JP2010241468A - Developer vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developer vessel having excellent transferability in a biaxially blow molded vessel. <P>SOLUTION: In the developer vessel, a flange includes: a middle cylindrical part which engages with a developer accommodation body and at least part of which covers the outer circumference of an opening; and a discharge cylindrical part which is formed at the approximately rotation center of the developer vessel of the end surface of the middle cylindrical part, has an inner diameter smaller than that of the middle cylindrical part, and has a protrusion having a discharge opening at one end and a protrusion protruding to an insertion part on another end. A transfer member includes a partition wall lifting the developer in the developer accommodation body through rotation of the developer vessel, and a transfer rib transferring the lifted developer to the discharge cylindrical part. The partition wall and the transfer rib protrude from the accommodation part to the vicinity of the end surface of the protrusion so as to accept the developer and deliver the same to the discharge cylindrical part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer container for containing and replenishing fine powder such as developer used in a developing device of an image forming apparatus using electrophotographic technology.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer, a fine powder developer is used for image formation.

  In recent years, in an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a main body) such as a copying machine or a printer, supply / replacement of a developer which is a consumable is performed by leaving a container filled with a developer (hereinafter referred to as a developer container) A method of supplying the developer to the main body by rotating the developer container according to the timing when the main body needs the developer is employed.

  In the developer container that replenishes the developer to the main body by the rotation described above, a developer container partially formed by biaxial stretch blow molding (hereinafter referred to as a biaxial stretch blow container) in response to heightened environmental awareness. It has been increasing in recent years. The biaxially stretched blow container has an advantage that the environmental load can be reduced in that it uses less resin material than a developer container (hereinafter referred to as an injection container) formed by injection molding as in the prior art.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a method of manufacturing a cylindrical toner bottle as a developer supply container by a biaxial stretch blow molding method.

  Here, the biaxial stretch blow molding will be briefly described. In the biaxial stretch blow container, a preform is first formed by injection molding. Subsequently, while the preform is stretched in the axial direction by the stretching rod, air is injected from the opening side of the preform and stretched in the radial direction to form a desired container shape. The biaxially stretched blow container formed by the above method is roughly divided into a part (injection part) formed by injection molding and a part (blow part) stretched by a stretching rod and air.

  In the biaxially stretched blow container formed by the above-described method, the diameter of the blow part is larger than the diameter of the injection part. Further, in many cases, spiral ribs that convey the developer by rotation of the developer container are formed in the blow unit. Therefore, the developer discharging operation of the biaxial stretch blow container is performed as described below.

  First, by the rotation of the container, the developer in the blow part is transported to the vicinity of the injection part by the spiral rib and stays there. Subsequently, the staying developer is lifted from the blow unit to the injection unit and conveyed to the discharge port. That is, a transport unit is required for lifting the developer from the blow unit to the injection unit and transporting the developer to the discharge port. As means for achieving this, for example, a transport member has been proposed that lifts the developer in the blow unit as the developer container rotates and transports it to the injection unit.

  According to the developer container described here, the plate-like partition wall provided on the transport member and the transport rib provided on the partition wall extend from the blow part to the vicinity of the discharge port through the opening. The developer staying in the blow section can be reliably lifted up to the injection section and conveyed to the discharge port.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-42626

  However, the conveyance member used for the developer container described above has the following problems. For example, the problem will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the tip of the developer container 201 using a blow container in part. As shown in FIG. 16, the developer container 201 includes a developer container 202 formed by a biaxial stretch blow molding method, a flange 203 formed by an injection molding method, and a conveying member 204. The developer container 202 includes an opening 208 for blowing air that is an injection molding part, and a container 209 that is a blow molding part. Here, the inner diameter R1 of the accommodating portion 209 is larger than the inner diameter R2 of the opening 208, and the accommodating portion 209 and the opening 208 are connected by a smooth slope (hereinafter referred to as a shoulder). The inclination of the shoulder is naturally determined by the inner diameter R2 of the opening 208 and the inner diameter R1 of the accommodating portion 209. In addition, the flange 203 includes an intermediate cylindrical portion 210 that partially covers the outer peripheral surface of the opening 208 and a discharge cylindrical portion 205 provided substantially at the center of the end surface of the intermediate cylindrical portion 210. The inner diameter R3 of the discharge cylindrical portion 205 is smaller than the inner diameter R2 of the opening 208. The transport member 204 includes a partition wall 207 that lifts the developer and a transport rib 206 that transports the lifted developer to the discharge cylindrical portion 205 when the developer container 201 rotates in the direction of arrow d in the figure. ing. The partition wall 207 and the transport rib 206 extend from the housing portion 209 through the opening 208 to the end of the discharge cylindrical portion 205. Here, the developer transportability of the developer container 201 is greatly affected by the space E formed by the shoulders of the transport rib 206 and the inclination angle β of the transport rib 206 with respect to the rotation axis. For example, in the case of the above configuration, the space E is generally widened in order to increase the developer conveyance amount, but at that time, the inclination angle β of the conveyance rib 206 becomes dull and the developer slides on the conveyance rib 206. The conveyance force F obtained by the thing becomes small. Here, the developer passes through the discharge cylindrical portion 205 by the conveying force F and is supplied to the main body from the discharge port 211. That is, there is a concern that the decrease in the conveyance force F causes the developer to stay in the discharge cylindrical portion 205. On the contrary, if the inclination angle β of the transport rib 206 is sharpened to give the developer a sufficient transport force F, the space E becomes very narrow and there is a concern that the developer may be blocked due to physical distribution or long-term storage. . Further, there is a concern that the amount of developer transport decreases as the space E becomes narrow. That is, in the developer container 201 having the conventional configuration, it is often difficult to form a desired shape in order to provide transportability commensurate with the amount of developer discharge required by the main body. In particular, when the amount of developer in the developer container 202 is low, the developer transportability is greatly affected by the shape of the transport member 204, so that a desired developer amount can be discharged to the main body side. There were problems such as being unable to do so.

  In order to solve the above problems and satisfy the desired developer discharge amount of the main body, for example, the capacity of the main body motor is enhanced, the rotation speed of the developer container 201 is increased, and the developer discharge amount per unit time is increased. I was letting. Further, for example, the image formation is stopped until the desired developer is discharged to the main body, and the shortage of the developer discharge amount due to the decrease in transportability is compensated. As another method, when a desired amount of developer is not discharged to the main body, the container is replaced with a new one.

  The above-described method for compensating for the shortage of developer discharge amount has led to an increase in running cost due to a large amount of developer remaining in a used container and a decrease in usability due to an increase in replacement frequency. In addition, problems such as an increase in the size of the main body, an increase in cost, and a decrease in productivity have been caused, which has hindered downsizing of the main body and reduction of environmental burden. Therefore, as described above, there is a demand for establishment of a developer container having a transport mechanism having excellent transportability even when the shape of the developer container or flange is restricted.

The first invention according to the present application is:
A developer container that is detachable from the image forming apparatus and discharges the developer by rotation, wherein the developer container is developed by rotating the developer container and a developer container that contains the developer. A developer member for conveying the developer, wherein the developer container is provided at a substantially cylindrical housing part for containing the developer, and a rotation center of the developer container on the end surface of the container part. An intermediate cylindrical portion having a smaller inner diameter than the intermediate cylindrical portion, and a discharge cylindrical portion having a smaller inner diameter than the intermediate cylindrical portion inner diameter. A partition wall that lifts the developer in the housing portion and the intermediate cylindrical portion by rotation, and a transport rib that transports the lifted developer to the discharge cylindrical portion;
The discharge cylindrical portion has a discharge port at one end and a protruding portion that protrudes into the intermediate cylindrical portion at the other end, and the partition wall and the transport rib pass the developer to the discharge cylindrical portion. And, it extends from the inside of the housing part to the vicinity of the end face of the protruding part.

The second invention according to the present application is:
A developer container that is detachable from the image forming apparatus and discharges the developer by rotation,
The developer container includes a developer container that contains a developer formed by a biaxial stretch blow molding method;
It comprises a flange formed by an injection molding method and a conveying member that is incorporated in the developer container so as not to rotate relative to the developer container. The developer container has an opening formed with an opening for blowing air for blowing. A housing portion having a larger inner diameter than the inner diameter of the opening that is stretched by the air and the stretching rod,
The flange is formed at an approximately cylindrical center of rotation of the developer container on the end surface of the intermediate cylindrical portion, and an intermediate cylindrical portion that engages with the developer container and at least a part of which covers the outer peripheral surface of the opening. The inner cylindrical portion has an inner diameter smaller than the inner cylindrical diameter, and has a discharge port at one end and a discharge cylindrical portion having a protruding portion protruding into the fitting portion at the other end, and the transport member rotates the developer container A partition wall that lifts the developer in the developer container, and a transport rib that transports the lifted developer to the discharge cylindrical portion, and the partition wall and the transport rib include the developer as described above. It extends from the inside of the storage part to the vicinity of the end face of the protruding part so as to be delivered to the discharge cylindrical part.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a developer container having excellent transportability can be provided.

  As a result, the image forming apparatus main body can be made compact and reduce the environmental load.

1 is an image forming apparatus main body according to the present invention. A developer container according to the present invention. A developer container according to the present invention. The flange which concerns on this invention. The conveying member which concerns on this invention. Cap according to the present invention. The front-end | tip part of the developer container which concerns on this invention. A developer container according to the present invention. Discharge operation 1 of the developer container according to the present invention. Discharge operation 2 of the developer container according to the present invention. Discharge operation 3 of the developer container according to the present invention. The developer container according to Comparative Example 1. The developer container according to Comparative Example 2. The developer container according to Comparative Example 3. The developer container according to Comparative Example 4. Developer container according to the prior art.

  The image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as the main body) and the developer container in the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Image forming device)
The main body of the image forming apparatus used in the present invention is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, a main body 101 according to the present invention is a four-color full-color machine composed of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, and container housings 102A to 102D, photoconductors 103A to 103D, and developing units corresponding to the respective colors. 104A to 104D and laser light paths 105A to 105D are provided. Further, a paper medium 106, an intermediate transfer member 107, and a fixing device 108 are provided.

  The operation process of the main body is simplified and described below.

  An image signal of a desired document or design is transmitted from a PC or the like. Next, in accordance with the signal, the charged photoconductors 103A to 103D are irradiated with a laser to distinguish between a charged part and an uncharged part (hereinafter, electrostatic latent image). Subsequently, the developer in the developing devices 104A to 104D is developed onto the photoconductors 103A to 103D in accordance with the electrostatic latent images generated on the photoconductors 103A to 103D. At this time, the developer is supplied to the developing devices 104A to 104D from a developer hopper (not shown) provided in the container housings 102A to 102D in order to compensate for the shortage of the developer used by the development.

  The developer developed on the photoconductors 103A to 103D is once transferred to the intermediate transfer member 107. Further, the developer transferred to the intermediate transfer member 107 is transferred again to the paper medium 106. Thereafter, the paper medium 106 is conveyed to the fixing device 108, the developer on the paper medium 106 is melted and fixed on the paper medium 106 by the heat generated by the fixing device 108, and is discharged out of the main body 101 as a desired product. The

(Developer container-outline)
The outline of the developer container 1 used in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. For convenience of explanation, the developer container 1 shown in FIG. 2 is a diagram in which a part of the developer container 2 and the flange 3 are omitted so that the inside can be seen.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the developer container 1 includes a developer container 2, a flange 3, a conveying member 4, a cap 5, and a seal member 6, and is detachable from the container housings 102 </ b> A to 102 </ b> D.

  Details of each component will be described below.

(Developer container)
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the developer container 2. The developer container 2 is formed by a biaxial stretch blow molding method. As shown in FIG. 3, the opening 7 is formed by injection molding at one end and blows air, and the opening stretched and blown by the air and the stretch rod It is comprised by the accommodating part 8 larger in diameter than the part 7. FIG. In addition, the accommodating portion 8 is provided with a conveying projection portion 9. In addition, the other end of the opening 7 is provided with a grip 10 for the user to hold the developer container 1. Further, the opening 7 and the accommodating portion 8 are connected by a smooth inclined portion 11 (hereinafter referred to as a shoulder portion). Moreover, the conveyance protrusion part 9 conveys the developer in the accommodating part 3 to the arrow X direction, when the developer accommodating body 2 rotates to the arrow S direction shown in FIG. The conveyed developer stays in the staying portion 18 near the shoulder 11.

(Flange)
FIG. 4 shows the flange 3. 4 (a) is a perspective view, and FIG. 4 (b) is a cross-sectional view.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the flange 3 is mainly composed of a discharge cylindrical portion 15 and a fitting portion 13 having a larger diameter than the discharge cylindrical portion 15. An incompatible protrusion 14 is provided on the outer periphery of the largest diameter portion of the fitting portion 13. As shown in FIG. 4 (b), the discharge cylindrical portion 15 has a discharge port 12 at one end on the outside, and the other end protrudes into the fitting portion 13 through the substantial center of the end surface of the fitting portion 13. A portion 17 is provided. Further, the discharge cylindrical portion 15 has a smaller diameter than the opening 7 of the developer container 2. Further, an insertion portion 16 into which the seal member 6 is inserted is provided on the inner end face side of the fitting portion 13. Further, a drive receiving rib 26 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the discharge cylindrical portion 15 to receive the driving force of the main body from a transmission portion 25 of the cap 5 described later.

(Conveying member)
Next, the conveying member 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5A is a perspective view, and FIG. 5B is a front view.

  The conveying member 4 is incorporated with respect to the developer container 2 so as not to be relatively rotatable. Therefore, as will be described later, when the developer container 2 rotates in the direction of arrow S shown in FIG. 2, the transport member 4 also rotates in the same manner. At that time, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the partition wall 19 for lifting the developer staying in the staying portion 18 shown in FIG. 7 and the raised developer to the projecting portion 17 of the discharge cylindrical portion 15. The conveyance member 4 includes a conveyance rib 20 for conveyance. Further, a slit 21 is formed in a part of the partition wall 19, and the transport rib 20 can be elastically deformed in the direction of the arrow c shown in FIG. 5 (b). Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the partition wall 19 and the conveying rib 20 extend from the staying portion 18 of the developer container 2 to the vicinity of the protruding portion 17 of the flange 3. As shown in FIG. 5 (b), the inclination angle α with respect to the axis P of the conveying rib 20 of the present invention is 40 degrees.

  Although the angle α of the transport rib 20 of the transport member 4 of the present invention is 40 degrees, the angle is appropriately set according to the developer amount desired by the main body. Further, as the material of the conveying member 4, it is desirable to employ an elastically deformable resin such as polypropylene or polyacetal.

(cap)
FIG. 6 shows the cap 5. As shown in FIG. 6, the cap 5 abuts on the inner peripheral surface of the discharge cylindrical portion 15 of the flange 3, a seal portion 22 that prevents leakage of the developer, and a locking claw 23 that engages with a main body drive portion (not shown). A release claw 24 for releasing the engagement relationship, and a transmission portion 25 for transmitting the driving force of the main body drive portion to the drive receiving rib 26 of the flange 3.

(Developer container-assembly method)
Next, the developer container 1 composed of the above-described components will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view of the tip of the developer container 1 shown in FIG. 2, and the developer container 2 and the flange 3 are partially deleted for convenience of explanation.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the developer container 1 includes a conveying member 4 inside the developer container 2. Further, the developer container 2 and the flange 3 are joined via the seal member 6 so that a part of the fitting part 13 of the flange 3 covers the outer periphery of the developer container 2 in the vicinity of the opening 7 and the stay part 18. Has been. Here, as described above, the conveyance rib 20 of the conveyance member 4 extends to the vicinity of the protrusion 17 of the discharge cylindrical portion 15 of the flange 3 as shown in FIG.

  Further, the compression amount of the sealing material 6 is set to about 35 to 50% in consideration of sealing properties, and the joint between the developer container 2 and the flange 3 is sealed.

(Open / close operation)
Next, the operation of the developer container 1 in the main body will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the developer container 1 used in this embodiment with the cap 5 opening the discharge port 12 in the main body.

  As described above, the cap 5 is fitted in the discharge cylindrical portion 15 of the flange 3, and the discharge portion 12 is sealed by contacting the seal portion 22 of the cap 5 with the inner peripheral surface of the discharge cylindrical portion 15. ing. When the developer container 1 is mounted on the main body, the main body drive unit (not shown) and the engaging claw 23 of the cap 5 are engaged, and the cap 5 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow X shown in FIG. Opened. When the developer in the developer container 1 is reduced and the developer container 1 is replaced, the cap 5 is pushed in the direction of arrow Y shown in FIG. Is resealed. Further, the developer container 1 is fixed in position in the X direction and Y direction in the main body by positioning means (not shown) provided in the main body when the cap 5 is opened and resealed. In this embodiment, it is described that the cap 5 is opened and sealed in a state where the developer container 1 is fixed, but conversely, the cap 5 is fixed and the developer container 1 is indicated by arrows X and Y shown in FIG. It may be displaced in the direction. In this case, in order to open the discharge port 12, the cap 5 is fixed, and the developer container 1 is displaced in the direction of arrow Y shown in FIG. 8 by a container moving mechanism (not shown) provided in the main body. In order to seal the outlet 12, the cap 5 is fixed and the developer container 1 is displaced in the arrow X direction by the container moving mechanism.

(Developer discharge operation)
Subsequently, the developer discharging operation of the developer container 1 in the main body will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 9 to 11 are views showing the discharging operation in the main body of the developer container 1, and FIGS. 9A, 10A, and 11A show the tip of the developer container 1. FIG. FIG. FIGS. 9 (b), 10 (b) and 11 (b) are views seen from the gg cross section shown in FIGS. 9 (a), 10 (a) and 11 (a). .

  When the developer container 1 rotates in the direction of arrow S shown in FIG. 9A, the developer conveyed to the staying portion 18 of the developer container 2 is divided into the conveying member 4 as shown in FIG. 9B. Lifted by wall 19. When the developer container 1 further rotates in the direction of arrow S as shown in FIG. 10A, the developer is further lifted by the partition wall 19 as shown in FIG. Further, when the developer container 1 further rotates in the direction of arrow S as shown in FIG. 11A, the developer lifted to the partition wall 19 is delivered to the transport rib 20 as shown in FIG. 11B. Then, it is conveyed along the conveying rib 20 in the direction of arrow f shown in FIG. Therefore, the developer conveyed by the conveying rib 20 is reliably conveyed into the discharge cylindrical portion 15, and then passes through the discharge cylindrical portion 15 with the conveying force obtained by sliding the conveying rib 20, and the discharge port 12. Is supplied to the main body. That is, if the angle of the transport rib 20 is not sufficient, it becomes difficult to pass through the discharge cylindrical portion 15. In this embodiment, the angle of the conveying member 4 is set to 40 degrees, and the partition wall 19 for lifting the developer in the staying portion 18 is provided sufficiently large, so that the developer required by the apparatus main body can be discharged without excess or deficiency. .

(Verification)
Subsequently, the transportability evaluation was actually performed using the developer container 1 described in the present embodiment. The condition of the developer container 1 before carrying out the transportability evaluation is that the developer container 1 is filled with about 800 g of developer, and the longitudinal direction of the developer container 1 is horizontal and the vibration is forcibly applied. The powder surface of the internal developer was stabilized, and it was in a disadvantageous state for the transport of the developer. The timing for finishing the evaluation was such that the main body could not satisfy the developer discharge amount per unit time desired. In this evaluation, the vibration time is 15 minutes in this evaluation, and the developer discharge amount per unit time desired by the main body is 0.4 g / s. The rotation speed of the developer container 1 was 40 rpm.

  When the transportability of the developer container 1 of the present example was evaluated under the above-described conditions, it was confirmed that the developer container 1 was discharged without any delay from the initial stage, and the transport performance sufficiently satisfying the discharge amount desired by the main body until the end stage was obtained. . Further, the developer remaining in the developer container 1 after the evaluation was about 1.7% of the initial filling amount. Incidentally, most of the remaining developer was adhered to the inner surface of the developer container 2 and hardly remained in the staying portion 18.

(Comparative Example 1)
As Comparative Example 1, evaluation was performed using a developer container 1 described below. FIG. 12A shows a cross-sectional view of the tip of the developer container 1 used for the evaluation. 12B is a simplified cross-sectional view of the tip portion of the developer container 1 of the embodiment shown for comparison with the comparative example 1. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 12 (a), the developer container used in Comparative Example 1 has a configuration in which a protrusion 17 is provided in the same manner as in the example. However, with the aim of further improving the transportability as compared with the developer container 1 of the embodiment, the transport rib 20 is inserted into the projecting portion 17 of the discharge cylindrical portion 15 by the length L of the projecting portion 17. Further, as apparent from the configuration adopted in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 12B, there is a space M formed by the accommodating portion 8 and the conveying rib 20 and a space N formed by the discharge cylindrical portion 15 and the conveying rib 20. It is narrower. The shapes of the conveying member 4 and the developer container 2 are the same as those in the embodiment. Further, the transportability evaluation condition is the same as that described in the embodiment.

  When the developer container 1 of Comparative Example 1 was used, the developer was hardly discharged from the initial stage. Accordingly, when the inside of the developer container 1 was confirmed, blockage due to blocking of the developer was confirmed in the space M and the space N. This is considered to be because the space for stirring the developer is reduced because the space M and the space N are narrowed.

  Next, the developer container 1 was shaken to release the internal developer, and the transportability evaluation was performed again. As a result, the developer was discharged without any delay, but it was confirmed that the developer discharge amount was reduced as compared with the example. The developer remaining in the developer container 1 after the evaluation was about 5.0% of the initial filling amount.

  This is presumably because the developer transported by the transport member 4 has decreased due to the space M becoming narrower.

(Comparative Example 2)
As Comparative Example 2, evaluation was performed using a developer container 1 described below. FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of the tip of the developer container 1 used for the evaluation.

  As shown in FIG. 13, as Comparative Example 2, the discharge cylindrical portion 15, which is a feature of the present embodiment, is not protruded to the inner surface of the flange. The shapes of the conveying member 4 and the developer container 2 are the same as those described in the embodiments. The transportability evaluation conditions are the same as those described in the examples.

  When the developer container 1 of Comparative Example 2 was used, a difference in transport performance from the developer container 1 of Example 1 was not confirmed from the initial stage to the middle stage. However, at the end of the period when the amount of developer in the developer container 1 has decreased, a rapid decrease in transportability has been confirmed, and the developer remaining in the developer container 1 after the evaluation is about 10.0 of the initial filling amount. %Met. When the inside of the developer container 1 was observed, it was confirmed that the developer remained in the vicinity of the staying portion 18 shown in FIG. This is because the discharge cylindrical portion 15 does not protrude inside, so that a large clearance can be formed between the conveyance rib 20 of the conveyance member 4 and the end of the discharge cylindrical portion 15, so that the developer having a conveyance force by the conveyance rib 20 is discharged. It is considered that it is not efficiently delivered to the cylindrical portion 15. Therefore, it is thought that it led to a sharp decline in transportability at the end of discharge.

(Comparative Example 3)
As Comparative Example 3, evaluation was performed using a developer container 1 described below. FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view of the tip of the developer container 1 used for the evaluation.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the developer container 1 used in Comparative Example 3 is not provided with the protruding portion 17 in the discharge cylindrical portion 15 as in Comparative Example 2. Therefore, in order to eliminate the clearance between the discharge cylindrical portion 15 and the conveyance rib 20 generated in Comparative Example 2, the inclination angle of the conveyance rib 20 itself is blunted, and the conveyance rib 20 is extended to the end of the discharge cylindrical portion 15. Yes. Specifically, in the conveyance member used in the example shown in FIG. 5B, the angle α between the axis P and the conveyance rib 20 is 40 degrees, whereas the angle in the comparative example 2 is 35 degrees. It was time. The other developer container 1 is configured in the same manner as in Example, Comparative Example 1, and Comparative Example 2. Further, the transportability evaluation condition is the same as that described in the embodiment.

  When the developer container 1 of Comparative Example 3 was used, no significant difference was confirmed in the initial transportability compared to the Example and Comparative Example 2, but the transportability tended to decrease from the middle stage to the end stage of discharge. It was. Further, the amount of developer remaining in the developer container 1 after the evaluation was measured in the same manner as before, and it was about 6.6% of the initial weight. This is considered to be because the conveyance force obtained by the developer is reduced due to the decrease in the angle of the conveyance rib 20, and the developer is not conveyed smoothly in the discharge cylindrical portion 15.

(Comparative Example 4)
Subsequently, as Comparative Example 4, evaluation was performed using a developer container 1 described below. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the tip of the developer container 1 used for the evaluation.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the developer container 1 used in Comparative Example 4 is not provided with the protruding portion 17 in the discharge cylindrical portion 15 as in Comparative Examples 2 and 3. Further, the clearance between the discharge cylindrical portion 15 and the transport rib 20 that was a cause of the decrease in transportability in the comparative example 2 is eliminated, and the blunting of the angle of the transport rib 20 that was a cause of the decrease in transportability in the comparative example 3 is eliminated. Then, it was set to 40 degrees as in the example. Therefore, the space W formed by the partition wall 19 and the staying portion 18 of the conveying member 4 is narrower than in the embodiment. The other developer container 1 is configured in the same manner as in Example, Comparative Example 2, and Comparative Example 3. Further, the transportability evaluation condition is the same as that described in the embodiment.

  When the developer container 1 of Comparative Example 4 was used, the developer was not discharged at the initial discharge. Therefore, when the inside of the developer container 1 was confirmed, as shown in FIG. 15, blockage due to blocking of the developer was confirmed in the vicinity of the space W formed by the conveying member 4 and the staying portion 18. This is considered to be because the space for stirring the developer is reduced because the space W is narrower than the developer container 1 shown in the embodiment. Subsequently, the developer container 1 with the developer closed earlier was shaken to release the internal developer, and then evaluated again. However, it was confirmed that the amount of developer discharged was smaller than in the examples. This is also considered to be because the amount of developer transported by the transporting member 4 is reduced due to the narrowing of the space W. Note that the developer remaining in the developer container 1 after the evaluation was about 7.0% of the initial filling amount.

  Table 1 shows a list of the transportability evaluation results of Examples, Comparative Example 1, Comparative Example 2, Comparative Example 3, and Comparative Example 4 described above. From Table 1, it can be seen that the developer container of the example has superior conveyance performance from the initial stage to the final stage even when compared with any of the developer containers 1 of Comparative Example 1, Comparative Example 2, Comparative Example 3, and Comparative Example 4. Was confirmed. Further, it was confirmed that the amount of developer remaining after evaluation was the smallest. That is, the developer container 1 of this embodiment is provided with a protruding portion 17 that protrudes into the flange 3 at the end of the discharge cylindrical portion 15, and the conveying member 4 extends from the accommodating portion 8 to the vicinity of the end surface of the protruding portion 17. Thus, it was confirmed that it is possible to provide the developer container 1 having better transportability than the configurations of Comparative Example 1, Comparative Example 2, Comparative Example 3, and Comparative Example 4.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Developer container 2 Developer container 3 Flange 4 Conveying member 5 Cap 6 Seal member 7 Opening part 8 Containment part 9 Conveying protrusion part 10 Grasping part 11 Shoulder part 12 Discharge port 13 Insertion part 14 Incompatible protrusion 15 Discharge cylinder part 16 Seal insertion portion 17 Projection portion 18 Retention portion 19 Partition wall 20 Transport rib 21 Slit 22 Seal portion 23 Engagement claw 24 Release claw 25 Transmission portion 26 Drive receiving rib 101 Image forming apparatus 102 Container housing 103 Photoconductor 104 Developer 105 Laser light 106 Paper 107 Intermediate transfer member 108 Fixing device 109 Drive motor 201 Developer container 202 Developer container 203 Flange 204 Conveying member 205 Discharge cylindrical part 206 Conveying rib 207 Partition wall 208 Opening part 209 Accommodating part 210 Intermediate cylindrical part

Claims (2)

A developer container that is detachable from the image forming apparatus and that discharges the developer by rotation,
The developer container includes a developer container that stores the developer, and a transport member that transports the developer by rotation of the developer container,
The developer container includes a cylindrical container that stores the developer, an intermediate cylindrical part that is provided at the rotation center of the developer container on the end surface of the container, and has an inner diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the container. Provided at the rotation center of the end surface of the cylindrical portion, and has a discharge cylindrical portion having an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the intermediate cylindrical portion,
The transport member includes a partition wall portion that lifts the developer in the storage portion and the intermediate cylindrical portion by rotation of the developer container, and a transport rib portion that transports the lifted developer to the discharge cylindrical portion. And
The discharge cylindrical portion has a discharge port at one end and a protruding portion protruding into the intermediate cylindrical portion at the other end, and the partition wall portion and the transport rib portion deliver the developer to the discharge cylindrical portion. As described above, the developer container extends from the inside of the housing portion to the vicinity of the end face of the protruding portion. A developer container that is detachable from the image forming apparatus and discharges the developer by rotation,
The developer container is
A developer container containing a developer formed by a biaxial stretch blow molding method;
A flange formed by an injection molding method;
A conveyance member that is incorporated in the developer container so as not to rotate relative thereto;
The developer container is
An opening formed with an opening for blowing air for blowing;
A housing portion having a larger inner diameter than the inner diameter of the opening that is stretched by the air and the stretching rod;
The flange engages the developer container;
An intermediate cylindrical portion at least partially covering the outer peripheral surface of the opening;
A discharge formed in the rotation center of the developer container on the end surface of the intermediate cylindrical portion, having an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the intermediate cylindrical portion, and having a discharge port at one end and a protruding portion protruding into the fitting portion at the other end A cylindrical portion,
The conveying member is
A partition wall for lifting the developer in the developer container by rotation of the developer container;
A transport rib for transporting the lifted developer to the discharge cylinder,
The developer container, wherein the partition wall portion and the transport rib portion extend from the inside of the housing portion to the vicinity of the end face of the protruding portion so as to deliver the developer to the discharge cylindrical portion.