JP2016170228A - Image formation device and toner storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce leakage of toner when a toner leakage prevention member is subjected to a force in a radial direction.SOLUTION: A toner storage container (TC) is supported by the body (U1) of an image formation device in a detachable fashion. The toner storage container (TC) includes: a rotation section (1, 11) that stores toner and rotates when drive is transmitted from the body (U1) of the image formation device; an exhaust section (21) that supports the rotation section (1, 11) in a rotatable fashion and has an exhaust port (28) from which toner is exhausted; a leakage prevention member (17) that is disposed at the boundary of the rotation section (1, 11) and exhaust section (21) to prevent leakage of toner; and a suppression section (18) that is disposed at the inner side of the leakage prevention member (17) in a radial direction relative to the rotation shaft of the rotation section (1, 11) to suppress inflow of toner into the leakage prevention member (17) side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

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

  In the image forming apparatus, a technique described in Patent Document 1 below is conventionally known as a toner container for supplying new toner.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-305840 as Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which the shutter (62) is opened and closed by rotating the toner bottle (23) after the toner bottle (23) is mounted on the copying machine body. A technique relating to a toner seal member (55) that prevents leakage of the toner is described. In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the toner seal member (55) is formed by attaching a slidable flexible member (82) to the surface of an elastic member (80) such as a sponge, and the toner bottle (23 ) To reduce the frictional resistance during rotation, thereby reducing the load on driving.

JP 2001-305840 A (“0038” to “0053”, FIGS. 11 to 12)

  An object of the present invention is to reduce the leakage of toner due to the radial leakage force of the toner leakage prevention member.

In order to solve the technical problem, a toner container according to claim 1 is provided.
A toner container that is detachably supported with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus,
A rotating part that rotates when toner is contained and driving is transmitted from the main body of the image forming apparatus;
A discharge unit that rotatably supports the rotating unit and has a discharge port through which toner is discharged;
A leakage preventing member that is disposed at a boundary between the rotating portion and the discharging portion and prevents leakage of toner;
A suppression unit that is disposed on the rotary shaft side in the radial direction with respect to the leakage prevention member, and suppresses inflow of toner to the leakage prevention member side;
It is provided with.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the toner container according to the first aspect,
The suppressing portion protruding in the axial direction from the leakage preventing member;
It is provided with.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the toner container according to the first or second aspect,
The leakage preventing member supported by the rotating part;
A contact portion provided in the discharge portion and in contact with the leakage preventing member;
The suppression part provided in the discharge part;
With
The thickness of the leakage preventing member is thinner than the distance between the end of the suppressing portion on the rotating portion side and the end of the contact portion on the rotating portion side,
It is characterized by that.

In order to solve the technical problem, an image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention provides:
An image carrier,
A developing device that develops the latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier into a visible image;
The toner container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein toner to be supplied to the developing device is stored.
It is provided with.

According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the leakage of the toner due to the radial force of the toner leakage preventing member as compared with the case where the suppressing portion is not provided.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the leakage preventing member can be less susceptible to radial force than the case where the length of the suppressing portion is shorter than the axial length of the leakage preventing member.
According to invention of Claim 3, compared with the case where the thickness of the leakage preventing member is thicker than the distance between the end of the suppressing portion and the end of the contact portion, the leakage preventing member is protected by the suppressing portion, and the radial direction It can be difficult to receive the power of.

FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the toner image forming apparatus portion of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge according to the first exemplary embodiment. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the fin member of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part of the leakage preventing portion of FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional configuration. FIG. 8 illustrates the toner cartridge according to the second exemplary embodiment and corresponds to FIG. 4 according to the first exemplary embodiment.

Next, specific examples of embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as examples) will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.
In order to facilitate understanding of the following description, in the drawings, the front-rear direction is the X-axis direction, the left-right direction is the Y-axis direction, the up-down direction is the Z-axis direction, and arrows X, -X, Y, -Y, The direction indicated by Z and -Z or the indicated side is defined as front, rear, right, left, upper, lower, or front, rear, right, left, upper, and lower, respectively.
In the figure, “•” in “○” means an arrow heading from the back of the page to the front, and “×” in “○” is the front of the page. It means an arrow pointing from the back to the back.
In the following description using the drawings, illustrations other than members necessary for the description are omitted as appropriate for easy understanding.

FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment.
In FIG. 1, a printer U as an example of the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment includes a printer main body U1 as an example of an apparatus main body. A first discharge tray TRh as an example of a first medium discharge unit is provided on the upper surface of the printer body U1. An operation unit UI is provided on the upper surface of the right part of the printer main body U1. The operation unit UI includes a display unit (not shown). The operation unit UI is configured to allow user input operations.
The printer U according to the first embodiment illustrates a host computer as an example of an image information transmission device, and specifically, a personal computer is electrically connected thereto.

The printer U includes a controller C as an example of a control unit. The controller C can receive electrical signals such as image information and control signals transmitted from the personal computer PC. The controller C is configured to be able to output a control signal to the operation unit UI and the electric circuit E. Further, the controller C is electrically connected to the write circuit DL.
The writing circuit DL outputs a drive signal to an exposure device ROS as an example of a writing device in accordance with the input information. The exposure machine ROS is configured to be able to output a laser beam L as an example of writing light in accordance with an input signal.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the toner image forming apparatus portion of FIG.
1 and 2, a photoconductor PR as an example of an image carrier is disposed on the left side of the exposure machine ROS. The photoconductor PR of Example 1 is supported so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow about the rotation axis PRa. The photoconductor PR is irradiated with laser light L in the writing area Q1.
Around the photoconductor PR, along the rotational direction of the photoconductor PR, a charging roll CR as an example of a charging member, a developing device G, and a photoconductor cleaner CL as an example of a cleaner for an image carrier. Is arranged.
In the printer U according to the first exemplary embodiment, the photosensitive member PR, the charging roll CR, the developing device G, and the photosensitive member cleaner CL are integrated into a unit that can be attached and detached. That is, the photoconductor PR, the charging roll CR, the developing device G, and the photoconductor cleaner CL are configured to be detachable from the printer body U1 as a process unit U2.

A charging voltage is applied from the electric circuit E to the charging roll CR.
The developing device G includes a developing container V that accommodates toner as an example of a developer. Inside the developing container V, a developing roll Ga as an example of a developer holding body is rotatably supported. The developing roll Ga is disposed to face the photoreceptor PR in the developing area Q2.
Further, a developing voltage is applied from the power supply circuit E to the developing roll Ga. Further, augers Gb and Gc, which are examples of a developer conveying member, are rotatably supported in the developing container V.
The photoconductor PR, the charging roll CR, the exposure machine ROS, the developing device G, and the like constitute a toner image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on the photoconductor PR.

One end of a replenishment path of a toner replenishing device TH1 as an example of a developer replenishing device fixedly supported by the printer U is connected to the developing container V. The other end of the toner supply path of the toner supply device TH1 is connected to a toner cartridge TC as an example of a toner container.
The toner cartridge TC is configured to be detachable by being inserted into and removed from the printer U in the front-rear direction.

In FIG. 1, a plurality of paper feed trays TR <b> 1 to TR <b> 4 are provided below the printer U as an example of a medium storage unit. The plurality of paper feed trays TR1 to TR4 contain a recording sheet S as an example of a medium.
In FIG. 1, rails RL1 as an example of container guide members are arranged on the left and right sides of each of the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4. The rail RL1 movably supports the left and right ends of the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4. Accordingly, the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4 are supported by the pair of left and right rails RL1 so as to be able to enter and exit in the front-rear direction.

In FIG. 1, a paper feeding device K is disposed at the upper left of each of the paper feeding trays TR1 to TR4. The paper feeding device K has a pickup roll Rp as an example of a medium take-out member. On the left side of the pick-up roll Rp, a separating roll Rs as an example of a separating member is disposed. The separating roll Rs includes a feed roll as an example of a medium conveying member and a retard roll as an example of a medium separating member.
On the left side of the sheet feeding device K, a sheet feeding path SH1 as an example of a medium transport path is disposed. The sheet feed path SH1 extends upward. A plurality of transport rolls Ra as an example of a medium transport member are arranged in the paper feed path SH1. A registration roll Rr, which is an example of a medium transport timing adjustment member, is disposed at the upper end, which is the downstream end of the sheet feed path SH1.

A manual feed tray TR0 as an example of a manual feed unit is mounted on the left side of the printer U. The right end of the manual feed tray TR0 is connected to the left end of a manual feed path SH2 as an example of a manual feed path. The right end of the manual feed path SH2 is connected to the paper feed path SH1.
In FIG. 1, a transfer roll Rt as an example of a transfer device is disposed above the registration roll Rr. The transfer roll Rt faces and contacts the photoconductor PR in the transfer region Q3. Accordingly, the transfer roll Rt according to the first exemplary embodiment rotates following the rotation of the photoconductor PR. A transfer voltage is applied from the power supply circuit E to the transfer roll Rt.

  The photoreceptor cleaner CL is disposed on the downstream side of the transfer roll Rt with respect to the rotation direction of the photoreceptor PR. The photoreceptor cleaner CL supports a recovery path CL4 as an example of a developer transport path. The recovery path CL4 extends from the photoconductor cleaner CL to the developing device G.

In FIG. 1, a fixing device F is supported above the transfer roll Rt. The fixing device F includes a heating roll Fh as an example of a heat fixing member and a pressure roll Fp as an example of a pressure fixing member. The heating roll Fh and the pressure roll Fp are in contact with each other in the fixing region Q4. Driving is transmitted to the heating roll Fh from a driving source (not shown) to rotate. The heating roll Fh is supplied with electric power for heating a heater (not shown) from the electric circuit E.
The process unit U2 as an example of the toner image forming apparatus, the transfer roll Rt, and the fixing device F constitute an image recording unit U2 + Rt + F that records an image on the sheet S.

Above the fixing device F, a sheet guide F1 as an example of a medium guiding portion is formed. A sheet discharge roll R1 as an example of a medium discharge member is disposed on the right side of the sheet guide F1. A medium discharge port Ha is formed on the right side of the paper discharge roll R1. A first discharge tray TRh is disposed below the medium discharge port Ha.
In FIG. 1, a connection path SH3 as an example of a medium transport path is disposed above the fixing device F and on the left side of the paper discharge roll R1. The connection path SH3 extends to the left from the medium discharge port Ha.

A reversing unit U3, which is an example of a medium reversing device, is supported on the left side surface of the printer body U1 above the manual feed tray TR0. A reversing path SH4 as an example of a medium transport path is formed inside the reversing unit U3. The upper end of the inversion path SH4 is connected to the left end of the connection path SH3. The lower end of the reversing path SH4 joins the sheet feeding path SH1 on the upstream side of the registration roll Rr.
A second discharge path SH6 as an example of a medium transport path is formed above the reversing unit U3. The second discharge path SH6 has a right end connected to the connection path SH3 and branches off from the inversion path SH4. The left end of the second discharge path SH6 extends to the left side surface of the reversing unit U3. A face-up tray TRh1 as an example of a second discharge unit is supported on the left side surface of the reversing unit U3. Accordingly, the sheet S that has passed through the second discharge path SH6 is configured to be discharged to the face-up tray TRh1.

(Function of image forming apparatus)
In the printer U of the first embodiment having the above configuration, the image information transmitted from the personal computer PC is input to the controller C. The controller C converts the inputted image information into information for forming a latent image at a preset time and outputs it to the writing circuit DL. The exposure machine ROS outputs a laser beam L based on the signal received by the writing circuit DL. The controller C controls operations of the operation unit UI, the writing circuit DL, the power supply circuit E, and the like.
1 and 2, the surface of the photoreceptor PR is charged by a charging roll CR to which a charging voltage is applied. The surface of the photoreceptor PR charged by the charging roll CR is exposed and scanned by the laser beam L of the exposure machine ROS in the writing area Q1 to form an electrostatic latent image. The surface of the photoconductor PR on which the electrostatic latent image is formed sequentially passes through the development area Q2 and the transfer area Q3.

In the developing area Q2, the developing roll Ga faces the photoconductor PR. The developing roll Ga rotates while holding the developer inside the developing container V on the surface. Therefore, the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor PR is developed into a toner image as an example of a visible image by the toner image held on the surface of the developing roll Ga. The developer inside the developing container V is circulated while being stirred by the augers Gb and Gc.
When the developer inside the developing container V is consumed with the development by the developing roll Ga, the developer is supplied from the toner cartridge TC. That is, the toner in the toner cartridge TC is conveyed to the discharge port TC3 according to the consumption amount of the developer. The toner discharged from the discharge port TC3 is transported to the developing container V by a replenishment transport member (not shown) in the replenishment path of the toner replenishing device TH1.

Each of the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4 accommodates a sheet S on which an image is recorded. The sheets S accommodated in the respective sheet feeding trays TR1 to TR4 are taken out by the pickup roll Rp of the sheet feeding device K. The sheets S taken out by the pickup roll Rp are separated one by one by the separating roll Rs. The sheet S separated by the separating roll Rs is fed to the sheet feeding path SH1. The sheet S in the sheet feeding path SH1 is conveyed toward the registration roll Rr by the conveyance roll Ra.
The sheet S fed from the manual feed tray TR0 is conveyed to the registration roll Rr through the manual feed path SH2. The sheet S conveyed to the registration roll Rr is conveyed to the transfer area Q3 by the registration roll Rr in accordance with the timing when the toner image on the surface of the photoconductor PR moves to the transfer area Q3.

In the transfer area Q3, the toner image on the surface of the photoconductor PR is transferred to the sheet S passing through the transfer area Q3 by the transfer roll Rt to which the transfer voltage is applied.
In FIG. 2, the photoreceptor PR after passing through the transfer region Q3 is cleaned by removing the toner adhering to the surface by the photoreceptor cleaner CL. The toner removed by the photoreceptor cleaner CL is returned to the inside of the developing container V through the recovery path CL4. That is, the developer collected by the photoreceptor cleaner CL is reused by the developing device G.
The photoconductor PR whose surface is cleaned by the photoconductor cleaner CL is charged again by the charging roll CR.

The sheet S on which the toner image is transferred in the transfer area Q3 is conveyed to the fixing area Q4 of the fixing device F in a state where the toner image is not fixed.
In the fixing region Q4, the sheet S is sandwiched between the heating roll Fh and the pressure roll Fp, and the toner image is heated and fixed.
The sheet S on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device F is guided by the sheet guide F1 and conveyed to the paper discharge roll R1. When the sheet S is discharged to the first discharge tray TRh, the sheet S sent to the discharge roll R1 is discharged from the medium discharge port Ha to the first discharge tray TRh.

During double-sided printing, the sheet S on which an image is recorded on the first side rotates the paper discharge roll R1 in a state where the trailing end in the transport direction has passed the sheet guide F1. Accordingly, the sheet S is conveyed to the reversing path SH4 through the connection path SH3. The sheet S conveyed on the reversing path SH4 is conveyed to the registration roll Rr in a state where the front and back sides are reversed. Therefore, the image on the second side is recorded again from the registration roll Rr to the transfer area Q3.
When the sheet S is discharged to the face-up tray TRh1, the sheet S conveyed through the connection path SH3 by the reverse rotation of the discharge roll R1 is carried into the second discharge path SH6. Then, the sheet S conveyed through the second discharge path SH6 is discharged to the face-up tray TRh1.

(Description of toner cartridge)
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge according to the first exemplary embodiment.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.
3 and 4, the toner cartridge TC according to the first exemplary embodiment includes a bottle 1 as an example of a storage unit. The bottle 1 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction, and is configured so that toner can be accommodated therein. On the wall surface of the bottle 1, a spiral groove 2 as an example of a transport unit is formed. 3 and 4, an opening 3 is formed at the rear end of the bottle 1. On the outer surface of the bottle 1, a screw portion 4 as an example of a fastening portion is formed at a position on the front side of the opening 3.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the fin member of the first embodiment.
3 to 5, a fin member 11 as an example of a breaking member is disposed on the rear side of the bottle 1. The fin member 11 includes a front cylindrical portion 12 and a rear fin body 13. The cylindrical portion 12 has a screw portion 12a as an example of a fastening portion formed on the inner peripheral surface. The screw part 12 a is formed corresponding to the screw part 4. Therefore, the screw part 12a and the screw part 4 mesh with each other, and the fin member 11 and the bottle 1 are fastened. Therefore, the rotation parts 1 and 11 of Example 1 are comprised by the fin member 11 and the bottle 1. FIG.
A ring-shaped concave groove 12b is formed on the outer periphery of the rear portion of the cylindrical portion 12.

The fin main body 13 has a shaft portion 13a extending in the front-rear direction. A support arm 13b is formed at the front end of the shaft portion 13a. The support arm 13b is an example of a collapsing portion and extends outward in the radial direction as an example of a supported portion. The outer end of the support arm 13 b is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 12.
A first breaking portion 13c extending outward in the radial direction is formed at the rear portion of the shaft portion 13a. Between the outer end in the radial direction of the first breaking portion 13c and the support arm 13b, a second breaking portion 13d extending in the front-rear direction is formed.
A coupling 16 as an example of a driven transmission member is supported at the front end of the shaft portion 13a. When the toner cartridge TC is mounted on the printer main body U1, the coupling 16 is engaged with the coupling supported by the printer main body U1, and the drive is transmitted.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part of the leakage preventing portion of FIG.
4 to 6, a toner seal 17 as an example of a leakage preventing member is supported on the rear end surface of the cylindrical portion 12. The toner seal 17 is formed in an annular shape, a so-called ring shape, along the rear end surface of the cylindrical portion 12. The toner seal 17 is made of an arbitrary material capable of preventing toner leakage, and for example, a foam member such as a sponge can be employed.
In the toner cartridge TC according to the first exemplary embodiment, an annular wall 18 is formed on the rear end surface of the cylindrical portion 12 as an example of a suppressing portion on the inner side in the radial direction from the toner seal 17. In FIG. 4, the length of the annular wall 18 in the front-rear direction, that is, the axial length of the rotating parts 1, 11 is longer than the axial length of the toner seal 17.

A flange portion 21 as an example of a discharge portion is supported on the rear side of the fin member 11. The flange portion 21 is configured in a cylindrical shape. The flange portion 21 includes a middle diameter portion 22 at the front portion, a large diameter portion 23 at the center in the front-rear direction, and a small diameter portion 24 at the rear portion.
The medium diameter portion 22 has an inner diameter that covers the outer periphery of the rear portions of the rotating portions 1 and 11. The middle diameter portion 22 is formed with a claw portion 22a as an example of a connecting portion. The claw portion 22a is disposed at a position corresponding to the ring-shaped concave groove 12b and extends toward the inside in the radial direction. The claw portion 22 a is in contact with the concave groove 12 b and restricts the rotating portions 1 and 11 from moving forward with respect to the flange portion 21. That is, the rotating parts 1 and 11 and the flange part 21 are connected.

At the front end of the large diameter portion 23, a ring-shaped convex portion 23a is formed as an example of a contact portion with a leakage preventing member. The convex portion 23a is supported in a state where the toner seal 17 is compressed so as to bite into the toner seal 17 when the flange portion 21 and the rotating portions 1 and 11 are connected. Accordingly, a preset force acts between the toner seal 17 and the convex portion 23a, and toner leakage is prevented.
A plate-like wall portion 26 extending in the up-down direction and the left-right direction is formed at the boundary portion between the large-diameter portion 23 and the small-diameter portion 24. The wall portion 26 is rotatably supported with the coupling 16 penetrating therethrough.

A discharge path 27 extending downward is formed below the wall portion 26. A discharge port 28 as an example of an outlet is formed at the lower end of the discharge path 27.
A shutter 29 as an example of an opening / closing member is supported below the discharge path 27 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. The shutter 29 moves between an open position where the discharge port 28 is opened and a closed position where the discharge port 28 is closed as the toner cartridge TC is inserted and removed. As the configuration for moving the shutter 29 in accordance with the insertion / extraction of the toner cartridge TC, various conventionally known configurations such as, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-229938 can be adopted, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
In FIG. 3, an insertion guide 31 as an example of a guided portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 24. When the toner cartridge TC is mounted, the insertion guide 31 is guided to a guide portion (not shown) provided in the printer main body U1 as an example of the main body of the image forming apparatus.

(Operation of Example 1)
In the printer U according to the first embodiment having the above-described configuration, when the toner cartridge TC is mounted on the printer main body U1, when the drive is transmitted to the coupling 16 according to toner consumption, the rotating units 1 and 11 are Rotate. When the bottle 1 rotates, the toner is conveyed backward along the spiral groove 2. Therefore, in the toner cartridge TC according to the first exemplary embodiment, a rotating conveyance member is not required inside the bottle, and the manufacturing cost of the toner cartridge TC can be reduced.
The toner conveyed rearward along with the rotation of the bottle 1 is supplied to the toner supply device TH1 through the discharge port 28. Note that the fin body 13 is also rotated when the bottle 1 is rotated, and the toner that is densely packed in the vicinity of the discharge port 28 is broken and loosened. Therefore, as compared with the configuration without the fin main body 13, it is reduced that the developer becomes hard and clogs in the vicinity of the discharge port 28.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional configuration.
In the toner cartridge TC of Example 1, toner leakage is prevented by the toner seal 17 and the convex portion 23a. At this time, the toner seal 17 is compressed in the front-rear direction, that is, in the axial direction of the rotating portions 1 and 11 by the convex portion 23a.
Here, there is a case where the toner is concentrated due to vibration or the like when the toner cartridge TC is stored or transported or dropped. At this time, in the conventional configuration as shown in FIG. 7 in which the annular wall 18 is not provided, the toner seal 01 receives a force F1 from the inner side to the outer side in the radial direction. That is, the force in the radial direction is received unlike the compression direction force F2 for preventing toner leakage. When the toner seal 01 receives the radial force F1, the pressure generated by the convex portion 02 compressing the toner seal 01 cannot be maintained, and toner leakage is likely to occur.

On the other hand, in the toner cartridge TC according to the first exemplary embodiment, the annular wall 18 is disposed inside the toner seal 17. Therefore, even if the toner is densely packed, the annular wall 18 receives a force and the toner is prevented from flowing into the toner seal 17 side. Therefore, the radial force acting on the toner seal 17 is reduced. Therefore, toner leakage is reduced as compared with the conventional configuration in which the annular wall 18 is not provided.
In particular, in the toner cartridge TC of Example 1, the length of the annular wall 18 in the front-rear direction is longer than that of the toner seal 17. Therefore, the annular wall 18 protects the entire area of the toner seal 17 in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the leakage of toner is reduced as compared with the case where the length of the annular wall 18 in the front-rear direction is shorter than that of the toner seal 17.

FIG. 8 illustrates the toner cartridge according to the second exemplary embodiment and corresponds to FIG. 4 according to the first exemplary embodiment.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the second embodiment, components corresponding to the components of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. To do.
The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points, but is configured in the same manner as the first embodiment in other points.
In FIG. 8, in the toner cartridge TC of the second embodiment, an annular wall 18 ′ is formed not on the fin member 11 but on the flange portion 21 unlike the first embodiment.
In Example 2, as shown in FIG. 8, the thickness L2 of the toner seal 17 is formed thinner than the distance L1 between the front end of the annular wall 18 ′ and the front end of the convex portion 23a. . Therefore, the entire region of the toner seal 17 is covered with the annular wall 18 ′ with respect to the axial direction.

  Even in the printer U according to the second embodiment having the above-described configuration, the annular wall 18 ′ protects the toner seal 17 even when the toner is dense, as in the first embodiment. Thus, toner leakage is reduced.

(Example of change)
As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various change is made in the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim. Is possible. Modification examples (H01) to (H08) of the present invention are exemplified below.
(H01) In the above-described embodiment, the printer as an example of the image forming apparatus is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a FAX.

(H02) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the flange portion 21 is disposed on the front side in the mounting direction of the toner cartridge TC, that is, on the back side of the printer main body U1, is not limited thereto. For example, a configuration in which the flange portion 21 and the like are arranged on the rear side in the mounting direction, that is, on the front side of the printer main body U1 is also possible.
(H03) In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the annular walls 18 and 18 'are formed integrally with the fin member 11 and the flange portion 21 is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the annular walls 18 and 18 ′ can be made separately and fixed to the fin member 11 or the flange portion 21 by being attached or screwed. In the case where the annular walls 18 and 18 'are separately formed, a material different from that of the fin member 11 or the like can be used, and a hard film or the like can also be used.

(H04) In the above embodiment, the length in the front-rear direction of the annular walls 18, 18 'is preferably longer than that of the toner seal 17, but can be shortened.
(H05) In the above-described embodiment, it is desirable to provide the fin member 11 for breaking the toner, but it can be omitted. Moreover, although the structure which has the two support arms 13b was illustrated as the fin member 11, it is not limited to this, It is also possible to set it as the structure which has three or more.

(H06) In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the coupling 16 for driving the bottle 1 is provided at the rear end is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to form a coupling shape at the front end of the bottle 1 or to form a gear on the outer peripheral surface of the bottle 1 to rotate the bottle 1.
(H07) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the toner seal 17 is disposed on the rotating portions 1 and 11 side and the convex portion 23a is disposed on the flange portion 21 is illustrated. However, the toner seal 17 may be replaced.
(H08) In the second embodiment, the configuration of L1> L2 has been illustrated, but the configuration is not limited thereto. It is also possible to satisfy L1 ≦ L2 according to the amount of protrusion 23a biting into the toner seal 17, the force received by the toner seal 17, the strength of the toner seal 17, and the like.

1,11 ... rotating part,
17 ... Leakage prevention member,
18 ... suppression part,
21 ... discharge part,
28 ... discharge port,
G: Developing device,
PR: Image carrier,
TC: Toner container,
U: Image forming apparatus,
U1... Main body of the image forming apparatus.

Claims (4)

A toner container that is detachably supported with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus,
A rotating part that rotates when toner is contained and driving is transmitted from the main body of the image forming apparatus;
A discharge unit that rotatably supports the rotating unit and has a discharge port through which toner is discharged;
A leakage preventing member that is disposed at a boundary between the rotating portion and the discharging portion and prevents leakage of toner;
A suppression unit that is disposed on the rotary shaft side in the radial direction with respect to the leakage prevention member, and suppresses inflow of toner to the leakage prevention member side;
And a toner container. The suppressing portion protruding in the axial direction from the leakage preventing member;
The toner container according to claim 1, further comprising: The leakage preventing member supported by the rotating part;
A contact portion provided in the discharge portion and in contact with the leakage preventing member;
The suppression part provided in the discharge part;
With
The thickness of the leakage preventing member is thinner than the distance between the end of the suppressing portion on the rotating portion side and the end of the contact portion on the rotating portion side,
The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the toner container is a toner container. An image carrier,
A developing device that develops the latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier into a visible image;
The toner container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein toner to be supplied to the developing device is stored.
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images