JP2018063279A - Container attachment structure and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container attachment structure that, compared with a configuration where a developing part and a container respectively attached to an apparatus body are directly connected to each other, reduces interference between the developing part and container when the container is attached to the apparatus body, and an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A container attachment structure comprises: a developing part 30 that can be attached/removed to/from an apparatus body and is formed with an introduction port 38 for supplying or discharging a developer containing toner; a toner container 40 that can be attached/removed to/from the apparatus body and is formed with a lead-out port 42B connected to the introduction port 38 when the toner container is connected to the developing part; and a connection member 80 that covers the periphery of the introduction port 38, and slides in a direction intersecting with a direction to attach the toner container 40 to the apparatus body to connect the introduction port 38 and the lead-out port 42B to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

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

  Patent Document 1 discloses a developing device in which an opening / closing lever provided in a developing housing opens and closes an inner peripheral wall and a shutter when a toner cartridge is mounted on the developing housing.

JP 2008-185831 A

  The present invention provides a container mounting structure that suppresses interference between the developing unit and the container when the container is mounted on the apparatus main body, as compared to a configuration in which the developing unit and the container that are respectively mounted on the apparatus main body are directly connected. And an image forming apparatus.

  The container mounting structure according to claim 1 is attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body, and has a developing portion formed with a moving port for supplying or discharging a developer containing toner, and attached to the apparatus main body. A container that is detachable and has an opening that is connected to the moving port when connected to the developing unit, and an intersection of the container mounting direction with respect to the apparatus main body that covers the periphery of the moving port. A connecting portion that slides in a direction and connects the moving port and the opening.

  The container mounting structure according to claim 2 is the container mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the container includes a cover that covers the opening so as to be openable and closable, and a fixing unit that fixes the cover. The connection portion includes a release portion that releases the fixing of the cover portion by the fixing portion in conjunction with the operation of attaching the container to the apparatus main body.

  The container attachment structure according to claim 3 is the container attachment structure according to claim 2, wherein the release portion is formed at a rear end of the attachment direction, and the release portion is connected to the release portion in the intersecting direction. A support portion for supporting the cover portion is provided.

  The container mounting structure according to claim 4 is the container mounting structure according to claim 3, wherein a concave portion formed at the rear in the mounting direction with respect to the connection portion in the developing portion, and the support portion. And a passage opening that is formed and communicates with the recess.

  The container attachment structure according to claim 5 is the container attachment structure according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, or claim 4, wherein the connection portion is connected to the apparatus main body from the apparatus main body. A contact portion that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the opening when removed and scrapes off the developer attached to the outer peripheral surface is provided.

  An image forming apparatus for a container according to claim 6 is the container mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the image forming apparatus is formed on the apparatus main body, the developing unit is attached, and the container is A guide portion for guiding in the mounting direction is provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the container mounting structure according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a developing unit and a container that are attached to the apparatus main body, as compared with a configuration in which the developing unit and the container that are respectively attached to the apparatus main body are directly connected. Interference can be suppressed.

  The container mounting structure according to claim 2 can release the fixing of the cover portion by the fixing portion in conjunction with the operation of mounting the container to the apparatus main body.

  The container mounting structure according to claim 3 can accurately position the cover with respect to the connecting portion as compared with a configuration in which the support portion and the release portion are not located on the same side with respect to the cover portion.

  According to the container attachment structure of the fourth aspect, the developer that falls when the container is removed from the apparatus main body can be stored.

  The container mounting structure according to claim 5 can suppress the scattering of the developer when the container is detached from the apparatus main body and the cover portion is closed, as compared with a configuration in which the contact portion is not provided.

  In the image forming apparatus for a container according to the sixth aspect, the image forming apparatus can be downsized as compared with a configuration in which a guide for attaching the container is provided in the developing unit.

It is a front view explaining the image forming apparatus of this Embodiment. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a developing unit and a toner container according to the present embodiment. It is a perspective view explaining the connection member of this Embodiment. It is a BB sectional view (B) in the top views (A) and (A) showing the state where the connecting member of this embodiment was attached to the development part. It is front sectional drawing which shows the initial state of this Embodiment. It is front sectional drawing which shows the cancellation | release state of this Embodiment. It is front sectional drawing which shows the connection state of this Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a relationship between a toner shutter and a connection member according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a plan cross-sectional view illustrating a relationship between a toner shutter and an outer edge portion of the present embodiment.

  Hereinafter, when the image forming apparatus 10 in the present embodiment is described, the description will be made using a direction based on the image forming apparatus 10. That is, the width direction of the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is the X direction, the height direction is the Y direction, and the depth direction is the Z direction. Here, “width direction” is an example of “attachment direction”, and “height direction” is an example of “crossing direction”. When it is necessary to distinguish one side and the other side in the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction, the right side of the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is the + X side, the left side is the −X side, and the upper side is the + Y side. The lower side is described as -Y side, the front side is described as + Z side, and the rear side is described as -Z side. Here, the attaching direction when the developing unit 30 and the toner container 40 described later are attached to the guide unit 13 described later indicates the “−X side”. In this embodiment, the recording paper P is employed as an example of the transfer target, and the upstream side in the transport direction of the recording paper P is simply referred to as “upstream side”, and the downstream side in the transport direction is simply referred to as “downstream side”.

<Overall configuration>
First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes at least an apparatus main body 11, a developing unit 30 attached in the apparatus main body 11, and a toner container 40. The developing unit 30 and the toner container 40 are arranged to be attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body 11.

  Near the lower end (−Y side end) in the apparatus main body 11, a paper feed unit 12 in which the recording paper P is stored is disposed. On the downstream side of the paper feeding unit 12, a feed roll 14 for feeding the recording paper P is disposed. Further, on the downstream side of the delivery roll 14, a transport roll 16 configured by a pair of rolls that transport the recording paper P and a pair of rolls that match the transport timing of the recording paper P transported by the transport roll 16 are configured. A positioning roll 18 is disposed. The paper conveyance path 15 in the present embodiment is formed including those described above.

  Further, on the downstream side of the alignment roll 18, the photosensitive unit 20 having the photosensitive member 25 and toner are accommodated, and toner as a developer is applied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member 25. A developing unit 30 that performs development and a cylindrical toner container 40 for supplying toner to the developing unit 30 are disposed. Here, the “toner container 40” is an example of a “container”.

  A transfer roll 50 that electrostatically transfers the toner image on the photosensitive member 25 onto the recording paper P is disposed below the photosensitive unit 20 (on the −Y side). Further, a fixing unit 60 for fixing the toner image transferred onto the recording paper P to the recording paper P is disposed on the downstream side of the photosensitive portion 20. A discharge roll 70 composed of a pair of rolls is disposed downstream of the fixing unit 60.

<Main part configuration>
Next, the main configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the developing unit 30 and the toner container 40 are attached to a guide unit 13 that is a part of the apparatus main body 11 disposed in the apparatus main body 11 so as to face the Z direction. A connecting member 80 that slides in the Y direction when the toner container 40 is connected to the developing unit 30 is attached to the end of the developing unit 30 on the −Z side and the rear side in the mounting direction (−X side). It has been. Here, the “connection member 80” is an example of the “connection portion”.

  Further, a state in which a part of the toner container 40 has reached the rear end of the mounting direction (−X side) of the developing unit 30 is referred to as an “initial state”, and a claw part 83A of the connecting member 80 described later is used to describe the toner container 40 described later. A state in which the toner shutter 46 is released is referred to as a “released state”, and a state in which the toner container 40 is connected to the developing unit 30 via the connection member 80 is referred to as a “connected state”. Here, the “connection” refers to the supply of toner between the toner container 40 and the developing unit 30 such that a later-described outlet 42B of the toner container 40 and an inlet 38 described later of the developing unit 30 correspond to the Y direction. Or it means enabling discharge.

(Guide part 13)
As shown in FIG. 2, the guide portion 13 is a plate-like member having a length in the X direction, a short length in the Y direction, and a thickness in the Z direction. Here, the “guide unit 13” is an example of a “guide unit”. Further, when a line extending through the center in the Z direction of the developing unit 30 and the toner container 40 in the X direction is an imaginary line a (a dashed line in FIG. 2), the guide units 13 are substantially line symmetric with respect to the imaginary line a ( Common) shape and arrangement. Here, the common part of the guide part 13 disposed on the + Z side with respect to the virtual line a and the guide part 13 disposed on the −Z side is referred to as the guide part 13 disposed on the + Z side with respect to the virtual line a. To explain.

  A guide groove 13A is formed in the guide portion 13 from the rear end in the mounting direction (−X side) toward the front in the mounting direction (−X side). The length of the guide groove 13A in the X direction is from the rear end in the mounting direction (−X side) of the guide portion 13 to the vicinity of the rear side in the mounting direction (−X side) of the developing unit 30. Further, the length in the Y direction of the guide groove 13A is formed to be slightly longer than the length in the Y direction of a guided portion 42A of the toner container 40 described later. The guide groove 13A guides the toner container 40 along the X direction.

(Developer 30)
FIG. 5 is a front sectional view showing a state before the toner container 40 is in the initial state and connected to the developing unit 30. As shown in FIG. 5, an introduction port 38 for supplying toner from the toner container 40 to the developing unit 30 is formed on the rear side in the mounting direction (−X side) of the developing unit 30. The toner supplied into the developing unit 30 through the introduction port 38 is transported forward in the attachment direction (−X side) by the transporting member 90 disposed in the developing unit 30. Here, the “introducing port 38” is an example of a “moving port”.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a stop portion 32 to which the connection member 80 is hooked is formed on the rear side in the mounting direction (−X side) of the developing portion 30. The stopper 32 is a protrusion that prevents the connection member 80 from being detached from the developing unit 30.

  Further, a reservoir 34 that is recessed downward (−Y side) is formed on the developing unit 30 on the rear side in the mounting direction (−X side) from the stopper 32. The reservoir 34 communicates in the Y direction with a later-described drop opening 85 </ b> C formed on the connection member 80 on the rear side in the attachment direction (−X side). The reservoir 34 stores toner dropped when the toner container 40 is removed from the apparatus main body 11. Here, the “reservoir 34” is an example of a “recess”.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, in the developing unit 30, the toner shutter 46, which will be described later, is attached in the release state and the connected state (−) on the rear side in the attachment direction (−X side) from the reservoir 34. A restricting portion 36 that restricts rearward movement on the X side) is formed. As shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the restricting portion 36 is cantilevered so that the front side in the mounting direction (−X side) is supported by the developing portion 30. Here, the developing unit 30 including the regulating unit 36 is made of resin. Therefore, the restricting portion 36 can bend downward (-Y side) in the rear side in the mounting direction (-X side) by the pressing force from above (+ Y side). The rear end of the mounting direction (−X side) of the restricting portion 36 is a convex slope that is convex upward (+ Y side) when viewed from the Z direction. When the toner shutter 46 comes into contact with the rear side, the regulating portion 36 is bent downward (−Y side) by the pressing force of the toner shutter 46. Further, when a container main body 42 of the toner container 40 described later comes into contact with the front side in the mounting direction (−X side) of the convex slope, the regulating portion 36 bends downward (−Y side) by the pressing force of the container main body 42. Here, when the toner shutter 46 or the container main body 42 passes the convex slope of the restricting portion 36, the convex slope returns to the upper side (+ Y side) due to its elastic action. The convex slope of the restricting portion 36 after the toner shutter 46 has passed is located behind the toner shutter 46 in the attachment direction (−X side) and moved backward in the attachment direction (−X side) of the toner shutter 46. To regulate.

  The developing unit 30 is attached to the guide unit 13 when the user inserts the developing unit 30 from the rear in the mounting direction (−X side) toward the front in the mounting direction (−X side). Further, the developing unit 30 is detached from the guide unit 13 when the user pulls the apparatus main body 11 from the front in the mounting direction (−X side) toward the rear in the mounting direction (−X side).

(Connection member 80)
As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting member 80 includes a body portion 81, a side portion 82, an extending portion 83, a curved portion 84, a sandwiching portion 85, a scraping member 86, a shutter 87, and a receiving portion 88. A spring 89 and an elastic member 100. Here, the “connection member 80” is an example of the “connection portion”. Further, when a line passing through the center in the Z direction of the connecting member 80 and extending in the X direction is an imaginary line b (one-dot chain line in FIG. 3), the side part 82, the extension part 83, and the curved part 84 are respectively connected to the imaginary line b. The shape and arrangement are symmetrical to each other. For this reason, the side part 82, the extension part 83, and the curved part 84 arranged on the + Z side with respect to the virtual line b will be described, and the side part 82 arranged on the −Z side with respect to the virtual line b, the extension Description of the part 83 and the music part 84 is omitted. In FIG. 3, the shutter 87 is opened, but the toner container 40 is omitted to show the structure of the connecting member 80.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the body 81 is a plate-like member having a length in the X direction, a short length in the Z direction, and a thickness in the Y direction. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the trunk portion 81 covers the periphery of the introduction port 38 from above (+ Y side).

  In addition, a supply port 81 </ b> A that supplies toner supplied from the toner container 40 into the developing unit 30 is formed in a portion corresponding to the introduction port 38 in the body portion 81. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the supply port 81 </ b> A communicates with the introduction port 38 positioned below (−Y side) the supply port 81 </ b> A in the Y direction. Further, in the connected state shown in FIG. 7, the supply port 81A has a lead-out port 42B of a toner container 40 described later positioned above (+ Y side) the supply port 81A and communicates in the Y direction. Thereby, in the connected state, the supply port 81A, the outlet port 42B, and the inlet port 38 communicate with each other in the Y direction, and the inlet port 38 and the outlet port 42B are connected.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the side portion 82 is a plate-like member having a length in the X direction, a short length in the Y direction, and a thickness in the Z direction, and is disposed at the end portion of the body portion 81 on the + Z side. .

  On the outer surface of the side portion 82 (the surface on the + Z side), a hook portion 82A having a rectangular frame shape as viewed from the Z direction is formed. The hook portion 82A has a base portion projecting from the outer surface (+ Z side surface) of the side portion 82 to the + Z side, and a surface connected to the base portion and facing the outer surface (+ Z side surface) of the side portion 82. And a section. A hook port 82B is formed at the center of the hook portion 82A in the X direction. The connecting member 80 is attached to the developing unit 30 so as to be slidable in the Y direction by the stopper 32 being hooked on the hook 82B.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the extending portion 83 extends from the rear upper surface (+ Y side surface) in the attachment direction (−X side) of the side portion 82 to the inner side in the lateral direction (−Z side) of the body portion 81. It is the plate-shaped member extended toward. Here, in the connection member 80, a shutter 87 and a container main body of a toner container 40 to be described later are disposed between the upper surface (+ Y side surface) of the body portion 81 and the lower surface (−Y side surface) of the extending portion 83. A guide groove 81 </ b> B that guides movement with respect to 42 is formed.

  Further, a claw portion 83A having a tapered shape is formed at the rear end of the extension portion 83 in the attachment direction (−X side) as viewed from the Y direction toward the rear end of the connection member 80 in the attachment direction (−X side). Has been. As shown in FIG. 3, the claw portion 83 </ b> A is formed at the rear end of the connection member 80 in the mounting direction (−X side). The claw portion 83A is a plate-like member having a thickness in the Y direction, and its outer surface (+ Z side surface) is capable of contacting a collar portion 46D described later.

  The inner surface (the surface on the −Z side) of the claw portion 83A is continuous with the inner surface (the surface on the −Z side) of the extension portion 83 on the rear side in the mounting direction (the −X side). Therefore, when viewed from the Y direction, the claw portion 83A has a tapered shape in which the outer surface (+ Z side surface) faces the inner surface (−Z side surface). Here, the “claw part 83A” is an example of a “release part”. Then, the claw portion 83 </ b> A releases the fixation of the toner shutter 46 described later by the outer edge portion 44 described later in conjunction with the attaching operation of the toner container 40 to the apparatus main body 11.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the curved portion 84 is a plate-like member that curves downward (−Y side) and rearward in the attachment direction (−X side) from the front end in the attachment direction (−X side) of the claw portion 83 </ b> A. It is. Further, a sandwiching portion 85 is disposed between the lower ends (ends on the −Y side) of the curved portion 84.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the sandwiching portion 85 is disposed in the connection member 80 so as to face the rear end of the attachment direction (−X side) of the claw portion 83 </ b> A in the Y direction. The sandwiching portion 85 includes a plate portion 85A having a length in the Z direction, a short length in the X direction, and a thickness in the Y direction, and a rib 85B disposed on the upper surface (the surface on the + Y side) of the plate portion 85A. ing. In addition, a drop port 85C is formed in the sandwiching portion 85 so as to surround the plate portion 85A, the curved portion 84, and the trunk portion 81. Here, the “pinching portion 85” is an example of a “supporting portion”.

  The rib 85B has an inclined surface that extends from the upper surface (surface on the + Y side) to the upper side (+ Y side) and the front in the attachment direction (−X side) of the plate portion 85A, and is formed in a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the Z direction. Yes. When the toner container 40 is attached to the apparatus main body 11, the rib 85 </ b> B guides a toner shutter 46 described later upward (+ Y side) and forward in the attachment direction (−X side).

  As shown in FIG. 4B and FIGS. 5 to 7, the drop opening 85 </ b> C is a hole that communicates with the reservoir 34 in the Y direction. Here, “falling port 85C” is an example of “passing port”.

  The scraping member 86 is disposed on the rear end surface of the body 81 in the attachment direction (−X side), and is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having the Z direction as the long side, the X direction as the short side (thickness), and the height in the Y direction. Has been. The upper surface (+ Y side surface) of the scraping member 86 continues to the upper surface (+ Y side surface) of the body portion 81 in the X direction. Further, the scraping member 86 is made of urethane in the present embodiment. When the toner container 40 is mounted in the apparatus main body 11, the scraping member 86 has a rear end surface in the mounting direction (−X side) of the toner shutter 46, which will be described later, in the mounting direction (−X side). It is supposed to be in contact with the surface. Further, when the toner container 40 is removed from the apparatus main body 11, the upper surface (+ Y side surface) of the scraping member 86 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the outlet port 42B described later. As a result, the scraping member 86 can scrape off the toner adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the outlet port 42B when the toner container 40 is removed from the inside of the apparatus main body 11. Here, the “wearing member 86” is an example of a “contact portion”.

  The shutter 87 includes a shutter plate 87A and a covering portion 87B. The shutter plate 87A is a plate-like member that opens and closes the supply port 81A, and is movable along the guide groove 81B. The shutter plate 87A moves forward in the mounting direction (−X side) when the spring 89 is compressed by the pressing force of the container main body 42, and is released from the pressing force of the container main body 42 in the mounting direction (− Move to the rear of the X side). The covering portion 87B extends from the shutter plate 87A upward (+ Y side) and forward in the attachment direction (−X side), and covers the spring 89 from above (+ Y side). The covering portion 87B is formed with a spring protrusion 89B that protrudes forward in the attachment direction (−X side).

  The receiving portion 88 is a plate-like member that extends upward (+ Y side) and forward in the attachment direction (−X side) from the front end in the attachment direction (−X side) of the body portion 81. The receiving portion 88 is formed with a spring protrusion 89A that protrudes rearward in the attachment direction (−X side).

  One end (−X side end) of the spring 89 is accommodated in the spring projection 89A, and the other end (+ X side end) is accommodated in the spring projection 89B. That is, one end (end on the −X side) of the spring 89 is accommodated in the shutter 87 that is movable in the X direction in the connecting member 80, and the other end (end on the + X side) is fixed at a fixed position in the connecting member 80. The receiving portion 88 is accommodated. As a result, the spring 89 generates a compressive force that moves the shutter 87 backward in the attachment direction (−X side) at the connection member 80. The spring 89 in the present embodiment is a compression coil spring.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the elastic member 100 is disposed on the upper surface (+ Y side surface) of a plate-like support plate 38 </ b> A extending so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the introduction port 38. As shown in FIG. 4A, the elastic member 100 is formed in a rectangular frame shape as viewed from the Y direction, and surrounds the supply port 81A. Moreover, the elastic member 100 is made of urethane in the present embodiment. Therefore, the elastic member 100 can be elastically deformed in the Y direction by being compressed between the body portion 81 and the support plate 38A. The elastic member 100 floats the connecting member 80 with respect to the developing unit 30 in the initial state.

(Toner container 40)
As shown in FIGS. 2, 5 to 7, and 9, the toner container 40 includes a container body 42, an outer edge portion 44, and a toner shutter 46.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the container main body 42 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and toner is accommodated therein. Further, at both ends of the container main body 42 in the axial direction (Z direction), guided portions 42A that protrude toward the outside in the axial direction (Z direction) are formed.

  Here, each of the guided portions 42A has a substantially line-symmetric (common) shape and arrangement with respect to the virtual line a. Here, the common part of the guided portion 42A disposed on the + Z side with respect to the imaginary line a and the guided portion 42A disposed on the −Z side is set to the covered portion disposed on the + Z side with respect to the imaginary line a. A description will be given using the guide portion 42A.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the guided portion 42A protrudes outward (+ Z side) from one end (+ Z side end) in the axial direction (Z direction) of the container body 42, and its protruding length (Z The length in the direction) is longer than the thickness of the guide portion 13 (the length in the Z direction). The length of the guided portion 42A in the Y direction is slightly shorter than the length of the guide groove 13A in the Y direction. That is, the guided portion 42A is movable in the X direction along the guide groove 13A.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the container main body 42 is formed with a lead-out port 42B that is connected to the introduction port 38 by the supply port 81A in the connected state. The outlet 42B is a hole for supplying toner supplied from the container body 42 into the developing unit 30 by communicating with the supply port 81A and the inlet 38 in the Y direction in the connected state. Here, the “outlet 42B” is an example of an “opening”.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the toner shutter 46 covers the outlet 42B so as to be openable and closable. As shown in FIG. 8, the toner shutter 46 includes a main body portion 46A, a wrapping portion 46B, and a movable portion 46C. Here, the “toner shutter 46” is an example of a “cover”.

  The main body 46A is a plate-like member having the X direction as a long side, the Z direction as a short side, and a thickness in the Y direction. In the initial state shown in FIG. 9A, the main body portion 46A shields the outlet 42B from below (−Y side) and closes the outlet 42B. On the other hand, the main body 46A opens the outlet 42B in the connected state shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the wrapping portion 46B extends upward (+ Y side) from both ends in the short direction (Z direction) on the upper surface (+ Y side surface) of the main body 46A, and its upper surface (+ Y side surface). Is a plate-like member extending in the short side direction (Z direction inner side) of the main body 46A. Here, if a line passing through the center of the toner shutter 46 and the connecting member 80 in the Z direction and extending in the X direction is an imaginary line c (one-dot chain line in FIG. 8), each of the wrapping portions 46B is symmetrical with respect to the imaginary line c. The shape and arrangement. For this reason, the wrapping part 46B disposed on the −Z side with respect to the virtual line c will be described, and the description of the wrapping part 46B disposed on the + Z side with respect to the virtual line c will be omitted.

  Here, a movable portion 46C extending forward from the attachment direction (−X side) from the approximate center in the X direction in the wrapping portion 46B and having a height in the Y direction is formed. Here, each of the movable portions 46 </ b> C has a shape and arrangement that is line-symmetric with respect to the virtual line c. Therefore, the movable part 46C disposed on the −Z side with respect to the virtual line c will be described, and the description of the movable part 46C disposed on the + Z side with respect to the virtual line c will be omitted.

  The toner shutter 46 including the movable portion 46C is made of resin. The upper portion (the + Y side portion) of the movable portion 46C protrudes upward (+ Y side) from the upper end (+ Y side end) of the wrapping portion 46B. Further, the lower portion (the −Y side portion) of the movable portion 46C is positioned above (+ Y side) the upper surface (+ Y side surface) of the main body portion 46A. The movable portion 46C is fixed to the wrapping portion 46B so that it can spread outward (−Z side) with respect to the main body portion 46A.

  In addition, the front end of the mounting direction (−X side) of the movable part 46C faces the + Z side, and a hook part 46D is formed that extends the movable part 46C to the −Z side by contacting the claw part 83A. In the initial state, the flange portion 46D is positioned in front of the locking projection 44A of the outer edge portion 44, which will be described later, in the mounting direction (-X side), and its lower portion (the portion on the -Y side) is locked, which will be described later. It is caught on the protrusion 44A. On the other hand, in the released state, the upper portion (the + Y side portion) of the collar portion 46D comes into contact with the claw portion 83A and spreads along the outer surface (the −Z side surface) of the claw portion 83A. For this reason, in the released state, the claw portion 46D is disengaged from the locking protrusion 44A described later by expanding the movable portion 46C to the −Z side.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the outer edge portion 44 is provided at the lower end (−Y side end) of the container main body 42 so as to surround the opening end of the outlet port 42 </ b> B and is in contact with the toner shutter 46. The length of the outer edge portion 44 in the Z direction is equal to or shorter than the length of the main body portion 46A in the short direction (Z direction).

  Further, on the + Z side and −Z side surfaces of the outer edge portion 44, locking protrusions 44A protruding outward are formed. In the initial state shown in FIG. 9A, the locking protrusion 44A is hooked on the lower portion (−Y side) of the flange portion 46D. Therefore, in the initial state, the locking protrusion 44A is hooked on the flange 46D, thereby fixing the toner shutter 46 and maintaining the state where the main body 46A closes the outlet 42B. Here, the “locking protrusion 44A” is an example of the “fixing portion”.

(Installation process)
Next, an installation process until the toner container 40 of the present embodiment is installed in the apparatus main body 11 will be described. The attachment process of the present embodiment includes a first process and a second process described below. As a premise below, it is assumed that the developing unit 30 is previously installed in the apparatus main body 11. Further, in the following attachment process, the attachment process in the configuration on the −Z side with respect to the imaginary line c shown in FIG. 8 and the imaginary line d shown in FIG. 9 will be described, and the imaginary line c and FIG. 9 shown in FIG. A description of the attachment process in the configuration on the + Z side with respect to the virtual line d shown is omitted.

(First step)
The first stroke is a stroke until the user reaches the release state by inserting the toner container 40 forward of the attachment direction (−X side) with respect to the apparatus main body 11. At this time, FIG. 8 is a plan view for explaining the relationship between the toner shutter 46 and the connecting member 80 of the present embodiment.

  In the first step, first, the user opens a cover of the image forming apparatus 10 (not shown), and the toner container 40 is moved from the rear in the mounting direction (−X side) to the front in the mounting direction (−X side) with respect to the apparatus main body 11. Insert it. Then, the toner container 40 is guided by the guide groove 13A and moves forward in the mounting direction (−X side) to reach the initial state shown in FIGS. 5 and 8A. When the initial state is reached, as shown in FIG. 5, the toner shutter 46 comes into contact with the rear side in the mounting direction (−X side) of the convex slope of the restricting portion 36, and the toner shutter 46 is controlled by the pressing force of the toner shutter 46. The portion 36 is bent downward (−Y side).

Next, when the user inserts the toner container 40 from the initial state in the attachment direction (−X side) with respect to the apparatus main body 11, as shown in FIG. 8B, the attachment direction (−X Side) front end surface and the rear end surface of the scraping member 86 in the mounting direction (−X side) come into contact with each other. At this time, the scraping member 86 is compressed forward in the attachment direction (−X side) as compared with the initial state by the pressing force of the main body portion 46A.
Further, when the scraping member 86 is compressed forward in the mounting direction (−X side) compared to the initial state, as shown in FIG. 8B, the upper portion of the flange portion 46 </ b> D (the + Y side portion) ) Is in contact with the outer surface (surface on the −Z side) of the claw portion 83A. At this time, when the upper portion (the + Y side portion) of the collar portion 46D and the outer surface (the −Z side surface) of the claw portion 83A contact each other, the height of the toner shutter 46 relative to the connection member 80 is adjusted by the rib 85B. Has been. Specifically, the rib 85B guides the position of the toner shutter 46 relative to the connection member 80 by guiding the main body 46A along the inclined surface upward (+ Y side) and forward in the attachment direction (−X side). It is adjusted. The rib 85B has a position corresponding to the claw portion 83A by positioning the toner shutter 46 between the upper surface (+ Y side surface) and the lower surface (−Y side surface) of the claw portion 83A. I will guide you to.

  When the user inserts the toner container 40 forward of the attachment direction (−X side) with respect to the apparatus main body 11 from the contact state between the collar portion 46D and the outer surface (surface on the −Z side) of the claw portion 83A, FIG. The release state shown in FIG. The scraping member 86 in the released state is further compressed forward in the mounting direction (−X side) from the contact state between the flange portion 46D and the outer surface (−Z side surface) of the claw portion 83A by the pressing force of the main body portion 46A. Has been. As described above, the rear end surface of the wear-off member 86 in the attachment direction (−X side) and the front end surface of the main body portion 46A in the attachment direction (−X side) are in contact with each other. Is sealed. When the release state is reached from the initial state, as shown in FIG. 6, the toner container 40 passes through the convex slope of the restricting portion 36, so that the convex portion of the restricting portion 36 released from the pressing force by the toner shutter 46. The slope is returned upward (+ Y side) by its elastic action. As a result, the convex slope of the restricting portion 36 located behind the toner shutter 46 in the attachment direction (−X side) is in the X direction between the rubbing member 86 and the rear end surface in the attachment direction (−X side). 46 is sandwiched, and the backward movement in the mounting direction (−X side) is restricted.

  In the released state, the fixing of the outer edge portion 44 and the toner shutter 46 is released as follows. At this time, FIG. 9 is a plan view for explaining the relationship between the toner shutter 46 and the outer edge portion 44 of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, in the initial state, the flange portion 46D is hooked on the locking projection 44A. Therefore, in the state before reaching the release state, even when the user touches the toner shutter 46, the locking projection 44A comes into contact with the lower portion (the portion on the −Y side) of the flange portion 46D and the movement is restricted. Therefore, the outlet 42B does not open.

  As shown in FIG. 9B, in the released state, the flange portion 46D spreads along the outer surface (the surface on the −Z side) of the claw portion 83A, so that the movable portion 46C expands to the −Z side. Thus, the flange portion 46D is located on the −Z side with respect to the locking projection 44A. Therefore, in the released state, the hook 46D is not hooked on the locking protrusion 44A, and the locking protrusion 44A is moved forward of the mounting direction (-X side) of the container body 42 when the container main body 42 is moved forward. The movement is not restricted by contacting the lower part (the part on the -Y side). This is the first step so far.

(2nd process)
The second process is a process from the released state to the connected state. The second stroke is performed continuously with the first stroke.

  In the second step, the user inserts the toner container 40 forward from the release state with respect to the apparatus main body 11 in the attachment direction (−X side). Then, as shown in FIG. 9C, the container main body 42 moves to the front in the attachment direction (−X side) from the toner shutter 46 which has been fixed to the outer edge portion 44 in the first stroke.

  At this time, the connecting member 80 moves downward (-Y side) against the elastic force of the elastic member 100 by moving the container body 42 forward along the guide groove 81B in the attaching direction (-X side). Slide. Thereby, the container main body 42 can be moved forward in the attachment direction (−X side) while maintaining the state in which the upper surface (the surface on the + Y side) of the body 81 is in contact with the container main body 42. Therefore, the container main body 42 can be attached to the connecting member 80 while the upper surface (the surface on the + Y side) of the body portion 81 covers the outlet port 42B from below (the −Y side).

  When the container body 42 is attached to the connection member 80, the shutter plate 87A covering the supply port 81A from above (+ Y side) is pushed forward in the attachment direction (−X side), and the attachment direction (−X side). Move forward. As shown in FIG. 7, the container main body 42 moved from the released state to the front in the attachment direction (−X side) is positioned in the Y direction with the outlet 42B positioned above (+ Y side) the supply port 81A. Connected through. The process so far is the second process. Further, when the container main body 42 reaches the second stroke, the container main body 42 is fixed to the apparatus main body 11 by a locking means (not shown) formed in the apparatus main body 11.

(Removal process)
Next, a removal process until the toner container 40 of the present embodiment is removed from the inside of the apparatus main body 11 will be described.
In the removal process, the user pulls the container main body 42 rearward in the attachment direction (−X side) with respect to the apparatus main body 11, thereby releasing the fixation of the container main body 42 by a lock means (not shown), and the container main body 42 is guided. It is guided by the groove 13A and moves in the opposite direction to the attachment process.

  First, when the user pulls the container main body 42 from the connected state to the rear of the apparatus main body 11 in the attachment direction (−X side), the container main body 42 is guided by the guide groove 13A and rearward in the attachment direction (−X side). To move to the initial state. Specifically, the main body 46A closes the outlet 42B as the container main body 42 moves rearward in the attachment direction (−X side) and the hook 46D is caught by the locking protrusion 44A. Then, the container main body 42 contacts the front side in the mounting direction (−X side) of the convex slope of the restricting portion 36 and the convex slope of the restricting portion 36 bends downward (−Y side). It is guided by the guide groove 13A and moves rearward in the mounting direction (−X side) to move to the initial state.

  Here, the container main body 42 moves from the connected state to the initial state while bringing the outer peripheral surface of the outlet 42B into contact with the upper surface (the surface on the + Y side) of the scraping member 86. As a result, when shifting from the connected state to the initial state, the toner adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the outlet port 42B is scraped off by the upper surface (+ Y side surface) of the scraping member 86. At this time, the toner scraped off by the scraping member 86 is temporarily stored on the rear side in the attaching direction (−X side) of the body portion 81.

  Further, when moving from the connected state to the initial state, the spring 89 compressed between the spring projection 89A and the spring projection 89B is released from the pressing force by the container body 42, and the shutter 87 is attached to the connection member 80. Move backward in the direction (-X side). Since the shutter 87 has moved to the rear side in the attachment direction (−X side) of the connecting member 80, the supply port 81A is covered with the shutter plate 87A and at the rear side in the attachment direction (−X side) of the body portion 81. The temporarily stored toner is pushed backward in the attachment direction (−X side). As a result, the toner pushed out to the shutter plate 87A falls to the reservoir 34 through the drop port 85C, and the dropped toner is stored in the reservoir 34.

  When the user pulls the toner container 40 from the initial state to the rear side in the attachment direction (−X side) with respect to the apparatus main body 11, the toner container 40 is guided by the guide groove 13 </ b> A and rearward in the attachment direction (−X side). To move away from the guide groove 13A. Thereafter, when the user removes the toner container 40 that has been removed from the guide groove 13A from the inside of the apparatus main body 11, the removal process is completed.

<Effect>
Since the present embodiment is configured as described above, the following effects are obtained.
In the present embodiment, the developing unit 30 and the toner container 40 are each attached to a guide unit 13 disposed in the apparatus main body 11, and the toner container 40 is connected via a connecting member 80 that is slidable in the Y direction. The developing unit 30 is connected.

  On the other hand, in the configuration in which the developing unit 30 and the toner container 40 are directly connected to the guide unit 13, when the toner container 40 is attached to the guide unit 13, the developing unit 30 and the toner unit 40 are connected to the guide unit 13. Interference with the toner container 40 is likely to occur. That is, in the configuration in which the developing unit 30 and the toner container 40 are directly connected to the guide unit 13, there is a tolerance between the developing unit 30 and the guide unit 13 and a tolerance between the toner container 40 and the guide unit 13. When the toner container 40 is attached to the guide unit 13, the toner container 40 easily interferes with the developing unit 30.

  At this time, according to the present embodiment, when the toner container 40 is attached to the guide portion 13, the connecting member 80 slides in the Y direction, so that the tolerance of the developing portion 30 and the toner container 40 with respect to the guide portion 13 is determined. Can be absorbed. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, as compared with the configuration in which the developing unit 30 and the toner container 40 are directly connected to the guide unit 13, the developing unit 30 when the toner container 40 is attached in the apparatus main body 11 Interference with the toner container 40 can be suppressed.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, in conjunction with the process of attaching the toner container 40 in the apparatus main body 11, the fixing of the toner shutter 46 by the locking projection 44A can be released by the claw portion 83A.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the rib 85B of the sandwiching portion 85 guides the main body portion 46A to the + Y side and the −X side along the inclined surface, so that the sandwiching portion 85 and the claw portion 83A are in contact with the toner shutter. Compared to a configuration that is not located on the same side (+ X side) with respect to 46, the toner shutter 46 can be accurately positioned with respect to the connection member 80.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the toner that falls when the toner container 40 is removed from the inside of the apparatus main body 11 is dropped into the reservoir 34 through the drop port 85C, whereby the dropped toner is stored in the reservoir 34. be able to.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the toner container 40 is removed from the inside of the apparatus main body 11, the upper surface (the surface on the + Y side) of the scraping member 86 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the outlet port 42B. The toner adhering to the outer peripheral surface of 42B can be scraped off. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, as compared with a configuration in which the scraping member 86 is not provided, toner scattering when the toner container 40 is removed from the apparatus main body 11 and the toner shutter 46 is closed can be suppressed. .

  In this embodiment, the guide for attaching the developing unit 30 and the toner container 40 to the apparatus main body 11 is the guide unit 13, and a common guide is used for the developing unit 30 and the toner container 40.

  Here, when a guide for attaching the toner container 40 is provided in the developing unit 30, a guide for attaching the developing unit 30 to the inside of the apparatus main body 11 is further required. The apparatus 10 becomes large. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 can be downsized as compared with the configuration in which the guide for attaching the toner container 40 is provided in the developing unit 30.

<Others>
In the present embodiment, the toner container 40 has been described as an example of the “container”, but the example of the “container” is not limited thereto. For example, a waste toner container connected to the developing unit 30 and collecting waste toner discharged from the developing unit 30 may be an example of a “container”.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the elastic member 100 is described as being made of urethane, but the elastic member 100 is not limited to being made of urethane as long as it is made of an elastically deformable material. For example, the elastic member 100 may be made of rubber or silicon resin.

  In the present embodiment, the elastic member 100 is described as being formed in a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the Y direction, but is not limited thereto. For example, one elastic member that extends in the X direction and extends from one end in the X direction (+ X side end) to the −Z side, and extends in the X direction from the other end in the X direction (end on the −X side) Two elastic members, one elastic member extending to the + Z side, may be combined to form a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the Y direction.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the upper surface (+ Y side surface) of the scraping member 86 is described as continuing from the upper surface (+ Y side surface) of the body portion 81 in the X direction. The + Y side surface) may protrude upward (+ Y side) from the upper surface (+ Y side surface) of the body portion 81.

  Further, in the present embodiment, it has been described that the rib 85B is formed on the upper surface (+ Y side surface) of the plate portion 85A. However, the rib 85B is not formed, and the plate portion 85A and the claw portion 83A are connected. The toner shutter 46 may be positioned with respect to the member 80.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the scraping member 86 is described as being made of urethane, but the scraping member 86 is not limited to being made of urethane as long as it is made of an elastically deformable material. For example, the scraping member 86 may be made of rubber or silicon resin.

  In the present exemplary embodiment, the toner container 40 is connected to the developing unit 30 via the connection member 80. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the photosensitive unit 20 and the developing unit 30 are integrated. The toner container 40 may be connected to the unit via the connection member 80.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Apparatus main body 13 Guide part (an example of a guide part)
30 Developing section 34 Reserving section (an example of a recess)
38 Inlet (an example of a moving port)
40 Toner container (example of container) 42B Lead-out port (example of opening)
44A Locking projection (an example of a fixing part) 46 Toner shutter (an example of a cover part)
80 connection member (an example of a connection part) 83A claw part (an example of a release part)
85 Clamping portion (an example of a support portion) 85C Drop port (an example of a passage port)
86 Wearing member (example of contact part)

Claims (6)

A developing unit which is attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body and has a moving port for supplying or discharging a developer containing toner;
A container that is attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body and has an opening that is connected to the moving port when connected to the developing unit;
A container mounting structure comprising: a connection portion that covers the periphery of the moving port and slides in a direction intersecting with the mounting direction of the container with respect to the apparatus main body, and connects the moving port and the opening. The container is
A cover that covers the opening so as to be openable and closable;
A fixing part for fixing the cover part,
The connecting portion is
The container mounting structure according to claim 1, further comprising a release unit that releases the fixing of the cover by the fixing unit in conjunction with an operation of mounting the container on the apparatus main body. The release portion is formed at the rear end of the attachment direction,
The container mounting structure according to claim 2, further comprising a support portion that supports the cover portion with the release portion in the intersecting direction. A recess formed at the rear in the mounting direction with respect to the connecting portion in the developing portion;
The container mounting structure according to claim 3, further comprising a passage opening formed in the support portion and leading to the recess.   The said connection part is provided with the contact part which contacts the outer peripheral surface of the said opening when the said container is removed from the said apparatus main body, and scrapes off the said developer adhering to the said outer peripheral surface. 4. The container mounting structure according to 4. In the container mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An image forming apparatus formed in the apparatus main body, to which the developing unit is attached, and a guide unit that guides the container in the attaching direction.

Images