JP2021009414A - Powder storage container and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To make it possible to drop toner to a toner receiving port of a conveyance nozzle and prevent the toner from spilling from the toner receiving port.SOLUTION: A powder supply device 60 to which a powder storage container A032 can be attached, has: a conveyance tube 611 attached with a powder storage container and conveying powder; a powder receiving port 610 provided in the conveyance tube and receiving the powder from the powder storage container; and a conveyance screw 614 conveying the received powder. The powder storage container can be attached to the powder supply device in which an opening width of the powder receiving port in a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the conveyance screw is smaller than the diameter of the conveyance screw. The power storage container comprises: a container body A033 that stores the powder; a powder conveyance member A380 that is located inside the container body and conveys the powder to a container opening part; a tube receiving member that can guide the conveyance tube to the inside of the container body; a powder intake port A392 that can communicate the powder receiving port and the inside of the container body; and a lifting member A382 that lifts the powder and causes the powder to flow into the powder intake port.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a powder storage container for storing powder such as toner, and an image forming apparatus for transporting powder from the powder storage container toward a transport destination.

In image forming devices such as copiers, printers, and facsimiles that use an electrophotographic process, the latent image formed on the photoconductor is visualized with the toner of the developing device, and the latent image is developed. As a result, toner is consumed, so it is necessary to replenish the toner in the developing device. Therefore, the toner replenishing device as the powder supply device provided in the main body of the device conveys the toner from the toner container as the powder storage container to the developing device, and the toner is replenished into the developing device. The developing apparatus in which the toner is replenished in this way enables continuous development. In addition, the toner container is removable from the toner replenishment device, and when the toner stored inside is exhausted, it is replaced with a toner container that stores new toner.

For example, in Patent Document 1, when a toner container as a powder storage container is attached to a toner replenishment device as a powder replenishment device, a transfer nozzle having a toner receiving port formed from the toner replenishment device side is inserted into the opening of the toner container. A powder storage container and a powder replenishing device that are inserted to open the opening / closing member (shutter member) of the opening and convey the toner that has entered the toner receiving port of the transport nozzle to the toner replenishing device are disclosed. According to this, the toner is prevented from scattering when the toner container is attached and detached. In the powder storage container of Patent Document 1, when the amount of toner inside is reduced to a level below the toner receiving port of the transport nozzle, it is necessary to pump the toner below the toner receiving port to the toner receiving port. ..

The transfer nozzle provided with the toner receiving port includes a transfer screw. When the toner receiving port is provided at the height of the rotation center of the conveying screw in the direction of gravity, the width of the toner receiving port in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the conveying screw is slightly wider than the diameter of the conveying screw. When the transfer screw is rotated to transfer the toner pumped to the toner receiving port to the toner replenishing device by using such a transfer nozzle (see FIG. 12A), the toner pumped to the toner receiving port is transferred to the transfer screw. Since it moves while tilting so as to rotate, a force that moves it to a position higher than the center of rotation of the transport screw is applied, and it spills from the transport nozzle.
On the other hand, in the configuration in which the nozzle opening is provided at a position higher than the rotation center of the transport screw in the direction of gravity (see FIG. 12B), the toner pumped up to the toner receiving port is tilted so as to rotate with the rotation of the transport screw. Even if it advances while proceeding, it can be prevented from spilling from the transport nozzle.
However, in the configuration in which the nozzle opening is provided at a position higher than the rotation center of the transport screw in the gravity direction, the width of the toner receptacle in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the transport screw is compared with the configuration in which the toner socket is provided at the height of the rotation center. Is narrowed, and the toner receiving port is also provided at a high position. Therefore, it is necessary to pump the toner to a position higher than the toner receiving port and drop the toner into the narrow opening.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to pump toner to a position higher than the toner receiving port and drop the pumped toner into the toner receiving port of the transport nozzle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a powder storage container capable of preventing toner from spilling from a toner receiving port, and an image forming apparatus provided with the powder storage container.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 can be attached to a powder replenishing device provided in a transport pipe for transporting powder and a transport pipe and having a powder receiving port for receiving powder from a powder storage container. A powder transfer member that is arranged inside the powder storage container and conveys the powder from one end side to the other end side, and the transfer tube via a pipe receiving port. It is provided with a pipe receiving member capable of guiding the inside of the powder storage container and a lifting member for lifting the powder conveyed to the other end side by the powder conveying member and pouring it into the powder receiving port. The lifting member is characterized in that it extends from the peripheral surface of the pipe receiving member toward the inner peripheral surface of the powder storage container.

According to the present invention, since the lifting portion for lifting the toner to a position higher than the toner receiving port in the direction of gravity is provided, the pumped toner is poured into the toner receiving port of the conveying nozzle while suppressing the spillage of the drawn toner from the conveying nozzle. be able to.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a toner replenishing device and a toner container before mounting the toner container according to the first embodiment. The overall block diagram which shows the copying machine common to all embodiments. The schematic diagram which shows the image-forming part of the copying machine. The schematic diagram which shows the state which the toner container is installed in the toner replenishing device in the copying machine. The schematic perspective view which shows the state which the toner container is installed in the toner container storage part of the copier. The perspective explanatory view of the toner container in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective explanatory view of a toner replenishing device and a toner container before mounting the toner container according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a toner replenishing device and a toner container in a state where the toner container is attached according to the first embodiment. An exploded explanatory view of the agitator assembly according to the first embodiment. An exploded perspective explanatory view of the agitator assembly according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle receiving member and an agitator of an agitator assembly without a central axis according to the first embodiment. (A) is a comparative diagram showing a configuration in which a nozzle opening of a transport nozzle and a toner intake of a nozzle receiving member are provided at the height of the center of rotation of the transport screw, and (b) is a state in which the transport nozzle is inserted. Explanatory cross-sectional view of the nozzle receiving member cut at the position of the toner intake. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the toner intake when the toner intake and the lifting portion in the first embodiment are viewed from the rear end side of the container toward the front end side of the container in the rotation axis direction. (A) to (c) are explanatory views continuously showing how the toner T is allowed to flow into the toner inlet by using the configuration of the toner inlet and the lifting portion where the angle θ shown in FIG. 13 is an obtuse angle. (A) to (c) are cross-sectional explanatory views of a configuration in which a bent shape is provided in the lifting portion. An explanatory view of a configuration in which a fall prevention wall is erected from the side surface of the lifting portion on the container tip side in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the toner intake when the toner intake and the lifting portion in the first embodiment are viewed from the rear end side of the container toward the front end side of the container in the rotation axis direction. (A) to (c) are explanatory views continuously showing a state in which toner T is allowed to flow into the toner inlet by using the configuration of the toner inlet and the lifting portion having an acute angle θ shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a nozzle shutter member common to all embodiments. An explanatory perspective view of the nozzle shutter member of FIG. 19 as viewed from the nozzle tip side. FIG. 5 is a perspective explanatory view of the nozzle shutter member of FIG. 19 as viewed from the nozzle root side. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the vicinity of the transfer nozzle of the toner replenishment device common to all embodiments. The perspective explanatory view of the toner container at the time of storage in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a toner container provided with an adsorbent on a cap according to the second embodiment. The perspective explanatory view of the connector fixed to the toner replenishment device common to all the embodiments, and the end side end side of the container of the toner container. FIG. 5 is a perspective explanatory view of a container tip side end portion and a connector of a toner container in a state where the IC tag holding mechanism of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective explanatory view of a connector and a container tip end end of a toner container in a state where the IC tag of FIG. 25 is temporarily fixed to a holding member. The perspective view which shows the relative positional relationship of the IC tag, the holding lid, and a connector common to all embodiments. An explanatory view showing a state in which toner is sufficiently filled in a toner container having a structure in which a torque limiter is provided to limit rotational drive of an agitator according to the third embodiment. The explanatory view which shows the state when the toner of the toner container of FIG. 29 is depleted. (A) and (b) are EE cross-sectional views of the toner container of FIG. 30. Cross-sectional perspective view of the torque limiter. (A) is an explanatory view of a blade-type transport member applicable to the toner container of FIG. 29, and (b) is an explanatory view of a spring-shaped coil-type transport member without a rotating shaft applicable to the toner container of FIG. 29. FIG. 29 is an explanatory view in which a rotating member having a cam groove formed in a torque limiter applicable to the toner container of FIG. 29 is provided to reciprocate the blade-shaped transport member in the longitudinal direction of the container body. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a toner container in which the agitator assembly according to the fourth embodiment is integrally formed with a container tip side cover. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a toner container in which the container tip side cover according to the fifth embodiment is integrally formed with a rotary gear. (A) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of the toner container of FIG. 36, (b) is a cross-sectional view of the container tip side cover provided with an inclined surface at the tip of the lifting portion of (a), and (c) is (c). A cross-sectional view of the container tip side cover provided with the lifting portion of a) offset, (d) is a cross-sectional view of the container tip side cover showing a state slightly before (c) in chronological order. The perspective explanatory view of the container tip side cover common to all embodiments. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a toner replenishing device and a toner container before mounting the toner container according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a state in which the toner container according to the first embodiment is completely attached to the toner replenishment device. A cross-sectional explanatory view of a toner replenishing device and a toner container before mounting the toner container.

(Image forming device)
<Embodiment 1>
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention in which the present invention is applied to a copying machine as an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine 500) will be described.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine 500 common to all embodiments. The copying machine 500 includes a copying device main body (hereinafter referred to as a printer unit 100), a paper feeding table (hereinafter referred to as a paper feeding unit 200), and a scanner mounted on the printer unit 100 (hereinafter referred to as a scanner unit 400).

The toner container storage unit 70 provided above the printer unit 100 has a toner container A032 (Y, M, C, K) as four powder storage containers corresponding to each color (yellow, magenta, cyan, black). Is installed detachably (replaceable). An intermediate transfer unit 85 is arranged below the toner container accommodating portion 70.

The intermediate transfer unit 85 includes an intermediate transfer belt 48, four primary transfer bias rollers 49 (Y, M, C, K), a secondary transfer backup roller 82, a plurality of tension rollers, an intermediate transfer cleaning device (not shown), and the like. Consists of. The intermediate transfer belt 48 is stretched and supported by a plurality of roller members, and is endlessly moved in the arrow direction in FIG. 2 by the rotational drive of the secondary transfer backup roller 82, which is one of the plurality of roller members.

In the printer unit 100, four image forming units 46 (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to each color are arranged side by side so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 48. Further, below the four toner containers A032 (Y, M, C, K), toner replenishment devices 60 (Y, M, C, K) as four powder replenishment devices corresponding to each are arranged. ing. Then, the toner as powder contained in the toner container A032 (Y, M, C, K) is imaged corresponding to each color by the corresponding toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K). It is supplied (supplied) into the developing device (powder material using section) of the section 46 (Y, M, C, K).

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the printer unit 100 includes an exposure device 47, which is a latent image forming means, below the four image forming units 46. The exposure device 47 exposes the surface of the photoconductor 41, which will be described later, based on the image information of the original image read by the scanner unit 400 or the image information input from an external device such as a personal computer, and the photoconductor 41 An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface. The exposure device 47 included in the printer unit 100 uses a laser beam scanner method using a laser diode, but other configurations such as those using an LED array may be used as the exposure means.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming unit 46Y corresponding to yellow.
The image forming unit 46Y includes a drum-shaped photoconductor 41Y which is a latent image carrier. Further, the image forming unit 46Y has a configuration in which a charging roller 44Y as a charging means, a developing device 50Y as a developing means, a photoconductor cleaning device 42Y, a static elimination device (not shown), and the like are arranged around the photoconductor 41Y. Then, an image forming process (charging step, exposure step, developing step, transfer step, cleaning step) is performed on the photoconductor 41Y, and a yellow image is formed on the photoconductor 41Y.

The other three image-forming units 46 (M, C, K) also have almost the same configuration as the image-forming unit 46Y corresponding to yellow, except that the color of the toner used is different. An image of a color corresponding to each toner is formed on the photoconductor 41 (M, C, K). Hereinafter, the description of the other three image forming units 46 (M, C, K) will be omitted as appropriate, and only the image forming unit 46Y corresponding to yellow will be described.

The photoconductor 41Y is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3 by a drive motor (not shown). Then, the surface of the photoconductor 41Y is uniformly charged at a position facing the charging roller 44Y (charging step). After that, the surface of the photoconductor 41Y reaches the irradiation position of the laser beam L emitted from the exposure apparatus 47, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to yellow is formed by exposure scanning at this position (exposure step). After that, the surface of the photoconductor 41Y reaches a position facing the developing device 50Y, and the electrostatic latent image is developed at this position to form a yellow toner image (development step).

The four primary transfer bias rollers 49 (Y, M, C, K) of the intermediate transfer unit 85 each sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 48 with the photoconductor 41 (Y, M, C, K) for primary transfer. Forming a nip. Then, a transfer bias opposite to the polarity of the toner is applied to the primary transfer bias roller 49 (Y, M, C, K).

The surface of the photoconductor 41Y on which the toner image was formed in the developing step reaches the primary transfer nip facing the primary transfer bias roller 49Y with the intermediate transfer belt 48 interposed therebetween, and the toner image on the photoconductor 41Y is reached by this primary transfer nip. Is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 48 (primary transfer step). At this time, a small amount of untransferred toner remains on the photoconductor 41Y. The surface of the photoconductor 41Y on which the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 48 by the primary transfer nip reaches a position facing the photoconductor cleaning device 42Y. The untransferred toner remaining on the photoconductor 41Y at this facing position is mechanically recovered by the cleaning blade 42a (cleaning step). Finally, the surface of the photoconductor 41Y reaches a position facing the static elimination device (not shown), and the residual potential on the photoconductor 41Y is removed at this position. In this way, a series of image forming processes performed on the photoconductor 41Y is completed.

Such an image forming process is performed in the other image forming section 46 (M, C, K) in the same manner as in the yellow image forming section 46Y. That is, the laser beam L based on the image information is emitted from the exposure device 47 arranged below the image forming unit 46 (M, C, K) to the photoconductor of each image forming unit 46 (M, C, K). It is irradiated toward 41 (M, C, K). Specifically, the exposure apparatus 47 emits a laser beam L from a light source, scans the laser beam L with a rotation-driven polygon mirror, and scans the laser beam L with each photoconductor 41 (M, C, K) via a plurality of optical elements. ) Irradiate on. Then, the toner images of each color formed on the photoconductors 41 (M, C, K) through the developing process are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 48.

At this time, the intermediate transfer belt 48 travels in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 and sequentially passes through the primary transfer nips of the primary transfer bias rollers 49 (Y, M, C, K). As a result, the toner images of each color on each photoconductor 41 (Y, M, C, K) are overlaid on the intermediate transfer belt 48 and primary transferred, and the color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 48.

The intermediate transfer belt 48 on which the toner images of each color are superimposed and transferred to form the color toner image reaches a position facing the secondary transfer roller 89. At this position, the secondary transfer backup roller 82 sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 48 with the secondary transfer roller 89 to form a secondary transfer nip. Then, the color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 48 is transferred onto a recording medium P such as transfer paper conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer nip. At this time, untransferred toner that has not been transferred to the recording medium P remains on the intermediate transfer belt 48. The intermediate transfer belt 48 that has passed through the secondary transfer nip reaches the position of an intermediate transfer cleaning device (not shown), the untransferred toner on the surface thereof is collected, and a series of transfer processes performed on the intermediate transfer belt 48 is completed. To do.

Next, the movement of the recording medium P will be described.
The recording medium P conveyed to the secondary transfer nip described above is transmitted from the paper feed tray 26 of the paper feed unit 200 arranged below the printer unit 100 via the paper feed roller 27, the resist roller pair 28, and the like. It is to be transported. Specifically, a plurality of recording media P are stacked and stored in the paper feed tray 26. Then, when the paper feed roller 27 is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2, the top recording medium P is conveyed toward the roller nip formed by the two rollers of the resist roller pair 28.

The recording medium P conveyed to the resist roller pair 28 temporarily stops at the position of the roller nip of the resist roller pair 28 that has stopped the rotational drive. Then, the resist roller pair 28 is rotationally driven in accordance with the timing when the color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 48 reaches the secondary transfer nip, and the recording medium P is conveyed toward the secondary transfer nip. As a result, a desired color toner image is transferred onto the recording medium P.

The recording medium P on which the color toner image is transferred by the secondary transfer nip is conveyed to the position of the fixing device 86. In the fixing device 86, the color toner image transferred to the surface is fixed on the recording medium P by the heat and pressure of the fixing belt and the pressure roller. The recording medium P that has passed through the fixing device 86 is discharged to the outside of the device through the space between the paper ejection rollers and the rollers 29. The recording medium P discharged to the outside of the device by the paper ejection roller pair 29 is sequentially stacked on the stack unit 30 as an output image. In this way, a series of image forming processes in the copying machine 500 is completed.

(Image drawing department)
Next, the configuration and operation of the developing device 50 in the image forming unit 46 will be described in more detail. Here, the image forming unit 46Y corresponding to yellow will be described as an example, but the same applies to the image forming unit 46 (M, C, K) of other colors.

As shown in FIG. 3, the developing apparatus 50Y includes a developing roller 51Y, a doctor blade 52Y, two developer transfer screws 55Y, a toner concentration detection sensor 56Y, and the like. The developing roller 51Y faces the photoconductor 41Y, and the doctor blade 52Y faces the developing roller 51Y. Further, the two developing agent transfer screws 55Y are arranged in the two developing agent accommodating portions (53Y, 54Y). The developing roller 51Y is composed of a magnet roller fixed inside, a sleeve rotating around the magnet roller, and the like. A two-component developer G composed of a carrier and toner is housed in the first developer housing unit 53Y and the second developer storage unit 54Y. The second developer accommodating portion 54Y communicates with the toner drop transport path 64Y through an opening formed above the second developer accommodating portion 54Y. Further, the toner concentration detection sensor 56Y detects the toner concentration in the developer G in the second developer housing unit 54Y.

The developer G in the developing apparatus 50 circulates between the first developing agent accommodating portion 53Y and the second developing agent accommodating portion 54Y while being stirred by the two developing agent conveying screws 55Y. The developer G in the first developer housing portion 53Y is supplied and supported on the sleeve surface of the developing roller 51Y by the magnetic field formed by the magnet roller in the developing roller 51Y while being conveyed to one of the developing agent conveying screw 55Y. Will be done. The sleeve of the developing roller 51Y is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3, and the developer G supported on the developing roller 51Y moves on the developing roller 51Y as the sleeve rotates. At this time, the toner in the developing agent G is charged to a potential opposite to that of the carrier by triboelectric charging with the carrier in the developing agent G and is electrostatically adsorbed on the carrier to be formed on the developing roller 51Y. It is carried on the developing roller 51Y together with the carriers attracted by the magnetic field.

The developer G supported on the developing roller 51Y is conveyed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3 and reaches the doctor portion where the doctor blade 52Y and the developing roller 51Y face each other. The amount of the developer G on the developing roller 51Y is adjusted to an appropriate amount when passing through the doctor portion, and then is conveyed to the developing region which is a position facing the photoconductor 41Y. In the developing region, the toner in the developer G is adsorbed on the latent image formed on the photoconductor 41Y by the developing electric field formed between the developing roller 51Y and the photoconductor 41Y. The developer G remaining on the surface of the developing roller 51Y that has passed through the developing region reaches above the first developing agent accommodating portion 53Y as the sleeve rotates, and is separated from the developing roller 51Y at this position.

The developer G in the developing apparatus 50Y is adjusted so that the toner concentration is within a predetermined range.
Specifically, the toner contained in the toner container A032Y is transferred to the second developer accommodating unit via the toner replenishing device 60Y, which will be described later, according to the amount of toner contained in the developer G in the developing apparatus 50Y due to development. It will be replenished within 54Y.
The toner replenished in the second developing agent accommodating portion 54Y is mixed and stirred together with the developing agent G by the two developing agent conveying screws 55Y, and the first developing agent accommodating portion 53Y and the second developing agent accommodating portion 54Y Circulate between.

(Toner replenishment device)
Next, the toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K) will be described.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a state in which the toner container A032Y is installed in the toner replenishing device 60Y, and FIG. 5 shows four toner containers A032 (Y, M, C, K) installed in the toner container accommodating portion 70. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the state which was done.

The toner in each toner container A032 (Y, M, C, K) installed in the toner container accommodating unit 70 of the printer unit 100 consumes the toner in the developing apparatus 50 (Y, M, C, K) of each color. Correspondingly, it is appropriately replenished in each developing device 50 (Y, M, C, K). At this time, the toner in each toner container A032 (Y, M, C, K) is replenished by the toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K) provided for each toner color. The four toner replenishing devices 60 (Y, M, C, K) and the toner container A032 (Y, M, C, K) have almost the same structure except that the colors of the toner used in the image forming process are different. .. Therefore, only the toner replenishing device 60Y and the toner container A032Y corresponding to yellow will be described below, and the toner replenishing device 60 (M, C, K) and the toner container A032 (M, C) corresponding to the other three colors will be described. , K) will be omitted as appropriate.

The toner replenishment device 60 (Y, M, C, K) includes a toner container accommodating portion 70, a transfer nozzle 611 (Y, M, C, K) as a transfer tube, and a transfer screw 614 (Y, M, C, K). , Toner drop transport path 64 (Y, M, C, K), rotary drive unit 91 (Y, M, C, K) and the like.
When the toner container A032Y moves in the direction of arrow Q in the drawing and is mounted on the toner container storage section 70 of the printer section 100, the toner container 60Y is mounted on the toner container container A032Y from the container tip side in conjunction with the mounting operation. The transport nozzle 611Y is inserted. As a result, the inside of the toner container A032Y and the inside of the transport nozzle 611Y communicate with each other. Details of the configuration that communicates in conjunction with this mounting operation will be described later.

As the form of the toner container of the first embodiment, the toner container A032Y of the present embodiment is a cylindrical toner bottle, and is mainly a container tip side cover A034Y held in the toner container accommodating portion 70 in a non-rotating manner. The container gear A301Y is assembled and is mainly composed of a nozzle receiving member A330 as a pipe receiving member rotatably held by the container tip side cover A034Y and a cylindrical container body A033Y.

The toner container accommodating portion 70 is mainly composed of a container cover receiving portion 73, a container receiving portion 72, and an insertion port forming portion 71. The container cover receiving portion 73 is a portion for holding the container tip side cover A034Y of the toner container A032Y, and the container receiving portion 72 is a portion for holding the container main body A033Y of the toner container A032Y. Further, the insertion port forming portion 71 is a portion that forms an insertion port during the mounting operation of the toner container A032Y. When the main body cover (not shown) installed on the front side of the copying machine 500 (the front side in the vertical direction of the paper surface in FIG. 2) is opened, the insertion port forming portion 71 of the toner container accommodating portion 70 is exposed. Then, with the longitudinal direction of each toner container A032 (Y, M, C, K) set to the horizontal direction, the operation of attaching / detaching each toner container A032 (Y, M, C, K) from the front side of the copying machine 500 ( The attachment / detachment operation) is performed with the longitudinal direction of the toner container A032 as the attachment / detachment direction. The set cover 608Y in FIG. 4 is a part of the container cover receiving portion 73 of the toner container accommodating portion 70.

The container receiving portion 72 is formed so that the length in the longitudinal direction thereof is substantially equal to the length in the longitudinal direction of the container body A033Y. Further, the container cover receiving portion 73 is provided on the container tip side in the longitudinal direction (detachable direction) of the container receiving portion 72, and the insertion port forming portion 71 is provided on one end side of the container receiving portion 72 in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, along with the mounting operation of the toner container A032Y, the container tip side cover A034Y slides on the container receiving portion 72 for a while after passing through the insertion port forming portion 71, and then is mounted on the container cover receiving portion 73. It will be.

With the container tip side cover A034Y attached to the container cover receiving portion 73, it is assembled to the nozzle receiving member A330 from the rotary drive unit 91Y composed of the drive motor, the drive gear, etc. via the main body side drive gear 601Y. When the rotary drive is input to the container gear A301Y, the agitator A380Y as a powder transfer member provided in the container body A033Y is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow A in FIG. By rotating the agitator A380Y, the toner T contained inside the container body A033Y is conveyed from the left side to the right side in FIG. 4 along the longitudinal direction of the container body, and is conveyed from the container tip side cover A034Y side into the transfer nozzle 611Y. Is supplied to.

A transfer screw 614Y is arranged in the transfer nozzle 611Y, and when a rotational drive force is input from the rotation drive unit 91Y to the transfer screw gear 605Y, the transfer screw 614Y rotates and is supplied into the transfer nozzle 611Y. The toner T is conveyed. The downstream end of the transfer nozzle 611Y in the transfer direction is connected to the toner drop transfer path 64Y, and the toner T conveyed by the transfer screw 614Y drops its own weight on the toner drop transfer path 64Y and drops the developer 50Y (second developer). It is replenished in the storage unit 54Y).
The toner container A032 (Y, M, C, K) is replaced with a new one when it reaches the end of its life (when almost all the toner T contained in it is consumed and emptied). A handle portion A303 is formed on the container rear end lid A307 provided at the end opposite to the container front end side cover A034 in the longitudinal direction of the toner container A032, and the operator can replace the toner container A032 with the handle portion. The attached toner container A032 can be removed by grasping and pulling out A303.

The control unit 90 may calculate the toner consumption based on the image information used in the exposure device 47 described above, and the control unit 90 may determine that the toner T needs to be supplied to the developing device 50Y. Further, the control unit 90 may detect that the toner concentration in the developing device 50Y has decreased based on the detection result of the toner concentration detection sensor 56Y. In these cases, the rotation drive unit 91Y is driven by the control of the control unit 90, and the agitator A380Y in the container body A033Y of the toner container A032Y and the transfer screw 614Y are rotated for a predetermined time to replenish the toner to the developing device 50Y. .. Further, since the toner T is replenished by rotating the transfer screw 614Y arranged in the transfer nozzle 611Y, the toner supply amount from the toner container A032Y can be accurately measured by detecting the rotation speed of the transfer screw 614Y. It can be calculated well. When the toner supply amount cumulatively calculated from the time when the toner container A032Y is mounted reaches the amount of toner in the toner container A032Y at the time of mounting, it is assumed that there is no toner T in the toner container A032Y, and the copying machine 500 A display indicating that the toner container A032Y is to be replaced is displayed on a display unit (not shown).
Further, even if the toner concentration detection sensor 56Y detects the decrease in the toner concentration, executes the replenishment operation, and repeats the determination of whether or not the toner concentration has recovered a plurality of times, the toner concentration has been recovered by the toner concentration detection sensor 56Y. May not be detected. Also in this case, assuming that there is no toner T in the toner container A032Y, a display indicating that the toner container A032Y is to be replaced is displayed on the display unit (not shown) of the copying machine 500.

FIG. 7 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner replenishing device 60 before mounting the toner container A032 and the tip end side end portion of the toner container A032.
As shown in FIG. 7, the toner replenishment device 60 includes a nozzle holder 607 for fixing the transfer nozzle 611 to the frame 602 of the copying machine 500 main body, and the set cover 608 is fixed to the nozzle holder 607. .. Further, the nozzle holder 607 is fixed with a toner drop transfer path 64 arranged so as to communicate with the inside of the transfer nozzle 611 from below the transfer nozzle 611.

Further, the rotation drive unit 91 is fixed to the frame 602. The rotation drive unit 91 includes a drive motor 603 and a main body side drive gear 601 and further includes a worm gear 603a that transmits the rotational drive of the drive motor 603 to the rotation shaft of the main body side drive gear 601. A drive transmission gear 604 is fixed to the rotation shaft of the drive gear 601 on the main body side, and is configured to mesh with the transfer screw gear 605 fixed to the rotation shaft of the transfer screw 614. With such a configuration, by rotationally driving the drive motor 603, the drive is transmitted from the main body side drive gear 601 to the container gear A301, and the agitator A380 can be rotated via the nozzle receiving member A330 to which the container gear is assembled. it can. In addition, the agitator A380 can be rotated, and the transfer screw 614 can be rotated via the drive transmission gear 604 and the transfer screw gear 605.

Next, the transfer nozzle 611 of the toner replenishment device 60 will be described.
FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the nozzle shutter 612. 20 is a perspective explanatory view of the nozzle shutter 612 seen from the side where the toner container A032 is attached (nozzle tip side), and FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the nozzle shutter 612 from the toner replenishing device 60 side (nozzle root side). It is a perspective explanatory view as seen. FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the vicinity of the transfer nozzle 611 of the toner replenishment device 60.

At the base of the transport nozzle 611, a container set portion 615 is formed in which the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle receiving member 330 as a container opening is fitted with the toner container A032 mounted on the toner replenishment device 60. The container setting portion 615 has a cylindrical shape, and the inner peripheral surface 615a thereof and the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle receiving member A330 are fitted in a slidable state. From this fitting, the toner container A032 is positioned with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 in the normal direction with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle receiving member A330 (the plane direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the agitator A380). Further, when the nozzle receiving member A330 and the agitator A380 are rotated, the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle receiving member A330 functions as a rotation shaft portion, and the container setting portion 615 functions as a bearing. The position where the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle receiving member A330 at this time is slidably contacted with the container setting portion 615 and the toner container A032 is positioned with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 is indicated by α in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 19 and the like, the nozzle shutter 612 is composed of a nozzle shutter flange portion 612a and a nozzle shutter tubular portion 612e. A first rib 612b on the inner circumference of the shutter is formed on a part of the upper part of the inner peripheral surface of the nozzle shutter tubular portion 612e near the end on the nozzle tip side. On the other hand, on the inner peripheral surface of the nozzle shutter tubular portion 612e near the end on the nozzle root side, the shutter inner peripheral second rib 612c and the shutter inner peripheral third rib 612d are formed so as to go around the inner peripheral surface, respectively. Has been done.
The length of the inner peripheral surface of the shutter inner peripheral first rib 612b in the circumferential direction fits within the circumferential width of the nozzle opening 610, which is the powder receiving inlet, with the nozzle shutter 612 attached to the transport nozzle 611. It is the length that can be.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 22, the end portion of the nozzle shutter spring 613 on the nozzle root side abuts on the end surface 615b of the container setting portion 615. Further, the end portion of the nozzle shutter spring 613 on the nozzle tip side abuts on the nozzle shutter spring receiving surface 612f of the nozzle shutter flange portion 612a. When the nozzle shutter spring 613 is compressed, the nozzle shutter 612 receives an urging force in the direction of coming off from the nozzle tip side (left direction in FIG. 22). However, the shutter inner peripheral first rib 612b abuts on the edge portion of the nozzle opening 610 on the nozzle tip side, that is, the upper portion of the inner wall surface of the nozzle tip portion 611a in the transport nozzle 611. This prevents the nozzle shutter 612 from moving in the direction of coming off the transfer nozzle 611 as compared with the state shown in FIG. The abutting of the first rib 612b on the inner circumference of the shutter and the urging force of the nozzle shutter spring 613 position the nozzle shutter 612 with respect to the transport nozzle 611 in the rotation axis direction.

(Toner container)
Next, the toner container A032 (Y, M, C, K) and the toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K) of the first embodiment will be described in more detail. As described above, the toner container A032 (Y, M, C, K) and the toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K) have almost the same configuration except that the toner colors used are different. It has become. Therefore, the subscripts indicating the colors of the toners used, such as Y, M, C, and K, will be omitted below.

FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner container A032 of the first embodiment. Further, FIG. 7 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner replenishing device 60 before mounting the toner container A032 and the tip end side end portion of the toner container A032.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a toner replenishing device 60 before mounting the toner container A032 and an end portion of the toner container A032 on the tip side of the container, and FIG. 8 shows toner replenishment in a state where the toner container A032 is mounted. It is sectional drawing explanatory view of the apparatus 60 and the end portion of the toner container A032 on the tip side of a container.

The toner replenishment device 60 includes a transfer nozzle 611 having a transfer screw 614 inside. Further, the toner replenishment device 60 includes a nozzle shutter 612. When the nozzle shutter 612 is not mounted (states of FIGS. 1 and 7) before the toner container A032 is mounted, the nozzle opening 610 formed in the transport nozzle 611 is closed and the toner container A032 is mounted. At the time (state of FIG. 8), the nozzle opening 610 is opened. On the other hand, in the center of the tip surface of the toner container A032, a nozzle receiving port A331 as a pipe receiving port into which the transport nozzle 611 is inserted at the time of mounting is formed, and as an opening / closing member for closing the nozzle receiving port A331 when not mounted. The container shutter A332 of the above is provided.

First, the toner container A032 will be described with reference to FIG. 6 described above.
As described above, the toner container A032 is mainly composed of a container body A033, a nozzle receiving member A330, an agitator A380 as a powder transport member, and a container tip side cover A034.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of the container gear A301, the nozzle receiving member A330, and the agitator A380, which are rotating members, among the constituent members of the toner container A032. The broken line in FIG. 9 indicates the rotation center axis of these rotating members, and the container gear A301, the nozzle receiving member A330, and the agitator A380 are configured to have the same rotation center axis. ..

The container body A033 has a cylindrical shape and houses the toner and the agitator A380 described later. Hereinafter, the direction parallel to the central axis of rotation of the agitator A380 along the longitudinal direction of the container body A033 is referred to as the "central axis direction", and the side (container) in which the nozzle receiving port A331 of the toner container A032 is formed in the central axis direction. The side on which the tip side cover A034 is arranged) will be referred to as the "container tip side". Further, the side of the toner container A032 where the handle portion A303 is arranged (the side opposite to the container front end side) is referred to as the "container rear end side". In the state where the toner container A032 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the central axis direction is the horizontal direction. As described above, the agitator A380 is provided inside the container body A033, and the agitator A380 is driven and transmitted via the container gear A301 and the nozzle receiving member A330 to be rotationally driven. When the agitator A380 rotates in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 8 due to this drive transmission, the toner T in the container body A033 moves from one end side (rear end side of the container) to the other end side (container) in the central axial direction by the action of the agitator A380. The carrying force toward the tip side) is given.
The toner container A032 is filled with the toner T from the toner filling hole A307a formed in the rear end lid A307 of the container body A033, and then the toner filling port A307a is closed with the cap A311 to store the toner T inside. It has become.

The nozzle receiving member A330 is a shutter support portion A330a that movably supports the container shutter A332 and a bottom portion (rear end side of the container) of the shutter support portion A330a, and the end portion of the container shutter spring A336 as an urging member abuts. It has a container shutter spring support portion A330b.
Then, it has a first outer peripheral surface A330c rotatably supported by the container tip side cover A034, and a second outer peripheral surface A330d which has a larger outer diameter than the first outer peripheral surface and is supported by the first container cover A308. The first outer peripheral surface A330c has a toner intake port A392 as a powder intake port and a convex portion A391 that prevents the container gear A301 from rotating. The second outer peripheral surface A330d is the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle receiving member A330 that is rotatably supported by the container set portion 615 of the toner replenishing device when the toner container A032 is mounted on the toner replenishing device 60.
Further, the inner peripheral surface side of the nozzle receiving member is provided between the shutter support portion A330a described above, the inner peripheral surface A330e having an inner diameter larger than that of the shutter support portion A330a, and the shutter support portion A330a and the inner peripheral surface A330e. It is composed of a step portion A330f. One end face of the container seal A333 is attached to the step portion A330f and attached to the nozzle receiving member A330. The other end surface of the container seal A333 and the above-mentioned inner peripheral surface A330e form a tip opening A305 which is a cylindrical space region. Then, the nozzle receiving inlet A331 is sealed by bringing the outer peripheral surface of the container shutter A332 into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the container seal A333. The transfer nozzle 611 of the toner replenishing device is inserted into the nozzle receiving port A331. In the toner container A032, the nozzle receiving port A331 of the nozzle receiving member A330 has an opening into which the transport nozzle 611 can be inserted, and the outer peripheral surface (second outer peripheral surface A330d) of the tip opening A305 is the container opening. ..
The shutter support portion A330a may be provided with an insertion guide member having good slidability such as Teflon (registered trademark) so that the transfer nozzle 611 can be smoothly inserted into the nozzle receiving inlet A331.

Further, the nozzle receiving member A330 includes a container shutter A332 made of a resin member such as ABS, PS, POM, SW-C (hard steel wire), SWP-A (piano wire), and SUS304 (stainless steel wire for spring). It is made of a different material from the container shutter spring A336 made of the above.
Therefore, by easily removing the nozzle receiving member A330 from the container body A033 made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or the like, it is possible to easily perform material recycling in which the toner container A032 is disassembled and the material is selected.

The agitator A380 imparts a conveying force to the toner T contained in the container body A033 from one end side (rear end side of the container) to the other end side (front end side of the container) in the central axis direction. Then, a lifting portion A382, which is a lifting member, is provided on the container tip side of the agitator A380 so as to extend from the vicinity of the toner intake port A392 of the nozzle receiving member A330 toward the inner peripheral surface of the container main body A033.
The lifting portion A382 extends from the upstream side in the rotation direction of the nozzle receiving member A330 with respect to the toner inlet A392, and the toner T is lifted from the lower side to the upper side by the rotation of the agitator A380, and the toner is poured into the toner intake port A392. be able to. The agitator A380 is attached to the nozzle receiving member A330 so that the lifting portion A382 forms a predetermined angle with respect to the tangential direction at the edge portion of the toner intake port A392.
When the toner container A032 is attached to the toner replenishment device 60, the toner intake port A392 and the nozzle opening 610 of the transfer nozzle 611 inserted from the nozzle reception port A331 of the nozzle receiving member A330 communicate with each other. Therefore, the toner T can be supplied from the toner container A032 to the toner replenishing device 60.
In the configurations shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the agitator A380 has a shape in which a pair of flat plates are spirally twisted with the central axis as the axis of symmetry, and the lifting portion A382 has a paddle blade shape with respect to the rotation direction. is there.

The container tip side cover A034 includes a first container cover A308a that covers the container gear A301 from the container tip side, holds the IC tag 700 described later, and rotatably supports the second outer peripheral surface A330d of the nozzle receiving member described above. It is composed of a second container cover A308b which is fixed to the container tip side of the container body A033 and rotatably supports the first outer peripheral surface A330c of the nozzle receiving member. The first container cover A308a is fixed to the second container cover A308b and constitutes the container tip side cover A034. The container tip side cover A034 has a pair of slide guides A361 provided on both side surfaces of the lower portion thereof, a container lock portion A339, and a color incompatible rib A034b projecting in a direction orthogonal to the attachment / detachment direction of the toner container A032. ..
The pair of slide guides A361 provided on both lower side surfaces of the container tip cover A034 serve as guides for sliding and moving the toner container A032 on the container receiving portion 72 of FIG. 5 when the toner container A032 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60. Function. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a groove extending from the insertion port forming portion 71 to the container cover receiving portion 73 is formed immediately below the four toner containers A032 with the axial direction of the container main body A033 as the longitudinal direction. It fits in this groove to allow sliding movement. More specifically, the groove of the container receiving portion 72 has a pair of slide rails protruding from both side surfaces thereof, and the slide guide A361 has a container body A033 so as to sandwich the pair of slide rails from above and below when sliding. A slide groove A361a parallel to the central axis direction is formed.
Further, the container lock portion A339 engages with the replenishment device side lock member 609 provided on the set cover 608 when it is attached to the toner replenishment device 60. Then, the guide groove A339b that guides the relative movement with the replenishment device side lock member 609 and the locking hole A339d that is locked to the replenishment device side lock member 609 with the toner container A032 mounted on the toner replenishment device 60. To be equipped with.

The first container cover A308a of the container tip side cover A034 includes an ID tag (IC tag) 700 that forms a part of the guide groove A339b described above and records data such as the usage status of the toner container A032. Then, the nozzle receiving member A330 has a through hole A308e for exposing the second outer peripheral surface A330d through the container tip side end portion. Further, the first container cover A308a is restricted from its relative positional relationship with the nozzle receiving member A330 in the longitudinal direction by the regulating ring A306 fitted from the container tip side of the nozzle receiving member A330.
Further, the color incompatible rib A034b prevents the toner container A032 having a different color of the toner to be stored from being attached to the set cover 608 corresponding to the other color.

The container tip side cover A034 is formed with a gear exposure opening A034a that exposes a part of the container gear A301 (the inner side in the drawing of FIG. 6) described above. With such a configuration, when the toner container A032 is attached to the toner replenishment device 60, the container gear A301 exposed from the gear exposure opening A034a can be meshed with the main body side drive gear 601 on the toner replenishment device 60 side. It is possible to drive and transmit the toner container A032 from the main body side to the rotating member.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of an agitator assembly A390 mainly composed of a container gear A301, a nozzle receiving member A330, and an agitator A380, which are rotating members among the constituent members of the toner container A032. The broken line in FIG. 9 indicates the rotation center axis of these rotating members, and the container gear A301, the nozzle receiving member A330, and the agitator A380 are configured to have the same rotation center axis. ..

(Rotating member)
Next, an agitator assembly A390 composed of a nozzle receiving member A330, an agitator A380, and the like rotatably provided with respect to the container body A033 will be described.
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective explanatory view of the agitator assembly A390 including the nozzle receiving member A330 and the agitator A380, and FIG. 11 shows the nozzle receiving member A330 and the agitator A380 having a configuration in which the central axis of the agitator A380 is not provided from the side. It is a cross-sectional view as seen.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the agitator assembly A390 is configured by assembling the container gear A301, the two agitator A380s, and the central axis A334 with respect to the nozzle receiving member A330. After the container shutter spring A336 and the container shutter A332 are inserted into the nozzle receiving port A331 of the nozzle receiving member A330 and incorporated, the pin A340 is inserted from the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction, and the hole of the container shutter A332 and the guide slit of the nozzle receiving member are inserted. Insert and assemble so that it penetrates 330 g. It should be noted that the container shutter A332 may be provided with a retaining claw to prevent it from coming off, and the container shutter spring support portion A330b of the nozzle receiving member A330 may be provided with a hole for the prevention claw to be hooked so that the container shutter A332 can be assembled to the nozzle receiving member A330. good.

In the agitator assembly A390, the nozzle receiving member A330 is rotated and the agitator A380 is rotated by receiving the main body drive of the main body side drive gear 601 of the toner replenishing device main body by the container gear A301. When the agitator A380 is rotated, the toner T on the rear end side of the container body A033 is conveyed to the tip side of the container having the toner intake port A392, and the toner T in the container body A033 is given a loosening effect. .. Further, as described above, a lifting portion A382 is formed on the container tip side of the agitator A380, and the toner T conveyed to the container tip side is a toner intake port formed on the nozzle receiving member A330 by the rotation of the agitator A380. It is lifted up to A392 and poured. The toner T poured into the toner inlet A392 is taken into the transfer nozzle 611 from the nozzle opening 610 which is inserted into the nozzle inlet A331 and communicates with the toner inlet A392, and is conveyed into the toner replenishment device 60.
In the example shown in FIG. 10, the container gear A301 and the nozzle receiving member A330 are joined by a detent convex portion A391 formed on the first outer peripheral surface A330c of the nozzle receiving member A330. Not limited to this structure, it may be adhered with an adhesive or fixed with a slide pin or the like, and any structure can be used as long as the drive from the toner replenishing device main body can be transmitted to the nozzle receiving member A330. It may be.

Further, the nozzle receiving member A330 and the container gear A301 may be integrally molded, or the nozzle receiving member A330 and the agitator A380 may be integrally molded.
As a result, the assembly process can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.
The central axis A334 is provided to suppress center runout (rotation unevenness) of the nozzle receiving member A330 during rotation, but is shown in FIG. 11 if it has sufficient strength to prevent center runout during rotation. As described above, the configuration may not include a central axis. In the case of this configuration, the center pin A381 may be provided on the rear end side of the container of the agitator A380 so as to be rotatably supported by the central portion of the rear end lid A307 of the container.
Further, bearings may be provided at the sliding portions of the nozzle receiving member A330 and the container tip side cover A034 and the first container cover A308. It is preferable that this bearing also has a toner sealing property.

When the toner container A032 having the above-described configuration is inserted into the toner container storage unit 70, the tip of the transport nozzle 611 enters the nozzle receiving port A331. Further, when the toner container A032 is inserted into the toner container storage portion 70, the tip end portion of the transport nozzle 611 comes into contact with the container shutter A332, and the container shutter A332 resists the urging force of the container shutter spring A336 and is on the rear end side of the container. Pushed into. Then, the container shutter A332 moves toward the rear end of the container, and the toner intake port A392 and the nozzle opening 610 of the transfer nozzle 611 communicate with each other.

When the toner intake port A392 and the nozzle opening 610 of the transfer nozzle 611 communicate with each other, the toner T can be taken in (supplied). However, the positional relationship between the toner intake port A392 and the lifting portion A382 of the agitator A380 is as follows. It is desirable to set the position where the toner T smoothly enters.

FIG. 12B shows a cross section of the nozzle receiving member A330 in which the transport nozzle 611 including the transport screw 614 is inserted at the position of the toner inlet A392, from the container front end side toward the container rear end side. It is an explanatory diagram that I saw. FIG. 12A is a comparative diagram showing a configuration in which the nozzle opening 610 of the transfer nozzle and the toner intake port A392 of the nozzle receiving member are provided at the height of the rotation center of the transfer screw 614. The transport screw 614 rotates the toner T clockwise in the drawing to transport the toner T to the toner replenishment device 60.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 12A, the nozzle opening 610 and the toner intake port A392 are opened at the height of the rotation center of the transfer screw 614 in the direction of gravity, and both openings are wider than the diameter of the transfer screw 614. Then, by dropping the toner T from a position higher than the nozzle opening 610 and the toner inlet A392, the toner can be taken into the transport nozzle 611 from the nozzle opening 610 communicating through the toner inlet A392. However, the region where the transport screw 614 is covered by the transport nozzle 611 is the lower half region, and the toner T supplied through the nozzle opening 610 is because the transport screw 614 transports the toner T to the toner replenishment device 60. When it rotates to, it advances while tilting so as to rotate with the rotation, so that it spills outward from the area of the upper half of the transfer nozzle 611. Therefore, the amount of toner transferred to the toner replenishing device 60 by the transfer screw 614 is smaller than the amount of toner supplied into the transfer nozzle 611 through the toner intake port A392 and the nozzle opening 610.
On the other hand, in the configuration shown in FIG. 12B, the nozzle opening 610 and the toner inlet A392 are located at a position higher than the rotation center of the transfer screw 614 in the direction of gravity and higher than the upper end of the transfer screw 614. It is open. And each opening is narrower than the diameter of the transport screw 614.
Then, by dropping the toner T from a position higher than the nozzle opening 610 and the toner inlet A392, the toner can be taken into the transport nozzle 611 from the nozzle opening 610 communicating through the toner inlet A392. In this configuration, the transport screw 614 is covered by the transport nozzle 611 up to the region above the configuration shown in FIG. 12A (near the upper end of the transport screw 614). Therefore, when the transfer screw 614 rotates to transfer the toner T to the toner replenishing device 60, the toner T supplied through the nozzle opening 610 advances while tilting so as to rotate along with the rotation, but in the transfer nozzle 611. It is held and transported in the transport nozzle 611 so as not to spill outward due to the wall surface. Therefore, in the configuration shown in FIG. 12B, the amount of toner supplied into the transfer nozzle 611 via the toner intake port A392 and the nozzle opening 610, and the amount of toner transferred to the toner replenishment device 60 by the transfer screw 614. Since they are substantially the same, it is easy to control the amount of toner supplied from the toner container A032 to the toner replenishing device 60.
Further, the nozzle receiving member A330 of the first embodiment supports the container shutter 332 by the shutter support portion A330a and holds the container shutter spring A336.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 12A, the inner peripheral surface (shutter support portion) A330a of the lower half of the nozzle receiving member A330 in the gravity direction holds the circumferential direction of the container shutter spring A336. A container shutter A332 is provided on the container front end side of the container shutter spring A336, and the container rear end side is held by the container shutter spring support portion A330b of the nozzle receiving member. The transfer nozzle 611 is inserted into such a nozzle receiving member A330 from the nozzle receiving port A331, the tip of the transfer nozzle 611 comes into contact with the container tip side of the container shutter A332, and the container shutter A332 moves to the container rear end side. At that time, when the container shutter spring A336 is to be compressed, the container shutter spring A336 is not covered with the inner peripheral surface (shutter support portion) A330a of the nozzle receiving member, so that the compressed force escapes upward and buckles. There is a risk of If the container shutter spring A336 buckles, the nozzle receiving port A331 cannot be closed by itself. Therefore, when the toner container A032 is removed from the toner replenishing device 60, the toner scatters from the nozzle receiving port A331.

On the other hand, in the configuration shown in FIG. 12B, the container shutter spring A336 covers the peripheral surface region excluding the toner inlet A392 with the shutter support portion A330a. Therefore, the transfer nozzle 611 is inserted from the nozzle receiving port A331, the tip of the transfer nozzle 611 comes into contact with the container tip side of the container shutter A332, and the container shutter spring A336 is compressed when the container shutter A332 moves to the container rear end side. When attempting to do so, since the container shutter spring A336 is also held from the circumferential direction by the inner peripheral surface (shutter support portion) A330a of the nozzle receiving member, the compressed force is restricted even if it tries to escape upward, and the container shutter It is compressed in the moving direction of A332. Therefore, in the configuration shown in FIG. 12B, it is possible to prevent the container shutter spring A336 from buckling and the nozzle receiving port A331 from being unable to self-close.

As described above, as compared with the configuration in which the nozzle opening 610 and the toner intake port A392 are opened at the height of the substantially rotation center of the transport screw 614 in the direction of gravity shown in FIG. 12 (a), FIG. 12 (b) shows. A configuration in which the nozzle opening 610 and the toner intake port A392 are opened at a position higher than the rotation center of the transport screw 614 in the direction of gravity is advantageous in that the stability of the toner supply amount and the effect of suppressing the toner scattering can be expected. However, it is necessary to lift the toner to a higher position in the direction of gravity. Compared to the configuration of FIG. 12 (a), the configuration in which the nozzle opening 610 and the toner intake port A392 are provided at a position higher than the rotation center of the transport screw 614 in the direction of gravity shown in FIG. 12 (b) is more open. Since the width of the toner T is narrowed, it is necessary to smoothly pour the toner T at the timing when the nozzle opening 610 and the toner intake port A392 communicate with each other.

Next, a configuration in which the toner is lifted above the toner inlet A392 and poured into the toner inlet A392 will be described.
13 to 18 are explanatory views showing a positional relationship in the rotation direction between the toner inlet A392 and the lifting portion A382 of the agitator A380, in which the toner T smoothly enters the toner inlet A392.
In order to smoothly lift the toner T conveyed to the tip side of the container inside the container body A033 by the agitator A380 by the lifting portion A382 and pour it into the toner intake port A392, a toner pool is formed in the vicinity of the lifting portion A382. Is desirable. Then, the mounting angle of the lifting portion A382 with respect to the first outer peripheral surface A330c including the toner intake port A392 of the nozzle receiving member A330 becomes important.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the toner inlet A392 when the toner intake A392 of the nozzle receiving member A330 and the lifting portion A382 of the agitator A380 are viewed from the rear end side of the container toward the front end side of the container in the direction of rotation axis. is there. The agitator assembly A390 including the nozzle receiving member A330 having the toner inlet A392 and the agitator A380 is configured to rotate counterclockwise in FIG.
Then, in FIG. 13, only one set of the toner intake port A392 and the lifting portion A382 of the agitator A380 is shown as a representative example, but the position is point-symmetrical with respect to the rotation center as shown in FIG. 8 of the first embodiment. , Another set of toner intake port A392 and a lifting portion A382 of the agitator A380 may be arranged. It is possible to arrange not only two sets but also a plurality of sets, and it is preferable to determine the number of sets according to a desired toner replenishment speed. Further, when a plurality of sets of the toner intake port A392 and the lifting portion A382 of the agitator A380 are arranged, if the toner intake ports A392 are arranged at equal intervals, the time interval for flowing the toner into the toner intake port A392 becomes constant. It is preferable because it can be done.

In the example shown in FIG. 13, the lifting portion A382 forms an angle θ with respect to the tangential direction (indicated by the broken line in the figure) at the upstream side edge portion in the rotation direction of the nozzle receiving member A330 of the toner intake port A392. The agitator A380 is attached to the nozzle receiving member A330. More specifically, a normal line orthogonal to the perpendicular line drawn from the central axis of the transfer nozzle 611 (rotation center axis of the transfer screw 614) with respect to the edge portion on the upstream side of the nozzle receiving member A330 in the toner intake A392 in the rotation direction. On the other hand, the angle θ is the angle on the toner inlet side formed by the surface of the lift portion A382 on the toner inlet side. This is because the relationship between the surface of the lifting portion A382 on the toner inlet side and the toner inlet A392 at the base of the lifting portion A382 is important when considering the function of smoothly pouring the toner T into the toner inlet A392 by the lifting portion A382. In FIG. 13, the above-mentioned angle θ is an obtuse angle, and when the toner intake port A392 is located above, the lifting portion A382 is opened with respect to the toner intake port A392 so as to be an inclined surface. There is. Then, the lifting portion A382 can function as a retaining portion that lifts the toner T to a position higher than the toner inlet A392 in the direction of gravity while holding the toner T on the lifting portion A382.

14 (a) to 14 (c) show that the toner T is lifted to a position higher than the toner inlet A392 by using the configuration of the toner inlet A392 and the lifting portion A382 whose angle θ is an obtuse angle shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which continuously shows the state which the toner T flows into the toner inlet A392. In the time series, the state shown in FIG. 14 (a) is followed by the state shown in FIG. 14 (b), and then the state shown in FIG. 14 (c). In FIGS. 14 (a) to 14 (c), for the sake of simplicity, the transfer screw 614 of the transfer nozzle inserted into the nozzle receiving member A330 is omitted.
With the toner container A032 set in the toner replenishment device 60, the drive motor 603 is driven and transmitted from the main body side drive gear 601 to the container gear A301, and the nozzle receiving member A330 is directed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 14A. When rotated, the toner T in the vicinity of the lifting portion A382 is lifted. Further, when the nozzle receiving member A330 rotates in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 14A, the lifting portion A382 extends in a substantially horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 14B, and the toner T is placed on the lifting portion A382. Is in a state of being on board. Then, when the nozzle receiving member A330 further rotates in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 14B, the lifting portion A382 forms an inclined surface with respect to the toner inlet A392 as shown in FIG. 14C (FIG. 13). The toner T on the lifting portion A382 is further lifted, and the toner T flows into the toner inlet A392 so as to slide down the inclined surface.

Then, the toner T drops into the nozzle opening 610 of the transfer nozzle 611 included in the nozzle receiving member A330 via the toner intake port A392, and the transfer screw 614 is rotated to bring the toner T into the toner replenishment device 60. Be supplied. As described above, the lifting portion A382 shown in FIG. 13 forms a blunt angle θ with respect to the tangential direction (indicated by the broken line in the figure) at the upstream side edge portion in the rotation direction of the nozzle receiving member A330 of the toner intake port A392. In the configuration in which the agitator A380 is attached to the nozzle receiving member A330, a lifting portion for lifting the toner to a position higher than the toner receiving port in the direction of gravity is provided, so that the pumped toner is suppressed from spilling from the conveying nozzle. , The pumped toner can be poured into the toner receiving port of the transport nozzle.

The cross-sectional shape of the lifting portion A382 in the cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis direction is not limited to the linear shape as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 (a) to 14 (c). As shown in FIG. 15A, the end of the lifting portion A382 of the agitator A380 on the side opposite to the side attached near the toner intake port A392 and extending toward the inner peripheral surface of the container body A033. The portion may be bent so as to be bent toward the downstream side in the rotation direction indicated by the arrow B in the drawing. Further, as shown in FIG. 15B, with respect to the lifting portion A382 of the agitator A380, the rotation direction indicated by the arrow B in the drawing is applied to the entire lifting portion A382 extending toward the inner peripheral surface of the container body A033. It may be a curved shape having a predetermined curvature that is concave with respect to the relative. In the example of FIG. 15B, the entire lifting portion A382 has a curved shape, but a part such as the vicinity of the end portion on the side extending toward the inner peripheral surface of the container body A033 has a curved shape. May be good. Further, as shown in FIG. 15 (c), the end side may be further bent from the bent shape of FIG. 15 (a) to form a plurality of bent shapes.
In FIGS. 15A to 15C, the lifting portion A382 of the agitator A380 has a bending shape that is concave with respect to the rotation direction indicated by the arrow B in the drawing as a cross-sectional shape in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis direction. These cross-sectional shapes make it easier to hold the lifted toner T on the lifted portion A382. Then, the lifting portion A382 forms an obtuse angle θ with respect to the tangential direction at the upstream side edge portion in the rotational direction of the nozzle receiving member A330 of the toner intake port A392, as in the configuration described with reference to FIG. Since the agitator A380 is attached to the A330, the toner T on the lifting portion A382 can be easily slid into the toner inlet A392.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view of a configuration in which the fall prevention wall A383 is erected from the side surface of the lifting portion A382 of the agitator A380 on the container tip side. The toner T is provided with a conveying force from the rear end side of the container to the front end side of the container by the agitator A380. Therefore, the toner T at the position of the lifting portion A382 is similarly subjected to the conveying force from the rear end side of the container to the front end side of the container. Due to this conveying force, the toner T on the lifting portion A382 may fall from the container tip side of the lifting portion A382. Therefore, a fall prevention wall A383 was erected from the side surface of the lifting portion A382 on the container tip side. The fall prevention wall A383 can effectively reduce the toner T on the lifting portion A382 from falling toward the tip of the container.
Further, in FIG. 16, the lifting portion A382 of the agitator A380 has a cross-sectional shape in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis direction, which is curved at two points, one near the mounting portion and the other near the end portion, and has a cross-sectional shape like a slide. It has become. Since this cross-sectional shape also has a bending shape that is concave with respect to the rotation direction indicated by the arrow B in the drawing, the lifted toner T is lifted in the same manner as in the configurations shown in FIGS. 15A to 15C. It can be easily held on the portion A382. Then, the lifting portion A382 forms an obtuse angle θ with respect to the tangential direction at the upstream side edge portion in the rotational direction of the nozzle receiving member A330 of the toner intake port A392, as in the configuration described with reference to FIG. Since the agitator A380 is attached to the A330, the toner T on the lifting portion A382 can be easily slid into the toner inlet A392.
By adopting the fall prevention wall A383 described with reference to FIG. 16 for the lifting portion A382 of the agitator A380 of FIGS. 13 and 15 (a) to 15 (c), the configuration is the same as that shown in FIG. In addition, it is possible to effectively reduce the toner T on the lifting portion A382 from falling toward the tip of the container.

FIG. 17 shows the toner intake when the toner intake A392 of the nozzle receiving member A330 and the lifting portion A382 of the agitator A380 are viewed from the rear end side of the container toward the front end side of the container in the rotation axis direction, as in FIG. It is sectional drawing in the vicinity of A392.
The configuration shown in FIG. 17 is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 13 with respect to the tangential direction (indicated by the broken line in the figure) of the lifting portion A382 at the upstream side edge portion in the rotational direction of the nozzle receiving member A330 of the toner intake A392. The configuration is the same except that the angle θ is an acute angle.

18 (a) to 18 (c) show that the toner T is continuously flowed into the toner inlet A392 by using the configuration of the toner inlet A392 and the lifting portion A382 having an acute angle θ shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing shown in. In the time series, the state shown in FIG. 18A is followed by the state shown in FIG. 18B, and then the state shown in FIG. 18C. In FIGS. 18 (a) to 18 (c), the transfer nozzle 611 and the transfer screw 614 included in the nozzle receiving member A330 are omitted for the sake of simplicity.
With the toner container A032 set in the toner replenishment device 60, the drive motor 603 is driven, the drive is transmitted from the main body side drive gear 601 to the container gear A301, the nozzle receiving member A330 rotates, and the lifting portion A382 of the agitator A380 moves. Rotate. As shown in FIG. 18A, when the lifting portion A382 extends in a substantially horizontal direction, the toner T is on the lifting portion A382. When rotated in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 18A, the lifting portion A382 is in a state of forming an inclined surface with respect to the toner inlet A392, as shown in FIG. 18B. However, since the nozzle opening 610 of the transport nozzle 611 opens upward in the drawing to receive the toner T falling due to gravity, the toner inlet A392 and the nozzle opening are in the state shown in FIG. 18B. Since the toner T is not in communication with the 610, the toner T cannot be supplied into the transfer nozzle 611 through the toner inlet A392 and the nozzle opening 610.
Then, when the toner T is further rotated in the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 18B, the toner T starts to fall from the lifting portion A382 by its own weight before the toner inlet A392 and the nozzle opening 610 communicate with each other. Therefore, in the state where the toner inlet A392 and the nozzle opening 610 shown in FIG. 18C communicate with each other, only a small amount of the toner T lifted by the lifting portion A382 remains in the vicinity of the toner inlet A392, and the nozzle opening 610 The amount of toner supplied into the toner replenishing device 60 is also small.
As described with reference to FIGS. 18 (a) to 18 (c), the lifting portion A382 is oriented in the tangential direction (shown by the broken line in the figure) at the upstream side edge portion in the rotational direction of the nozzle receiving member A330 of the toner intake port A392. On the other hand, when the angle θ formed is an acute angle, the angle θ is an obtuse angle, as compared with the configurations shown in FIGS. 13, 14 (a) to 14 (c), and FIGS. 15 (a) to 15 (c). The amount of toner supplied from the nozzle opening 610 into the toner replenishing device 60 is also small.
However, by providing a plurality of toner intake ports A392 and a plurality of lifting portions A382 of the agitator A380, the amount of toner supplied per point of the agitator assembly A390 can be increased. Then, such a configuration may be used as long as a sufficient supply amount can be secured in relation to the rotation speed of the agitator assembly A390 and the toner supply amount.

Next, the process of mounting the toner container A032 on the toner replenishing device 60 will be described.
By moving the toner container A032 in the direction of the toner replenishing device 60 as shown by the arrow Q in the drawings of FIGS. 7 and 1, the nozzle tip side of the transfer nozzle 611 is inserted into the nozzle receiving port A331, and the toner container A032 is further inserted. When moved, the nozzle tip portion 611a of the transport nozzle 611 comes into contact with the end surface of the container shutter A332 on the container tip side. Further, by moving the toner container A032 in the direction of the toner replenishing device 60, the transport nozzle 611 presses the end surface of the container shutter A332 on the container tip side, so that the container shutter spring A336 contracts, and the container shutter A332 is accompanied by this. Is pushed into the inner side (rear end side of the container) of the toner container A032. At this time, the nozzle shutter tubular portion 612e on the nozzle tip side of the nozzle shutter 612 with respect to the nozzle shutter flange portion 612a is also inserted into the nozzle receiving port A331 together with the transport nozzle 611.

Further, by moving the toner container A032 in the direction of the toner replenishing device 60, the surface of the nozzle shutter flange portion 612a opposite to the nozzle shutter spring receiving surface 612f comes into contact with the end surface of the container seal A333 on the container tip side. As a result, the relative position of the nozzle shutter 612 with respect to the toner container A032 in the central axis direction is fixed.
Further, by moving the toner container A032 in the direction of the toner replenishing device 60, the transfer nozzle 611 is further inserted into the inner side of the toner container A032. At this time, the nozzle shutter 612 that comes into contact with the end surface of the container seal A333 on the container tip side is pushed back toward the nozzle root side with respect to the transport nozzle 611. As a result, the nozzle shutter spring 613 contracts, and the relative position of the nozzle shutter 612 with respect to the transfer nozzle 611 moves to the nozzle root side. With this movement of the relative position, the nozzle opening 610 covered by the nozzle shutter 612 is exposed inside the container body A033, and the inside of the container body A033 and the inside of the transport nozzle 611 communicate with each other.

When the transfer nozzle 611 is inserted into the nozzle receiving port A331, the direction in which the toner container A032 is pushed back against the toner replenishing device 60 by the urging force of the container shutter spring A336 or the nozzle shutter spring 613 in the contracted state (arrow in the figure). A force (in the opposite direction to Q) acts. However, when the toner container A032 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the toner container A032 is moved toward the toner replenishing device 60 until the container lock portion A339 engages with the replenishing device side lock member 609 against this force. Move to. As a result, the urging force of the container shutter spring A336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 and the hooking of the container lock portion A339 on the replenishment device side lock member 609 act. By such an action of the urging force and the catching force, the toner container A032 is positioned in the central axis direction with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 in the state shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the container lock portion A339 includes a guide protrusion A339a as a guide portion, a guide groove A339b, an overcoming portion A339c, and a quadrangular locking hole A339d. These are set as one set, and the lid sets are arranged so as to form a pair on both sides of the container tip side cover A034 for the vertical line passing through the nozzle receiving port A331. The guide protrusion A339a is arranged on a vertical surface on the tip side of the container tip cover A034 and on a horizontal line passing through the center of the nozzle receiving port A331. The guide protrusion A339a is provided with an inclined surface connected to the guide groove A339b so that the lock member 609 on the replenishment device side is brought into contact with the toner container A032 and guided toward the guide groove A339b. The guide groove A339b is a groove one step lower than the side peripheral surface of the container tip side cover A034.

The width of the groove of the guide groove A339b is set to be slightly wider than the width of the replenishment device side lock member 609 so that the replenishment device side lock member 609 does not fall out of the groove.
The rear end side of the container of the guide groove A339b has a terminal rather than a shape directly connected to the locking hole A339d, and is at the height of the side peripheral surface of the container front end side cover A034. That is, between the guide groove A339b and the locking hole A339d, there is an outer peripheral surface of the container tip side cover A034 having a width of about 1 [mm], which corresponds to the overcoming portion A339c. The replenishment device side lock member 609 gets over the overcoming portion A339c and falls into the locking hole A339d, and the coupling between the toner container A032 and the toner replenishment device 60 is achieved.
In the toner container A032 of the first embodiment, the container tip side cover A034 has a first container cover A308. For the convenience of attaching the first container cover A308 to the container tip side cover A034 from the container tip side, the first container cover A308 covers the container tip side cover A034 from the outside, and is engaged with the container tip side cover A034. A stop hole A339d may be provided and a slit may be provided in the first container cover A308 so that the slit provided in the first container cover A308 functions as a guide groove A339b when the two are combined.

The toner container A032 has a configuration in which the container shutter A332 is located at the center of a line segment connecting the two container lock portions A339 on a virtual plane orthogonal to the rotation axis. If the container shutter A332 is not on the line segment connecting the two container lock portions A339, the following may occur. That is, due to the urging force of the container shutter spring A336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 that act at the position of the container shutter A332, the distance from the line segment to the container shutter A332 becomes the arm of the moment, and the toner container A032 is rotated around the line segment. The moment of force acts. Due to the action of this moment of force, the toner container A032 may tilt with respect to the toner replenishing device 60. In that case, the mounting load of the toner container A032 increases, and the load is applied to the nozzle receiving member A330 that holds and guides the container shutter A332.

In particular, when the toner container A032 is a new product containing a sufficient amount of toner, the toner weight is also taken into consideration when the toner container A032 is pushed in from the rear end side so that the transport nozzle 611 protruding from the horizontal direction is inserted. The moment of force that rotates the toner container A032 acts. As a result, a load is applied to the nozzle receiving member A330 into which the transfer nozzle 611 is inserted, and the nozzle receiving member A330 may be deformed or damaged in the worst case. On the other hand, in the toner container A032 of the present embodiment, the container shutter A332 is located on the line segment connecting the two container lock portions A339. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner container A032 from tilting with respect to the toner replenishment device 60 due to the urging force of the container shutter spring A336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 that act at the position of the container shutter A332.

As shown in FIG. 8, with the toner container A032 attached to the toner replenishment device 60, the end surface of the nozzle receiving member A330 of the toner container A032 on the container tip side does not come into contact with the end surface 615b of the container set portion 615. It is composed. This is due to the following reasons. It is assumed that the end surface of the nozzle receiving member A330 on the container tip side is in contact with the end surface 615b of the container setting portion 615. With such a configuration, the end surface of the nozzle receiving member A330 on the container tip side may hit the end surface 615b of the container set portion 615 before the locking hole A339d of the container lock portion A339 is caught on the replenishment device side lock member 609. There is. If they hit in this way, the toner container A032 cannot be moved to the toner replenishing device 60 side any more. In order to prevent this, when the toner container A032 is attached to the toner replenishment device 60, there is a slight gap between the end surface of the nozzle receiving member A330 on the container tip side and the end surface 615b of the container set portion 615. I am trying to have it.

Further, in the state of being positioned in the central axis direction in this way, the second outer peripheral surface A330d of the nozzle receiving member A330 is fitted to the inner peripheral surface 615a of the container setting portion 615 in a slidable state. Therefore, as described above, the toner container A032 is positioned with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 in the plane direction orthogonal to the central axis. As a result, the attachment of the toner container A032 to the toner replenishment device 60 is completed.

When the drive motor 603 is rotationally driven with the toner container A032 mounted, the agitator assembly A390 of the toner container A032 and the transfer screw 614 in the transfer nozzle 611 are rotated.
By rotating the agitator A380 of the agitator assembly A390, the toner T in the container body A033 is conveyed to the container tip side of the container body A033. The toner T that has reached the lifting portion A382 by this transport is lifted to the upper side of the toner inlet A392 by the lifting portion A382 by rotating the agitator A380. The toner T lifted above the toner inlet A392 falls into the nozzle opening 610 that communicates with the toner inlet A392, so that the toner T is supplied into the transport nozzle 611. The toner T supplied into the transfer nozzle 611 is conveyed by the transfer screw 614, and is supplied to the developing device 50 through the toner drop transfer path 64. The flow of the toner T from the inside of the container body A033 to the toner drop transport path 64 at this time is indicated by an arrow β in FIG.

Further, as described above, the position where the second outer peripheral surface A330d of the nozzle receiving member A330 slidably contacts the container setting portion 615 and the toner container A032 is positioned with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 is α in FIG. It is shown by. Here, the position of α in FIG. 8 is not limited to a configuration having both the functions of the sliding portion and the positioning portion, and may be a configuration having either the function of the sliding portion or the positioning portion. ..

Further, as described above, when the toner container A032 is attached to the toner replenishment device 60, the container seal A333 is crushed by the nozzle shutter flange portion 612a. As a result, the nozzle shutter flange portion 612a is in a state of being closely pressed against the container seal A333, and toner leakage can be prevented more reliably. By arranging the container shutter A332 on the inside in the longitudinal direction (rear end side of the container) from the opening position, a circle is formed between the tip of the nozzle receiving member A330 and the end face of the container shutter A332 and the container seal A333 on the container front end side. A columnar space is formed.

The nozzle opening 610 of the transfer nozzle 611 closes the nozzle shutter 612 when the toner container A032 is not attached to the toner replenishment device 60. Further, when the toner container A032 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, it is necessary to open the nozzle shutter 612 so that the toner can be accepted.
In the toner replenishing device 60, a columnar space (tip opening A305) is formed between the end of the nozzle receiving member A330 on the tip side of the container and the end face of the container shutter A332 and the container seal A333 on the tip side of the container. An evacuation space is configured so that all or part of the evacuation space of the nozzle shutter 612 when the nozzle shutter 612 is opened is accommodated in this space. Further, all or a part of the nozzle shutter spring 613 for closing the nozzle shutter 612 is also accommodated in this evacuation space. With such a configuration, the space for arranging the nozzle shutter 612 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 can be saved.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the present embodiment, when the toner container A032 is mounted on the toner replenishment device 60, the retracted position of the nozzle shutter 612 is the container seal A333 on the nozzle tip side of the nozzle shutter flange portion 612a. Located inside. The nozzle root side of the nozzle shutter flange 612a is substantially contained in a columnar space formed between the opening position of the tip opening A305 (end of the container tip side) and the end face of the container seal A333 on the container tip side. .. Further, the nozzle shutter spring 613 in the compressed state is also substantially contained in this columnar space.
With this configuration, from the opening position of the tip opening A305, which is the most advanced portion of the toner container A032, to the toner dropping portion of the toner replenishing device 60 (the position where the toner dropping transport path 64 is connected to the transport nozzle 611). It is possible to shorten the distance. As a result, the size of the device main body can be reduced.

When the back side of the nozzle shutter spring receiving surface 612f of the nozzle shutter flange portion 612a urged by the nozzle shutter spring 613 comes into contact with the end surface of the container seal A333 on the container tip side, the direction of rotation of the nozzle shutter 612 with respect to the toner container A032. The position of is decided. As a result, the end face of the container seal A333 on the container tip side and the tip opening A305 (the space formed by the inner peripheral surface A330e of the nozzle receiving member and the end face of the container seal A333 on the container tip side) and the nozzle on the container tip side. The positional relationship with the shutter 612 in the rotation axis direction is determined.

As shown in FIG. 8 and the like, when the toner container A032 is attached to the main body of the toner replenishing device 60, a nozzle shutter 612 as an abutting member and a nozzle as an urging member are inserted into the tip opening A305 which is a cylindrical internal space. The shutter spring 613 and the shutter spring 613 are housed in the structure. Here, in order to realize such a configuration, the diameter of the second outer peripheral surface A330d of the nozzle receiving member A330, the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface A330e, and the diameters of the container set portion 615 of the toner replenishing device 60 and the like. The relationship will be explained.

FIG. 41 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the diameter of the second outer peripheral surface A330d, the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface A330e, and the respective diameters of the configuration of the container set portion 615 of the toner replenishing device 60.
As will be described later, the container set portion 615 includes an inner peripheral surface 615a of the container set portion that fits with the second outer peripheral surface A330d of the nozzle receiving member of the toner container A032 when the toner container A032 is set, and the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface thereof. Let D1. Then, the diameter of the second outer peripheral surface A330d is set to d1.
The nozzle shutter 612 provided on the transfer nozzle 611 has a nozzle shutter flange portion 612a, and the outer diameter of the nozzle shutter flange portion 612a is D2. Further, the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface A330e of the nozzle receiving member is d2, and the outer diameter of the container seal A333 is d3. Then, the outer diameter of the nozzle shutter 612 (the outer diameter of the nozzle shutter tubular portion 612e described later) is D3, and the inner diameter of the container seal A333 is d4. In the toner container A032 of the first embodiment, "d2 = d3" is set.

When the toner container A032 is attached, the transfer nozzle 611 enters the nozzle receiving inlet A331 with the nozzle opening 610 closed by the nozzle shutter 612. Then, the nozzle shutter flange portion 612a comes into contact with the container seal member A333 and then crushed. Then, the nozzle opening 610 is opened, and the inside of the toner container A032 and the inside of the transport nozzle 611 communicate with each other. At this time, the second outer peripheral surface A330d of the nozzle receiving member of the toner container A032 and the inner peripheral surface 615a of the container set portion are fitted, and the nozzle receiving member A330 is rotatably held at this fitting portion. Then, the nozzle receiving member A330 is rotatably held so that the agitator assembly A390 can rotate around the fitting portion as a bearing.

In order to rotatably fit the second outer peripheral surface A330d of the nozzle receiving member of the toner container A032 and the inner peripheral surface 615a of the container set portion, the diameter d1 of the second outer peripheral surface A330d of the nozzle receiving member and the inner peripheral surface of the container set portion The inner diameter D1 of 615a is set so as to satisfy the relationship of "d1 <D1". Further, d1 and D1 are set to have a fitting tolerance of about 0.01 to 0.1 [mm]. By having the relationship of "d1 <D1" in this way, the nozzle receiving member A330 can be rotationally driven while being held by the container set portion 615.

The transfer nozzle 611 and the nozzle shutter 612 are configured to enter the nozzle receiving port A331 while the nozzle opening 610 of the transfer nozzle 611 is closed by the nozzle shutter 612. In order to realize this configuration, the outer diameter D2 of the nozzle shutter flange portion 612a and the inner diameter d2 of the inner peripheral surface A330e of the nozzle receiving member are set so as to satisfy the relationship of “D2 <d2”.

By setting in this way, the nozzle shutter 612 can be housed in the tip opening A305 of the toner container A032. Then, since the nozzle shutter flange portion 612a crushes the container seal A333 and is in an appropriately adhered state, it is possible to reduce the toner scattering that occurs when the toner container A032 is attached.

Further, the outer diameter D3 of the nozzle shutter 612 and the container seal A333 inner diameter d4 of the nozzle receiving member A330 are set so as to satisfy the relationship of “d4 <D3”. By setting in this way, the inner diameter of the container seal A333 is expanded as the transfer nozzle 611 enters, and the container seal A333 can be appropriately brought into close contact with the nozzle shutter 612. Therefore, it is possible to prevent toner from leaking from the toner container A032 to the outside when the transport nozzle 611 is inserted.
Summarizing the above-mentioned relationships, each part of the toner container A032 is set so as to satisfy the relationship of diameters of "d4 <D3 <D2 <d2 <d1 <D1". By setting in this way, it is possible to have a configuration having both a sealing property that does not cause toner scattering or toner leakage from the toner container A032 and a capacity for accommodating the nozzle shutter 612 and the nozzle shutter spring 613. it can.

Further, as will be described later, when the toner container A032 is attached, the nozzle opening 610 starts to open after the position of the nozzle shutter 612 relative to the toner container A032 is substantially fixed. On the other hand, when the toner container A032 is removed, even if the transport nozzle 611 starts to come out of the toner container A032, in the state where the nozzle opening 610 is open, the nozzle shutter 612 is relative to the toner container A032 due to the urging force of the nozzle shutter spring 613. Position does not change.

When the toner container A032 is pulled out, the relative position of the toner container A032 with respect to the transfer nozzle 611 changes, so that the relative position of the nozzle shutter 612 with respect to the transfer nozzle 611 also changes, and the nozzle shutter 612 closes the nozzle opening 610. Begin to. At this time, as the toner container A032 is pulled out, the distance between the toner container A032 and the container set portion 615 increases. As a result, the nozzle shutter spring 613 begins to return to its natural length due to its own restoring force, and the urging force on the nozzle shutter 612 begins to decrease.

Further, when the toner container A032 is pulled out and the nozzle shutter 612 completes closing the nozzle opening 610, a part of the nozzle shutter 612 abuts against a part of the transport nozzle 611.
After that, the toner container A032 is further pulled out, so that the nozzle shutter 612 is pulled out from the toner container A032 together with the transfer nozzle 611.

When the nozzle shutter flange portion 612a is in contact with the container seal A333, the portion where the nozzle opening 610 of the transport nozzle 611 is formed is sufficiently inside the toner container A032 (rear end of the container) than the inlet portion of the nozzle receiving inlet A331. It is located on the side and back side). Specifically, the nozzle opening 610 is arranged at a position facing the lifting portion A382, exceeding the container gear A301 in the direction of the rotation axis toward the rear end side of the container. Since the nozzle opening 610 opens and closes from a state where the toner container A032 is sufficiently located inside, it is possible to prevent toner from leaking from the nozzle opening 610 to the outside.

(IC tag)
Next, the holding mechanism of the IC tag (ID tag, ID chip, IC chip) 700 included in the toner container A032 of the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 25 is a perspective explanatory view of the connector 800 fixed to the toner replenishing device 60 and the container tip side end portion of the toner container A032. As shown in FIG. 25, the toner container A032 is attached to the container body A033 so as to expose the container body A033 and the tip opening A305 of the nozzle receiving member held by the container body A033 and provided with the nozzle receiving port A331. The container tip side cover A034 is provided. Further, the toner container A032 includes an IC tag 700 as an information storage device attached to the tip of the container tip side cover A034, and an IC tag holding mechanism 345 for holding the IC tag 700.

The IC tag 700 of the present embodiment is equipped with the one disclosed as an information storage device in Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-121688, and the communication method thereof is a contact type. Therefore, the connector 800 is arranged at a position facing the container tip side end surface of the container tip side cover A034 on the main body side of the toner replenishing device 60.
FIG. 26 is a perspective explanatory view of the end of the toner container A032 in a disassembled state of the IC tag holding mechanism 345 and the connector 800. As shown in FIG. 26, the IC tag 700 is formed with an IC tag hole portion 701 for positioning, and when the toner container A032 is attached to the toner replenishment device 60, the connector 800 is formed in the IC tag hole portion 701. The positioning pin 801 is inserted.

The IC tag holding mechanism 345 holds the holding portion 343 having the pedestal 358 for holding the IC tag 700 and the IC tag 700 so as to be movable in the XX direction in the drawing, and is detachably fitted to the holding portion 343. It is provided with a holding member 344 as a cover member. The IC tag 700 and its holding mechanism 345 are arranged in a space diagonally above the right side of the container tip side cover A034 when the toner container A032 is viewed from the container tip side along the rotation axis. In this case, when the toner container A032 of another color is installed side by side, the holding mechanism 345 is arranged on the container tip side cover A034 by utilizing the space diagonally above the right side which is a dead space. This makes it possible to provide a compact toner replenishing device capable of arranging cylindrical toner containers A032 close to each other. The container gear A301 and the main body side drive gear 601 are arranged in the space diagonally above the left side of the container tip side cover A034. The IC tag 700, the holding mechanism 345, the main body side terminal 804, and the main body side drive gear 601 are arranged so as not to interfere with each other so that the adjacent toner replenishment systems do not interfere with each other.

FIG. 27 is a perspective explanatory view of the end of the toner container A032 in a state where the IC tag 700 is temporarily fixed to the holding member 344 and the connector 800. As shown in FIG. 27, the holding portion 343 is formed on the IC tag mounting surface 357 of the container tip side end portion of the container tip side cover A034, and four prisms supporting the substrate surface without wiring on the back surface of the IC tag 700. It is equipped with a pedestal 358 made of. Further, the holding member 344 includes a frame 352 and a holding member protruding portion 353. The frame 352 is a frame formed so as to surround the pedestal 358 from the outside and prevent the IC tag 700 from coming off when it is fitted to the holding portion 343. The holding member projecting portion 353 is a portion projecting from the inner wall surface of the frame 352 so as to cover a region of the surface of the IC tag 700 without terminals. Regarding the frame 352 provided on the holding member 344, the IC tag 700 has a size that can accommodate an IC tag having a rectangular outer shape inside the frame shape, and when the IC tag 700 is set inside the frame, the IC tag 700 is X-. It is held so as to be movable to some extent in the Z direction.

Here, the holding mechanism 345 will be described in more detail.
The frame 352 provided on the holding member 344 is formed to be longer than the length of the pedestal 358 in the Y-axis direction (height from the IC tag mounting surface 357) in the drawing. Therefore, when the IC tag 700 is installed on the pedestal 358, the IC tag 700 is not fixed to the container tip side cover A034. Further, it is installed with a gap from the frame 352 existing so as to surround the outside of the IC tag 700 in the XZ direction. Further, since the IC tag 700 has a slight gap with respect to the holding member protruding portion 353 of the holding member 344, the IC tag 700 is not fixed to the container tip side cover A034 but does not come off. If the toner container A032 is shaken lightly, the IC tag 700 is held in the holding member 344 to the extent that it rattles and moves.

When assembling the IC tag 700, as shown in FIG. 27, the IC tag 700 is hooked on the inner wall rib 351 (see FIG. 26) of the holding member 344, and is temporarily fixed to the pedestal 358 of the holding portion 343. It will be assembled. At this time, the outside of the pedestal 358 composed of four prisms serves as a guide for the holding member 344, and the IC tag 700 after being assembled to the pedestal is placed on the end surface of the four pedestals 358 on the container tip side apart from the inner wall rib 351. Become so.

Next, the attachment of the holding member 344 will be described in detail.
In the toner container A032 of the first embodiment, the holding member 344 is not fixed to the container tip side cover A034 by processing such as heat caulking or tightening with a fastening member, but is fixed by a fitting method using a claw member. ..
As shown in FIG. 26, the holding member 344 includes a holding member upper claw 355, a holding member lower claw 354, and a holding member right side claw 356 on the holding member upper 350, the holding member lower 348, and the holding member right side surface portion 349, respectively. ing.
Around the IC tag mounting surface 357 on the container tip side cover A034 side, at positions facing each of the three claws of the holding member upper claw 355, the holding member lower claw 354, and the holding member right side claw 356. A hooking portion of the portion is formed. Specifically, a hooking portion 359a on the mounting surface is formed at a position facing the holding member upper claw 355 around the IC tag mounting surface 357. Further, a mounting surface lower hooking portion 359b is formed around the IC tag mounting surface 357 at a position facing the holding member lower claw 354, and a mounting surface lateral hooking portion 356 is formed at a position facing the holding member right side claw 356. A part 360 is formed.

When the holding member 344 is set on the container tip side cover A034, the three claws (355, 354 and 356) on the holding member 344 side have three hooking portions (359a, 359a, on the container tip side cover A034 side. 359b and 360) are engaged and fixed. Regarding the three hooking parts, two parts, the hooking part above the mounting surface 359a and the hooking part below the mounting surface 359b, have a hole shape, and one part of the side hooking part 360 on the mounting surface has a claw shape. ing.
For the hole-shaped mounting surface upper hooking portion 359a and the mounting surface lower hooking portion 359b, the inclination of the tips of the two claws of the holding member upper claw 355 and the holding member lower claw 354 and the elasticity of the claws are used. And set. Further, the claw-shaped mounting surface lateral hooking portion 360 is set by using the inclination of the tip of the holding member right side claw 356 and the mounting surface lateral hooking portion inclined surface 360a of the mounting surface lateral hooking portion 360. To do.

In such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 27, the IC tag 700 is temporarily fixed and set inside the frame 352 of the holding member 344, and the holding member 344 is moved along the pedestal 358 on the container tip side cover A034 side. As a result, the claws (355, 354 and 356) formed on the holding member 344 side engage with the hooking portions (359a, 359b and 360) formed on the container tip side cover A034 side, and the two are fitted together. The holding member 344 can be fixed to the container tip side cover A034 with.
In the example described with reference to FIGS. 25 to 27, the upper and lower two parts and the right one part of the holding member 344 are provided with a claw portion (355, 354 and 356) and a hook portion (359a, 359b and 360). It was used as the mating point. The fitting location of the holding member 344 is not limited to the combination of the top and bottom and the right, and may be only the top and bottom of the holding member 344, only the left and right, or the top, bottom, left, and right, and the fitting location and the number are limited to this embodiment. It's not something to do.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the fitting method using the claw member has been described, but in some cases, the holding member 344 is fixed to the container tip side cover A034 by processing such as heat caulking or tightening with a fastening member. You can also do it. Further, there is a case where there is a request to attach the holding member 344 of the IC tag more firmly, or there is a jig which can be rewritten (rewritten) without removing it from the container tip side cover A034 when recycling the IC tag. Can be done.

In the IC tag 700 of the present embodiment, only one IC tag hole 701 is formed on the substrate 702, and the IC tag hole 701 is a plurality of metal pads 710 (710a, 710b, 710c) made of a rectangular metal plate. ) Is placed between.

Next, the protective means for the toner container A032 when not in use will be described.
FIG. 23 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner container A032 during storage, and shows a state in which a cap 370 as a sealing member for sealing the opening of the tip opening A305 of the toner container A032 shown in FIG. 6 is attached.

Further, the toner container A032 shown in FIG. 23 includes the following inventions. That is, the toner container A032 has a cap 370 as a sealing member that stores the toner T as a powdery developer and seals the nozzle receiving port A331 that serves as a developer discharge port, and forms a tip opening. It is a powder storage container that can be attached to the tip opening A305. Then, as described above, the tip opening A305 is a part of the nozzle receiving member A330, and as shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, the nozzle receiving member A330 attaches the toner container A032 to the toner replenishing device 60. A tip opening A305 is formed so as to penetrate the container tip side cover A034 required for fixing. As a result, the tip opening A305 of the container body A033 can be exposed from the container tip side cover A034, and the tip opening A305 which is a part of the container body A033 containing the toner T can be directly sealed by the cap 370. As a result, the sealing effect is improved and toner leakage can be prevented more reliably.

In the toner container A032 of the first embodiment, when the cap 370 is provided with the cap collar portion 371 and the cap 370 is attached to the toner container A032, the cap collar portion 371 is attached to the first container cover A308 as shown in FIG. It is configured to hide the provided IC tag 700. As a result, it is possible to prevent external contact and impact on the IC tag 700 when the toner container A032 is stored, and it is possible to protect the IC tag 700.
Further, in the toner container A032 of the present embodiment, the cap collar portion 371 of the cap 370 is made larger than the outer diameter of the container tip side cover A034 and the container body A033. As a result, it is possible to prevent the toner container A032 from being damaged when dropped or the like, and it is possible to protect the toner container A032.

Further, the tip opening A305 having the nozzle receiving port A331 at the inner bottom of the cylindrical space is directly sealed by the cap 370, and is a member (for example, the tip of the container) separate from the nozzle receiving member A330 having the nozzle receiving port A331. The sealing effect is higher than that of the configuration in which the sealing is performed via the side cover A034). If the tip opening A305 is directly sealed, the container body A033 can be substantially sealed, and if it can be sealed, air and moisture can be prevented from entering the container body A033 and stored. It is possible to reduce the amount of packing material for the toner container A032 at that time.

When using the toner container A032 (attached to the toner replenishing device 60), the cap 370 is removed before use. The method of attaching the cap 370 to the toner container A032 may be any method as long as it can be fixed by either a screw method or a hook method. At this time, a fixing portion on the toner container A032 side such as a screw type screw thread and a hook type hooking portion is provided on the outer peripheral surface (second outer peripheral surface A330d) of the tip opening A305 exposed from the container tip side cover A034. In the toner container A032 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 24, a cap fixing screw thread A309 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the tip opening A305, and a screw method is adopted as a method of fixing the sealing member.
The structure for sealing the opening formed by the tip opening A305 is not limited to the one in which the cap 370 is fixed by a screw method, and the opening is sealed by crimping a film member to the container tip side end of the tip opening A305. You may stop.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, as the second embodiment, a toner container A032 that uses an adsorbent such as a desiccant during storage will be described with reference to FIG. 24. FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the toner container A032 in which the adsorbent B372 is provided on the cap B370. In the following description of the second embodiment, the reference numerals are also set to the same numbers for the configurations common to the first embodiment.
The adsorbent B372 in the second embodiment adsorbs not only water but also various substances (gas and the like). Therefore, the desiccant is contained in the adsorbent B372. Examples of the adsorbent B372 include silica gel, aluminum oxide, and zeolite, but any adsorbent that has adsorption performance may be used.

Here, when the nozzle receiving port A331 at the inner bottom of the tip opening A305 of the nozzle receiving member A330 is completely sealed by the cap B370, the intrusion of air and moisture can be prevented, so that the adsorbent B372 becomes unnecessary, and the packing material is accordingly. Is no longer needed. In this method, the environmental load can be reduced by reducing the materials used by reducing the packing materials such as the bag, the cushioning material, and the individual packaging box for packaging the toner container 32 and reducing the size of the packaging.
However, the present inventors have confirmed that gas is generated from the toner itself, which is a powder, and agglomerates, which are small lumps of toner, are generated although they do not agglomerate or solidify. Since such aggregates lead to the generation of abnormal images such as white spots and spots of each color, it is necessary to suppress the generation.
As long as the toner itself does not generate gas, as shown in FIG. 23, the toner may be sealed without the adsorbent B372, but the toner container 32 containing the toner that generates gas from the toner itself has this gas. It is desirable to provide an adsorbent B372 that adsorbs.

The toner container A032 shown in FIG. 24 includes the following inventions. That is, the toner container A032 shown in FIG. 24 has a cap B370 as a sealing member that houses the toner T as a powdery developer and seals the nozzle receiving port A331 that serves as the developer discharge port. It is a powder storage container that can be attached to the tip opening A305 forming the tip opening so that the inside of the container body A033 is substantially sealed. Further, the toner container A032 shown in FIG. 24 is provided with an adsorbent B372 inside the cap B370 that seals the tip opening A305. Further, the toner container A032 shown in FIG. 24 is arranged so that at least a part of the adsorbent B372 fits in the recess (tip opening A305) at the tip of the toner container A032. Here, the recess at the tip of the toner container A032 is a columnar space formed between the opening position of the tip opening A305 and the end face on the container tip side of the container seal A333.

In the toner container A032 shown in FIG. 24, by providing the adsorbent B372 on the cap B370, the adsorbent B372 can be removed together with the cap B370 by removing the cap B370 at the time of use, so that the operability is improved.
Further, by substantially sealing the space for accommodating the toner T (internal space of the container body A033) with the cap B370, it is possible to prevent air and moisture from entering the space for accommodating the toner T. Further, since the adsorbent B372 is provided inside the space that is substantially sealed, the gas generated from the toner itself can be adsorbed, and the adsorption performance is improved.

In the toner container A032 shown in FIG. 24, since at least a part of the adsorbent B372 is arranged so as to fit in the recess at the tip of the toner container B32, the length of the cap B370 in the rotation axis direction can be shortened. It is possible to reduce the size of the toner container A032 during storage.

Further, in the case of the configuration in which the toner container A032 is sealed by the cap B370, a packing material or the like may be used to improve the degree of adhesion between the end surface of the tip opening A305 of the toner container A032 and the inner surface of the cap B370.
Further, as a configuration in which the adsorbent B372 is provided on the cap B370, the adsorbent B372 may be provided integrally with the cap B370 (fixed to the cap B370) or may be provided separately (not fixed to the cap B370). However, if the adsorbent B372 is fixed to the cap B370 and provided integrally, the cap B370 and the adsorbent B372 can be taken out together, so that the adsorbent B372 is not forgotten to be taken out and the operability is improved.

<Embodiment 3>
The third embodiment shown in FIG. 29 includes the following inventions. In the third embodiment, since the toner replenishing device 60 is the same as the first and second embodiments, the reference numerals are also set to the same numbers.
Normally, the toner T in the toner container D032 as a powder storage container is filled with the fluidized toner T at the time of toner filling. Since the toner T at the time of filling is mixed with air and filled, the toner T is degassed after a lapse of a predetermined time, and the amount of toner powder is reduced. For example, the amount is about 70 to 90 [%] in the container body D033.
When a new toner container D032 containing the toner T is attached to the toner replenishing device 60 and started to be used, since there is a large amount of toner T in the vicinity of the toner inlet D392, the agitator D380 is rotated to fluidize or the container tip side. Toner can be taken into the transport nozzle 611 via the toner intake port D392 and the nozzle opening 610 without transporting the toner to the toner. On the contrary, if the agitator D380 is to be rotated with such a large amount of toner T, the load of rotation becomes large because a large amount of toner T is present in the container body D033.
Further, when the toner T in the container body D033 is low, it is necessary to rotate the agitator D380 to convey the toner T toward the tip side of the container, and to lift the toner T to the toner inlet D392 by the lifting portion D382 and pour it. ..
Therefore, in the toner container D032 according to the third embodiment, the agitator assembly D390 and the central shaft D334 are connected via the torque limiter D900. As a result, when starting to use the new toner container D032, the rotation of the agitator D380 is restricted when there is a large amount of toner T in the vicinity of the toner inlet D392.

FIG. 29 shows a state in which the toner T is sufficiently filled in the toner container D032 having a configuration in which the torque limiter D900 is provided to limit the rotational drive of the agitator D380, and is set in the toner replenishment device 60. FIG. 30 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the toner of the toner container D032 of FIG. 29 is low, and FIGS. 31 (a) and 30 (b) are views of the EE cross section of FIG. 30 viewed from the tip side of the container. There is an explanatory view showing toner supply by the lifting portion (conveying blade) D382 when the internal toner T is reduced, and FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the torque limiter D900.

As shown in FIG. 29, the toner container D032 of the third embodiment has a configuration in which the agitator assembly D390 and the central axis D334 are connected to the toner container A032 described in the first embodiment via a torque limiter D900. It is different in that it is. The nozzle receiving member D330 of the agitator assembly D390 and the container gear D301 are integrally configured, and the agitator D380 and the lifting portion (conveying blade) D382 are separate bodies. Further, the first container cover A308a and the second container cover A308b are integrated to form the container tip side cover D034, which is different in that the nozzle receiving member D330 is supported via the bearing D905. Also in the third embodiment, the IC tag 700 is provided on the container tip side cover D034 as in the first embodiment.
As described above, the torque limiter D900 is provided at the rear end side of the container of the nozzle receiving member D330 of the agitator assembly D390, and is connected to the central shaft D334. The central shaft D334 is provided with an agitator D380 so as to rotate integrally with the shaft.

As shown in FIG. 32, the torque limiter D900 includes a housing D901, an inner ring D902 to which a central shaft D334 is connected, a leaf spring D903 that controls drive torque, and a shield member D904. This torque limiter D900 limits drive transmission when the container body D033 is sufficiently filled with toner T, and transmits drive when the toner T is consumed and the toner T inside is reduced. The torque is set.
Specifically, when there is a large amount of torque inside the container body D033 as shown in FIG. 29, a driving force is applied to the container gear D301 of the agitator assembly D390, and the nozzle receiving member D330 and the lifting portion D382 rotate integrally. However, the torque limiter D900 slips and the central axis D334 and the agitator D380 do not rotate. When the amount of toner inside the container body D033 is low as shown in FIG. 30, the torque limiter D900 is torque-set so that the nozzle receiving member D330 of the agitator assembly D390 and the central shaft D334 rotate integrally.

In such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 29, when the toner T is sufficiently present up to the upper part of the toner inlet D392, the agitator assembly receives a command to supply toner from the toner replenishing device 60 main body side. Even when the D390 rotates, the torque limiter D900 slips, so that the central axis D334 and the agitator D380 do not rotate. Therefore, the toner T is not conveyed from the rear end side of the container to the front end side of the container, but the toner T existing in the vicinity of the toner intake port D392 is integrally rotated with the nozzle receiving member D330 of the agitator assembly by the lifting portion D382. , It is loosened and lifted, and falls into the nozzle opening 610 of the transport nozzle via the toner inlet D392.
Then, as shown in FIG. 30, when the toner inside the container body D033 is low and the agitator assembly D390 rotates in response to a toner supply command from the toner replenishing device 60 body side, the torque limiter D900 does not slip. The nozzle receiving member D330 and the central shaft D334 are driven and connected so as to be integrally rotatable. Therefore, the toner T is conveyed from the rear end side of the container to the front end side of the container, and the toner T conveyed to the front end side of the container is lifted up to the toner intake D392 by the lifting portion D382 and conveyed through the toner intake D392. It falls into the nozzle opening 610 of the nozzle. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 31 (a) and 31 (b), the toner T in the container body D033 is lifted by the lifting portion (conveying blade) D382 and supplied into the transport nozzle 611 via the toner intake port D392. The toner T inside the container body D033 can be used up to the end. Similar to the configuration described with reference to FIG. 13 in the first embodiment, the lifting portion D382 is tangential in the upstream side edge portion of the nozzle receiving member D330 of the toner intake D392 in the rotational direction (indicated by a broken line in the drawing). The agitator A380 is attached to the nozzle receiving member A330 so as to form an angle θ. Also in FIGS. 31 (a) and 31 (b), the above-mentioned angle θ is an obtuse angle, and when the toner inlet D392 is located above, the lifting portion D382 becomes an inclined surface with respect to the toner inlet D392. It has an open structure. In this configuration, since a lifting part is provided to lift the toner to a position higher than the toner receiving port in the direction of gravity, the pumped toner can be poured into the toner receiving port of the conveying nozzle while suppressing the spillage of the drawn toner from the conveying nozzle. it can. Therefore, in this configuration, the lifting portion D382 functions as a retaining portion.

The toner T has a submicron-sized additive sprinkled around the toner base, and is used as an auxiliary agent for fluidity and charging. However, these additives may not satisfy their original functions when they are supplied to the developing apparatus 50 because the additives are buried or peeled off in the toner T due to the movement of the agitator D380 or the like. In the configuration according to the third embodiment, since the torque limiter D900 is provided, the toner T is supplied to the developing device 50 without applying an excessive force to the toner T in the container body D033 in which the toner T is housed. It becomes possible.
The bearing D905 rotatably supports the nozzle receiving member D330 and also has a function of preventing toner leakage from the inside of the container body D033.

In FIG. 29 and the like, a screw-shaped agitator D380 is used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any shape may be used as long as the toner T can be moved to the lifting member D382 on the tip side of the container. For example, the blade-type transport member D912 as shown in FIG. 33 (a) or the spring-shaped coil-type transport member D913 without a rotating shaft as shown in FIG. 33 (b) may be used. When the blade type transport member D912 is used, as shown in FIG. 34, a rotary member D914 having a cam groove D914a formed in the torque limiter D900 is provided to convert the rotary motion into a reciprocating motion, and the blade type transport member is used as a container. The toner T may be moved to the tip end side of the container by reciprocating in the longitudinal direction (central axis direction) of the main body D033.

<Embodiment 4>
Further, the fourth embodiment includes the following inventions. FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view showing a toner container E032 in which the agitator assembly A390 according to the first embodiment is integrally formed with the second container cover A308b to form the agitator assembly E390.
Unlike the first embodiment, the first container cover E308a (container tip side cover E034) rotatably supports the second outer peripheral surface E330e of the nozzle receiving portion E330 of the agitator assembly E390, and the rear end of the container. The side is fixed and attached to the peripheral surface of the container body E033.
The agitator assembly E390 of the toner container E032 according to the fifth embodiment is mainly composed of a tubular nozzle receiving portion E330, a container cover portion E308b, a rotary gear portion E301, and a central shaft portion E334. A container shutter spring E336 and a container shutter E332 are arranged behind the nozzle receiving port E331 of the agitator assembly E390. The illustrated example shows a state in which the container shutter E332 is in a position of sealing the nozzle receiving port E331 due to the urging force of the container shutter spring E336. Further, the lifting member E382 is attached to the outer peripheral surface E330c provided with the toner inlet E392 of the nozzle receiving portion E330, and the agitator E380 is attached to the central shaft portion E334.

In the toner container E032, when the rotary gear portion E301 receives a rotational driving force from the toner replenishing device 60 and the agitator assembly E390 is rotationally driven, the agitator E380 rotates via the central shaft portion E334, and the inside of the container main body E033. Toner T is moved from the rear end side of the container to the front end side of the container. Then, the lifting portion E382 rotates via the nozzle receiving portion E330, lifts the toner T that has moved to the tip side of the container, and drops the toner T onto the toner inlet E392. Then, the toner T is supplied into the transfer nozzle 611 at the timing when the toner intake port E392 and the nozzle opening 610 communicate with each other. In the example shown in FIG. 35, the container body E033 is configured not to rotate, but it may be configured to rotate around the agitator assembly E390. When the container body E033 does not rotate, it is possible to adopt a cross-sectional shape in the central axis direction that is difficult to rotate, such as an inverted semi-cylindrical shape.
The mounting angle of the lifting portion E382 with respect to the agitator assembly E390 is such that the lifting portion E382 is upstream of the agitator assembly E390 of the toner inlet E392 in the rotational direction, as in the configuration described with reference to FIG. An obtuse angle θ is formed with respect to the tangential direction at the side edge portion. In this configuration, since a lifting part is provided to lift the toner to a position higher than the toner receiving port in the direction of gravity, the pumped toner can be poured into the toner receiving port of the conveying nozzle while suppressing the spillage of the drawn toner from the conveying nozzle. it can. Therefore, in this configuration, the lifting portion E382 functions as a retaining portion as in the first embodiment.

<Embodiment 5>
Further, the fifth embodiment includes the following inventions. FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view showing a toner container F032 in which the second container cover A308b of the container tip side cover according to the first embodiment is integrally formed with the container gear A301.
The agitator assembly F390 of the toner container F032 according to the sixth embodiment has an agitator F380, a support column F381, a central axis F334, a lifting portion F382, a second container cover F308b, and a container gear F301.
The second container cover F308b is covered from the outside in the radial direction by the first container cover F308a whose rear end side of the container is fixed to the container body F033, and is covered by the first container cover F308a and the second container cover F308b. It constitutes the container tip side cover F034. Then, a lifting member F382 extending toward the center of rotation is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the second container cover F308b. The connection portion between the container body F033 and the second container cover F308b is a rotating sliding portion F905, and has a sealed configuration. A bearing having a sealing property can be used as the rotating sliding portion.
In FIG. 36, the nozzle receiving member F330 does not rotate with respect to the container body F033, and is fixed to the first container cover 308a of the container tip side cover F034 by the fixing ring F306. Therefore, the nozzle receiving member F330 does not slide, although the outer peripheral surface F330d engages with the inner peripheral surface 615a of the container setting portion in a state where the toner container F032 is set in the container setting portion 615 of the toner replenishing device 60.
The nozzle receiving inlet F331 is provided on the tip side of the container, and the container seal F333, the container shutter F332, and the container shutter spring F336 are provided, which is the same as that of the nozzle receiving member A330 of the first embodiment.
Further, the first container cover F308a of the container tip side cover F034 holds the IC tag 700 as in the first embodiment, and also has a configuration such as a container lock portion F339 and a slide guide F361.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 36, the container shutter F332 is in a position of sealing the nozzle receiving port F331 due to the urging force of the container shutter spring F336.
The nozzle receiving member F330 has a convex portion F391 formed on the first outer peripheral surface F330c, and is formed on the inner circumference of the container gear F301 integrated with the second container cover F308b that rotates relative to the nozzle receiving member F330. It is fitted with the recess F393 and has a function of sealing and preventing coming off. Similar to the rotary sliding portion F905, a bearing having a sealing property can be used instead of the sealing configuration including the convex portion F391 and the concave portion F393.
Further, an end portion F380a of the agitator F380 on the container tip side is connected to the lifting member F382 extending from the inner peripheral surface of the second container cover F308b. The agitator F380 is composed of a screw F380b, a support column F381, and a central axis F334, and rotates together with a second container cover 308b via a lifting member F382. The rotation of the agitator F380 moves the toner T in the container body F033 from the rear end side of the container to the front end side of the container. Then, the toner T that has moved to the tip side of the container is lifted up to the toner intake port F392 by the lifting member F382, falls to the toner intake port F392, and is supplied to the nozzle opening 610 of the transfer nozzle 611. In the configuration shown in FIG. 36 according to the fifth embodiment, since the nozzle receiving member F330 does not rotate with respect to the transport nozzle 611, the toner intake port F392 of the nozzle receiving member and the nozzle opening 610 of the transport nozzle are always aligned. be able to.
The gap t between the end of the lifting member F382 on the nozzle receiving member F330 side and the first outer peripheral surface F330c of the nozzle receiving member is 2 mm or less, preferably 2 mm or less in order to prevent toner leakage. It is preferably 1 mm or less. In this embodiment, the thickness is 0.75 mm, which achieves both suppression of toner leakage and smooth rotation of the lifting member F382 without interference.

FIG. 37A is a cross section taken along the line XX of FIG. 36, which is an explanatory view when viewed from the tip side of the container. Further, FIGS. 37 (b) and 37 (c) are modified examples of FIG. 37 (a). Then, FIG. 37 (d) is an explanatory diagram showing a state before FIG. 37 (c) in chronological order. In FIGS. 37 (a) to 37 (d), the illustration of the first container cover F308a on the outer periphery of the second container cover F308b is omitted. The nozzle opening 610 and the toner intake port F392 are opened at a position higher than the rotation center of the transfer screw 614 in the direction of gravity and higher than the upper end of the transfer screw 614, and both openings are the transfer screw 614. Narrower than the diameter of. In the configurations shown in FIGS. 37 (a) to 37 (d), the toner T is lifted to a position higher than these openings by the lifting portion F382, and then dropped so as to flow.

In FIG. 37 (a), when the drive is transmitted from the main body side drive gear 601 of the toner replenishing device 60 to the container gear F301 integrated with the second container cover 308b, the second container cover 308b rotates clockwise in the drawing. .. The lifting portion F382 extending from the inner peripheral surface of the second container cover 308b rotates clockwise in the figure together with the second container cover 308b.
When the lifting portion F382 is located on the lower side in the drawing, the toner T conveyed to the container tip side by the agitator F380 is placed inside the lifting portion F382 on the second container cover 308b on the downstream side in the rotational direction with respect to the root F382a. Hold it between the peripheral surface and lift it. Further, when the toner T is rotated clockwise in the drawing, the toner T is dropped onto the toner intake port F392 provided in the nozzle receiving member F330, and the toner T is supplied from the nozzle opening 610 of the transport nozzle communicating with the toner intake port 392. Supply to.
In FIG. 37 (b), the tip F382b of the lifting portion shown in FIG. 37 (a) is bent downstream in the rotational direction and curved along the first outer peripheral surface F330c of the nozzle receiving member. Due to this bent shape, more toner T than in FIG. 37 (a) can be held on the lifting portion F382. Then, this bent shape functions as an inclined surface that bridges when the toner T is poured into the toner inlet F392. In the lifting portion F382 of FIG. 37A, when the second container cover F308b rotates downstream from the position where the lifting portion F382 extends in the horizontal direction, the toner T on the lifting portion F382 is transferred to the nozzle receiving member F330. It starts to fall from the gap between the first outer peripheral surface F330c and the tip F382b of the lifting portion. Therefore, at the timing when the tip F382b of the lifting portion faces the edge of the toner inlet F392 shown in FIG. 37A, the toner T on the lifting portion F382 is slightly reduced.

On the other hand, in FIG. 37B, even if the second container cover F308b rotates to the downstream side in the rotation direction from the position where the lifting portion F382 extends in the horizontal direction, the toner T on the lifting portion F382 is formed by the bent shape. Since it can be held, it is more than in FIG. 37 (a) on the lifting portion F382 at the timing when the bent tip F382b of the lifting portion faces the edge portion of the toner inlet F392 shown in FIG. 37 (b). Toner T can be retained. At this time, the lifting portion F382 functions as a retaining portion that lifts the toner T to a position higher than the toner intake inlet 392, as described with reference to FIG. 13 and the like in the first embodiment. In FIG. 37 (b), the width of the tip F382b (the length of the second container cover F308b in the rotation direction) is approximately 5 mm.
Further, as shown in FIG. 37 (c), the container is not extended toward the center of rotation of the second container cover F308b, but when the lifting portion F382 extends in a substantially horizontal direction. It can also be configured to extend from a position slightly offset to the downstream side in the rotation direction so as to extend along a position slightly above the center of rotation of the front end side cover F308b. With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 37 (d), the root of the lifting portion F382 is located upstream of the end of the lifting portion F308 facing the nozzle receiving member F330 in the rotational direction of the second container cover F308. It can be configured to be located, and has a cross-sectional shape in which the root is recessed on the upstream side as compared with the configuration of FIG. 37 (a). At this time, the lifting portion F382 functions as a retaining portion that lifts the toner T to a position higher than the toner intake inlet 392, as described with reference to FIG. 13 and the like in the first embodiment.

In FIGS. 37 (a) to 37 (c), since the transfer nozzle 611 is inserted into the substantially rotation center of the second container cover F308b as in the first embodiment, the nozzle opening 610 and the toner intake port F392 are second. It opens above the rotation center of the container cover F308b (the rotation center of the transport screw 614). According to the configurations of FIGS. 37 (b) and 37 (c), the toner T on the lifting portion F382 is lifted above the rotation center of the second container cover F308b (the rotation center of the transport screw 614), and the toner T is lifted to the toner inlet. It can be poured toward F392. As described above, according to the configuration of FIGS. 37B and 37C, the lifting portion F382 is provided with a lifting portion that lifts the toner to a position higher than the toner receiving port in the direction of gravity, so that the pumped toner spills from the transport nozzle. The pumped toner can be poured into the toner receiving port of the transport nozzle while suppressing the drop. Therefore, in this configuration, the lifting portion F382 functions as a retaining portion as in the first embodiment.

<Explanation of Toner Container Mounting Mechanism Common to Embodiments 1 to 5>
FIG. 38 is a perspective explanatory view of the container tip side cover A034 common to all of the first to fifth embodiments, and is a view seen from the gear opening A034a side. FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view taken along a horizontal plane including the rotation axis of the container main body A033 according to the first embodiment, and is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the toner replenishing device and the toner container before mounting the toner container. FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a state in which the toner container of FIG. 39 is completely attached to the toner replenishment device.
Although the container tip side cover A034 is shown as an integrated configuration for the sake of simplicity, it is a configuration including the first container cover A308a and the second container cover A308b.
As shown in FIG. 38, on the outer peripheral surface of the container tip side cover A034, there is a gear exposed opening A033a above the container lock portion A339. The container lock portion A339 extends from the container tip side beyond the container gear A301 in the container longitudinal direction (horizontal direction with the toner container attached to the toner replenishing device).
A state in which the toner container A032 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 39 and 40. As shown in the state of FIG. 39, the toner replenishment device 60 has a transfer nozzle 611 in the center, and lock members 609 as a pair of replenishment device side lock members are provided on both sides thereof. The lock member 609 is rotatably held by the set cover 608 and is urged toward the transport nozzle 611 by a spring. When the toner container A032 is inserted in the direction of the arrow Q from the state of FIG. 39, the lock members 609 on both sides first have a guide protrusion A339a as a guide portion which is configured on the container tip side of the lock portion A339 of the toner container A032. Ride on a tapered surface. Further, when the toner container A032 is introduced, the lock member 609 slides on the guide groove A339b and goes over the toner container A301 without interfering with the container gear A301. After that, the lock member 609 crosses the overcoming portion A339c, which is a small protrusion, and is fitted into the locking hole A339d by the urging force of the spring as shown in FIG. At the same time as the locking operation of the lock member 609, the container shutter A332 is pushed by the transfer nozzle 611 and retreats into the container body A033 against the reaction force accompanying the compression of the container shutter spring A336. Further, the nozzle shutter 612 also comes into contact with the container seal A333 in the tip opening A305 to compress the nozzle shutter spring 613. The pair of lock members 609 can receive the restoring force of the container shutter spring A336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 by engaging with the locking hole A339d, and can fix the toner container A032 in a replenishable position.
Further, the toner replenishment device 60 includes a container drive gear 601, and the container drive gear 601 engages with the container gear A301 in the mounted state of FIG. 40.

Since the container lock portion A339 for sliding the lock member 609 on the toner container A032 in the longitudinal direction direction and then sliding it to lock it in the locking hole is arranged outside the outer diameter of the container gear A301. It does not interfere with the container gear A301. Further, the container lock portion A339 has a locking hole A339d which is a locking portion on the rear end side of the container beyond the container gear A301 when viewed in the container longitudinal direction from the tip opening A305 on the container front end side. Therefore, in the mounted state, the toner container A032 is held at the front and rear positions sandwiching the container gear A301 by the container set set portion 615 and the container lock member 609, and the drive of the container gear A301 is sufficiently received, and the container body A033 It is possible to stabilize the toner transfer inside.
Further, as shown in FIG. 40, when the toner container A032 is attached to the toner replenishment device 60, the locking hole A339d in which the locking member is locked is inserted into the nozzle receiving member A330 in the longitudinal direction of the container. The nozzle opening 610 (hatched area in FIG. 40) of the transport nozzle 611 is at a position facing each other. In other words, the virtual straight line connecting the centers of the pair of locking holes A339d (in the case of the rectangular holes A339d as in the first embodiment, the intersections of the diagonal lines) passes through the nozzle opening 610. In this positional relationship, the portion near the tip of the transfer nozzle 611 (where the nozzle opening 610 is located) is in a state of being deeply inserted into the nozzle receiving member A330 to a position facing the locking hole A339d beyond the container gear A301. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the rotating nozzle receiving member A330 from tilting with respect to the container body A033, and it is possible to prevent the container gear A301 and the container drive gear 601 from being disengaged from each other. If the meshing is greatly deviated, the drive load becomes large, which causes abnormal noise and gear wear. The toner container of the present invention can suppress such a problem.

The present application also includes the following inventions.
"Note 1"
The powder storage container A032, D032, E032, F032 is installed.
A transport pipe 611 for transporting powder and
A powder receiving port 610 provided in the transport pipe and receiving powder from the powder storage container,
A powder replenishing device 60 provided in the transport pipe and having a transport screw 614 for transporting powder received from the powder receiving port, and the powder receiver in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the transport screw. In a powder storage container that can be mounted in a powder replenishing device whose inlet width is narrower than the diameter of the transport screw in the horizontal direction.
Container bodies A033, D033, F033 for storing image-forming powder to be supplied to the powder supply device, and
A powder transport member A380 that is arranged inside the container body and rotates to transport the powder from one end side in the longitudinal direction of the container body toward the other end side provided with a tubular container opening. , D380, E380, F380,
The pipe receiving members A330, D330, E330, F330, which are arranged in the container opening and can guide the transport pipe to the inside of the container body through the pipe receiving port,
The powder inlets A392, D392, E392, and F392, which can communicate the powder inlets provided in the transfer pipe with the inside of the container body,
A powder storage container including lifting members A382, D382, E382, and F382 that lift the powder transported to one end side by the transport member and pour it into the powder intake port.

According to the invention of Note 1, since a lifting portion for lifting the toner to a position higher than the toner receiving port in the direction of gravity is provided, the pumped toner is suppressed from spilling from the transport nozzle, and the pumped toner is used as the toner receiving port of the transport nozzle. It has an excellent effect of being able to be poured.
"Note 2"
In the powder storage container described in Note 1,
The pipe receiving member
Opening and closing members A332, E332, D332, F332 that open and close the pipe inlet
A powder storage container comprising urging members A336, E336, D336, and F336 for urging the opening / closing member toward a position where the opening / closing member closes the pipe receiving port.

According to the invention of Note2, both the effect of stabilizing the amount of toner replenished and the effect of suppressing the scattering of toner can be expected.
"Note 3"
In the powder storage container according to Note 1 or 2.
The lifting member is a powder storage container including a retaining portion capable of retaining the powder when the powder is lifted.

According to the invention of Note 3, since a toner pool is formed in the vicinity of the lifting portion, the toner T conveyed to the tip side of the container inside the container body by the agitator can be smoothly lifted by the lifting portion and poured into the toner inlet.
"Note 4"
In the powder storage container according to any one of Notes 1 to 3,
The pipe receiving member is a powder storage container including an outer peripheral surface serving as a positioning portion with the powder replenishing device.
"Note 5"
In the powder storage container described in Note 3,
The pipe receiving member has the powder intake, and is configured such that the powder intake crosses over the powder receiving inlet by rotating.
The lifting member is configured to extend from the peripheral surface of the pipe receiving member on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the pipe receiving member to the inner peripheral surface of the container body from the powder intake. Characterized powder storage container.
"Note 6"
In the powder storage container described in Note 5,
A powder storage container characterized in that the root of the lifting portion is configured to form an obtuse angle with respect to the tangential direction at the edge portion on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the pipe receiving member at the powder intake.

According to the invention of Note 6, the function of lifting the toner T by the lifting portion according to the invention of Notes 3 and 5 can be improved.
"Note 7"
In the powder storage container described in Note 6,
The powder storage container is characterized in that the lifting portion extends from the peripheral surface of the pipe receiving member adjacent to the edge portion of the powder intake.

According to the invention of Note 7, it is possible to improve the function of smoothly pouring the toner T into the toner inlet.
"Note 8"
In the powder storage container according to Note 6 or 7.
The retention portion is an inclined surface formed by the lifting portion with respect to the powder intake when the powder intake of the pipe receiving member and the powder receiving inlet of the transport pipe coincide with each other in the rotation direction. A powder storage container characterized by this.

According to the invention of Note 8, it is possible to improve the function of lifting the toner T by the lifting portion and smoothly pouring the lifted toner T into the toner inlet according to the inventions of Notes 3 and 5.
"Note 9"
In the powder storage container according to Note 6 or 7.
The powder storage container is characterized in that the retaining portion is a recess in the lifting portion in which the tip opposite to the root of the lifting portion is bent to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the pipe receiving member.
"Note 10"
In the powder storage container according to Note 6 or 7.
The powder storage container is characterized in that the retaining portion is a recess in the lifting portion in which the lifting portion is curved so as to be concave toward the downstream side in the rotation direction of the pipe receiving member.
"Note 11"
In the powder storage container described in Note 9,
The powder storage container is characterized in that the retaining portion is a recess formed by bending a plurality of times in the same direction.

According to the inventions of Notes 9, 10 and 11, the function of lifting the toner T by the lifting portion according to the invention of Notes 6 and 7 can be further improved.
"Note 12"
In the powder storage container according to any one of Notes 1 to 11,
The pipe receiving member has a container gear which is arranged on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the transport member and receives a drive from the powder replenishing device.
The transport member is a powder storage container characterized in that it is connected to one end side of the pipe receiving member via a drive transmission control member.
"Note 13"
In the powder storage container described in Note 12,
The drive transmission control member limits drive transmission when the container body is sufficiently filled with powder, and sets a torque for transmitting drive when the powder is consumed and the powder inside is reduced. A powder storage container characterized by being.

According to the inventions of Notes 12 and 13, it is possible to reduce the load of rotation of the agitator in a state where a large amount of toner T is present in the container body.
"Note 14"
In the powder storage container described in Note 3,
A container cover provided on the other end side of the container body and rotatable with respect to the container body is provided.
The lifting member is a powder storage container characterized in that it extends from the inner peripheral surface of the container cover toward the inside.
"Note 15"
In the powder storage container described in Note 14,
The powder staying portion is a recess in the lifting portion in which the end portion of the lifting portion on the pipe receiving member side is bent downstream in the rotational direction along the outer peripheral surface of the pipe receiving member. Storage container.

According to the invention of Note 15, the function of lifting the toner T by the lifting portion according to the invention of Notes 3 and 14 can be improved.
"Note 19"
In the powder storage container described in Note 15,
A powder storage container characterized in that the bent portion of the lifting portion is shorter than the portion of the lifting portion extending inward from the inner peripheral surface of the container cover.
"Note 17"
In the powder storage container described in Note 14,
The retention portion is the lifting portion extending inward by offsetting the vertical line drawn from the rotation center of the container cover to the inner peripheral surface to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the container cover. Characterized powder storage container.

According to the inventions of Notes 16 and 17, it is possible to improve the function of lifting the toner T by the lifting portion and smoothly pouring the lifted toner T into the toner inlet.
"Note 18"
In the powder storage container according to any one of Notes 13 to 17,
A powder storage container characterized in that the gap between the end portion of the lifting portion on the pipe receiving member side and the pipe receiving member is 2 mm or less.

According to the invention of Note 18, when the toner T is lifted, it is possible to prevent the toner from leaking from the gap between the end portion of the lifting portion on the pipe receiving member side and the pipe receiving member.
"Note 19"
An image forming means for forming an image using an image forming powder,
A powder replenishing device that holds a powder storage container that stores powder in a detachable manner and conveys the powder inside the powder storage container to an image forming means when the powder storage container is attached. In an image forming apparatus having,
An image forming apparatus characterized in that the powder storage container according to any one of Notes 1 to 17 is used as the powder storage container.

26 Paper tray 27 Paper feed roller 28 Resist roller vs. 29 Paper discharge roller vs. 30 Stack part A032, D032, E032, F032 Toner container (powder storage container)
A033, D033, E033, F033 Container body (powder storage member)
A034, D034, E034, F034 Container tip side cover (storage part cover member)
A034a Gear exposure opening A034b Color incompatible rib 41 Photoreceptor 42a Cleaning blade 42 Photoreceptor cleaning device 44 Charging roller 46Y Yellow Image forming part 46 Image forming part 47 Exposure device 48 Intermediate transfer belt 49 Primary transfer bias roller 50 Developing device 51 Developing roller 52 Doctor blade 53 1st developer accommodating unit 54 Developer accommodating unit 54 2nd developer accommodating unit 55 Developer transport screw 56 Toner concentration detection sensor 60 Toner replenishing device (powder replenishing device)
64 Toner drop transport path 70 Toner container storage section 71 Insertion port forming section 72 Container receiving section 73 Cap section (container cover receiving section)
82 Secondary transfer backup roller 85 Intermediate transfer unit 86 Fixing device 89 Secondary transfer roller 90 Control unit (information processing means)
91 Agitator rotation drive unit 100 Printer unit (toner image forming means)
200 Paper feed section A301, F301 Container gear A303 Handle section A305 Tip opening (tip opening forming section)
A306 Regulation ring (cover claw hook)
A307 Container rear end lid A307a Toner filling holes A308a, F308a First container cover (container tip lid)
A308b, F308b 2nd container cover A309 Cap fixing screw thread A311 Cap A330, D330, F330 Nozzle receiving member (tube insertion member)
A330a Shutter support part A330b Container shutter spring support part A330c First outer peripheral surface A330d Second outer peripheral surface A330e Inner peripheral surface A330f Step part A330g Guide slit A331, E331, F331 Nozzle inlet (tube insertion port)
A332, E332, F332 Container shutter (opening and closing member)
A333, F333 Container seal A334, D334, F334 Center axis (rotation center axis)
A336, E336, F336 Container shutter spring A339, F339 Container lock part (container lock claw)
A339a Guide protrusion A339b Guide groove A339c Overcoming part A339d Locking hole A340 Pin 342 Holding member left side surface 343 Holding part 344 Holding member 345 Holding mechanism 347 Holding member opening 348 Holding member lower part 349 Holding member right side side 350 Holding member upper part 351 Inner wall rib 352 Frame 353 Holding member Protruding part 354 Holding member Lower claw part 355 Holding member Upper claw part 356 Holding member Right side Claw part 357 IC tag mounting surface 358 Pedestal 359a Mounting surface Upper hooking part 359b Mounting surface Lower hooking part 360 Mounting surface Horizontal hooking part 360a Mounting surface Horizontal hooking part Inclined surface A361, F361 Slide guide 370, B370 Cap (cap member)
371 Cap collar A380, D380, E380, F380 Agitator A382, D382, E382, F382 Lifting part (conveying blade)
A390, D390, E390, F390 Agitator assembly (drive transmission member)
A391, F391 Convex part (key-shaped convex part)
A392, D392, E392, F392 Toner inlet 400 Scanner unit 500 Copier (image forming device)
601 Main body side drive gear 602 frame (main body frame)
603 Drive motor 604 Drive transmission gear 605 Conveyance screw gear 607 Nozzle holder 608 Set cover 609 Container lock member 610 Nozzle opening (powder receiving port)
611 Conveying nozzle (conveying tube)
611a Nozzle tip 612 Nozzle shutter (powder receiving / closing member)
612a Nozzle shutter collar (butting part)
612b Shutter inner circumference first rib 612c Shutter inner circumference second rib 612d Shutter inner circumference third rib 612e Nozzle shutter tubular part 612f Nozzle shutter spring receiving surface 612g Inner circumference first rib tip part 613 Nozzle shutter spring (biasing member)
614 Transport screw 615 Container set part 700 IC tag (IC chip, ID tag, ID chip, information storage device)
701 IC tag hole (hole or notch)
702 Board 710 Metal pad (container side terminal)
710a First metal pad 710b Second metal pad 710c Third metal pad 800 Connector 801 Positioning pin (protrusion)
804 Main body side terminal B372 Adsorbent D900 Torque limiter D901 Housing D902 Inner ring D903 Leaf spring D904 Shield member D905 Bearing D912 Blade type transfer member D913 Coil type transfer member D914 Rotating member D914a Cam groove E301 Rotating gear part E308b Container cover part E308b E334 Central shaft F306 Fixing ring F380a End F380b Screw F381 Strut F382a Root F382b Tip F393 Recess F905 Rotating sliding part (bearing)
G Developer L Laser light P Recording medium T Toner

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-133349

The transfer nozzle provided with the toner receiving port includes a transfer screw. When the toner receiving port is provided at the height of the rotation center of the conveying screw in the direction of gravity, the width of the toner receiving port in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the conveying screw is slightly wider than the diameter of the conveying screw. When the transfer screw is rotated to transfer the toner pumped to the toner receiving port to the toner replenishing device by using such a transfer nozzle (see FIG. 12A), the toner pumped to the toner receiving port is transferred to the transfer screw. Since it moves while tilting so as to rotate, a force that moves it to a position higher than the center of rotation of the transport screw is applied, and it spills from the transport nozzle.
On the other hand, in the configuration in which the nozzle opening is provided at a position higher than the rotation center of the transport screw in the direction of gravity (see FIG. 12B), the toner pumped up to the toner receiving port is rotated along with the rotation of the transport screw. Even if the vehicle advances while tilting, it can be prevented from spilling from the transport nozzle.
However, in the configuration in which the nozzle opening is provided at a position higher than the rotation center of the transport screw in the gravity direction, the toner socket in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the transport screw is compared with the configuration in which the toner receptacle is provided at the height of the rotation center. Since the width becomes narrow and the toner receiving port is also provided at a high position, it is necessary to pump the toner to a position higher than the toner receiving port and drop the toner into the narrow opening.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 relates to a transport pipe for transporting powder, a powder receiving port provided in the transport pipe for receiving powder from the powder storage container, and a powder storage container. In a powder storage container that can be attached to a powder replenishing device having a replenishing device side lock member that can be stopped, a nozzle receiving port into which a transport pipe can be inserted and a nozzle receiving port for powder from one end side are provided. A transport means for transporting toward the other end side, a gear to which a driving force is applied from the outside to rotate the transport means, a cover member covering a part of the gear, and a cover member provided on one end side of the gear for replenishment. A locking portion for locking the device-side locking member is provided, and the locking portion is a hole provided in the cover member .

According to the present invention, due to the provision of the lifting unit lifts the toner to a position higher than the toner receiving port in the direction of gravity, while suppressing spill fall Rukoto toner from the transport nozzle pumped, the pumped toner conveying nozzle toner receiving port Can be poured into.

At the base of the transport nozzle 611, a container set portion 615 is formed in which the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle receiving member A330 as a container opening is fitted with the toner container A032 mounted on the toner replenishment device 60. The container setting portion 615 has a cylindrical shape, and the inner peripheral surface 615a thereof and the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle receiving member A330 are fitted in a slidable state. From this fitting, the toner container A032 is positioned with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 in the normal direction with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle receiving member A330 (the plane direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the agitator A380). Further, when the nozzle receiving member A330 and the agitator A380 are rotated, the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle receiving member A330 functions as a rotation shaft portion, and the container set portion 615 functions as a bearing. The position where the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle receiving member A330 at this time is slidably contacted with the container setting portion 615 and the toner container A032 is positioned with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 is indicated by α in FIG.

The container body A033 has a cylindrical shape and houses the toner and the agitator A380 described later. Hereinafter, the direction parallel to the central axis of rotation of the agitator A380 along the longitudinal direction of the container body A033 is referred to as the "central axis direction", and the side (container) in which the nozzle receiving port A331 of the toner container A032 is formed in the central axis direction. The side on which the tip side cover A034 is arranged) will be referred to as the "container tip side". Further, the side of the toner container A032 where the handle portion A303 is arranged (the side opposite to the container front end side) is referred to as the "container rear end side". In the state where the toner container A032 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the central axis direction is the horizontal direction. As described above, the agitator A380 is provided inside the container body A033, and the agitator A380 is driven and transmitted via the container gear A301 and the nozzle receiving member A330 to be rotationally driven. When the agitator A380 rotates in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 8 due to this drive transmission, the toner T in the container body A033 moves from one end side (rear end side of the container) to the other end side (container) in the central axial direction by the action of the agitator A380. The carrying force toward the tip side) is given.
The toner container A032 is filled with toner T from the toner filling port A307a formed in the container rear end lid A307 shown in FIG. 8 with respect to the container body A033, and then the toner T is closed with the cap A311 to fill the toner T inside. It is designed to be stored.

The nozzle receiving member A330 is a shutter support portion A330a that movably supports the container shutter A332 and a bottom portion (rear end side of the container) of the shutter support portion A330a, and the end portion of the container shutter spring A336 as an urging member abuts. It has a container shutter spring support portion A330b.
Then, it has a first outer peripheral surface A330c rotatably supported by the container tip side cover A034, and a second outer peripheral surface A330d which has a larger outer diameter than the first outer peripheral surface and is supported by the first container cover A308a . The first outer peripheral surface A330c has a toner intake port A392 as a powder intake port and a convex portion A391 that prevents the container gear A301 from rotating. The second outer peripheral surface A330d is the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle receiving member A330 that is rotatably supported by the container set portion 615 of the toner replenishing device when the toner container A032 is mounted on the toner replenishing device 60.
Further, the inner peripheral surface side of the nozzle receiving member A330 is provided between the shutter support portion A330a described above, the inner peripheral surface A330e having an inner diameter larger than that of the shutter support portion A330a, and the shutter support portion A330a and the inner peripheral surface A330e. It is composed of the stepped portion A330f. One end face of the container seal A333 is attached to the step portion A330f and attached to the nozzle receiving member A330. The other end surface of the container seal A333 and the above-mentioned inner peripheral surface A330e form a tip opening A305 which is a cylindrical space region. Then, the nozzle receiving inlet A331 is sealed by bringing the outer peripheral surface of the container shutter A332 into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the container seal A333. The transfer nozzle 611 of the toner replenishing device is inserted into the nozzle receiving port A331. In the toner container A032, the nozzle receiving port A331 of the nozzle receiving member A330 has an opening into which the transport nozzle 611 can be inserted, and the outer peripheral surface (second outer peripheral surface A330d) of the tip opening A305 is the container opening. ..
The shutter support portion A330a may be provided with an insertion guide member having good slidability such as Teflon (registered trademark) so that the transfer nozzle 611 can be smoothly inserted into the nozzle receiving inlet A331.

Further, the nozzle receiving member A330 and the container gear A301 may be integrally molded, or the nozzle receiving member A330 and the agitator A380 may be integrally molded.
As a result, the assembly process can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.
The central axis A334 is provided to suppress center runout (rotation unevenness) of the nozzle receiving member A330 during rotation, but is shown in FIG. 11 if it has sufficient strength to prevent center runout during rotation. As described above, the configuration may not include a central axis. In the case of this configuration, the center pin A381 may be provided on the rear end side of the container of the agitator A380 so as to be rotatably supported by the central portion of the rear end lid A307 of the container.
Further, bearings may be provided at the sliding portions of the nozzle receiving member A330 and the container tip side cover A034 and the first container cover A308a . It is preferable that this bearing also has a toner sealing property.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the toner inlet A392 when the toner intake A392 of the nozzle receiving member A330 and the lifting portion A382 of the agitator A380 are viewed from the rear end side of the container toward the front end side of the container in the direction of rotation axis. is there. The agitator assembly A390 including the nozzle receiving member A330 having the toner inlet A392 and the agitator A380 is configured to rotate counterclockwise in FIG.
Then, in FIG. 13, only one set of the toner intake port A392 and the lifting portion A382 of the agitator A380 is shown as a representative example, but the positions are point-symmetrical with respect to the rotation center as shown in FIG. 8 of the first embodiment. , Another set of toner intake port A392 and a lifting portion A382 of the agitator A380 may be arranged. It should be noted that not only two sets but also a plurality of sets can be arranged, and the number of sets may be determined according to a desired toner replenishment speed. Further, when a plurality of sets of the toner intake port A392 and the lifting portion A382 of the agitator A380 are arranged, if the toner intake ports A392 are arranged at equal intervals, the time interval for flowing the toner into the toner intake port A392 becomes constant. It is preferable because it can be done.

The width of the groove of the guide groove A339b is set to be slightly wider than the width of the replenishment device side lock member 609 so that the replenishment device side lock member 609 does not fall out of the groove.
The rear end side of the container of the guide groove A339b has a terminal rather than a shape directly connected to the locking hole A339d, and is at the height of the side peripheral surface of the container front end side cover A034. That is, between the guide groove A339b and the locking hole A339d, there is an outer peripheral surface of the container tip side cover A034 having a width of about 1 [mm], which corresponds to the overcoming portion A339c. The replenishment device side lock member 609 gets over the overcoming portion A339c and falls into the locking hole A339d, and the coupling between the toner container A032 and the toner replenishment device 60 is achieved.
In the toner container A032 of the first embodiment, the container tip side cover A034 has a first container cover A308a . For convenience of attaching the first container cover A308a to the container tip side cover A034 from the container tip side, the first container cover A308a covers the container tip side cover A034 from the outside, and is engaged with the container tip side cover A034. provided with a stop hole A339d with the slits provided in the first container cover A308a, when the two are combined, a slit provided in the first container cover A308a may be adapted to function as a guide groove A339b.

(IC tag)
Next, the holding mechanism of the IC tag (ID tag, ID chip, IC chip) 700 included in the toner container A032 of the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 25 is a perspective explanatory view of the connector 800 fixed to the toner replenishing device 60 and the container tip side end portion of the toner container A032. As shown in FIG. 25, the toner container A032 is attached to the container body A033 so as to expose the container body A033 and the tip opening A305 of the nozzle receiving member held by the container body A033 and provided with the nozzle receiving port A331. The container tip side cover A034 is provided. Further, the toner container A032 includes an IC tag 700 as an information storage device attached to the tip of the container tip side cover A034, and an IC tag holding mechanism 345 as a holding mechanism for holding the IC tag 700.

On the other hand, in FIG. 37B, even if the second container cover F308b rotates to the downstream side in the rotation direction from the position where the lifting portion F382 extends in the horizontal direction, the toner T on the lifting portion F382 is formed by the bent shape. Since it can be held, at the timing when the bent tip F382b of the lifting portion F382 faces the edge of the toner inlet F392 shown in FIG. 37B, the lifting portion F382 is on the lifting portion F382 more than in FIG. 37A. Many toners T can be retained. At this time, the lifting portion F382 functions as a retaining portion that lifts the toner T to a position higher than the toner intake inlet 392, as described with reference to FIG. 13 and the like in the first embodiment. In FIG. 37 (b), the width of the tip F382b (the length of the second container cover F308b in the rotation direction) is approximately 5 mm.
Further, as shown in FIG. 37 (c), the container is not extended toward the center of rotation of the second container cover F308b, but when the lifting portion F382 extends in a substantially horizontal direction. It can also be configured to extend from a position slightly offset to the downstream side in the rotation direction so as to extend along a position slightly above the center of rotation of the front end side cover F308b. With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 37 (d), the base of the lifting portion than the end portion on the side opposite to the nozzle receiver F330 of F382 second container cover lifting unit upstream in the rotational direction of the F308b F382 F382a Can be configured so that the root F382a is recessed on the upstream side as compared with the configuration of FIG. 37A. At this time, the lifting portion F382 functions as a retaining portion that lifts the toner T to a position higher than the toner intake inlet 392, as described with reference to FIG. 13 and the like in the first embodiment.

<Explanation of Toner Container Mounting Mechanism Common to Embodiments 1 to 5>
FIG. 38 is a perspective explanatory view of the container tip side cover A034 common to all of the first to fifth embodiments, and is a view seen from the gear exposed opening A034a side. FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view taken along a horizontal plane including the rotation axis of the container main body A033 according to the first embodiment, and is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the toner replenishing device and the toner container before mounting the toner container. FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a state in which the toner container of FIG. 39 is completely attached to the toner replenishment device.
Although the container tip side cover A034 is shown as an integrated configuration for the sake of simplicity, it is a configuration including the first container cover A308a and the second container cover A308b.
As shown in FIG. 38, on the outer peripheral surface of the container tip side cover A034, there is a gear exposure opening A034a above the container lock portion A339. The container lock portion A339 extends from the container tip side beyond the container gear A301 in the container longitudinal direction (horizontal direction with the toner container attached to the toner replenishing device).
A state in which the toner container A032 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 39 and 40. As shown in the state of FIG. 39, the toner replenishment device 60 has a transfer nozzle 611 in the center, and lock members 609 as a pair of replenishment device side lock members are provided on both sides thereof. The lock member 609 is rotatably held by the set cover 608 and is urged toward the transport nozzle 611 by a spring. When the toner container A032 is inserted in the direction of the arrow Q from the state of FIG. 39, the lock members 609 on both sides first have a guide protrusion A339a as a guide portion which is configured on the container tip side of the container lock portion A339 of the toner container A032. Ride on the tapered surface of. When the toner container A032 is further inserted , the lock member 609 slides in the guide groove A339b functioning as a sliding member and goes over the container gear A301 without interfering with the guide groove A339b. After that, the lock member 609 crosses the overcoming portion A339c, which is a small protrusion, and is fitted into the locking hole A339d by the urging force of the spring as shown in FIG. At the same time as the locking operation of the lock member 609, the container shutter A332 is pushed by the transfer nozzle 611 and retreats into the container body A033 against the reaction force accompanying the compression of the container shutter spring A336. Further, the nozzle shutter 612 also comes into contact with the container seal A333 in the tip opening A305 to compress the nozzle shutter spring 613. The pair of lock members 609 can receive the restoring force of the container shutter spring A336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 by engaging with the locking hole A339d, and can fix the toner container A032 in a replenishable position.
Further, the toner replenishment device 60 includes a container drive gear 601, and the container drive gear 601 engages with the container gear A301 in the mounted state of FIG. 40.

Claims (7)

In a transport pipe for transporting powder and a powder storage container that can be attached to a powder replenishment device having a powder receiving port for receiving the powder from the powder storage container provided in the transport pipe
A powder transport member arranged inside the powder storage container and transporting the powder from one end side to the other end side.
A pipe receiving member capable of guiding the transport pipe into the inside of the powder storage container via the pipe receiving port, and
A lifting member for lifting the powder transported to the other end side by the powder transporting member and pouring it into the powder receiving port is provided.
The powder storage container is characterized in that the lifting member extends from the peripheral surface of the pipe receiving member toward the inner peripheral surface of the powder storage container. In the powder storage container according to claim 1,
The pipe receiving member includes an opening / closing member that opens / closes the pipe receiving member, and an urging member that urges the opening / closing member toward a position where the opening / closing member closes the pipe receiving member. Powder storage container. In the powder storage container according to claim 1 or 2.
The lifting member is a powder storage container including a retaining portion capable of retaining the powder when the powder is lifted. In the powder storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A powder storage container characterized in that the pipe receiving member includes an outer peripheral surface serving as a positioning portion with the powder replenishing device. In the powder storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The pipe receiving member has a powder inlet communicating with the powder receiving inlet, and the root of the lifting member is tangential to the edge of the powder receiving member on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the pipe receiving member. A powder storage container characterized in that it is configured to form an blunt angle. In the powder storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The powder storage container is characterized in that the lifting member has a fall prevention wall at an end on the other end side to prevent the powder from falling from the lifting member. An image forming means for forming an image using an image forming powder,
A powder replenishing device that holds the powder storage container that stores the powder detachably and conveys the powder inside the powder storage container to the image forming means when the powder storage container is attached. In an image forming apparatus having
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the powder storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is used as the powder storage container.

Images