JP2013160874A - Image forming device and toner container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize force required for attachment of the toner container to a developing device, and to reduce a load of an attachment work.SOLUTION: An image forming device of the present invention comprises: a toner container 6 that includes a container body 22 provided with a discharge port 35 for discharging toner and a container-side shutter 28 for opening/closing the discharge port 35; and a developing device 12 that includes a developing container body 83 provided with a supply opening 88 for receiving the toner discharged from the discharge port 35 and a developing container-side shutter 98 for opening/closing the supply opening 88, and that allows the toner container 6 to be detachably attached. With the toner container 6 attached to the developing device 12, when a container-side shutter 28 is displaced from a position of closing the discharge port 35 to a position of opening the discharge port 35, the container-side shutter 28 presses the developing container-side shutter 98 to displace the developing device-side shutter 98 from a position of closing the supply opening 88 to a position of opening the supply opening 88.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a toner container provided in the image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, development processing is performed by supplying toner from a developing unit to an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum or the like. Further, the toner used for such development processing is supplied to the developing device from a toner container that is detachably attached to the developing device. Therefore, the developing device is provided with a supply port for receiving toner from the toner container. The replenishing port is usually covered with an openable / closable shutter (hereinafter referred to as “developer-side shutter”) (see Patent Document 1).

  An example of the configuration of a conventional developer-side shutter is shown in FIG. The developing device side shutter 121 includes an inclined surface 122 that is inclined upward, and has a substantially triangular shape in a side view. The developing device-side shutter 121 can be slid linearly between a position where the replenishing port 124 provided in the developing device 123 is closed (see the two-dot chain line) and a position where the replenishing port 124 is opened (see the solid line). When the toner container (not shown) is not attached to the developing unit 123, the pair of coil springs 125 provided on both sides of the supply port 124 are biased to a position where the supply port 124 is closed. .

  In this state, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 13, when a toner container (not shown) is attached to the developing device 123 from above, the toner container presses the inclined surface 122 of the developing device side shutter 121 from above to supply the replenishing port. The developer-side shutter 121 slides linearly from a position where the 124 is closed to a position where the supply port 124 is opened. That is, in this prior art, the developer-side shutter 121 is displaced in conjunction with the operation of mounting the toner container on the developer 123.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-134452

  However, if the inclined surface of the developer-side shutter is pressed from above with the toner container when the toner container is mounted on the developer, the toner container tends to rise due to a reaction force that the developer-side shutter pushes back the toner container. Therefore, an operator such as a user or a serviceman has to press the toner container downward with a force stronger than the above-described lifting force, and a strong force is required for the toner container mounting operation.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to reduce the load required for mounting the toner container on the developing device, thereby reducing the load of the mounting operation.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a toner container having a container body provided with a discharge port for discharging toner, a container-side shutter that opens and closes the discharge port, and replenishment for receiving toner discharged from the discharge port. A developing device main body provided with an opening, and a developing device side shutter that opens and closes the replenishing port, and a developing device to which the toner container is detachably mounted, the toner container being the developing device When the container-side shutter is displaced from a position where the discharge port is closed to a position where the discharge port is opened while being attached to the container, the container-side shutter presses the developer-side shutter and closes the supply port. The developer-side shutter is displaced from the position to the position where the replenishing port is opened.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is not necessary to displace the developing device side shutter when the toner container is mounted on the developing device, and no reaction force is applied from the developing device side shutter to the toner container. Therefore, compared with the case where the developer-side shutter is displaced in conjunction with the operation of mounting the toner container on the developing device, the force required for mounting the toner container on the developing device is reduced, and this mounting work is performed. The burden can be reduced.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the container body includes a cylindrical discharge duct having the discharge port, and the container-side shutter has a cylindrical shape and is rotatably mounted on the outer periphery of the discharge duct. In addition, a pressing protrusion that presses the developing device side shutter as the container side shutter rotates may be provided on the outer periphery of the container side shutter.

  By adopting such a configuration, the container-side shutter rotates outside the discharge duct, and the container-side shutter pressing protrusion is compared with the case where the container-side shutter rotates inside the discharge duct. It becomes possible to approach the developing device side shutter. For this reason, the developer-side shutter is easily pressed by the pressing protrusion.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the container body may rotatably support a lever connected to the container-side shutter, and the container-side shutter may rotate in accordance with the operation of the lever.

  By adopting such a configuration, it becomes possible to easily open and close the discharge port of the container main body and the supply port of the developing device main body in accordance with the operation of the lever.

  The toner container of the present invention is a toner container that includes a container body provided with a discharge port for discharging toner, and a container-side shutter that opens and closes the discharge port, and is detachably attached to the developing device, When the container-side shutter is displaced from a position where the discharge port is closed to a position where the discharge port is opened in a state where the toner container is mounted on the developing unit, the container-side shutter is provided in the developing unit. The developer-side shutter may be displaced from a position at which the developer-side shutter is pressed to close a supply port provided in the developer to a position at which the supply port is opened.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is not necessary to displace the developing device side shutter when the toner container is mounted on the developing device, and no reaction force is applied from the developing device side shutter to the toner container. Therefore, compared with the case where the developer-side shutter is displaced in conjunction with the operation of mounting the toner container on the developing device, the force required for mounting the toner container on the developing device is reduced, and this mounting work is performed. The burden can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the load required for mounting the toner container on the developing device and to reduce the load of the mounting operation.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an outline of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective cross-sectional view from the rear side showing the toner container in the printer according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a perspective cross-sectional view from the left rear side showing a state in which the container side shutter opens the discharge port and the developing device side shutter opens the supply port in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a right side view illustrating a state in which a lever gripping portion is tilted forward in the toner container of the printer according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a right side view illustrating a state in which a lever gripping portion is tilted backward in the toner container of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a toner container in the printer according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the lower right side showing the toner container in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an outline of an image forming unit in a printer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the right front side showing a state where the toner container is mounted on the developing device in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the left front side showing the image forming unit in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of a supply port in the developing device of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective cross-sectional view from the left rear side showing a state where the container side shutter closes the discharge port and the developing device side shutter closes the supply port in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the conventional developing device side shutter.

  First, the overall configuration of the electrophotographic printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the left side in FIG. 1 is the front side (front side) of the printer 1.

  The printer 1 includes a box-shaped printer main body 2. A paper feed cassette 3 for storing paper (not shown) is accommodated in the lower portion of the printer main body 2, and a paper discharge tray is disposed on the upper surface of the printer main body 2. 4 is provided. An upper cover 5 is attached to the upper surface of the printer main body 2 so as to be openable and closable in front of the paper discharge tray 4, and a toner container 6 is stored below the upper cover 5.

  An exposure unit 7 composed of a laser scanning unit (LSU) is disposed below the discharge tray 4 above the printer body 2, and an image forming unit 8 is provided below the exposure unit 7. Yes. The image forming unit 8 is rotatably provided with a photosensitive drum 10 as an image carrier. Around the photosensitive drum 10, a charger 11, a developing device 12, a transfer roller 13, and a cleaning device are provided. The apparatus 14 is disposed along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 10 (see arrow X in FIG. 1).

  A paper transport path 15 is provided inside the printer main body 2. A paper feed unit 16 is provided at the upstream end of the conveyance path 15, and a transfer unit 17 configured by the photosensitive drum 10 and the transfer roller 13 is provided at a middle portion of the conveyance path 15. Is provided with a fixing device 18, and a paper discharge unit 20 is provided at the downstream end of the conveyance path 15. A reverse path 21 for double-sided printing is formed below the transport path 15.

  Next, an image forming operation of the printer 1 having such a configuration will be described.

  When the printer 1 is turned on, various parameters are initialized, and initial setting such as temperature setting of the fixing device 18 is executed. Then, when image data is input from a computer or the like connected to the printer 1 and an instruction to start printing is given, an image forming operation is executed as follows.

  First, after the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is charged by the charger 11, exposure corresponding to the image data is performed on the photosensitive drum 10 by laser light from the exposure device 7 (see the two-dot chain line P in FIG. 1). The electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10. Next, the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 12 into a toner image with toner.

  On the other hand, the sheet taken out from the sheet cassette 3 by the sheet feeding unit 16 is conveyed to the transfer unit 17 in synchronization with the above-described image forming operation, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred to the sheet by the transfer unit 17. Is transcribed. The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed downstream in the conveyance path 15 and enters the fixing device 18 where the toner image is fixed on the sheet. The paper on which the toner image is fixed is discharged from the paper discharge unit 20 to the paper discharge tray 4. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 10 is collected by the cleaning device 14.

  Next, the toner container 6 will be described in detail mainly with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a perspective sectional view from the rear side showing the toner container in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view from the left rear side showing a state where the container side shutter opens the discharge port and the developing device side shutter opens the supply port in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. . FIG. 4 is a right side view showing a state where the lever gripping portion is tilted forward in the toner container of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a right side view illustrating a state in which the lever gripping portion is tilted backward in the toner container of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the toner container in the printer according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view from the lower right side showing the toner container in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  An arrow Fr appropriately attached to each figure indicates the front side (front side) of the printer 1 (the same applies to FIG. 8 and subsequent figures). Since FIG. 2 is a perspective sectional view from the rear side, the left-right relationship on the drawing and the actual left-right relationship are reversed. That is, the right side of the drawing in FIG. 2 is the left side of the toner container 6, and the left side of the drawing in FIG. 2 is the right side of the toner container 6.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the toner container 6 is disposed below the upper cover 5 of the printer body 2. The toner container 6 is detachably attached to the developing device 12, and when the toner is used up, the toner container 6 can be replaced by opening the upper cover 5 (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1). ).

  As best shown in FIG. 2, the toner container 6 includes a box-shaped container main body 22 having an open upper surface, a transport screw 23 accommodated in a rear lower portion of the container main body 22, and a substantially center of the container main body 22. A stirring paddle 24 accommodated in the container body, a lid 25 covering the upper surface of the container body 22, a lever 26 attached to the right end of the container body 22, and a transmission member disposed at the right end of the container body 22 together with the lever 26. 27 and a container-side shutter 28 attached to the lower right end of the container body 22. The transmission member 27 is not shown except for FIGS.

  The container body 22 contains toner and has a shape that is long in the left-right direction. A toner filling port 31 is formed in the left end wall 30 of the container body 22, and the toner filling port 31 is closed by a cap 32. A main body side flange portion 33 is provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of the container main body 22.

  A cylindrical discharge duct 34 protrudes rightward from the lower right end of the container body 22, and an opening 36 is formed at the right end of the discharge duct 34. As best shown in FIG. 3, a discharge port 35 for discharging the toner is formed at the bottom of the discharge duct 34. A seal member 37 is attached to the lower outer periphery of the discharge duct 34, and a communication port 38 is formed in the seal member 37 at a position corresponding to the discharge port 35.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a cylindrical boss 42 having a communication hole 41 projects from the center of the right end wall 40 of the container body 22 toward the right side (outside). On the right surface (outer surface) of the right end wall 40 of the container main body 22, a first restriction rib 43 projects from the rear upper side of the boss 42. On the right surface of the right end wall 40 of the container body 22, a second restriction rib 44 projects from the front upper side of the boss 42. A concave portion 45 is provided on the upper portion of the second restriction rib 44. A cylindrical projection 46 is provided below the first regulating rib 43 on the right surface of the right end wall 40 of the container body 22.

  As best shown in FIG. 2, the conveying screw 23 has a long shape in the left-right direction. The conveying screw 23 includes a rod-shaped rotating shaft 47 and a spiral fin 48 provided concentrically on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 47. The left end portion of the rotation shaft 47 is pivotally supported on the left end wall 30 of the container body 22. The right side portions of the rotating shaft 47 and the spiral fin 48 are inserted into the discharge duct 34. The right end portion of the rotating shaft 47 protrudes to the right from the discharge duct 34 through the opening 36, and a conveying gear 50 is fixed to the protruding portion.

  The stirring paddle 24 is disposed on the upper front side of the conveying screw 23 and has a shape that is long in the left-right direction. The stirring paddle 24 includes a support frame 51 having a frame plate shape, and a sheet-like stirring blade 52 supported by the support frame 51. The left and right ends of the support frame 51 are pivotally supported on the left end wall 30 and the right end wall 40 of the container main body 22 via bearings 49 (refer to FIG. 3, hereinafter referred to as “bearings 49 of the stirring paddle 24”). Yes. As shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the bearing 49 of the stirring paddle 24 attached to the right end wall 40 is provided with an engagement receiving portion 53 at a position corresponding to the communication hole 41 of the boss 42.

  The stirring blade 52 is made of a synthetic resin sheet such as Lumirror (trade name), for example. As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, one side of the stirring blade 52 is fixed to the support frame 51 along the left-right direction. The stirring blade 52 is provided with a plurality of cut grooves 54.

  A lid body side flange portion 55 having a shape corresponding to the body side flange portion 33 of the container body 22 is provided at the lower end of the lid body 25, and the body side flange portion 33 and the lid body side flange portion 55 are ultrasonically welded. Thus, the container body 22 and the lid body 25 are integrated. A recess 56 is formed in the center of the lid 25 in the left-right direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the lever 26 includes a lever body 57 having a circular outline in a side view. The lever main body 57 includes a cylindrical small-diameter cylindrical portion 58, a cylindrical large-diameter cylindrical portion 60 provided on the outer periphery of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 58, and extends radially to connect the small-diameter cylindrical portion 58 and the large-diameter cylindrical portion 60. And four connecting portions 61. The small-diameter cylindrical portion 58 is attached to the outer periphery of a boss 42 provided on the right end wall 40 of the container body 22, whereby the lever 26 is rotatably supported by the container body 22.

  A gripping part 62 projects from the upper part of the large-diameter cylindrical part 60. The upper end of the grip portion 62 extends to the right side of the lid body 25. The holding portion 62 is regulated in the forward tilt angle by the second regulating rib 44 (see FIG. 4), and the backward tilt angle is regulated by the first regulating rib 43 (see FIG. 5). A protruding piece 63 is provided on the upper portion of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 60 in front of the grip portion 62. As shown in FIG. 5, the projecting piece 63 is engaged with the concave portion 45 of the second regulating rib 44 in a state where the gripping portion 62 is tilted backward. A lever side gear 64 is provided on the outer periphery of the rear lower portion of the large diameter cylindrical portion 60.

  As best shown in FIG. 6, the transmission member 27 includes a disk-shaped transmission member main body 65. On the right surface (outer surface) of the transmission member main body 65, a transmission coupling 66 having a triangular prism shape in a side view is projected. An engagement piece 67 projects from the left surface (inner surface) of the transmission member main body 65. The engagement piece 67 is inserted into the communication hole 41 provided in the boss 42 of the container body 22 and is engaged with an engagement receiving portion 53 (see FIG. 4 and the like) provided in the bearing 49 of the stirring paddle 24. . As a result, the transmission member 27 and the stirring paddle 24 are connected to rotate integrally.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a transmission gear 68 is provided on the outer periphery of the transmission member main body 65. This transmission gear 68 meshes with a conveyance gear 50 (shown in a state separated from the rotation shaft 47 in FIG. 6) fixed to the rotation shaft 47 of the conveyance screw 23, and with the rotation of the transmission member 27. Thus, the conveying screw 23 is rotated.

  The container-side shutter 28 has a cylindrical shape and is rotatably mounted on the outer periphery of the discharge duct 34 of the container body 22. A discharge opening 70 is formed on the lower surface of the container-side shutter 28. As best shown in FIG. 3, the discharge opening 70 is provided at a position corresponding to the discharge port 35 of the container body 22 and the communication port 38 of the seal member 37.

  As shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the container-side shutter 28 is provided with a substantially fan-shaped guide piece 71 protruding forward. An arcuate guide hole 72 is provided in the guide piece 71, and the protrusion 46 of the container body 22 is engaged with the guide hole 72.

  As best shown in FIG. 2, the container-side shutter 28 is provided with a cylindrical bearing portion 73, and the right end portion of the rotation shaft 47 of the conveying screw 23 is pivotally supported on the bearing portion 73. . A gear storage portion 74 is provided on the right side of the bearing portion 73, and the transport gear 50 is stored in the gear storage portion 74. As best shown in FIG. 7, a communication opening 75 is formed in the gear storage portion 74, and the conveyance gear 50 can be stored in the gear storage portion 74 via this communication opening 75. Yes.

  The container side shutter 28 is provided with a shutter side gear 76. The shutter side gear 76 meshes with the lever side gear 64 of the lever 26, and the container side shutter 28 rotates in the opposite direction to the lever 26 as the lever 26 rotates. A lock piece 77 is provided at the right end of the container-side shutter 28. The lock piece 77 includes a pair of opposed flat portions 78 and a pair of curved surface portions 79 that connect both ends of the flat portion 78, and has an oval cross-sectional shape. On the outer periphery of the lower part of the container-side shutter 28, a pressing protrusion 80 is provided to the right of the discharge opening 70, and a window 81 is provided above the pressing protrusion 80.

  Next, the developing device 12 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 8 to 12. FIG. 3 shows a state where the container-side shutter opens the discharge port and the developer-side shutter opens the replenishment port, as described above, in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective sectional view. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the image forming unit in the printer according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 9 is a perspective view from the right front side showing a state in which the toner container is mounted on the developing device in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view from the left front side showing the image forming unit in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the periphery of the supply port in the developing device of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a perspective cross-sectional view from the left rear side showing a state where the container side shutter closes the discharge port and the developing device side shutter closes the supply port in the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. .

  As shown in FIG. 8, the developing device 12 is integrated with the photosensitive drum 10, the charger 11, and the cleaning device 14 to constitute an image forming unit 82. The developing device 12 includes a box-shaped developing device main body 83. A partition wall 84 extending in the vertical direction is provided in the center of the inside of the developing device main body 83, and stirring members 85 are accommodated in front and rear of the partition wall 84, respectively. Each stirring member 85 is rotatably supported by the developing device main body 83. A developing roller 86 is housed inside the developing device main body 83 at the rear lower side of the rear stirring member 85. The developing roller 86 is rotatably supported by the developing device main body 83 and is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 10. As shown in FIG. 9, the toner container 6 is detachably mounted on the upper surface side of the developing device main body 83.

  As shown in FIG. 3 and the like, a replenishing port 88 is formed in the upper wall 87 of the developing device main body 83 in the vertical direction. A seal member 90 is fixed around the supply port 88 on the upper surface of the upper wall 87 of the developing device main body 83 (a part of the outer surface of the developing device main body 83). The seal member 90 is formed of an elastic member such as a sponge, for example. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a replenishment opening 91 is formed in the seal member 90 at a position corresponding to the replenishment port 88 of the developing device main body 83. The front end portion of the seal member 90 is placed on a pedestal portion 92 projecting from the upper wall 87 of the developing device main body 83, and is curved in an arc shape toward the front upper side.

  As shown in FIG. 11, a restriction projection 89 is provided on the upper surface of the upper wall 87 of the developing device main body 83 at the rear of the seal member 90. On the upper surface of the upper wall 87 of the developing device main body 83, a spring accommodating portion 93 is formed on the right side of the seal member 90 along the front-rear direction. The spring accommodating portion 93 accommodates a coil spring 94 as an urging member, and the rear end portion of the coil spring 94 is in contact with the rear surface of the spring accommodating portion 93. The rear part of the coil spring 94 is covered with an arch-shaped spring holding piece 95 installed above the spring accommodating part 93.

  On the upper surface of the upper wall 87 of the developing device main body 83, an engaging portion 96 projects from the seal member 90 to the left along the front-rear direction. An engaging groove 97 is formed in the engaging portion 96 along the front-rear direction.

  As shown in FIG. 10 and the like, a developing device side shutter 98 is attached to the upper surface side of the upper wall 87 of the developing device main body 83. The developing device side shutter 98 has a flat plate shape that is long in the left-right direction. A fulcrum portion 100 is provided at the left end portion of the developing device side shutter 98, and the developing device side shutter 98 rotates in the front-rear direction along the upper surface of the upper wall 87 of the developing device main body 83 around the fulcrum portion 100. It has become. A gently bent portion 101 is formed at the central portion in the left-right direction of the developing device side shutter 98.

  As shown in FIG. 11, a thin opening / closing part 102 is provided on the right side of the developing device side shutter 98. The lower surface of the opening / closing portion 102 is in contact with the upper surface of the seal member 90, and the replenishment port 88 of the developing device main body 83 and the seal member 90 are replenished as the developing device side shutter 98 rotates around the fulcrum portion 100. The opening / closing part 102 opens and closes the opening 91. Hereinafter, the position (see FIG. 3) where the toner replenishing port 88 of the developing device main body 83 and the replenishment opening 91 of the seal member 90 are opened is referred to as the open position of the opening / closing portion 102, and the toner replenishing port 88 of the developing device main body 83 and A position where the replenishment opening 91 of the seal member 90 is closed (see FIG. 12) is referred to as a closing position of the opening / closing section 102.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the developer-side shutter 98 is provided with a rectangular notch 103 on the right side of the opening / closing part 102, and an abutment piece 104 projects from the notch 103. . As shown in FIG. 10, the contact piece 104 is provided at a position farther from the fulcrum part 100 than the opening / closing part 102.

  As shown in FIG. 11, a spring receiving portion 105 is provided behind the contact piece 104. A front end portion of a coil spring 94 is attached to the spring receiving portion 105, whereby the opening / closing portion 102 of the developing device side shutter 98 is biased to the closed position. The developing device side shutter 98 is provided with an arch-shaped spring holding portion 106 behind the spring receiving portion 105, and the upper side of the coil spring 94 is covered by the spring holding portion 106.

  The developing device side shutter 98 is provided with a communication hole 109 on the left side of the opening / closing portion 102, and an L-shaped hook 107 protrudes from the communication hole 109 toward the developing device main body 83 side (lower side in this embodiment). It is installed. The hook 107 is inserted into an engaging groove 97 provided in the engaging portion 96 of the developing device main body 83 and is engaged with the engaging portion 96.

  As shown in FIG. 10, a driving mechanism 110 is provided at the right end of the developing device main body 83. The driving mechanism 110 is provided with a driving coupling 111 having a triangular cylindrical shape in a side view connected to driving means (not shown) such as a motor.

  When the toner container 6 is mounted on the developing device 12 with the gripping portion 62 of the lever 26 tilted forward as shown in FIG. 9, the container-side shutter as shown in FIG. 28 pressing projections 80 abut against the abutting piece 104 of the developing device side shutter 98. At this time, as shown in FIG. 12, the discharge port 35 of the container body 22 is closed by the container side shutter 28, and the replenishment port 88 of the developer unit body 83 is closed by the opening / closing part 102 of the developer unit shutter 98. . Therefore, the communication between the inside of the container main body 22 and the inside of the developing device main body 83 is blocked.

  In this state, as shown by an arrow Y in FIG. 4, when an operator such as a user or a serviceman tilts the gripping portion 62 of the lever 26 to the rear side, the lever 26 is centered around the boss 42 of the container body 22. It rotates in the direction (clockwise on the drawing) (see FIG. 5). With this rotation, as indicated by an arrow Z in FIG. 4, the container-side shutter 28 connected to the lever 26 rotates in one direction (counterclockwise in the drawing) with respect to the container body 22 (see FIG. 5). ). By the rotation of the container side shutter 28, the discharge opening 70 of the container side shutter 28 is moved directly below the discharge port 35 of the container body 22 and the communication port 38 of the seal member 37, as shown in FIG. 3. That is, the container side shutter 28 is displaced to a position where the discharge port 35 of the container body 22 is opened.

  As the container-side shutter 28 rotates, the pressing protrusion 80 of the container-side shutter 28 presses the contact piece 104 of the developer-side shutter 98 backward as shown in FIGS. With this pressing, the developing device side shutter 98 rotates rearward about the fulcrum portion 100, and the opening / closing portion 102 of the developing device side shutter 98 is displaced from the closed position to the open position as shown in FIG. That is, the developing device side shutter 98 opens the supply port 88 of the developing device main body 83. As described above, the discharge port 35 of the container main body 22 and the replenishment port 88 of the developing device main body 83 are opened, so that the inside of the container main body 22 and the inside of the developing device main body 83 communicate with each other.

  The driving coupling 111 is connected to the transmission coupling 66 in conjunction with the rotation of the lever 26 described above. In this state, when driving means such as a motor connected to the driving coupling 111 rotates, the rotation is transmitted to the transmission member 27 via the driving coupling 111 and the transmission coupling 66, and the transmission member 27 is Rotate. When the transmission member 27 rotates in this way, the agitation paddle 24 connected to the transmission member 27 rotates, and the toner in the container body 22 is conveyed toward the conveyance screw 23 while being agitated. Further, when the transmission member 27 rotates as described above, this rotation is transmitted to the rotation shaft 47 of the conveyance screw 23 via the transmission gear 68 and the conveyance gear 50, and the conveyance screw 23 rotates. Along with this, the toner in the container main body 22 is discharged from the discharge port 35 and introduced into the inside of the developing device main body 83 through the supply port 88. The toner introduced into the inside of the developing device main body 83 is stirred by each stirring member 85 and then conveyed to the developing roller 86 and supplied from the developing roller 86 to the photosensitive drum 10.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the pressing projection 80 of the container side shutter 28 presses the contact piece 104 of the developing unit side shutter 98 with the toner container 6 mounted on the developing unit 12, so that the supply port 88 is opened. The developing device side shutter 98 rotates from the closing position to the position where the supply port 88 is opened. Therefore, it is not necessary to rotate the developing device side shutter 98 when the toner container 6 is attached to the developing device 12, and no reaction force is applied to the toner container 6 from the developing device side shutter 98. Therefore, compared with the case where the developing device side shutter 98 is displaced in conjunction with the operation of attaching the toner container 6 to the developing device 12, the force required for attaching the toner container 6 to the developing device 12 is reduced. Thus, it is possible to reduce the burden of this mounting work.

  Further, a cylindrical container-side shutter 28 is rotatably mounted on the outer periphery of the cylindrical discharge duct 34 so that the container-side shutter 28 rotates outside the discharge duct 34. Therefore, the pressing protrusion 80 of the container side shutter 28 can be brought closer to the developing device side shutter 98 as compared with the case where the container side shutter 28 rotates inside the discharge duct 34. Along with this, the developer-side shutter 98 is easily pressed by the pressing protrusion 80.

  Furthermore, since the lever 26 connected to the container side shutter 28 is provided in the toner container 6, the discharge port 35 of the container main body 22 and the replenishment port 88 of the developing device main body 83 can be easily opened and closed as the lever 26 is operated. It is possible to do.

  Although the case where the lever 26 and the container-side shutter 28 are formed separately has been described in the present embodiment, in another different embodiment, the lever 26 and the container-side shutter 28 may be formed integrally.

  In the present embodiment, both the container-side shutter 28 and the developer-side shutter 98 are rotary shutters, but in other different embodiments, either the container-side shutter 28 or the developer-side shutter 98 is linear. The container side shutter 28 and the developer side shutter 98 may both be linearly slid. The “displacement” in the present invention refers to the position of the shutter when the shutter phase changes due to rotation of the shutter (see “vessel-side shutter 28”) and when the shutter rotates or slides linearly. Both cases of changing (see “developer-side shutter 98”) are included.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration of the present invention is applied to the toner container 6. However, in another different embodiment, the toner container (so-called “intermediate hopper”) interposed between the toner container 6 and the developing device 12 is used. You may apply the structure of invention.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the configuration of the present invention is applied to the printer 1 has been described. However, in another different embodiment, the configuration of the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus other than the printer 1 such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction peripheral. It may be applied.

1 Printer (image forming device)
6 Toner container (toner container)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Developing device 22 Container body 26 Lever 28 Container side shutter 34 Discharge duct 35 Discharge port 80 Pressing protrusion 83 Developing device main body 88 Supply port 98 Developing device side shutter

Claims (4)

A toner container having a container body provided with a discharge port for discharging toner, and a container side shutter for opening and closing the discharge port;
A developing device main body provided with a replenishing port for receiving toner discharged from the discharging port; and a developing device side shutter for opening and closing the replenishing port; and a developing device to which the toner container is detachably mounted. With
When the container-side shutter is displaced from a position where the discharge port is closed to a position where the discharge port is opened while the toner container is mounted on the developer, the container-side shutter presses the developer-side shutter. The image forming apparatus, wherein the developing device side shutter is displaced from a position where the replenishing port is closed to a position where the replenishing port is opened. The container body includes a cylindrical discharge duct having the discharge port,
The container side shutter has a cylindrical shape and is rotatably mounted on the outer periphery of the discharge duct. The developer side shutter is pressed against the outer periphery of the container side shutter as the container side shutter rotates. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pressing protrusion is provided.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the container body rotatably supports a lever connected to the container side shutter, and the container side shutter rotates in accordance with the operation of the lever. A toner container that includes a container body provided with a discharge port for discharging toner, and a container-side shutter that opens and closes the discharge port, and is detachably attached to the developing device,
When the container-side shutter is displaced from a position where the discharge port is closed to a position where the discharge port is opened in a state where the toner container is mounted on the developing unit, the container-side shutter is provided in the developing unit. A toner container, wherein the developer-side shutter is displaced from a position at which the developer-side shutter is pressed to close a supply port provided in the developer to a position at which the supply port is opened.