JP2020042180A - Developer supply container - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a developer supply container that can prevent the occurrence of clogging of an exhaust port with a developer.SOLUTION: A developer supply container 60 comprises a storage cover part 100, a storage unit 200, and a discharge mechanism 300. The storage unit 200 has a peripheral wall 202 and a turning force input part. The peripheral wall 202 has a spiral projection 204 formed therein. The discharge mechanism 300 has a cam member 302 and an urging member 304. The cam member 302 has a cam member body 310 and a cam part 320. The storage cover part 120 has an opposing wall 121. The cam part 320 has a shape that, while being engaged with the spiral projection 204, displaces the cam member body 310 toward the opposing wall 121 and displaces the cam member body 310 to a position from which the cam member body is separated from the opposing wall 121 with an urging force of the urging member 304. A take-in passage S is formed in spaces inside the storage part 200 and inside the storage cover part 120. The urging member 304 has a loosening part 305 that loosens a developer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer supply container.

  For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-213910 (hereinafter, referred to as “Patent Document 1”) discloses a toner bottle (developer supply container) that is detachable from a container receiving portion of a developer supply device. The developer supply container has a cover portion having an outlet for discharging toner (developer), and a storage portion that stores the toner and is held by the cover portion so as to be rotatable relative to the cover portion. And The housing is formed in a cylindrical shape. The housing portion has a protrusion that protrudes inward and that is formed in a spiral shape in the axial direction of the housing portion. The storage unit is driven to rotate by a toner bottle driving unit of the developer supply device. As a result, the protrusion conveys the toner toward the discharge port.

JP 2013-213910 A

  When the developer supply container as described in Patent Literature 1 is attached to and detached from the developer supply device, there is a possibility that the developer flowing out through the discharge port adheres to the developer supply device. Therefore, it is conceivable to reduce the size of the outlet. However, in such a case, there is a concern that the developer may be clogged at the discharge port and a defective supply of the developer may be caused due to the clogging.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a developer supply container capable of suppressing the occurrence of developer clogging at an outlet.

  A developer supply container according to one aspect of the present invention is a developer supply container that is detachable from a container receiving portion of a developer supply device. The developer supply container has a storage cover portion having an outlet for discharging the developer, and stores the developer, and is held by the storage cover portion so as to be rotatable relative to the storage cover portion. The storage unit includes a storage unit, and a discharge mechanism that sends the developer in the storage unit to the discharge port while releasing the developer. The housing has a peripheral wall formed in a cylindrical shape, and a rotational force input unit that receives a rotational force for rotating the peripheral wall around its axis from a driving unit of the developer supply device. On the peripheral wall, a helical projection having a shape protruding inward and extending helically is formed. The discharge mechanism urges the cam member toward the helical protrusion and a cam member displaceable along the axial direction of the peripheral wall inside the storage cover portion while engaging with the helical protrusion when the housing portion rotates. An urging member. The cam member has a shape that opens toward the storage cover side, and includes a cam member main body that supports one end of the biasing member, and a cam portion that is connected to the cam member main body and that engages with the spiral projection. Having. The housing cover has an opposing wall provided at a position opposing the opening of the cam member main body. While the cam portion is engaged with the helical protrusion during rotation of the storage portion, the cam member main body contacts the opposing wall while resisting the urging force of the urging member while the cam member main body contacts or approaches the opposing wall in the axial direction of the peripheral wall. And the cam member body is displaced by the urging force of the urging member along the axial direction of the peripheral wall to a position separated from the opposing wall. In the space inside the housing portion and the space inside the housing cover portion, the developer is supplied from the inside of the housing portion to the outside of the cam member body, between the cam member body and the opposing wall, and through the opening of the cam member body to the inside of the cam member body. A take-in path for taking in is formed. The urging member has an opening inside the cam member main body for releasing the developer in accordance with the reciprocating movement of the cam member along the axial direction of the peripheral wall.

  In the present developer supply container, the cam member engages with the helical projection while the accommodating portion is being rotated by the rotational force of the driving portion of the developer supply device. Displaced toward the opposing wall while contacting or approaching the opposing wall while resisting the urging force, and then displaced to a position separated from the opposing wall by the urging force of the urging member. At this time, since an airflow is generated from the inside of the housing portion toward the inside of the cam member body along the intake path, the developer conveyed toward the outside of the housing portion by the helical projection with the rotation of the housing portion is subjected to the airflow. And flows into the cam member main body. The developer that has flowed into the cam member main body is sent to the discharge port while being released by the release portion of the biasing member. Therefore, occurrence of clogging of the developer at the discharge port is suppressed.

  Preferably, the biasing member is formed of a coil spring. Each coil part of the coil spring constitutes an unraveling part.

  With this configuration, both the function of urging the cam member and the function of releasing the developer can be achieved with a simple configuration.

  Preferably, the urging member is made of a metal or a resin material having elasticity.

  Preferably, the housing cover further includes a guide having a shape extending along the axial direction of the peripheral wall. The cam member has a guided portion that engages with the guide portion.

  With this configuration, since the relative rotation of the cam member with respect to the housing cover is suppressed, the rotational force input from the drive unit of the developer supply device to the housing is effectively applied to the cam member via the spiral projection. Is transmitted.

  Also preferably, the cam member has a reciprocating portion for stirring the developer existing above the discharge port while reciprocating above the discharge port as the urging member expands and contracts.

  In this case, the accumulation of the developer above the discharge port can be suppressed.

  Preferably, the housing cover further includes a guiding portion having a shape protruding from the opposing wall toward the cam member main body. The guide portion has a shape in which the length of the guide portion in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the peripheral wall gradually decreases as the distance from the opposing wall increases in the axial direction of the peripheral wall.

  In this aspect, the airflow passing between the cam member main body and the opposing wall in the intake path and the developer accompanying the airflow are more reliably guided to the inside of the cam member main body by the guide portion.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a developer supply container capable of suppressing the occurrence of developer clogging at an outlet.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus including a developer supply container according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the developer supply device. FIG. 4 is a side view of a developer supply container and a rotational force transmission unit. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a relationship between a developer supply container and a rotational force transmission unit. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a developer supply container. FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of a part of the developer supply container. It is a front view of a developer supply container. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII illustrated in FIG. 7, illustrating a state where an urging member is extended. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state where the urging member is contracted in FIG. 8. It is a perspective view of a cam member. It is a perspective view of the cam member in the angle different from FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a cam portion viewed from a direction indicated by an arrow XII in FIG. 10. It is an exploded perspective view of a storage cover part and a discharge mechanism. FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a discharge mechanism is incorporated in the storage cover unit in FIG. 13. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a relationship between a housing cover portion and a cam member. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the urging member is omitted from FIG. 8. It is a sectional view of a developer supply container of a second embodiment of the present invention.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings referred to below, the same or corresponding members have the same reference characters allotted.

(1st Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus including a developer supply container according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is an MFP (Multifunctional Peripherals) having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a facsimile function, a printer function, and a scanner function.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming unit 10 (10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K), an intermediate transfer belt 20, a secondary transfer roller 21, a fixing device 22, a discharge tray, and the like. 23, a paper feed tray 24 (24P, 24Q), and a developer supply device 50.

  The image forming unit 10 includes a photoconductor 11 (image carrier), a charging device 12, an exposure device 13, a developing device 14, a primary transfer roller 15, and a cleaning blade 17. The image forming unit 10Y, the image forming unit 10M, the image forming unit 10C, and the image forming unit 10K respectively intermediate toner images having yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) colors. It is formed on the surface of the transfer belt 20.

  The toner images of each color are superimposed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20. Thereafter, the intermediate transfer belt 20 conveys the color toner image to a secondary transfer section between the intermediate transfer belt 20 and the secondary transfer roller 21.

  The paper feed tray 24 is provided as a storage unit that stores paper 25 as a recording medium. A plurality of sheets 25 are stored in the sheet feed tray 24. Typically, sheets 25 of different sizes are stored in the sheet tray 24P and the sheet tray 24Q. The paper feed tray 24P and the paper feed tray 24Q are provided vertically.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the paper feed trays 24 are provided in two upper and lower stages has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one paper feed tray 24 may be provided, or three or more stages. May be provided.

  The paper 25 stored in the paper feed tray 24 is conveyed to a secondary transfer section between the intermediate transfer belt 20 and the secondary transfer roller 21 by various kinds of rotating rollers. The color toner image carried on the intermediate transfer belt 20 is transferred to the surface of the sheet 25 in the secondary transfer section. The color toner image is fixed on the surface of the sheet 25 by the fixing device 22. The sheet 25 on which an image has been formed by the above steps is discharged to the discharge tray 23.

  The developer supply device 50 is a device that supplies a developer (toner) to the developing device 14 of the image forming unit 10. The developer supply device 50 is provided between the intermediate transfer belt 20 and the paper discharge tray 23 in the vertical direction. However, the arrangement of the developer supply device 50 in the image forming apparatus 1 is not particularly limited.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the developer supply device. FIG. 3 is a side view of the developer supply container and the rotational force transmission unit. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a relationship between the developer supply container and the rotational force transmitting unit. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the developer supply device 50 includes a container receiving section 52 (52Y, 52M, 52C, 52K), a rotational force transmitting section 54, a driving section (not shown), And a supply container 60 (60Y, 60M, 60C, 60K).

  The container receiving section 52 is disposed above the intermediate transfer belt 20 in the image forming apparatus 1. The container receiving portion 52 is configured to be able to receive the developer supply container 60. The container receiving portion 52Y, the container receiving portion 52M, the container receiving portion 52C, and the container receiving portion 52K correspond to the developer supply container 60Y, the developer supply container 60M, the developer supply container 60C, and the developer supply container 60K, respectively. Is provided.

  The rotational force transmitting portion 54 has a shape that fits into the developer supply container 60. The rotational force transmitting unit 54 transmits a rotational force for rotating the developer supply container 60 to the developer supply container 60 in a state of being fitted to the developer supply container 60. As shown in FIG. 4, the rotational force transmitting section 54 has a fitting projection 55. The rotational force transmitting unit 54 is rotationally driven by a driving unit (not shown).

  The developer supply container 60 stores a developer (toner) to be supplied to the developing device 14. The developer replenishing container 60Y, the developer replenishing container 60M, the developer replenishing container 60C, and the developer replenishing container 60K are respectively composed of the image forming unit 10Y, the image forming unit 10M, the image forming unit 10C, and the developing device 14 of the image forming unit 10K. Is provided in correspondence with. That is, the developer supply container 60Y, the developer supply container 60M, the developer supply container 60C, and the developer supply container 60K are provided with yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toners. Is housed.

  The developer supply container 60 supplies the developer to the developing device 14 by being rotationally driven by a drive unit via the rotational force transmission unit 54. The developer supply container 60 is configured to be detachable from the container receiving portion 52. When the remaining amount of the developer in the developer supply container 60 becomes small, the developer supply container 60 is detached from the container receiving portion 52, and a new developer supply container 60 containing enough developer is placed in the container receiving portion. 52.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the developer supply container. FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of a part of the developer supply container. FIG. 7 is a front view of the developer supply container. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII shown in FIG. 7, showing a state where the urging member is extended. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which the urging member is contracted in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, the developer supply container 60 has a cover member 100, a storage section 200, and a discharge mechanism 300.

  The cover member 100 includes an operation cover section 110, a housing cover section 120, and a seal member.

  The operation cover unit 110 is a part operated by an operator when the developer supply container 60 is attached or detached. The operation cover unit 110 is arranged at a front part of the cover member 100. The operation cover unit 110 has a shutter 112.

  The housing cover section 120 is arranged behind the operation cover section 110. The housing cover 120 houses a part of the housing 200. The storage cover section 120 holds the storage section 200 such that the storage section 200 can rotate relative to the storage cover section 120. The housing cover 120 is formed integrally with the operation cover 110. However, the housing cover unit 120 may be configured as a separate member from the operation cover unit 110. The housing cover section 120 has a front wall 121, a cylindrical wall 122, a housing section holding section 126, and a guide section 128.

  The front wall 121 is disposed on the front side (the operation cover unit 110 side). The front wall 121 is formed in a disk shape. The front wall 121 is parallel to the vertical direction when the developer supply container 60 is mounted on the container receiving portion 52.

  The cylindrical wall 122 has a shape standing rearward from the outer edge of the front wall 121. The cylindrical wall 122 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The cylindrical wall 122 is connected to the operation cover unit 110. The inside of the cylindrical wall 122 and the inside of the operation cover unit 110 are separated by a front wall 121. The cylindrical wall 122 is provided with a discharge port 123 for discharging the developer. The outlet 123 penetrates the cylindrical wall 122 in the radial direction. The cover member 100 is attached to the container receiving portion 52 such that the outlet 123 faces the vertical direction.

  The housing section holding section 126 is a section that holds the housing section 200. As shown in FIG. 9, the accommodation portion holding portion 126 has a shape extending from the cylindrical wall 122 toward the opposite side (rear side) to the side where the front wall 121 is located along the axial direction of the cylindrical wall 122. Have.

  The guide portion 128 guides a cam member 302 described later. The guide portion 128 has a shape extending inward in the radial direction of the cylindrical wall 122 from the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall 122 and extending along the axial direction of the cylindrical wall 122. A pair of guide portions 128 is connected to two portions of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall 122 that face each other in the radial direction of the cylindrical wall 122.

  The seal member 130 is fixed to a lower portion of the operation cover 110 and the cylindrical wall 122. The sealing material 130 has a hole that overlaps the discharge port 123 in the radial direction of the cylindrical wall 122 and is larger than the discharge port 123. The shutter 112 is movable between a position that opens the hole (the position in FIG. 8) and a position that closes the hole.

  The storage section 200 stores the developer. The storage section 200 is held by the storage cover section 120 so as to be rotatable relative to the storage cover section 120. The accommodation section 200 is detachable from the cover member 100. Specifically, the housing section 200 has a peripheral wall 202, a held section 205, and a bottom wall 206.

  The peripheral wall 202 is formed in a cylindrical shape. On the peripheral wall 202, a helical projection 204 having a shape protruding inward and extending helically is formed.

  The held part 205 is a part that is held by the housing part holding part 126 of the housing cover part 120. The held portion 205 is connected to one end of the peripheral wall 202 (the side held by the housing cover portion 120). The held portion 205 is held by the housing portion holding portion 126 so as to be rotatable relative to the housing portion holding portion 126. The held portion 205 has a shape that opens the inside of the peripheral wall 202 to the outside. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the held portion 205 faces the front wall 121 while being held by the housing portion holding portion 126.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bottom wall 206 is connected to the other end of the peripheral wall 202. The bottom wall 206 has a shape that closes the opening on the other side of the peripheral wall 202. As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom wall 206 has a rotational force input unit 207. The rotational force input portion 207 has a shape that is depressed toward the held portion 205 and that fits with the fitting protrusion 55 of the rotational force transmitting portion 54. The rotational force input unit 207 receives, from the rotational force transmitting unit 54, a rotational force that rotates the peripheral wall 202 around its axis. That is, when the driving unit rotates with the fitting protrusion 55 fitted into the rotational force input unit 207, the housing unit 200 relatively rotates around the central axis of the peripheral wall 202 with respect to the housing cover unit 120. As a result, the developer in the storage section 200 is sent toward the held section 205 and the discharge port 123 by the spiral projection 204.

  The discharge mechanism 300 is a mechanism for releasing the developer in the storage unit 200 and sending the developer to the discharge port 123. The discharge mechanism 300 is provided inside the housing cover 120. Specifically, the discharge mechanism 300 includes a cam member 302 and a biasing member 304.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cam member. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the cam member at an angle different from that of FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the cam portion viewed from the direction indicated by arrow XII in FIG. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the storage cover unit and the discharge mechanism. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a state in which the discharge mechanism is incorporated in the housing cover in FIG. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the housing cover and the cam member. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a state in which the urging member is omitted from FIG.

  The cam member 302 is displaced relative to the housing cover 120 along the axial direction of the peripheral wall 202 inside the housing cover 120 while engaging with the spiral projection 204 when the housing 200 rotates. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cam member 302 engages with the helical projection 204 when the housing portion 200 rotates, and receives the urging force of the urging member 304 in the axial direction of the peripheral wall 202. Reciprocate in the housing cover section 120 along the line. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the cam member 302 has a cam member main body 310 and a cam portion 320.

  The cam member main body 310 is arranged around the urging member 304. The cam member main body 310 supports one end of the urging member 304. The cam member main body 310 has a shape that opens toward the front wall 121 of the housing cover 120. That is, the front wall 121 corresponds to a “facing wall” provided at a position facing the opening of the cam member main body 310. The cam member main body 310 includes a cylindrical portion 311, a closing portion 312, a plurality of (four in this embodiment) legs 314, an annular portion 316, a reciprocating portion 317, and a plurality of protrusions 318. Have.

  The cylindrical portion 311 is formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding the urging member 304.

  The closing part 312 is connected to one end of the cylindrical part 311. The closing part 312 has a shape that closes the opening on one side of the cylindrical part 311. The closing part 312 is formed in a disk shape. The outer diameter of the closing portion 312 is larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 311.

  The closing part 312 has a support part 315 that supports one end of the urging member 304. The support portion 315 has a shape protruding from the closing portion 312 along the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 311 toward the other end of the cylindrical portion 311.

  Each leg 314 has a shape protruding radially outward of the cylindrical portion 311 from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 311 and extending along the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 311. One end of each leg 314 is connected to the back surface of the closing part 312. The plurality of legs 314 are arranged at 90-degree intervals along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 311.

  As shown in FIGS. 10, 11, 13, and 15, each leg 314 has a guided portion 313 that engages with the guide 128. The guided portion 313 has a shape recessed inward in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 311 from the outer surface of the leg portion 314. The guided portion 313 has a shape extending from one end of the leg portion 314 to the other end.

  The annular portion 316 is formed in an annular shape. The annular portion 316 connects the other ends of the legs 314 (an end opposite to the end connected to the closing portion 312). The annular portion 316 is provided at a position separated from the cylindrical portion 311 in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 311. That is, a gap is formed between the cylindrical portion 311 and the annular portion 316.

  The reciprocating unit 317 releases the developer existing above the outlet 123 while reciprocating above the outlet 123. The reciprocating portion 317 is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the annular portion 316. The reciprocating portion 317 has a shape protruding from a part of the outer peripheral surface of the annular portion 316 along the radial direction of the annular portion 316. However, the direction in which the reciprocating portion 317 protrudes from the annular portion 316 may be a direction inclined forward or backward with respect to the radial direction of the annular portion 316. The reciprocating part 317 is formed in a plate shape.

  The plurality of protrusions 318 are provided at positions separated from each other along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 311 (the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall 202). Each projection 318 has a shape protruding outward from the outer surface of the closing portion 312 in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 311.

  Each protrusion 318 abuts on the housing cover 120 in the radial direction of the peripheral wall 202. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 9, 13, and 14, each protrusion 318 abuts on the inner peripheral surface of the housing holding portion 126 in the radial direction of the peripheral wall 202. Each of the protrusions 318 slides along the axial direction of the peripheral wall 202 while abutting on the inner peripheral surface of the storage portion holding portion 126 when the storage portion 200 rotates. As shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 13, at least one protrusion 318 is arranged in one of two regions defined by 180 degrees in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 311. At least two protrusions 318 are arranged in the other of the two regions.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cam member main body 310 has a posture in which the annular portion 316 faces the front wall 121 and the central axis of the cylindrical portion 311 is located on an extension of the central axis of the peripheral wall 202. At the inside of the housing cover part 120.

  As shown by arrows in FIG. 8, in the space inside the housing portion 200 and the space inside the housing cover portion 120, the outside of the cam member main body 310, between the cam member main body 310 and the front wall 121, and An intake path (path through which the developer flows) S for taking the developer into the cam member main body 310 via the opening of the cam member main body 310 is formed.

  The urging member 304 urges the cam member 302 toward the spiral projection 204 (in a direction away from the front wall (opposing wall) 121 of the housing cover 120). As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the biasing member 304 is arranged inside the cam member main body 310. The urging member 304 connects the front wall 121 of the storage cover 120 and the cam member 302. Specifically, one end of the urging member 304 is supported by the support 315. The other end of the urging member 304 is fixed to the front wall 121. The biasing member 304 is made of metal or a resin material having elasticity.

  The biasing member 304 has a lip 305 for releasing the developer inside the cam member main body 310 in accordance with the reciprocating motion of the cam member 302 along the axial direction of the peripheral wall 202. The release unit 305 releases the developer in the process of expanding and contracting the urging member 304. In the present embodiment, the biasing member 304 is formed of a coil spring. That is, in the present embodiment, each coil portion of the coil spring constitutes the unraveling portion 305.

  The cam section 320 is connected to the cam member main body 310. The cam section 320 engages with the spiral projection 204. The cam portion 320 resists the urging force of the urging member 304 while engaging with the helical protrusion 204 during rotation of the housing portion 200, while the cam member 320 is in contact with or close to the front wall 121 until the cam member main body 310 comes into contact with or approaches the front wall 121. It has a shape in which the member main body 310 is displaced (pushed) toward the front wall 121 along the axial direction of the peripheral wall 202. When the cam portion 320 pushes the cam member main body 310, the urging member 304 contracts. The cam portion 320 separates the cam member main body 310 from the front wall 121 along the axial direction of the peripheral wall 202 by the urging force of the urging member 304 while engaging with the spiral protrusion 204 when the housing portion 200 rotates. (Position shown in FIG. 8). Note that “the cam member main body 310 is close to the front wall 121” refers to a state in which a gap is formed between the cam member main body 310 and the front wall 121 to a degree that allows the passage of the developer (see FIG. 9). Indicated state).

  As shown in FIGS. 10, 13, 14, etc., a pair of cam portions 320 are connected to the cam member main body 310. Each cam portion 320 is provided at a portion of the closing portion 312 located between the legs 314 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 311. Each cam portion 320 has a shape that is curved so as to protrude outward in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 311. The pair of cam portions 320 are provided at positions facing each other in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 311. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the cam section 320 has a first inclined section 321 and a second inclined section 322.

  The first inclined portion 321 is arranged on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the spiral projection 204. The first inclined portion 321 is inclined with respect to an orthogonal surface (the surface of the closing portion 312) orthogonal to the central axis of the peripheral wall 202. The first inclined portion 321 displaces the cam member main body 310 toward the front wall 121 of the housing cover portion 120 along the axial direction of the peripheral wall 202 by engaging with the spiral projection 204 when the housing portion 200 rotates. It has a shape that is inclined as follows.

  The second inclined portion 322 is arranged on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the spiral projection 204. The second inclined portion 322 is inclined with respect to the orthogonal plane. The direction of inclination of the second inclined portion 322 with respect to the orthogonal plane is opposite to that of the first inclined portion 321. The second inclined portion 322 engages the helical projection 204 when the housing portion 200 rotates, and, by the urging force of the urging member 304, moves the cam member main body 310 along the axial direction of the peripheral wall 202 to the housing cover portion 120. It has a shape inclined so as to be displaced in a direction away from the front wall 121. As shown in FIG. 12, the inclination angle θ2 of the second inclined part 322 with respect to the orthogonal plane is larger than the inclination angle θ1 of the first inclined part 321 with respect to the orthogonal plane.

  Note that during rotation of the storage section 200, a period from when the spiral protrusion 204 separates from the second inclined portion 322 to when it engages with the first inclined portion 321 again (when the spiral protrusion 204 separates from the cam portion 320). During this time, the cam member 302 is maintained at a position separated from the front wall 121 by the urging force of the urging member 304.

  Next, an operation when the drive unit of the developer supply device 50 is driven in a state where the developer supply container 60 is mounted on the container receiving unit 52 will be described.

  When the driving unit is driven in a state where the fitting projection 55 of the torque transmitting unit 54 is fitted to the torque input unit 207 (the state shown in FIG. 3), the spiral projection 204 formed on the peripheral wall 202 causes The developer in the storage section 200 is transported toward the outlet 123.

  At this time, a portion on the downstream side (the held portion 205 side) of the spiral projection 204 first engages with the first inclined portion 321 of the cam portion 320. While the downstream portion of the spiral projection 204 is engaged with the first inclined portion 321 (while the downstream portion of the spiral projection 204 is sliding on the first inclined portion 321), the cam member 302 is displaced toward the front wall 121 while resisting the urging force of the urging member 304.

  While the cam member 302 is displaced toward the front wall 121, the guided portion 313 is guided by the guide portion 128. Therefore, the relative rotation of the cam member 302 with respect to the housing cover 120 is suppressed. Therefore, the rotational force input from the drive unit of the developer supply device 50 to the storage unit 200 is effectively transmitted to the cam member 302 via the spiral protrusion 204.

  Further, while the cam member 302 is displaced toward the front wall 121, each projection 318 keeps abutting on the inner peripheral surface of the housing portion holding portion 126. Therefore, the displacement of the cam member 302 in the radial direction of the peripheral wall 202 is effectively restricted. Therefore, when the cam member 302 is displaced along the axial direction of the peripheral wall 202, the cam member 302 is prevented from being inclined with respect to the axial direction of the peripheral wall 202 (the occurrence of twisting).

  When the accommodating portion 200 further rotates from the state in which the urging member 304 is contracted (the state shown in FIG. 9), the downstream portion of the spiral projection 204 is separated from the first inclined portion 321 and the second inclined portion Engage part 322. More specifically, the cam member 302 is separated from the front wall 121 by the biasing force of the biasing member 304 while the downstream portion of the spiral projection 204 is engaged with the second inclined portion 322 (see FIG. 8). (Position shown).

  Here, since the inclination angle θ2 is larger than the inclination angle θ1, the cam member 302 is displaced toward the front wall 121 by the engagement between the spiral projection 204 and the first inclined portion 321. It is displaced in a direction away from the front wall 121 at a higher speed. At this time, an airflow is generated from inside the storage section 200 toward the inside of the cam member main body 310 along the intake path S. For this reason, the developer conveyed toward the outside of the housing portion 200 by the spiral projection 204 with the rotation of the housing portion 200 is entrained by the airflow as shown by an arrow in FIG. It flows inside the member main body 310. The developer that has flowed into the inside of the cam member main body 310 is sent to the discharge port while being released by the release portion 305 of the biasing member 304. Therefore, occurrence of clogging of the developer at the discharge port is suppressed.

  Thereafter, when the accommodating portion 200 further rotates, the spiral protrusion 204 is again engaged with the first inclined portion 321, so that the cam member 302 is again displaced toward the front wall 121. At this time, the developer released by the release section 305 in the cam member main body 310 is sent to the discharge port 123 as shown by an arrow in FIG.

  As described above, in the developer supply container 60 of the present embodiment, the developer in the storage unit 200 moves along the intake path S with the reciprocation of the cam member 302 caused by the rotation of the storage unit 200. It flows into the cam member main body 310, where it is sent to the discharge port 123 while being unwound by the unwinding unit 305. Therefore, the occurrence of clogging of the developer at the outlet 123 is suppressed.

  Therefore, for example, the outlet 123 can be made smaller. When the developer supply container 60 is detached from the container receiving portion 52, the possibility that the developer flowing out through the outlet 123 adheres to the container receiving portion 52 by reducing the size of the outlet 123 is suppressed.

  Further, in the process where the cam member 302 reciprocates along the axial direction of the peripheral wall 202 with the rotation of the storage section 200, the reciprocating section 317 exists above the discharge port 123 while reciprocating above the discharge port 123. Release the developer. Therefore, the accumulation of the developer above the outlet 123 is suppressed.

(2nd Embodiment)
Next, a developer supply container 60 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a developer supply container according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, only the portions different from the first embodiment will be described, and the description of the same structure, operation, and effects as those of the first embodiment will not be repeated.

  In the developer supply container 60 of the present embodiment, the housing cover unit 120 further has a guiding unit 129. The guide portion 129 has a shape protruding from the front wall 121 toward the cam member main body 310. The guide portion 129 has a shape in which the length of the guide portion 129 in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the peripheral wall 202 gradually decreases as the distance from the front wall 121 increases along the axial direction of the peripheral wall 202. Specifically, the guiding portion 129 is formed in a conical shape or a polygonal pyramid shape. The end of the guiding portion 129 on the front wall 121 side has a shape that fits inside the biasing member 304. It is preferable that the central axis of the guiding portion 129 be located on an extension of the central axis of the peripheral wall 202.

  In the present embodiment, when the urging member 304 is extended (when the cam member 302 is displaced in a direction away from the front wall 121), it has passed between the cam member main body 310 and the front wall 121 in the intake path S. The airflow and the developer accompanying the airflow are more reliably guided to the inside of the cam member main body 310 by the guide portion 129.

  It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image forming apparatus, 10 image forming unit, 50 developer supply device, 52 container receiving section, 54 rotational force transmitting section, 60 developer supply container, 100 cover member, 110 operation cover section, 112 shutter, 120 housing cover section, 121 Front wall (opposing wall), 122 Cylindrical wall, 123 outlet, 126 accommodation part holding part, 128 guide part, 129 guiding part, 200 accommodation part, 202 peripheral wall, 204 spiral projection, 205 held part, 206 bottom wall , 207 rotational force input unit, 300 ejection mechanism, 302 cam member, 304 urging member, 305 unraveling unit, 310 cam member main body, 311 cylindrical wall, 312 closing wall, 313 guided part, 314 leg part, 315 support part 316 annular part, 317 reciprocating part, 318 protrusion, 320 cam part, 321 first inclined part, 322 second inclined part Oblique, S uptake path.

Claims (6)

A developer supply container that is detachable from a container receiving portion of the developer supply device,
A housing cover part having a discharge port for discharging the developer,
A storage portion that stores the developer and is held by the storage cover portion so as to be rotatable relative to the storage cover portion,
A discharge mechanism that unwinds the developer in the storage section and sends the developer to the discharge port,
The housing section has a peripheral wall formed in a cylindrical shape, and a rotational force input section that receives a rotational force for rotating the peripheral wall around its axis from a driving section of the developer supply device,
On the peripheral wall, a helical projection having a shape that is inwardly convex and extends helically is formed,
A cam member displaceable along the axial direction of the peripheral wall inside the housing cover portion while engaging the spiral protrusion when the housing portion is rotated, and the cam member; A biasing member for biasing toward the projection,
The cam member has a shape that opens toward the housing cover portion side, and is connected to the cam member main body that supports one end of the urging member, and is connected to the cam member main body. And a cam portion that fits
The housing cover portion has an opposing wall provided at a position opposing an opening of the cam member main body,
The cam portion is engaged with the helical protrusion during rotation of the housing portion while the cam member body is in contact with or close to the opposing wall while resisting the urging force of the urging member. A position where the member main body is displaced toward the opposing wall along the axial direction of the peripheral wall, and the cam member main body is separated from the opposing wall along the axial direction of the peripheral wall by the urging force of the urging member. With a shape that displaces
In the space inside the housing portion and the space inside the housing cover portion, the inside of the housing portion, the outside of the cam member main body, between the cam member main body and the opposed wall, and via the opening of the cam member main body, An intake path for taking the agent inside the cam member main body is formed,
The developer supply container, wherein the urging member has a disengaging portion for releasing the developer in accordance with the reciprocating movement of the cam member along the axial direction of the peripheral wall inside the cam member main body. The urging member is made of a coil spring,
2. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein each coil portion of the coil spring forms the opening. 3.   The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the urging member is made of a metal or a resin material having elasticity. The storage cover portion further includes a guide portion having a shape extending along an axial direction of the peripheral wall,
The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the cam member has a guided portion that engages with the guide portion.   5. The cam member according to claim 1, wherein the cam member has a reciprocating unit that agitates the developer existing above the discharge port while reciprocating above the discharge port as the urging member expands and contracts. 6. Item 2. The developer supply container according to Item 1. The housing cover portion further includes a guide portion having a shape protruding from the facing wall toward the cam member main body,
The said guide part has the shape which the length of the said guide part in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the said peripheral wall becomes small gradually as it separates from the said opposing wall along the axial direction of the said peripheral wall. 6. The developer supply container according to any one of 5.