JP2014197221A - Image forming apparatus and toner container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that can reliably cool the inside of a toner container to prevent solidification of toner, while suppressing complexity of a manufacturing process and an increase in manufacture cost and avoiding the rise of a problem of an installation space.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a toner container 18 that has a plurality of toner container-side ribs 35 provided on its upper face, an accommodation part 26 that removably accommodates the toner container 18 and has a plurality of accommodation part-side ribs 41 provided thereon, and a paper ejection tray 4 that is provided above the accommodation part 26. When the toner container 18 is attached to the accommodation part 26, the toner container-side ribs 35 and accommodation part-side ribs 41 form a plurality of continuous partition walls 48, and a duct 50 is formed above the toner container 18, below the paper ejection tray 4, and between the plurality of the partition walls 48. The plurality of partition walls 48 are formed radially from the upstream side toward the downstream side of the duct 50, and the duct 50 increases its width toward the downstream side.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a toner container that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers are known. There is a heat source such as a fixing unit in the inside of the image forming apparatus, and there is a possibility that the above-mentioned heat source generates heat as the image forming operation is repeated, and the temperature inside the image forming apparatus rises. Therefore, a configuration is known in which a cooling fan is installed in the image forming apparatus and the heat source is cooled by blowing air from the cooling fan to the heat source via a duct (see Patent Document 1).

  Incidentally, the above-described image forming apparatus is detachably provided with a toner container for storing toner used for the image forming operation. When the inside of the toner container is heated, the toner stored in the toner container is solidified, making it difficult to obtain a good output image. Therefore, it is required to cool the toner container. In order to surely cool the toner container, it is necessary to blow the air from the cooling fan onto the toner container through the duct, as in the prior art. preferable.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-140884

  However, if a duct for cooling the toner container is independently installed inside the image forming apparatus, the number of parts may be increased correspondingly, resulting in a complicated manufacturing process and an increase in manufacturing cost. In addition, there may be a problem in space between the newly installed duct and the existing parts.

  In view of the above, the present invention takes into account the above circumstances, suppresses the complexity of the manufacturing process and the increase in manufacturing cost, avoids the occurrence of space problems, and reliably cools the inside of the toner container to solidify the toner. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing the above.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a toner container that accommodates toner and has a plurality of toner container-side ribs provided on an upper surface thereof, a storage part that detachably stores the toner container and is provided with a plurality of storage-part-side ribs. A plurality of partition walls formed by the toner container side ribs and the storage unit side ribs when the toner container is mounted on the storage unit. A duct for cooling the toner container is formed between the plurality of partition walls above the toner container and below the paper discharge tray, and the plurality of partition walls are upstream of the duct. The duct is formed radially from the side toward the downstream side, and the duct is widened toward the downstream side.

  By forming the duct for cooling the toner container in this way, the inside of the toner container can be reliably cooled, and solidification of the toner stored in the toner container can be suppressed, and a good output image can be obtained. Can be obtained. In addition, since the duct is formed with a simple configuration in which ribs are provided in the toner container and the storage unit, which are existing members, it is possible to suppress the complexity of the manufacturing process and the increase in manufacturing cost. It is possible to avoid a space problem between the duct and the existing part.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention may be configured such that an air vent hole is formed in the paper discharge tray, and the wind flowing through the duct is blown out onto the paper discharge tray through the air vent hole.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to cool not only the toner container but also the transfer paper discharged onto the paper discharge tray by the air flowing in the duct, and the transfer papers adhere to each other due to the viscosity of the toner. Can be suppressed.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a recess may be formed in the discharge tray downward, and the air vent hole may be formed in the recess.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the duct may communicate with the outside of the apparatus.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the toner container includes a container main body having an upper surface opened, and a lid member for closing the opening of the container main body, and the toner container-side rib is formed on the upper surface of the lid member. It may be provided.

  The toner container of the present invention is a toner container that contains toner and has a plurality of toner container-side ribs provided on the upper surface, and is a storage part that detachably stores the toner container and is provided with a plurality of storage-unit-side ribs. And a discharge tray provided above the storage unit, and the toner container side rib and the storage unit side rib when the toner container is mounted on the storage unit. A plurality of continuous partition walls are formed, and a duct for cooling the toner container is formed between the plurality of partition walls above the toner container and below the discharge tray. The partition wall is formed radially from the upstream side to the downstream side of the duct, and the duct is widened toward the downstream side.

  By forming the duct for cooling the toner container in this way, the inside of the toner container can be reliably cooled, and solidification of the toner stored in the toner container can be suppressed, and a good output image can be obtained. Can be obtained. In addition, since the duct is simply formed between the toner container-side ribs, it is possible to suppress a complicated manufacturing process and an increase in manufacturing cost, and a space between the duct and the existing parts. It is possible to avoid the above problem.

  The present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of preventing the solidification of the toner by reliably cooling the inside of the toner container while suppressing the complexity of the manufacturing process and the increase in the manufacturing cost and avoiding the occurrence of a space problem. It is possible to provide.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a color printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing an upper part of a printer body in a color printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a toner container is stored in each storage unit in the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the color printer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, it is a perspective view which shows a container (M). In the color printer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, it is a perspective view which shows the state which accommodated the container (M) in the accommodating part (M). In the color printer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, it is a perspective view which shows the state which accommodated the container (C) in the accommodating part (C). In the color printer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, it is a perspective view which shows the state which accommodated the container (Y) in the accommodating part (Y). In the color printer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, it is a schematic diagram which shows the flow of a wind when the container of a regular destination is mounted | worn with the accommodating part in which a color corresponds. In the color printer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, it is a schematic diagram which shows the case where a container is mounted | worn with the accommodating part where a color does not correspond.

  First, the overall configuration of the color printer 1 as an image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a color printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that symbols (M), (C), (Y), and (K) that are displayed as appropriate in the present specification and drawings indicate magenta, cyan, yellow, and black colors, respectively.

  The color printer 1 includes a box-shaped printer main body 2. A paper feed cassette 3 storing transfer paper (not shown) is provided in the lower portion of the printer main body 2, and a discharge cassette is disposed in the upper portion of the printer main body 2. A paper tray 4 is provided. Details of the discharge tray 4 will be described later.

  An intermediate transfer belt 5 serving as an image carrier is installed between a plurality of rollers on the upper part of the printer main body 2, and an exposure unit 10 composed of a laser scanning unit (LSU) is provided below the intermediate transfer belt 5. And four image forming units 6 (M), 6 (C), 6 (Y), 6 (K) (hereinafter referred to as “image forming unit 6”) along the lower portion of the intermediate transfer belt 5. .) Is provided for each toner color.

  Each image forming unit 6 is rotatably provided with a photosensitive drum 7, and around the photosensitive drum 7, a charger 8, a developing unit 11, a primary transfer unit 12, and a cleaning device 13 are provided. The static eliminator 14 is arranged in the order of the primary transfer process.

  A pair of stirring rollers 15 is provided below the developing device 11, a magnetic roller 16 is provided obliquely above the stirring roller 15, and a developing roller 17 is provided obliquely above the magnetic roller 16. Above the developing unit 11, containers 18 (M), 18 (C), 18 (Y), and 18 (K) (hereinafter, colors are designated as four toner containers corresponding to the image forming units 6). Unless otherwise described, “container 18” is displayed for each toner color. Details of the container 18 will be described later.

  A transfer paper conveyance path 20 is provided on one side (right side in the drawing) of the printer body 2. A paper feeding unit 21 is provided at the upstream end of the conveyance path 20, and a secondary transfer unit 22 is provided at one end (right end in the drawing) of the intermediate transfer belt 5 at a middle portion of the conveyance path 20, and downstream of the conveyance path 20. A fixing unit 23 is provided at the part, and a paper discharge port 24 is provided at the downstream end of the transport path 20.

  Next, an image forming operation of the color printer 1 having such a configuration will be described. When the color printer 1 is turned on, various parameters are initialized, and initial settings such as temperature setting of the fixing unit 23 are executed. When image data is input from a computer or the like connected to the color 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 7 is charged by the charger 8, the photosensitive drum 7 is exposed according to the image data by the laser light (see arrow P) from the exposure device 10, and the photosensitive member is exposed. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the drum 7. Next, the developing device 11 develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image of a corresponding color with toner. This toner image is primarily transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 5 at the primary transfer portion 12. Each image forming unit 6 sequentially repeats the above operation, whereby a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 5. The toner and electric charge remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 are removed by the cleaning device 13 and the static eliminator 14.

  On the other hand, the transfer paper taken out from the paper feed cassette 3 or the hand tray (not shown) by the paper feed unit 21 is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 22 in synchronism with the image forming operation described above, and the secondary transfer unit 22 In the transfer unit 22, the full color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 5 is secondarily transferred to the transfer paper. The transfer sheet on which the toner image is secondarily transferred is conveyed downstream in the conveyance path 20 and enters the fixing unit 23 where the toner image is fixed on the transfer sheet. The transfer paper on which the toner image is fixed is discharged from the paper discharge port 24 onto the paper discharge tray 4.

  Next, the container 18 and its peripheral part will be described with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, for convenience, the left front side in FIG. 2 will be described as the front side of each member. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an upper portion of the printer body in the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the toner container is stored in each storage unit in the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the container (M) in the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the container (M) is stored in the storage unit (M) in the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the container (C) is stored in the storage unit (C) in the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the container (Y) is stored in the storage unit (Y) in the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of wind when a container at a regular destination is mounted in a storage unit having a matching color in the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a case where a container is mounted in a storage unit where colors do not match in the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper portion of the printer main body 2 has four containers 18 and four storage portions 26 (M), 26 (C), which detachably store the containers 18. 26 (Y), 26 (K) (hereinafter referred to as “storage unit 26” unless otherwise specified), a paper discharge tray 4 provided above each storage unit 26, and A cooling fan 27 disposed on the right side of the storage unit 26 is provided.

  Each container 18 contains toner of different colors. This toner is a two-component developer composed of, for example, a magnetic toner and a carrier. As shown in FIG. 4, each container 18 includes a container main body 28 whose upper surface is opened, and a lid member 30 that closes the opening of the container main body 28. In FIG. 4, a container 18 (M) is displayed as an example of the container 18.

  The container main body 28 has an elongated shape along the front-rear direction. A handle 29 is provided at the front end of the container main body 28, and a flange portion 31 is provided at the upper end of the container main body 28. A discharge port 32 is provided at the rear lower portion of the container main body 28, and the discharge port 32 is closed by a sliding shutter (not shown) in a state where the container 18 is not attached to the storage unit 26. When the container 18 is mounted on the storage unit 26, the shutter slides to open the discharge port 32, so that the internal space of the container 18 and the internal space of the developing device 11 communicate with each other. . In this embodiment, the sliding shutter is used as described above. However, in another different embodiment, the lever of the user is released after the container 18 is mounted on the storage portion 26 and the lever is unlocked. A rotary shutter in which the shutter rotates in conjunction with the operation and the discharge port 32 is opened may be used.

  In the container main body 28, a conveying screw (not shown) is rotatably provided above the discharge port 32, and a stirring paddle (not shown) is rotatably provided on the left side of the conveying screw. In conjunction with mounting the container 18 on the storage unit 26, a transport screw and a stirring paddle are connected to a toner container driving unit (not shown) provided behind the storage unit 26, and the transport screw and the stirring paddle are connected. Can be rotated.

  A flange portion 34 is provided on the outer periphery of the lid member 30, and the flange portion 34 is ultrasonically welded to the flange portion 31 of the container body 28. Four flat toner container-side ribs 35 are erected on the upper surface of the lid member 30 so as to be arranged in the front-rear direction. The toner container side rib 35 is formed at a different position for each destination (shipment area) of the container 18. That is, the toner container side rib 35 is erected on the container 18 having a different destination from the container 18 of the present embodiment at a position different from that of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, among the toner container side ribs 35 provided in each container 18, the front toner container side rib 35 is provided along the left-right direction (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3). . On the other hand, the toner container side ribs 35 other than the front end are formed to be inclined with respect to the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the second toner container side rib 35, the third toner container side rib 35, and the fourth toner container side rib 35 (the rear end toner container side rib) 35 are inclined in the left-right direction in this order. It is getting bigger. Further, the second to fourth toner container side ribs 35 from the front are formed so that positions in the front-rear direction are different for each container 18.

  As best shown in FIG. 5, a concave toner container side engaging portion 36 is formed at the upper left corner of each toner container side rib 35 of the container 18 (M). As best shown in FIG. 6, a concave toner container side engaging portion 36 is formed at the center in the vertical direction at the left end of each toner container side rib 35 of the container 18 (C). As best shown in FIG. 7, a concave toner container side engaging portion 36 is formed at the right end of each toner container side rib 35 of the container 18 (Y) at the center in the vertical direction. Thus, the toner container side engaging portion 36 is provided at a different position for each of the containers 18 (M), 18 (C), and 18 (Y). The toner container side ribs 35 of the container 18 (K) are not provided with the concave toner container side engaging portions 36.

  The toner container side engaging portion 36 is formed at a different position for each destination of the container 18. That is, the toner container side engaging portion 36 is provided in a container 18 having a different destination from the container 18 of the present embodiment at a position different from that of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the four storage portions 26 are provided on the upper portion of the printer body 2 so as to be arranged in the left-right direction. The storage unit 26 is provided for each toner color corresponding to each image forming unit 6.

  The bottom of each storage portion 26 is covered with a bottom wall (not shown) made of a sheet metal member. Left and right side walls 37 and 38 are provided on the left and right sides of each storage portion 26, and concave guide rails 39 are provided in the front-rear direction on the upper surfaces of the left and right side walls 37 and 38. Then, with the flanges 31 and 34 of the container 18 engaged with the guide rail 39, the container 18 is slid back and forth along the guide rail 39, so that the container 18 is attached to and detached from the storage unit 26. It is configured to be able to. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, an outlet 49 for attaching and detaching the container 18 is provided at the front end of each storage portion 26, and the front end surfaces of the left and right side walls 37 and 38 of each storage portion 26 are provided on the front end surfaces. The guide pieces 40 are provided on both sides of the outlet 49.

  As best shown in FIG. 3, four storage-unit-side ribs 41 protrude from the upper end surfaces of the left and right side walls 37, 38 of the storage unit 26 at positions corresponding to the toner container-side ribs 35 of the container 18. Has been. The storage portion side ribs 41 and the toner container side ribs 35 form four linearly continuous partition walls 48, and a duct 50 is formed between the partition walls 48. In the present embodiment, the partition wall 48 is formed radially from the upstream side (right side in the present embodiment) to the downstream side (left side in the present embodiment) of the duct 50, and each duct 50 goes downstream. It is wide.

  The storage portion side rib 41 is provided above the guide rail 39 and is formed at a different position for each destination of the printer main body 2. That is, the storage section side rib 41 is provided in the storage section 26 of the printer body 2 having a different destination from the printer body 2 of the present embodiment at a position different from that of the present embodiment.

  Among the storage portion side ribs 41 provided in the storage portion 26, the front end storage portion side rib 41 is provided along the left-right direction in the same manner as the front end toner container side rib 35. On the other hand, the storage portion side ribs 41 other than the front end are formed to be inclined with respect to the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the inclination angle with respect to the left-right direction is in the order of the second storage unit side rib 41, the third storage unit side rib 41, the fourth storage unit side rib 41 (the rear end storage unit side rib) 41 from the front. The inclination angle of the second to fourth storage portion side ribs 41 from the front corresponds to the inclination angle of the second to fourth toner container side ribs 35 from the front, respectively. The second to fourth storage portion side ribs 41 from the front are formed so that the positions in the front-rear direction are different for each storage portion 26.

  As best shown in FIG. 5, the concave portion of the container 18 (M) on the toner container side is engaged with the upper portion of the storage portion side rib 41 provided at the front end of the left side wall 37 of the storage portion 26 (M). A projecting storage portion side engaging portion 42 is formed at a position corresponding to the portion 36. As best shown in FIG. 6, the concave portion of the container 18 (C) on the toner container side is engaged with the lower portion of the storage portion side rib 41 provided at the front end of the left side wall 37 of the storage portion 26 (C). A projecting storage portion side engaging portion 42 is formed at a position corresponding to the portion 36. As best shown in FIG. 7, the container side rib 41 provided at the front end of the right side wall 38 of the storage part 26 (Y) has a concave toner container side engaging part of the container 18 (Y). A protrusion-like storage portion side engaging portion 42 is formed at a position corresponding to 36. As described above, the storage portion side engaging portion 42 is provided at a different position for each of the storage portions 26 (M), 26 (C), and 26 (Y). The storage portion side rib 41 of the storage portion 26 (K) is not provided with the protruding storage portion side engaging portion 42.

  The storage portion side engaging portion 42 is formed at a different position for each destination of the printer main body 2. In other words, the printer body 2 having a destination different from that of the printer body 2 of the present embodiment is provided with the storage portion side engaging portion 42 at a position different from that of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the paper discharge tray 4 is provided so as to cover the top of each storage unit 26. A recess 43 is formed in the right part of the discharge tray 4 downward, and a number of air vent holes 44 are formed in the recess 43. A total of nine horizontally long slits 45 are formed on the left end surface of the paper discharge tray 4 in three vertical and horizontal stages. Through these slits 45, the downstream end of the duct 50 (the left end in the present embodiment) and The outside of the printer body 2 communicates.

  The cooling fan 27 is supported on the upper right part of the printer body 2. As shown in FIG. 3, an air passage member 46 is provided in the front-rear direction behind the cooling fan 27, and an air outlet (not shown) of the cooling fan 27 is provided through the internal space of the air passage member 46. 2) communicates with the fixing unit 23 as the cooled portion. An opening 47 is formed on the left side of the air passage member 46 toward the upper side of the storage portion 26 (K), and the opening 47 communicates with the upstream end of the duct 50.

  In the configuration as described above, when the cooling fan 27 is operated in accordance with the image forming operation described above, a part of the wind transferred from the cooling fan 27 to the fixing unit 23 via the air passage member 46 is As shown by a dotted line in FIG. 8, the air flows from the front portion of the opening 47 of the air passage member 46 to the upstream end of each duct 50, blows through the duct 50 from the upstream end to the downstream end, and then is discharged. The paper is discharged from the slit 45 of the tray 4 to the outside of the printer body 2. Along with this, the central part in the front-rear direction is mainly cooled from the front part of each container 18. A part of the wind described above flows from the rear portion of the opening 47 of the air passage member 46 into the space 51 behind the duct 50 at the rear end, and mainly cools the rear portion of each container 18. Further, a part of the wind blowing through the duct 50 is blown out onto the paper discharge tray 4 through the air vent hole 44 to cool the transfer paper discharged onto the paper discharge tray 4.

  In this embodiment, the duct 50 for cooling the container 18 is formed in this way, so that the inside of the container 18 can be reliably cooled without being biased. Therefore, solidification of the toner stored in the container 18 can be suppressed, and a good output image can be obtained. Further, the duct 50 is formed with a simple configuration in which the toner container side rib 35 and the storage unit side rib 41 are provided in the container 18 and the storage unit 26 which are existing parts. For this reason, it is possible to suppress complication of the manufacturing process and increase in manufacturing cost, and it is possible to avoid a problem in space between the duct 50 and the existing parts.

  Further, the air flowing in the duct 50 is blown out onto the paper discharge tray 4 through the air vent hole 44. Therefore, it is possible to cool not only the container 18 but also the transfer paper discharged onto the paper discharge tray 4 by the wind flowing in the duct 50, and the transfer paper is prevented from sticking to each other due to the viscosity of the toner. It becomes possible.

  Further, since the cooling fan 27 for cooling the periphery of the fixing unit 23 is used for cooling the container 18 and the transfer paper, it is necessary to install a new cooling fan 27 for cooling the container 18 and the transfer paper. No. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the manufacturing cost by suppressing the increase in the number of parts.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the partition wall 48 is formed radially, and each duct 50 is formed so as to become wider toward the downstream side. By adopting such a configuration, the flow of wind in the duct 50 is improved, and the cooling effect of the container 18 can be further enhanced.

  In this embodiment, the toner container side rib 35 and the storage unit side rib 41 are provided at different positions for each destination, so that the duct 50 can be formed with specifications suitable for each region and environment. . Accordingly, it is possible to keep the container 18 at an optimum temperature suitable for each region and environment.

  In addition, in the configuration as described above, in order to attach the container 18 to the storage portion 26, the container 18 is engaged with the flange portions 31 and 34 of the container 18 in the guide rail 39 of each storage portion 26. 18 is slid rearward along the guide rail 39.

  At that time, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the toner container side engaging portion 36 and the storage portion side engaging portion 42 are used only when the container 18 of a normal destination is attached to the storage portion 26 having the same color. Are engaged, and the container 18 can be attached to the storage portion 26. In other words, if the container 18 having a different destination is to be attached to the storage portion 26 or the container 18 is to be attached to the storage portion 26 whose colors do not match, the toner container side engagement portion 36 and the storage portion side engagement will be described. The part 42 is not engaged, and the toner container side rib 35 and the storage part side rib 41 interfere to prevent the container 18 from being attached to the storage part 26. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to prevent erroneous mounting of the container 18, and accordingly, it is possible to suppress the problems associated with the erroneous mounting described above.

  On the other hand, when the toner container side engaging portion 36 and the storage portion side engaging portion 42 are damaged for some reason and the function of preventing the erroneous mounting of the container 18 is not exhibited, the mounting of the container 18 to the storage portion 26 is performed. At this time, the partition wall 48 and the duct 50 are formed only when the container 18 of a normal destination is attached to the storage unit 26 having the same color (see FIGS. 3 and 8). In other words, the partition wall 48 and the duct 50 are not formed when the container 18 having a different destination is attached to the storage portion 26 or the container 18 is attached to the storage portion 26 whose colors do not match. As an example, the toner container side rib 35 and the storage unit side rib when the container 18 (Y) is erroneously attached to the storage unit 26 (M) and the container 18 (M) is erroneously attached to the storage unit 26 (Y). The arrangement of 41 is shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, the case where the continuous partition wall 48 is formed in a straight line has been described. However, in another different embodiment, the continuous partition wall 48 may be formed in a curved line. The “continuous partition wall 48” includes not only a continuous wall without a gap but also a continuous wall through a slight gap as in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the duct 50 is formed so as to become wider toward the downstream side. However, in another different embodiment, the duct 50 may be formed with the same width from the upstream side to the downstream side.

  In this embodiment, the toner container side rib 35 and the storage unit side rib 41 at the front end are provided along the left-right direction, and the other toner container side rib 35 and the storage unit side rib 41 are inclined from the left and right direction. In the different embodiments, it is possible to incline all the toner container side ribs 35 and the storage unit side ribs 41 with respect to the left-right direction.

  In the present embodiment, the toner container side engaging portion 36 has a concave shape, and the storage portion side engaging portion 42 has a protruding shape. However, in other different embodiments, the toner container side engaging portion 36 has a protruding shape, The storage portion side engaging portion 42 may be formed in a concave shape.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the toner container side engagement portion 36 is not provided in the toner container side rib 35 of the black container 18 (K), and the black container 18 (K) is stored on the storage unit side. The rib 41 is not provided with the storage portion side engaging portion 42. This is because the black container 18 (K) is designed to have a larger capacity and shape than the color containers 18 (M), 18 (C), and 18 (Y). Is mistakenly attached to the color storage portions 26 (M), 26 (C), 26 (Y), or the color containers 18 (M), 18 (C), 18 (Y) are attached to the black storage portions 26 (K). This is because there is no risk of mismounting. On the other hand, the color containers 18 (M), 18 (C), and 18 (Y) are designed with the same capacity and shape as each other. The toner container side ribs 35 of the color containers 18 (M), 18 (C), and 18 (Y) are provided with toner container side engaging portions 36, and the color storage portions 26 (M) and 26 (C). , 26 (Y), the storage portion side engaging portion 42 is provided on the storage portion side rib 41.

  In other different embodiments, when the black container 18 (K) is formed with the same capacity and shape as the color containers 18 (M), 18 (C), 18 (Y), all containers The toner container side engaging portions 36 may be provided on the 18 toner container side ribs 35, and the storage portion side engaging portions 42 may be provided on the storage portion side ribs 41 of all the storage portions 26.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the configuration in which the container 18 is mounted from the front with respect to the storage portion 26 provided with the guide rails 39 has been described. However, in another different embodiment, The present invention may be applied to a configuration in which the container 18 is mounted from above. In this case, the guide rail 39 may not be provided in the storage unit 26.

  In this embodiment, the case where the fixing unit 23 is a cooled part has been described. However, in another different embodiment, for example, the exposure unit 10, the power supply unit, the substrate, and the like may be used as the cooled part. In the present embodiment, the case where the container 18 is directly connected to the developing device 11 has been described. However, in another different embodiment, the container 18 may be connected to the developing device 11 via another toner container such as an intermediate hopper. good. In this case, the configuration of the present invention may be applied to other toner containers such as an intermediate hopper.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the tandem color printer 1 has been described. However, in other different embodiments, other than a rotary color printer, a monochrome printer, a copier, a digital multifunction peripheral, a facsimile, and the like. The present invention can also be applied to other image forming apparatuses.

1 Color printer (image forming device)
4 Output tray 18 Container (toner container)
26 Storage Unit 28 Container Body 30 Lid Member 35 Toner Container Side Rib 41 Storage Unit Side Rib 43 Depression 44 Ventilation Hole 48 Partition Wall 50 Duct

Claims (6)

A toner container that contains toner and has a plurality of toner container side ribs provided on the upper surface;
A storage unit that detachably stores the toner container and is provided with a plurality of storage unit side ribs;
A paper discharge tray provided above the storage unit,
When the toner container is mounted in the storage unit, a plurality of continuous partition walls are formed by the toner container side rib and the storage unit side rib, and above the toner container and below the paper discharge tray. A duct for cooling the toner container is formed between the plurality of partition walls,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the plurality of partition walls are formed radially from the upstream side to the downstream side of the duct, and the duct becomes wider toward the downstream side.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an air vent hole is formed in the paper discharge tray, and a wind flowing through the duct is blown out onto the paper discharge tray through the air vent hole.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a recess is formed in the discharge tray downward, and the air vent hole is formed in the recess.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the duct communicates with the outside of the apparatus. The toner container includes:
A container body having an upper surface opened;
A lid member for closing the opening of the container body,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner container-side rib is provided on an upper surface of the lid member. A toner container that contains toner and has a plurality of toner container side ribs provided on an upper surface thereof,
A storage unit that detachably stores the toner container and is provided with a plurality of storage unit side ribs;
An image forming apparatus including a paper discharge tray provided above the storage unit;
When the toner container is mounted in the storage unit, a plurality of continuous partition walls are formed by the toner container side rib and the storage unit side rib, and above the toner container and below the paper discharge tray. A duct for cooling the toner container is formed between the plurality of partition walls,
The plurality of partition walls are formed radially from the upstream side to the downstream side of the duct, and the duct becomes wider toward the downstream side.