JP2014167661A - Toner storage body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner storage body able to prevent toner from being pressed by a shutter and leaking out when the shutter is moved from its open position to closed position.SOLUTION: A toner cartridge 11 has a housing 51 storing toner in it. A communication port 53 for the communication between the inside and outside of it is formed in the housing 51. The shutter 58 is provided movable between the open position where the communication port 53 is opened and the closed position where the communication port 53 is closed. With the shutter 58 located in the closed position, a toner seal 55 is interposed between the housing 51 and the shutter 58. In the toner seal 55, a toner capturing opening 57 for capturing toner leaking out of a sealing opening 56 is formed behind the sealing opening 56 communicating with the communication port 53, which is downstream of the sealing opening 56 in the closed direction from the open position to the closed position.

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner container that is mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a color printer and stores toner.

  In an example of an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, a photosensitive drum and a developing device are provided, and a toner box containing toner is attached to a case of the developing device.

  The toner box has, for example, a shape having an arc-shaped peripheral surface. A toner discharge port for discharging the toner toward the developing device is formed on the arc-shaped peripheral surface. A sealing material for preventing toner leakage is provided around the toner discharge port. A shutter for opening and closing the toner discharge port is slidably provided outside the arcuate peripheral surface.

  After the toner box is mounted on the case of the developing device, the shutter is slid to open the toner discharge port. As a result, a toner supply path via the toner discharge port is formed between the toner box and the developing device, and toner is supplied from the toner box to the developing device via the toner supply path.

  At the time of image formation, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum, and the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image by the developing unit. When the toner is consumed as the image is formed and the toner in the toner box runs out, the toner box is removed from the case of the developing device, and a new toner box is attached to the case of the developing device.

  Before the toner box is removed from the case of the developing device, the toner box is slid to a position facing the toner discharge port, and the toner discharge port is closed by the shutter. In this state, the shutter is pressed against the sealing material, and the space between the shutter and the portion around the toner discharge port is sealed. This prevents the toner in the toner box from leaking from the toner discharge port in a state where the toner box is removed from the case of the developing device.

JP-A-7-225514

  When the toner discharge port is opened, toner exists on the toner supply path between the toner box and the developing device. Therefore, when the shutter is moved from that state to a position facing the toner discharge port, the shutter crosses the toner on the toner supply path. As a result, the toner may be placed on the end surface on the downstream side in the moving direction of the shutter, and the toner may leak outside the sealing material.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a toner container capable of preventing toner from being leaked by being pushed by the shutter when the shutter is moved from the open position to the closed position.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in a toner container, a main body having a communication port for containing toner therein and communicating between the inside and the outside, an open position for opening the communication port, and the communication port are closed. A shutter provided movably to a closed position; and a seal interposed between the main body and the shutter in a state where the shutter is located at the closed position, and the seal includes the communication port. A sealing opening that communicates with the sealing opening, and a capturing portion that is formed on the downstream side in the closing direction from the opening position toward the closing position with respect to the sealing opening, and captures toner that leaks out of the sealing opening. It is characterized by being.

  According to the present invention, the toner container includes a main body that contains toner therein. The main body is formed with a communication port that communicates the inside and the outside. A shutter is provided to open and close the communication port. That is, the shutter is movably provided between an open position where the communication port is opened and a closed position where the communication port is closed. In a state where the shutter is located at the closed position, a seal is interposed between the main body and the shutter.

  A seal opening that communicates with the communication port is formed in the seal. Further, the seal is formed with a capturing portion for capturing toner leaking out of the seal opening on the downstream side in the closing direction from the open position to the closed position with respect to the seal opening. For this reason, when the shutter is moved from the open position to the closed position, the toner (toner carried by the shutter) on the downstream end surface in the closing direction of the shutter does not move in the closing direction even if it exceeds the seal opening. It is captured by a capture unit formed on the downstream side. As a result, the toner can be prevented from leaking outside beyond the seal.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a color printer to which a toner cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the photosensitive drum, the charger, and the developer shown in FIG. 1 and shows a state where the communication port is closed. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the photosensitive drum, the charger, and the developer shown in FIG. 1 and shows a state where the communication port is opened. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 1 and shows a state where the shutter is located at the closed position. FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 1 and shows a state where the shutter is located at the open position. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 1 and shows a state where the shutter is located between the open position and the closed position. FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of a part of the developing device and the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 1 and shows a state in which the shutter is disposed at the open position. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of a part of the developing device and the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 1 and shows a state in which the rear edge of the shutter is disposed in the seal opening. FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view of a part of the developing device and the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 1 and shows a state where the rear edge of the shutter is disposed in the toner capturing opening. FIG. 7D is a cross-sectional view of a part of the developing device and the toner cartridge shown in FIG. FIG. 7E is a cross-sectional view of a part of the developing device and the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 1 and shows a state in which the shutter is disposed at the closed position. FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a seal according to a first modification. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the seal shown in FIG. 8A. FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a seal according to a second modification. FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of the seal shown in FIG. 9A. FIG. 10A is a perspective view of a seal according to a third modification. FIG. 10B is a plan view of the seal shown in FIG. 10A. FIG. 11 is a plan view of a seal according to a fourth modification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1. Color Printer A color printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a tandem color printer. The color printer 1 includes a main body casing 2. A drawer unit 3 is mounted in the main casing 2. A front cover 4 is provided on the front surface of the main casing 2 so as to be openable and closable. The drawer unit 3 can be moved in the horizontal direction between the accommodation position (position shown in FIG. 1) in the main casing 2 and the drawing position outside the main casing 2 with the front cover 4 opened. it can. A part of the drawer unit 3 remains in the main body casing 2 at the drawer position, and upper portions of four toner cartridges 11 to be described later that are attached to the drawer unit 3 are opened.

  The side on which the front cover 4 is provided (the right side in FIG. 1) is the front side (front side) of the color printer 1. In addition, regarding the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the color printer 1, the color printer 1 is viewed from the front side. Further, the front, rear, upper, lower, left and right of the drawer unit 3 and the toner cartridge 11 attached to the drawer unit 3 are based on the state of being attached to the main casing 2.

  The drawer unit 3 holds four photosensitive drums 5 so as to be rotatable about rotation axes extending in the left-right direction. The four photosensitive drums 5 are provided for black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, respectively, and are arranged in parallel at equal intervals in the front-rear direction in the order of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan from the front side.

  The drawer unit 3 holds four chargers 6. The four chargers 6 are provided corresponding to the photosensitive drums 5, respectively, and are disposed on the rear upper side of the corresponding photosensitive drums 5. The charger 6 is, for example, a scorotron charger having a wire and a grid.

  Furthermore, four developing devices 7 are held in the drawer unit 3. The four developing devices 7 are provided corresponding to the photosensitive drums 5, respectively, and are disposed in front of and above the corresponding photosensitive drums 5.

  Each developing device 7 includes a developing frame 8. A developing roller 9 and a supply roller 10 are held on the developing frame 8.

  The developing roller 9 is provided so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction, and is disposed so as to contact the photosensitive drum 5.

  The supply roller 10 is provided so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction, and is disposed so as to contact the developing roller 9 from the front upper side.

  In the drawer unit 3, a space 12 for mounting a toner cartridge 11 as an example of a toner container that contains toner is provided above each developing device 7. The toner cartridge 11 is mounted in the space 12 above each developing device 7 from above the drawer unit 3 in a state where the drawer unit 3 is pulled out to the drawing position. The developing device 7 is supplied with toner from the toner cartridge 11.

  In the main casing 2, an exposure unit 13 that emits four laser beams corresponding to each color is disposed above the drawer unit 3.

  As the photosensitive drum 5 rotates, the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 is uniformly charged by the discharge from the charger 6 and then selectively exposed by the laser beam from the exposure unit 13. By this exposure, electric charges are selectively removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 5, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5. When the electrostatic latent image faces the developing roller 9, toner is supplied from the developing roller 9 to the electrostatic latent image. As a result, a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5.

  Instead of the exposure device 13, four LED arrays may be provided corresponding to each photosensitive drum 5.

  At the bottom of the main casing 2, a paper feed cassette 14 that stores paper P is disposed. The paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 14 is transported onto the transport belt 15 by various rollers. The conveyor belt 15 is disposed facing the four photosensitive drums 5 from below. A transfer roller 16 is disposed at each position facing the photosensitive drum 5 with the upper portion of the conveyance belt 15 interposed therebetween. The paper P transported on the transport belt 15 sequentially passes between the transport belt 15 and each photosensitive drum 5 as the transport belt 15 travels. The toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 is transferred to the paper P when facing the paper P.

A fixing device 17 is provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the paper P with respect to the conveyance belt 15. The paper P on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 17. In the fixing device 17, the toner image is fixed on the paper P by heating and pressing. The paper P on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to a paper discharge tray 18 on the upper surface of the main casing 2 by various rollers.
2. As shown in FIG. 1, the developing device drawer unit 3 includes a drawer frame 31 having a square frame shape in plan view. The four photosensitive drums 5, the four chargers 6, and the four developing units 7 are collectively held in a state of being sandwiched from both the left and right sides by both side plates facing the left and right direction in the drawer frame 31.

  The developing frames 8 of the developing device 7 are arranged at equal intervals in the front-rear direction. A space 12 for mounting the toner cartridge 11 is provided on each developing frame 8.

  A developing chamber 41 for accommodating the developing roller 9 is formed in the developing frame 8. The developing chamber 41 is open on the photosensitive drum 5 side, and the developing roller 9 is disposed at the open end of the developing chamber 41.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the developing frame 8 is a plate-shaped convexly curved arc toward the developing chamber 41 between the developing chamber 41 and the space 12 for mounting the toner cartridge 11. A partition wall 42 is provided. The partition wall 42 partitions the developing frame 8 into a developing chamber 41 and a space 12 above the developing chamber 41.

  As shown in FIG. 3, three communication ports 53 (FIG. 5) formed in the toner cartridge 11 in a state where the toner cartridge 11 is mounted in the space 12 at the center portion in the circumferential direction of the partition wall 42. Three rectangular communication ports 43 are formed at positions facing (see).

  Three frame seals 44 are arranged on the partition wall 42. The frame seal 44 is provided corresponding to each communication port 43 and is attached to the partition wall 42. The frame seal 44 is made of an elastic foam and has a rectangular sheet shape.

  A rectangular seal opening 45 communicating with the communication port 43 is formed in the center of the frame seal 44 so as to penetrate the frame seal 44 in the thickness direction.

The frame seal 44 is formed with a rectangular toner capturing opening 46 penetrating the frame seal 44 in the thickness direction at a position spaced rearward from the seal opening 45. The toner capturing opening 46 is smaller in size in the front-rear direction and larger in the left-right direction (the length between the left end and the right end) as the width direction than the seal opening 45. The inside of the toner capturing opening 46 is a recess that is recessed by one step with respect to the surface of the frame seal 44.
3. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a shutter drive member 47 for driving a shutter 58 described later is disposed on the partition wall 42 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. The shutter drive member 47 has a plate shape that is convexly curved in an arc shape toward the developing chamber 41 so as to substantially follow the partition wall 42. Further, the shutter drive member 47 extends in the left-right direction, and both end portions in the left-right direction protrude beyond the both end edges in the left-right direction of the partition wall 42. A rack gear 48 is formed on the lower surface of the portion of the shutter drive member 47 that protrudes from the partition wall 42. On the upper surface of the shutter driving member 47, shutter driving protrusions 49 are formed at positions corresponding to shutter driving openings 59 described later.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which a shutter 58 described later is coupled to the shutter driving member 47.
4). Toner Cartridge (1) Housing As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the toner cartridge 11 includes a resin housing 51 that accommodates toner therein. The casing 51 has a hollow substantially semi-cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction, and has an arc surface 52 having a substantially semi-circular cross section that is convexly curved downward.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the arc surface 52 is formed with three communication ports 53 that communicate with the inside and outside of the housing 51 at a position behind the lowermost end portion. The three communication ports 53 are formed side by side with an interval in the left-right direction, and each has a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction.

Further, on the arc surface 52, elongated groove-like escape grooves 54 extending in the circumferential direction of the arc surface 52 are formed on the left and right sides of each communication port 53.
(2) Toner seal Three toner seals 55 are adhered to the circular arc surface 52. The toner seal 55 is provided corresponding to each communication port 53. The toner seal 55 is made of an elastic foam and has a rectangular sheet shape.

  A rectangular seal opening 56 that communicates with the communication port 53 is formed at the center of the toner seal 55 so as to penetrate the toner seal 55 in the thickness direction.

The toner seal 55 is formed with a rectangular toner capturing opening 57 penetrating the toner seal 55 in the thickness direction at a position spaced apart from the seal opening 56 in the rearward direction. The toner capturing opening 57 has a small size in the front-rear direction and a large size in the left-right direction, which is the width direction (the length between the left end and the right end), compared to the seal opening 56. The inside of the toner capturing opening 57 is a recess that is recessed by one step with respect to the surface of the toner seal 55.
(3) Shutter As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a shutter 58 is provided so as to be movable along the arc surface 52 between the open position and the closed position so as to face the arc surface 52. The shutter 58 is made of a resin film and is curved along the arc surface 52 of the housing 51. The dimension of the shutter 58 in the direction along the arc surface 52 is larger than the width of the toner seal 55 in the direction along the arc surface 52, and the dimension (width) in the left-right direction is slightly smaller than the width in the left-right direction of the arc surface 52. .

  In the shutter 58, two shutter driving openings 59 are formed at positions facing the escape grooves 54 of the housing 51 with a gap in the circumferential direction of the shutter 58. Two shutter drive openings arranged in the circumferential direction of the shutter 58 so that all the shutter drive openings 59 are opposed to the escape grooves 54 regardless of whether the shutter 58 is in the open position or the closed position. 59 intervals are determined.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the rear end edge of the shutter 58 is located in front of the front end edge of the seal opening 56 of the toner seal 55 in a state where the shutter 58 is in the open position. Therefore, the communication port 53 of the housing 51 and the seal opening 56 of the toner seal 55 are opened in a state where they communicate with each other, and the inside and outside of the housing 51 communicate.

On the other hand, the closed position is a position behind the open position. As shown in FIG. 4, the rear end edge of the shutter 58 is located behind the toner capturing opening 57 of the toner seal 55 in a state where the shutter 58 is located at the closed position. Therefore, the entire area of the communication port 53 of the casing 51 and the seal opening 56 of the toner seal 55 are covered by the shutter 58, and the inside and outside of the casing 51 are blocked by the shutter 58.
5. Drive transmission mechanism In the drawer frame 31, corresponding to each shutter drive member 47, a drive transmission mechanism for transmitting a drive force to the shutter drive member 47 is provided.

  Although not shown, four operation levers are arranged outside the left side plate of the drawer frame 31. Each operation lever is fixed to a swing shaft that penetrates the left side plate of the drawer frame 31 and extends in the left-right direction. Each swing shaft is rotatably supported on the left side plate of the drawer frame 31.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the drive transmission mechanism includes a first gear 61 fixed to the swing shaft inside the drawer frame 31, a second gear 62 meshing with the first gear 61, A pinion gear 63 that meshes with the two gears 62 and the left rack gear 48 of the shutter drive member 47, a pinion gear 64 that meshes with the rack gear 48 on the right side of the shutter drive member 47, and a connecting shaft 65 that connects the pinion gears 63 and 64. Yes.

When the operation lever is operated and the first gear 61 rotates, a rotational force is applied from the first gear 61 to the second gear 62. The rotational force applied to the second gear 62 is applied from the second gear 62 to the pinion gear 63. As a result, the pinion gears 63 and 64 rotate, and the rotational force is input from the pinion gears 63 and 64 to the rack gear 48. Thereby, the shutter drive member 47 moves in the front-rear direction along the partition wall 42, and the shutter 58 moves between the open position and the closed position together with the shutter drive member 47.
6). Opening and closing of shutter (1) Movement of shutter from closed position to open position With the toner cartridge 11 detached from the drawer unit 3, the shutter 58 is positioned at the closed position. When the toner cartridge 11 is mounted in the space 12, each shutter driving protrusion 49 engages with the shutter driving opening 59, and the shutter 58 and the shutter driving member 47 are coupled.

  After the toner cartridge 11 is mounted in the space 12, an operation lever (not shown) is operated to move the shutter 58 from the closed position to the open position. By this operation, the first gear 61 rotates clockwise as viewed from the left side. The rotation of the first gear 61 is transmitted to the rack gear 48 of the shutter driving member 47. Thereby, the shutter drive member 47 moves forward from a position facing the communication port 53 of the partition wall 42 to a position not facing the communication port 53. With the movement of the shutter driving member 47, the shutter 58 moves forward from the closed position integrally with the shutter driving member 47, and is disposed at the open position.

7A, the frame seal 44 of the developing device 7 and the toner seal 55 of the toner cartridge 11 are in pressure contact with each other. The seal opening 45 of the frame seal 44 and the seal opening 56 of the toner seal 55 face each other, and the inside of the developing chamber 41 of the developing device 7 and the inside of the housing 51 of the toner cartridge 11 are connected to the communication ports 43 and 53 and the seal opening 45. , 56 to communicate with each other. As a result, toner can be circulated between the developing chamber 41 and the housing 51. In the state where the shutter 58 is in the open position, the toner capturing opening 57 of the toner seal 55 faces the toner capturing opening 46 of the frame seal 44, and the partition wall 42 of the developing frame 8 and the arcuate surface of the housing 51. A space surrounded by the toner capturing openings 46 and 57 is formed between the opening 52 and the toner capturing opening 52. The rear end of the shutter 58 is sandwiched between the frame seal 44 and the toner seal 55 in front of the seal openings 45 and 56.
(2) Movement of shutter from open position to closed position When the shutter 58 is moved from the open position to the closed position, an operation lever (not shown) is operated in the opposite direction to that when the shutter 58 is moved from the closed position to the open position. . By this operation, the first gear 61 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the left side. The rotation of the first gear 61 is transmitted to the rack gear 48 of the shutter driving member 47. As a result, the shutter drive member 47 moves rearward, and as the shutter drive member 47 moves, the shutter 58 is integrated with the shutter drive member 47 rearward from the open position as shown in FIGS. The shutter 58 is placed at the closed position.

  On the way, the rear end edge of the shutter 58 passes through the space surrounded by the seal openings 45 and 56 as shown in FIG. In the space surrounded by the seal openings 45 and 56, toner exists. For this reason, when the rear end edge of the shutter 58 passes (crosses) the space, the toner is placed on the rear end surface (the end surface on the downstream side in the moving direction) of the shutter 58.

  In a state where the rear end edge of the shutter 58 is disposed in a space surrounded by the seal openings 45 and 56, the portions of the frame seal 44 and the toner seal 55 sandwiching the shutter 58 are compressed by elastic deformation, respectively. The rear end surface is opposed to a portion forming the rear end surface of the seal opening 45 in the frame seal 44 and a portion forming the rear end surface of the seal opening 56 in the toner seal 55. Therefore, as the movement of the shutter 58 proceeds, the rear end surface of the shutter 58 comes into contact with the boundary portion between the frame seal 44 and the toner seal 55. Most of the toner on the rear end surface of the shutter 58 is scraped off by the frame seal 44 and the toner seal 55 when the rear end edge of the shutter 58 enters between the frame seal 44 and the toner seal 55.

  However, a small part of the toner placed on the rear end surface of the shutter 58 enters between the frame seal 44 and the toner seal 55. Then, the toner advances by being pushed by the rear end face of the shutter 58.

  As the rearward movement of the shutter 58 proceeds, the rear edge of the shutter 58 reaches the space surrounded by the toner capturing openings 46 and 57 as shown in FIG. 7C. Then, the toner pushed to the rear end surface of the shutter 58 spills from the rear end surface and is captured in the toner capturing openings 46 and 57.

  In this state, the portion of the frame seal 44 and the toner seal 55 sandwiching the shutter 58 is compressed by elastic deformation, and the rear end surface of the shutter 58 is the portion forming the rear end surface of the toner capturing opening 46 of the frame seal 44 and the toner. The seal 55 is opposed to a portion forming the rear end surface of the toner capturing opening 57. Therefore, when the movement of the shutter 58 further proceeds, the rear end surface of the shutter 58 comes into contact with the boundary portion between the frame seal 44 and the toner seal 55. As shown in FIG. 7D, the toner remaining on the rear end surface of the shutter 58 passes between the frame seal 44 and the toner seal 55 with the rear end edge of the shutter 58 exceeding the toner capturing openings 46 and 57. When entering the toner, it is scraped off by the frame seal 44 and the toner seal 55.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 7E, the toner disappears from the rear end surface of the shutter 58, and the toner enters between the frame seal 44 and the toner seal 55 behind the toner capturing openings 46 and 57. And the rear end of the shutter 58 enters.
7). Effects In the present embodiment, the toner cartridge 11 is considered to be an example of a toner container. In this case, the casing 51 is an example of a main body, and the toner seal 55 is an example of a seal. The toner capturing opening 57 is an example of an opening and is an example of a capturing unit.
(1-1) Effect 1
The toner cartridge 11 includes a housing 51 that stores toner therein. The casing 51 is formed with a communication port 53 that communicates the inside and the outside. In order to open and close the communication port 53, a shutter 58 is provided. That is, the shutter 58 is movably provided between an open position where the communication port 53 is opened and a closed position where the communication port 53 is closed. In a state where the shutter 58 is located at the closed position, a toner seal 55 is interposed between the housing 51 and the shutter 58.

The toner seal 55 is formed with a seal opening 56 that communicates with the communication port 53. Further, the toner seal 55 has a toner capture opening 57 for capturing toner leaking out of the seal opening 56 at the rear, which is downstream in the closing direction from the open position to the closed position with respect to the seal opening 56. Is formed. Therefore, when the shutter 58 is moved from the open position to the closed position, the toner (toner carried by the shutter 58) on the rear end face, which is the downstream end face of the shutter 58 in the closing direction, passes through the seal opening 56. Even if it exceeds, the toner is captured by the toner capturing opening 57. As a result, the toner can be prevented from leaking outside the toner seal 55.
(1-2) Action effect 2
The inside of the toner capturing opening 57 is a recessed portion that is recessed with respect to its periphery. Therefore, the toner carried by the shutter 58 spills into the toner capturing opening 57 when facing the toner capturing opening 57. Therefore, the toner can be prevented from leaking outside the toner seal 55 with a simple configuration.
(1-3) Effect 3
The toner seal 55 is elastically deformable. In the state where the rear edge, which is the downstream edge in the closing direction of the shutter 58, is disposed in the toner capturing opening 57, the rear end surface of the shutter 58 becomes the toner capturing opening due to the elastic deformation of the toner seal 55. The rear edge of the toner seal 55 faces the rear edge of the seal opening 56 in the toner seal 55. Therefore, the toner remaining on the end face of the shutter 58 without spilling from the shutter 58 into the toner capturing opening 57 comes into contact with the rear edge of the toner capturing opening 57 when the shutter 58 further moves in the closing direction. The rear edge scrapes off the rear end surface of the shutter 58. As a result, it is possible to satisfactorily prevent the toner from leaking outside the toner seal 55.
(1-4) Effect 4
The length between the left end and the right end of the toner capturing opening 57 is larger than the length between the left end and the right end of the seal opening 56. Thus, the toner placed on the rear end surface of the shutter 58 can be captured by the toner capturing opening 57 over the entire width in the left-right direction. Therefore, it is possible to better prevent the toner from leaking outside the toner seal 55.

  When the shutter driving member 47 can open and close the communication port 43 of the developing frame 8 as well as the toner cartridge 11, the shutter driving member 47 can be an example of a shutter, and the developing device 7 can also be an example of a toner container. In this case, when the shutter 58 is located at the open position, the position of the shutter driving member 47 coupled to the shutter 58 is the open position, and when the shutter 58 is located at the closed position, the shutter 58 is coupled to the shutter 58. The position of the shutter drive member 47 that has been set is the closed position.

  In the present embodiment, the developing device 7 may be an example of a toner container. In this case, the developing frame 8 is an example of a main body, and the frame seal 44 is an example of a seal. The toner capturing opening 46 is an example of an opening, and is an example of a capturing unit.

When the developing device 7 is an example of a toner container, the operational effects of the above-described configuration are as follows.
(2-1) Effect 1
The developing device 7 includes a developing frame 8 that stores toner therein. The developing frame 8 has a communication port 43 that communicates the inside and the outside. The shutter driving member 47 is movably provided between an open position where the communication port 43 is opened and a closed position where the communication port 43 is closed. In a state where the shutter driving member 47 is located at the closed position, a frame seal 44 is interposed between the developing frame 8 and the shutter driving member 47.

A seal opening 45 that communicates with the communication port 43 is formed in the frame seal 44. Further, the frame seal 44 has a toner capture opening 46 for capturing toner leaking out of the seal opening 45 at the rear, which is downstream in the closing direction from the open position to the closed position with respect to the seal opening 45. Is formed. Therefore, when the shutter drive member 47 is moved from the open position to the closed position, the toner (toner carried by the shutter drive member 47) placed on the rear end face, which is the downstream end face of the shutter drive member 47 in the closing direction. Even if the seal opening 45 is exceeded, the toner is captured by the toner capturing opening 46. As a result, the toner can be prevented from leaking outside the frame seal 44.
(2-2) Effect 2
The inside of the toner capturing opening 46 is a recessed portion that is recessed with respect to its periphery. Therefore, the toner carried by the shutter driving member 47 spills into the toner capturing opening 46 when facing the toner capturing opening 46. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from leaking outside the frame seal 44 with a simple configuration.
(2-3) Effect 3
The frame seal 44 is elastically deformable. In the state where the rear end edge, which is the downstream end edge of the shutter drive member 47 in the closing direction, is disposed in the toner capturing opening 46, the rear end surface of the shutter drive member 47 is caused by elastic deformation of the frame seal 44. It faces the rear end edge of the toner capturing opening 46 (the portion forming the rear end face of the seal opening 45 in the frame seal 44). Therefore, the toner remaining on the end surface of the shutter drive member 47 without spilling from the shutter drive member 47 to the toner capture opening 46 is further moved further in the closing direction of the shutter drive member 47, and the rear end of the toner capture opening 46 is reached. It abuts on the edge and is scraped off from the rear end surface of the shutter drive member 47 by the rear end edge. As a result, the toner can be satisfactorily prevented from leaking outside the frame seal 44.
(2-4) Action effect 4
The length between the left end and the right end of the toner capturing opening 46 is larger than the length between the left end and the right end of the seal opening 45. Thus, the toner placed on the rear end surface of the shutter driving member 47 can be captured by the toner capturing opening 46 over the entire width in the left-right direction. Therefore, it is possible to better prevent the toner from leaking outside through the frame seal 44.
8). Modification (1) First Modification Instead of the frame seal 44 and the toner seal 55, a seal 81 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B may be employed.

  The seal 81 is provided on the partition wall 42 (see FIG. 7A) of the developing frame 8 or the arc surface 52 (see FIG. 7A) of the housing 51, and the first layer 82, and is provided on the first layer 82. 58 (shutter driving member 47) has a laminated structure (two-layer structure) with the second layer 83 rubbed.

  A rectangular seal opening 84 is formed in the center of the seal 81 so as to penetrate the first layer 82 and the second layer 83 in the thickness direction thereof. When the seal 81 is used instead of the frame seal 44, the seal opening 84 communicates with the communication port 43 of the developing frame 8 in a state where the seal 81 is adhered to the partition wall 42. When the seal 81 is used instead of the toner seal 55, the seal opening 84 communicates with the communication port 53 of the housing 51 of the toner cartridge 11 in a state where the seal 81 is adhered to the arc surface 52. To do.

  The seal 81 is provided with a toner capturing opening 85 as an example of a capturing portion at a position spaced from the seal opening 84 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the seal opening 84. In a state where the seal 81 is adhered to the partition wall 42 or the casing 51, the toner capturing opening 85 is spaced from the seal opening 84 on the downstream side in the moving direction from the open position of the shutter 58 to the closed position. Placed in a different position. The toner capturing opening 85 penetrates only the second layer 83, is open to the side opposite to the first layer 82, and is the opening closed on the first layer 82 side by the first layer 82.

  Even if the seal 81 is employed in place of the frame seal 44 and the toner seal 55, the same operational effects as those described above can be obtained.

Further, by forming the first layer 82 from a relatively soft material and the second layer 83 from a material having a relatively small friction coefficient, toner leakage from between the seal 81 and the shutter 58 can be prevented. The force required for opening and closing the shutter 58 can be reduced. Further, by adopting a sponge with many irregularities as the material of the first layer 82, the toner capturing force at the toner capturing opening 85 can be enhanced.
(2) Second Modification Instead of the frame seal 44 and the toner seal 55, a seal 81 shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B may be employed.

  The seal 91 is provided on the partition wall 42 (see FIG. 7A) of the developing frame 8 or the arc surface 52 (see FIG. 7A) of the casing 51, and the first layer 92 is provided on the first layer 92. 58 (shutter driving member 47) has a laminated structure (two-layer structure) with the second layer 93 rubbed.

  A rectangular seal opening 94 is formed in the center of the seal 91 so as to penetrate the first layer 92 and the second layer 93 in the thickness direction thereof. When the seal 91 is used instead of the frame seal 44, the seal opening 94 communicates with the communication port 43 of the developing frame 8 in a state where the seal 91 is adhered to the partition wall 42. Further, when the seal 91 is used instead of the toner seal 55, the seal opening 94 communicates with the communication port 53 of the housing 51 of the toner cartridge 11 in a state where the seal 91 is adhered to the arcuate surface 52. To do.

  The seal 91 has a first toner capturing opening 95 as an example of a capturing portion at a position spaced from the seal opening 94 in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the seal opening 94. In a state where the seal 91 is adhered to the partition wall 42 or the casing 51, the first toner capturing opening 95 is spaced from the seal opening 94 downstream in the moving direction from the open position of the shutter 58 to the closed position. It is arranged at the position where

  Further, the seal 91 is formed with a second toner capturing opening 96 as an example of a second capturing portion at a distance from the first toner capturing opening 95 on the side opposite to the seal opening 94.

  The first toner capturing opening 95 and the second toner capturing opening 96 penetrate only the second layer 93 and are opened to the side opposite to the first layer 92, and the first layer 92 side is the first layer 92 side. It is an opening closed by.

When the seal 91 is used in place of the frame seal 44 and the toner seal 55, the toner is carried over the first toner capturing opening 95 by the shutter 58 (shutter driving member 47) that moves from the open position to the closed position. However, the toner is captured by the second toner capturing opening 96. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the toner from leaking outside the frame seal 44 and the toner seal 55.
(3) Third Modification In the frame seal 44 and the toner seal 55, the toner capturing openings 46 and 57 may be divided into a plurality of divided portions, respectively. Further, in the seal 81, the toner capturing opening 85 may be divided into a plurality of divided portions. A seal 101 as a modification of the seal 81 is shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B.

  The seal 101 has a stacked structure (two-layer structure) of a first layer 102 and a second layer 103 provided on the first layer 102.

  A rectangular seal opening 104 is formed in the center of the seal 101 so as to penetrate the first layer 102 and the second layer 103 in the thickness direction thereof.

  In addition, the seal 101 is provided with a toner capturing opening 108 as an example of a capturing portion including three rectangular divided portions 105 to 107. The divided portions 105 and 106 are arranged separately on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the divided portion 107 with respect to the divided portion 107. The divided portion 107 is disposed at a position away from the seal opening 104 with respect to the divided portions 105 and 106. The divided portions 105 and 106 and the divided portion 107 overlap in the closing direction in which the shutter 58 (shutter driving member 47) moves from the open position to the closed position. Further, the distance between the edge of the divided portion 105 opposite to the divided portion 107 side and the edge of the divided portion 106 opposite to the divided portion 107 side is larger than the dimension of the seal opening 104 in the longitudinal direction.

Even if the seal 101 is employed in place of the frame seal 44 and the toner seal 55, the same operational effects as those described above can be obtained.
(4) Fourth Modified Example In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the shutter 58 (shutter driving member 47) moves along the circumferential direction of the arcuate surface 52 of the casing 51 is taken up. However, the shutter 58 (shutter drive member 47) may be configured to be movable in a direction inclined with respect to the circumferential direction of the arcuate surface 52. In this case, as shown in the seal 111 shown in FIG. 112 and the toner capturing opening 113 are preferably arranged side by side in the moving direction of the shutter 58 (shutter driving member 47).

7 Developing Unit 8 Developing Frame 11 Toner Cartridge 43 Communication Port 44 Frame Seal 45 Seal Opening 46 Toner Capturing Opening 47 Shutter Drive Member 51 Housing 53 Communication Port 55 Toner Seal 56 Seal Opening 57 Toner Capturing Opening 58 Shutter 81 Seal 82 First 1st layer 83 2nd layer 84 Seal opening 85 Toner capture opening 91 Seal 92 1st layer 93 2nd layer 94 Seal opening 95 1st toner capture opening 96 2nd toner capture opening 101 Seal 102 1st layer 103 2nd Layer 104 Seal opening 105 Dividing part 106 Dividing part 107 Dividing part 108 Toner capturing opening 111 Seal 112 Sealing opening 113 Toner capturing opening

Claims (10)

A main body which contains toner inside and has a communication port which communicates inside and outside;
A shutter provided movably between an open position for opening the communication port and a closed position for closing the communication port;
A seal interposed between the main body and the shutter in a state where the shutter is located at the closed position;
The seal includes a first layer and a second layer laminated on the first layer, the surface of which is rubbed with the shutter, and a seal opening communicating with the communication port, and the seal opening with respect to the seal opening A capturing portion for capturing toner that leaks out of the seal opening and is formed on the downstream side in the closing direction from the open position toward the closed position;
The toner container, wherein the capturing portion includes an opening that is formed through the second layer so as to be recessed with respect to the periphery of the capturing portion, and one side of the penetrating direction is closed by the first layer.   The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the capturing unit includes an opening formed through the seal. The seal is elastically deformable;
In a state where the downstream edge of the shutter in the closing direction is disposed on the middle part of the capturing portion in the closing direction, the end surface of the shutter in the closing direction on the downstream side is elastically deformed by the seal. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the toner container faces a downstream edge of the capturing unit in the closing direction.   The length between one end in the width direction perpendicular to the closing direction and along the surface of the seal and the other end on the opposite side of the capture portion is the other end on the seal opening in the width direction and the other side on the opposite side. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the toner container is larger than a length between the ends.   The said seal | sticker is formed in the said closed direction downstream with respect to the said capture | acquisition part, and has a 2nd capture part for capturing the toner which leaks over the said capture | acquisition part. The toner container according to any one of the above. The capture unit is composed of a plurality of divided parts,
The plurality of divided portions are arranged separately at a plurality of positions having different distances in the closing direction with respect to the seal opening,
The toner container according to claim 1, wherein each of the divided portions overlaps at least one other divided portion in the closing direction.   The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the toner container is configured to be detachable from a developing device having a developing roller.   The toner container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a developing roller rotatably held by the main body.   The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the main body has an arcuate peripheral surface that is convexly curved.   The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the seal is made of an elastic foam.

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