JP2020067533A - Toner container, image forming apparatus, and method for assembling toner container - Google Patents

Abstract

To facilitate easy disassembly of a moving member to improve recyclability of a toner container.SOLUTION: A toner container 6 comprises: a container body 21 that has a discharge port 37 for discharging toner and contains the toner; a rotating member 22 that is accommodated in the container body 21 and rotates around an axis of rotation X; and a moving member 23 that is moved in a first direction D1 parallel to the axis of rotation X in association with the rotation of the rotating member 22, and conveys the toner in the container body 21 toward the discharge port 37. The moving member 23 includes a main wall part 61 that is engaged with the rotating member 22, and a seal part 62 that is provided between an outer peripheral surface of the main wall part 61 and an inner peripheral surface of the container body 21. The outer peripheral surface of the main wall part 61 is provided with an annular fitting groove 66 in an area including an end on the downstream side in the first direction D1, and the seal part 62 has a ring shape and fitted to the fitting groove 66.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner container, an image forming apparatus including the toner container, and a method of assembling the toner container.

  Conventionally, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms a toner image by supplying toner from an image bearing member such as a photosensitive drum from a developing device. The toner used for forming such a toner image is usually supplied from the toner container to the developing device.

  The toner container includes, for example, a container body that stores toner, a rotating member that is housed in the container body, and a moving member that moves with the rotation of the rotating member. The moving member includes, for example, a main wall portion that engages with the rotating member, and a seal portion that is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the main wall portion and the inner peripheral surface of the container body. As a method of fixing the seal portion to the main wall portion, for example, there is a method of fixing the tape-shaped seal portion while winding the tape portion around the main wall portion (see Patent Document 1).

JP, 2017-201433, A

  However, when the fixing method as described above is adopted, when the moving member is disassembled, the seal portion wound around the main wall portion has to be peeled off along the outer peripheral surface of the main wall portion. Along with this, the disassembling work of the moving member becomes complicated, and the recyclability of the toner container may deteriorate.

  Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to easily disassemble the moving member and improve the recyclability of the toner container.

  The toner container has a discharge port for discharging the toner, a container body for storing the toner, a rotating member housed in the container body and rotating around a rotation axis, and the rotating member according to the rotation of the rotating member. A moving member that moves in a first direction parallel to an axis and conveys the toner in the container body toward the discharge port, the moving member including a main wall portion that engages with the rotating member; A seal portion provided between an outer peripheral surface of the main wall portion and an inner peripheral surface of the container body, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the main wall portion includes a downstream end portion in the first direction. An annular fitting groove is provided in the region, and the seal portion has a ring shape and is fitted in the fitting groove.

  The seal portion may be provided in a non-adhesive manner with respect to the fitting groove.

  A plurality of ribs may be provided in the fitting groove.

  The plurality of ribs are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction, and may extend along the first direction.

  The plurality of ribs may be provided at intervals in the first direction and may extend along the circumferential direction.

  When the rotating member rotates in a second rotating direction opposite to the first rotating direction, the main wall portion moves in a second direction opposite to the first direction with respect to the seal portion, and the fitting is performed. The fitting of the seal portion to the groove may be released.

  The image forming apparatus may include the toner container.

  The method of assembling the toner container may include a step of inserting the seal portion into the fitting groove from the downstream side in the first direction.

  According to the present invention, the moving member can be easily disassembled, and the recyclability of the toner container can be improved.

1 is a schematic side view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is an exploded perspective view showing a moving member concerning one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the fitting of the seal portion to the fitting groove is released in the toner container according to another different embodiment. It is a front view which shows the main wall part which concerns on other different embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the main wall part which concerns on other different embodiment of this invention.

  First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

  Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the left side of the paper surface in FIG. Arrows Fr, Rr, L, R, U, and Lo that are appropriately attached to the respective drawings indicate the front side, rear side, left side, right side, upper side, and lower side of the image forming apparatus 1, respectively.

  With reference to FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is, for example, a printer. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a box-shaped apparatus body 2. In the lower part of the apparatus main body 2, a paper feed cassette 3 that stores paper S (an example of a recording medium) is housed. A paper discharge tray 4 is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2. An exposure device 5 is accommodated below the paper discharge tray 4 in the upper part of the apparatus main body 2. A toner container 6 (one example of a toner container) is housed in the upper part of the apparatus main body 2 in front of the exposure device 5.

  A transport path P for the sheet S is provided inside the apparatus main body 2. A paper feed unit 11 is provided at the upstream end of the transport path P. An image forming unit 7 is provided in the middle portion of the transport path P. The image forming unit 7 includes a photosensitive drum 8 and a developing device 10 (an example of a mounting unit). The toner container 6 is detachably attached to the developing device 10. A fixing device 12 is provided downstream of the conveyance path P.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 having such a configuration will be described.

  First, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor drum 8 by the laser beam (see the dotted arrow in FIG. 1) from the exposure device 5. Next, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 8 is developed by the developing device 10 to form a toner image. This completes the image forming operation.

  On the other hand, the paper S taken out of the paper feeding cassette 3 by the paper feeding unit 11 is conveyed to the image forming unit 7 at the same timing as the above-mentioned image forming operation, and the toner image is exposed in the image forming unit 7. The sheet S is transferred from the body drum 8. The sheet S to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the downstream side of the conveyance path P and enters the fixing device 12, where the toner image is fixed on the sheet S. The paper S on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the paper discharge tray 4 from the downstream end of the transport path P.

  Next, the toner container 6 will be further described.

  An arrow I appropriately attached to the drawings after FIG. 2 indicates an inner side in the left-right direction of the toner container 6 (a side closer to a central portion in the left-right direction of the toner container 6), and an arrow O appropriately attached to the drawings after FIG. Indicates the outer side in the left-right direction of the toner container 6 (the side separated from the central portion in the left-right direction of the toner container 6).

  Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the toner container 6 has a rotation axis X extending in the left-right direction. Hereinafter, when simply described as “circumferential direction”, it means a circumferential direction around the rotation axis X. An arrow D1 appropriately attached to the drawings after FIG. 2 indicates a first direction D1 parallel to the rotation axis X (a direction from the left side to the right side in the present embodiment), and is appropriately attached to the drawings after FIG. The arrow D2 indicates a second direction D2 (in this embodiment, a direction from the right side to the left side) that is parallel to the rotation axis X and is opposite to the first direction D1. An arrow R1 attached to FIG. 3 indicates a first rotation direction R1 perpendicular to the rotation axis X, and an arrow R2 attached to FIG. 3 is perpendicular to the rotation axis X and opposite to the first rotation direction R1. 2 shows the second rotation direction R2.

  Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the toner container 6 includes a container body 21, a rotating member 22 arranged in the center of the container body 21, a moving member 23 attached to the outer periphery of the rotating member 22, and a container body 21. A stirring member 24 attached to the right end of the container body 21, a transmission member 25 and a connection member 26 arranged on the right side (outside in the left-right direction) of the container body 21, and a cover 27 that covers the transmission member 25 and the connection member 26. There is. Hereinafter, each of the above components of the toner container 6 will be described in order.

  2 and 3, the container body 21 of the toner container 6 has a box shape elongated in the left-right direction. A first space S1 and a second space S2 are formed inside the container body 21. Toner is stored in the first space S1, and toner is not stored in the second space S2. The second space S2 is provided on the left side of the first space S1.

  The container body 21 includes a peripheral wall portion 31, a lid portion 32 provided on the left end side of the peripheral wall portion 31, and a side wall portion 33 provided on the right end side of the peripheral wall portion 31. In FIG. 3, only the rear portion of the peripheral wall portion 31 and the side wall portion 33 (the portion on the back side of the paper surface) are displayed, and the front portion of the peripheral wall portion 31 and the side wall portion 33 (the front portion of the paper surface) are displayed. Absent.

  The peripheral wall portion 31 of the container body 21 has a tubular shape and extends in the left-right direction. The peripheral wall portion 31 has a non-circular cross-sectional shape. An opening 35 is provided at the left end of the peripheral wall 31. An annular flange portion 36 projects around the opening 35 on the outer peripheral surface of the left end portion of the peripheral wall portion 31. A discharge port 37 for discharging toner is provided at the right end of the peripheral wall portion 31. The outlet 37 is covered by a shutter (not shown) that can be opened and closed.

  The lid portion 32 of the container body 21 is provided along a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis X. The lid 32 is formed separately from the peripheral wall 31. The lid 32 closes the opening 35 of the peripheral wall 31. The outer peripheral portion of the lid portion 32 is fixed to the flange portion 36 of the peripheral wall portion 31. A left side protrusion 40 projects from the center of the left surface (outer surface) of the lid portion 32. At the center of the right surface (inner surface) of the lid portion 32, a support wall 43 projects behind the left side protrusion 40.

  The side wall portion 33 of the container body 21 is provided along a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis X. The side wall portion 33 is integrally formed with the peripheral wall portion 31, and covers the right side (outside in the left-right direction) of the peripheral wall portion 31. A bearing portion 45 projects from the central portion of the right surface (outer surface) of the side wall portion 33. A toner filling port 46 projects above the bearing portion 45 at the upper part of the right surface of the side wall 33, and the first space S1 of the container body 21 is filled with toner via the toner filling port 46. ing. The toner filling port 46 is closed by a cap 47.

  2 and 3, the rotating member 22 of the toner container 6 is configured to rotate around the rotation axis X. A portion of the rotating member 22 excluding the right end portion (one end portion in the left-right direction) is housed in the container body 21.

  The rotating member 22 extends in the left-right direction. The rotating member 22 penetrates the peripheral wall portion 31 of the container body 21. A joint portion 54 is provided at the left end portion (the other end portion in the left-right direction) of the rotating member 22. The joint portion 54 is inserted into the support wall 43 of the lid portion 32 of the container body 21, and is rotatably supported by the support wall 43. A screw portion 55 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the center of the rotating member 22 in the left-right direction. The right side portion of the rotating member 22 is inserted into the bearing portion 45 of the side wall portion 33 of the container body 21. A driven coupling 56 is provided at the right end portion (one end portion in the left-right direction) of the rotating member 22. The driven coupling 56 faces the outside of the container body 21.

  2 and 3, the moving member 23 of the toner container 6 divides the first space S1 and the second space S2 of the container body 21 in the left-right direction. The moving member 23 is provided so as to be linearly movable along the left-right direction with respect to the container body 21 in a state in which the rotation with respect to the container body 21 is restricted.

  2 to 4, the moving member 23 includes a main wall portion 61, a seal portion 62 provided between an outer peripheral surface of the main wall portion 61 and an inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion 31 of the container body 21, Is equipped with.

  The main wall portion 61 of the moving member 23 has a flat plate shape. The main wall portion 61 has a non-circular sectional shape corresponding to the sectional shape of the peripheral wall portion 31 of the container body 21. The main wall portion 61 is made of resin, for example. A screw hole 64 is provided in the center of the main wall 61. The screw hole 64 is engaged with the screw portion 55 of the rotating member 22. Thereby, the rotation of the rotating member 22 can be converted into the linear movement of the moving member 23 along the left-right direction.

  The outer peripheral surface of the main wall portion 61 of the moving member 23 faces the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion 31 of the container body 21 with a gap. An annular fitting groove 66 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main wall portion 61. The fitting groove 66 is provided in a region including the right end portion (the end portion on the downstream side in the first direction D1) of the outer peripheral surface of the main wall portion 61. The fitting groove 66 includes a bottom surface 66a parallel to the rotation axis X and a side surface 66b provided on the left side (upstream side in the first direction D1) of the bottom surface 66a and perpendicular to the rotation axis X. The bottom surface 66a and the side surface 66b have no ribs and are smoothly continuous.

  The seal portion 62 of the moving member 23 has a ring shape. That is, the seal portion 62 is continuous like a rubber band in the circumferential direction without interruption, and has an endless shape in the circumferential direction. The seal portion 62 is made of, for example, a rubber material. The seal portion 62 is fitted in the fitting groove 66 of the main wall portion 61. The seal portion 62 is provided in a non-bonded manner with the fitting groove 66 of the main wall portion 61.

  The inner peripheral portion of the seal portion 62 of the moving member 23 is in contact with the bottom surface 66a of the fitting groove 66 of the main wall portion 61. The outer peripheral portion of the seal portion 62 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion 31 of the container body 21. The left side portion (upstream side portion in the first direction D1) of the seal portion 62 is in contact with the side surface 66b of the fitting groove 66 of the main wall portion 61. The right side portion (downstream side portion in the first direction D1) of the seal portion 62 is not in contact with other members and faces the first space S1 of the container body 21.

  With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the stirring member 24 of the toner container 6 is attached to the outer periphery of the rotating member 22 so as to be relatively rotatable. The stirring member 24 is configured to rotate around the rotation axis X. The stirring member 24 includes a holding piece 81 and a film 82 held by the holding piece 81.

  The right side portion of the rotating member 22 is inserted into the holding piece 81 of the stirring member 24. As a result, the holding piece 81 rotatably supports the right side portion of the rotating member 22. The left side portion of the holding piece 81 is housed in the right end portion of the first space S1 of the container body 21.

  The right side portion of the holding piece 81 of the stirring member 24 is inserted into the bearing portion 45 of the side wall portion 33 of the container body 21. Thereby, the stirring member 24 is rotatably supported by the side wall portion 33 of the container body 21. A stirring coupling 86 is provided at the right end of the holding piece 81. The stirring coupling 86 faces the outside of the container body 21.

  The film 82 of the stirring member 24 is housed in the right end portion of the first space S1 of the container body 21. The film 82 is formed of a resin film such as a PET film (Polyethylene Terephthalate Film) and has flexibility. The left-right position of the film 82 overlaps the left-right position of the discharge port 37 provided in the peripheral wall portion 31 of the container body 21.

  With reference to FIG. 2, the entire transmission member 25 of the toner container 6 is provided outside the container body 21. The transmission member 25 includes a transmission piece 91 and a ratchet mechanism 92 that connects the transmission piece 91 and the rotating member 22.

  A transmission gear 93 is provided on the right side of the transmission piece 91 of the transmission member 25. The transmission gear 93 is connected to the first drive gear 95 of the first drive member 94 provided in the developing device 10.

  The ratchet mechanism 92 of the transmission member 25 includes a ratchet shaft 96 and a ratchet piece 97 provided on the outer circumference of the ratchet shaft 96. A transmission coupling 98 is provided at the left end of the ratchet shaft 96. The transmission coupling 98 is connected to the driven coupling 56 of the rotating member 22. As a result, the transmission member 25 is directly connected to the rotation member 22, and the transmission member 25 and the rotation member 22 rotate integrally about the rotation axis X. The ratchet piece 97 is provided between the transmission piece 91 and the ratchet shaft 96.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the entire connecting member 26 of the toner container 6 is provided outside the container body 21. A connection coupling 104 is provided at the left end of the connection member 26. The connection coupling 104 is connected to the stirring coupling 86 of the holding piece 81 of the stirring member 24. As a result, the connecting member 26 is directly connected to the stirring member 24, and the connecting member 26 and the stirring member 24 rotate integrally about the rotation axis X. A connection gear 106 is provided on the right side of the connection member 26. The connection gear 106 is connected to the second drive gear 108 of the second drive member 107 provided in the developing device 10.

  Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the cover 27 of the toner container 6 is attached to the right end portion of the container body 21. The cover 27 covers the right side (outside in the left-right direction) of the side wall portion 33 of the container body 21. A right side protrusion 111 projects from the right surface (outer surface) of the cover 27. On the left surface (inner surface) of the cover 27, a shaft support portion 112 is provided on the back side of the right protrusion 111. The shaft support 112 rotatably supports the right end of the ratchet shaft 96 of the ratchet mechanism 92. A window 113 is provided in the lower portion of the cover 27, and a part of the transmission gear 93 and the connection gear 106 is exposed to the outside of the toner container 6 through the window 113.

  Next, the operation of replenishing toner from the toner container 6 to the developing device 10 (hereinafter referred to as “toner replenishment operation”) will be described.

  At the time of executing the toner replenishing operation, a drive source (not shown) rotates the second drive member 107. When the second drive member 107 thus rotates, this rotation is transmitted to the stirring member 24 by the connection member 26, and the stirring member 24 rotates. As a result, the film 82 of the stirring member 24 conveys the toner contained in the first space S1 of the container body 21 to the discharge port 37 while stirring. The toner thus conveyed toward the discharge port 37 is discharged to the outside of the container body 21 through the discharge port 37 and is replenished to the developing device 10. This completes the toner supply operation.

  When the toner replenishing operation as described above is executed, the amount of toner in the vicinity of the discharge port 37 in the first space S1 of the container body 21 decreases. Along with this, when a toner sensor (not shown) detects that the toner in the vicinity of the discharge port 37 has become less than a predetermined threshold value, a drive source (not shown) rotates the first drive member 94. When the first driving member 94 thus rotates, this rotation is transmitted to the rotating member 22 by the transmitting member 25, and the rotating member 22 rotates in the first rotation direction R1. When the rotating member 22 thus rotates in the first rotation direction R1, the main wall portion 61 and the seal portion 62 of the moving member 23 move integrally in the first direction D1 (see the dotted line in FIG. 2). Along with this, the toner capacity in the first space S1 of the container body 21 decreases, and the toner in the first space S1 of the container body 21 is pushed by the moving member 23 to the right side (the side approaching the discharge port 37). Moving. That is, the moving member 23 conveys the toner in the first space S1 of the container body 21 toward the discharge port 37. Therefore, the vicinity of the discharge port 37 is filled with toner again, and a sufficient amount of toner can be replenished from the toner container 6 to the developing device 10 by the next toner replenishing operation.

  When the main wall portion 61 and the seal portion 62 of the moving member 23 integrally move in the first direction D1 as described above, the left side portion (upstream side portion in the first direction D1) of the seal portion 62 is the main portion. By being locked by the side surface 66b of the fitting groove 66 of the wall portion 61, the seal portion 62 is prevented from coming off the main wall portion 61. That is, the side surface 66b of the fitting groove 66 of the main wall portion 61 functions as a retaining shape of the seal portion 62.

  Next, an example of a method of assembling the toner container 6 will be described. The description of the stirring member 24, the transmission member 25, the connection member 26, and the cover 27 will be omitted.

  In the state before the assembly of the toner container 6 is started, the peripheral length of the seal portion 62 is shorter than the peripheral length of the fitting groove 66. When assembling the toner container 6, the worker first spreads the seal portion 62 to make the circumferential length of the seal portion 62 longer than the circumferential length of the fitting groove 66. Next, the worker inserts the seal portion 62 into the fitting groove 66 from the right side (downstream side in the first direction D1) as shown by an arrow Z in FIG. Fit into 66. As a result, the moving member 23 is assembled.

  Next, the worker attaches the moving member 23 to the outer circumference of the rotating member 22 and inserts the rotating member 22 and the moving member 23 into the container body 21. Next, the worker closes the opening portion 35 of the peripheral wall portion 31 with the lid portion 32 and fixes the lid portion 32 to the peripheral wall portion 31. As a result, the assembly of the toner container 6 is completed.

  Next, an example of the disassembling method of the toner container 6 will be described. The description of the stirring member 24, the transmission member 25, the connection member 26, and the cover 27 will be omitted.

  When disassembling the toner container 6, first, the operator removes the lid portion 32 from the peripheral wall portion 31. Next, the operator takes out the rotating member 22 and the moving member 23 from the container body 21, and removes the moving member 23 from the outer periphery of the rotating member 22. Next, the worker pulls the seal portion 62 to the right side (downstream side in the first direction D1) with respect to the main wall portion 61 to release the fitting of the seal portion 62 into the fitting groove 66. As a result, the moving member 23 is disassembled, and the disassembling work of the toner container 6 is completed.

  As described above, the outer peripheral surface of the main wall portion 61 is provided with the annular fitting groove 66 in a region including the right end portion (the end portion on the downstream side in the first direction D1), and the seal portion 62 is the ring. It has a shape and is fitted in the fitting groove 66. By adopting such a configuration, the moving member 23 can be easily disassembled by pulling the seal portion 62 to the right side with respect to the main wall portion 61. Therefore, the recyclability of the toner container 6 is improved.

  Further, by using the ring-shaped seal portion 62 as described above, the thickness of the seal portion 62 can be made uniform in the entire area in the circumferential direction, so that the circumferential wall portion 31 and the seal portion 62 can be formed in the entire area in the circumferential direction. The contact pressure can be made uniform. Therefore, the airtightness between the peripheral wall portion 31 and the seal portion 62 can be reliably ensured, and the toner leakage from the first space S1 to the second space S2 can be suppressed.

  Further, the seal portion 62 is provided on the main wall portion 61 without being adhered. By adopting such a configuration, the fitting of the seal portion 62 with the fitting groove 66 can be easily released. Therefore, the moving member 23 can be disassembled more easily, and the recyclability of the toner container 6 is further improved.

  The image forming apparatus 1 also includes the toner container 6 as described above and the developing device 10 to which the toner container 6 is detachably mounted. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to provide the image forming apparatus 1 having excellent recyclability of the toner container 6.

  The method of assembling the toner container 6 includes the step of inserting the seal portion 62 into the fitting groove 66 from the right side (downstream side in the first direction D1). Therefore, the moving member 23 can be easily assembled, and not only the recyclability of the toner container 6 but also the assemblability of the toner container 6 is improved.

  In the present embodiment, the worker pulls out the seal portion 62 to the right side (downstream side in the first direction D1) from the main wall portion 61, whereby the fitting of the seal portion 62 into the fitting groove 66 is released. . On the other hand, in another different embodiment, when the rotating member 22 rotates in the second rotation direction R2, the main wall portion 61 moves in the second direction D2 with respect to the seal portion 62, and the seal portion 62 with respect to the fitting groove 66. May be released (see FIG. 5). By adopting such a configuration, the moving member 23 can be disassembled more easily, and the recyclability of the toner container 6 is further improved.

  In the present embodiment, the bottom surface 66a of the fitting groove 66 is smoothly continuous. On the other hand, in another different embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a plurality of ribs 121 may be provided on the bottom surface 66 a of the fitting groove 66. By adopting such a configuration, the contact area between the bottom surface 66a of the fitting groove 66 and the seal portion 62 can be reduced, and the surface pressure between the bottom surface 66a of the fitting groove 66 and the seal portion 62 can be increased. . Accordingly, twisting of the seal portion 62 with respect to the fitting groove 66 can be suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the plurality of ribs 121 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction, and may extend along the first direction D1. By adopting such a configuration, the formation pitch of the plurality of ribs 121 can be sufficiently secured, and the plurality of ribs 121 can be easily formed.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the plurality of ribs 121 are provided at intervals in the first direction D1 and may extend along the circumferential direction. By adopting such a configuration, the plurality of ribs 121 perform a function of preventing the seal portion 62 from slipping, so that the fitting of the seal portion 62 into the fitting groove 66 is prevented from being unintentionally released. You can

  In the present embodiment, the portion of the rotating member 22 excluding the right end is housed in the container body 21. On the other hand, in another different embodiment, the entire rotating member 22 may be housed in the container body 21.

  In the present embodiment, the entire transmission member 25 is provided outside the container body 21. On the other hand, in another different embodiment, a part of the transmission member 25 may be provided inside the container body 21.

  In this embodiment, the toner container 6 is detachably attached to the developing device 10. On the other hand, in another different embodiment, the toner container 6 may be detachably attached to a member (for example, the apparatus main body 2) other than the developing device 10.

  In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is a printer. On the other hand, in another different embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 may be a copier, a facsimile, a multi-function peripheral (an image forming apparatus having a combination of a print function, a copy function, a fax function, etc.).

1 image forming apparatus 6 toner container (an example of toner container)
10 Development device (an example of mounting part)
21 Container Main Body 22 Rotating Member 23 Moving Member 37 Ejection Port 61 Main Wall Part 62 Sealing Part 66 Fitting Groove 121 Rib D1 First Direction D2 Second Direction R1 First Rotation Direction R2 Second Rotation Direction X Rotation Axis

Claims (8)

A container main body having a discharge port for discharging toner, and containing the toner,
A rotating member housed in the container body and rotating around a rotation axis,
A moving member that moves in a first direction parallel to the rotation axis according to the rotation of the rotating member, and that conveys the toner in the container body toward the discharge port,
The moving member is
A main wall portion that engages with the rotating member,
A seal portion provided between the outer peripheral surface of the main wall portion and the inner peripheral surface of the container body,
An annular fitting groove is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main wall portion in a region including an end portion on the downstream side in the first direction,
The toner container is characterized in that the seal portion has a ring shape and is fitted in the fitting groove.   The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the seal portion is provided so as not to adhere to the fitting groove.   The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the fitting groove is provided with a plurality of ribs.   The toner container according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of ribs are provided at intervals in a circumferential direction and extend along the first direction.   The toner container according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of ribs are provided at intervals in the first direction and extend along a circumferential direction.   When the rotating member rotates in a second rotating direction opposite to the first rotating direction, the main wall portion moves in a second direction opposite to the first direction with respect to the seal portion, and the fitting is performed. The toner container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fitting of the seal portion with the groove is released. A toner container according to claim 1;
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a mounting portion to which the toner container is detachably mounted. A method for assembling the toner container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising:
A method of assembling a toner container, comprising the step of inserting the seal portion into the fitting groove from the downstream side in the first direction.

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