, the contact pressure of the first seal portion with respect to the second frame is set at the first edge. It can be made higher than the contact pressure of the 2nd seal part with respect to a 2nd frame over a perimeter. Thereby, the leakage of the developer from the first opening can be reliably prevented over the entire circumference of the first edge.
According to invention of Claim 7 and 14, the sealing member is provided in the 1st flame | frame in which the 1st opening was formed. And since a 1st seal | sticker part is arrange | positioned at a processus | protrusion, a processus | protrusion can press the 1st seal | sticker part toward a 2nd flame | frame reliably.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, when the second frame opens the first opening, the first seal portion is positioned outside the second frame in the protruding direction of the protrusion. Therefore, when supplying the developer of the first frame to the housing with the first opening facing the third opening of the housing, the first seal portion and the first opening are contacted with the housing. It is possible to prevent the developer from leaking between the three openings.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the invention, since the first seal portion is in contact with the casing in a state where the toner cartridge is mounted on the casing, the developer is between the first opening and the casing. Can be prevented, and the developer can be smoothly received from the first opening in the third opening of the housing.
According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the state where the toner cartridge is mounted on the housing, the portion of the protrusion that is located below the first opening is located above the first opening. It protrudes in the protruding direction from the part to be. Thereby, also in the 1st seal | sticker part pressed by protrusion, the part located below with respect to 1st opening protrudes in a protrusion direction rather than the part located above with respect to 1st opening. Therefore, in the first seal portion, at least a portion located below the first opening can be reliably brought into contact with the housing, so that the first opening and the device are located below the first opening. The developer can be prevented from leaking to the side.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the developer leaks between the first opening and the housing since the first seal portion contacts the housing in a state where the toner cartridge is mounted on the housing. In the third opening of the housing, the developer can be smoothly received from the first opening.
And the contact pressure with respect to a housing | casing of the part located below with respect to a 1st opening among the 1st seal | stickers is higher than the contact pressure with respect to a housing | casing of the part located above with respect to a 1st opening. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the developer from leaking to the lower side of the first opening between the first opening and the apparatus.

1. 1 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of a laser printer as an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a side sectional view of the process cartridge of the laser printer shown in FIG. 1 (a state where the toner cartridge is mounted and the swing arm is in the pressing position). FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. In FIG. 2, for convenience of explanation, a toner seal, which will be described later, is painted out.

As shown in FIG. 1, the laser printer 1 includes a paper feeding unit 4 for feeding paper 3 into a main body casing 2, and an image forming unit 5 for forming an image on the fed paper 3. A paper discharge unit 6 that discharges the paper 3 on which an image is formed.
(1) Main Body Casing The main body casing 2 is formed in a box shape, and an opening is formed in a side wall on one side thereof, and a front cover 7 that opens and closes the opening is provided. By opening the front cover 7, a process cartridge 17 (which will be described later) as an example of a developing device can be attached to and detached from the main body casing 2 along the direction of the bold arrow in the figure.

In the following description, the side on which the front cover 7 is provided is the front side (front side), and the opposite side is the rear side (back side). Further, the front side in the paper thickness direction in FIG. 1 is the left side, and the back side in the paper thickness direction in FIG. 1 is the right side. Moreover, the left-right direction and the width direction are synonymous. In the description of the process cartridge 17 and the toner cartridge 31, which will be described later, a state in which a frame-side passage port 34 and a cartridge-side passage port 47, which will be described later, are oriented in a substantially horizontal direction is used as a reference.
(2) Paper Feed Unit The paper feed unit 4 includes a paper feed tray 9, a paper feed roller 10, a paper feed pad 11, paper dust removing rollers 12 and 13, a registration roller 14, and a paper pressing plate 15. I have. The sheet 3 at the top of the sheet pressing plate 15 is sent out one by one by the sheet feed roller 10 and the sheet feed pad 11 and passes through various rollers 12 to 14, and then transferred to the image forming unit 5 (described later). To be carried).
(3) Image Forming Unit The image forming unit 5 includes a scanner unit 16, a process cartridge 17, and a fixing unit 18.
(3-1) Scanner Unit The scanner unit 16 is provided in the upper part in the main body casing 2, and includes a laser light emitting unit (not shown), a polygon mirror 19 that is rotationally driven, a plurality of lenses 20, and a plurality of reflecting mirrors 21. I have. The laser beam emitted from the laser light emitting unit based on the image data is reflected by the polygon mirror 19 as shown by a one-dot chain line, and passes or reflects through the plurality of lenses 20 and the plurality of reflecting mirrors 21 to form a process cartridge. The surface of 17 photosensitive drums 25 (described later) is scanned.
(3-2) Process Cartridge The process cartridge 17 is disposed below the scanner unit 16 in the main body casing 2 and is detachably attached to the main body casing 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge 17 includes a process frame 22 as an example of a housing in which a transfer path 29 that allows passage of the paper 3 is formed, and a cartridge housing portion 33 (described later) of the process frame 22. And a toner cartridge 31 that is detachably mounted.
In the process frame 22, a partition wall 57 extending in the vertical direction is provided at a substantially central position in the front-rear direction. In the process frame 22, the rear portion of the partition wall 57 is the developing portion 32, and the front portion of the partition wall 57 is the cartridge housing portion 33 described above. The partition wall 57 is formed with a frame-side passage port 34 as an example of a third opening.

In the developing unit 32, a photosensitive drum 25, a scorotron charger 26, a transfer roller 28, a supply roller 36, a developing roller 37, and a layer thickness regulating blade 38 are provided.
The photosensitive drum 25 is rotatably supported by the process frame 22. The scorotron charger 26 is supported by the process frame 22 above the photosensitive drum 25 and spaced from the photosensitive drum 25. The transfer roller 28 is disposed to face the photosensitive drum 25 from the lower side of the photosensitive drum 25, and is rotatably supported by the process frame 22. The developing roller 37 is disposed opposite to the front side of the photosensitive drum 25. The supply roller 36 is disposed opposite to the front side of the developing roller 37. The developing roller 37 and the supply roller 36 are rotatably supported by the process frame 22. The layer thickness regulating blade 38 includes a leaf spring member 45 formed in a thin plate shape and a pressure contact rubber 46 provided at a lower end portion of the leaf spring member 45. The upper end portion of the leaf spring member 45 is fixed to the process frame 22, and the pressure contact rubber 46 presses the surface of the developing roller 37 by the elastic force of the leaf spring member 45.

The toner cartridge 31 is detachably attached to the process frame 22 in the cartridge housing portion 33. The toner cartridge 31 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The toner cartridge 31 is formed with a cartridge-side passage port 47 for communicating the inside and the outside.
An agitator 93 is rotatably provided in the toner cartridge 31. The toner cartridge 31 contains a non-magnetic one-component positively chargeable toner as an example of a developer.

The toner in the toner cartridge 31 is agitated by the rotation of the agitator 93, received from the cartridge side passage port 47 into the frame side passage port 34, and discharged into the developing unit 32. The discharged toner is supplied to the supply roller 36.
The toner supplied to the supply roller 36 is supplied to the developing roller 37 by the rotation of the supply roller 36. At this time, the toner is frictionally charged positively between the supply roller 36 and the developing roller 37. Subsequently, the toner supplied to the developing roller 37 enters between the pressure contact rubber 46 and the developing roller 37 as the developing roller 37 rotates, and the layer thickness is regulated between them. It is carried on the surface of 37 as a thin layer.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 25 is first uniformly charged positively by the scorotron charger 26 as the photosensitive drum 25 rotates, and then exposed by a laser beam from the scanner unit 16 to form image data. A based electrostatic latent image is formed. Next, the toner carried on the surface of the developing roller 37 is supplied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 25 when the toner carried on the surface of the developing roller 37 contacts the photosensitive drum 25 by rotation of the developing roller 37. Is done. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is developed (visualized), and a toner image is carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 25. This toner image is transferred onto the sheet 3 conveyed between the photosensitive drum 25 and the transfer roller 28 (transfer position) in the transfer path 29.
(3-3) Fixing Unit The fixing unit 18 is provided on the rear side of the process cartridge 17 as shown in FIG. The fixing unit 18 includes a heating roller 48, a pressure roller 49 that is pressed against the heating roller 48 from below, and a pair of conveying rollers 50 disposed on the rear side thereof.

In the fixing unit 18, the toner transferred to the sheet 3 at the transfer position is thermally fixed while the sheet 3 passes between the heating roller 48 and the pressure roller 49. Thereafter, the sheet 3 is transported to the paper discharge unit 6 by a pair of transport rollers 50.
(4) Paper Discharge Unit The paper discharge unit 6 includes a paper discharge path 51, a paper discharge roller 52, and a paper discharge tray 53. The sheet 3 conveyed from the fixing unit 18 to the sheet discharge path 51 is conveyed from the sheet discharge path 51 to the sheet discharge roller 52 and is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 53 by the sheet discharge roller 52.
2. Details of Process Cartridge FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the process cartridge of the laser printer shown in FIG. 1 (a state where the toner cartridge is detached and the swing arm is in the pressing release position). FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the process cartridge as viewed obliquely from the right front side. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the process cartridge as viewed obliquely from the right front side. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the process cartridge (toner cartridge detached state) with the shutter omitted.
(1) Process Frame As shown in FIG. 3, the process frame 22 integrally includes the developing unit 32 and the cartridge housing unit 33 described above.
(1-1) Developing Unit As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the developing unit 32 integrally includes an upper wall 54, a bottom wall 55, both side walls 56, and the partition wall 57 described above. Both side walls 56 are arranged to face each other with a space therebetween in the width direction. Each side wall 56 is disposed along the front-rear direction.

The developing roller 37 is supported by the process frame 22 by being rotatably supported by the front side portions of the side walls 56.
The supply roller 36 is supported by the process frame 22 by being rotatably supported by the front side portions of the side walls 56 on the front side of the developing roller 37.
As shown in FIG. 3, the partition wall 57 is formed with a curved portion along the outer peripheral surface of the toner cartridge 31 in the middle in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 6, the frame side passage port 34 is formed in the curved portion of the partition wall 57.
Specifically, three frame side passage openings 34 are formed at intervals in the width direction. Each frame side passage opening 34 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape elongated in the width direction.
A frame seal 62 is provided at a curved portion of the partition wall 57 to prevent toner leakage from the frame side passage port 34.

The frame seal 62 is formed in a band shape extending in the width direction from an elastic material such as felt, and a cutout portion is formed corresponding to each frame-side passage port 34. The frame seal 62 is stuck along the width direction so that each notch portion faces each frame-side passage port 34.
As a result, the frame seal 62 is provided on the surface (front surface) of the curved portion of the partition wall 57 so as to cover the periphery of each frame side passage port 34 and to be continuous between the frame side passage ports 34. It is done. Note that the frame seal 62 does not appear in the drawings other than FIG. 6 for convenience of explanation.
(1-2) Cartridge Storage Unit The cartridge storage unit 33 includes both side plates 63 and a bottom plate 64 as shown in FIG. The side plates 63 and the bottom plate 64 are continuous with the side walls 56 and the bottom wall 55 of the developing unit 32 and are integrally formed therewith.

A shutter support portion 65 is provided on each inner side surface of the both side plates 63 in the width direction. The shutter support portion 65 has a substantially rectangular shape that bulges inward from the inner side surface in the width direction of the side plate 63, and is provided to extend in the vertical direction at the rear end portion of the side plate 63.
A shutter guide portion 78 is provided on the inner surface in the width direction of the shutter support portion 65. The shutter guide portion 78 has a protruding line that bulges inward from the inner surface in the width direction of the shutter support portion 65, and is disposed to face the curved portion of the partition wall 57 with a slight space in the front-rear direction. The shutter guide portion 78 is formed in a curved shape having substantially the same curvature as the curved portion of the partition wall 57.

The upper end surface of the shutter support portion 65 is located slightly below the upper end edge of the corresponding side plate 63. The upper end surface of the shutter support portion 65 is an upper fixing portion 66.
The bottom plate 64 is formed with a lower fixing portion 67 that slightly protrudes to the front side at the center in the width direction of the front end edge.
The cartridge housing portion 33 is provided with a shutter 68 that opens and closes the frame-side passage port 34. The shutter 68 is handled as a part of the process frame 22. That is, the shutter 68 is also an example of a housing.

  The shutter 68 has a substantially rectangular plate shape extending in the width direction, and is formed in a curved shape having substantially the same curvature as the curved portion of the partition wall 57. The shutter 68 is formed so as to extend between the shutter guide portions 78 in the width direction and slightly shorter than the shutter guide portions 78 in the vertical direction. The shutter 68 is formed with three shutter openings 69 corresponding to the frame-side passage openings 34 and capable of facing them. The shutter opening 69 functions as an example of a third opening.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shutter 68 is disposed to face the curved portion of the partition wall 57, and both end portions in the width direction are slidably sandwiched between the partition wall 57 and the shutter guide portions 78.
As a result, the shutter 68, along each shutter guide portion 78, has an open position (see FIG. 2) for opening the frame side passage port 34 and a closed position (see FIGS. 3 and 5) for closing the frame side passage port 34. ) To be swingable in the vertical direction. When the shutter 68 is in the open position, as shown in FIG. 2, each frame-side passing port 34 faces the corresponding shutter opening 69 and is opened outward (front side). When the shutter 68 is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 3, each frame-side passage opening 34 is closed from the front side by a portion below the shutter opening 69 in the shutter 68.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the cartridge housing portion 33 is provided with a swing arm 70. The swing arm 70 is formed in a substantially U shape in plan view. The swing arm 70 is integrally provided with a gripping rod 71 extending in the width direction and arm side plates 72 extending rearward from both widthwise ends of the gripping rod 71.
A boss 73 protruding outward in the width direction is provided at the rear end of each arm side plate 72. Each boss 73 is rotatably supported in a round hole 74 formed in the corresponding side plate 63.

A receiving recess 75 is formed at the upper edge of the rear end of each arm side plate 72 so as to be cut out so as to be recessed downward.
The swing arm 70 has a boss 73 of each arm side plate 72 as a fulcrum, a pressing release position where the lower end edge of each arm side plate 72 contacts the front end edge of the bottom plate 64 (see FIGS. 3, 5, and 6), toner When the cartridge 31 is accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion 33, it swings between a pressing position (see FIGS. 2 and 4) for pressing the toner cartridge 31 from the front side.
(2) Toner Cartridge FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the inner housing (a state before the toner seal is stuck) of the toner cartridge as viewed obliquely from the rear left side. FIG.7 (b) is a principal part side sectional view in an inner side passage port of the inner side housing | casing shown to Fig.7 (a). FIG. 8A is a rear view of the toner seal. FIG. 8B is a side sectional view of the toner seal. FIG. 9A shows a state where the toner seal is attached in FIG. 7A. FIG. 9B shows a state where the toner seal is attached in FIG. 7B. FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the toner cartridge (in a state where the inner housing is in the open position) as viewed obliquely from the left rear side. FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional side view of a main part of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the toner cartridge (in a state where the inner housing is between the open position and the closed position) as viewed obliquely from the left rear side. FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional side view of the main part of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. FIG. 12A is a perspective view of the toner cartridge (in a state where the inner housing is in the closed position) as viewed obliquely from the rear left side. FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional side view of the main part of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. In FIG. 10B, FIG. 11B, and FIG. 12B, for convenience of explanation, the toner seal is shown filled.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 12, the toner cartridge 31 includes an inner casing 81 as an example of a first frame that stores toner and an outer casing 82 as an example of a second frame that stores the inner casing 81. And.
(2-1) Inner Housing As shown in FIG. 7A, the inner housing 81 has a cylindrical inner peripheral wall 83 extending in the width direction and a disk shape that closes both ends of the inner peripheral wall 83 in the width direction. A pair of inner side walls 84 are integrally provided.

The inner side wall 84 is provided with a thick disc-shaped boss portion 85 that bulges in the width direction at the center.
The inner side wall 84 is provided with a slide protrusion 86 on the upper side thereof and on the radially outer side from the boss portion 85. The slide protrusion 86 is formed in a side-view arc shape (arc shape with a central angle of about 60 °) along the outer peripheral surface of the inner side wall 84, and is provided so as to protrude outward in the width direction from the inner side wall 84.

The inner side wall 84 is provided with a pair of clamping protrusions 87 protruding radially from the peripheral end surface at the rear side portion. The pair of sandwiching protrusions 87 are arranged on the circumferential end surface of the inner side wall 84 with a circumferential interval (interval corresponding to the circumferential length of the shutter 68).
In the inner peripheral wall 83, an inner passage port 89 that forms a part of the cartridge side passage port 47 is formed in the surrounding portion 88 surrounded by a pair of sandwiching protrusions 87 (four sandwiching protrusions 87) disposed on both sides in the width direction. Has been. The inner passage port 89 functions as an example of the first opening.

The inner passage port 89 is formed in the upper portion of the surrounding portion 88. Specifically, three inner passage openings 89 are formed at intervals in the width direction corresponding to the three frame side passage openings 34 (see FIG. 6). At the time of image formation, each inner passage port 89 faces the frame side passage port 34 (see FIG. 6) at a corresponding position in the width direction.
Each inner passage port 89 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape elongated in the width direction when viewed from the back. The inner passage port 89 located at the center in the width direction is approximately twice as long in the width direction as the other inner passage ports 89. Here, of the edges forming the inner passage openings 89 in the inner peripheral wall 83 (referred to as the edge of the first opening and the inner edge 135 as an example of the first edge), the upper portion is referred to as the inner upper edge 120. The lower part is referred to as an inner lower edge 121. The inner upper edge 120 and the inner lower edge 121 extend in parallel along the width direction at intervals in the vertical direction (the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral wall 83).

  Further, the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 83 is provided with a protrusion 122 at each inner edge 135. The protrusion 122 is provided over the entire circumference of the inner edge 135 and is formed so as to protrude outward in the radial direction of the inner peripheral wall 83 (backward in FIG. 7) (see FIG. 7B). Specifically, each protrusion 122 provided corresponding to each inner passage port 89 has a substantially rectangular shape that borders the corresponding inner passage port 89 in a rear view (as viewed from the outside in the radial direction). And the protrusion direction downstream end surface (rear end surface in FIG. 7) of the protrusion 122 is a substantially flat surface. In addition, the end edge on the side away from the inner passage port 89 on the rear end surface of the protrusion 122 and the inner peripheral wall 83 are connected by an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to both the rear end surface of the protrusion 122 and the inner peripheral wall 83. (Refer FIG.7 (b)). Here, a portion of the protrusion 122 positioned above the inner passage port 89 is referred to as a protrusion upper portion 136, and a portion positioned lower than the inner passage port 89 is referred to as a protrusion lower portion 137. . The protrusion upper portion 136 and the protrusion lower portion 137 extend in parallel along the width direction with the inner passage port 89 interposed therebetween.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a toner seal 92 as an example of a seal member for preventing leakage of toner from the inner passage port 89 is attached to the upper portion of the surrounding portion 88 at each inner edge 135. It is worn.
As shown in FIG. 8, the toner seal 92 is formed from an elastic material such as felt in a belt shape having a rectangular shape that is long in the width direction and a substantially uniform length (thickness) in the front-rear direction when viewed from the back. Yes. Here, among the edges forming the outer frame in the toner seal 92, the upper part is referred to as a seal outer frame upper edge 133, and the lower part is referred to as a seal outer frame lower edge 134. The seal outer frame lower edge 134 functions as an example of a first edge. The upper edge 133 of the seal outer frame and the lower edge 134 of the seal outer frame extend in parallel along the width direction at intervals in the vertical direction. Further, in the toner seal 92, a notch portion 123 that penetrates the toner seal 92 in the front-rear direction is formed at a substantially central position in the rear view, corresponding to each inner passage port 89. The cutout portion 123 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in rear view having a size substantially equal to the corresponding inner passage port 89. Here, of the edges forming the cutout portion 123 in the toner seal 92, the upper portion is referred to as a seal inner upper edge 124, and the lower portion is referred to as a seal inner lower edge 125. The seal inner lower edge 125 functions as an example of a first edge. The seal inner upper edge 124 and the seal inner lower edge 125 extend in parallel along the width direction at intervals in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, each toner seal 92 is formed so that the cutout portion 123 faces the corresponding inner passage port 89, and the seal inner upper edge 124 and the seal inner lower edge 125 are formed on the inner edge 135. It sticks along the width direction so that it may follow. In this state, a substantially rectangular edge portion (a seal inner upper edge 124 and a seal inner lower edge 125 are formed, and hereinafter referred to as a first seal portion 126) forming the cutout portion 123 in the toner seal 92. And along the inner edge 135 on the protrusion 122 (see FIG. 9B). Specifically, in each toner seal 92, a portion other than the first seal portion 126 (a portion farther from the first seal portion 126 with respect to the notch portion 123 and the inner passage port 89, and is referred to as a second seal portion 127). Is attached along the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 83. On the other hand, the first seal portion 126 is arranged on the protrusion 122 and thus protrudes one step outward in the radial direction (backward in FIG. 9) compared to the second seal portion 127 (see FIG. 9B). ).

  Here, among the edges forming the outer frame in the first seal portion 126 (the edges that are separated from the notch portion 123 from the seal inner upper edge 124 and the seal inner lower edge 125), the upper portion is the seal outer side. It is called the upper edge 130, and the lower part is called the seal outer lower edge 131. The seal outer upper edge 130 functions as an example of a first edge. The seal outer upper edge 130 extends in parallel with the seal inner upper edge 124 above the seal inner upper edge 124. The seal outer lower edge 131 extends in parallel with the seal inner lower edge 125 below the seal inner lower edge 125.

  In addition, a portion of the first seal portion 126 positioned above the inner passage port 89 is referred to as a seal upper portion 138, and a portion positioned lower than the inner passage port 89 is a lower seal portion. It is called 139. The seal upper part 138 and the seal lower part 139 extend in parallel along the width direction with the inner passage port 89 interposed therebetween. In the upper seal portion 138, the upper edge is the seal outer upper edge 130, and the lower edge is the seal inner upper edge 124. In the lower seal portion 139, the upper edge is the seal inner lower edge 125, and the lower edge is the seal outer lower edge 131.

As shown in FIG. 2A, an agitator 93 is provided in the inner housing 81. The agitator 93 includes an agitator shaft 94 extending in the width direction, and a stirring blade 95 extending radially outward from the agitator shaft 94. The agitator shaft 94 is rotatably supported by both inner side walls 84 and is rotated by a driving force from a motor (not shown) during image formation.
(2-2) Outer casing The outer casing 82 is formed to be slightly larger in the width direction and the radial direction than the inner casing 81 in order to accommodate the inner casing 81 in a rotatable manner. As shown in FIG. 12A, the outer casing 82 includes a substantially cylindrical outer peripheral wall 101 extending in the width direction, and a pair of substantially disc-shaped outer side walls that close both ends of the outer peripheral wall 101 in the width direction. 102 are integrally provided.

In the outer peripheral wall 101, the outer peripheral surface of the upper part on the upper side and the front side thereof is formed in a flat shape, but the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 101 is formed in a circular cross section.
A circular boss hole 103 for receiving the boss portion 85 is formed in the outer side wall 102. In the outer side wall 102, a slide hole 104 through which the slide protrusion 86 is inserted is formed in the upper portion of the boss hole 103. The slide hole 104 is disposed so as to face the slide protrusion 86 in the width direction. The slide hole 104 is formed in a circular arc shape in a side view longer than the slide protrusion 86.

An upper fixed portion 105 that protrudes rearward is formed on the rear upper side of the peripheral end surface of the outer side wall 102. A positioning boss 106 protruding outward in the width direction is provided at the rear end portion of the upper fixed portion 105.
The outer peripheral wall 101 is formed with four elongated holes 108 through which a pair of sandwiching protrusions 87 (four sandwiching protrusions 87) are respectively inserted at both ends in the width direction. Each long hole 108 is disposed so as to face each clamping protrusion 87 in the radial direction. The long hole 108 has a substantially rectangular shape extending in the vertical direction when viewed from the back, and is formed with a length corresponding to the swing range between the open position and the closed position of the shutter 68.

The outer peripheral wall 101 has an outer passage port 109 that forms a part of the cartridge side passage port 47 between the four elongated holes 108 (between the upper two elongated holes 108 and the lower two elongated holes 108). Is formed. The outer passage port 109 functions as an example of a second opening.
Specifically, three outer passage openings 109 are formed at intervals in the width direction corresponding to the three inner passage openings 89 and the frame side passage openings 34 (see FIG. 6). At the time of image formation, each outer passage port 109 faces both the inner passage port 89 and the frame-side passage port 34 at corresponding positions in the width direction.

  Each outer passage port 109 is formed in a substantially hexagonal shape in rear view larger than the corresponding inner passage port 89 (specifically, the outer frame shape of the first seal portion 126 of the corresponding toner seal 92). Here, among the edges forming the respective outer passage openings 109 in the outer peripheral wall 101, the upper part is referred to as the outer upper edge 128, and the lower part is referred to as the outer lower edge 129. The outer upper edge 128 and the outer lower edge 129 function as an example of the other edge and the second edge. The outer upper edge 128 has a substantially inverted V shape that intersects a line extending in the width direction when viewed from the rear (as viewed from the outside in the radial direction), and the outer lower edge 129 is along the width in the rear view. It is substantially V-shaped intersecting with the extending line. Specifically, the outer upper edge 128 is inclined so as to be recessed in a substantially V shape from the upstream side to the downstream side in the movement direction from the open position to the closed position, which will be described later, of the inner casing 81 and the toner seal 92. . The outer lower edge 129 is inclined so as to be recessed in a substantially V shape from the upstream side to the downstream side in the movement direction of the inner casing 81 and the toner seal 92 from a closed position to an open position, which will be described later.

Moreover, the edge which forms each outer passage port 109 in the outer peripheral wall 101 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 101 are connected by an inclined surface 132 (see FIG. 12B). In addition, the periphery of the edge which forms each outer passage port 109 in the outer peripheral wall 101 is chamfered.
In addition, a grip portion 113 is provided on the front side of the outer peripheral wall 101 at the center in the width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the gripping portion 113 includes a substantially rectangular upper gripping plate 114 projecting from the upper side to the front side of the outer peripheral wall 101, and a side view substantially J extending below the upper gripping plate 114. A character-shaped locking arm 115 is provided. The upper end portion of the locking arm 115 is swingably supported by a support shaft 116 provided below the upper gripping plate 114. A locking claw 117 that locks to the lower fixing portion 67 is provided at the lower end of the locking arm 115. In the vicinity of the upper end of the locking arm 115, a substantially rectangular lower gripping plate 118 that projects forward is integrally provided. The lower gripping plate 118 is disposed so as to extend substantially in parallel with the upper gripping plate 114 at a distance.

A compression spring (not shown) that urges the upper gripping plate 114 and the lower gripping plate 118 in a direction to separate them is interposed.
(2-3) Relative Arrangement of Inner Housing and Outer Housing The inner housing 81 is rotatably accommodated in the outer housing 82.
Specifically, the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 83 is fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 101 so as to be slidable in the circumferential direction. Specifically, the toner seal 92 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 83 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 101, and the toner seal 92 mainly slides with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 101. To do.

As shown in FIG. 10A, a corresponding boss portion 85 is rotatably supported in the boss hole 103. A corresponding slide protrusion 86 is inserted into the slide hole 104. A corresponding holding protrusion 87 is inserted into the long hole 108, and the holding protrusion 87 protrudes radially outward from the long hole 108.
The inner housing 81 has a closed position (see FIG. 12) where the inner passage port 89 does not face the outer passage port 109 and an open position where the inner passage port 89 faces the outer passage port 109 (see FIG. 12). Relative rotation with the boss 85 as a fulcrum is allowed between the boss portion 85 and the head (see FIGS. 2 and 10).

In addition, the toner in the inner casing 81 passes through the inner passage port 89 and the outer passage port 109 that are in an opposed state along a substantially horizontal direction (in other words, a radial direction) as described later (FIG. 2). (See (a)). On the other hand, the inner casing 81 rotates along the circumferential direction with respect to the outer casing 82. That is, the relative movement direction of the inner casing 81 and the outer casing 82 with respect to each other is the circumferential direction, and is orthogonal to the toner passing direction (radial direction) at the inner passage port 89.
(2-3-1) Movement of the Inner Housing from the Closed Position to the Open Position When the inner housing 81 is in the closed position, the slide protrusions 86 are formed in the slide holes 104 as shown in FIG. It is arranged at the front end, each clamping protrusion 87 is arranged at the upper end of each long hole 108, the inner passage 89 is arranged above the outer passage 109, and the outer passage 109 is formed by the lower part of the surrounding portion 88. It is closed. In other words, the inner passage port 89 is closed by the outer casing 82.

  Here, as described above, when the inner casing 81 is in a single state that is not accommodated in the outer casing 82, the first seal portion 126 disposed on the protrusion 122 in each toner seal 92 has the first seal portion 126. It protrudes radially outward as compared with the two seal portion 127 (see FIG. 9). Therefore, when the inner casing 81 is accommodated in the outer casing 82 and disposed at the closed position, the first seal portion 126 is pressed against the outer peripheral wall 101 by the protrusion 122, so that It compresses rather than the 2nd seal | sticker part 127 between the surrounding walls 83 (refer FIG.12 (b)). In other words, in this state, the contact pressure of the first seal portion 126 with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 101 is higher than the contact pressure of the second seal portion 127 with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 101.

Further, the seal outer frame lower edge 134 is exposed in the outer passage port 109 in a state where it does not contact either the outer upper edge 128 or the outer lower edge 129.
Then, the inner casing 81 is rotated relative to the outer casing 82 with the boss portion 85 as a fulcrum in a direction (lower side) in which the inner passage opening 89 faces the outer passage opening 109. Then, as shown in FIG. 11A, each slide projection 86 slides each slide hole 104 from the front end portion toward the rear end portion, and each clamping projection 87 moves each long hole 108 from the upper end portion to the lower end portion. Slide towards you. After a while, in the first seal portion 126, the seal lower portion 139 descends while contacting the outer upper edge 128 and begins to be exposed from the outer passage port 109. Thereby, in the seal lower portion 139, the compression between the outer peripheral wall 101 and the inner peripheral wall 83 is released. Then, the rear end portion (radial outer end portion) of the seal lower portion 139 starts to protrude outward in the radial direction of the outer peripheral wall 101 while being guided by the inclined surface 132 from the outer passage port 109 (FIG. 11B). reference). At this time, the seal outer lower edge 131 and the seal inner lower edge 125 of the seal lower portion 139 sequentially contact the outer upper edge 128 so as to escape from the outer upper edge 128.

When the inner casing 81 is continuously rotated, the seal outer lower edge 131 and the seal inner lower edge 125 are sequentially separated from the outer upper edge 128, and the seal outer lower edge 131, the seal inner lower edge 125, and the outer upper edge are separated. Contact with 128 is eliminated in turn. As a result, the lower seal portion 139 is completely exposed in the outer passage 109 and protrudes radially outward of the outer peripheral wall 101.
On the other hand, the seal outer frame lower edge 134 starts to come into contact with the outer lower edge 129 so as to face the outer lower edge 129 in the rotation direction of the inner casing 81, although not shown. Here, as described above, the seal outer frame lower edge 134 extends along the width direction, while the outer lower edge 129 extends along the width direction in the rear view (viewed from the outside in the radial direction). It is substantially V-shaped intersecting with the extending line. Therefore, the seal outer frame lower edge 134 and the outer lower edge 129 that are in contact with each other intersect each other in the rear view. In addition, the seal outer frame lower edge 134 and the outer lower edge 129 are in contact (point contact) at two positions spaced apart so as to be symmetric in the width direction. As they move downward toward the outer passage port 109, they approach each other in the width direction.

  Further, in the first seal portion 126, the seal upper portion 138 is lowered while being in contact with the outer upper edge 128, and begins to be exposed from the outer passage port 109. Accordingly, in the first seal portion 126, the compression between the outer peripheral wall 101 and the inner peripheral wall 83 is released not only in the seal lower portion 139 but also in the seal upper portion 138, and the rear end portion of the seal upper portion 138 is released. From the outer passage port 109, it begins to protrude outside the outer peripheral wall 101 while being guided by the inclined surface 132. At this time, the seal inner upper edge 124 and the seal outer upper edge 130 of the seal upper portion 138 sequentially contact the outer upper edge 128 so as to escape from the outer upper edge 128.

  When the inner casing 81 is continuously rotated, the seal inner upper edge 124 and the seal outer upper edge 130 are sequentially separated from the outer upper edge 128 as shown in FIG. In addition, contact between the seal outer upper edge 130 and the outer upper edge 128 is sequentially eliminated. As a result, the seal upper portion 138 is completely exposed in the outer passage port 109 and protrudes outward in the radial direction of the outer peripheral wall 101.

Further, the seal outer frame lower edge 134 is separated from the outer lower edge 129 and sinks into the radially inner side of the outer peripheral wall 101 (see FIG. 10B), and the seal outer frame lower edge 134 and the outer lower edge 129 The contact is eliminated.
In addition, each slide protrusion 86 abuts on the rear end edge of each slide hole 104, and each clamping protrusion 87 abuts on the lower end edge of each long hole 108, whereby the inner casing 81 is disposed at the open position.

When the inner casing 81 is disposed at the open position, the slide protrusions 86 are disposed at the rear end portions of the slide holes 104, the holding protrusions 87 are disposed at the lower end portions of the long holes 108, and the inner passage openings 89. Is opposed to the corresponding outer passage port 109, and these are communicated and opened. In other words, the inner passage port 89 is opened by the outer casing 82.
Further, when the inner casing 81 is disposed at the open position, all of the first seal portions 126 of the toner seals 92 are exposed from the corresponding outer passage ports 109 and protrude outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral wall 101. (See FIG. 10B). In this state, when viewed from the outside in the radial direction, the first seal portion 126 is disposed away from the outer upper edge 128 and the outer lower edge 129 in the outer passage port 109. In other words, the seal inner upper edge 124, the seal inner lower edge 125, the seal outer upper edge 130, and the seal outer lower edge 131 are also disposed in the outer passage 109 away from the outer upper edge 128 and the outer lower edge 129. ing. Further, the second seal portion 127 of each toner seal 92 is compressed between the outer peripheral wall 101 and the inner peripheral wall 83 so as to surround the corresponding inner passage port 89 and outer passage port 109 (FIG. 10B). )reference). Thereby, toner leakage from the inner passage port 89 and the outer passage port 109 in the communicating state to the space between the outer peripheral wall 101 and the inner peripheral wall 83 is prevented.
(2-3-2) Movement of the inner housing from the open position to the closed position In a state where the inner housing 81 is in the open position, the inner passage port 89 moves away from the outer passage port 109 (upward). The inner casing 81 is rotated relative to the outer casing 82 with the boss portion 85 as a fulcrum. Then, as shown in FIG. 11A, in the first seal portion 126, the seal upper portion 138 rises while being in contact with the outer upper edge 128 and is guided by the inclined surface 132, while the radial direction of the outer peripheral wall 101. It sinks inside (see FIG. 11B). As a result, the seal upper portion 138 starts to be compressed between the outer peripheral wall 101 and the inner peripheral wall 83. Each slide projection 86 slides through each slide hole 104 from the rear end portion toward the front end portion, and each clamping projection 87 slides through each long hole 108 from the lower end portion toward the upper end portion.

  At this time, although not illustrated, the seal outer upper edge 130 of the seal upper portion 138 contacts the outer upper edge 128 so as to face the outer upper edge 128 in the rotation direction of the inner casing 81. Here, as described above, the seal outer upper edge 130 extends along the width direction, while the outer upper edge 128 extends along the width direction in the rear view (viewed from the outside in the radial direction). A substantially inverted V shape intersecting the line. Therefore, the seal outer upper edge 130 and the outer upper edge 128 are in contact with each other in a state of crossing each other in the rear view. Specifically, the seal outer upper edge 130 and the outer upper edge 128 are in point contact at two points spaced apart so as to be symmetrical in the width direction. These contact points approach each other in the width direction as the inner passage port 89 rises away from the outer passage port 109. Also, the seal inner upper edge 124 contacts the outer upper edge 128 so as to escape from the outer upper edge 128 behind the seal outer upper edge 130.

  When the inner casing 81 is continuously rotated, the seal outer upper edge 130 and the seal inner upper edge 124 are sequentially separated from the outer upper edge 128, and the seal outer upper edge 130, the seal inner upper edge 124, and the outer upper edge are separated. Contact with 128 is eliminated in turn. And the seal | sticker upper part 138 completely sunk in the radial inside of the outer peripheral wall 101, and is compressed between the outer peripheral wall 101 and the inner peripheral wall 83 (refer FIG.11 (b)).

Further, the seal outer frame lower edge 134 is exposed in the outer passage port 109 in a state where it does not contact either the outer upper edge 128 or the outer lower edge 129.
When the inner casing 81 continues to rotate, the lower seal portion 139 rises in contact with the outer upper edge 128 in the first seal portion 126, and is guided by the inclined surface 132 while the outer peripheral wall 101. It goes into the inside in the radial direction. As a result, the lower seal portion 139 starts to be compressed between the outer peripheral wall 101 and the inner peripheral wall 83.

  At this time, the seal inner lower edge 125 of the seal lower portion 139 contacts the outer upper edge 128 so as to face the outer upper edge 128 in the rotation direction of the inner casing 81. Here, as described above, the seal inner lower edge 125 extends along the width direction, while the outer upper edge 128 extends along the width direction in the rear view (viewed from the outside in the radial direction). A substantially inverted V shape intersecting the line. Therefore, the seal inner lower edge 125 and the outer upper edge 128 are in contact with each other in a crossed state in the rear view. Specifically, the seal inner lower edge 125 and the outer upper edge 128 are in point contact at two points spaced apart so as to be symmetrical in the width direction. These contact points approach each other in the width direction as the inner passage port 89 rises away from the outer passage port 109. In addition, the seal outer lower edge 131 contacts the outer upper edge 128 so as to escape from the outer upper edge 128 behind the seal inner lower edge 125.

  When the inner casing 81 is further rotated, the seal inner lower edge 125 and the seal outer lower edge 131 are sequentially separated from the outer upper edge 128, and the seal inner lower edge 125, the seal outer lower edge 131, and the outer upper edge are separated. Contact with 128 is eliminated in turn. Then, the lower seal portion 139 completely sinks into the radially inner side of the outer peripheral wall 101 and is compressed between the outer peripheral wall 101 and the inner peripheral wall 83 (see FIG. 12B).

Thereafter, when each slide protrusion 86 comes into contact with the front end edge of each slide hole 104 and each holding protrusion 87 comes into contact with the upper end edge of each long hole 108, as shown in FIG. Located in the closed position. At this time, the first seal portion 126 is completely embedded in the radially inner side of the outer peripheral wall 101 and is compressed between the outer peripheral wall 101 and the inner peripheral wall 83 together with the second seal portion 127 (FIG. 12B). )reference).
(3) Attaching / detaching toner cartridge to / from process frame (3-1) Attaching toner cartridge to / from process frame To attach toner cartridge 31 to process frame 22, as shown in FIG. 118 are clamped in the direction in which they approach, against the urging force of a compression spring (not shown). Then, the toner cartridge 31 (the toner cartridge 31 in which the inner casing 81 is disposed in the closed position) is replaced with the cartridge housing portion 33 (the shutter 68 is disposed in the closed position, and the swing arm 70 is disposed in the press releasing position). To the cartridge housing portion 33).

As a result, the toner cartridge 31 is placed on the bottom plate 64. At this time, each positioning boss 106 is placed on each upper fixing portion 66, and as shown in FIG. 4, each slide protrusion 86 is fitted in each receiving recess 75, and as shown in FIG. 2 (a). In addition, a pair of sandwiching protrusions 87 on both sides in the width direction sandwich the upper end edge and the lower end edge at both ends in the width direction of the shutter 68.
Thereafter, when the clamping of the upper gripping plate 114 and the lower gripping plate 118 is released, the locking arm 115 is swung by the urging force of the compression spring, and the locking claw 117 is locked to the lower fixing portion 67, and the toner cartridge 31 is accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion 33.

The outer casing 82 is fixed to the cartridge housing portion 33 because the positioning boss 106 is placed on the upper fixing portion 66 and the locking claw 117 is locked to the lower fixing portion 67. Is done.
Then, the swing arm 70 is swung from the press release position to the press position. As a result, each slide projection 86 fitted in each receiving recess 75 slides each slide hole 104 rearward as the arm side plate 72 swings, and the rear end of each slide hole 104 (See FIG. 4). Accordingly, a pair of sandwiching protrusions 87 on both sides in the width direction slide down the long holes 108 while sandwiching the shutter 68, and are disposed at the lower ends of the long holes 108 (FIG. 10 ( a)).

  As a result, the inner casing 81 is disposed in the open position, and as shown in FIG. 2A, each inner passage port 89 is opposed to each corresponding outer passage port 109 in a substantially horizontal direction. Communicated. Further, the shutter 68 is disposed at the open position, and the frame side passage port 34 faces the corresponding shutter opening 69 and the cartridge side passage port 47 (the inner passage port 89 and the outer passage port 109) substantially in the horizontal direction. , These are communicated. Further, as described above, each of the first seal portions 126 (see FIG. 2B) protruding to the radially outer side of the outer peripheral wall 101 when the inner housing 81 is in the open position corresponds to the corresponding shutter opening 69. Is pressed against the shutter 68 to close the gap between the inner passage port 89 and the shutter opening 69.

At the time of image formation, the toner in the inner casing 81 passes through the inner passage port 89, the outer passage port 109, the shutter opening portion 69, and the frame side passage port 34 along the substantially horizontal direction by the stirring of the agitator 93. Then, it is supplied into the developing unit 32.
(3-2) Removal of Toner Cartridge from Process Frame To release the toner cartridge 31 from the process frame 22, first, the swing arm 70 is swung from the pressed position to the pressed release position.

  When the swing arm 70 is swung from the press position to the press release position, each slide protrusion 86 (see FIG. 4) fitted in each receiving recess 75 is moved along with the swing of each arm side plate 72. As shown in FIG. 12A, each slide hole 104 is slid forward and disposed at the front end of each slide hole 104. Then, a pair of clamping protrusions 87 on both sides in the width direction slide over the long holes 108 while holding the shutter 68, and are arranged at the upper ends of the long holes 108.

As a result, the inner housing 81 is disposed at the closed position, the lower portion of the surrounding portion 88 faces the outer passage port 109, and the outer passage port 109 is closed. Further, the shutter 68 is disposed at the closed position, and the frame side passage opening 34 is closed to face the shutter 68 (see FIG. 3).
Then, when the upper gripping plate 114 and the lower gripping plate 118 shown in FIG. 2A are sandwiched in the direction in which they approach each other, the locking with respect to the lower fixing portion 67 of the locking claw 117 is released. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, if the toner cartridge 31 is pulled out from the cartridge housing portion 33 as it is, the toner cartridge 31 is detached from the process frame 22.
3. Advantageous Effects of Embodiment In this toner cartridge 31, when the outer casing 82 opens and closes the inner passage port 89, as shown in FIG. 82 (specifically, the outer peripheral wall 101) is rubbed. For this reason, it is possible to prevent toner from leaking from the inner passage port 89 to the space between the inner housing 81 and the outer housing 82 not only when the inner passage port 89 is opened and closed.

  In the toner seal 92, the contact pressure of the first seal portion 126 with respect to the outer casing 82 (specifically, the outer peripheral wall 101) is higher than the contact pressure of the second seal portion 127 with respect to the outer casing 82. As a result, the first seal portion 126 having a relatively high contact pressure with respect to the outer casing 82 can reliably prevent toner leakage from the inner passage port 89 at the inner edge 135. Then, the contact pressure of the second seal portion 127 with respect to the outer housing 82 is lower than the contact pressure of the first seal portion 126 with respect to the outer housing 82. Thereby, compared with the case where the contact pressure at the second seal portion 127 is equal to the contact pressure at the first seal portion 126, the opening and closing operation of the inner passage port 89 is performed between the outer casing 82 and the toner seal 92. Sliding resistance can be reduced.

Further, since the toner seal 92 includes not only the first seal portion 126 but also the second seal portion 127, the inner passage port 89 is opened and closed as compared with the case where the toner seal 92 includes only the first seal portion 126. In this case, it is possible to prevent the toner seal 92 from being peeled off.
As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in operability related to opening and closing of the inner passage port 89 while preventing toner leakage from the inner passage port 89.

Further, the protrusion 122 presses the first seal portion 126 toward the outer casing 82. Therefore, the contact pressure of the first seal portion 126 with respect to the outer housing 82 can be made higher than the contact pressure of the second seal portion 127 with respect to the outer housing 82 with a simple configuration.
The protrusion 122 is provided on the inner edge 135 in the inner housing 81. Therefore, since the protrusion 122 presses the first seal portion 126 toward the outer housing 82, the contact pressure of the first seal portion 126 with respect to the outer housing 82 is changed to the contact of the second seal portion 127 with respect to the outer housing 82. Higher than the pressure.

  In addition, when the outer casing 82 opens the inner passage port 89, the first seal portion 126 is located on the outer casing 82 in the protruding direction (radial direction) of the protrusion 122, as shown in FIG. Located outside. Therefore, when the toner in the inner housing 81 is supplied to a device other than the toner cartridge 31, the toner leaks between the inner passage port 89 and the device by bringing the first seal portion 126 into contact with the device. Can be prevented. Specifically, when the toner in the inner casing 81 is supplied to the process frame 22 with the inner passage port 89 opposed to the frame side passage port 34 of the process frame 22, as shown in FIG. The seal portion 126 is brought into contact with the process frame 22 (specifically, the shutter 68). Thereby, it is possible to prevent toner from leaking between the inner passage port 89 and the frame-side passage port 34 and the shutter opening 69.

  Further, since the outer casing 82 accommodates the inner casing 81, the toner cartridge 31 can have a double structure. The outer passage port 109 that is formed in the outer housing 82 and opens the inner passage port 89 when facing the inner passage port 89 is larger than the inner passage port 89 as shown in FIG. When the inner opening 89 is opened by the 82, the first seal portion 126 can be reliably disposed outside the outer casing 82.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the protrusion 122 is provided over the entire circumference of the inner edge 135. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12B, the first seal portion 126 contacts the outer casing 82. The pressure can be higher than the contact pressure of the second seal portion 127 with respect to the outer casing 82 over the entire circumference of the inner edge 135. Thereby, toner leakage from the inner passage port 89 can be reliably prevented over the entire circumference of the inner edge 135. If the first seal portion 126 can be brought into contact with the outer casing 82 over the entire circumference of the inner edge 135, the protrusion 122 may be partially provided with respect to the inner edge 135. Good.

  The toner seal 92 is provided in the inner casing 81 in which the inner passage port 89 is formed. If the toner seal 92 is provided on the outer casing 82, the toner seal 92 is displaced from the inner passage port 89 when the inner casing 81 is moved. Although separately required, providing the toner seal 92 on the inner casing 81 eliminates the need for such a seal.

And since the 1st seal | sticker part 126 is arrange | positioned at the processus | protrusion 122, the processus | protrusion 122 can press the 1st seal | sticker part 126 toward the outer side housing | casing 82 reliably.
Further, in the state where the toner cartridge 31 is mounted on the process frame 22, as shown in FIG. 2A, the first seal portion 126 is in contact with the process frame 22 (specifically, the shutter 68). As a result, it is possible to prevent toner from leaking between the inner passage port 89 and the process frame 22, and the frame-side passage port 34 and the shutter opening 69 of the process frame 22 can smoothly remove the toner from the inner passage port 89. Can accept.
4). Modification (1) Modification 1
In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the process cartridge 17 is integrally provided with the photosensitive drum 25 and the developing roller 37, and the process cartridge 17 is detachably attached to the main body casing 2. In addition to this, for example, while the process cartridge 17 is a developing cartridge that does not include the photosensitive drum 25, another unit (drum cartridge) that includes the photosensitive drum 25 is provided, and the developing cartridge is attached to and detached from the drum cartridge. You may attach freely. Alternatively, only the toner cartridge 31 may be detachable while the process cartridge 17 is mounted on the main casing 2.

Further, the photosensitive drum 25, the scorotron charger 26 and the transfer roller 28 can be provided in the main casing 2, and the developing cartridge can be detachably attached to the main casing 2.
(2) Modification 2
In the above-described embodiment, the monochrome laser printer 1 is illustrated. However, for example, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can be configured as a color laser printer (including a tandem type and an intermediate transfer type).
(3) Modification 3
The toner may be circulated between the developing unit 32 and the toner cartridge 31. In that case, for example, an auger is provided in the developing unit 32. Then, the toner of the toner cartridge 31 is supplied into the developing unit 32 through the cartridge side passage port 47 (see FIG. 10A) and the frame side passage port 34 (see FIG. 6) at the center in the width direction. Is supplied to the supply roller 36 while being conveyed to both sides in the width direction by the auger. On the other hand, the toner that could not be supplied to the supply roller 36 is returned into the toner cartridge 31 through the frame side passage port 34 and the cartridge side passage port 47 on both sides in the width direction.
(4) Modification 4
FIG. 13A is a rear view of the toner seal according to the fourth modification. FIG. 13B is a side sectional view of the toner seal according to the fourth modification.

  In the above-described embodiment, in order to make the contact pressure of the first seal portion 126 with respect to the outer peripheral wall 101 higher than the contact pressure of the second seal portion 127 with respect to the outer peripheral wall 101, as shown in FIG. When attached to the inner peripheral wall 83, the first seal portion 126 protrudes radially outward as compared to the second seal portion 127. Specifically, as described above, the protrusion 122 is provided on the inner edge 135 of each inner passage port 89 so that the toner seal 92 (see FIG. 8B) having a uniform length (thickness) in the front-rear direction is provided on the inner peripheral wall. When sticking to 83, the 1st seal part 126 is made to project to the diameter direction outside compared with the 2nd seal part 127 (refer to Drawing 9 (b)).

  Instead, the toner seal 92 is formed so that the first seal portion 126 protrudes radially outward as compared to the second seal portion 127 before the toner seal 92 is attached to the inner peripheral wall 83. May be. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13B, in the toner seal 92, the first seal portion 126 is set to be thicker than the second seal portion 127. Specifically, the rear end surface of the first seal portion 126 (the end surface disposed on the outer side in the radial direction when the toner seal 92 is attached to the inner peripheral wall 83) is on the rear side of the rear end surface of the second seal portion 127. It protrudes one step.

Therefore, even if the protrusion 122 is not provided on the inner peripheral wall 83, when the toner seal 92 is attached to the inner peripheral wall 83, the first seal portion 126 protrudes outward in the radial direction compared to the second seal portion 127. Can do.
(5) Modification 5
FIG. 14A is a rear view of the toner seal according to the fifth modification. FIG. 14B is a side sectional view of the toner seal according to the fifth modification.

  In the embodiment and the modification described above, the toner seal 92 is applied to the inner peripheral wall 83 in order to make the contact pressure of the first seal portion 126 with respect to the outer peripheral wall 101 higher than the contact pressure of the second seal portion 127 with respect to the outer peripheral wall 101. When pasted, the first seal portion 126 protrudes radially outward as compared to the second seal portion 127. For this purpose, a protrusion 122 is provided, or the toner seal 92 is formed so that the first seal portion 126 is thicker than the second seal portion 127.

Instead, as shown in FIG. 14, the thickness of the toner seal 92 remains uniform, and the rigidity of the first seal portion 126 (the hatched portion in the drawing) is made higher than the rigidity of the second seal portion 127. May correspond.
In this case, referring to FIG. 12B, the restoring force of the first seal portion 126 when compressed between the outer peripheral wall 101 and the inner peripheral wall 83 is larger than the restoring force of the second seal portion 127. growing. In other words, the contact pressure of the first seal portion 126 with respect to the outer peripheral wall 101 can be made higher than the contact pressure of the second seal portion 127 with respect to the outer peripheral wall 101.
(6) Modification 6
FIG. 15 is a diagram in which the sixth modification is applied to FIG. In FIG. 15, for convenience of explanation, the toner seal is shown filled.

  As shown in FIG. 15, in the protrusion 122, the protrusion lower portion 137 may be protruded by a predetermined amount X in the protrusion direction (radially outward) from the protrusion upper portion 136. Accordingly, when the inner passage port 89 is opened, the lower seal portion 139 disposed in the lower protrusion portion 137 is more radially outward than the upper seal portion 138 disposed in the upper protrusion portion 136. Protruding.

  Thus, in a state where the toner cartridge 31 is mounted on the process frame 22, the contact pressure of the lower seal portion 139 with respect to the process frame 22 (specifically, the shutter 68) is higher than the contact pressure of the upper seal portion 138 with respect to the process frame 22. Get higher. Thereby, at least the seal lower part 139 can be reliably brought into contact with the process frame 22. Therefore, toner can be prevented from leaking downward from the inner passage port 89 between the inner passage port 89 and the process cartridge 17 (specifically, the process frame 22).

Further, the protrusion amount of the lower protrusion portion 137 remains the same as the protrusion amount of the upper protrusion portion 136 and the thickness of the toner seal 92 remains uniform, and the rigidity of the lower seal portion 139 is increased. You may respond by making it higher than rigidity of.
In this case, the restoring force of the lower seal portion 139 pressed against the process frame 22 (specifically, the shutter 68) is larger than the restoring force of the upper seal portion 138. In other words, the contact pressure of the lower seal portion 139 with respect to the process frame 22 can be made higher than the contact pressure of the upper seal portion 138 with respect to the process frame 22. Thereby, it is possible to reliably prevent the toner from leaking to the lower side of the inner passage port 89 between the inner passage port 89 and the process cartridge 17 (specifically, the process frame 22 and the shutter 68).
(7) Modification 7
In the above-described embodiment, the inner housing 81 is rotated from the closed position to the open position so that the inner passage port 89 is lowered toward the outer passage port 109. Instead, the inner passage port 89 is The inner casing 81 may be rotated from the closed position to the open position so as to rise toward the outer passage port 109.

  In the above-described embodiment, the inner housing 81 rotates with respect to the outer housing 82. Alternatively, the outer housing 82 may rotate with respect to the inner housing 81. . Specifically, when the outer casing 82 rotates between the open position and the closed position, and the outer casing 82 is in the open position, the inner passage port 89 is opened opposite to the outer passage port 109. When the outer casing 82 is in the closed position, the inner passage port 89 is closed at a portion other than the outer passage port 109 in the outer peripheral wall 101.

  Further, the toner cartridge 31 does not have to have a double structure in which the outer casing 82 accommodates the inner casing 81. In this case, the outer casing 82 is disposed outside the inner casing 81 and has an inner peripheral wall. The shutter may be slidable with respect to the outer peripheral surface of 83. If the outer casing 82 is a shutter, the outer casing 82 itself can be simply shifted from the inner passage opening 89 without opening the inner passage opening 89 by making the outer passage opening 109 face the inner passage opening 89. Since the inner passage port 89 can be opened, the outer passage port 109 need not be formed in the outer casing 82.

  Further, when it is desired to project the first seal portion 126 outward in the radial direction of the outer peripheral wall 101 when the inner passage port 89 is opened, the toner seal 92 is provided in the outer casing 82 instead of the inner casing 81. Also good. In that case, the toner seal 92 is adhered to the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 101 so that the first seal portion 126 is exposed in the outer passage port 109. As a result, when the inner passage port 89 faces the outer passage port 109, the first seal portion 126 exposed in the outer passage port 109 is pressed by the protrusion 122 provided at the edge of the inner passage port 89, Projects to the outside of the peripheral wall 101. Of course, also in this case, the inner casing 81 may rotate with respect to the outer casing 82, and the outer casing 82 may rotate with respect to the inner casing 81.

  Further, when it is desired to compress the first seal portion 126 between the outer peripheral wall 101 and the inner peripheral wall 83 more than the second seal portion 127, the protrusion 122 is provided not on the inner housing 81 but on the outer housing 82. Also good. In this case, the protrusion 122 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 101 and is formed so as to protrude toward the radially inner side of the outer peripheral wall 101 (the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 83). Then, the toner seal 92 is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 101 so that the first seal portion 126 is disposed on the protrusion 122. As a result, when the inner casing 81 is accommodated in the outer casing 82, the first seal portion 126 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 83 by the protrusion 122, so that the gap between the outer peripheral wall 101 and the inner peripheral wall 83 is reduced. Thus, it is compressed more than the second seal portion 127. In other words, in this state, the contact pressure of the first seal portion 126 with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 83 can be higher than the contact pressure of the second seal portion 127 with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 83. The protrusion 122 may be provided on one of the outer peripheral wall 101 and the inner peripheral wall 83, the toner seal 92 may be provided on the other of the outer peripheral wall 101 and the inner peripheral wall 83, and the inner casing 81 may be the outer casing. The outer casing 82 may rotate with respect to the inner casing 81. In any case, when the outer casing 82 closes the inner passage port 89, the first seal portion 126 is disposed at the edge (inner edge 135) of the inner passage port 89, and the second seal portion 127 passes through the inner passage port 89. What is necessary is just to arrange | position in the position away from the 1st seal | sticker part 126 with respect to the opening | mouth 89. FIG. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a decrease in operability related to opening / closing of the inner passage port 89 while preventing toner leakage from the inner passage port 89.

1 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of a laser printer as an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a side sectional view of the process cartridge of the laser printer shown in FIG. 1 (a state where the toner cartridge is mounted and the swing arm is in the pressing position). FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a process cartridge (a state where a toner cartridge is detached and a swing arm is in a pressing release position) of the laser printer shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the process cartridge as viewed obliquely from the right front side. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the process cartridge as viewed obliquely from the front right side. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a process cartridge (toner cartridge detached state) with a shutter omitted. FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the inner housing (a state before the toner seal is attached) of the toner cartridge as viewed obliquely from the rear left side. FIG.7 (b) is a principal part side sectional view in an inner side passage port of the inner side housing | casing shown to Fig.7 (a). FIG. 8A is a rear view of the toner seal. FIG. 8B is a side sectional view of the toner seal. FIG. 9A shows a state where the toner seal is attached in FIG. FIG. 9B shows a state where the toner seal is attached in FIG. FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the toner cartridge (in a state where the inner housing is in the open position) as viewed obliquely from the left rear side. FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional side view of a main part of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the toner cartridge (in a state where the inner housing is between the open position and the closed position) as viewed obliquely from the left rear side. FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional side view of the main part of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. FIG. 12A is a perspective view of the toner cartridge (in a state where the inner housing is in the closed position) as viewed obliquely from the rear left side. FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional side view of the main part of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. FIG. 13A is a rear view of the toner seal according to the fourth modification. FIG. 13B is a side sectional view of the toner seal according to the fourth modification. FIG. 14A is a rear view of the toner seal according to the fifth modification. FIG. 14B is a side sectional view of the toner seal according to the fifth modification. It is the figure which applied the modification 6 to FIG.10 (b).

Explanation of symbols

17 Process Cartridge 22 Process Frame 31 Toner Cartridge 34 Frame Side Passing Port 68 Shutter 69 Shutter Opening Portion 81 Inner Housing 82 Outer Housing 89 Inner Passing Port 92 Toner Seal 109 Outer Passing Port 122 Protrusion 126 First Seal Portion 127 Second Seal Part 135 Inner edge 136 Projection upper part 137 Projection lower part 138 Seal upper part 139 Seal lower part

Claims (17)

A first frame containing a developer and having a first opening for the developer to pass through;
A second frame for opening and closing the first opening;
A seal member that is provided on one of the first frame and the second frame and prevents leakage of the developer from the first opening by contacting the other;
The first frame has a first edge forming the first opening;
The seal member includes a first seal portion disposed at the first edge when the second frame closes the first opening, and the first seal portion when the second frame closes the first opening. A second seal portion disposed at a position away from the first seal portion with respect to one opening,
The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a contact pressure of the first seal portion with respect to the other is higher than a contact pressure of the second seal portion with respect to the other.   The projection according to claim 1, further comprising: a protrusion provided on one of the first frame and the second frame, protruding toward the other, and pressing the first seal portion toward the other. The toner cartridge according to 1.   The toner cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion is provided on the first edge portion of the first frame. The second frame is disposed outside the first frame;
The said 1st seal | sticker part is located in the outer side of the said 2nd frame in the protrusion direction of the said protrusion when the said 2nd flame | frame opens the said 1st opening, The Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Toner cartridge. The second frame houses the first frame;
The first frame and the second frame are movable relative to each other;
5. The second frame according to claim 4, wherein the second frame is formed with a second opening that is larger than the first opening and opens the first opening when facing the first opening. 6. Toner cartridge.   6. The toner cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the protrusion is provided over the entire circumference of the first edge portion.   The toner cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the seal member is provided on the first frame such that the first seal portion is disposed on the protrusion. A toner cartridge for containing the developer, and a housing to which the toner cartridge can be attached and detached,
The toner cartridge is
A first frame containing a developer and having a first opening for the developer to pass through;
A second frame for opening and closing the first opening;
A seal member that is provided on one of the first frame and the second frame and prevents leakage of the developer from the first opening by contacting the other;
The first frame has a first edge forming the first opening;
The seal member includes a first seal portion disposed at the first edge when the second frame closes the first opening, and the first seal portion when the second frame closes the first opening. A second seal portion disposed at a position away from the first seal portion with respect to one opening,
The contact pressure of the first seal part with respect to the other is higher than the contact pressure of the second seal part with respect to the other,
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed with a third opening facing the first opening and capable of receiving the developer.   The projection according to claim 1, further comprising: a protrusion provided on one of the first frame and the second frame, protruding toward the other, and pressing the first seal portion toward the other. The developing device according to 8.   The developing device according to claim 9, wherein the protrusion is provided on the first edge portion of the first frame. The second frame is disposed outside the first frame;
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein when the second frame opens the first opening, the first seal portion is positioned outside the second frame in a protruding direction of the protrusion. Development device. The second frame houses the first frame;
The first frame and the second frame are movable relative to each other;
The second frame according to claim 11, wherein the second frame is formed with a second opening that is larger than the first opening and opens the first opening when facing the first opening. Development device.   The developing device according to claim 11, wherein the protrusion is provided over the entire circumference of the first edge portion.   The developing device according to claim 11, wherein the seal member is provided on the first frame such that the first seal portion is disposed on the protrusion.   The developing device according to claim 11, wherein the first seal portion is in contact with the housing in a state where the toner cartridge is mounted on the housing.   In a state where the toner cartridge is mounted on the housing, a portion of the protrusion that is located below the first opening projects more than a portion that is located above the first opening. The developing device according to claim 15, wherein the developing device projects in a direction. In a state where the toner cartridge is mounted on the casing, the first seal portion contacts the casing,
Of the first seal portion, the contact pressure of the portion located below the first opening with respect to the housing is the contact pressure of the portion located above the first opening with respect to the housing. The developing device according to claim 8, wherein the developing device is higher than the pressure.

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