JP2016042142A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that can reduce the amount of a developer remaining in a developer storage container at the end of use and stably supply a developer to a developing device.SOLUTION: A printer includes a photoreceptor drum, developing device, toner container 30, and control part. The toner container 30 includes a toner discharge port 377 and movable wall 32. The movable wall 32 moves in a first direction DA while conveying a toner to the toner discharge port 377. The toner is supplied from the toner discharge port 377 to the developing device. The control part 50 moves the movable wall 32 in the first direction by a first distance while stopping a conveying member of the developing device during a non-printing operation, and subsequently moves the movable wall 32 in a second direction reverse to the first direction by a second distance smaller than the first distance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet includes an image carrier, a developing device, and a developer container. When the developer is supplied from the developing device to the image carrier, the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier is manifested as a developer image. The developer container has a developer discharge port, and supplies replenishment developer to a replenishment port provided in the developing device.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a developing device including a conveying screw that conveys a developer. A conveyance screw is provided with a conveyance capability suppression part in the conveyance direction downstream rather than a replenishment port. A developer retention portion is formed so as to face the replenishment port by the conveyance capability suppressing portion. The inflow amount of the replenishment developer is adjusted according to the increase or decrease of the developer in the staying portion.

  Patent Documents 2 and 3 disclose a developer container having a wall that moves while conveying the developer toward the developer discharge port.

JP-A-2005-346116 JP 2001-092230 A JP 2007-264073 A

  In the developer container described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, the amount of developer flowing from the developer discharge port of the developer container into the replenishment port of the developing device is not stable. There was a problem that it fluctuated greatly.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and reduces the amount of developer remaining in the developer container at the end of use, and stably supplies the developer to the developing device. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can perform the above-described process.

  An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes an image carrier that forms a latent electrostatic image on a surface thereof, carries a developer image, a developing device that supplies developer to the image carrier, and A developer container for supplying the developer to the developing device, a first drive unit and a second drive unit, and a drive control unit for controlling the first drive unit and the second drive unit, The developer container includes a container main body including an inner peripheral portion that extends in a cylindrical shape along the first direction, and an internal space defined by the inner peripheral portion, and the developer containing container communicates with the inner peripheral portion. A developer discharge port that is opened in the lower surface of the container body and discharges the developer, an outer peripheral part disposed in close contact with the inner peripheral part of the container main body, and the inner peripheral part of the container main body A conveying surface that defines a storage space in which the developer is stored, And a moving wall that moves in the internal space in the first direction while conveying the developer toward the developer discharge port, and the developing device conveys the developer in a predetermined conveyance direction. A housing having a developer transport path, a developer replenishing port that is opened in the housing below the developer discharge port and receives the developer from the developer container into the developer transport path, and the developer A developer conveying member disposed in a conveying path, driven to rotate, and conveying the developer in the conveying direction, wherein the first driving unit generates a driving force for moving the moving wall, and 2 driving unit generates a driving force for rotating the developer conveying member, and the driving control unit is in a non-printing operation in which the printing operation for forming the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier is not performed. , Of the developer conveying member With the rolling stopped, the moving wall is moved by a first distance in the first direction, and then the moving wall is moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction from the first distance. It is characterized by being moved by a small second distance.

  According to this configuration, the moving wall of the developer container moves in the first direction, so that the developer in the housing space is conveyed to the developer discharge port. At this time, the accommodation space is gradually reduced as the moving wall moves. As a result, the amount of developer remaining in the storage space of the container body at the end of use is reduced. Further, the drive control unit moves the moving wall in the first direction by the first distance during the non-printing operation. For this reason, the developer is stably stored around the developer discharge port. Therefore, when the printing operation is started, the replenishment of the developer is stably realized. Further, when the moving wall moves during the non-printing operation, the rotation of the developer conveying member on the developing device side is stopped. Therefore, excessive supply of the developer to the developing device during the non-printing operation is suppressed. The drive control unit moves the moving wall in the first direction by a first distance, and then moves the moving wall in the second direction by a second distance that is smaller than the first distance. For this reason, when the moving wall is moved in the second direction, part of the pressing force applied to the developer around the developer discharge port is released. As a result, when a printing operation is started, a large amount of developer is prevented from flowing into the developing device side. Therefore, it is possible to stably supply the developer to the developing device.

  In the above-described configuration, the developing device suppresses the transport capability of the developer transport member in the transport direction downstream of the developer replenishing port and partially suppresses the transport capability of the developer in the transport direction. It is desirable to have a part.

  According to this configuration, a volume replenishment type developing device is employed, and a developer retention portion is formed in the developer transport path in a region facing the developer replenishment port by the transport capability suppression unit. When the developer amount in the staying portion is increased, the developer seals the developer supply port, so that the supply of the developer is suppressed. Further, when the amount of developer in the staying portion decreases, a space is formed around the developer supply port, so that the developer flows into the developer transport path. Therefore, the developer can be replenished to the developing device without providing the housing with a sensor for detecting the developer amount. Further, in the developer container, the moving wall is moved in the first direction and the second direction during the non-printing operation. As a result, the developer can be stably stored above the developer supply port and around the developer discharge port, and an excessive pressing force is applied to the developer. Is prevented. Therefore, the developer can be replenished stably to the developer conveyance path according to the increase or decrease of the developer in the staying portion.

  In the above configuration, the developer conveying member includes a shaft portion and a spiral blade disposed around the shaft portion, and the transport capability suppressing portion is formed by partially missing the spiral blade. It is desirable that

  According to this configuration, the developer conveying ability of the developer conveying member is partially suppressed by partially missing the spiral blade. As a result, the developer retention portion is stably formed.

  In the above-described configuration, the developer conveying member includes a shaft portion and a spiral blade disposed around the shaft portion, and the transport capability suppressing portion includes the spiral blade adjacent in the axial direction of the shaft portion. It is desirable to be a plate-like member disposed between them.

  According to this configuration, the developer transport capability of the developer transport member is partially suppressed by rotating the plate-shaped member. As a result, the developer retention portion is stably formed.

  In the above configuration, it is preferable that the drive control unit moves the moving wall in the first direction and the second direction after the printing operation is performed in the non-printing operation.

  According to this configuration, after the printing operation is finished, the moving wall is moved in the first direction and the second direction at a stage where the developer around the developer discharge port is particularly easy to flow. As a result, when the moving wall moves in the second direction, a part of the developer around the moving wall easily moves in the second direction. Therefore, it is possible to further release the pressing force applied to the developer around the developer discharge port.

  According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the amount of developer remaining in the developer container at the end of use and stably supplying the developer to the developing device.

1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a state in which a part of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is opened. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an internal structure of a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state where a developer is supplied to the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a developer container and a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a developer container and a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a plan view of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the developer storage container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an internal state of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an internal state of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a front view of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views (A), (B), and (C) illustrating the behavior of the developer container and the developer in the developing device in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views (A), (B), and (C) illustrating the moving operation of the moving wall in the developer container in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a printer 100 (image forming apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The printer 100 as the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is a so-called monochrome printer. However, in other embodiments, the image forming apparatus is a color printer, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine having these functions, Another apparatus for forming a toner image on a sheet may be used. Note that the terms used in the following description, such as “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, “left” and “right”, are merely for the purpose of clarifying the description. There is no limitation on the principle of the image forming apparatus.

  The printer 100 includes a casing 101 that houses various apparatuses for forming an image on the sheet S. The housing 101 includes an upper wall 102 that defines the upper surface of the housing 101, a bottom wall 103 (FIG. 3) that defines the bottom surface of the housing 101, and a main body rear wall 105 between the upper wall 102 and the bottom wall 103. (FIG. 3) and a main body front wall 104 positioned in front of the main body rear wall 105. The housing 101 includes a main body internal space 107 in which various devices are arranged. A sheet conveyance path PP through which the sheet S is conveyed in a predetermined conveyance direction is extended in the main body internal space 107 of the casing 101. In addition, the printer 100 includes an opening / closing cover 100 </ b> C that is attached to the housing 101 so as to be freely opened and closed.

  The opening / closing cover 100 </ b> C includes a front wall upper portion 104 </ b> B that is an upper portion of the main body front wall 104 and an upper wall front portion 102 </ b> B that is a front portion of the upper wall 102. The opening / closing cover 100C can be opened / closed in the vertical direction with hinge shafts (not shown) arranged on the pair of arm portions 108 arranged at both ends in the left / right direction as fulcrums (FIG. 2). In the open state of the opening / closing cover 100C, the upper part of the main body internal space 107 is opened to the outside. On the other hand, in the closed state of the opening / closing cover 200C, the upper part of the main body internal space 107 is closed.

  A paper discharge unit 102 </ b> A is disposed at the center of the upper wall 102. The paper discharge unit 102 </ b> A includes an inclined surface that is inclined downward from the front portion to the rear portion of the upper wall 102. The sheet S on which an image is formed in the image forming unit 120 described later is discharged to the paper discharge unit 102A. In addition, a manual feed tray 104 </ b> A is disposed at the center in the vertical direction of the main body front wall 104. The manual feed tray 104A can be turned up and down with the lower end as a fulcrum (arrow DT in FIG. 3).

  Referring to FIG. 3, the printer 100 includes a cassette 110, a pickup roller 112, a first paper feed roller 113, a second paper feed roller 114, a transport roller 115, a registration roller pair 116, and an image forming unit. 120 and a fixing device 130.

  The cassette 110 accommodates the sheet S inside. The cassette 110 includes a lift plate 111. The lift plate 111 is inclined so as to push up the leading edge of the sheet S. The cassette 110 can be pulled forward with respect to the housing 101.

  The pickup roller 112 is disposed on the leading edge of the sheet S pushed up by the lift plate 111. When the pickup roller 112 rotates, the sheet S is pulled out from the cassette 110.

  The first paper feed roller 113 is disposed downstream of the pickup roller 112 and sends the sheet S further downstream. The second paper feed roller 114 is disposed on the inner side (rear side) of the fulcrum of the manual feed tray 104A, and draws the sheet S on the manual feed tray 104A into the housing 101.

  The conveyance roller 115 is disposed downstream (hereinafter also simply referred to as downstream) of the first paper supply roller 113 and the second paper supply roller 114 in the sheet conveyance direction (hereinafter also simply referred to as conveyance direction). The transport roller 115 transports the sheet S sent out by the first paper feed roller 113 and the second paper feed roller 114 further downstream.

  The registration roller pair 116 has a function of correcting the oblique conveyance of the sheet S. Thereby, the position of the image formed on the sheet S is adjusted. The registration roller pair 116 supplies the sheet S to the image forming unit 120 in accordance with the timing of image formation by the image forming unit 120.

  The image forming unit 120 includes a photosensitive drum 121 (image carrier), a charger 122, an exposure device 123, a developing device 20, a toner container 30 (developer storage container), a transfer roller 126, and a cleaning device. 127.

  The photosensitive drum 121 has a cylindrical shape. The photosensitive drum 121 has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and carries a toner image (developer image) corresponding to the electrostatic latent image on the surface. The charger 122 is applied with a predetermined voltage and charges the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 substantially uniformly.

  The exposure device 123 irradiates the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 charged by the charger 122 with laser light. The laser light is emitted in accordance with image data output from an external device (not shown) such as a personal computer connected to the printer 100 so as to be communicable. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121.

  The developing device 20 supplies toner to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. The toner container 30 supplies toner (replenishment developer) to the developing device 20. The toner container 30 is detachably disposed with respect to the developing device 20. When the developing device 20 supplies toner to the photosensitive drum 121, the electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 is developed (visualized). As a result, a toner image (developer image) is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121.

  The transfer roller 126 is disposed below the photosensitive drum 121 so as to face the photosensitive drum 121 with the sheet conveyance path PP interposed therebetween. The transfer roller 126 forms a transfer nip portion with the photosensitive drum 121 and transfers the toner image onto the sheet S.

  The cleaning device 127 removes the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 after the toner image is transferred to the sheet S.

  The fixing device 130 is disposed downstream of the image forming unit 120 in the transport direction, and fixes the toner image on the sheet S. The fixing device 130 includes a heating roller 131 that melts the toner on the sheet S and a pressure roller 132 that causes the sheet S to adhere to the heating roller 131.

  The printer 100 further includes a transport roller pair 133 disposed downstream of the fixing device 130 and a discharge roller pair 134 disposed downstream of the transport roller pair 133. The sheet S is conveyed upward by the conveyance roller pair 133 and is finally discharged from the housing 101 by the discharge roller pair 134. The sheets S discharged from the housing 101 are stacked on the paper discharge unit 102A.

<About development device>
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the developing device 20. The developing device 20 includes a developing housing 210 (housing) having a long box shape in one direction (the axial direction of the developing roller 21 and the left-right direction). The developing housing 210 has a storage space 220 (developer conveyance path). In the storage space 220, a developing roller 21, a first stirring screw 23 (developer conveying member), a second stirring screw 24, and a toner replenishing port 25 are disposed. In the present embodiment, a one-component developing system is applied, and the storage space 220 is filled with toner as a developer. On the other hand, in the case of the two-component development method, a mixture of toner and a carrier made of a magnetic material is filled as a developer. The toner is agitated and conveyed in the storage space 220 and is sequentially supplied from the developing roller 21 to the photosensitive drum 121 in order to develop the electrostatic latent image.

  The developing roller 21 has a cylindrical shape that extends in the longitudinal direction of the developing housing 210 and has a sleeve portion that is rotationally driven on the outer periphery. The storage space 220 of the developing housing 210 is covered with a top plate (not shown), and is partitioned into a first transport path 221 and a second transport path 222 that are long in the left-right direction by a partition plate 22 extending in the left-right direction. Yes. The partition plate 22 is shorter than the width of the developing housing 210 in the left-right direction. A double communication path 224 is provided. Thereby, a circulation path that reaches the first conveyance path 221, the second communication path 224, the second conveyance path 222, and the first communication path 223 is formed in the storage space 220. The toner is conveyed counterclockwise in the circulation path in FIG.

  The toner replenishing port 25 (developer replenishing port) is an opening that is opened in the top plate of the developing housing 210 and is disposed above the left end of the first transport path 221. The toner replenishing port 25 is disposed so as to face the circulation path, and has a function of receiving the replenishing toner (supplement developer) replenished from the toner discharge port 377 (FIG. 4) of the toner container 30 into the storage space 220.

  The first stirring screw 23 is disposed in the first conveyance path 221. The first agitating screw 23 includes a first rotating shaft 23a (shaft portion) and a first spiral blade 23b (screw blade, spiral blade) protruding in a spiral shape on the circumference of the first rotating shaft 23a. . The first stirring screw 23 is driven to rotate about the first rotation shaft 23a (arrow R2), thereby conveying the toner in the direction of arrow D1 in FIG. The first agitation screw 23 conveys the developer so that the toner replenishing port 25 passes through a position facing the first conveyance path 221. As a result, the first stirring screw 23 has a function of transporting while mixing new toner flowing from the toner replenishing port 25 and toner transported into the first transport path 221 from the second transport path 222 side. A first paddle 23c is disposed downstream of the first stirring screw 23 in the toner conveyance direction (D1 direction). The first paddle 23c is a plate-like member disposed on the first rotating shaft 23a. The first paddle 23c is rotated together with the first rotation shaft 23a, and delivers the toner from the first conveyance path 221 to the second conveyance path 222 in the direction of arrow D4 in FIG.

  The second stirring screw 24 is disposed in the second conveyance path 222. The second agitating screw 24 includes a second rotating shaft 24a and a second spiral blade 24b protruding in a spiral shape on the circumference of the second rotating shaft 24a. The second agitating screw 24 is driven to rotate about the second rotation shaft 24a (arrow R1), thereby supplying the toner to the developing roller 21 while conveying the toner in the direction of arrow D2 in FIG. A second paddle 24c is disposed downstream of the second stirring screw 24 in the toner conveyance direction (D2 direction). The second paddle 24c is rotated together with the second rotation shaft 24a, and delivers the toner from the second conveyance path 222 to the first conveyance path 221 in the direction of arrow D3 in FIG.

  The toner container 30 (FIG. 3) is disposed above the toner supply port 25 of the development housing 210. The toner container 30 includes a toner discharge port 377 (FIG. 4). The toner discharge port 377 is disposed on the bottom 371 (FIG. 8B) of the toner container 30 corresponding to the toner supply port 25 of the developing device 20. The toner dropped from the toner discharge port 377 is supplied to the developing device 20 from the toner supply port 25.

<About toner supply>
Next, the flow of toner newly supplied from the toner supply port 25 will be described. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the toner supply port 25 disposed in the developing device 20 and the toner discharge port 377 disposed in the toner container 30.

  The replenishment toner T2 supplied from the toner discharge port 377 of the toner container 30 falls to the first transport path 221 and is mixed with the existing toner T1, and is transported in the direction of the arrow D1 by the first stirring screw 23. At this time, the toners T1 and T2 are stirred and charged.

  The first agitating screw 23 includes a suppression paddle 28 (conveyance capability suppression unit) that partially suppresses the developer conveyance performance downstream of the toner supply port 25 in the toner conveyance direction. In the present embodiment, the suppression paddle 28 is a plate-like member disposed between the adjacent first spiral blades 23 b of the first stirring screw 23. As the suppression paddle 28 rotates around the first rotation shaft 23a, the toner conveyed from the upstream side of the suppression paddle 28 starts to stay. The toner stays on the upstream side of the suppression paddle 28 and accumulates until the toner replenishing port 25 faces the first transport path 221. As a result, a developer retention portion 29 (developer retention portion) is formed in the vicinity of the inlet of the toner supply port 25. A first spiral blade 23b is disposed in a region where the toner supply port 25 faces (FIG. 4). Moreover, in other embodiment, a conveyance capability suppression part is based on the area | region where the 1st spiral blade 23b of the 1st stirring screw 23 was partially lost, and the 1st rotating shaft 23a was partially exposed along the axial direction. It may be formed. Even in such a configuration, the conveying ability of the first stirring screw 23 is partially suppressed, so that a developer retention portion is formed.

  When the replenishment toner T2 is replenished from the toner replenishing port 25 and the amount of toner in the storage space 220 increases, the toner staying in the staying portion 29 closes (seals) the toner replenishing port 25 and supplies more toner. Suppress. Further, the first spiral blade 23 b rotates to push up the developer in the storage space 220 around the toner supply port 25. As a result, the sealing action of the toner supply port 25 by the staying part 29 is increased. Thereafter, when the toner in the storage space 220 is consumed from the developing roller 21 and the toner staying in the staying portion 29 is decreased, the toner that has blocked the toner replenishing port 25 is reduced, and between the staying portion 29 and the toner replenishing port 25. A gap is created. As a result, the replenishment toner T2 flows again from the toner replenishment port 25 into the storage space 220. As described above, the present embodiment employs a volume replenishment type toner replenishment format in which the amount of replenishment toner received is adjusted as the amount of toner remaining in the retention portion 29 decreases. For this reason, it is possible to supply toner to the developing device 20 without providing the developing housing 210 of the developing device 20 with a sensor for detecting the toner amount.

<Installation of toner container to developing device>
6 and 7 are perspective views of the toner container 30 and the developing device 20 according to the present embodiment. The toner container 30 can be attached to and detached from the developing device 20 in the housing 101. With reference to FIG. 2, when the opening / closing cover 100 </ b> C of the housing 101 is opened upward, the container housing portion 109 provided in the developing housing 210 of the developing device 20 is exposed to the outside of the housing 101. With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the developing housing 210 includes a pair of a housing left wall 210L and a housing right wall 210R. The container accommodating portion 109 is formed between the housing left wall 210L and the housing right wall 210R. In the present embodiment, the toner container 30 is attached to the container housing portion 109 from substantially above (see arrow DC in FIGS. 6 and 7). At this time, a cover 39 described later of the toner container 30 is disposed on the housing right wall 210R side, and a cover 31 described later of the toner container 30 is disposed on the housing left wall 210L side. The developing housing 210 includes a pair of guide grooves 109A (FIG. 7). The guide groove 109A is a groove portion formed in the housing left wall 210L and the housing right wall 210R.

  Further, with reference to FIG. 7, the developing device 20 includes a first transmission gear 211, a second transmission gear 212, and a third transmission gear 213. In addition, the printer 100 includes a first motor M1 (first drive unit), a second motor M2 (second drive unit), and a control unit 50 (drive control unit) provided in the housing 101. The first transmission gear 211, the second transmission gear 212, and the third transmission gear 213 are gears rotatably supported on the housing right wall 210R. The first transmission gear 211 is connected to the second transmission gear 212. The first transmission gear 211 is connected to the developing roller 21, the first stirring screw 23, and the second stirring screw 24 through a gear group (not shown). When the developing device 20 is mounted on the housing 101, the first motor M 1 is connected to the third transmission gear 213 and the second motor M 2 is connected to the first transmission gear 211.

  The first motor M <b> 1 moves the moving wall 32 of the toner container 30 by rotating a shaft 33 described later of the toner container 30 via the third transmission gear 213. In the present embodiment, the first motor M1 can rotate forward and backward. The second motor M <b> 2 rotates the developing roller 21, the first stirring screw 23, and the second stirring screw 24 of the developing device 20 via the first transmission gear 211. Further, the second motor M <b> 2 rotates a stirring member 35 described later of the toner container 30 via the first transmission gear 211 and the second transmission gear 212. The controller 50 controls the first motor M1 and the second motor M2, respectively, in the printing operation of the printer 100, and drives each member of the developing device 20 and the toner container 30.

<About toner container structure>
Next, a toner container 30 (developer container) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8A is a plan view of the toner container 30 according to this embodiment, and FIG. 8B is a front view thereof. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the toner container 30. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container 30. 11 and 12 are perspective views showing the inside of the toner container 30 according to this embodiment. 11 and 12 are perspective views in which a container main body 37, which will be described later, is partially omitted. 13A is a front view and FIG. 13B is a sectional view of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment. 14A is a cross-sectional view of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 14B is an enlarged cross-sectional view thereof.

  The toner container 30 has a cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction (first direction, arrow DA direction in FIG. 10). The toner container 30 stores supply toner (developer) therein. Referring to FIG. 9, a toner container 30 includes a lid portion 31, a moving wall 32, a shaft 33, a first seal 34, a stirring member 35, a second seal 36, and a container main body 37 (container main body). A filling port cap 30K (FIG. 13), a toner sensor TS (FIG. 8B), a first gear 381 (FIG. 9), a second gear 382, and a cover 39.

  The lid portion 31 (FIGS. 9 and 10) is fixed to the container main body 37 and seals the opening of the container main body 37. The lid portion 31 includes a lid shaft hole portion 31J, a contact portion 311 and a first guide portion 312. The lid shaft hole 31J is provided at the center of the lid 31 and pivotally supports the shaft 33. The lid shaft hole 31J is a hole formed by a predetermined length leftward from the right side surface (inner surface) of the lid 31. The contact portion 311 corresponds to the bottom surface portion of the lid shaft hole portion 31J. The end surface of the shaft 33 comes into contact with the contact portion 311. The first guide portion 312 (FIG. 11) is a protrusion formed on the left side surface (outer surface portion) of the lid portion 31 so as to extend in the vertical direction. The first guide unit 312 has a function of guiding the toner container 30 to be attached to the developing device 20.

  The container main body 37 is a main body portion of the toner container 30 having a cylindrical shape. The container body 37 includes an inner peripheral portion 37K and an internal space 37H (FIGS. 10 and 11). The inner peripheral portion 37K is an inner peripheral surface of the container body 37 and extends in a cylindrical shape along the longitudinal direction of the toner container 30 (first direction, arrow DA direction in FIGS. 10 and 11).

  8A and 8B, the container main body 37 includes a bottom 371, a top plate 372, a front wall 373, a rear wall 374, a right wall 375 (FIG. 10), and a main body. The flange part 37F (FIG. 9) and the protrusion wall 376 (FIG. 9, FIG. 10) are provided. The bottom portion 371 is a bottom portion of the container main body 37 and has a semi-cylindrical shape protruding downward. In other words, the bottom portion 371 has an arc shape in a cross-sectional view intersecting the first direction. The front wall 373 and the rear wall 374 are a pair of side walls erected upward from the side end of the bottom 371. The top plate 372 is disposed above the bottom 371 and covers the upper part of the internal space 37H. The right wall 375 is a wall portion that is connected to one end side (right end side) of the bottom portion 371, the front wall 373, the rear wall 374, and the top plate 372 in the first direction and closes the container main body 37. The internal space 37H is a space defined by the inner peripheral portion 37K formed by the bottom portion 371, the top plate 372, the front wall 373, the rear wall 374, and the right wall 375 and the lid portion 31. Further, in the internal space 37H, a region between the right wall 375 and the moving wall 32 is the accommodation space 37S. The accommodation space 37 </ b> S is a space in which the toner is accommodated inside the toner container 30.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the container body 37 has an opening on the opposite side of the right wall 375 in the first direction. The main body flange portion 37F is an area in which the opening is formed and the outer diameter of the left end portion of the container main body 37 is slightly enlarged. When the lid portion 31 is fixed to the main body flange portion 37F, the lid portion 31 closes the internal space 37H of the container main body 37. The outer peripheral edge of the lid portion 31 is ultrasonically welded to the main body flange portion 37F.

  With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the protruding wall 376 is a portion in which the outer peripheral portion of the container body 37 protrudes to the right side of the right wall 375. A cover 39 is attached to the protruding wall 376.

  The container main body 37 includes a toner discharge port 377 (developer discharge port), a shutter 30S, a gripping portion 37L, a filling port 37G, and a main body bearing portion 37J. The toner discharge port 377 is an opening that communicates with the inner peripheral portion 37 </ b> K and is opened in the lower surface portion of the container main body 37. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the toner discharge port 377 is opened at the right end (one end in the first direction) of the container body 37. In other words, the toner discharge port 377 is disposed adjacent to the right wall 375 in the first direction. The toner discharge port 377 is opened in a rectangular shape with a predetermined length along the first direction and with a predetermined width along the arc shape of the bottom portion 371. In the present embodiment, the toner discharge port 377 is opened at a position shifted rearward and upward along the circumferential direction from the lower end portion of the bottom portion 371.

  The toner stored in the storage space 37S is discharged toward the developing device 20 from the toner discharge port 377. In the present embodiment, as described above, the inner space 37H of the container body 37 is formed by the bottom 371, the front wall 373, the rear wall 374, and the top plate 372. For this reason, the toner in the accommodation space 37S collects in the arc-shaped bottom portion 371 due to the weight of the toner, so that the toner conveyed by the moving wall 32 described later can be efficiently discharged from the toner discharge port 377.

  The shutter 30 </ b> S (FIG. 6) is slidably disposed at the right end portion of the container body 37. The shutter 30S closes (seals) the toner discharge port 377 from the outside of the container main body 37 and exposes the toner discharge port 377 to the outside. The sliding movement of the shutter 30S is linked to the mounting operation of the toner container 30 with respect to the developing device 20.

  The gripping portion 37L (FIG. 9) is a protrusion that protrudes along the left-right direction at the rear portion of the top plate 372 of the container main body 37. The grip portion 37L is gripped by the user. The filling port 37G has a cylindrical shape protruding from the right wall 375 on the right side. The inside of the cylinder of the filling port 37G is formed so as to penetrate the right wall 375 along the first direction. The filling port 37G allows the outside of the container body 37 to communicate with the accommodation space 37S. At the manufacturing stage of the toner container 30, the toner is filled into the accommodation space 37S from the filling port 37G.

  The main body bearing portion 37J is a bearing formed on the right wall 375. The main body bearing portion 37J has a cylindrical shape that protrudes rightward from the center portion of the right wall 375. Referring to FIG. 10, the main body bearing portion 37J includes a large diameter portion 37J1 and a small diameter portion 37J2. The large diameter portion 37J1 is a cylindrical portion protruding from the right wall 375 toward the right. The small diameter portion 37J2 is connected to the right end portion of the large diameter portion 37J1, and is a cylindrical portion having a smaller diameter than the large diameter portion 37J1. The shaft 33 is inserted through the main body bearing portion 37J. At this time, the right end side of the shaft 33 protrudes outside the container body 37. Further, a part of the stirring member 35 (stirring bearing portion 351) is inserted between the main body bearing portion 37J and the shaft 33 inside the cylinder of the main body bearing portion 37J.

  The filling port cap 30K (FIG. 13) is attached to the filling port 37G of the container body 37 and seals the filling port 37G. After the toner is filled into the accommodation space 37S from the filling port 37G, the filling port cap 30K is attached to the filling port 37G and welded. As a result, the toner is prevented from leaking from the filling port 37G.

  The moving wall 32 is a wall portion arranged facing the first direction inside the container main body 37 (internal space 37H). The moving wall 32 defines one end face (left end face) in the first direction of the accommodation space 37S. The other end surface (right end surface) of the accommodation space 37S in the first direction is defined by the right wall 375. Further, the moving wall 32 conveys the toner in the accommodation space 37S from the initial position on the one end side in the first direction to the other side from the start of use of the toner container 30 to the end of use. A function of moving in the first direction in the internal space 37H to the final position on the end side is provided. In the present embodiment, the initial position of the moving wall 32 is disposed on the right side (downstream in the first direction) of the lid portion 31, and the final position is disposed on the left side (upstream in the first direction) of the toner discharge port 377. Yes.

  Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, the moving wall 32 includes a conveying wall portion 320, an outer peripheral wall portion 321, a guide rib 320 </ b> A (FIG. 12), an internal rib 320 </ b> B (FIG. 11), a cylindrical portion 320 </ b> C, and an inner wall. A seal 322, a shaft seal 323, a bearing portion 32J (FIG. 10), and an outer peripheral portion 32K are provided.

  The transfer wall part 320 is a wall part that defines the accommodation space 37 </ b> S together with the inner peripheral part 37 </ b> K of the container body 37. In particular, the conveyance wall 320 includes a conveyance surface 320 </ b> S perpendicular to the shaft 33. The conveyance surface 320 </ b> S conveys the toner in the accommodation space 37 </ b> S while pressing the toner as the moving wall 32 moves. In the present embodiment, the transport surface 320S includes a tapered surface 320T (FIGS. 10 and 12).

  The bearing portion 32J is a bearing portion formed at a substantially central portion of the transport wall portion 320. The bearing portion 32J moves along the first direction while holding the moving wall 32. The shaft 33 described later is inserted through the bearing portion 32J.

  The cylindrical portion 320 </ b> C is a cylindrical portion that protrudes toward the upstream side in the first direction from the surface of the transport wall 320 that is opposite to the transport surface 320 </ b> S. The cylindrical portion 320C forms a part of the bearing portion 32J. The cylindrical portion 320C includes a female spiral portion 320D. The female spiral portion 320D is a spiral thread portion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 320C. The female spiral portion 320D has a function of moving the moving wall 32 along the first direction by engaging with the male spiral portion 333 described later of the shaft 33.

  The outer peripheral wall portion 321 protrudes from the entire outer peripheral edge of the transfer wall portion 320 toward the side opposite to the accommodation space 37S, that is, the upstream side in the moving direction of the moving wall 32 (upstream side in the first direction). It is. The outer peripheral wall portion 321 is disposed to face the inner peripheral portion 37K of the container main body 37. The guide rib 320 </ b> A is a rib member that extends along the first direction in the outer peripheral wall portion 321. A plurality of guide ribs 320 </ b> A are arranged on the circumferential surface of the outer peripheral wall portion 321 at intervals in the circumferential direction in the rotation of the shaft 33. The guide rib 320 </ b> A slightly contacts the inner peripheral portion 37 </ b> K of the container main body 37 and has a function of preventing the moving wall 32 from being inclined with respect to the shaft 33 inside the container main body 37. As shown in FIG. 11, the internal rib 320 </ b> B is a rib that connects the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 320 </ b> C and the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall portion 321. A plurality of internal ribs 320B are arranged along the circumferential direction.

  The inner wall seal 322 is a seal member that is disposed so as to cover the periphery of the transfer wall 320 on the transfer wall 320 side of the outer peripheral wall 321. The inner wall seal 322 is an elastic member made of urethane sponge. The inner wall seal 322 is compressed and deformed between the inner peripheral portion 37 </ b> K of the container body 37 and the moving wall 32. Further, the inner wall seal 322 forms the outer peripheral portion 32 </ b> K of the moving wall 32. The outer peripheral portion 32K is disposed in close contact with the inner peripheral portion 37K of the container main body 37. The inner wall seal 322 prevents the toner in the accommodation space 37 </ b> S from flowing out between the inner peripheral portion 37 </ b> K of the container body 37 and the moving wall 32 to the upstream side in the moving direction from the moving wall 32. The above-described guide rib 320A is disposed on the upstream side in the first direction with respect to the inner wall seal 322.

  The shaft seal 323 is fixed to the front end side in the moving direction of the moving wall 32 with respect to the female spiral portion 320D in the bearing portion 32J (FIG. 10). The shaft seal 323 is an elastic member made of urethane sponge. The shaft seal 323 contacts the male spiral portion 333 before the female spiral portion 320D, and cleans the toner attached to the male spiral portion 333. For this reason, toner is prevented from aggregating between the male spiral portion 333 and the female spiral portion 320D, and the movement of the moving wall 32 is stably realized. Further, since the shaft seal 323 has a ring shape, the shaft seal 323 is in close contact with the shaft 33 over the entire circumferential direction of the shaft 33. For this reason, the toner in the accommodation space 37S is prevented from flowing out from the moving wall 32 to the upstream side in the moving direction through the bearing portion 32J.

  The shaft 33 is rotatably supported by the right wall 375 and the lid portion 31 of the container main body 37 so as to extend in the first direction in the internal space 37H. The shaft 33 includes a first shaft end portion 331, a second shaft end portion 332, a male spiral portion 333, a moving wall stop portion 334, a moving wall support portion 335, and a shaft flange 336.

  Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the first shaft end portion 331 is a tip portion of the shaft 33 that protrudes to the right side through the main body bearing portion 37J. As shown in FIG. 9, a pair of D surfaces are formed on the peripheral surface of the first shaft end portion 331. A second gear 382 having a D hole shape at the center is engaged with the first shaft end 331. As a result, the shaft 33 and the second gear 382 can rotate integrally. The second shaft end 332 is the left end of the shaft 33. The second shaft end portion 332 is pivotally supported by a lid shaft hole portion 31 </ b> J formed in the lid portion 31.

  The male spiral portion 333 is a spiral thread portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 33 in the internal space 37H. In this embodiment, the male spiral portion 333 is a region upstream of the toner discharge port 377 in the first direction (arrow DA in FIG. 10) from the region adjacent to the lid portion 31 of the shaft 33 as shown in FIG. It is arranged until.

  The moving wall stop part 334 is continuously arranged on the downstream side in the first direction of the male spiral part 333. The moving wall stop portion 334 is a region of only the shaft portion in which the male spiral portion 333 is partially omitted from the shaft 33 in the internal space 37H. The moving wall stop 334 is located above the toner discharge port 377 and upstream of the toner discharge port 377 in the first direction.

  The moving wall support portion 335 is disposed downstream of the moving wall stop portion 334 in the first direction. The moving wall support portion 335 is a protruding portion that protrudes in the radial direction from the peripheral surface of the shaft 33. The moving wall support portion 335 has a function of supporting the bearing portion 32J when the moving wall 32 reaches the final position and suppressing the inclination of the transport surface 320S of the moving wall 32 with respect to the first direction (inclination with respect to the shaft 33). .

  The shaft flange 336 is disposed at a distance downstream from the moving wall support 335 in the first direction. The shaft flange 336 is a disc-shaped flange that protrudes in the radial direction from the peripheral surface of the shaft 33. Two shaft flanges 336 are arranged so as to be adjacent in the first direction. The downstream shaft flange 336 has a function of compressing the first seal 34 (FIG. 10) together with the agitating cylindrical portion 354 (FIG. 11) described later. On the other hand, the upstream shaft flange 336 has a function of preventing toner from entering the inside of the stirring cylindrical portion 354.

  As described above, the first seal 34 is a ring-shaped seal member that is compressed between the shaft flange 336 of the shaft 33 and the side surface of the stirring cylindrical portion 354 of the stirring member 35. The first seal 34 is made of a sponge material. The first seal 34 prevents the toner from leaking to the outside of the container body 37 through the space between the inner peripheral surface of the stirring bearing portion 351 (FIG. 10) of the stirring member 35 and the peripheral surface of the shaft 33.

  The stirring member 35 (FIGS. 9 and 10) is disposed along the right wall 375 above the toner discharge port 377. The agitating member 35 agitates the toner in the accommodation space 37 </ b> S and sends the toner from the toner discharge port 377. In the present embodiment, the stirring member 35 rotates around the shaft 33 and relative to the shaft 33. In FIG. 11, the stirring member 35 is rotated in the direction of the arrow DB. The stirring member 35 includes a stirring bearing portion 351, a stirring support portion 352, a stirring blade 353, and a stirring cylindrical portion 354 (FIGS. 10 and 11).

  The agitation bearing portion 351 has a cylindrical shape that is fitted on the shaft 33. The stirring bearing portion 351 is inserted into the main body bearing portion 37J from the storage space 37S side of the container main body 37. As a result, the right end side of the stirring bearing portion 351 passes through the main body bearing portion 37J and is exposed to the outside of the container main body 37 from the right wall 375 (main body bearing portion 37J). On the other hand, the left end side of the stirring bearing portion 351 is disposed in the accommodation space 37S. A first engagement portion 35K is formed at the right end of the stirring bearing portion 351 (FIG. 9). The first engagement portion 35K engages with a second engagement portion 381K formed on the inner peripheral surface of the first gear 381. As a result, the stirring member 35 and the first gear 381 rotate integrally.

  The stirring support portion 352 is a protruding piece that protrudes in the radial direction in the rotation of the shaft 33 from the left end side of the cylindrical stirring bearing portion 351. The stirring support part 352 is disposed along the right wall 375 so as to face the first direction. The agitation support portion 352 rotates around the shaft 33 in the accommodation space 37S. In particular, in this embodiment, a pair of agitation support portions 352 are arranged. That is, one stirring support part 352 is arranged along the right wall 375 so as to extend outward in the radial direction from the shaft 33. The other stirring support part 352 is arranged so as to extend radially outward from a position different from the one stirring support part 352 in the circumferential direction. In other words, the pair of stirring support portions 352 are arranged so as to extend toward opposite sides in the radial direction, and have a propeller shape in which the circumferential width is set wider toward the outer side in the radial direction. . For this reason, compared with the case where the stirring support part 352 has a disk shape, the toner entering the gap between the stirring support part 352 and the right wall 375 is easy to move, and the toner is prevented from aggregating.

  The stirring blade 353 is a blade member that protrudes from the pair of stirring support portions 352 toward the left side (upstream side in the first direction). As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, two stirring blades 353 protrude from each stirring support portion 352. The stirring blade 353 has an L-shape in a cross-sectional view orthogonal to the axial direction of the shaft 33 (see FIG. 13B). The stirring blade 353 stirs the toner around the toner discharge port 377 while circulating around the toner discharge port 377 and discharges the toner from the toner discharge port 377.

  The stirring cylindrical portion 354 is a region on the left side of the stirring support portion 352 in the stirring bearing portion 351. The outer diameter of the stirring cylindrical portion 354 is set larger than the outer diameter of the stirring bearing portion 351 on the right side of the stirring support portion 352. As shown in FIG. 10, the first seal 34 is compressed and disposed inside the stirring cylindrical portion 354.

  Referring to FIG. 13, in the present embodiment, when the right wall 375 is viewed from the upstream side in the first direction (left side, the front side in FIG. 13B), the predetermined rotation around the shaft 33 of the stirring member 35 is performed. In the position, the stirring member 35 has a shape in which the filling port 37G is exposed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13B, when the stirring member 35 is disposed at a predetermined rotational position around the shaft 33, between the one stirring support portion 352 and the other stirring support portion 352 in the circumferential direction. In addition, the filling port 37G is exposed. Therefore, even when the stirring member 35 is rotatable at a position along the right wall 375, the filling port 37G can be formed by adjusting the rotation position of the stirring member 35 as shown in FIG. Thus, it is possible to smoothly fill the accommodation space 37S with toner.

  The second seal 36 (FIGS. 9 and 10) is a ring-shaped seal member disposed inside the large diameter portion 37J1 of the container main body 37. The second seal 36 is compressed between a stepped portion between the large diameter portion 37J1 and the small diameter portion 37J2 of the main body bearing portion 37J and a ring-shaped protrusion formed on the right side surface of the stirring support portion 352 of the stirring member 35. Arranged. The second seal 36 is made of a sponge material. The second seal 36 prevents the toner from leaking outside the container body 37 by passing between the outer peripheral surface of the stirring bearing portion 351 of the stirring member 35 and the inner peripheral surface of the main body bearing portion 37J.

  The first gear 381 transmits a rotational driving force to the stirring member 35. The first gear 381 is connected to the second motor M2 via the first transmission gear 211 and the second transmission gear 212 of the developing device 20 (FIG. 7). In the present embodiment, the first gear 381 is rotationally driven in synchronization with the developing roller 21, the first stirring screw 23, and the second stirring screw 24 of the developing device 20. The first gear 381 is connected to the stirring bearing portion 351 of the stirring member 35 that passes through the main body bearing portion 37J. As a result, the first gear 381 and the stirring member 35 rotate integrally. The peripheral surface of the first gear 381 is provided with a plurality of gear teeth.

  The second gear 382 transmits the rotational driving force to the shaft 33. A plurality of gear teeth are also provided on the peripheral surface of the second gear 382. The second gear 382 is connected to the first motor M1 via the third transmission gear 213 (FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 10, the right end portion of the shaft 33 is disposed so as to penetrate the stirring bearing portion 351 of the stirring member 35. The second gear 382 is connected (fixed) to the tip end portion (first shaft end portion 331) of the shaft 33 that penetrates the stirring bearing portion 351.

  The cover 39 is attached to the protruding wall 376 of the container main body 37. The cover 39 has a function of exposing part of the first gear 381 and the second gear 382 in the circumferential direction to the outside and covering other parts of the first gear 381 and the second gear 382 in the circumferential direction. . Referring to FIG. 10, the cover 39 includes a second guide portion 391 and a gear opening 39K.

  The second guide portion 391 is a protruding portion that protrudes to the right side in the vertical direction on the right side surface of the cover 39. The second guide portion 391 has a function of guiding the mounting of the toner container 30 to the developing device 20 together with the first guide portion 312 of the lid portion 31.

  The gear opening 39K is an opening in which the lower surface of the cover 39 is opened with a semicircular arc shape. When the cover 39 is attached to the container main body 37, part of the gear teeth of the first gear 381 and the second gear 382 is exposed to the outside of the toner container 30 through the gear opening 39K. As a result, when the toner container 30 is mounted on the developing housing 210 of the developing device 20, the first gear 381 and the second gear 382 are connected to the second transmission gear 212 and the third transmission gear 213 ( 7).

  The toner sensor TS (FIG. 8B) is a sensor disposed on the bottom 371 of the container main body 37. The toner sensor TS is disposed adjacent to the toner discharge port 377 in the circumferential direction, and is fixed to the lowermost surface portion of the bottom portion 371 in the present embodiment. The toner sensor TS is a sensor composed of a magnetic permeability sensor or a piezoelectric element. When the toner sensor TS is composed of a piezoelectric element, the sensor portion of the toner sensor TS is exposed in the accommodation space 37S. The toner sensor TS outputs a HIGH signal (+ 5V) when pressed by the toner in the accommodation space 37S. When there is almost no toner above the toner sensor TS, the toner sensor TS outputs a LOW signal (0 V). The output signal of the toner sensor TS is referred to by the control unit 50 (FIG. 7). When the toner sensor TS is a magnetic permeability sensor, it is not necessary for the sensor to directly contact the toner. Therefore, in another embodiment, the toner sensor TS may be disposed on the developing housing 210 side of the developing device 20 so as to face the outer wall of the container main body 37. Further, the arrangement of the toner sensor TS is not limited to the bottom 371. In another embodiment, the toner sensor may be disposed on the top plate 372, the front wall 373, the rear wall 374, and the like of the container body 37.

<About the movement of the moving wall>
While the first guide portion 312 of the lid portion 31 and the second guide portion 391 of the cover 39 are guided by the pair of guide grooves 109A of the developing device 20, the toner container 30 is mounted on the container housing portion 109 by the user (FIG. 6, FIG. 7). When the toner container 30 is mounted in the container housing portion 109, the shutter 30S is moved and the toner discharge port 377 is opened. As a result, the toner discharge port 377 is disposed above the toner supply port 25 (FIGS. 4 and 5).

  14A and 14B are a cross-sectional view (A) and an enlarged cross-sectional view (B) showing a state in which the moving wall 32 is disposed at the final position in the toner container 30. Note that FIG. 10 described above is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the moving wall 32 is moving in the first direction from the initial position. Further, the initial position of the moving wall 32 is set to the left side of the position along the lid portion 31, that is, the position of the moving wall 32 shown in FIG.

  When the new toner container 30 is mounted on the printer 100, the control unit 50 (FIG. 7) drives the first motor M <b> 1 and moves the shaft 33 via the second gear 382 engaged with the third transmission gear 213. Drive to rotate. As a result, due to the engagement between the male spiral portion 333 of the shaft 33 and the female spiral portion 320D of the moving wall 32, the moving wall 32 moves toward the toner discharge port 377 in the first direction (arrow DA in FIG. 10). Eventually, when the moving wall 32 moves rightward from the initial position by a predetermined distance, the accommodation space 37S is filled with toner, and the toner sensor TS outputs a HIGH signal corresponding to the full state. The control unit 50 receives the HIGH signal output from the toner sensor TS and stops the moving wall 32.

  In the present embodiment, the inner peripheral portion 37K of the container main body 37 and the outer peripheral portion 32K of the moving wall 32 have a non-circular shape in a cross-sectional view intersecting the first direction. Further, the outer peripheral portion 32K of the moving wall 32 that is in close contact with the inner peripheral portion 37K of the container main body 37 has a shape similar to the inner peripheral portion 37K. For this reason, even when the rotational force around the shaft 33 is applied to the moving wall 32 by the engagement between the male spiral portion 333 and the female spiral portion 370D, the moving wall 32 rotates around the shaft 33. (Turning around) is prevented. As a result, the moving wall 32 can be stably moved in the first direction by the rotational driving force of the first motor M1.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view (A), (B), and (C) showing the behavior of the toner in the toner container 30 and the developing device 20 in the printer 100. FIG. 15A shows a state where the toner is not sufficiently stored above the toner discharge port 377. In this state, when the toner on the developing device 20 side is consumed from the developing roller 21, a gap is formed around the toner supply port 25 as shown in FIG. However, when there is not enough toner around the toner discharge port 377, the toner supply to the developing device 20 side becomes insufficient, resulting in a decrease in image density. On the other hand, FIG. 15B shows a state where toner is sufficiently stored above the toner discharge port 377. In such a case, the toner staying in the stay portion 29 (FIG. 5) seals the toner supply port 25 from below, and the toner stored around the toner discharge port 377 is the toner around the toner supply port 25. Is balanced with the pressing force that presses down. Therefore, it is difficult for the replenishing toner to fall from the toner discharge port 377 of the toner container 30. Further, when toner is supplied from the developing roller 21 of the developing device 20 to the photosensitive drum 121 and the toner in the staying portion 29 is reduced, the toner corresponding to the reduction amount is smoothly supplied from the toner supply port 25 into the developing housing 210. enter in. As described above, in order to stably store the toner around the toner discharge port 377, in this embodiment, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 121, and the printing operation in which the electrostatic latent image is developed. Inside, the movement wall 32 is controlled to move. That is, when toner flows into the developing device 20 from the toner discharge port 377 through the toner supply port 25, the toner around the toner sensor TS (FIG. 8B) disappears in the accommodation space 37S of the toner container 30. The toner sensor TS outputs a LOW signal. In response to the signal, the control unit 50 drives the first motor M1 until the toner sensor TS outputs a HIGH signal, and further moves the moving wall 32 toward the toner discharge port 377. As a result, the toner can be stably stored around the toner discharge port 377.

  On the other hand, referring to FIG. 15C, when the moving wall 32 strongly pushes the toner in the accommodation space 37S and excessive toner is distributed around the toner discharge port 377, the toner stays in the staying portion 29 (FIG. 5). The pressing force with which the toner stored around the toner discharge port 377 presses the toner around the toner supply port 25 downward is larger than the pressing force with which the toner seals the toner supply port 25 from below. . As a result, excessive toner flows into the developing housing 210 of the developing device 20 and excessive supply of toner occurs. In this case, it is difficult to realize stable volume supply type toner supply. In particular, when a large amount of toner is distributed around the toner discharge port 377 in the standby state of the printer 100 after the printing operation is completed, excessive supply of toner is likely to occur during the next printing operation, and the printing operation is not performed. Image density defects are likely to occur at the initial stage.

  In order to prevent such excessive supply of toner, in the present embodiment, the control unit 50 further controls the moving operation of the moving wall 32 during the non-printing operation in which the printing operation is not executed. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view (A), (B), and (C) showing the moving operation of the moving wall 32 in the toner container 30 in the printer 100. In the present embodiment, as an example of the non-printing operation, the movement of the moving wall 32 is further controlled immediately after the printing operation is completed. Referring to FIG. 16A, when the printing operation is completed and the toner is insufficient around the toner discharge port 377, the control unit 50 rotates the first motor M1 in the forward direction and moves the moving wall 32 to the first position. Move in one direction (arrow DA in FIG. 16A). At this time, the control unit 50 controls the second motor M2 to stop the rotation of the developing roller 21, the first stirring screw 23, and the second stirring screw 24 of the developing device 20. The control unit 50 refers to the rotation drive time of the first motor M1 or the output of a not-shown tachometer provided on the shaft 33, and moves the moving wall 32 by 10 mm (first distance) in the first direction. . As a result, as shown in FIG. 16B, the toner is sufficiently stored above the toner discharge port 377, and it is prevented that the toner replenishment is delayed in the next printing operation. As described above, when the moving wall 32 moves in the first direction during the non-printing operation, the first stirring screw 23 (FIG. 5) does not rotate. Accordingly, excessive supply of replenishment toner to the developing device 20 during the non-printing operation is suppressed.

  Further, the control unit 50 moves the moving wall 32 in the first direction, and then reversely rotates the first motor M1 (arrow DM in FIG. 16C). As a result, the moving wall 32 moves in the second direction opposite to the first direction (arrow DN in FIG. 16C) due to the engagement of the male helical portion 333 of the shaft 33 and the female helical portion 320D of the moving wall 32. To do. At this time, the control unit 50 refers to the rotation driving time of the first motor M1 or the output of a not-shown tachometer provided on the shaft 33, and moves the moving wall 32 by 5 mm in the second direction (first distance). Less than a second distance). As a result, as indicated by an arrow DT in FIG. 16C, the pile of toner stored above the toner discharge port 377 collapses, and a part of the toner moves in the second direction. As a result, the pressing force applied to the toner around the toner discharge port 377 by the moving wall 32 is partially released. Therefore, when the printing operation is started again, a large amount of toner is prevented from flowing into the developing device 20 side.

  By such movement control of the moving wall 32 during the non-printing operation, a stable amount of toner is stored above the toner discharge port 377 and an excessive pressing force is prevented from being applied to the toner. The Therefore, the toner can be replenished stably to the developing housing 210 (the storage space 220 (FIG. 4)) according to the increase or decrease of the toner in the staying portion 29 on the developing device 20 side.

  During the printing operation, the control unit 50 drives the second motor M2 and rotates the developing roller 21 and the like according to the developing operation of the developing device 20. At this time, the stirring member 35 is rotationally driven via the second transmission gear 212 and the first gear 381. As a result, the stirring member 35 disposed on the right end side of the accommodation space 37S rotates around the shaft 33, so that the toner above the toner discharge port 377 is stably stirred. For this reason, the fluidity of the toner is increased, and the toner is stably dropped from the toner discharge port 377. In particular, in this embodiment, a stirring blade 353 protrudes from the stirring support portion 352 of the stirring member 35. For this reason, the toner around the toner discharge port 377 is actively stirred by the revolving motion of the stirring blade 353.

  When the printing operation is repeated and the toner in the accommodation space 37S of the toner container 30 continues to be used, the moving wall 32 eventually reaches the final position shown in FIG. As described above, the moving wall 32 gradually moves in the first direction, whereby the toner in the accommodation space 37S is conveyed to the toner discharge port 377 while being pressed by the moving wall 32. At this time, the accommodation space 37S is gradually reduced until the moving wall 32 reaches the final position. Therefore, the space where the toner remains is gradually lost in the toner container 30. As a result, the amount of toner remaining in the storage space 37S of the container body 37 at the end of use is reduced as compared with a conventional toner container in which the volume of the storage space does not change.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14A, at the final position of the moving wall 32, the moving wall 32 stops slightly upstream of the toner discharge port 377 in the first direction. Specifically, referring to FIG. 14B, when the bearing portion 32J of the moving wall 32 reaches the moving wall stop portion 334 as the moving wall 32 moves, the relationship between the male spiral portion 333 and the female spiral portion 320D. The match is released. As a result, transmission of the moving force from the shaft 33 to the moving wall 32 is lost, and the moving wall 32 stops at the final position. At this time, since a space remains above the toner discharge port 377, some toner remains in the space. However, in the present embodiment, the stirring member 35 is driven to rotate, so that the toner can be stably discharged from the toner discharge port 377 until the end. The toner discharge port 377 is opened at a position slightly shifted upward from the lower end portion of the container main body 37. Even in such a case, the toner remaining at the lowermost end portion of the container main body 37 is scooped up by the stirring blade 353 (FIG. 11), and then stably discharged from the toner discharge port 377. .

  Further, referring to FIG. 14A, at the final position of the moving wall 32, the conveyance surface 320 </ b> S of the moving wall 32 is arranged at an interval upstream in the first direction with respect to the stirring blade 353 of the stirring member 35. The For this reason, the conveyance surface 320S of the moving wall 32 reaching the final position and the stirring member 35 are prevented from interfering with each other. Further, at the final position of the moving wall 32 shown in FIG. 14A, the inner wall seal 322 of the moving wall 32 urges the inner peripheral portion 37K of the toner container 30 in the radial direction with an elastic force from the inside. For this reason, the moving wall 32 is stably locked at the final position, and the moving wall 32 is prevented from approaching the stirring member 35 side. In another embodiment, the final position of the moving wall 32 may be set so that the stirring member 35 does not include the stirring blade 353 and the moving wall 32 closes the toner discharge port 377 from the inside.

  The printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above. According to such a configuration, the replenishment toner can be stably supplied to the developing device 20. On the other hand, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the following modified embodiments can be adopted.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the printer 100 has been described as a monochrome printer, but the present invention is not limited to this. In particular, when the printer 100 is a tandem color printer, after the opening / closing cover 100C (FIG. 2) of the printer 100 is opened, the toner containers 30 are adjacent to each other corresponding to a plurality of color toners from above. It may be mounted in the housing 101.

  (2) In the above-described embodiment, the moving wall 32 is moved in the first direction and the second direction after the printing operation is finished as a non-printing operation. It is not limited to. As a non-printing operation, the moving wall 32 may be moved as described above immediately before the printing operation is started. Alternatively, the moving wall 32 may be moved in the first direction and the second direction at the time when the power of the printer 100 is turned on or at the time of setup in which the image quality is adjusted in the printer 100. In addition, when a plurality of sheets are continuously printed, the printing operation is temporarily interrupted, the rotation of each member of the developing device 20 is stopped, and the moving wall 32 is moved in the first direction and the second direction. It may be moved. As in the previous embodiment, the toner around the toner discharge port 377 is particularly likely to flow at the end of the printing operation. At this stage, when the moving wall 32 is moved in the first direction and the second direction, particularly when the moving wall 32 moves in the second direction, a part of the toner around the moving wall 32 is moved in the second direction. Easy to move to. Therefore, it is possible to further release the pressing force on the toner around the toner discharge port 377.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the moving wall 32 has been described as moving from the lid portion 31 side to the right wall 375 side. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The toner discharge port 377 may be opened on the lid portion 31 side, and the moving wall 32 may move from the right wall 375 side to the lid portion 31 side.

100 Printer (image forming device)
121 Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
126 Transfer roller 20 Developing device 21 Developing roller 210 Developing housing (housing)
23 First stirring screw (developer conveying member)
25 Toner supply port (Developer supply port)
28 Suppression paddle (Conveyance capacity control part)
30, 30A toner container (developer container)
31 Lid 32 Moving wall 33 Shaft 34 First seal 35, 35A Stirring member 351 Stirring bearing 351A First protrusion 352 Stirring support 352A Second protrusion 353 Stirring blade 36 Second seal 37 Container body (container body)
377 Toner outlet (developer outlet)
37H Internal space 37K Inner circumference 37S Accommodating space 50 Control unit (drive control unit)
TS toner sensor M1 first motor (first drive unit)
M2 Second motor (second drive unit)

Claims (5)

An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface, and an image carrier that carries a developer image;
A developing device for supplying a developer to the image carrier;
A developer container for supplying the developer to the developing device;
A first drive unit and a second drive unit;
A drive control unit for controlling the first drive unit and the second drive unit;
Have
The developer container is
A container body comprising: an inner peripheral portion extending in a cylindrical shape along the first direction; and an internal space defined by the inner peripheral portion;
A developer discharge port that is opened in the lower surface portion of the container body so as to communicate with the inner peripheral portion, and from which the developer is discharged;
An outer peripheral portion disposed in close contact with the inner peripheral portion of the container main body, and a conveying surface that defines the storage space for storing the developer together with the inner peripheral portion of the container main body, A moving wall that moves in the first direction in the internal space while conveying the developer toward the developer discharge port;
Have
The developing device includes:
A housing including a developer transport path through which the developer is transported in a predetermined transport direction;
A developer replenishing port which is opened in the housing below the developer discharge port and receives the developer from the developer container into the developer transport path;
A developer transport member disposed in the developer transport path, driven to rotate, and transports the developer in the transport direction;
Have
The first driving unit generates a driving force for moving the moving wall, the second driving unit generates a driving force for rotating the developer conveying member,
The drive control unit is configured to stop the rotation of the developer conveying member in a non-printing operation in which a printing operation in which the electrostatic latent image is formed on the image carrier is not performed. Is moved by a first distance in the first direction, and then the moving wall is moved in a second direction opposite to the first direction by a second distance smaller than the first distance. An image forming apparatus.   The developing device includes a transport capability suppressing unit that partially suppresses the transport capability of the developer in the transport direction of the developer transport member on the downstream side in the transport direction from the developer supply port. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The developer conveying member includes a shaft portion, and a spiral blade disposed around the shaft portion,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the conveyance capacity suppressing unit is formed by partially missing the spiral blade. The developer conveying member includes a shaft portion, and a spiral blade disposed around the shaft portion,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the conveyance capability suppressing unit is a plate-like member disposed between the spiral blades adjacent in the axial direction of the shaft unit. The drive control unit moves the moving wall in the first direction and the second direction after the printing operation is executed in the non-printing operation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.