JP2019040104A - Developer storage container and image forming apparatus including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent, in a developer storage container including therein a movable wall for conveying developer, the developer from being excessively discharged from a developer discharge port by a cleaning member that cleans a detection surface to be a detection area of a detection sensor that detects developer.SOLUTION: A toner container 30 comprises, in an internal space of a container body 31, a movable wall 34 that moves in a first direction along a shaft part 33; and a rotating body 35 that rotates around the shaft part 33. The rotating body 35 has a cleaning unit 41 including a cleaning film 45. The cleaning film 45 is in slide contact with a toner detection surface 31B to clean the toner detection surface in association with the rotation of the rotating body 35. The cleaning film 45 has a projection piece 453 that is provided in a tip area 451 in a projecting manner and interferes with an opening peripheral part of a toner discharge port 30P. The projection piece 453 moves the tip area 451 while in slide contact with an inner peripheral surface 31A in association with the rotation of the rotating body 35, and when the tip area reaches the toner discharge port 30P, prevents the tip area 451 from being fitted into the toner discharge port 30P.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer container including a moving wall that conveys developer toward a developer discharge port, and an image forming apparatus including the developer container.

  An image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a sheet includes a photosensitive drum, a developing device, and a developer container. The developer container supplies the developer to the developing device. Patent Document 1 discloses a developer container including a moving wall that conveys the developer toward the developer discharge port. The movement of the moving wall is controlled so as to approach the developer discharge port according to consumption of the developer accommodated in the container main body of the developer accommodating container. The consumption of the developer is monitored by a developer detection sensor installed outside the container body, and the movement of the moving wall is controlled based on the sensing result of the detection sensor.

JP2015-125333A

  The detection sensor detects an internal developer through the wall surface of the container body. For this reason, it is desirable to maintain the detection surface used as the detection area of a detection sensor in the inner peripheral surface of the said container main body in a clean state. In order to clean the detection surface, a method may be considered in which a cleaning member made of a film-like elastic member is attached to a rotating member that rotates inside the container body, and the cleaning member is brought into sliding contact with the detection surface. Here, the detection surface and the developer discharge port may be arranged at different positions on the inner peripheral surface, both on the track where the cleaning member is in sliding contact. In this case, there may be a problem that the cleaning member presses the developer and excessively supplies the developer to the developing device through the developer discharge port.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an excessive amount of developer by a cleaning member for cleaning a detection surface serving as a detection area of a detection sensor for detecting a developer in a developer container having a moving wall for conveying the developer. The purpose is to prevent discharge from the developer discharge port.

  A developer container according to one aspect of the present invention is opened so as to communicate with an inner peripheral surface that defines an inner space extending in a cylindrical shape along a first direction, and the developer is discharged. A container main body including a developer discharge port; an outer peripheral surface disposed to face the inner peripheral surface of the container main body; and a storage space in which the developer is stored together with the inner peripheral surface of the container main body. A moving wall that moves in the first direction in the internal space while conveying the developer in the accommodation space toward the developer discharge port, A part of the inner peripheral surface in the storage space, which is a detection surface of a detection sensor for detecting the developer in the storage space, and is disposed in the storage space, along the first direction A rotating body rotatable around the axis of the rotating shaft, and said rotation And a cleaning member that cleans the detection surface by sliding contact with the detection surface during the rotation of the rotating body, the cleaning member is made of a film-like elastic member, and the detection surface The developer discharge port is located at a position different from the detection surface in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface, and the rotation body The tip region is opened at a position where the tip region passes during the rotation, and the tip region has an interference portion that interferes with the peripheral edge of the opening of the developer discharge port during the passage. Features.

  According to this developer container, since the detection surface is cleaned by the cleaning member, it is possible to suppress a decrease in developer detection accuracy by the detection sensor. Here, the tip region of the cleaning member passes not only the detection surface but also the arrangement position of the developer discharge port during the rotation of the rotating body. However, the tip region has an interference portion that interferes with the opening peripheral edge of the developer discharge port during the passage. For this reason, when the tip region of the cleaning member moves while being in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface with the rotation of the rotating body and reaches the developer discharge port, the tip region is located at the developer discharge port. It won't fit. That is, when the front end region passes through the developer discharge port, an operation of pressing the developer so as to repel the developer and discharging the developer from the developer discharge port is restricted. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a problem that the developer is excessively supplied to the supply target (developing apparatus) through the developer discharge port by the cleaning member.

  In the developer container, the developer discharge port is a rectangular opening, the opening peripheral edge is a peripheral edge defining a circumferential opening edge of the rectangular opening, and the cleaning member is A rectangular member having a first side portion along the first direction and a second side portion along the circumferential direction in a state of being held by the rotating body, wherein the interference portion is the second side It is desirable that the protrusion protrudes from the portion in the first direction.

  According to this developer container, when the front end region of the cleaning member passes through the developer discharge port, the projecting piece is caught on the peripheral edge that defines the opening edge of the developer discharge port. Thereby, even if the width of the cleaning member is set shorter than the width of the developer discharge port in the width in the first direction, the tip region is cantilevered by the protruding piece. Thus, the leading end region is prevented from being fitted into the developer discharge port.

  In the developer container, it is preferable that the tip region has a slit portion in which a part of the tip region is cut out.

  According to this developer container, the contact load of the tip region with respect to the inner peripheral surface can be adjusted by forming the slit portion. Therefore, the pushing force of the developer into the developer discharge port can be set within an appropriate range.

  The developer container may include a shaft portion arranged to extend in the first direction in the internal space, and the moving wall may move in the first direction along the shaft portion, and the rotating body It is preferable that the shaft portion is rotated around the axis of the shaft portion with the shaft portion as the rotation axis.

  According to this developer storage container, the moving wall can be moved along the shaft portion, so that stable movement of the moving wall in the first direction can be ensured. In addition, since the shaft portion is used as a rotating shaft of the rotating body, it is unnecessary to install a dedicated rotating shaft for the rotating body, and the structure can be simplified.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes an image carrier having a peripheral surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and development on the peripheral surface of the image carrier for developing the electrostatic latent image. A developing device for supplying the developer; the developer containing container for supplying the developer to the developing device; and a detection sensor for detecting the developer in the developer containing container.

  In the above image forming apparatus, the developing device is connected directly below the developer discharge port of the developer container, and the developer replenishment into which the replenishment developer discharged from the developer discharge port flows. A developer housing having an opening; a developer transport path set in the developer housing and transporting the developer; and the developer disposed in the developer transport path and transporting the developer in a predetermined transport direction A developer carrying container including a carrying member and a carrying ability suppressing portion that partially suppresses the carrying ability of the developer of the developer carrying member downstream of the developer supply port in the carrying direction. The interference portion is provided in the tip region of the cleaning member so as to interfere with the peripheral edge portion of the developer discharge port corresponding to the upstream side of the developer conveyance direction in the developer conveyance path. Hope Arbitrariness.

  According to this image forming apparatus, the developer tends to stay on the downstream side in the transport direction of the developer replenishing port by the transport capability suppressing portion, and the stay is less likely to occur on the upstream side in the transport direction. Therefore, the replenishment developer easily flows in the conveyance direction upstream side of the developer replenishment port. According to the said structure, the said interference part is provided in the said front-end | tip area | region of the said cleaning member so that it may interfere with the said peripheral part of the said developer discharge port corresponding to the said conveyance direction upstream. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the replenishment developer from excessively flowing from the upstream portion of the developer discharge port.

  According to the present invention, in the developer container having a moving wall for conveying the developer therein, the developer is excessively removed by the cleaning member that cleans the detection surface serving as the detection region of the detection sensor that detects the developer. It is possible to provide a developer container that is not discharged from the developer discharge port, and an image forming apparatus using the developer container.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where a part of the casing of the image forming apparatus is opened. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing the internal structure of the developing device mounted on the image forming apparatus. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where the developer is supplied to the developing device by a volume replenishment method. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a toner container (developer container) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the developing device. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the toner container. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the toner container. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus in a portion where the toner container and the toner sensor are mounted. FIG. 13A is a perspective view of a rotating body. FIG. 13B is a perspective view of the rotating body. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the rotator with the cleaning film removed. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XV-XV in FIG. 16A to 16C are plan views of the cleaning film. FIGS. 17A to 17C are schematic views showing how the cleaning film passes over the toner discharge port. FIG. 18 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the toner staying state near the toner discharge port and the pressing state of the toner by the cleaning film. FIG. 19 is a plan view showing a sliding contact state of the cleaning film. FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram for explaining the behavior of the cleaning film. FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram for explaining a specific example of the cleaning film and a specific example of attachment of the cleaning film to the holding unit. FIG. 22 is a graph showing an example of calculating the strength of the cleaning film. FIG. 23 is a graph showing experimental results of toner amount transition in the developing device.

<Overall configuration of image forming apparatus>
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a printer 100 (image forming apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a state where a part of a housing 101 of the printer 100 is opened. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the printer 100. The printer 100 shown as an example of the image forming apparatus here is a so-called monochrome printer. However, in other embodiments, the image forming apparatus is a color printer, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine having these functions, or a toner image as a sheet. Other devices for forming the substrate may be used. Note that the terms used in the following description, such as “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, “left” and “right”, are merely for the purpose of clarifying the description. There is no limitation on the principle of the image forming apparatus.

  The printer 100 includes a casing 101 that houses various apparatuses for forming an image on the sheet S. The housing 101 includes an upper wall 102 that defines the upper surface of the housing 101, a bottom wall 103 that defines the bottom surface of the housing 101, and a main body rear wall 105 erected between the upper wall 102 and the bottom wall 103. And a front cover 104 positioned in front of the main body rear wall 105. The housing 101 includes a main body internal space 106 in which various devices are arranged. A sheet conveyance path PP for conveying the sheet S in a predetermined conveyance direction is extended in the main body internal space 106.

  A paper discharge unit 102 </ b> A is disposed at the center of the upper wall 102. The paper discharge unit 102 </ b> A includes an inclined surface that is inclined downward from the front portion to the rear portion of the upper wall 102. The sheet S on which an image is formed in the image forming unit 120 described later is discharged to the paper discharge unit 102A. A manual feed tray 104 </ b> A is disposed on the front cover 104. The front side of the paper discharge unit 102A is configured by an upper cover 102B that can be opened upward. The manual feed tray 104A can be turned up and down with the lower end as a fulcrum (arrow DT in FIG. 3). When the upper cover 102B of the upper wall 102 is opened in addition to the manual feed tray 104A, the toner container 30 mounted in the main body internal space 106 is exposed as shown in FIG. 2, and the toner container 30 can be attached and detached. Become.

  The internal structure of the printer 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The printer 100 includes a paper feed cassette 110, a pickup roller 112, a first paper feed roller 113, a second paper feed roller 114, a transport roller 115, a registration roller pair 116, an image forming unit 120, and a fixing device 130.

  The paper feed cassette 110 can be pulled forward with respect to the housing 101 and accommodates the sheet S therein. The cassette 110 includes a lift plate 111 that pushes up the leading edge of the sheet S. The pickup roller 112 is disposed on the leading edge of the sheet S pushed up by the lift plate 111. When the pickup roller 112 rotates, the sheet S is pulled out from the sheet feeding cassette 110. The first paper feed roller 113 is disposed downstream of the pickup roller 112 and sends the sheet S further downstream. The second paper feed roller 114 is disposed on the inner side (rear side) of the fulcrum of the manual feed tray 104A, and draws the sheet S on the manual feed tray 104A into the housing 101.

  The transport roller 115 is disposed downstream of the first paper feed roller 113 and the second paper feed roller 114 in the sheet transport direction, and transports the sheet S further downstream. The registration roller pair 116 has a function of correcting the oblique conveyance of the sheet S. Thereby, the position of the image formed on the sheet S is adjusted. The registration roller pair 116 supplies the sheet S to the image forming unit 120 in accordance with the timing of image formation by the image forming unit 120.

  The image forming unit 120 includes a photosensitive drum 121 (image carrier), a charger 122, an exposure device 123, a developing device 20, a toner container 30 (developer container), a transfer roller 124, and a cleaning device 125.

  The photosensitive drum 121 has a peripheral surface that carries an electrostatic latent image and a toner image (developer image) corresponding to the electrostatic latent image. The charger 122 is applied with a predetermined charging bias and charges the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 substantially uniformly. The exposure device 123 scans the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 charged by the charger 122 with a laser beam modulated with image data. By this scanning, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121. The exposure device 123 is supported by a support frame disposed inside the housing 101.

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

  The transfer roller 124 forms a transfer nip portion with the photosensitive drum 121, and transfers the toner image carried on the drum peripheral surface to the sheet S. The cleaning device 125 removes the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 after the toner image is transferred to the sheet S.

  The fixing device 130 is disposed downstream of the image forming unit 120 in the transport direction, and fixes the toner image on the sheet S. The fixing device 130 includes a heating roller 131 for melting the toner on the sheet S and a pressure roller 132 for bringing the sheet S into close contact with the heating roller 131.

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

<About development device>
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the developing device 20. The developing device 20 includes a developing roller 21, a developing housing 200, a first stirring screw 23 and a second stirring screw 24 accommodated in the developing housing 200, and a toner supply port 25 opened in the developing housing 200. ing.

  The developing roller 21 has a cylindrical shape, and includes a roller shaft extending in the left-right direction and a sleeve portion that is disposed on the outer peripheral portion and is driven to rotate. The developing housing 200 has a box shape that is long in the axial direction of the developing roller 21, and includes a developer conveyance path 26 and a partition plate 22 in its internal space. The developer transport path 26 is a path through which the developer is filled and the developer is circulated and transported. In this embodiment, a one-component development system is applied, and the developer transport path 26 is filled with toner as a developer. In another embodiment to which the two-component development method is applied, the developer conveyance path 26 is filled with a mixture of toner and a magnetic carrier as a developer. The toner is agitated and conveyed in the developer conveyance path 26 and is sequentially supplied from the developing roller 21 to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed in order to develop the electrostatic latent image.

  The developer transport path 26 includes a first transport path 261 and a second transport path 262. In the first transport path 261, the developer is transported in the direction of the arrow D <b> 1 along the axial direction of the developing roller 21. The second transport path 262 is disposed between the developing roller 21 and the first transport path 261. In the second transport path 262, the developer is transported in the arrow D2 direction opposite to the first transport direction. The upper part of the developer conveyance path 26 is covered with a housing top plate (not shown).

  The partition plate 22 is disposed in the developing housing 200 so as to extend in the left-right direction. The partition plate 22 connects the first conveyance path 261 and the second conveyance path 262 along the axial direction of the developing roller 21 so that the first conveyance path 261 and the second conveyance path 262 communicate with each other at both left and right ends. Partitioning. For this reason, the partition plate 22 is set to be shorter than the width of the developing housing 200 in the left-right direction. As a result, the developer conveyance path 26 has a circulation path that reaches the first conveyance path 261, the first communication path 263, the second conveyance path 262, and the second communication path 264, as indicated by arrows D1, D2, D3, and D4. Has been.

  The toner supply port 25 is an opening that is opened in the top plate of the development housing 200. The toner replenishing port 25 is disposed above the right end of the first transport path 261 so as to face the above-described circulation path, and supplies the replenishment toner (supplement developer) replenished from the toner container 30 to the developer transport path 26. It is an opening that accepts (inflows).

  The first stirring screw 23 is disposed in the first conveying path 261, and includes a first screw shaft 23A and a spiral blade 23B that protrudes in a spiral shape on the circumference of the first screw shaft 23A. The first screw shaft 23 </ b> A extends in the left-right direction in parallel with the developing roller 21. The first agitating screw 23 is rotated about the first screw shaft 23A as an axis of rotation (arrow R2), and conveys toner in the direction of arrow D1 in FIG. The first agitating screw 23 conveys the developer in the first conveying path 261 so as to pass below the toner supply port 25. As a result, the first agitating screw 23 conveys the new toner flowing in from the toner replenishing port 25 and the toner carried into the first conveying path 261 from the second conveying path 262 while mixing each other.

  A paddle 23C is disposed downstream of the first stirring screw 23 in the toner conveyance direction (D1 direction). The paddle 23C is a plate-like member disposed on the first screw shaft 23A. The paddle 23C is rotated together with the first screw shaft 23A and delivers the toner from the first conveyance path 261 to the second conveyance path 262 through the first communication path 263 in the direction of arrow D4 in FIG.

  The second agitating screw 24 is disposed in the second conveying path 262, and includes a second screw shaft 24A extending in the left-right direction and a spiral blade 24B projecting in a spiral shape on the circumference of the second screw shaft 24A. Including. The second agitating screw 24 is rotated about the second screw shaft 24A as an axis of rotation (arrow R1), and supplies the toner to the developing roller 21 while conveying the toner in the direction of arrow D2 in FIG. A paddle 24C is disposed downstream of the second stirring screw 24 in the toner conveyance direction (D2 direction). The paddle 24C is rotated together with the second screw shaft 24A, and delivers the toner from the second conveyance path 262 to the first conveyance path 261 through the second communication path 264 in the direction of arrow D3 in FIG.

  The toner container 30 is disposed above the toner supply port 25 of the developing housing 200 (see FIGS. 2, 3, and 12). The toner container 30 includes a toner discharge port 30P (FIG. 4). The toner discharge port 30 </ b> P is disposed at the bottom of the toner container 30 so as to face the toner supply port 25 of the developing device 20. The toner dropped from the toner discharge port 30P is supplied to the developing device 20 from the toner supply port 25.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the printer 100 of this embodiment detects a toner contained in the toner container 30, that is, a predetermined amount of toner in an accommodation space 31 </ b> S described later of the toner container 30. A toner sensor 60 is provided for detecting whether or not the toner exists. The toner sensor 60 of the present embodiment is a magnetic permeability sensor that detects the magnetic permeability of the detection target. The toner sensor 60 is attached to the inner wall side of the front cover 104. When the front cover 104 is closed with respect to the housing 101, the toner sensor 60 contacts the sensor contact surface 30A set on the outer periphery of the toner container 30. It will be in the state.

<About toner supply>
Next, the flow of toner newly supplied from the toner supply port 25 will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the toner supply port 25 disposed in the developing device 20 and the toner discharge port 30 </ b> P disposed in the toner container 30. The replenishment toner T2 supplied from the toner discharge port 30P to the toner replenishment port 25 falls to the first conveyance path 261 and is mixed with the existing toner T1, and is conveyed by the first agitating screw 23 in the direction of arrow D1. At this time, the toners T1 and T2 are stirred and charged.

  The first agitation screw 23 includes a conveyance capability suppression unit 28 for partially suppressing the toner conveyance capability of the first agitation screw 23 on the downstream side in the toner conveyance direction from the toner supply port 25. In this embodiment, the conveyance capability suppression part 28 has illustrated the plate-shaped paddle arrange | positioned between the spiral blades 23B which the 1st stirring screw 23 adjoins. As the conveyance capability suppression unit 28 rotates around the first screw shaft 23A, the toner conveyed from the upstream side of the conveyance capability suppression unit 28 starts to stay. The retention of the toner is accumulated immediately upstream of the conveyance capability suppressing unit 28 and the toner supply port 25 is accumulated to a position facing the first conveyance path 261. As a result, a toner retention portion 29 is formed in a region where the toner supply port 25 faces.

  When the replenishment toner T2 is replenished from the toner replenishing port 25 and the amount of toner in the developer transport path 26 increases, the toner staying in the staying portion 29 seals the toner replenishing port 25 from below, and the toner remaining there Suppress supply. Thereafter, when the toner in the developer conveyance path 26 is consumed from the developing roller 21 and the amount of toner staying in the staying portion 29 decreases, the amount of toner blocking the toner replenishing port 25 is reduced. A gap is formed between the two. As a result, the replenishment toner T2 flows again from the toner replenishment port 25 into the developer transport path 26 (first transport path 261). Thus, in this embodiment, a volume replenishment type toner replenishment mode is adopted in which the amount of replenished toner received is adjusted as the amount of toner staying in the retention portion 29 decreases.

<Configuration relating to mounting of toner container to developing device>
6 and 7 are perspective views of the toner container 30 and the developing device 20 according to the present embodiment, respectively. Here, the external structure of the toner container 30 and the developing device 20 and the configuration relating to the mounting of the toner container 30 to the developing device 20 will be described.

  The toner container 30 is detachable from the developing device 20 in the housing 101 and includes a container main body 31 (container main body) and a container shutter 32. The container main body 31 is a cylindrical portion constituting the main body of the toner container 30 and contains toner therein (the internal structure will be described in detail later). The container shutter 32 is attached on the circumference near the right end of the container main body 31.

  The left end side of the container main body 31 is an open end, and a lid 311 is attached to the left end side in order to close it. A drive input unit including a first gear member 36 and a second gear member 37, which will be described later, is disposed on the right end side of the container main body 31, and a cover portion 313 is attached to the right end side to cover this. In order to guide the mounting of the toner container 30 to the developing device 20, a left guide portion 312 is provided on the left side surface of the lid portion 311, and a right guide portion 314 is provided on the right side surface of the cover portion 313. .

  The container shutter 32 is supported so as to be slidable in the circumferential direction with respect to the container main body 31, and has a function of sealing and opening the toner discharge port 30P of the container main body 31. The container shutter 32 includes a shutter main body 321, a lock unit 322, and a lock release unit 323. The shutter body 321 is a plate having a function of sealing and opening the toner discharge port 30P. The lock portion 322 is supported so as to be swingable with respect to the shutter body 321, and has a function of permitting or restricting the sliding movement of the shutter body 321 relative to the container body 31. The lock release part 323 is a protruding piece provided in the lock part 322. When the lock release portion 323 is pressed, a lock piece (not shown) provided in the lock portion 322 is detached from the engaging portion formed in the container main body 31, and the sliding movement of the shutter main body 321 is allowed.

  Referring to FIG. 7, the development housing 200 includes a housing left wall 200L and a housing right wall 200R that are erected on the left and right ends, respectively. A space between the housing left wall and the right walls 200L and 200R is a container mounting portion 109 to which the toner container 30 is mounted. A left guide groove 201L is provided on the inner side surface of the housing left wall 200L, and a right guide groove 201R is provided on the inner side surface of the housing right wall 200R. When the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 109, the left guide portion 312 of the toner container 30 is guided by the left guide groove 201L and the right guide portion 314 is guided by the right guide groove 201R. In the present embodiment, the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 109 obliquely from above (see arrow DC in FIG. 7).

  The developing device 20 includes a first transmission gear 2G1, a second transmission gear 2G2, and a third transmission gear 2G3. In addition, the printer 100 includes a first motor M1 and a second motor M2 provided in the housing 101, and a control unit 50. The first to third transmission gears 2G1 to 2G3 are gears rotatably supported on the housing right wall 200R. The first transmission gear 2G1 is connected to the second transmission gear 2G2. The first transmission gear 211 is connected to the developing roller 21 and the first and second stirring screws 23 and 24 via a gear group (not shown). When the developing device 20 is mounted on the housing 101, the first motor M1 is coupled to the third transmission gear 2G3, and the second motor M2 is coupled to the first transmission gear 2G1.

  The first motor M1 moves a later-described moving wall 34 of the toner container 30 by rotating a later-described shaft portion 33 of the toner container 30 via the third transmission gear 2G3. That is, the third transmission gear 2G3 meshes with a first gear member 36, which will be described later, and transmits the driving force of the first motor M1 to the first gear member 36. The second motor M2 rotates the developing roller 21, the first and second stirring screws 23, 24 of the developing device 20 via the first transmission gear 2G1. Further, the second motor M2 rotates a rotating body 35 described later of the toner container 30 via the first transmission gear 2G1 and the second transmission gear 2G2. The control unit 50 controls the first and second motors M1 and M2 in the printing operation of the printer 100, and drives each member of the developing device 20 and the toner container 30.

  The development housing 200 includes a lock release button 202, the toner supply port 25 described above, a release protrusion 204, a pair of container shutter fixing portions 205, a pair of shutter springs 206, and a housing shutter 207.

  The lock release button 202 is a press button that is slidably supported on the housing right wall 200 </ b> R, and includes a lock engagement piece 203. The lock release button 202 has a function of locking the posture of the toner container 30 attached to the container attachment unit 109 and a function of releasing the lock. The lock engagement piece 203 is a claw portion formed so as to protrude toward the container mounting portion 109 on the front side portion of the housing right wall 200R, and locks the toner container 30. The unlock button 202 is urged forward by a lock urging spring (not shown). When the lock release button 202 is pressed against the urging force of the lock urging spring, the lock engaging piece 203 is separated from the toner container 30 and the toner container 30 is unlocked.

  The toner replenishing port 25 is an opening formed in a substantially rectangular shape on the top plate of the developing housing 200 and communicates with the inside of the developing housing 200. When the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 109, the toner discharge port 30P and the toner supply port 25 face each other, and the toner discharged from the toner discharge port 30P enters the developing housing 200 from the toner supply port 25. Inflow.

  The release protrusion 204 is a protrusion protruding from the top plate of the developing housing 200 adjacent to the rear of the toner supply port 25. The release protrusion 204 presses the lock release portion 323 (FIG. 6) of the container shutter 32 when the toner container 30 is attached to the container attachment portion 109. In other words, the release protrusion 204 allows the container shutter 32 to slide.

  The pair of container shutter fixing portions 205 are provided so as to protrude from the top plate of the developing housing 200 so as to sandwich the release protrusion 204 in the left-right direction. When the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting unit 109, a part of the container shutter 30S is engaged with the container shutter fixing unit 205. As a result, the container shutter 32 is fixed and its rotation is restricted.

  The pair of shutter springs 206 are a pair of spring members disposed outside the pair of container shutter fixing portions 205 in the left-right direction. The shutter springs 206 are disposed so as to extend in the front-rear direction, and the rear ends thereof are respectively engaged with the top plate of the development housing 200. The front end portion of the shutter spring 206 is engaged with the left and right end portions of the housing shutter 207, respectively.

  The housing shutter 207 is supported by the developing housing 200 so as to be slidable with respect to the toner supply port 25, and seals or opens the toner supply port 25. The pair of shutter springs 206 urge the housing shutter 207 in a direction in which the housing shutter 207 seals the toner supply port 25. When the toner container 30 is removed from the developing device 20, the housing shutter 207 is urged by the pair of shutter springs 206 to seal the toner supply port 25. Further, when the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 109, the housing shutter 207 presses the container main body 31. For this reason, the shutter spring 206 biases the toner container 30 mounted on the container mounting portion 109 via the housing shutter 207 in the direction of the arrow DM.

<About toner container structure>
Next, the structure of the toner container 30 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11 in addition to FIG. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the toner container 30, and FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the toner container. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 8, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of FIG. The toner container 30 is formed of a cylindrical body extending in a direction from left to right (in this specification, “first direction”; arrow DA direction in FIG. 10), and stores supply toner (developer) therein. The toner container 30 includes a shaft portion 33, a moving wall 34, a rotating body 35, a first gear member 36, and a second gear member 37 in addition to the container main body 31 and the container shutter 32 described above.

  The container body 31 communicates with the inner space 31H and an inner peripheral surface 31A (FIG. 10) that defines an inner space 31H that extends in a cylindrical shape along the first direction (also the longitudinal direction of the toner container 30). And a toner discharge port 30P (FIG. 8) that is opened in the wall surface of the container body 31 and discharges toner. The lid 311 described above is disposed on the left end side of the container main body 31, and the right wall 316 is disposed on the right end side. That is, the internal space 31H is a space closed by the inner peripheral surface 31A, the lid portion 311 and the right wall 316.

  The right wall 316 is an integral part of the container main body 31. The right wall 316 is formed with a main body bearing portion 31J for pivotally supporting the right end side of the shaft portion 33. A shaft support portion 311A for supporting the left end side of the shaft portion 33 is provided on the inner side surface of the lid portion 311. The lid portion 311 is welded so as to close the left opening of the container body 31 by ultrasonic welding after the shaft portion 33, the moving wall 34, and the rotating body 35 are assembled in the internal space 31H. The toner discharge port 30P has a rectangular shape at a position close to the right wall 316 and has a predetermined length along the first direction and a predetermined width in the circumferential direction along the arc shape of the bottom of the container body 31. It is open.

  The shaft portion 33 is a shaft that is disposed so as to extend in the first direction in the internal space 31 </ b> H, and serves as a movement axis of the moving wall 34 and a rotation axis (rotation axis along the first direction) of the rotating body 35. The shaft portion 33 includes a first end portion 331, a second end portion 332, a male spiral portion 333, a moving wall stop portion 334, a support ring portion 335, and a flange portion 336.

  The first end portion 331 is a right end portion of the shaft portion 33 that protrudes to the right side through the main body bearing portion 31J. A pair of D-cut surfaces are formed on the peripheral surface of the first end 331. The second end portion 332 is the left end portion of the shaft portion 33, and is pivotally supported by the pivotal support portion 311 </ b> A of the lid portion 311.

  The male spiral portion 333 is a screw portion formed in a spiral shape extending in the first direction on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 33. The male spiral portion 333 is formed from a region adjacent to the lid portion 311 in the shaft portion 33 to a region upstream of the toner discharge port 30P in the first direction. The moving wall stop portion 334 is a region of only the shaft portion where the circumferential protrusion is not present in the shaft portion 33, which is continuously arranged on the downstream side in the first direction of the male spiral portion 333. The support ring portion 335 is disposed adjacent to the right side of the moving wall stop portion 334, and a plurality of ring-shaped protrusions having the same outer diameter in the radial direction as the male spiral portion 333 are connected in the first direction. It is an area. The flange portion 336 is a disk-shaped portion disposed between the first end portion 331 and the support ring portion 335.

  The moving wall 34 is a wall portion disposed facing the first direction inside the container body 31 (internal space 31H). The moving wall 34 includes an outer peripheral surface 34R disposed to face the inner peripheral surface 31A of the container main body 31, and a transport surface 34S that defines a storage space 31S in which the replenishing toner is stored together with the inner peripheral surface 31A. That is, in the internal space 31H, a region between the inner surface of the right wall 375 and the transport surface 34S that is the inner surface of the moving wall 34 is the storage space 31S in which the toner is actually stored. The moving wall 34 has a through hole that penetrates the shaft portion 33 in the vicinity of the center in the radial direction. The moving wall 34 moves in the internal space 31H in the first direction (arrow DA) along the shaft portion 33 while conveying the toner in the accommodation space 31S toward the toner discharge port 30P.

  Referring to FIG. 10, the moving wall 34 includes an assembly of three plate-like members arranged in the left-right direction, including a wall plate 341, a seal member 342, and a wall main body 343. The assembly is pressed by the pressing member 344 and moves in the first direction. The wall plate 341 is a plate that is disposed on the downstream side in the first direction on the moving wall 34 and is formed by resin molding. The right side surface of the wall plate 341 is the above-described transport surface 34S. The conveyance surface 34S conveys the toner in the accommodation space 31S while pressing the toner in the first direction as the moving wall 34 moves in the first direction.

  The seal member 342 is a member that is disposed at a position sandwiched between the wall plate 341 and the wall main body 343 and is formed of a urethane material having a predetermined thickness in the first direction. The outer peripheral portion of the seal member 342 constitutes the outer peripheral surface 34R of the moving wall 34 described above. The wall main body 343 is a plate that is arranged on the most upstream side in the first direction in the moving wall 34 and is formed by resin molding. When the wall plate 341, the seal member 342, and the wall main body 343 are integrally assembled, the outer peripheral portion of the seal member 342 is disposed on the outermost radial direction. As a result, the outer peripheral portion of the seal member 342 (the outer peripheral surface 34R of the moving wall 34) is compressed and deformed by the inner peripheral surface 31A of the container main body 31. Thus, the toner in the accommodation space 31S is prevented from flowing out from between the inner peripheral surface 31A and the outer peripheral surface 34R to the upstream side in the first direction from the moving wall 34.

  The pressing member 344 is a cylindrical member that is disposed on the upstream side of the moving wall 34 in the first direction and is fitted around the shaft portion 33. The pressing member 344 includes a female spiral portion 345 engaged with the male spiral portion 333 of the shaft portion 33 on the inner peripheral surface thereof. The pressing member 344 advances in the first direction as the shaft portion 33 rotates about the axis. The pressing member 344 is engaged with the wall main body portion 343 of the moving wall 34, and the pressing member 344 advances along the shaft portion 33, thereby pressing the moving wall 34 in the first direction and in the first direction. It has a function to move along. That is, when the shaft portion 33 rotates about the axis, the pressing member 344 and the moving wall 34 move in the first direction.

The rotating body 35 is disposed above the toner discharge port 30P and adjacent to the right wall 316 in the accommodation space 31S. The rotating body 35 is supported by the shaft portion 33 so as to be rotatable around the axis of the shaft portion 33. The rotating body 35 includes an engaging portion 351 that receives an input of a rotational driving force on the right end side. The rotating body 35 is
(1) A function of cleaning a toner detection surface 31B (detection surface: FIG. 11) that is a part of the inner peripheral surface 31A that partitions the accommodation space 31S of the container body 31 and that is a detection region by the toner sensor 60;
(2) a function of stirring the toner in the accommodation space 31S, and
(3) a function of detecting that the container main body 31 (toner container 30) is present in the housing 101;
Play. The rotating body 35 will be described in detail later.

  The first gear member 36 transmits a rotational driving force to the shaft portion 33. The first gear member 36 includes a gear portion 361 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the disc-shaped member, and a cylindrical portion 362 projecting leftward from the radial center of the disc-shaped member. An engaging portion 362A is projected from the left end of the cylindrical portion 362. A ratchet mechanism including a ratchet gear 363 and a ratchet shaft 364 is assembled to the first gear member 36 in order to transmit only a rotational force in one direction to the shaft portion 33. The left end portion of the ratchet shaft 364 is provided with a connecting portion 365 having a D surface shape therein. The first end portion 331 having the D cut surface of the shaft portion 33 is fitted to the connecting portion 365. On the other hand, a central portion of the ratchet shaft 364 is inserted through the ratchet gear 363, and a right end portion thereof is inserted through the cylindrical portion 362 of the first gear member 36.

  The rotational driving force of the first motor M1 is input to the gear unit 361 via the third transmission gear 2G3 of the developing device 20. Due to this rotational driving force, the first gear member 36 is rotated in a predetermined rotation direction, and the shaft portion 33 is rotated about the axis through the ratchet mechanism. By the rotation of the shaft portion 33, the pressing member 344 advances in the first direction and moves the moving wall 34 in the first direction. The predetermined rotation direction is a rotation direction for moving the moving wall 34 in the first direction, although it depends on the spiral direction of the male spiral portion 333. When a reverse rotational driving force is applied to the gear portion 361, the reverse rotational driving force is not transmitted to the shaft portion 33 by the ratchet mechanism (the ratchet gear 363 idles).

  The second gear member 37 transmits a rotational driving force to the rotating body 35. The 2nd gear member 37 is provided with the gear part 371 formed in the outer peripheral surface of a disk-shaped member, and the cylindrical part 372 projected leftward from the radial direction center of the said disk-shaped member. The left end of the cylindrical portion 372 is a connecting portion 373 having a recess that engages with the engaging portion 351 of the rotating body 35. A rotational driving force of the second motor M2 is input to the gear unit 371 via the first transmission gear 2G1 and the second transmission gear 2G2 of the developing device 20. In the present embodiment, the second gear member 37 is rotationally driven in synchronization with the developing roller 21 of the developing device 20 and the first and second stirring screws 23 and 24. When the second gear member 37 is rotationally driven, the rotational driving force is transmitted to the rotating body 35 through the engaging portion between the connecting portion 373 and the engaging portion 351, and the rotating body 35 is rotated around the axis of the shaft portion 33. It is rotated.

  The cover part 313 is attached to the right end side of the container main body 31. The cover portion 313 includes an opening 315 (FIG. 10) that exposes a part of the circumferential direction of the first and second gear members 36 and 37 to the outside. In a state where the toner container 30 is mounted on the developing device 20, the gear portion 361 of the first gear member 36 and the third transmission gear 2 G 3 mesh with each other in the opening 315, and the gear portion 371 of the second gear member 37. And the second transmission gear 2G2 mesh.

  A closing lid 317 is attached to the right wall 316 of the container main body 31 for closing the toner filling hole for filling toner into the accommodation space 31S. When the toner storage space 31S is filled, the toner is filled into the storage space 31S by the filling nozzle through the toner filling hole without the cover portion 313 being attached. After the filling, a closing lid 317 is fitted and welded to the toner filling hole, and the cover portion 313 is attached to the right end side of the container main body 31.

  As described above, in the printer 100 according to the present embodiment, the front cover 104 includes the non-contact toner sensor 60 including a magnetic permeability sensor in order to detect the toner stored in the toner container 30. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the printer 100 in a portion where the toner container 30 and the toner sensor 60 are mounted. The toner sensor 60 is disposed in the vicinity of the center of the toner container 30 in the vertical direction and in contact with the front side portion. A part of the outer peripheral surface of the toner container 30 with which the toner sensor 60 abuts is a sensor contact surface 30A shown in FIG. 2, and a part of the inner peripheral surface 31A facing the sensor contact surface 30A is a toner detection surface 31B.

<About the movement of the moving wall>
While the left guide portion 312 of the lid portion 311 and the right guide portion 314 of the cover portion 313 are guided by the pair of left guide groove 201L and right guide groove 201R of the developing device 20, the toner container 30 is moved to the container mounting portion 109 by the user. Mounted (FIGS. 6 and 7). When the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 109, the container shutter 32 is rotated and the toner discharge port 30P is opened. As a result, the toner discharge port 30P is disposed to face the upper side of the toner supply port 25 (FIGS. 4 and 5).

  As described above, when the new toner container 30 is mounted on the printer 100, the control unit 50 (FIG. 7) drives the first motor M1 via the first gear member 36 that meshes with the third transmission gear 2G3. Then, the shaft portion 33 is rotationally driven. As a result, the pressing member 344 moves in the first direction (arrow DA in FIG. 10) due to the engagement between the male spiral portion 333 of the shaft portion 33 and the female spiral portion 345 of the pressing member 344. As the pressing member 344 moves, the moving wall 34 is pressed, and the moving wall 34 moves toward the toner discharge port 30P. At this time, the conveyance surface 34S pushes the toner, and the draft level of the toner in the accommodation space 31S is increased.

  Eventually, when the moving wall 34 moves rightward from the initial position by a predetermined distance, the draft level of the toner exceeds the height position of the toner detection surface 31B. Then, the toner sensor 60 detects the toner and outputs a predetermined detection signal (for example, a HIGH signal). In response to the HIGH signal output from the toner sensor 60, the controller 50 stops the rotation of the shaft portion 33 and stops the movement of the moving wall 34.

  As described with reference to FIG. 5, in this embodiment, a volume replenishing toner replenishing format is employed. For this reason, when the toner retention part 29 (FIG. 5) on the developing device 20 side seals the toner replenishing port 25 from below, the replenishing toner T2 does not fall from the toner container 30. On the other hand, when the toner is supplied from the developing roller 21 to the photosensitive drum 121 and the toner in the staying portion 29 decreases, the toner flows into the developing device 20 from the toner discharge port 30P through the toner supply port 25. As a result, in the storage space 31S of the toner container 30, the toner around the toner detection surface 31B disappears, so the toner sensor 60 outputs a predetermined non-detection signal (for example, a LOW signal). Upon receiving this LOW signal, the control unit 50 drives the first motor M1 until the toner sensor 60 outputs a HIGH signal, and further moves the moving wall 34 toward the toner discharge port 30P.

  In accordance with the developing operation in the developing device 20, the control unit 50 drives the second motor M2 to rotate the developing roller 21 and the like. In conjunction with this rotation operation, the rotator 35 is rotated around the shaft portion 33 via the second gear member 37 meshed with the second transmission gear 2G2. The rotating body 35 is disposed corresponding to a position where the toner discharge port 30P and the toner detection surface 31B exist in the accommodation space 31S. By the rotation of the rotating body 35, the function of the above-described rotating body 35 is exhibited. That is, the toner detection surface 31B is cleaned, the toner in the vicinity of the toner discharge port 30P is released by stirring, and the operation of pushing the toner into the toner discharge port 30P is executed. As a result, the toner detection by the toner sensor 60 through the toner detection surface 31B is accurately performed, and the fluidity of the toner is increased, so that the toner is stably dropped from the toner discharge port 30P.

  When the printing operation is repeated and the toner in the accommodation space 31S of the toner container 30 continues to be used, the moving wall 34 eventually reaches the final position before the toner discharge port 30P. As described above, the moving wall 34 gradually moves in the first direction, so that the toner in the accommodation space 31S is conveyed to the toner discharge port 30P while being pressed by the moving wall 34. The accommodating space 31S is gradually reduced until the moving wall 34 reaches the final position. That is, in the toner container 30, the space where the toner exists is gradually lost. As a result, the amount of toner remaining in the container main body 31 at the end of use can be reduced as compared with a conventional toner container in which the volume of the accommodation space 31S does not change.

  In the present embodiment, the moving wall 34 stops at a final position slightly upstream of the toner discharge port 30P in the first direction. Specifically, when the female spiral portion 345 of the pressing member 344 reaches the moving wall stop portion 334 as the moving wall 34 moves, the engagement between the male spiral portion 333 and the female spiral portion 345 is released. As a result, transmission of the moving force from the shaft portion 33 to the pressing member 344 is lost, and the moving wall 34 stops at the final position. At this time, the moving wall 34 reaches the support ring portion 335 on the shaft portion 33 and is stably supported by the support ring portion 33.

<Detailed structure of rotating body>
Hereinafter, the detailed structure of the rotating body 35 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15 in addition to FIGS. 11 and 12 described above. 13A and 13B are perspective views of the rotating body 35 with different lines of sight, FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the rotating body 35 with the cleaning film 45 removed, and FIG. 15 is a line XV-XV in FIG. It is sectional drawing. The rotating body 35 is made of a resin molded product, and includes a flat plate portion 40, a cleaning portion 41 projecting leftward from the flat plate portion 40, a stirring portion 42, and a detected portion 43.

(Plate part)
The flat plate part 40 is a disk-shaped member. In a state where the rotating body 35 is mounted on the shaft portion 33, the left surface and the right surface of the flat plate portion 40 are surfaces orthogonal to the shaft portion 33. The flat plate portion 40 includes a substantially fan-shaped cutout portion 40A. As shown in FIG. 11, the cutout portion 40A is provided so that the rotating body 35 does not cover the toner filling hole (closing lid 317) when viewed from the accommodation space 31S side. In other words, the cutout portion 40A is an opening that allows the accommodation space 31S to be filled with toner through the toner filling hole. Therefore, even if the rotating body 35 having the flat plate portion 40 is disposed in the vicinity of the right wall 316 in the accommodation space 31S, the toner can be filled into the accommodation space 31S from the outside through the cutout portion 40A.

  A cylindrical boss portion 44 protrudes to the left on the left surface near the radial center of the flat plate portion 40. A hollow portion 44H is provided inside the tubular boss portion 44, and the tubular boss portion 44 is externally fitted to the shaft portion 33 so that the vicinity of the first end 331 of the shaft portion 33 penetrates the hollow portion 44H. Yes. On the opposite side of the cylindrical boss portion 44, that is, on the right surface of the flat plate portion 40, a hollow back surface boss portion 441 is provided so as to protrude rightward on the same axis as the cylindrical boss portion 44. The right end portion of the back boss portion 441 is an engaging portion 351 that engages with the connecting portion 373 (FIGS. 9 and 10) of the second gear member 37. The shaft portion 33 also penetrates the back boss portion 441. The flat plate portion 40 extends radially outward from the cylindrical boss portion 44 and the back surface boss portion 441. The outer peripheral edge of the flat plate portion 40 is an arc-shaped peripheral edge 401. The peripheral portion 401 faces the inner peripheral surface 31A of the container main body 31 with a slight gap (see FIG. 11).

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a first seal 352 is accommodated in the cylindrical boss portion 44. The first seal 352 is a seal interposed in the space between the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 33 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical boss portion 44. The first seal 352 prevents the toner from leaking from the accommodation space 31 </ b> S along the gap between the shaft portion 33 and the back boss portion 441. A second seal 353 is interposed in a space between the outer peripheral surface of the back boss portion 441 and the inner peripheral surface of the boss portion provided on the right wall 316. The second seal 353 prevents toner from leaking from the accommodation space 31 </ b> S along the outer peripheral surface of the back boss 441.

(Cleaning Department)
The cleaning unit 41 is a part that imparts a cleaning function of the toner detection surface 31 </ b> B to the rotating body 35, and includes a cleaning film 45 (cleaning member) that cleans the toner detection surface 31 </ b> B and a holding unit 46 that holds the cleaning film 45. Including. The cleaning film 45 is made of a film-like elastic member having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. As the cleaning film 45, for example, a PET film having a thickness that exhibits the required waist strength can be used.

  The cleaning film 45 includes a tip end region 451 that is actually in sliding contact with the toner detection surface 31B, a base end region 452 that continues to the tip end region 451, and a protruding piece 453 (interference portion) that protrudes from the tip end region 451. The holding unit 46 holds the cleaning film 45 in the proximal end region 452. As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the cleaning film 45 has a linear shape in a state where the rotating body 35 is not accommodated in the accommodation space 31S. The tip region 451 extends outward from the peripheral edge 401 of the flat plate portion 40. The extension length is set to be considerably longer than the gap between the peripheral edge 401 and the inner peripheral surface 31 </ b> A of the container main body 31.

  On the other hand, when the rotating body 35 is accommodated in the accommodation space 31S, as shown in FIG. 11, the tip region 451 is bent by elastic deformation, and a part of the tip region 451 is formed on the inner peripheral surface 31A (toner detection surface 31B). Contact. The first surface 45a (FIG. 13A) facing the inner peripheral surface 31A in the cleaning film 45 is in contact. Thus, as the rotating body 35 rotates, the tip region 451 comes into sliding contact with the toner detection surface 31B, and the toner detection surface 31B can be cleaned. In addition, the 2nd surface 45b (FIG. 13B) on the opposite side to the 1st surface 45a does not contact 31 A of internal peripheral surfaces.

  The holding part 46 is a first support piece 461, a second support piece 462, a third support piece 463, and a fourth support piece 464 that are four protruding pieces arranged so as to sandwich the cleaning film 45 in the proximal end region 452. including. The first to fourth support pieces 461 to 464 are rib-like protrusions protruding leftward from the flat plate part 40, and have a protruding height that is approximately 80% of the width size of the cleaning film 45. The first to fourth support pieces 461 to 464 are arranged in this order at intervals along the peripheral edge 401, and are arranged in a staggered manner to form a slit-like space that sandwiches the cleaning film 45. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the first, second, third, and fourth support pieces 461, 462, 463, and 464 have film support surfaces S1, S2, S3, and S4, respectively. The film support surfaces S1 and S3 of the first support piece 461 and the third support piece 463 are flush with each other, and the film support surfaces S2 and S4 of the second support piece 462 and the fourth support piece 464 are flush with each other. A slit-like space into which the cleaning film 45 can be inserted is secured between the film support surfaces S1 and S3 and the film support surfaces S2 and S4. The film support surfaces S1 and S3 of the first support piece 461 and the third support piece 463 support the second surface 45b of the cleaning film 45 (FIG. 13B). On the other hand, the film support surfaces S2 and S4 of the second support piece 462 and the fourth support piece 464 are flush with each other and support the first surface 45a of the cleaning film 45 (FIG. 13A).

  Of the first to fourth support pieces 461 to 464, the first support piece 461 closest to the inner peripheral surface 31A supports the cleaning film 45 in a contact state without being fixed. On the other hand, the cleaning film 45 is fixedly supported by three support pieces of the second to fourth support pieces 462 to 464 that are separated from the inner peripheral surface 31 </ b> A rather than the first support piece 461. That is, the base end region 452 of the cleaning film 45 is supported by the first support piece 461 so as to be slidable, in other words, bendable. On the other hand, the portion sandwiched between the second to fourth support pieces 462 to 464 of the base end region 452 is held in a state in which bending deformation is substantially impossible.

  The protrusion 453 protruding from the tip region 451 prevents the cleaning film 45 from fitting into the toner discharge port 30P when the cleaning film 45 passes over the toner discharge port 30P as the rotating body 35 rotates. In other words, it is provided to prevent the cleaning film 45 from repelling the toner at the position of the toner discharge port 30P. The form of the cleaning film 45 including the projecting pieces 453 and the support mode of the cleaning film 45 by the holding portion 46 will be described in more detail later.

(Stirring part)
The stirring unit 42 is a part that gives the rotating body 35 a function of stirring toner, and includes a stirring rib 421 (stirring member) that stirs the toner in the accommodation space 31S. The stirring rib 421 is a rib attached to the rotating body 35 so as to protrude leftward from the flat plate portion 40. The agitating rib 421 functions to release the toner in the accommodation space 31 </ b> S as the rotating body 35 rotates. According to the present embodiment, as the rotating body 35 rotates, the toner is released by a simple structure called a rib, and thus the toner in the accommodation space 31S can be agitated.

  The stirring rib 421 has a pressing surface 421S that faces the inner peripheral surface 31A. The inclination angle α (FIG. 11) of the pressing surface 421S with respect to the tangent to the peripheral edge 401 of the flat plate portion 40 can be set in a range of about 30 ° to 60 °, preferably 45 °. The stirring rib 421 has an inner edge 421 </ b> A that is closest to the cylindrical boss portion 44. The inner edge 421 </ b> A is a portion located at the most distal end in the stirring rib 421 in the rotation direction R of the rotating body 35 shown in FIG. 11. When the rotating body 35 rotates in a state where the toner in the accommodation space 31S is aggregated, the inner edge 421A enters the toner aggregate, and the pressing surface 421S presses the toner to release the toner aggregate. As the rotator 35 further rotates, the agitating rib 421 agitates the released toner and increases its fluidity.

  It is desirable that a certain distance be secured between the inner edge 421A and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical boss portion 44. If the space between them is too narrow, it becomes difficult for the toner to escape downstream in the rotation direction of the stirring rib 421 when the rotating body 35 rotates, and conversely, a phenomenon may occur in which the toner is pressed and hardened. Therefore, it is desirable to secure a gap between the inner edge 421A and the cylindrical boss 44 so as to have the same width as the radial width of the pressing surface 421S.

(Detected part)
The detected part 43 is a part that gives the rotating body 35 a function of detecting that the container main body 31 exists in the housing 101. The detected portion 43 includes a copper tape 432 to be detected by a predetermined sensor and an attachment rib 431 to which the copper tape 432 is attached (attached). As described above, the toner sensor 60 is a magnetic permeability sensor and is sensitive not only to toner but also to copper. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the toner sensor 60 is used as the predetermined sensor.

  The attachment rib 431 is a rib erected so as to protrude leftward from the peripheral edge 401 of the flat plate portion 40. The attachment rib 431 is curved in an arc shape, and the surface on the outer side in the radial direction is the attachment surface of the copper tape 432. The copper tape 432 includes a tape body made of copper or a copper alloy, and an adhesive layer provided on one surface of the tape body. As long as the toner sensor 60 is sensitive, other types of metal tapes can be used. Moreover, it is good also as an aspect by which a metal plate plate etc. are inserted in the attachment rib provided with the holding | maintenance part instead of the form of a tape.

  The detected portion 43 eventually passes through the position of the toner detection surface 31B when the rotating body 35 rotates. At this time, the toner sensor 60 generates an output corresponding to the detection of the copper tape 432, that is, an output different from the toner. Accordingly, by setting an appropriate threshold value in advance, it can be identified whether the toner sensor 60 has detected the copper tape 432 or has detected toner. When the toner sensor 60 outputs an output corresponding to the detection of the copper tape 432, the toner container 30 (container main body 31) is normally attached to the container attachment portion 109. Thus, the presence / absence of the toner container 30 can be detected by a simple structure in which the copper tape 432 is attached to the mounting rib 431.

  11, the first detection sensor 6A that detects toner in the accommodation space 31S and the second detection sensor that detects whether or not the toner container 30 is present in the container mounting portion 109. 6B may be separately disposed on the casing 101 or the front cover 104. In this case, the first detection sensor 6A detects the toner in the accommodation space 31S through the toner detection surface 31B. The second detection sensor 6B detects the detected member (copper tape 432) of the detected portion 43 at a position different from the toner detection surface 31B. However, if the toner sensor 60 having sensitivity to both the toner and the copper tape 432 is used as in this embodiment, the functions of the first and second detection sensors 6A and 6B can be assigned to one sensor. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

(Layout and operation)
As described above, the holding portion 46 (cleaning portion 41) that holds the proximal end region 452 of the cleaning film 45, the stirring rib 421 (stirring portion 42), and the copper tape 432 are attached to the left surface of the flat plate portion 40. Mounting ribs 431 (detected parts 43) projectingly project in a direction orthogonal to the flat plate part 40 (direction along the first direction). Referring to FIG. 11, the cleaning unit 41, the stirring unit 42, and the detected unit 43 are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction in the vicinity of the peripheral portion 401 of the flat plate portion 40. Further, in the rotation direction R, when the cleaning unit 41 is used as a reference, the detected portion 43 is disposed on the upstream side, and the stirring portion 42 is further disposed on the upstream side.

  Referring to FIG. 15, the toner discharge port 30 </ b> P is disposed at substantially the same position in the axial direction (first direction) of the shaft portion 33 with respect to the toner detection surface 31 </ b> B, but the inner peripheral surface 31 </ b> A of the container body 31. Are arranged at different positions in the circumferential direction. In the rotation direction R, the toner detection surface 31B is located upstream of the toner discharge port 30P. The rotating body 35 is attached to the shaft portion 33 so as to correspond to the position where the toner discharge port 30P and the toner detection surface 31B are arranged in the circumferential direction. That is, the toner discharge port 30P and the toner detection surface 31B are arranged at positions facing the rotation trajectories of the holding portion 46 (cleaning portion 41), the stirring rib 421 (stirring portion 42), and the mounting rib 431 (detected portion 43). ing. In other words, the toner detection surface 31B is a partial region of the annular inner peripheral surface 31A that faces the rotation locus. Further, the toner discharge port 30 </ b> P is opened at a position where the tip region 451 of the cleaning film 45 and the stirring rib 421 pass when the rotating body 35 rotates.

  With this layout, when the rotating body 35 rotates in the rotation direction R around the shaft portion 33, the tip region 451 of the cleaning film 45 is in sliding contact with the toner detection surface 31B to clean the toner detection surface 31B. At the same time, the toner passes through the toner discharge port 30P while maintaining the sliding contact. The stirring rib 421 passes over the toner discharge port 30P while stirring (pressing) the toner on the rotation locus. Further, the copper tape 432 attached to the mounting rib 431 circulates along the rotation locus at a position close to the inner peripheral surface 31A and passes through the toner detection surface 31B. Therefore, the toner detection surface 31B is kept clean, the toner in the accommodation space 31S is agitated to prevent aggregation, and whether the container main body 31 is mounted on the container mounting portion 109 is determined by the toner sensor 60. Can be detected. Therefore, the functionality of the toner container 30 can be improved.

  Further, the detected portion 43 having the copper tape 432 is arranged on the upstream side of the cleaning portion 41 having the cleaning film 45 in the rotation direction R of the rotating body 35. The toner sensor 60 is installed at a fixed point (front cover 104) outside the container body 31. Accordingly, after the cleaning film 45 cleans the toner detection surface 31B as the rotating body 35 rotates, the copper tape 432 passes through the toner detection surface 31B. Therefore, accurate detection of the copper tape 432 by the toner sensor 60 can be ensured.

  Note that the cleaning film 45 and the stirring rib 421 also have a function of pressing the toner toward the toner discharge port 30P. That is, the cleaning film 45 and the stirring rib 421 pass through the position of the toner discharge port 30P when the rotating body 35 rotates. During this passage, the cleaning film 45 and the stirring rib 421 press the toner toward the toner discharge port 30P, so that the toner in the container main body 31 is actively supplied through the toner discharge port 30P (developing device 20). The operation to be supplied to can be performed. In other words, the toner replenishing operation can be executed by rotating the rotating body 35 as necessary. Note that the cleaning film 45 passes the position of the toner discharge port 30P while the tip region 451 is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface 31A, and therefore, there is a concern that the toner is excessively sent out. In order to prevent this excessive toner replenishment, the tip region 451 is provided with a protruding piece 453. Subsequently, the cleaning film 45 including the protruding pieces 453 will be described in detail.

<Configuration related to the relationship between the cleaning film and the toner outlet>
FIG. 16A is a plan view of the cleaning film 45. As described above, the cleaning film 45 has a rectangular shape, and includes a distal end region 451 that is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface 31 </ b> A and a proximal end region 452 that is held by the holding portion 46 of the rotating body 35. In a state where the rectangular cleaning film 45 is held by the rotator 35, the axial front end side E1 and the axial base end side E2 that are sides along the first direction and the side along the circumferential direction are formed. It includes a circumferential right side E3 and a circumferential left side E4.

  The axial front end side E1 is a side on the front end region 451 side, and is a side that becomes a protruding front end edge in the cleaning film 45. A fixed region of the tip region 451 having the tip end portion E1 in the axial direction contacts the inner peripheral surface 31A. The axial base end side portion E2 is a side on the base end region 452 side. As shown in FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B, the circumferential right side portion E3 is a side that is in contact with or close to the flat plate portion 40. The left side E4 in the circumferential direction is a side that is a protruding leading edge with respect to the flat plate part 40.

  The protruding piece 453 is a small protruding piece protruding leftward from the circumferential right side E3 along the first direction at the corner where the circumferential right side E3 and the axial front end side E1 intersect. . The cleaning film 45 is originally disposed for the purpose of cleaning the toner detection surface 31B, but when the rotating body 35 rotates, not only the toner detection surface 31B but also the position of the toner discharge port 30P pass through. For this reason, the cleaning film 45 also has a function of realizing proper toner replenishment by pushing toner into the toner discharge port 30P. However, when the cleaning film 45 reaches the toner discharge port 30P and the front end region 451 is fitted into the toner discharge port 30P, the cleaning film 45 is pressed to repel the toner, and the toner is excessively discharged from the toner discharge port 30P. obtain. The protruding piece 453 is provided to prevent such excessive toner supply.

  FIGS. 17A to 17C are schematic views showing how the cleaning film 45 passes over the toner discharge port 30P. The toner discharge port 30P is a rectangular opening, and has an opening peripheral portion including an upstream opening edge F1, a downstream opening edge F2, a circumferential right opening edge F3, and a circumferential left opening edge F4. In the rotation direction R of the rotator 35, the upstream opening edge F1 defines an upstream opening edge of the toner discharge port 30P, and the downstream opening edge F2 defines a downstream opening edge, respectively, in the first direction. The opening edge along. The circumferential right opening edge F3 and the circumferential left opening edge F4 define the right and left opening edges of the toner discharge port 30P, respectively.

  The left and right width of the cleaning film 45 (the interval between the right side portion E3 and the left side portion E4) is set shorter than the left and right width of the toner discharge port 30P (the interval between the right opening edge F3 and the left opening edge F4). The arrangement position of the cleaning film 45 is a position that fits within the width of the toner discharge port 30P, and the interval in plan view between the right side portion E3 and the right opening edge F3 is between the left side portion E4 and the left opening edge F4. This position is eccentric to the right side of the toner discharge port 30P so as to be shorter than the interval. On the other hand, the protruding piece 453 is attached to the cleaning film 45 so as to protrude further rightward than the right opening edge F3. That is, the right side portion E3 of the cleaning film 45 is located to the left of the right opening edge F3, but the right end portion of the protruding piece 453 is located to the right of the right opening edge F3.

  FIG. 17A schematically shows a state in which the central portion in the circumferential direction of the cleaning film 45 passes through the position of the toner discharge port 30P when the rotating body 35 rotates. In the cleaning film 45, the protruding piece 453 located on the most upstream side in the rotation direction R has not yet reached the toner discharge port 30P. The right side portion E3 and the left side portion E4 of the cleaning film 45 are located between the right opening edge F3 and the left opening edge F4 of the toner discharge port 30P, but the axial front end portion E1 is still at the toner discharge port 30P. Not reached. For this reason, the cleaning film 45 does not fall into the toner discharge port 30P.

  FIG. 17B shows a state in which the cleaning film 45 has traveled along the rotation direction R and the leading end side portion E1 has passed through the upstream opening edge F1 of the toner discharge port 30P. During this passage, the projecting piece 453 as the interference portion interferes with (hangs on) the right opening edge F3 (peripheral portion corresponding to the upstream side in the developer transport direction). That is, the cleaning film 45 is cantilevered by the inner peripheral surface 31A near the right opening edge F3 by the protruding piece 453. Therefore, when the cleaning film 45 passes through the toner discharge port 30P, the tip region 451 does not fit into the toner discharge port 30P. In addition, without forming the projecting piece 453, the right side portion E3 of the cleaning film 45 may pass through a position on the left side of the right opening edge F3 of the toner discharge port 30P, thereby causing the interference. good.

  FIG. 17C shows a state in which the cleaning film 45 has further advanced and the front end side portion E1 has passed the downstream opening edge F2 of the toner discharge port 30P. In this state, a certain region from the front end side portion E1 of the cleaning film 45 is stably in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface 31A.

  Thus, when the cleaning film 45 passes through the toner discharge port 30P, the behavior of the cleaning film 45 does not change significantly due to the presence of the protruding pieces 453. For this reason, the cleaning film 45 is pressed so as to repel the toner, and the operation of excessively discharging the toner from the toner discharge port 30P is restricted. Therefore, excessive toner supply to the developing device 20 is prevented.

  In the present embodiment, the significance of causing the protrusion 453 to interfere with the right opening edge F3 of the toner discharge port 30P will be further described. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a joint portion between the toner container 30 and the developing device 20, and is a schematic diagram illustrating a toner retention state near the toner discharge port 30 </ b> P and a toner pressing state by the cleaning film 45. The toner supply port 25 of the developing housing 200 is directly connected to the lower side of the toner discharge port 30P of the container main body 31, and the toner discharged from the toner discharge port 30P flows.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 5, the first agitation screw 23 includes the conveyance capacity suppressing unit 28. For this reason, in the toner conveyance direction (arrow D1) in the developer conveyance path 26 in the development housing 200, a toner retention portion 29 is generated on the upstream side of the conveyance capability suppressing portion 28. The staying part 29 creates a toner draft line Ta that closes the toner discharge port 30P. As described above, the cleaning film 45 exhibits a behavior of pushing toner toward the toner discharge port 30P when passing through the toner discharge port 30P.

  As illustrated in FIG. 18, the toner waterline Ta tends to be shifted to the downstream side in the toner conveyance direction at the connecting portion between the toner supply port 25 and the toner discharge port 30 </ b> P. That is, at the toner discharge port 30P, the toner is likely to stay near the left opening edge F4 on the downstream side in the transport direction closer to the transport capability suppressing portion 28, and the toner is relatively less likely to stay near the right opening edge F3. That is, in the vicinity of the right opening edge F <b> 3 of the toner discharge port 30 </ b> P, a cavity is relatively easily generated, and the toner easily flows into the developing housing 200.

  However, in the present embodiment, the protruding piece 453 interferes with the right opening edge F3 of the toner discharge port 30P, which is the opening peripheral edge on the upstream side in the transport direction. For this reason, the pressing force of the toner by the cleaning film 45 is restricted in the vicinity of the right opening edge F3 where the toner easily flows. Therefore, the replenishment toner is prevented from flowing excessively into the developing housing 200. Note that, in the vicinity of the corner C where the front end side E1 and the left side E4 of the cleaning film 45 intersect, although the cleaning film 45 is cantilevered by the projecting piece 453, it falls to the toner discharge port 30P to some extent. Therefore, a corresponding pressing force is generated. However, the area where the corner C is opposed is an area where toner is relatively liable to stay, and the toner discharge port 30P is blocked in this area, so that excessive toner supply hardly occurs.

  However, there is a concern that the cleaning film 45 may press (bounce) the toner in the vicinity of the right opening edge F3 due to vibration generated in the cleaning film 45 due to the drop in the toner discharge port 30P in the vicinity of the corner C. Suitable for this is the cleaning films 45A and 45B with slits exemplified in FIGS. 16B and 16C.

  In the cleaning film 45 </ b> A of FIG. 16B, a slit portion 454 extending in the width direction (first direction) is perforated in the vicinity of the axial direction tip side portion E <b> 1 in the tip region 451. The cleaning film 45B of FIG. 16C has an open slit portion 455 that cuts in the circumferential direction from the distal end side portion E1. By forming such slit portions 454 and 455, it is possible to adjust the abutting load on the inner peripheral surface 31A of the tip region 451. In addition, the slit portions 454 and 455 absorb vibrations when the vicinity of the corner portion C falls into the toner discharge port 30P. Accordingly, the phenomenon that the tip region 451 repels toner in the vicinity of the right opening edge F3 by the vibration can be suppressed.

<Detailed configuration of cleaning film holding>
As described above, the cleaning film 45 is held on the rotating body 35 by the holding portion 46 including the first to fourth support pieces 461 to 464. The support mode of the cleaning film 45 by the holding unit 46 will be further described. FIG. 19 is a plan view illustrating a sliding contact state of the cleaning film 45 to the inner peripheral surface 31 </ b> A of the container main body 31, and FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram for explaining the behavior of the cleaning film 45.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the proximal end region 452 of the cleaning film 45 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface 31 </ b> A and is in a curved state. The cleaning film 45 is made of a film-like elastic member, and is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface 31A (toner detection surface 31B) as the rotating body 35 rotates, so that creep deformation is likely to occur. When the creep deformation occurs in the cleaning film 45, the contact load with respect to the inner peripheral surface 31A is insufficient, the cleaning of the toner detection surface 31B is insufficient, or the pushing force of the toner into the toner discharge port 30P is insufficient. A malfunction occurs.

  In the present embodiment, the cleaning film 45 is supported by the holding portion 46 in such a manner that the above-described creep deformation does not occur. FIG. 20 shows the cleaning film 45 (A) in the first state where there is no contact with the inner peripheral surface 31A, and the cleaning film 45 (B) in the second state that is in contact with the inner peripheral surface 31A. ing. In the cleaning film 45 (A) in the first state, the tip region 451 extends linearly from the rotating body 35. On the other hand, the cleaning film 45 (B) in the second state is bent by contact with the inner peripheral surface 31 </ b> A, and an upwardly projecting slack portion M is formed at the support position of the first support piece 461. By supporting the cleaning film 45 in such a manner that the slack portion M is generated, the abutting load on the inner peripheral surface 31A of the cleaning film 45 is reduced. Therefore, the creep deformation of the cleaning film 45 is effectively prevented.

  The structure which implement | achieves the support aspect which the slack part M produces is demonstrated. Among the first to fourth support pieces 461 to 464, the first support piece 461 that is closest to the inner peripheral surface 31A is defined as a “first fulcrum portion”, and radially inward from the inner peripheral surface with respect to the first fulcrum portion. Let the 2nd-4th support pieces 462-464 in the spaced apart position be a "2nd fulcrum part". The proximal end region 452 of the cleaning film 45 is supported in a contact state without being fixed at the first fulcrum portion, and is fixed at the second fulcrum portion.

  The first support piece 461 of the first fulcrum portion supports the cleaning film 45 in a contact state without being fixed. Specifically, the film support surface S1 of the first support piece 461 faces the second surface 45b of the cleaning film 45, and in the cleaning film 45 (A) in the first state, the film support surface S1 is the second surface 45b. Supported in surface contact. This state is simply a state in which the second surface 45b rests on the film support surface S1, and both can be separated from each other. On the other hand, in the cleaning film 45 (B) in the second state, the axial front end portion E1 hits the inner peripheral surface 31A, and a load in the direction opposite to the extending direction acts on the cleaning film 45. For this reason, in the case of the cleaning film 45 (B) in the second state, the second surface 45 b comes into contact with the fulcrum P <b> 1 that is the corner closest to the inner peripheral surface 31 </ b> A of the first support piece 461, but is lifted from the film support surface S <b> 1. . That is, the second surface 45 b slides with respect to the first support piece 461. As a result, a slack portion M is formed in the cleaning film 45.

  The slack portion M is generated because the cleaning film 45 is fixedly supported so as to be substantially immovable at the second fulcrum portion. The film support surfaces S2 and S4 of the second and fourth support pieces 462 and 464 of the second fulcrum part face the first surface 45a of the cleaning film 45. On the other hand, the film support surface S3 of the third support piece 463 located between the second and fourth support pieces 462 and 464 is opposed to the second surface 45b of the cleaning film 45. The proximal end region 452 is sandwiched and supported by second to fourth support pieces 462 to 464 (film support surfaces S2 to S4) arranged in a staggered manner. A holding pin 465 protrudes from the film support surface S3, and a through hole is formed in the cleaning film 45 correspondingly. The cleaning film 45 is positioned by inserting the holding pin 465 into the through hole.

  Thus, the base end region 452 of the cleaning film 45 is supported from both the first surface 45a and the second surface 45b by the film support surfaces S2 to S4 in the second fulcrum portion, and the holding pin 465 is engaged. Yes. For this reason, in both the cleaning film 45 (A) in the first state and the cleaning film 45 (B) in the second state, the proximal end region 452 does not move at the second fulcrum portion. The cleaning film 45 bends on the tip side with respect to the fulcrum P2, which is the corner portion of the second support piece 462 closest to the inner peripheral surface 31A.

  That is, the base end region 452 is supported in a non-fixed (unconstrained) contact state at the first fulcrum portion and is fixed (restrained) at the second fulcrum portion, so that a slack portion M can be formed. By this slack portion M, it is possible to provide play when sliding with the toner detection surface 31B or the inner peripheral surface 31A of the cleaning film 45, and to suppress sliding contact with a strong butting load. Therefore, the creep deformation of the cleaning film 45 can be prevented, and the cleaning ability of the toner detection surface 31B by the cleaning film 45 and the ability of pressing the toner to the toner discharge port 30P can be maintained for a long time.

<Specific example of cleaning film and its attachment>
Then, the specific example of the cleaning film 45 and the specific example of the attachment to the holding | maintenance part 46 of the cleaning film 45 are demonstrated with reference to the schematic diagram shown in FIG. Similar to FIG. 20, FIG. 21 shows the cleaning film 45 (A) in the first state not in contact with the inner peripheral surface 31A and the cleaning film 45 (B in the second state in contact with the inner peripheral surface 31A). ) And is shown.

  The “contact” shown in FIG. 21 is a point where the axial front end side portion E1 contacts the inner peripheral surface 31A of the container main body 31. A load P acts on the tip end portion E1 with the contact, and the cleaning film 45 is bent. The load P corresponds to a force with which the front end side E1 presses against the inner peripheral surface 31A, and is a parameter related to the cleaning ability of the toner detection surface 31B by the cleaning film 45. δmax indicates the maximum amount of deflection of the front end portion E1 from the cleaning film 45 (A) in the first state to the cleaning film 45 (B) in the second state.

  Further, “fulcrum A” and “fulcrum B” in FIG. 21 are fulcrums corresponding to “fulcrum P1” and “fulcrum P2” shown in FIG. 20, respectively, and “fulcrum A” is closest to the inner peripheral surface 31A. The non-fixed fulcrum (first fulcrum part) of the cleaning film 45, “fulcrum B” is the fixed fulcrum (second fulcrum part) of the cleaning film 45 closest to the inner peripheral surface 31A among the parts fixing the cleaning film 45. ). Σmax in the figure indicates the stress applied to “fulcrum A”. The stress σmax is a parameter related to the creep deformation of the cleaning film 45.

  In the cleaning film 45 (A) in the first state, the portion from the “fulcrum B” of the cleaning film 45 to the front end side E1 is a free portion L that can be bent and deformed. Of the free portion L, the portion protruding from the “fulcrum A” toward the inner peripheral surface 31A is defined as the protrusion amount L1, and the remaining portion inside the “fulcrum A” is indicated by L2. Of the protruding amount L1, the region protruding from the intersection with the inner peripheral surface 31A is indicated by LA, and the distance between the intersection with the inner peripheral surface 31A and the “fulcrum A” is indicated by LB (L1 = LA + LB). Further, the tangent angle at which the cleaning film 45 (A) in the first state intersects the inner peripheral surface 31A is indicated by “θ”. Further, in the cleaning film 45 (B) in the second state, a leading end angle that is an intersection angle between the directing direction of the leading end side portion E1 and the inner peripheral surface 31A is indicated by “α”. The tip angle α depends on the protrusion amount L1.

Here, the thickness of the cleaning film 45 is h (mm), the width in the first direction is b (mm), the Young's modulus is E (GPa), the load P (N), the free portion L (mm), and the protrusion When the amount L1 (mm) is used, the sectional secondary moment I (cm ⁴ ), the maximum deflection amount δmax (mm), and the stress σmax (Mpa) of the cleaning film 45 can be expressed by the following equations.

  According to the present embodiment, the tip region 451 of the cleaning film 45 is not restrained at the “fulcrum A” when contacting the inner peripheral surface 31A of the tip side portion E1, and the tip region 451 forms a slack portion M. Deform. Thereby, as compared with the cleaning film restrained at “fulcrum A”, the stress σmax causing the creep deformation can be reduced while securing the load P necessary for cleaning the inner peripheral surface 31A.

Specific examples of the above parameters are shown below.
Cleaning film 45: material = PET film, thickness h = 0.1 mm, width b = 19.2 mm, Young's modulus E = 11.5 GPa
・ Attachment mode: free part L = L1 + L2 mm, protrusion amount L1 = 11.5 mm, L2 = 3.5 mm, LA = 7.2 mm, LB = 4.3 mm
-Intersection angle with inner peripheral surface 31A: tangent angle is θ = 40.5 °, tip angle α = 36.2 °
Substituting the above parameters into the above formula yields the following values:
・ Secondary moment of section I = 1.6E-6cm ⁴
・ Maximum deflection δmax = 5.97mm
・ Stress σmax = 64.1 Mpa

  FIG. 22 is a graph showing an example of calculating the strength of the cleaning film 25 using specific examples of the above parameters. The graph shows the relationship between the protrusion amount L1 of the PET film (cleaning film 45) to be used, the load P (N) that affects the cleaning ability, and the stress σmax (Mpa) that affects the creep deformation. . The protruding amount L1 is set to L1 = 11.5 mm ± 1 mm in consideration of the tolerance of the PET film itself to be used and the assembly error to the holding unit 46.

  The abutting load P of the PET film necessary for cleaning the toner detection surface 31B is required to be at least 0.05N from an empirical value. Further, the stress σmax needs to be set to yield stress = 80 MPa or less at 45 ° C. (actual use temperature) of the PET film in order to prevent creep deformation. According to the calculation result of FIG. 22, in the tolerance range 11.5 mm ± 1 mm of the protrusion amount L1, the load P (N) and the stress σmax (Mpa) are lower limit load = 0.05N or more, and creep deformation is It can be seen that the resulting yield stress is 80 MPa or less. Therefore, according to the cleaning film 45 and its attachment mode according to the above-described specific example, it is possible to prevent creep deformation of the cleaning film 45 while ensuring sufficient cleaning ability of the toner detection surface 31B.

<Demonstration example of effect of interference part of cleaning film>
As described above, the cleaning film 45 of the present embodiment is provided with the protruding piece 453 that prevents the cleaning film 45 from fitting into the toner discharge port 30P as an interference portion. A demonstration example of the effect of the protruding piece 453 is shown in FIG. FIG. 23 is a graph showing the experimental results of investigating the relationship between the aging time and the toner amount transition in the developing device 20. Here, paying attention to the function of pushing the toner into the toner discharge port 30P by the cleaning film 45, how much toner is supplied to the developing device 20 (developing housing 200) is shown. The amount of toner in the developing device 20 increases as the cleaning film 45 performs the toner pushing function.

  In the graph of FIG. 23, the comparative example shows an example in which a cleaning film that does not include the protruding piece 453 is used. In this comparative example, in the state shown in FIG. 17B, since the protruding piece 453 does not exist, the cleaning film does not become a cantilever state but fits into the toner discharge port 30P and repels the toner. become. Example 1 shows the toner amount transition when the cleaning film 45 with the protruding piece 453 shown in FIG. 16A is applied. Example 2 is a cleaning film 45A provided with slits 454 and protrusions 453 shown in FIG. 16B, and Example 3 is a cleaning provided with open slits 455 and protrusions 453 shown in FIG. 16C. It is a toner amount transition when the film 45B is applied.

  As apparent from the graph of FIG. 23, in the comparative example, the toner amount in the developing device 20 increases with the progress of the aging time, and the cleaning film according to the comparative example supplies excessive toner to the developing device 20. I understand that. On the other hand, in Examples 1 to 3, the toner amount in the developing device 20 is stable even when the aging time proceeds. Therefore, it can be seen that the cleaning films 45, 45A, and 45B of Examples 1 to 3 do not supply toner excessively through the toner discharge port 30P.

  Further, compared with Example 1, Examples 2 and 3 can be stabilized with a small amount of toner. This is because the load on the axial front end side E1 of the cleaning films 45A and 45B is smaller than that in Example 1 due to the formation of the slit portion 454 or the open slit portion 455, and the force for pressing the toner is reduced. As described with reference to FIG. 18, the slit portions 454 and 455 depend on the function of absorbing vibrations when the vicinity of the corner portion C of the cleaning films 45A and 45B falls into the toner discharge port 30P.

  As described above, the toner container 30 of the present embodiment includes the moving wall 34 that moves in the first direction along the shaft portion 33 and the rotating body 35 that rotates about the axis of the shaft portion 33. The rotating body 35 is equipped with three functional members, a cleaning unit 41, a stirring unit 42, and a detected unit 43. By each of these functional members, the toner detection surface 31B by the toner sensor 60 is kept clean, the toner in the accommodation space 31S is agitated to prevent aggregation, and whether the toner container 30 is mounted at a predetermined position. This can be detected by the toner sensor 60.

  Therefore, the toner amount stored in the container main body 31 can be accurately known by the toner sensor 60, and the movement control of the moving wall 34 can be executed accurately. Further, since toner aggregation is prevented, high-fluidity toner can be supplied to the developing device 20 through the toner discharge port 30P. Further, it is possible to detect the mounting of the toner container 30 using the rotating body 35 without arranging a separate container attachment / detachment sensor or the like.

  Further, the tip region 451 of the cleaning film 45 has a protruding piece 453 (interference portion) that interferes with the opening peripheral edge of the toner discharge port 30P when passing through the toner discharge port 30P. For this reason, when the tip region 451 moves while being in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface 31A as the rotating body 35 rotates and reaches the toner discharge port 30P, the tip region 451 is fitted into the toner discharge port 30P. There is nothing. In other words, when the front end region 451 passes through the toner discharge port 30P, an operation of pressing the toner to repel the toner and discharging the toner from the toner discharge port 30P is restricted. Therefore, the cleaning film 45 can prevent a problem that toner is excessively supplied to the developing device 20 through the toner discharge port 30P.

100 Printer (image forming device)
121 Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
20 Developing Device 200 Developing Housing 23 First Stirring Screw (Developer Conveying Member)
26 Developer transport path 28 Transport capability suppression unit 30 Toner container (developer container)
30P Toner outlet (Developer outlet)
31 Container body (container body)
31A Inner peripheral surface 31B Toner detection surface (detection surface)
31H Internal space 31S Housing space 33 Shaft portion 34 Moving wall 35 Rotating body 41 Cleaning portion 42 Stirring portion 43 Detected portion 45 Cleaning film (cleaning member)
45a First surface 45b Second surface 451 Front end region 452 Base end region 453 Projection piece (interference part)
46 Holding part 60 Toner sensor (detection sensor)
F1 upstream opening edge F2 downstream opening edge F3 circumferential right opening edge F4 circumferential left opening edge

Claims (6)

A container body including an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space extending in a cylindrical shape along the first direction, and a developer discharge port that is opened to communicate with the internal space and discharges the developer;
An outer peripheral surface disposed to face the inner peripheral surface of the container main body, and a transport surface that defines a storage space in which the developer is stored together with the inner peripheral surface of the container main body. A moving wall that moves in the first direction while transporting the developer toward the developer discharge port,
A detection surface which is a part of the inner peripheral surface of the storage space of the container body and serves as a detection region of a detection sensor for detecting the developer in the storage space;
A rotating body disposed in the housing space and rotatable about an axis of a rotating shaft along the first direction;
A cleaning member that is held by the rotating body and cleans the detection surface by slidingly contacting the detection surface during the rotation of the rotating body;
The cleaning member is made of a film-like elastic member, and includes a distal end region that is in sliding contact with the detection surface, and a proximal end region that is held by the rotating body,
The developer discharge port is a position different from the detection surface in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface, and is opened at a position through which the tip region passes during the rotation of the rotating body,
The developer storage container, wherein the tip region has an interference portion that interferes with an opening peripheral edge of the developer discharge port during the passage. The developer container according to claim 1,
The developer discharge port is a rectangular opening, and the opening peripheral edge is a peripheral edge that defines an opening edge in a circumferential direction of the rectangular opening,
The cleaning member is a rectangular member provided with a first side portion along the first direction and a second side portion along the circumferential direction in a state of being held by the rotating body,
The interference portion is a developer container, which is a projecting piece projecting from the second side portion along the first direction. The developer container according to claim 2,
The developer storage container, wherein the tip region has a slit portion in which a part of the tip region is cut out. The developer container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:
A shaft portion arranged to extend in the first direction in the internal space;
The moving wall moves in the first direction along the shaft portion;
The rotating body is a developer storage container that rotates about the shaft portion with the shaft portion serving as the rotation axis. An image carrier having a peripheral surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed;
A developing device for supplying a developer to the peripheral surface of the image carrier for developing the electrostatic latent image;
The developer container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the developer is supplied to the developing device.
A detection sensor for detecting the developer in the developer container;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 5.
The developing device includes:
A developer housing having a developer replenishing port connected directly below the developer discharge port of the developer container and into which the replenishment developer discharged from the developer discharge port flows;
A developer transport path set in the developing housing and transporting the developer;
A developer transport member disposed in the developer transport path and transporting the developer in a predetermined transport direction;
A transport capability suppressing part that partially suppresses the developer transport capability of the developer transport member on the downstream side in the transport direction from the developer supply port;
The tip region of the cleaning member is arranged such that the interference portion of the developer container interferes with the peripheral edge portion of the developer discharge port corresponding to the upstream side of the developer conveyance direction in the developer conveyance path. An image forming apparatus provided in the apparatus.

Images