JP2012141556A - Powder container, powder conveying device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent powder from being excessively discharged with air inside a powder container pushed out through a discharge section together with the powder when discharging a prescribed amount of power through the discharging section by moving a protruding section formed by inwardly deforming a flexible wall surface of the powder container.SOLUTION: The present invention is related to a powder container 61 which comprises: a container section 66 which stores powder T and is deformable at least partly; and a discharge section 67 to discharge the powder T inside the container section 66 out of the same. When moving a protruding section which is inwardly deformed in a protruding manner by a delivery member 81 inside the container section 66 toward the discharge section 67, the invention enables air in a forward space of the protruding section to return to a rear space of the protruding section by a ventilation section (a ventilation pipe 90).

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder container for storing powder therein, a powder transport apparatus for transporting the powder stored in the powder container to a discharge unit, and an image forming apparatus including the powder transport apparatus About.

  In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a composite machine of these, a toner image is formed by a developing device using a developer generally called a toner or a carrier. ing. In this type of image forming apparatus, since toner is consumed together with image formation, a toner cartridge containing toner is usually mounted on the image forming apparatus, and when the toner in the cartridge runs out, it is replaced with a new cartridge. I try to replenish.

  Further, in the toner replenishing method using the cartridge as described above, there is a user's request to use up as much toner as possible in the cartridge in order to reduce running cost. Therefore, conventionally, as a toner cartridge, a screw called a common auger is provided inside the container, and this is rotated to send the toner to the discharge part, or a screw provided with a spiral protrusion on the inner surface of the cylindrical container A method of transporting toner to the discharge portion little by little by using a container called a bottle and rotating the container is employed.

  However, the conveyance method using the auger has a drawback that the structure is complicated because it is necessary to provide and rotate the screw inside the container. Further, in this transport system, the accumulated toner is forcibly transported by the auger, so that a load is applied to the toner and there is a risk of toner aggregation or deterioration. Furthermore, providing the screw inside the container to be replaced raises the cost of consumables, and at the same time has the problem of leading to an increase in environmental load due to resource consumption.

  On the other hand, the conveyance method using the screw bottle does not require a screw inside the container, and thus the configuration is simple. However, in this transport method, the container itself is rotated and used, so the shape of the container is usually a shape in which an outlet is provided on one side of a cylindrical container body (a shape like a bottle lying sideways). There is a drawback that the amount of toner that can be stored is smaller than that of this container, and that a hand is slippery and difficult to hold at the time of replacement.

  Further, since the cartridge and the bottle are made of a so-called “hard bottle” PET container, there is a big problem in recycling the used container accompanying the replacement of the cartridge and the bottle. In other words, used containers are collected from the user by the manufacturer and recycled, reused, or incinerated, but the used containers are bulky, and the logistics cost for collection and transportation from the user to the manufacturer is high. It was. Further, when the collected container is refilled with the developer and the container is reused, it is difficult to clean the collecting container and the toner filling efficiency is difficult, and the cost required for reusing the collecting container is reduced. It was expensive.

  Conventionally, as a toner conveyance method that does not use an auger or a screw bottle, the inertial force of the toner is applied by applying a shock (reciprocating motion) to the container by impacting the container from the outside or bringing the container into contact with a stopper. There is a system in which toner is moved / discharged (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). In this method, in a state where a large amount of toner is stored, the toner in the container moves together due to vibration, so that it is possible to secure a sufficient toner conveyance speed per vibration reciprocation. However, as the amount of toner in the container decreases, the toner peak collapses and spreads thinly, so the toner transport speed per round trip of the vibration decreases with the height of the toner peak, and the transport speed is reduced. There is a problem that it cannot be maintained. In addition, there is a problem that the vibration generated in the container affects the writing system and disturbs the image. Further, it takes time for the toner to fluidize, and conversely, toner aggregation (blocking) may occur due to the same action as tapping.

  Further, as a transport method different from the above-described transport methods, a method has been proposed in which a deformable container is used, and a toner is sent out by pressing and moving a delivery member from the outside of the container (Patent Document). 3). According to this transport method, toner can be transported with a small stress, toner aggregation and deterioration can be suppressed, and there is no possibility of occurrence of abnormal images due to large vibrations or impacts. In addition, since the volume of the container can be reduced, it is easy to collect and transport it from the user to the manufacturer by recycling used containers that accompany the exchange of cartridges and bottles.

  Also, a nozzle is inserted into a discharge hole provided in the flexible container, and the developer sucked out by the powder pump through this nozzle is replenished to the developing device, and the volume of the flexible container is automatically reduced while being replenished. There is also known a developer replenishing device (Patent Document 4).

  Such a flexible powder container without a conveying member has an advantage that the volume can be reduced during recovery, but it is difficult to arrange the powder horizontally in the horizontal direction in terms of conveying the powder, and in parallel with the developing device. It is not suitable for installation and making the overall size of the image forming apparatus compact. That is, in the case of a flexible powder container, if a spiral groove is formed in a container and the container is rotated to replenish the developer, the container is twisted during rotation and cannot be conveyed. Further, if the developer is transported without providing a transport member inside the container, an angle sufficient to use the gravity for moving the developer cannot be obtained, and as a result, the developer is not bridged and discharged. There is a problem that it remains inside the powder container. As described above, since the conventional flexible developer container (powder container) is difficult to arrange in the horizontal direction, the angle is slightly larger than the repose angle of the powder (usually 50 ° or more). It is necessary to place the container at an inclination toward the discharge unit, and since the container is substantially vertically long, there are significant restrictions on the shape of the image forming apparatus, the capacity of the container, and the arrangement of the containers.

  In the above-described system in which the toner inside is sent out by pressing and moving the delivery member from the outside of the deformable container, the air in the container tends to be pushed out together with the pile of toner rising in the container. In some cases, a larger amount of toner than the required delivery amount is sent out by the air flow. In order to prevent the toner from being excessively sent out due to the extrusion of the air, it is conceivable to provide an air filter for releasing the air to the outside in the toner discharge path. However, the air filter may gradually become clogged and needs to be replaced periodically.

  In view of this, the present invention relates to a method in which when a predetermined amount of powder is discharged from the discharge portion by moving the protruding portion obtained by deforming the flexible wall surface of the powder container inward, the air in the powder container is separated from the powder. A powder container, a powder transport device, and a powder (developer) that can prevent powder from being excessively discharged by being extruded from the discharge unit together and stabilize the amount of discharged powder. ) An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of obtaining a good image by stabilizing the discharge amount.

  In order to achieve the object, the invention of claim 1 is a powder container having a storage part for storing powder and a discharge part for discharging the powder in the storage part to the outside, wherein the storage part At least a part of the wall surface is formed of a flexible wall surface that can project and deform toward the inside of the housing portion, and the projecting portion formed by projecting and deforming the flexible wall surface toward the inside is discharged from the housing portion. The powder can be moved to the discharge part by moving toward the part, and a ventilation part is formed in the accommodation part to communicate with the internal space of the accommodation part before and after the protruding part. It is a powder container.

  In this powder container, when the powder in the container is pushed by the protrusion protruding inside the container and moves to the discharge part, the air in the front space of the protrusion passes through the ventilation part to the rear space of the protrusion. Since it can return, the temporary raise of the powder conveyance speed by the pressure rise in a discharge part can be suppressed, and the powder conveyance speed can be stabilized.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the accommodating portion is formed in a horizontally long cylindrical shape having a pair of side walls opposed to each other vertically, and at least a part of the lower side wall of the pair of side walls is formed. It is the powder container which comprised the said flexible wall surface and formed the said ventilation | gas_flowing part adjacent to the inner surface of the upper side wall.

  In this powder container, since the ventilation part is formed adjacent to the inner surface of the upper side wall of the powder container, the powder in the container is pushed by the projecting part protruding inside the container and becomes a discharge part. When moving, a return flow path of air that does not interfere with the powder can be secured by the ventilation section, suppressing a temporary increase in the powder conveyance speed due to a pressure increase in the discharge section, and stabilizing the powder conveyance speed Can be achieved.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the powder container according to the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the ventilation portion is composed of one or more grooves formed on the inner surface of the upper side wall.

  In this powder container, an air return flow path that does not interfere with the powder can be secured by the groove on the inner surface of the upper side wall, and the powder conveyance speed is temporarily increased due to the pressure increase in the discharge section. And stabilization of the powder conveyance speed can be achieved.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention is the powder container according to the third aspect of the present invention, wherein the groove is formed by bending the upper wall surface into a bellows shape and brazing.

  In this powder container, the upper wall surface is bent in a bellows shape and brazed to secure an air return flow path that does not interfere with the powder and to increase the rigidity of the upper wall surface. A temporary increase in the powder conveyance speed due to the pressure increase can be suppressed, and the powder conveyance speed can be stabilized.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention is the powder container according to the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the ventilation portion is composed of one or more ventilation pipes.

  In this powder container, an air return channel that does not interfere with the powder is secured by the vent pipe, and a temporary increase in the powder conveyance speed due to a pressure increase at the discharge part is suppressed, so that the powder conveyance speed is stable. Can be achieved.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the powder container according to the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the ventilation portion is composed of a porous member disposed on the inner surface of the upper side wall.

  In this powder container, a porous return member ensures an air return channel that does not interfere with the powder, suppresses a temporary increase in the powder conveyance speed due to a pressure increase in the discharge section, and reduces the powder conveyance speed. Stabilization can be achieved.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, at least a part of the wall surface of the storage portion that stores the powder is configured by a flexible wall surface that can project and deform toward the inside of the storage portion, and the flexible wall surface is formed by a delivery member. The powder is moved to the discharge part by moving the protrusion part, which is deformed to protrude toward the inside of the storage part by pressing from the outside, toward the discharge part connected to the storage part from the storage part. A powder conveying apparatus configured as described above, wherein a ventilation portion is formed between the powder lifted by the protrusion and a wall surface on the opposite side.

  In this powder conveying device, a protruding portion in which the powder in the storage portion protrudes to the inside of the container by the delivery member by forming a ventilation portion between the powder lifted by the protruding portion and the opposite wall surface Since the air in the front space of the projecting part can return to the rear space of the projecting part through the ventilation part when it is pushed to the ejecting part, the powder conveying speed is temporarily increased by the pressure increase in the ejecting part. And the powder conveyance speed can be stabilized.

  The invention of claim 8 is the powder conveying apparatus according to the invention of claim 7, wherein the ventilation portion is formed on the inner surface of the wall surface opposite to the flexible wall surface so as not to be deformed by pressing of the delivery member. is there.

  In this powder conveyance device, the return flow path of the air that does not interfere with the powder can be secured by the non-deformable groove or vent pipe, and the powder conveyance speed is temporarily increased due to the pressure increase in the discharge section. And stabilization of the powder conveyance speed can be achieved.

  A ninth aspect of the present invention is the powder conveying apparatus according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, wherein the ventilation portion is formed by a space between the protruding portion of the flexible wall surface and the opposite wall surface.

  In this powder conveying apparatus, the air return flow path that does not interfere with the powder can be secured by the ventilation section, and the powder is not rubbed between the wall surfaces. Deterioration can be prevented.

  A tenth aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus including the powder conveyance device according to any one of the seventh to ninth aspects as a developer toner conveyance device.

  In this image forming apparatus, since the toner replenishment speed is stabilized, the image quality can be improved.

  In the present invention, when the powder in the accommodating portion is pushed by the projecting portion protruding inward and moves to the discharge portion, the air in the front space of the projecting portion can return to the rear space of the projecting portion through the ventilation portion. Thus, it is possible to suppress a temporary increase in the powder conveyance speed due to a pressure increase in the discharge unit, and to stabilize the powder replenishment speed.

1 is a configuration diagram showing a printer as an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a toner supply device. 2 is a configuration diagram of a toner cartridge. FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a toner cartridge. (A) is a plan view showing a state before the toner cartridge is mounted on the drawer tray, and (b) is a plan view showing a state where the toner cartridge is mounted on the drawer tray. It is an enlarged view of a fixed part. It is a perspective view of a drawer tray. It is a perspective view of the state which attached the drawer tray to the main body side frame. It is an enlarged view of a main body side frame. It is a cross-sectional side view of a main body side frame and a drawer tray. It is sectional side view, such as a drawer tray. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a toner conveying device. It is a cross-sectional side view of a drawer tray. It is a side view of a delivery member and a leg member. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement when the state from which the sending member stood up switched to the fall state. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement when the sending member switches from the fall state to the standing state. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a toner delivery operation. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a toner cartridge showing a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a toner cartridge showing a second embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a sectional view of a toner cartridge showing a third embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a plan view of the same. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a toner cartridge showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows a mode that it exhausts from a respiratory part. It is a figure which shows a mode that it inhales from a respiratory part. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a problem of the toner cartridge. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a problem of the toner cartridge.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is the same or it corresponds, The duplication description is simplified or abbreviate | omitted suitably.

First, the configuration and operation of the entire image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a printer as an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing an image forming unit thereof.

  As shown in FIG. 1, image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6Bk corresponding to the respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) are arranged in parallel so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 11 of the intermediate transfer unit 10. Yes. The four image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6Bk installed in the apparatus main body 100 have substantially the same structure except that the toner colors used in the image forming process are different. 6, the alphabets (Y, M, C, Bk) of the reference numerals for the photosensitive drum 6, the photosensitive drum 1, and the primary transfer bias roller 9 are omitted.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the image forming unit 6 includes a photosensitive drum 1 as an image carrier, a charging unit 4 disposed around the photosensitive drum 1, a developing device 5 as a developing unit, and a cleaning unit 2. (Only the developing device 5 is shown in FIG. 1). An image forming process (charging process, exposure process, developing process, transfer process, cleaning process) is performed on the photosensitive drum 1, and a desired toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1.

  The photosensitive drum 1, the charging unit 4, the developing device 5, and the cleaning unit 2 constituting the image forming unit 6 are each configured to be detachably installed on the image forming apparatus main body 100. Each of them can be replaced with a new one when it reaches the end of its life.

  In this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 1, the charging unit 4, the developing device 5, and the cleaning unit 2 that constitute the image forming unit 6 are each a single unit. It may be a process unit that is detachably installed in 100. In this case, workability when performing maintenance of the image forming unit 6 is improved.

The configuration of the developing device 5 in the image forming unit 6 will be described in more detail based on FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 5 includes a developing roller 51 as a developer carrying member facing the photosensitive drum 1, a doctor blade 52 as a developer regulating member installed below the developing roller 51, a developer It is composed of two conveying screws 55 and 56 as developer agitating and conveying members disposed in the accommodating portions 53 and 54, a case 50 for accommodating the developer G, and the like. Here, as the developer G, a two-component developer composed of a carrier and a toner is used. The developing device 5 is provided with a toner concentration sensor (not shown) that detects the toner concentration in the developer G.

Referring to FIG. 2, the photosensitive drum 1 is rotationally driven in a clockwise direction in FIG. 2 by a drive unit (not shown). Then, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 4a at the position of the charging unit 4 (charging process).
Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 reaches an irradiation position of a laser beam L emitted from an exposure unit (not shown), and an electrostatic latent image is formed by exposure scanning at this position (exposure process).

Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 reaches a position facing the developing roller 51 of the developing device 5, and the electrostatic latent image is developed at this position to form a desired toner image (developing step).
Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 reaches a position facing the intermediate transfer belt 11 and the first transfer bias roller 9, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 11 at this position. (Primary transfer process). At this time, a small amount of untransferred toner remains on the photosensitive drum 1.

Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 reaches a position facing the cleaning unit 2, and untransferred toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 at this position is collected by the cleaning blade 2a (cleaning step).
Finally, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 reaches a position facing a neutralization unit (not shown), and the residual potential on the photosensitive drum 1 is removed at this position.
Thus, a series of image forming processes performed on the photosensitive drum 1 is completed.

  The above-described image forming process is performed by each of the four image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6Bk. That is, based on the image information read by the reading unit 32 shown in FIG. 1, laser light L (see FIG. 2) is sent from the exposure unit (not shown) disposed below the image forming unit to each image forming unit 6Y, Irradiation is directed toward the photosensitive drum 1 of 6M, 6C, and 6Bk. Specifically, the exposure unit emits laser light L from a light source and irradiates the photosensitive drum 1 via a plurality of optical elements while scanning the laser light L with a polygon mirror that is rotationally driven. Thereafter, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the respective photosensitive drums 1 through the development process are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 11 in an overlapping manner. Thus, a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 11.

Each of the four primary transfer bias rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9BK sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 11 with the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk to form a primary transfer nip. Then, a transfer bias having a polarity opposite to the polarity of the toner is applied to the primary transfer bias rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9Bk.
The intermediate transfer belt 11 travels in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, and sequentially passes through the primary transfer nips of the primary transfer bias rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9Bk. In this way, the toner images of the respective colors on the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk are primarily transferred while being superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 11.

Thereafter, the intermediate transfer belt 11 onto which the toner images of the respective colors are transferred in a superimposed manner reaches a position facing the secondary transfer roller 19. At this position, the secondary transfer backup roller 12 sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 11 with the secondary transfer roller 19 to form a secondary transfer nip. The color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 11 is transferred onto a transfer material P such as transfer paper conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer nip. At this time, untransferred toner that has not been transferred to the transfer material P remains on the intermediate transfer belt 11, but the remaining toner on the intermediate transfer belt 11 is removed by a belt cleaning device (not shown).
Thus, a series of transfer processes performed on the intermediate transfer belt 11 is completed.

Here, the transfer material P transported to the position of the secondary transfer nip is transported from a paper feed unit 26 disposed below the apparatus main body 100 via a paper feed roller 27, a registration roller pair 28, and the like. It has been done.
Specifically, a plurality of transfer materials P such as transfer paper are stored in the paper supply unit 26 in a stacked manner. When the paper feed roller 27 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1, the uppermost transfer material P is fed between the rollers of the registration roller pair 28.

  The transfer material P conveyed to the registration roller pair 28 is temporarily stopped at the position of the roller nip of the registration roller pair 28 that has stopped rotating. Then, the registration roller pair 28 is rotationally driven in time with the color image on the intermediate transfer belt 11, and the transfer material P is conveyed toward the secondary transfer nip. In this way, a desired color image is transferred onto the transfer material P.

Thereafter, the transfer material P on which the color image has been transferred at the position of the secondary transfer nip is conveyed to the position of the fixing unit 20. At this position, the color image transferred to the surface is fixed on the transfer material P by heat and pressure generated by the fixing roller and the pressure roller.
Thereafter, the transfer material P is discharged out of the apparatus through the rollers of the discharge roller pair 29. The transferred P discharged from the apparatus main body 100 by the discharge roller pair 29 is sequentially stacked on the stack unit 30 as an output image.
Thus, a series of image forming processes in the image forming apparatus is completed.

  In FIG. 1, a toner replenishing unit 31 is disposed above the intermediate transfer unit 10. The toner replenishing unit 31 has four toner replenishing devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60Bk filled with toner of each color. From each toner replenishing device 60Y, 60M, 60C, 60Bk, a toner transport path extends to the corresponding developing device 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5Bk, and the toner replenishing device 60Y, 60M, 60C is passed through this toner transport path. 60Bk, toner is supplied to the developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5Bk. As a result, toner can be newly supplied according to the amount of toner consumed by each of the developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5Bk, and the developing device can be used over a long period of time.

  The four toner replenishing devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60Bk have the same configuration except that they store toners of different colors. Therefore, the configuration of one toner replenishing device will be described below.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toner supply device. In FIG. 3, the alphabets (Y, M, C, Bk) of the reference numerals in the toner replenishing device 60 are omitted.
As shown in FIG. 3, the toner replenishing device 60 includes a toner cartridge 61 as a toner container (powder container) filled with toner, a drawer tray 62 as a holding member for holding the toner cartridge 61, and a toner cartridge. A fixing portion 63 for fixing 61, a sub hopper 64 for storing toner discharged from the toner cartridge 61, and the like. The sub hopper 64 is connected to a toner transport pipe (not shown) for transporting the toner stored in the sub hopper 64 toward the developing device.

  The drawer tray 62 is attached to the main body side frame 65 so as to be movable in the horizontal direction. When the drawer tray 62 is moved in the direction of the arrow X1 in the figure, the drawer tray 62 can be pulled out from the apparatus main body. Conversely, when the drawer tray 62 is moved in the direction of the arrow X2 in the figure, the drawer tray 62 is moved. Can be accommodated in the apparatus main body.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the toner cartridge 61. In the figure, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a bottom view, and (d) is a cross-sectional view.
As shown in FIG. 4, the toner cartridge 61 includes a toner storage unit (powder storage unit) 66 that stores toner as powder and a discharge unit 67 that discharges the toner in the toner storage unit 66 to the outside. It is configured.

  As shown in FIG. 4D, the toner containing portion 66 is formed of a long cylindrical bag member having a toner inlet (powder inlet) 66a opened on one end side. The size of the toner container 66 is, for example, 60 mm in length, 60 mm in width, and 400 mm in length. The toner cartridge 61 of this size can store about 500 g of toner. As a material for the toner storage portion 66, a soft flexible material is used. For example, a material in which four types of resins of PP / PET / PA / LDPE are sequentially bonded can be used (in the innermost layer). LDPE). The toner container 66 shown in FIG. 4 is configured by bonding four sheet materials in a square tube shape, but may be configured by connecting one sheet material in a bag shape. The toner container 66 is provided with an opening holding member 68 that holds the toner inlet 66a in an open state so that the toner can be easily filled from the toner inlet 66a.

  The toner container 66 is not necessarily transparent, and may be translucent or opaque. Therefore, PA (polyamide resin, nylon), PE (high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene), PC (polycarbonate resin), PP (polypropylene), PS (polystyrene resin), PAN (polyacrylonitrile resin), PET (polyester resin) Films of various resins such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride resin) and PVDC (polyvinylidene chloride resin) can be used alone or in combination.

  When the toner containing portion 66 is connected to the opening holding member 68 by heat sealing, the heat sealability is improved by the presence of LDPE in the innermost layer of the toner containing portion 66. In addition, the toner container can be colored in the same color as the internal developer as required, and a thin film that increases the wear resistance or lowers the friction coefficient on the surface layer, such as PVD and CVD. It is also possible to form using a method, or to provide a mechanism for applying various lubricants to reduce friction with a delivery member described later.

  In the discharge portion 67, an introduction port 67a for introducing toner and a discharge port 67b for discharging toner are formed. In the present embodiment, the discharge port 67b is disposed so as to face downward. Thereby, the toner can be dropped by gravity from the discharge port 67b and sent to the sub hopper 64, and the configuration for discharging the toner can be simplified. Further, an inclined surface 67c inclined downward from the introduction port 67a toward the discharge port 67b is provided in the discharge unit 67 so that the toner is smoothly conveyed to the discharge port 67b. The inclination angle of the inclined surface 67c with respect to the horizontal plane is desirably set to 10 ° or more. Further, a slide shutter 67d for opening and closing the discharge port 67b is provided on the bottom surface (lower surface) of the discharge port 67b so as to be slidable in the arrow Y direction in FIG. 4B.

  The discharge unit 67 may be vibrated in a range of, for example, a frequency of 10 to 50 Hz and an amplitude of 0.1 to 1 mm by a vibration applying unit in order to prevent the toner from being rapidly conveyed and the toner from adhering to the toner detection sensor. By vibrating the discharge unit 67, it is possible to prevent the toner from being rapidly conveyed and the toner from adhering to the detection unit. In the present embodiment, the frequency of the discharge portion 67 is 30 Hz and the amplitude is 0.3 mm. The frequency and amplitude are changed according to the type of toner to be used, but the range of good vibration and amplitude is 0.1 mm to 1 mm as described above, and the frequency is 10 Hz to 100 Hz. If it becomes smaller than this, the effect of scraping off the toner becomes small, and if it becomes larger, the vibration becomes too large and the image forming apparatus main body also vibrates, which may affect image formation. It does not affect the formation of Further, the portion through which the toner passes is inclined, and the toner flows to the sub hopper 64 with the assistance of vibration.

  On the upper wall surface of the toner accommodating portion 66 of the toner cartridge 61, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4D, a ventilation tube extending in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge (the moving direction of a delivery member 81 described later). 90 is disposed in the center of the toner cartridge in the width direction. The vent pipe 90 is, for example, about 5 mm in diameter and has a length of about 20 to 25 cm in a straight line. The vent pipe 90 is integrally fixed to the inner surface of the toner cartridge 61, and both ends of the vent pipe 90 are opened in the toner cartridge 61. is doing. Although only one vent pipe 90 may be arranged, a plurality of vent pipes 90 may be arranged in parallel.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4D, a breathing unit 67 i that allows ventilation inside and outside may be provided on the upper surface of the discharge unit 67. The breathing portion 67i includes a vent hole 67j formed in the upper surface of the discharge portion 67, and a filter 67k for preventing toner leakage attached to the vent hole 67j. Further, the breathing portion 67i is disposed on the opposite side via a moving path along which the toner introduced from the introduction port 67a moves to the discharge port 67b so as to face the discharge port 67b. The breathing part 67i is not indispensable, but it may be arranged as a safety device in case the ventilation pipe 90 is blocked with toner. By providing the breathing part 67i in the discharge part 67 in this way, when the vent pipe 90 is blocked, exhausting particularly near the discharge part 67 is facilitated, and toner ejection can be highly prevented. . Further, since the breathing portion 67i is provided on the upper surface of the discharge portion 67, the breathing portion 67i can be prevented from being clogged with toner. Further, by providing the breathing part 67i so as to face the discharge port 67b provided in the discharge part 67, it is possible to perform the exhaust more effectively.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the toner cartridge 61. 4A is a perspective view of the discharge portion 67, FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the opening holding member 68, and FIG. 3C is a perspective view of the toner holding portion 66 provided with the opening holding member 68.
As shown in FIG. 5B, the opening holding member 68 is formed by integrally molding a short cylindrical insertion portion 68a and a flange-like connection portion 68b. As shown in FIG. 5C, the insertion portion 68 a can be inserted into the toner inlet 66 a of the toner storage portion 66. In the present embodiment, the toner container 66 and the opening holding member 68 are bonded by heat welding, but may be bonded by an adhesive or the like. Further, the outer shape of the insertion portion 68a is formed in a substantially hexagonal shape so that the insertion location of the insertion portion 68a can be easily suppressed from the vertical direction in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, a pair of groove portions 67 e that can be engaged with the connection portion 68 a of the opening holding member 68 are provided on the introduction port 67 a side of the discharge portion 67. As described above, after the opening holding member 68 is inserted and bonded into the toner containing portion 66, the opening holding member 68 is inserted into the groove portion 67e from above and engaged with each other, whereby the toner containing portion 66 and the discharge portion 67 are connected. Can be integrally connected. In addition, a sealing material 69 is provided at a connection portion between the discharge portion 67 and the opening holding member 68 so that toner does not leak from the connection portion.

6A is a plan view showing the state of the drawer tray 62 before the toner cartridge 61 is mounted, and FIG. 6B is a plan view showing the state of the drawer tray 62 to which the toner cartridge 61 is mounted. .
As shown in FIG. 6B, concave portions 67 f are provided on both side surfaces of the discharge portion 67. On the other hand, a convex portion 62a is provided at a portion of the drawer tray 62 corresponding to each concave portion 67f, and each convex portion 62a can be inserted into the corresponding concave portion 67f. In addition, a hole 66b serving as a locked portion that is locked to the other locking portion is formed at the end of the toner containing portion 66 opposite to the discharge portion 67 side. On the other hand, a hook-like hooking portion 62b as a locking portion is provided at a portion of the drawer tray 62 corresponding to the hole 66b.

  The hook portion 62b is inserted into the hole portion 66b and locked, and the convex portion 62a is inserted into the concave portion 67f, so that the toner cartridge 61 is mounted on the drawer tray 62. . Further, in the state where the toner cartridge 61 is mounted as described above, the convex portion 62a and the concave portion 67f are normally in a non-contact state. However, when the toner cartridge 61 moves in the longitudinal direction when the drawer tray 62 is pulled out or stored in the apparatus main body, the movement of the toner cartridge 61 in the longitudinal direction is restricted by the projection 62a coming into contact with the recess 67f. It is like that.

  In order to remove the toner cartridge 61 from the drawer tray 62, the concave portion 67f may be detached from the convex portion 62a, and the hook portion 62b may be detached from the hole portion 66b. In the present embodiment, each convex portion 62a (or each concave portion 67f) is formed in the same shape as each other, but it is also possible to prevent erroneous mounting of the toner cartridge 61 by using different shapes.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the hook 62b is attached to the drawer tray 62 so as to be movable in the direction of arrow Q in the figure. That is, the hook portion 62b is configured to be movable to both the discharge portion 67 side and the opposite side when the toner cartridge 61 is mounted on the drawer tray 62 (the state shown in FIG. 6B). Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, the hook 62b is urged to the right side of the figure by a torsion coil spring 62k as an elastic member. As a result, when the hook 62b is inserted into the hole 62b and hooked, the hook 62b pulls and holds the end of the toner cartridge 61 in the opposite direction to the discharge portion 67 by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 62k. It is like that.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the fixing portion 63. 4A shows a state before the toner cartridge 61 is fixed to the fixing portion 63, and FIG. 4B shows a state where the toner cartridge 61 is fixed to the fixing portion 63. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the fixing portion 63 extends over the main body portion 70 connected to the upper portion of the sub hopper 64, the fixing arm 71 attached to the upper portion of the main body portion 70, and the fixing arm 71 and the main body portion 70. An attached spring member 72 and a shutter opening member 73 attached to the main body 70 below the fixed arm 71 are provided. Note that one fixed arm 71, one spring member 72, and one shutter opening member 73 are provided on the front side and the back side in the drawing, respectively.

  The fixed arm 71 is formed in a substantially C shape having a recess 71a. The fixed arm 71 is attached to the main body 70 so as to be rotatable about a horizontal support shaft 71b disposed in an intermediate portion thereof. By rotating the fixed arm 71 around the support shaft 71b, the fixed arm 71 can be switched between a fixed release position shown in FIG. 7A and a fixed position shown in FIG. 7B. ing.

  The spring member 72 is a tension coil spring, one end of which is attached to the fixed arm 71 and the other end is attached to the main body 70. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when the fixed arm 71 rotates between the fixed position and the fixed release position, the end portion of the spring member 72 attached to the fixed arm 71 turns the fixed arm 71. It moves over the dynamic fulcrum (support shaft 71b). As described above, as the fixed arm 71 rotates, the spring member 72 exceeds the rotation fulcrum, so that the spring member 72 biases the fixed arm 71 in the direction in which the fixed arm 71 rotates.

  On the other hand, the discharge portion 67 is provided with a protruding portion 67g as a fixed portion fixed by the fixing arm 71. One protrusion 67g is provided on each side of the discharge portion 67 (see FIG. 4A or 4C).

  The shutter opening member 73 is attached to the main body 70 so as to be rotatable about a horizontal support shaft 73b. Further, the shutter opening member 73 has a concave portion 73 a for holding the convex portion 670 d of the slide shutter 67 d provided in the discharge portion 67.

  Further, a notch portion 70 a is formed in the main body portion 70 of the fixing portion 63. On the other hand, on both side surfaces of the discharge portion 67, L-shaped projecting piece portions 67h that can come into contact with the upper portions of the cutout portions 70a are provided.

  In order to fix the toner cartridge 61 to the fixing portion 63, first, the toner cartridge 61 is mounted on the drawer tray 62 as described in FIG. Then, the drawer tray 62 is moved in the direction in which the drawer tray 62 is accommodated in the apparatus main body (the direction of the arrow X2 in FIG. 3). 7A, when the discharge portion 67 of the toner cartridge 61 approaches the fixed portion 63, the protrusion 67g provided on the discharge portion 67 is connected to one end portion of the fixed arm 71 (as shown in FIG. 7A). The fixed arm 71 is rotated counterclockwise in the figure against the urging force of the spring member 72. Thereby, the fixed arm 71 is switched from the fixed release position shown in FIG. 7A to the fixed position shown in FIG. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7B, the protrusion 67g is housed in the recess 71a of the fixed arm 71, and the other end (the left end in the figure) 71d of the fixed arm 71 and the main body. It is fixed by being sandwiched between 70 edges. Further, when the spring member 72 exceeds the rotation fulcrum of the fixed arm 71 with the rotation of the fixed arm 71, the spring member 72 is biased in a direction to hold the fixed arm 71 at the position after switching.

  Further, when the discharge portion 67 of the toner cartridge 61 approaches the fixing portion 63, the protruding piece portion 67h provided in the discharging portion 67 is inserted into the notched portion 70a of the main body portion 70, and the protruding piece portion 67h is notched. It abuts on the upper part of the portion 70a (see FIG. 7B). Thereby, the vertical shaking of the discharge part 67 is prevented.

Further, when the toner cartridge 61 is fixed to the fixing portion 63, the slide shutter 67d provided in the discharge portion 67 contacts the shutter opening member 73 and rotates the shutter opening member 73 in the clockwise direction in the drawing. Then, when the shutter opening member 73 moves to the position shown in FIG. 7B, further rotation of the shutter opening member 73 is restricted, so that the slide shutter 67 d is located behind the discharge portion 67 by the shutter opening member 73. Moves when pressed. As a result, the slide shutter 67d (discharge port) is opened, and the toner can be discharged from the discharge portion 67 to the sub hopper 64. Further, simultaneously with the movement of the shutter opening member 73 to the position of FIG. 7B, the convex portion 670d of the slide shutter 67d is inserted and held in the concave portion 73a of the shutter opening member 73.
As described above, the fixing of the toner cartridge 61 to the fixing portion 63 is completed.

  Further, when releasing the fixation of the toner cartridge 61, the drawer tray 62 is moved in the direction of drawing out from the apparatus main body (the direction of the arrow X1 in FIG. 3). By this pulling-out operation, the toner cartridge 61 moves to the left in FIG. 7B, and the projection 67 g provided on the discharge portion 67 pushes the other end 71 d of the fixed arm 71, so that the urging force of the spring member 72 is applied. The fixed arm 71 is rotated counterclockwise. As a result, the fixed arm 71 moves from the fixed position shown in FIG. 7B to the fixed release position shown in FIG. 7A, and the protruding portion 67 g is detached from the fixed arm 71. At the same time, the protruding piece portion 67h and the slide shutter 67d provided in the discharge portion 67 are detached from the notch portion 70a and the shutter opening member 73, respectively, and the fixing of the toner cartridge 61 is released. Further, the slide shutter 67d detached from the shutter opening member 73 is slid in a direction to close the discharge port by receiving a biasing force such as a spring (not shown) and prevents toner leakage from the discharge port. .

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the drawer tray 62.
As shown in FIG. 8, the drawer tray 62 has a pair of side walls 62 c that support both side surfaces of the toner cartridge 61, and a placement surface 62 d on which the toner cartridge 61 is placed. A main reference shaft 62e that serves as a main reference when the side wall 62c is attached to the main body side frame 65 is disposed at the end on the near side in the drawing. In the present embodiment, the main reference shaft 62e is used as a support shaft of a transmission gear 74 that transmits a driving force to a toner conveying device described later. Further, at the end of each side wall 62c on the back side in the figure, one slave reference shaft 62f is provided as a reference when each is attached to the main body side frame 65.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a state in which the drawer tray 62 is attached to the main body side frame 65.
As shown in FIG. 9, the main body side frame 65 has a pair of guide rails 65 a extending in the drawing direction X <b> 1 and the accommodating direction X <b> 2 of the drawing tray 62. The upper end edge of each guide rail 65 a is inserted into a groove 62 g formed on both side walls 62 c of the drawer tray 62. Thereby, the drawer tray 62 is configured to be movable in the drawer direction X1 and the accommodating direction X2 along the guide rail 65a.

  Also, a first positioning recess 65b that can be fitted to the main reference shaft 62e of the drawer tray 62 is formed at the front end of the main body side frame 65 (see FIG. 10). A second positioning recess 65c that can be fitted to the slave reference shaft 62f is formed at the end on the far side in FIG. As a result, when the drawer tray 62 is moved in the accommodating direction X2, the main reference shaft 62e and the sub-reference shaft 62f are inserted into the first and second positioning recesses 65b and 65c and fitted to each other. The tray 62 is positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the main body side frame 65.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a drive gear 75 that is driven by a drive device is provided at the front end of the main body side frame 65 in the figure. The drive gear 75 is connected to the transmission gear 74 in a state where the drawer tray 62 is accommodated in the apparatus main body and positioned on the main body side frame 65.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the main body side frame 65 is provided with a pressurizing member 76 that pressurizes and fixes the drawer tray 62. In the present embodiment, the pressing member 76 is configured by combining two levers. When the drawer tray 62 is moved in the accommodating direction X2, the drawer tray 62 is pressed by the two levers so as to sandwich the convex part 62h provided on the lower surface of the drawer tray 62, thereby making the drawer tray 62 the first and second positioning concave parts. It is configured to be pressed against the 65b and 65c sides.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the drawer tray 62 is provided with a toner conveying device (powder conveying device) 8 for conveying the toner in the toner containing portion 66 to the discharge portion 67 side. Hereinafter, the configuration of the toner conveying device 8 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the toner conveying device 8 includes a base member 80, a delivery member 81 and a pair of leg members 82 attached to the base member 80, and a belt member 83 as a moving unit that moves the base member 80. And a pair of guide rails 84 as guide members for guiding the base member 80. In FIG. 13, the front guide rail 84 is not shown.

  The base member 80 is divided into an upper part 80a and a lower part 80b. The base member 80 is attached to the belt member 83 by sandwiching the belt member 83 between the upper part 80a and the lower part 80b. The belt member 83 is constituted by an endless belt, and is stretched by two rollers 77 and 78 (see FIG. 12) provided on the drawer tray 62. The belt member 83 is configured to be rotatable in both forward and reverse directions by transmitting a driving force to the one roller 77 from the transmission gear 74 (see FIG. 8). Thus, when the belt member 83 rotates in the forward direction or the reverse direction, the base member 80 and the delivery member 81 and the leg member 82 attached to the base member 80 are integrally delivered in the delivery direction toward the discharge portion 67 side. A reciprocating movement is possible in Z1 and a return direction Z2 opposite to Z1.

  Further, two rollers 85 as rotating bodies that roll on the guide rails 84 are provided on both side surfaces of the base member 80. Thus, by providing the roller 85 on the base member 80, the base member 80 can move smoothly along the guide rail 84. The pair of guide rails 84 are fixed to the drawer tray 62.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 13, the delivery member 81 and the leg member 82 are attached to each other via a horizontal support shaft 86 so as to be opened and closed. Specifically, the delivery member 81 and the leg member 82 are configured to be rotatable independently of each other about the support shaft 86, and the delivery member 81 or the leg member 82 rotates about the support shaft 86. By moving, the delivery member 81 and the leg member 82 can be opened and closed with respect to each other. Further, the delivery member 81 and the leg member 82 are urged in the opening direction by a torsion coil spring as an urging member (not shown). The delivery member 81 is formed with an accommodation recess 81a for accommodating the leg member 82 when the leg member 82 is closed.

  The rotation direction of the belt member 83 is switched by two switches 87 and 88 shown in FIG. The switches 87 and 88 as the movement direction switching means are respectively disposed at the movement direction switching positions of the delivery member 81. Specifically, one switch 87 is disposed at the end of the drawer tray 62 in the sending direction Z1 (the end on the left side of the drawing), and the other switch 88 is the end of the drawer tray 62 in the return direction Z2. (The end on the right side of the figure). Further, when the delivery member 81 reaches one of the movement direction switching positions, the base member 80 comes into contact with the switch 87 or 88 disposed at that position. That is, the base member 80 functions as an input unit that contacts the switches 87 and 88 to turn them on. In addition, a non-contact type sensor is provided in place of the contact type switch, and the detected part (input means) provided on the base member 80 or the like approaches the non-contact type sensor to turn on the sensor. You may make it do.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the delivery member 81 and the leg member 82.
As shown in FIG. 15, the leg member 82 is in contact with the placement surface 62d of the drawer tray 62, and can reciprocate in the sending direction Z1 and the return direction Z2 along the placement surface 62d. . That is, the mounting surface 62d also has a function as a guide surface for guiding the leg member 82. As described above, the delivery member 81 and the leg member 82 are biased so as to open each other by the torsion coil spring, but the leg member 82 is disposed in a horizontal direction by contacting the mounting surface 62d. It is supported. On the other hand, the delivery member 81 is biased so as to rotate and open in the delivery direction Z1 (on the discharge portion 67 side) with respect to the leg member 82 supported in the horizontal direction. The portion restricts the rotation of the delivery member 81 in the opening direction against the urging force of the torsion coil spring. As a result, the delivery member 81 is supported so as to stand up with respect to the placement surface 62d (a state indicated by a solid line in the figure). As described above, the opening angle between the delivery member 81 and the leg member 82 is a predetermined angle so that the delivery member 81 is in a predetermined standing state with respect to the placement surface 62d by the placement surface 62d and the restricting portion. It is held at an angle α.

  Further, in FIG. 15, the opening angle β is an angle when the delivery member 81 is not restricted by the restriction part. That is, the angle β indicates an opening angle when the torsion coil spring is in a natural state. As shown in FIG. 15, the opening angle β held by the torsion coil spring in the natural state is set within a range that is larger than the opening angle α at which the delivery member 81 is in a predetermined standing state and smaller than 180 °. ing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, the leg members 82 can enter the both end sides in the direction (the sending direction Z1 and the returning direction Z2) in which the leg members 82 reciprocate on the placement surface 62d. Recesses 62i and 62j are provided. In the present embodiment, by providing these recesses 62i and 62j, the delivery member 81 can be switched between a standing state and a collapsed state with respect to the mounting surface 62d.
Hereinafter, a switching operation for switching the sending member 81 between the standing state and the falling state will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17.

  FIG. 16A shows a state before the delivery member 81 reaches the recess 62i on the end side in the delivery direction Z1. In this state, the opening angle formed by the delivery member 81 and the leg member 82 is held at a predetermined angle α by a restriction portion (not shown) and the placement surface 62d, and the delivery member 81 is predetermined with respect to the placement surface 62d. Is standing up.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 16B, when the delivery member 81 moves in the delivery direction Z1 and the leg member 82 reaches the position of the recess 62i, there is a mounting surface 62d that supports the leg member 82 at this position. Therefore, the leg member 82 receives a biasing force of a torsion coil spring (not shown) and opens downward, and the leg member 82 enters the recess 62i. At this time, the opening angle between the delivery member 81 and the leg member 82 is an angle β held in the natural state of the torsion coil spring.

  When the delivery member 81 reaches the position of the recess 62i, the base member 80 contacts the switch 87 shown in FIG. 14, and the movement direction of the delivery member 81 is switched.

  As shown in FIG. 16C, when the movement direction is switched and the delivery member 81 moves in the return direction Z2, the leg member 82 comes into contact with the edge (near the opening) of the recess 62i, and the tip of the leg member 82 is moved. It is lifted up. When the leg member 82 is lifted in this way and further rotated in the opening direction, the opening angle is larger than the angle β, so that the biasing force by the torsion coil spring acts in the closing direction. As a result, the delivery member 81 receives a biasing force in the closing direction and falls on the placement surface 62d.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 16 (d), when the leg member 82 is removed from the recess 62i, the delivery member 81 and the leg member 82 are held in a state of falling horizontally on the placement surface 62d. Specifically, in this state, since the opening angle formed by the delivery member 81 and the leg member 82 is an angle close to 180 °, the delivery member 81 and the leg member 82 exert an urging force in a direction to close each other by a torsion coil spring. However, since the rotation of the delivery member 81 and the leg member 82 is restricted by the placement surface 62d, the delivery member 81 and the leg member 82 are held in a state of being horizontally collapsed. The delivery member 81 and the leg member 82 are configured so as not to open 180 ° or more.

  FIG. 17A shows a state before the delivery member 81 that has been tilted as described above reaches the recess 62j on the end side in the return direction Z2. In this state, similarly to the state shown in FIG. 16D, the opening angle formed by the delivery member 81 and the leg member 82 is an angle close to 180 °, and the delivery member 81 and the leg member 82 are mounted. It is held in a state of falling horizontally on the placement surface 62d.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 17B, when the leg member 82 reaches the position of the recess 62j, the mounting surface 62d for supporting the leg member 82 does not exist at this position. Under the urging force, it closes downward and the leg member 82 enters the recess 62j. Further, the opening angle between the delivery member 81 and the leg member 82 at this time is an angle β held in the natural state of the torsion coil spring. Since the delivery member 81 is configured so as not to enter the recess 62j, the delivery member 81 passes over the recess 62j.

  When the delivery member 81 reaches the position of the recess 62j, the base member 80 comes into contact with the switch 88 shown in FIG. 14, and the movement direction of the delivery member 81 is switched.

  As shown in FIG. 17C, when the movement direction is switched and the delivery member 81 moves in the delivery direction Z1, the leg member 82 comes into contact with the edge (near the opening) of the recess 62j, and the tip of the leg member 82 is moved. It is lifted up. Thus, when the leg member 82 is lifted and further rotated in the closing direction, the opening angle is smaller than the angle β, so that the biasing force by the torsion coil spring acts in the opening direction. As a result, the delivery member 81 is raised by receiving a biasing force in the opening direction.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 17 (d), when the leg member 82 is detached from the recess 62j, the delivery member 81 is held upright at a predetermined opening angle α.

Hereinafter, the toner delivery operation (conveyance operation) of the toner conveyance device 8 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
18A, 18B and 18C, the toner cartridge 61 is mounted on the drawer tray 62, and the drawer tray 62 is housed in the apparatus main body. Therefore, in this state, the driving force can be transmitted from the driving device on the apparatus main body side to the belt member 83, and the sending member 81 can be reciprocated.

  FIG. 18A shows a state in which the remaining amount of toner T in the toner storage unit 66 has been reduced to some extent. In this case, the delivery member 81 is in a standing state under the urging force of the torsion coil spring. As a result, the lower surface of the toner container 66 is pushed inward by the standing delivery member 81. Then, when the delivery member 81 moves in the delivery direction Z1 with the toner accommodating portion 66 pushed inward, the toner T inside is pushed by the delivery member 81 and is moved to the discharge portion 67 side. Then, the toner T moved to the discharge unit 67 side is discharged downward from the discharge unit 67 by inertia force and gravity. In the present embodiment, as described above, a vibration imparting unit (not shown) is provided to impart minute vibration to the discharge part 67, and the minute vibration is imparted to the discharge part 67 by this vibration imparting means. The discharge of the toner T from the portion 67 is promoted.

  FIG. 18B shows a state in which a large amount of toner T is filled in the toner container 66. As described above, in a portion where the toner T is present in a large amount in the toner containing portion 66, the toner containing portion 66 is hardened due to the clogging of the toner T, and is heavy due to the weight of the toner T. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 18B, the delivery member 81 is in a collapsed state, and the pushing amount of the delivery member 81 with respect to the toner accommodating portion 66 is reduced. Then, the delivery member 81 moves in the delivery direction Z1 while being in a collapsed state at a location where a large amount of toner T is present. Thereafter, when the delivery member 81 reaches a position where the toner T near the discharge portion 67 is relatively small, as shown in FIG. 18C, the delivery member 81 is in an upright state so that the pushing amount of the delivery member 81 is increased. Will increase. As described above, the feeding member 81 stands up in the vicinity of the discharge portion 67 and the pushing amount increases, so that the toner T that is easy to move in the vicinity of the discharge portion 67 can be discharged sequentially.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the push-in amount of the delivery member 81 changes according to the amount of toner in the toner storage unit 66, so that the amount of toner remaining in the toner storage unit 66 is affected. Therefore, the toner can be stably and reliably sent to the discharge unit 67. Further, according to the present invention, toner can be conveyed with a small stress, and aggregation and deterioration of the toner can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the present invention does not cause large vibrations or shocks, there is no possibility of occurrence of abnormal images due to vibrations.

  Further, the feeding member 81 is pushed in by appropriately changing the biasing force of the torsion coil spring that biases the feeding member 81 according to the material (flexibility, stretchability, etc.) of the toner containing portion 66 and the maximum toner containing amount. It is possible to adjust the force to an appropriate value. In this case, even if the urging force of the torsion coil spring is increased, in the embodiment of the present invention, the rotation of the delivery member 81 is restricted by a restricting portion (not shown), and thus the delivery member 81 is held in a predetermined standing state. be able to.

  In the embodiment of the present invention described above, the base member 80 of the delivery member 81 contacts the left and right switches 87 or 88 in FIG. 14, whereby the movement direction of the delivery member 81 is switched to the delivery direction Z1 or the return direction Z2. Therefore, it is possible to continuously perform the toner feeding operation.

  Further, when the sending member 81 is returned to the original position, the sending member 81 is switched to the tilted state, so that the toner can be prevented from being returned by the sending member 81 moving in the return direction Z2. Further, as described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, the switching operation between the standing state and the collapsed state of the delivery member 81 can be realized by a simple mechanism that allows the leg member 82 to enter the recess 62i or 62j. Thus, the configuration can be simplified. Instead of the recesses 62i and 62j, a through hole can be used.

  Further, when the toner accommodating portion 66 is pushed inward by the delivery member 81 and deformed during the toner delivery operation as shown in FIG. 19, the toner rises in the toner accommodating portion 66, and this rise M becomes the toner accommodating portion 66. May reach the upper wall. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 25, the inside of the toner accommodating portion 66 is divided into front and rear by the toner bulge M, and there is a possibility that the front and rear spaces of the toner accommodating portion 66 are independent. If the front and rear spaces are thus independent, when the delivery member 81 moves in the delivery direction Z1, excess toner is discharged by being pushed by the air current when the air in the front space is pushed out from the discharge port. There is a possibility that the toner storage unit 66 contracts due to the reduced pressure in the side space, causing the toner to aggregate (block). However, in the present invention, since the vent pipe 90 is disposed on the upper wall surface as shown in FIG. 19, even if the toner swell M reaches the upper wall surface or the vent pipe 90, the vent pipe is provided before and after the toner accommodating portion 66. 90, the front air is not pushed out with the toner from the discharge port 67b, and the rear space becomes negative pressure, causing the toner containing portion 66 to contract and agglomerate the toner ( There is no risk of blocking. The air pipe 90 can be integrally formed on the wall surface when the toner container 66 is formed, or can be fixed with an adhesive or the like after the air pipe 90 is formed separately from the toner container 66. 19 to 22, 25, and 26, the drawer tray 62 is omitted.

  FIG. 20 relates to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which a porous member 91 is provided instead of the vent pipe 90. The porous member 91 is formed of a material that allows air to pass therethrough but hardly allows toner to pass therethrough like a porous sintered body in which a large number of micropores communicate with each other inside. The porous member 91 can be a single plate or a plurality of strips can be arranged in parallel, and is fixed to the upper wall surface of the toner containing portion 66 with an adhesive or the like.

  FIG. 21 relates to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which a plurality of groove portions 92 are formed by bending the upper wall surface of the toner containing portion 66 in a bellows shape instead of the ventilation tube 90 and crimping. It is. Such brazing can increase the rigidity of the wall surface so that the toner bulge M does not deform even if it abuts against the upper wall surface, and at the same time, the air flow before and after the bulge M can be secured through the plurality of grooves 92. . In addition, by brazing as shown in FIG. 21, the toner container 66 can be naturally folded into a fixed shape as the toner decreases, and it is not bulky when the toner cartridge 61 is collected, thereby reducing the collection cost. can do.

  FIG. 22 relates to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which the maximum height of the delivery member 81 is set so that a space S as a ventilation portion is always formed between the delivery member 81 and the opposite side wall. is there. By setting the maximum height of the delivery member 81 in this way, the toner swelled by the delivery member 81 when the delivery member 81 moves regardless of the amount of toner in the toner storage unit 66 is placed on the upper wall surface. The toner container 66 is not divided into the front and rear portions by contact. Since the air path serving as a ventilation portion can be formed in the upper portion of the toner accommodating portion 66 by the space S, the pressurized air on the discharge port 67b side can be released to the opposite side, and from the discharge port 67b side. The toner does not spout. Further, the back side of the toner containing portion 66 is depressurized and does not cause toner aggregation. Further, since the delivery member 81 does not rub against the upper wall surface, the toner does not deteriorate due to friction because the toner bites between the delivery member 81 and the upper wall surface.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 26, when the delivery member 81 reaches the upper wall surface of the toner storage portion 66, the air on the front side in the toner storage portion 66 is also moved by the delivery member 81 due to the movement of the delivery member 81. It will move to the discharge port 67b side. When the pressure at the discharge port 67b increases due to this air movement, the amount of toner replenishment increases. In the worst case, toner is ejected. Further, since the space behind the toner container 66 is depressurized, the toner may be aggregated due to the contraction of the toner container 66.

  In addition to the configuration of the ventilation portion described above, the toner cartridge 61 may be provided with a breathing portion 67i (see FIG. 4A or 4D). Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 23, when the toner accommodating portion 66 is pushed inward by the delivery member 81 and is deformed during the toner delivery operation, the air in the toner accommodating portion 66 passes through the ventilation pipe 90 as a ventilation portion. While moving from the front side to the rear side, excess air that is not in time for the movement of the air is discharged to the outside through the breathing part 67i. As a result, an increase in the internal pressure due to the deformation of the toner storage portion 66 can be prevented more reliably, and the toner replenishment amount (discharge amount) becomes excessive, or the toner is scattered by the developing device at the transport destination. A malfunction can be prevented.

  Further, when the breathing part 67i is provided, as shown in FIG. 23, the toner cartridge 61 is pushed toward the discharge part 67 by the moving delivery member 81 during the toner delivery operation, thereby engaging the end of the toner cartridge 61. The hook portion 62b to be stopped is also pulled toward the discharge portion 67 side. Thereafter, when the delivery member 81 is returned as shown in FIG. 24, the air in the back side space can escape to the discharge port side through the vent pipe 90 even if the space becomes independent on the back side due to the rising of the toner. Therefore, irregular deformation of the toner storage portion 66 is prevented. When the delivery member 81 is returned, the toner cartridge 61 is pulled back in the direction opposite to the discharge portion 67 side by the torsion coil spring 62k (see FIG. 6A) attached to the hook portion 62b. At this time, the toner container 66 swells by the pull-back operation, whereby air is sucked into the breather 67i, and the toner in the toner container 66 is loosened by the sucked air. As described above, after the toner is sent out, the toner can be loosened by the sucked air while inhaling through the breathing portion 67i to easily inflate the toner containing portion 66 and return it to the original shape. In addition, toner transportability can be improved, and stable toner transport can be realized.

  The hook portion 62b is once pulled to the discharge portion 67 side by the sending operation and then pulled back by the urging force of the torsion coil spring 62k, so that the hook portion 62b is fixed, The expansion and contraction motion of the toner storage portion 66 can be activated. As a result, the amount of intake air into the toner container 66 can be increased, and the toner loosening effect can be enhanced. In addition, since the hook portion 62b is attached via the torsion coil spring 62k, a sudden load increase on the toner cartridge 61 by the delivery member 81 during the delivery operation can be reduced, and the toner cartridge 61 can be worn out. It is possible to suppress.

  Further, by fixing the end portion of the toner cartridge 61 at substantially the same position by the hooking portion 62b, irregular deformation of the toner accommodating portion 66 accompanying the toner delivery operation can be suppressed, and toner conveyance failure And overloading the toner can be suppressed. Even when the hook portion 62b is attached without using an elastic member such as a torsion coil spring 62k, the end portion of the toner cartridge 61 can be fixed at substantially the same position. Irregular deformation can be suppressed to suppress toner conveyance failure and toner overload.

  In addition, when the hooking portion 62b is attached without an elastic member, the end portion of the toner containing portion 66 is not pulled back by the urging force of the elastic member, but the restorability of the toner containing portion 66 itself and toner By inflating with a weight or the like, it is possible to inhale from the breathing part 67i to some extent. As a result, the toner container 66 can be easily expanded and returned to its original shape, and the toner can be loosened by the sucked air, and the toner transportability can be improved and stabilized.

  In addition, as described with reference to FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the rotation operation of the fixed arm 71 and the slide shutter 67 d are interlocked with the drawing / accommodating operation (attaching / detaching operation to the fixing portion 63) of the drawer tray 62. Thus, the fixing and releasing of the toner cartridge 61 and the opening and closing of the discharge port 67b can be easily performed, and the operability is excellent. Further, as the fixed arm 71 rotates, the spring member 72 exceeds the rotation fulcrum of the fixed arm 71, so that the spring member 72 urges the fixed arm 71 in the direction in which the fixed arm 71 rotates. The fixed arm 71 can be reliably held at the position after switching by the urging force. Furthermore, since the protrusion 67h abuts the notch 70a, it is possible to prevent the discharge portion 67 from shaking in the vertical direction, so that the fixing state of the toner cartridge can be stabilized. In the present embodiment, the toner accommodating portion 66 and the discharge portion 67 are integrated with each other so as to be attached to and detached from the drawer tray 62. However, the discharge portion 67 is connected to the drawer tray 62 (or the fixing portion 63). ) And the toner container 66 may be detachably attached.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the above-described embodiment, the entirety of the toner accommodating portion 66 is configured by a deformable member. However, only a portion into which the feeding member 81 is pushed may be configured by a deformable member. Further, the configuration of the present invention can also be applied to a powder container for storing powder other than toner and a powder conveyance device including the same. In addition, the powder conveying apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the printer shown in FIG. 1, but can be mounted on other printers, copiers, facsimiles, or complex machines thereof.

When the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine of these, for example, the following toner can be used.
The average particle diameter of the toner is in the range of 3 to 8 μm, for example, “PxP toner” (average particle diameter of 5.8 μm) manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd. can be used. The toner components are mainly a resin component, a pigment component, a wax component, and an external additive.
As resins, polystyrene resin, epoxy resin, polyester resin, polyamide resin, styrene acrylic resin, styrene methacrylate resin, polyurethane resin, vinyl resin, polyolefin resin, styrene butadiene resin, phenol resin, polyethylene resin, silicon resin, butyral resin, terpene There are resins, polyol resins and the like. Examples of vinyl resins include styrene such as polystyrene, poly-p-chlorostyrene, and polyvinyltoluene, and homopolymers thereof: styrene-p-chlorostyrene copolymer, styrene-propylene copolymer, styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer. Polymer, styrene-vinyl naphthalene copolymer, styrene-methyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-methacrylic copolymer Acid methyl copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-α-chloromethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ether copolymer Coalescence, styrene-vinyl ethyl acetate Copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-isoprene copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile-indene copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, styrene-maleic acid ester Styrene copolymers such as copolymers: polymethyl methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate and the like.

The polyester resin is composed of a dihydric alcohol as shown in the following group A and a dibasic acid salt as shown in the group B, and further a trihydric or higher alcohol as shown in the group C or Carboxylic acid may be added as a third component.
Group A: ethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,4 butanediol, neopentyl glycol, 1,4 butenediol, 1,4-bis (hydroxymethyl) cyclohexane Bisphenol A, hydrogenated bisphenol A, polyoxyethylenated bisphenol A, polyoxypropylene (2,2) -2,2′-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxypropylene (3,3) -2, 2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxyethylene (2,0) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, polyoxypropylene (2,0) -2,2′-bis (4 -Hydroxyphenyl) propane and the like.

Group B: maleic acid, fumaric acid, mesaconic acid, citraconic acid, itaconic acid, glutaconic acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, malonic acid, linolenic acid, or These acid anhydrides or esters of lower alcohols.

Group C: Trivalent or higher alcohols such as glycerin, trimethylolpropane and pentaerythritol, and trivalent or higher carboxylic acids such as trimellitic acid and pyromellitic acid. As the polyol resin, an alkylene oxide adduct of an epoxy resin and a dihydric phenol, or a compound having one active hydrogen in the molecule that reacts with the glycidyl ether and the epoxy group, and an active hydrogen that reacts with the epoxy resin in the molecule. There are those obtained by reacting two or more compounds.

The following are used as the pigment.
Examples of black pigments include azine dyes such as carbon black, oil furnace black, channel black, lamp black, acetylene black, and aniline black, metal salt azo dyes, metal oxides, and composite metal oxides.
Examples of yellow pigments include cadmium yellow, mineral fast yellow, nickel yellow, navel yellow, naphthol yellow S, hansa yellow G, hansa yellow 10G, benzidine yellow GR, quinoline yellow lake, permanent yellow NCG, and tartrazine lake. .
Examples of the orange pigment include molybdenum orange, permanent orange GTR, pyrazolone orange, Vulcan orange, indanthrene brilliant orange RK, benzidine orange G, and indanthrene brilliant orange GK.
Examples of red pigments include Bengala, Cadmium Red, Permanent Red 4R, Resol Red, Pyrazolone Red, Watching Red Calcium Salt, Lake Red D, Brilliant Carmine 6B, Eosin Lake, Rhodamine Lake B, Alizarin Lake, Brilliant Carmine 3B.
Examples of purple pigments include fast violet B and methyl violet lake.
Examples of blue pigments include cobalt blue, alkali blue, Victoria blue lake, phthalocyanine blue, metal-free phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine blue partially chlorinated, first sky blue, and indanthrene blue BC.
Examples of green pigments include chrome green, chromium oxide, pigment green B, and malachite green lake.
These can use 1 type (s) or 2 or more types. Especially for color toners, uniform dispersion of good pigments is essential. Instead of putting pigments directly into a large amount of resin, a master batch in which pigments are once dispersed at a high concentration is prepared and diluted. The method of throwing in is used. In this case, a solvent is generally used to help dispersibility. However, there is a problem with the environment, and water is used for dispersion. When water is used, temperature control is important so that residual moisture in the masterbatch does not become a problem.

  In the toner, a charge control agent is blended (internally added) inside the toner particles. The charge control agent makes it possible to control the optimum charge amount according to the development system. In particular, in the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, the balance between the particle size distribution and the charge amount can be further stabilized. . For controlling the toner to be positively charged, nigrosine and quaternary ammonium salts, triphenylmethane dyes, imidazole metal complexes and salts can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Further, salicylic acid metal complexes, salts, organic boron salts, calixarene compounds, and the like are used for controlling the toner to be negatively charged. Further, a release agent can be internally added to the toner in order to prevent offset at the time of fixing. Release agents include natural waxes such as candelilla wax, carnauba wax and rice wax, montan wax and derivatives thereof, paraffin wax and derivatives thereof, polyolefin wax and derivatives thereof, sazol wax, low molecular weight polyethylene, and low molecular weight polypropylene. And alkyl phosphate esters. The melting point of these release agents is preferably 65 to 90 [° C.]. If it is lower than this range, blocking during storage of the toner tends to occur, and if it is higher than this range, offset tends to occur in a region where the fixing temperature is low.

Additives may be added for the purpose of improving the dispersibility of a release agent or the like. As additives, styrene acrylic resin, polyethylene resin, polystyrene resin, epoxy resin, polyester resin, polyamide resin, styrene methacrylate resin, polyurethane resin, vinyl resin, polyolefin resin, styrene butadiene resin, phenol resin, butyral resin, terpene resin, There is a polyol resin or the like, and a mixture of two or more of these resins may be used.
As the resin, crystalline polyester may be used. It is an aliphatic polyester having crystallinity, having a sharp molecular weight distribution, and increasing the absolute amount of its low molecular weight as much as possible. This resin undergoes a crystal transition at the glass transition temperature (Tg), and at the same time, the melt viscosity suddenly decreases from the solid state and exhibits a fixing function to paper. By using this crystalline polyester resin, low-temperature fixing can be achieved without excessively reducing the Tg and molecular weight of the resin. Therefore, there is no decrease in storage stability associated with a decrease in Tg. Also, there is no excessively high gloss and offset resistance deterioration due to the low molecular weight. Therefore, the introduction of the crystalline polyester resin is very effective for improving the low-temperature fixability of the toner.

As the toner, an inorganic fine powder may be attached or fixed to the toner surface as a fluidity improver. The average particle size of the inorganic fine powder is suitably 10 to 200 [nm]. When the particle size is smaller than 10 [nm], it is difficult to create an uneven surface having an effect on fluidity, and when the particle size is larger than 200 [nm], the powder shape becomes rough, which is a problem of toner shape. Occurs.
Inorganic fine powders include oxides such as Si, Ti, Al, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, In, Ga, Ni, Mn, W, Fe, Co, Zn, Cr, Mo, Cu, Ag, V, and Zr. , Hydroxides, carbonates, sulfides and composite oxides. Of these, the following oxides are often employed from the viewpoint of safety and stability.
In particular, fine particles of silicon oxide (silica), titanium oxide, and aluminum oxide (alumina, corundum) are preferably used.

Furthermore, it is effective to perform a surface modification treatment of the additive with a hydrophobizing agent or the like. A typical example of the hydrophobizing agent is a silane coupling agent, which includes the following.
Dimethyldichlorosilane, trimethylchlorosilane, methyltrichlorosilane, allyldimethyldichlorosilane, allylphenyldichlorosilane, benzyldimethylchlorosilane, bromomethyldimethylchlorosilane, α-chloroethyltrichlorosilane, p-chloroethyltrichlorosilane, Chloromethyldimethylchlorosilane, chloromethyltrichlorosilane, hexaphenyldisilazane, hexatolyldisilazane, etc.
Hydrophobizing the additive makes it difficult for moisture to be adsorbed on the surface of the additive, which is a nanoparticle, and improves the stability of the toner.

The inorganic fine powder is preferably used in an amount of 0.1 to 2% by weight based on the toner. If it is less than 0.1 [wt%], the effect of improving toner aggregation is poor, and if it exceeds 2 [wt%], there are problems such as toner scattering between fine wires, contamination in the machine, scratches and abrasion of the photoreceptor. It tends to occur.
In addition, a charge control agent may be attached or fixed to the surface of at least a powder composed of a resin and a pigment so that the powder surface shape has a small period and a large period. The average particle size is optimally as small as 5 to 200 [nm].
In addition, the toner may further contain other additives such as Teflon (registered trademark) powder, which is an organic powder, metal soap powder such as zinc stearate powder, and polyvinylidene fluoride powder within a range that does not substantially adversely affect the toner. Such as lubricant powder, abrasive such as cerium oxide powder, silicon carbide powder, strontium titanate powder, or conductive particles such as carbon black powder, zinc oxide powder, tin oxide powder, indium oxide powder and insulating powder. A small amount of a conductivity-imparting agent such as a powder coated with conductive particles can be used as a developability improver.
The addition of fine powder to the toner makes it easier for the toner to be loosened when the delivery member operates, and even if there is no replenishment operation for a while and the fluidity of the toner is reduced, the toner is discharged from the container. can do.

8 Toner conveying device (powder conveying device)
60 Toner supply device 61 Toner cartridge (powder container)
62b Hook (locking part)
62k torsion coil spring (elastic member)
66 Toner container (powder container)
66b hole (locked part)
67 Discharge portion 67i Breathing portion 90 Vent pipe 91 Porous member 92 Groove portion T Toner (powder)

JP 2002-46843 A JP 2002-268346 A JP 11-143195 A (Patent No. 3548402) JP 2006-085067 A

Claims (10)

  A powder container having a storage part for storing powder and a discharge part for discharging the powder in the storage part to the outside, wherein at least a part of the wall surface of the storage part faces the inside of the storage part The discharge portion comprises a flexible wall surface that can be deformed to project and move a projecting portion that projects and deforms the flexible wall surface toward the inside from the housing portion toward the discharge portion. A powder container in which a ventilation portion is formed in the housing portion and communicates with the internal space of the housing portion before and after the projecting portion.   The housing portion is formed in a horizontally long cylindrical shape with a pair of side walls opposed vertically, and at least a part of the lower side wall of the pair of side walls is formed by the flexible wall surface, and the inner surface of the upper side wall 2. The powder container according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation part is formed adjacent to the container.   The powder container according to claim 2, wherein the ventilation portion is constituted by one or more grooves formed on an inner surface of the upper side wall.   The powder container according to claim 3, wherein the groove is formed by bending the upper wall surface in a bellows shape and brazing.   The powder container according to claim 2, wherein the ventilation part is constituted by one or more ventilation pipes.   The powder container according to claim 2, wherein the ventilation portion is formed of a porous member disposed on the inner surface of the upper side wall.   By configuring at least a part of the wall surface of the storage unit for storing the powder with a flexible wall surface that can project and deform toward the inside of the storage unit, the flexible wall surface is pressed from the outside by a delivery member. A powder conveying apparatus configured to move the powder to the discharge portion by moving a protruding portion that is protruded and deformed toward the inside of the storage portion toward a discharge portion connected to the storage portion from the storage portion. A powder conveying apparatus in which a ventilation portion is formed between the powder lifted by the protruding portion and the opposite wall surface.   8. The powder conveyance according to claim 7, wherein the ventilation portion is composed of one or more grooves or a ventilation pipe formed on the inner surface of the wall surface opposite to the flexible wall surface so as not to be deformed by pressing of the delivery member. apparatus.   The powder conveying apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the ventilation portion is formed by a space between the protruding portion of the flexible wall surface and the opposite wall surface.   An image forming apparatus comprising the powder conveyance device according to claim 7 as a developer toner conveyance device.

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