JP2013037310A - Powder storage container, powder supply device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a powder storage container that starts discharging powder from a powder storage container to a powder supply device in a stable and quick manner after the attachment of the powder storage container to the powder supply device; a powder supply device; and an image forming apparatus including the powder supply device.SOLUTION: Powder unstiffening means is provided for applying external force to toner 200 to unstiffen the toner 200 present in the vicinity of an exhaust port 32 in attaching a toner bottle 3 to a powder supply device such as a toner supply device 300. The powder unstiffening means is configured to have at least a part of a toner exhaust path part formed of a flexible member 101, and to deform the flexible member 101 in conjunction with the attachment operation of the toner bottle 3 to the toner supply device 300.

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder container for storing powder, a powder supply device, and an image forming apparatus including the powder supply device.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile using an electrophotographic process, a latent image formed on a photosensitive member is visualized with toner of a developing device, and the latent image is developed. Therefore, it is necessary to replenish the toner in the developing device. For this reason, toner is supplied from the toner replenishing device as a powder replenishing device provided in the apparatus main body to the developing device, and the toner is replenished in the developing device. Thus, it is possible to continuously perform development by the developing device in which toner is replenished.

  Conventionally, as the toner replenishing device, a cylindrical toner storage container as a powder storage container in which a spiral protrusion is formed on the inner peripheral surface and a toner outlet is formed on one end side in the axial direction is removable. It has been known. The toner container is rotated about its axis, and the toner is conveyed to one end side in the axial direction following the protrusion on the inner peripheral surface, and is sent out from the discharge port. However, in this toner replenishing device, toner may adhere to the inner wall of the toner storage container, or the toner may aggregate near the discharge port and block the vicinity of the discharge port. For this reason, the toner conveying force in the vicinity of the discharge port in the toner storage container is reduced, so that the toner discharge from the toner storage container to the toner supply device main body becomes unstable or the toner is not discharged from the toner storage container. A problem occurs.

Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a developer replenishing device (toner replenishing device) capable of preventing toner aggregation and toner adhesion to the inner wall of a toner container.
For example, in the developer replenishing device of Patent Document 1, a step portion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the toner box (toner storage container), and vibration is applied as the toner box rotates by a leaf spring pressed against the outer peripheral surface. It has become. The height of the stepped portion and the interval in the circumferential direction differ for each of a plurality of regions arranged in the axial direction of the toner box. Further, the leaf spring is configured to move toward the toner discharge port according to the amount of toner in the toner box, and an appropriate amount of vibration corresponding to the amount of toner in the toner box is generated at an appropriate period. Given to.
Further, in the toner replenishing device of Patent Document 2, a spiral concave and convex portion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the toner storage container, and the elastic member provided so as to elastically contact with the concave and convex portion vibrates as the toner storage container rotates. Is given. In addition, it has a motion transmission mechanism that transmits the user's operation motion to the toner container, and can be used for attaching / detaching the paper cassette, turning on / off the start button of the image forming apparatus, and opening / closing the pressure plate that covers the document during image formation. In conjunction with this, the toner container is vibrated.

  In Patent Document 3, a scraping member for scraping toner adhering to the inner wall surface of the toner container is provided inside the toner container, and the scraping member slides on the inner wall surface by the rotation of the toner container. There is disclosed a toner storage container capable of rubbing and scraping off toner adhering to an inner wall surface.

However, in the conventional developer replenishing device (toner replenishing device) and the toner storage container, there are cases where the toner is aggregated in the vicinity of the discharge port in the toner storage container before being attached to the developer replenishing device. When the toner storage container in which the toner is aggregated in the vicinity of the discharge port is attached to the developer supply device, the aggregated toner closes the vicinity of the discharge port and causes toner clogging. Therefore, after the toner storage container is mounted, there is a possibility that stable toner discharge from the toner storage container to the developer supply device cannot be started promptly.
For example, in the developer replenishing device (toner replenishing device) disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above, a toner storage container for applying vibration to the toner storage container after the toner storage container is mounted on the developer supply device. It is necessary to continue the rotation drive for a predetermined time. Therefore, after the toner storage container is mounted, there is a possibility that stable toner discharge from the toner storage container to the developer supply device cannot be started promptly.
Further, in the toner container disclosed in Patent Document 3, the toner container is driven to rotate so that the scraping member scrapes off the toner adhering to the inner wall surface of the toner container after being mounted on the toner replenishing device. Must be continued for a predetermined time. Therefore, after the toner storage container is mounted, there is a possibility that stable toner discharge from the toner storage container to the developer supply device cannot be started promptly.

  The above problems are not limited to the case of a toner storage container and a developer supply device (toner supply device), but also a powder storage container that stores powder other than toner and a powder that can be attached to and detached from the powder storage container. This can occur in the case of a replenishing device as well.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to provide stable powder discharge from the powder container to the powder replenishing apparatus after the powder container is mounted on the powder replenishing apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a powder container, a powder replenishing device, and an image forming apparatus including the powder replenishing device that can be started quickly.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 comprises: a storage main body that stores powder for image formation; and a discharge port that discharges the powder stored in the storage main body to the outside. A powder unwinding means for applying an external force to the powder so as to loosen the powder existing in the vicinity of the discharge port when the powder storage container is mounted on a powder replenishing device. Is further provided.

  According to the present invention, when the powder container is attached to the powder replenishing device, an external force is applied to the powder so as to loosen the powder existing in the vicinity of the discharge port in the powder storage container. When the existing powder is agglomerated, the powder can be loosened by breaking the agglomeration of the powder by an external force. Thus, after the powder container is mounted on the powder supply device, stable powder discharge from the powder container to the powder supply device can be started promptly.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a direction in which a toner bottle is attached and detached. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a toner bottle side surface. Sectional drawing of the toner bottle back surface. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a toner conveyance path from a toner bottle to a developing device. (A) is a plan sectional view near the toner outlet of the toner bottle, and (b) is a front sectional view (a state where no external force is applied to the outlet member). (A) is a plan sectional view of the vicinity of the toner outlet of the toner bottle, and (b) is a front sectional view (a state where an external force is applied to the outlet member). FIG. 4A is a front view of a toner bottle tray, and FIG. (A)-(e) is a plane sectional view showing the state change of the vicinity of a toner discharge port when a toner bottle is attached, and (f)-(j) are those front views. (A) is a front sectional view of the vicinity of a toner discharge port of a toner bottle according to a modified example, and (b) is a plan sectional view (a state where no external force is applied to the outlet member). (A) is a front sectional view of the vicinity of the toner outlet of the toner bottle, and (b) is a plan sectional view (a state where an external force is applied to the outlet member). (A) is a front view of a toner bottle tray according to still another modification, and (b) is a plan view. (A)-(i) is a plane sectional view showing a state change near a toner discharge mouth when a toner bottle is attached. (A) is a plane sectional view of a flexible member concerning other modifications, (b) is a front sectional view (state where external force is not applied to an exit member). (A) is a plane sectional view of a flexible member, (b) is a front sectional view (state where an external force is applied to an outlet member). (A)-(c) is a top sectional view showing a state change near a toner discharge mouth when a toner bottle concerning other modification is mounted. (A)-(c) is a plane sectional view showing a state change near a toner discharge mouth when removing a toner bottle.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus including a toner replenishing device as a powder replenishing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image reading device 2 that reads image data of an original, and photoconductors 10Y, 10C, and 10M as four latent image carriers that form images of each color of the image data read by the image reading device 2. And 10K, and a color image is formed from toners of four colors of yellow (hereinafter Y), cyan (hereinafter C), magenta (M), and black (K). In the following description, the symbols Y, C, M, and K may be omitted as appropriate.

  An intermediate transfer belt 5 serving as an intermediate transfer member is provided at substantially the center inside the image forming apparatus 1, and the photosensitive members 10 </ b> Y, 10 </ b> C, 10 </ b> M, and 10 </ b> K are disposed along the intermediate transfer belt 5. The intermediate transfer belt 5 is an endless belt made of a heat-resistant material such as polyimide or polyamide and made of a base adjusted to a medium resistance.

  Each of the photoconductors 10Y, 10C, 10M, and 10K includes a charging device that applies an electric charge to each outer peripheral surface, and developing devices 11Y, 11C that develop a latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 10 with each color toner to form a toner image. , 11M and 11K, and a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of the photoconductor 10 after the transfer of the toner image, and a lubricant application device for applying a lubricant to the surface of the photoconductor 10. Below the four image forming units, there is provided an exposure device 14 having a polygon mirror 13 or the like that exposes the surface of each charged photoconductor based on image data of each color and forms a latent image.

  Further, primary transfer rollers 4 for transferring a toner image formed on the photoconductor 10 onto the intermediate transfer belt 5 are arranged at positions facing the photoconductors 10 with the intermediate transfer belt 5 interposed therebetween. . The primary transfer roller 4 is connected to a power source (not shown) and is applied with a predetermined voltage.

  A secondary transfer roller 9 is pressed against the outside of the intermediate transfer belt 5. The secondary transfer roller 9 is connected to a power source (not shown) and is applied with a predetermined voltage. A contact portion between the secondary transfer roller 9 and the intermediate transfer belt 5 is a secondary transfer portion, and a toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 5 is transferred to a transfer sheet as a recording medium. An intermediate transfer belt cleaning device 15 for cleaning the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5 after the secondary transfer is provided outside the intermediate transfer belt 5.

  A fixing device 6 is provided above the secondary transfer portion to fix the toner image on the transfer paper semi-permanently on the transfer paper. The fixing device 6 includes a heating roller having a halogen heater therein, an endless fixing belt wound around the fixing roller, and a pressure roller disposed so as to face and contact the fixing roller via the fixing belt. ing.

  A lower side of the image forming apparatus is provided with a paper feeding device 12 for placing the transfer paper and feeding the transfer paper toward the secondary transfer unit, and a pickup roller.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an attaching / detaching direction of the toner bottle 3 as a powder container that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the side surface of the toner bottle.
As shown in FIG. 2, the toner bottle 3 is guided by the concave portion of the toner bottle tray 16 and is mounted inside the image forming apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the toner bottle 3 mainly includes a toner bottle main body 30 and a head cover 31 including a powder discharge path section such as a vertical toner conveyance path 28 and a shutter 29. The main body 30 is rotatable with respect to the head cover 31. Then, immediately before the toner bottle 3 is attached to the image forming apparatus 1, the shutter 29 provided in the toner bottle 3 is opened, and the toner in the toner bottle 3 passes through the vertical conveyance path 28 and can be discharged.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the back surface of the toner bottle. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a toner conveyance path from the toner bottle to the developing device.
In FIG. 5, when there is a toner supply request from a control unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1, the toner supply motor 21 is driven, the worm 22 provided on the shaft of the toner supply motor 21, the idler 23, and the outer periphery of the toner bottle. A driving force is transmitted to a gear (not shown) formed on the housing body, and the storage body portion such as the toner bottle body 30 rotates in the direction of the arrow A2. At this time, the protrusion formed in a spiral shape on the inner wall of the toner bottle main body 30 rotates, so that the toner in the toner bottle main body is sequentially conveyed to the end of the toner bottle main body 30. The toner that has reached the end of the toner bottle main body 30 falls to the hopper 24 via the vertical conveyance path 28 (see arrow A3), and the conveyance member 25 rotates in the direction of arrow A4 to enter the toner conveyance path 26. And is conveyed to the developing device 11 by the rotation of the coil 27.

  The toner replenishing motor 21, the worm 22, the idler 23, the hopper 24, the conveying member 25, the toner conveying path 26, the coil 27, and the like constitute a toner replenishing device 300 as a powder replenishing device.

  6A is a front sectional view showing a configuration in which the flexible member 101 is provided in the vertical conveyance path 28, and FIG. 6B is a plan sectional view. FIG. 7A is a plan sectional view showing a state in which the flexible member 101 is deformed and twisted due to an external force applied to the outlet member 111, and FIG. 7B is a plan sectional view. 8A is a partially enlarged front view of the toner bottle tray 16, and FIG. 8B is a plan view.

  As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, operation protrusions such as protrusions 16a are provided at several positions along the longitudinal direction at the left end of the recess 16b of the toner bottle tray 16 in the drawing. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6A, an outlet member 111 is provided via a flexible member 101 at the tip of the vertical conveyance path 28 of the toner bottle 3. The vertical conveying path 28 and the flexible member 101, and the flexible member 101 and the outlet member 111 use the contractibility of the flexible member 111 so that they do not move even when a certain external force is applied. May be pressure-bonded to the vertical conveyance path 28 and the outlet member 111 or fixed with an adhesive or the like. The outlet member 111 includes a shutter 29 and protrusions 111a that come into contact with the plurality of protrusions 16a of the toner bottle tray 16, and as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, an external force is applied to the flexible member 101. By being twisted, it can be rotated to a certain angle around the axis of the vertical conveyance path 28. When the toner bottle 3 is attached / detached along the toner bottle tray 16, a guide structure (not shown) may be provided so that the toner bottle 3 does not deviate from the linear locus even when an external force described below is applied.

  The vertical conveyance path 28, the flexible member 101, and the outlet member 111 form a toner discharge path portion as a powder discharge path portion. The powder loosening means is mainly composed of the vertical conveyance path 28, the flexible member 101, the outlet member 111, and a toner bottle tray 16 described later.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view of the flexible member 101 and the outlet member 111 when the toner bottle 3 is mounted on the toner bottle tray 16, wherein (a) to (e) are plan sectional views, and (f) to (j). ) Is a front sectional view.
As shown in FIG. 9A, when the toner bottle 3 is mounted, the toner bottle tray 16 is slid in the longitudinal direction (the direction of the arrow A6) using the concave portion 16b of the toner bottle tray 16 as a guide. Then, as shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C, the protrusion 111 a of the outlet member 111 abuts against the protrusion 16 a of the toner bottle tray 16, and an external force is applied to the outlet member 111 and is supported by the flexible member 101. The outlet member 111 is rotated about the axis of the vertical conveying path 28 in the counterclockwise direction in the figure.

As shown in FIGS. 9G and 9H, when an external force is applied to the outlet member 111, the flexible member 101 is twisted and deformed, and the toner 200 staying in the flexible member 101 is aggregated. In this case, the aggregation is broken by the generation of shearing force between the particles of the toner 200. Further, when the boundary surface between the flexible member 101 and the toner 200 is shifted, the toner 200 attached to the inner wall of the flexible member 101 is peeled off.
When the toner bottle 3 further moves and the protrusion 111a gets over the protrusion 16a, the flexible member 101 returns to its original shape by its own restoring force, as shown in FIGS. These series of operations are repeated a plurality of times during the toner bottle 3 mounting operation, and immediately before the mounting is completed, the shutter 29 is opened by an opening / closing mechanism (not shown) linked to the movement of the toner bottle 3, and the toner 200 is transferred to the hopper 24. Ready to supply.

  As described above, when the mounting of the toner bottle 3 to the toner replenishing device 300 of the image forming apparatus 1 is completed, the flexible member 101 that forms a part of the toner discharge path portion is present. The aggregation called the packing of the toner 200 is more effectively destroyed to suppress the clogging, and the toner is stably discharged from the toner bottle 3 to the toner replenishing device 300 immediately after the toner bottle 3 is mounted regardless of the storage state of the toner bottle 3 (toner replenishment). And image formation can be performed. Further, at the time of image formation after the toner bottle 3 is mounted, it is not necessary to perform an excessive stirring operation for stirring the toner bottle main body 30 to eliminate clogging of the toner discharge path portion, so that productivity can be maintained. it can.

  In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the said vertical conveyance path 28 and the exit member 111 may be a rectangle, a polygon, etc. other than the circle | round | yen which illustrated the external shape and the inner periphery. The material of the flexible member 101 is preferably vulcanized rubber or elastomer that has a self-restoring force when an external force is released. In addition, the flexible member 101 is made of rubber mainly composed of silicone, and the toner 200 is difficult to adhere to the flexible member 101, so that the toner 200 adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the flexible member 101. It may be prevented.

[Modification 1]
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the flexible member 101 is provided on the outer periphery of the vertical conveyance path 28 and the outlet member 111 has been described. However, the flexible member 101 is disposed on the inner periphery of the vertical conveyance path 28 and the outlet member 111. It may be provided.
10A is a front sectional view showing a configuration in which the flexible member 101 is provided inside the vertical conveyance path 28 and the outlet member 111, and FIG. 10B is a plan sectional view. 11A is a front sectional view showing a state in which the flexible member 101 is deformed and twisted due to an external force applied to the outlet member 111, and FIG. 11B is a plan sectional view.
As shown in FIG. 10A, both ends of the flexible member 101 are bonded to the inner wall of the vertical conveyance path 28 and the inner wall of the outlet member 111, respectively, and between the vertical conveyance path 28 and the outlet member 111. Provide at least a gap that does not allow the operator's fingers to enter, or provide close contact. The operation of the outlet member 111 when attaching and detaching the toner bottle 3 is the same as that in the above embodiment, and the flexible member 101 is twisted at portions other than the adhesive portions 102 at both ends.

  According to the first modification, the flexible member 101 can be prevented from being damaged by adopting a configuration in which the operator does not touch the flexible member 101.

[Modification 2]
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the external force that rotates the outlet member 111 in one direction with respect to the axial center of the vertical conveyance path 28 has been described. However, the external force that rotates in the opposite direction may be applied. Good.
12A is a partially enlarged front view of the toner bottle tray 16, and FIG. 12B is a plan view. 13A to 13I are plan sectional views showing changes in the state of the flexible member 101 and the outlet member 111 when the toner bottle 3 is mounted on the toner bottle tray 16.

As shown in FIG. 12B, a plurality of protrusions 16 a are alternately provided on the left and right end portions in the longitudinal direction in the recesses 16 b of the toner bottle tray 16. Further, as shown in FIG. 13A, the outlet member 111 is provided with two protrusions 111a at positions facing each other.
When the toner bottle 3 is attached, as shown in FIGS. 13B and 13C, the left protrusion 111 a of the outlet member 111 contacts the left protrusion 16 a of the toner bottle tray 16, and external force is applied to the outlet member 111. In addition, the flexible member 101 is twisted and deformed to rotate the outlet member 111 counterclockwise. When the protrusion 111a is released from contact with the protrusion 16a, the outlet member 111 returns to the original state by the restoring force of the flexible member 101 as shown in FIGS. 13 (d) and 13 (e). When the toner bottle 3 further moves to the back side, the right protrusion 111a of the outlet member 111 comes into contact with the right protrusion 16a of the toner bottle tray 16, and an external force is applied to the outlet member 111, and the flexible member 101 is twisted. And the outlet member 111 is rotated in the clockwise direction. Thereafter, when the protrusion 111a is released from contact with the protrusion 16a, the outlet member 111 returns to the original state by the restoring force of the flexible member 101 as shown in FIGS. 13 (h) and (i). As described above, the outlet member 111 returns to the original state after rotating counterclockwise in the figure from the original state where no external force is applied, and then returns to the original state after rotating clockwise in the figure. repeat. The toner bottle 3 is completely attached to the toner bottle tray 16.

  According to the second modification, since the rotation angle of the outlet member 111 is about twice that of the above embodiment, the twist of the flexible member 101 is also increased, and the flexible member 101 has an internal twist. When the staying toner 200 is agglomerated, the aggregation is broken by generating a larger shearing force between the particles of the toner 200. Further, when the boundary surface between the flexible member 101 and the toner 200 is further displaced, the toner 200 attached to the inner wall of the flexible member 101 is easily peeled off.

[Modification 3]
A plurality of protrusions may be provided on the inner wall of the flexible member 101 in parallel with the axis. FIG. 14A is a plan sectional view of a configuration in which a plurality of protrusions 101a are provided on the inner wall of the flexible member 101 in parallel with the axis, and FIG. 14B is a front sectional view. 15A is a plan sectional view showing a state in which the flexible member 101 is twisted and deformed, and FIG. 15B is a front sectional view.
As shown in FIG. 14B, a plurality of projections 101a are provided on the inner wall of the flexible member 101 in parallel with the axis, and the inner wall is formed in an uneven shape. The protrusion 101a deforms integrally when the flexible member 101 deforms, and changes from a linear shape to a spiral shape as shown in FIG. When the flexible member 101 is twisted and deformed, the toner 200 adhering to the inner peripheral surface is peeled off from the portion of the protrusion 101a and promotes peeling of the other inner peripheral surface (concave portion). As described above, the toner 200 attached to the inner peripheral surface of the flexible member 101 can be more easily peeled off than in the case where the protrusion 101a is not formed.

[Modification 4]
Suppression of toner clogging in the vicinity of the vertical conveyance path 28 of the toner bottle 3 may be performed when the toner bottle 3 is attached to the toner bottle tray 16, and may not be performed when the toner bottle 3 is detached.
FIGS. 16A to 16C are plan sectional views showing a state change in the vicinity of the toner outlet such as the outlet member 111 when the toner bottle 3 is mounted. FIGS. 17A to 17C are plan sectional views showing a state change in the vicinity of the toner outlet such as the outlet member 111 when the toner bottle 3 is detached.

As shown in FIG. 16A, in the recess 16b of the toner bottle tray 16, a leaf spring 112 that is retracted when the toner bottle 3 is detached is provided at substantially the same position in place of the protrusion 16a. When the toner bottle 3 is mounted on the toner bottle tray 16, as shown in FIGS. 16A to 16C, the leaf spring 112 is not deformed even if the protrusion 111 a of the outlet member 111 abuts against the leaf spring 112. The outlet member 111 rotates. The flexible member 101 is twisted and deformed by the rotation of the outlet member 111, and clogging of the toner 200 inside is suppressed.
On the other hand, when the toner bottle 3 is removed from the toner bottle tray 16, the leaf spring 112 is brought into contact with the leaf spring 112 when the projection 111a of the outlet member 111 comes into contact with the leaf spring 112 as shown in FIGS. Is elastically deformed and retracted to the outside. As a result, the outlet member 111 does not rotate.
As described above, the outlet member 111 rotates only when the toner bottle 3 is attached and does not rotate when the toner bottle 3 is detached, so that the toner bottle 3 can be smoothly detached and the image forming apparatus 1 having excellent operability can be obtained. Can be provided.

What has been described above is merely an example, and the present invention has a specific effect for each of the following modes.
(Aspect A)
A powder container including a toner bottle main body 30 as a main body for storing toner 200 as image forming powder, and a discharge port 32 for discharging the toner stored in the toner bottle main body 30 to the outside. The toner bottle 3 is a powder that applies an external force to the toner 200 so as to loosen the toner 200 existing in the vicinity of the discharge port 32 when the toner bottle 3 is attached to a powder replenishing device such as the toner replenishing device 300. A loosening means is further provided. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, when the toner bottle 3 is attached to the toner replenishing device 300, the powder loosening unit causes the toner 200 to loosen the toner 200 existing in the vicinity of the discharge port 32. Since the external force is applied, when the toner 200 existing in the vicinity of the discharge port 32 is aggregated, the toner 200 can be loosened by breaking the aggregation of the toner 200 by the external force. Therefore, regardless of the storage state of the toner bottle 3, after the toner bottle 3 is mounted on the toner replenishing device 300, stable toner discharge (toner replenishment) and image formation from the toner bottle 3 to the toner replenishing device 300 are promptly performed. Will be able to start. Further, after the toner bottle 3 is mounted, it is not necessary to perform an excessive stirring operation for stirring the toner bottle main body 30 to eliminate the clogging of the toner near the discharge port 32, and productivity can be maintained.
(Aspect B)
In the above-described aspect A, the toner discharge path as a powder discharge path formed by the toner conveyance path 28 that guides the toner 200 discharged from the toner bottle main body 30 to the discharge port 32, and the toner supply device 300 are attached. And a shutter for opening the discharge port 32, and the powder loosening means applies the external force to the toner 200 existing inside the toner discharge path portion. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, when the toner 200 existing inside the toner discharge path portion is aggregated, when the toner bottle 3 is attached to the toner replenishing device 300, the toner is applied by an external force. It is possible to break up and loosen the aggregation of the toner 200 existing inside the discharge path portion. Therefore, the clogging of the toner in the toner discharge path called packing that occurs before the toner bottle 3 is attached to the toner replenishing device 300 can be eliminated.
(Aspect C)
In the above-described aspect B, the powder loosening means may be configured in conjunction with the mounting operation of the toner bottle 3 on the toner replenishing device 300, with at least a part of the toner discharge path portion being constituted by the flexible member 101. The flexible member 101 is configured to be deformed. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, when the flexible member 101 is deformed and the toner 200 staying in the flexible member 101 is aggregated, an external force is applied to the toner 200 to break up the aggregation. Can be loosened. As a result, toner clogging can be suppressed with a simple configuration.
(Aspect D)
In the above aspect B or aspect C, the flexible member 101 is provided inside the toner discharge path. According to this, as described in the first modification of the above embodiment, the flexible member 101 can be prevented from being damaged by adopting a configuration in which the operator does not touch the flexible member 101.
(Aspect E)
In the above aspect B, aspect C, or aspect D, the flexible member 101 is formed of a member that can be torsionally deformed around the axis. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the flexible member 101 is twisted and deformed, and when the toner 200 staying in the flexible member 101 is aggregated, the flexible member 101 is sheared between the particles of the toner 200. Aggregation is broken by the generation of force. Further, when the boundary surface between the flexible member 101 and the toner 200 is shifted, the toner 200 attached to the inner wall of the flexible member 101 is peeled off. Thereby, the packing of the toner 200 can be more effectively broken and clogging can be suppressed.
(Aspect F)
In the said form B, aspect C, aspect D, or aspect E, the flexible member 101 is formed with the silicone rubber. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the toner 200 is difficult to adhere to the inner peripheral surface of the flexible member 101, and the toner 200 is prevented from adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the flexible member 101. can do.
(Aspect G)
In the above-mentioned form B, aspect C, aspect D, aspect E, or aspect F, an uneven shape such as a protrusion 101 a is formed on the inner wall of the flexible member 101. According to this, as described in the third modification of the above-described embodiment, when the flexible member 101 is twisted and deformed, the toner 200 attached to the inner peripheral surface is easily peeled off from the vicinity of the protrusion 101a. Separation of the inner peripheral surface (concave portion) can be promoted.
(Aspect H)
In the above-mentioned form A, aspect B, aspect C, aspect D, aspect E, aspect F or aspect G, when the toner bottle 3 is attached to the toner replenishing device 300, the powder loosening means operates, and the toner bottle 3 is When desorbing from the replenishing device 300, the powder loosening means is configured not to operate. According to this, as described in the fourth modification of the above embodiment, toner clogging is suppressed when the toner bottle 3 is mounted on the toner bottle tray 16 and is not performed when the toner bottle 3 is detached. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 having excellent operability can be provided.

  In the above-described embodiment, the toner bottle 3 that stores toner as powder and the toner replenishing device 300 that can attach and detach the toner bottle 3 have been described. However, the present invention is a powder that stores powder other than toner. The present invention can also be applied to a storage container and a powder replenishing device to which the powder storage container can be attached and detached, and has the same effects.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Reading apparatus 3Y, M, C, K Toner bottle 4Y, M, C, K Primary transfer roller 5 Intermediate transfer belt 6 Fixing apparatus 7 Automatic duplex apparatus 8 Density sensor 9 Secondary transfer roller 10Y, M, C, K photoconductors 11Y, M, C, K Developing device 12 Paper feeding device 13 Polygon mirror 14 Exposure device 15 Cleaning device 16 Toner bottle tray 16a Toner bottle tray protrusion 21 Toner supply motor 22 Warm 23 Gear 24 Hopper 25 Toner transport Member 26 Toner transport path 27 Coil 28 Toner transport path 29 Shutter 30 Toner bottle main body 31 Toner bottle head cover 32 Discharge port 101 Flexible member 101a Flexible member projection 102 Adhesive portion 111 Exit member 111a Exit member projection 112 Plate Spring 200 Toner 300 Toner supply device A1 Toner bottle Le detachable direction A2 toner bottle rotation direction A3 toner transport direction A4 toner conveying member rotational direction A5 toner transfer direction A6 toner bottle mounting direction

JP 2006-2558997 A JP-A-8-314258 JP-A-8-179612

Claims (10)

A storage body for storing powder for image formation;
A powder storage container comprising a discharge port for discharging the powder stored in the storage main body to the outside,
When the powder container is attached to a powder replenishing device, the apparatus further comprises powder loosening means for applying an external force to the powder so as to loosen the powder existing in the vicinity of the discharge port. Powder container. The powder container of claim 1,
A powder discharge path for guiding the powder discharged from the storage main body to the discharge port;
A shutter that opens the discharge port when mounted on the powder replenishing device,
The powder loosening means applies the external force to the powder existing inside the powder discharge path portion. The powder container of claim 2,
The powder loosening means is:
At least a part of the powder discharge path portion is formed of a flexible member, and the flexible member is deformed in conjunction with an operation of mounting the powder container on the powder supply device. A powder container characterized by comprising. The powder container according to claim 2 or 3,
A powder container, wherein the flexible member is provided inside the powder discharge path. The powder container according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The powder container is characterized in that the flexible member is formed of a member that can be twisted and deformed around an axis. The powder container according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
The powder container, wherein the flexible member is made of silicone rubber. The powder container according to any one of claims 2 to 6,
An uneven shape is formed on the inner wall of the flexible member. The powder container according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The powder loosening means operates when the powder storage container is attached to the powder replenishing device, and the powder loosening means does not operate when the powder storage container is detached from the powder replenishing device. A powder container characterized by being configured as described above. Removably holds a powder container that contains powder for image formation,
A powder replenishing device that discharges internal powder when the powder container is mounted,
9. A powder replenishing apparatus using the powder container according to claim 1 as the powder container. A latent image carrier;
A developing device for developing the latent image on the latent image carrier using a developer;
A toner replenishing device for replenishing toner to the developing device,
An image forming apparatus using the powder replenishing device according to claim 9 as the toner replenishing device.

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