JP2021117427A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus that has a regulation member that reduces a load generated between a storage container and an apparatus main body, and can correctly adjust output from an inductance sensor.SOLUTION: A conveyance pipe 70 is connected with an opening 400a of a receiving device 400 at one end and a receiving port 111a of a developer container 101a at the other end to form a conveyance path of a toner discharged from a storage container Ta, and is formed with a developer retention part 600. When the storage container Ta from which a regulation member is removed is attached to a first position, the developer retention part 600 retains the toner discharged from the storage container Ta and does not permit conveyance of toner to a developer container 101a. That is, even if the storage container Ta is attached to the first position before output from an inductance sensor is adjusted, the toner is not supplied to the developer container 101a. With this, an operator can correctly adjust the output from the inductance sensor either before or after the timing to remove the regulation member from the storage container Ta and attach the container to an apparatus main body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile, and a multifunction device having a plurality of these functions.

As an image forming apparatus, there is known a configuration in which a storage container containing toner for replenishment is detachably attached to and detachable from the main body of the device, and toner can be replenished from the storage container to the developing device arranged in the main body of the device in the mounted state. .. For example, a configuration has been proposed in which the shutter of the storage container does not open even when the storage container is mounted at a predetermined mounting position of the apparatus main body, and the shutter is opened when the drive to the storage container is started (Patent Document 1). .. In the case of the configuration described in Patent Document 1, since the shutter is not opened even if the storage container is mounted, the toner is transferred even if the image forming apparatus is transferred (bundled transfer) with the storage container mounted on the apparatus main body. Can be suppressed from leaking. However, since the storage container is configured to be attached to and detached from the main body of the device, it is often attached without being fastened and fixed to the main body of the device. For this reason, the storage container vibrates when the image forming apparatus is transferred, and various devices connected or in contact with the mounted storage container and the device main body are likely to be loaded.

Recently, in view of the above points, a configuration has been proposed in which a regulating member for regulating the mounting position of the storage container is provided, and the storage container to which the regulating member is mounted is mounted on the main body of the device when the image forming apparatus is transferred. (Patent Document 2). According to this configuration, when the storage container is attached to the main body of the device and the image forming apparatus is transferred (bundled transfer), the load applied to various devices can be reduced even if the storage container vibrates. Then, after the image forming apparatus is transferred, the regulating member is removed by the operator, so that the storage container is attached to the predetermined attachment position of the apparatus main body. The shutter is opened according to the mounting in the predetermined mounting position, and the toner is allowed to be discharged from the storage container to the developing device.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-49291 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-40189

By the way, as an image forming apparatus, there is a hopperless apparatus which does not have a hopper which temporarily stores the toner discharged from the storage container and then supplies the toner to the developing apparatus. Then, as an initial maintenance work performed by the operator after the transfer of the image forming apparatus, the output of the inductance sensor that detects the toner concentration of the developer containing the toner and the carrier contained in the developing apparatus together with the mounting of the accommodating container described above. There is an adjustment. The output of the inductance sensor can be adjusted correctly by adjusting the output of the sensor based on a developer whose toner concentration is a predetermined concentration (concentration at the time of shipment from the factory), which is pre-filled in the developing apparatus at the time of shipment from the factory. However, depending on the operator, the output of the inductance sensor may be adjusted after mounting the storage container described above, and in that case, the sensor output value may not be set correctly. This is because, in the case of hopperless, toner is discharged from the storage container to the developing device according to gravity due to vibration when the storage container is attached, and the toner concentration of the developer is different from the concentration at the time of shipment from the factory. This is because the output of the inductance sensor is adjusted in this state.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in the case of a configuration having a regulating member for reducing a load that may occur between the storage container and the apparatus main body when the image forming apparatus is transferred, the operator adjusts the output of the inductance sensor. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of correctly performing the above.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing container containing a developing agent containing a toner and a carrier, and a plurality of developing containers for circulating and transporting the developing agent in the developing container. A developing device having a transport screw of the above and developing an electrostatic latent image of the image carrier into a toner image with toner, a detecting means for detecting the toner concentration of the developer in the developing container, and the developing. Acceptance of a rotatable storage container containing toner to be replenished in a container and the storage container inserted along the rotation axis of the storage container so that the toner can be discharged when the storage container is in the first position. The device is detachably arranged between the storage container and a part of the receiving device, attached to the storage container when the image forming device is transferred, and in the insertion direction in which the storage container is inserted in the mounted state. A regulating member that is on the upstream side of the first position and restricts the movement of the storage container from the second position where toner is not discharged from the storage container to the first position, and one end connected to the receiving device, and the like. The transport pipe comprises a transport pipe whose end is connected to the developing container to form a transport path for toner discharged from the storage container, from which the regulating member is removed and the storage container is the first. It is characterized in that a developer retaining portion for retaining the toner discharged from the container according to gravity is formed so as not to allow the toner to be conveyed to the developing container when it is moved to one position. do.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing container containing a developing agent containing a toner and a carrier, and a plurality of developing containers for circulating and transporting the developing agent in the developing container. A developing device having a transfer screw of the above and developing an electrostatic latent image of the image carrier into a toner image with toner, a detecting means for detecting the toner concentration of the developing agent in the developing container, and the developing. Acceptance of a rotatable storage container containing toner to be replenished in the container and the storage container inserted along the rotation axis of the storage container so that the toner can be discharged when the storage container is in the first position. The device is detachably arranged between the storage container and a part of the receiving device, attached to the storage container when the image forming apparatus is transferred, and in the insertion direction in which the storage container is inserted in the mounted state. A regulating member that is on the upstream side of the first position and restricts the movement of the storage container from the second position where toner is not discharged from the storage container to the first position, and one end connected to the receiving device, and the like. A transport pipe whose end is connected to the developing container to form a transport path for toner discharged from the storage container is provided. A developer that retains the developing agent discharged from the storage container according to gravity so as not to allow the developing agent to be transported to the circulation path of the developing agent that is circulated and transported by the plurality of transport screws when moved to one position. It is characterized in that a retention portion is formed.

According to the present invention, the operator detects the toner concentration both before and after the timing of removing the regulating member for reducing the load that may occur between the storage container and the device main body during transfer and attaching it to the device main body. The output of the detection means can be adjusted correctly.

The schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the storage container, (a) when the volume of a pump part is increased, (b) when the volume of a pump part is decreased. Explanatory drawing of the mechanism which operates a pump part. The perspective view which shows the structure of the toner supply part. The perspective view which shows the drive composition of the containment container. It is a side view which shows the rotation detection mechanism which detects the rotation of a containment container, (a) the state which the flag shields the sensor, and (b) the state which the flag does not shield the sensor. It is a figure for demonstrating the attachment / detachment mechanism of the storage container, (a) side view which shows the 1st state, (b) side view which shows the 2nd state, (c) side view which shows 3rd state, (D) A side view showing a fourth state. The side view which shows the detection part of the containment container. It is a bottom view which shows the storage container, (a) the state which the shutter is closed, (b) the state which the shutter is open. (A) Explanatory drawing showing a state in which the storage container is being mounted, (b) Explanatory drawing showing a state in which the discharge port of the storage container and the discharge port of the shutter are not communicating, and (c) the discharge port of the storage container and the shutter. Explanatory drawing which shows the state which the discharge port communicates. A perspective view showing a state in which the storage container is included in the main body of the device. (A) A perspective view showing a state in which the regulating member is separated from the storage container, and (b) a perspective view showing a state in which the regulating member is attached to the storage container. (A) A side view of the upstream end in the insertion direction and (b) a side view of the downstream end in the insertion direction in a state where the storage container is enclosed in the main body of the apparatus. Explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship between the discharge port of a storage container and the discharge port of a shutter in a state where the storage container is enclosed in the main body of the apparatus. (A) A perspective view of a state in which the regulation member is stored in the front door, (b) a front view of the storage portion in which the regulation member is stored, and (c) an explanatory view when the regulation member is attached to and detached from the storage portion. The side view of the upstream end part in the insertion direction in the state where the regulation member is stored in the storage part. (A) A vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the developer storage portion of the first embodiment, (b) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing immediately after the storage container is moved to the first position, and (c) shows the time of toner replenishment. Vertical cross-sectional view shown. The horizontal sectional view which shows the developing apparatus which formed the developer storage part of 2nd Embodiment. It is a vertical cross-sectional view for demonstrating the developer storage part of 2nd Embodiment, (a) is a developing apparatus immediately after moving a container to a 1st position, (b) is a developing apparatus at the time of toner replenishment. It is a figure for demonstrating another embodiment of the regulation member, (a) the perspective view which shows the state which the regulation member was attached to the storage container, (b) the perspective view which shows the state which the regulation member was separated from the storage container. FIG. 20 is a side view of the downstream end in the insertion direction in a state where the storage container shown in FIG. 20 is bundled with the main body of the apparatus, and (b) an explanatory view showing the positional relationship between the discharge port of the storage container and the discharge port of the shutter. A side view of an upstream end portion in the insertion direction in a state where the storage container shown in FIG. 20 is enclosed in the apparatus main body. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a state immediately before mounting the restricting member shown in FIG. 20 on the storage container, (b) a cross-sectional view showing a state of being mounted, and (c) a cross-sectional view showing a state of mounting. It is a figure for demonstrating still another Embodiment of a regulation member, (a) the whole perspective view of the state where the regulation member is attached to the storage container, (b) the perspective view which also partially enlarged, (c) regulation. The perspective view which shows the state which the member was separated from the storage container.

[Image forming device]
First, the schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus 200 is a color image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method, and is a so-called intermediate transfer tandem type image forming apparatus in which image forming units Pa to Pd of four colors are arranged side by side on an intermediate transfer belt 7. .. In the case of the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 200 forms an image with four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk). Of course, the number of colors is not limited to four, and the order of the colors is not limited to this.

The image forming apparatus 200 receives a toner image (image) according to an image signal from a document reading device (not shown) connected to the apparatus main body 200A or a host device such as a personal computer communicably connected to the apparatus main body 200A. ) Is formed on the recording material S. Examples of the recording material S include sheet materials such as paper, plastic film, and cloth.

The recording material S is stored so as to be loaded in the storage 10 and is fed by the feeding roller 61 adopting the friction separation method at the image formation timing. The recording material S sent out by the feeding roller 61 passes through the conveying path and is conveyed to the registration roller 62. Then, after the registration roller 62 performs skew correction and timing correction of the recording material S, the recording material S is sent to the secondary transfer unit T2. The secondary transfer portion T2 is a transfer nip portion formed by the opposing secondary transfer inner roller 8 and the secondary transfer outer roller 9, and is an intermediate transfer belt 7 by applying a predetermined pressing force and an electrostatic load bias. The upper toner image is secondarily transferred onto the recording material S.

Next, the image forming process of the toner image sent to the secondary transfer unit T2 at the same timing will be described with respect to the transfer process of the recording material S to the secondary transfer unit T2 described above. The image forming units Pa to Pd are mainly photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, charging devices 2a to 2d, exposure devices 3a to 3d, developing devices 100a to 100d, and primary transfer, which are cylindrical photoconductors as image carriers. It is composed of rollers 5a to 5d, drum cleaners 6a to 6d, and the like.

First, the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, which are rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow by a driving device (not shown), are uniformly charged in advance by the charging devices 2a to 2d. Then, the exposure devices 3a to 3d are driven based on the image information signal (image signal) sent from the document reading device or the like, and the laser beam is appropriately passed through a diffractive member such as a mirror to the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d. Irradiate. As a result, electrostatic latent images corresponding to the respective colors are formed on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d. Next, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d becomes manifest as a toner image after being developed with toner by the developing devices 100a to 100d.

The developing devices 100a to 100d each include a developing container 101a to 101d for accommodating a developing agent, a developing sleeve 102a to 102d as a developing agent carrier, a stirring screw 700a to 700d, a developing screw 800a to 800d, and the like. The developing sleeves 102a to 102d carry the developer in the developing containers 101a to 101d and carry them to the developing region facing the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, and when a predetermined development bias is applied, the photosensitive drums 1a to 1a to Toner is supplied on 1d to develop an electrostatic latent image. In this embodiment, a two-component developer containing a non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier is used as the developer.

After the toner image is formed on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, predetermined pressing force and electrostatic load bias are applied by the primary transfer rollers 5a to 5d in the primary transfer portions T1a to T1d, and the photosensitive drum 1a is applied. The toner image on ~ 1d is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 7. The transfer residual toner slightly remaining on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d is collected by the drum cleaners 6a to 6d and is prepared for the next image forming process again.

By forming the image as described above, the toner in the developing containers 101a to 101d of the developing devices 100a to 100d is consumed. Therefore, when the amount of toner in the developing containers 101a to 101d decreases, toner is replenished from the corresponding storage containers Ta to Td to the developing containers 101a to 101d. For this purpose, transfer pipes 70 for supplying toner are provided between the storage containers Ta to Td and the developing containers 101a to 101d, respectively. Details of such a toner replenishment operation will be described later.

The intermediate transfer belt 7 is an endless belt, which is installed on an intermediate transfer belt frame (not shown) and is stretched by a secondary transfer inner roller 8, a tension roller 17, and a secondary transfer upstream roller 18 that also drive the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 7. It is hung. When the secondary transfer inner roller 8 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow R1, the intermediate transfer belt 7 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow R2.

The above-mentioned image forming process is processed in parallel by the image forming portions Pa to Pd of Y, M, C and Bk, and the toner image on the downstream side is sequentially superimposed on the toner image primaryly transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 7. It is done at the timing. As a result, a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 7 and conveyed to the secondary transfer unit T2. The transfer residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 7 after passing through the secondary transfer unit T2 is recovered by the belt cleaner device 11.

By the transfer process and the image formation process described above, the secondary transfer is performed in the secondary transfer unit T2 by matching the transfer timings of the recording material S and the full-color toner image. After that, the recording material S is conveyed to the fixing device 13. The fixing device 13 has a fixing roller 14 having a heater inside, and an opposing roller 15 facing the fixing roller 14 to form a fixing nip portion. The recording material S conveyed to the fixing device 13 passes through the fixing nip portion, and a predetermined pressure and heat amount are applied in the fixing nip portion. Then, the toner image is melt-fixed (fixed) on the recording material S. The recording material S on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the discharge tray 63.

Each process as described above is controlled by the control unit 50. The control unit 50 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The CPU controls each part while reading a program corresponding to the control procedure stored in the ROM. Further, work data and input data are stored in the RAM, and the CPU controls by referring to the data stored in the RAM based on the above-mentioned program or the like. Further, the image forming apparatus 200 has an operation unit 60 such as an operation panel, and the user can make various settings of the image forming apparatus 200 by the operation unit 60.

[Container]
Next, the storage containers Ta to Td containing the toner will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 3. Since the storage containers Ta to Td have a common configuration in each container, the storage container Ta will be described below as a representative.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the storage container Ta has a toner storage portion 20 formed in a hollow cylindrical shape and having an internal space for storing toner inside. Further, the storage container Ta has a flange portion 21 on one end side in the longitudinal direction (toner transport direction) of the toner storage portion 20. The toner accommodating portion 20 is configured to be rotatable relative to the flange portion 21. The flange portion 21 is provided with a discharge portion 21h having a hollow shape for temporarily storing the toner conveyed from the inside of the toner accommodating portion 20. At the bottom of the discharge unit 21h, a discharge port 21a for discharging toner to the outside of the storage container Ta, that is, supplying toner to the developing devices 100a to 100d is formed. Further, inside the flange portion 21, a shutter 4 for opening and closing the discharge port 21a is provided. The details of the operation of the shutter 4 will be described later.

A gear portion 20a, a pump portion 20b, a protrusion portion 20d, and the like are formed in the toner accommodating portion 20. By engaging with the drive unit on the device body 200A side, the gear unit 20a functions to transmit the rotational driving force from the device body 200A side to the toner accommodating unit 20. The pump unit 20b is a resin-made volume-variable pump whose volume is variable as it reciprocates. The arrows ω and γ in FIGS. 2A and 2B indicate the moving direction of the pump unit 20b.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in the pump portion 20b, a plurality of "mountain fold" portions and "valley fold" portions are periodically and alternately formed on the outer peripheral portion in the longitudinal direction. It is a bellows-shaped pump. The pump unit 20b expands and contracts by reciprocating, and functions as an intake / exhaust mechanism that alternately performs an intake operation and an exhaust operation via the discharge port 21a. A cam-shaped groove portion 21b is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the flange portion 21, and is configured to engage with the protrusion portion 20d provided in the toner accommodating portion 20.

The relationship between the protrusion 20d and the groove 21b will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a developed portion in which the groove portion 21b is formed. In FIG. 3, the arrow A indicates the rotation direction of the toner accommodating portion 20 (moving direction of the protrusion 20d), and the arrows B and C indicate the expansion / contraction direction of the pump portion 20b. As shown in FIG. 3, the groove portion 21b has a structure in which the first groove 21c and the second groove 21d having different inclination directions are alternately connected. When the toner accommodating portion 20 is rotationally driven, the toner accommodating portion 20 moves relative to the flange portion 21 in the direction of the rotation axis due to the engagement between the protrusion portion 20d and the groove portion 21b. As a result, the pump unit 20b expands and contracts. That is, when the toner accommodating portion 20 is rotated, the pump portion 20b expands and contracts, whereby the toner is discharged from the discharge port 21a using the intake / exhaust mechanism.

[Drive configuration of toner supply unit]
Next, a configuration for supplying the replenishing toner from the storage container Ta to the developing device 100a will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 (b). The device body 200A has a receiving device 400 that receives the storage container Ta. The receiving device includes a toner replenishing unit that replenishes toner from the storage container Ta to the developing device 100a. Regarding the configuration of the toner replenishment unit that supplies replenishing toner from the storage containers Tb to Td to the developing devices 100b to 100d and the receiving device that receives the storage containers Tb to Td, the toner replenishment unit that supplies toner from the storage container Ta, And, it is the same as the receiving device 400. Therefore, the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the receiving device 400 of the apparatus main body 200A includes a front side plate 201, a rear side plate 202, a container upper holding guide 401 held by the front side plate 201 and the rear side plate 202, and a container lower portion. A holding guide 402 is provided. The storage container Ta is detachable from the receiving device 400 of the device main body 200A, and when attached to the receiving device 400, is rotatably stored and held by the holding guide 401 above the container and the holding guide 402 below the container. ..

In the present embodiment, the storage container Ta is mounted in the receiving device 400 of the device main body 200A by being inserted in a substantially horizontal direction from the front side to the back side (rear side) of the device main body 200A. Further, the storage container Ta is pulled out from the receiving device 400 of the device main body 200A by pulling out in the opposite direction. The insertion direction and the extraction direction of the storage container Ta are the same as the longitudinal direction of the storage container Ta and the expansion / contraction direction of the pump portion 20b. Further, it is the same as the direction of the rotation axis of the storage container Ta. The front side of the apparatus main body 200A is the side on which the user operates the image forming apparatus 200, the front side of the paper surface of FIG. 1, and the back side is the back side of the paper surface of FIG.

A container driving device 300 and a transport pipe 70 are attached to the rear side plate 202. As shown in FIG. 5, the container drive device 300 includes a drive motor 301 as a drive source, a container drive gear 302 as a drive transmission unit, a pinion gear 304, an idler gear 305, an idler stage gear 308, a drive transmission gear 306, and a container drive. It is composed of a shaft 307. In the container drive device 300, the rotational driving force generated from the drive motor 301 is transmitted to the container drive gear 302 through the pinion gear 304, the idler gear 305, the idler stage gear 308, the drive transmission gear 306, and the container drive shaft 307. Then, this rotational driving force is transmitted from the container drive gear 302 to the gear portion 20a as the discharge drive unit of the storage container Ta, so that the storage container Ta is rotationally driven and the toner is discharged from the storage container Ta as described above. Let me.

The container driving device 300 is provided with a phase detection flag 309 that is rotatably supported, and is in contact with the toner accommodating portion 20 of the accommodating container Ta and the cam portion 24 that rotates integrally with the gear portion 20a. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the cam portion 24 is provided with two large-diameter portions 24a and two small-diameter portions 24b alternately around the cam portion 24.

As shown in FIG. 6A, when the phase detection flag 309 is in contact with the large diameter portion 24a, the phase detection flag 309 shields the photosensor 310 arranged in the container drive device 300 from light. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the phase detection flag 309 is in contact with the small diameter portion 24b, the phase detection flag 309 is out of the transmission range of the photo sensor 310, and the photo sensor 310 is transmitted. The control unit 50 (see FIG. 1) can detect a half rotation of the storage container Ta by detecting a change (light-shielding → transmission → light-shielding) of the photo sensor 310. Further, the rotation of the drive motor 301 is controlled by the control unit 50 so that the photo sensor 310 stops after a predetermined time after detecting light-shielding → transmission → light-shielding. The pump unit 20b reciprocates once every half rotation of the storage container Ta.

In this way, the control unit 50 controls the discharge of toner from the storage container Ta by reciprocating the storage container Ta once every half rotation and stopping the rotation. The toner discharged from the storage container Ta passes through the transport pipe 70 and is delivered to the developing device 100a (see FIG. 1) on the downstream side. However, in the present embodiment, by being provided at the downstream end of the transport pipe 70, the toner that falls in the transport pipe 70 due to gravity is temporarily stored, and the stored developer is appropriately developed according to the image forming operation or the like. It does not have a hopper to replenish the device 100a (see FIG. 1).

[About attaching and detaching the storage container]
Next, the attachment / detachment mechanism of the storage container Ta with respect to the apparatus main body 200A will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 (a) to 8 (8). As described above, the receiving device 400 (see FIG. 4) of the device main body 200A receives the storage container Ta inserted along the rotation axis direction of the storage container Ta. As shown in FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (d), with respect to the insertion direction (predetermined direction, arrow D direction) of the storage container Ta, one side end portion (downstream side end portion) of the container bottom holding guide 402 is A container pulling device 410 is provided as a pulling portion. The container pulling device 410 has a container pulling lever 403 and a pulling spring 404. The container pull-in lever 403 is rotatably held with respect to the container lower holding guide 402. The pull-in spring 404 is stretched on the container pull-in lever 403 and the container lower holding guide 402.

When mounting the storage container Ta on the receiving device 400 of the device main body 200A, first, as shown in FIG. 7A, the tip of the storage container Ta (downstream end in the insertion direction) and the container pull-in lever 403 come into contact with each other, and the container The pull-in lever 403 is pushed in and starts rotating in the direction of arrow E. At this time, the force generated by the pull-in spring 404 acts as a force for rotating the container pull-in lever 403 in the direction of arrow F1.

Further, when the storage container Ta is pushed into the receiving device 400, as shown in FIG. 7B, the container pulling lever 403 rotates further, and the position of the pulling spring 404 is on the dead point (on a straight line connecting the spring hooks). The point on which the center of rotation of the container pull-in lever 403 rides) is exceeded. Then, as shown in FIG. 7C, the pull-in spring 404 switches the direction of the force for rotating the container pull-in lever 403 to the F2 direction. Then, the container pull-in lever 403 engages with the boss 21k provided on the storage container Ta, and a force for pulling the container Ta into the back side of the receiving device 400 of the device main body 200A acts.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 7 (d), the storage container Ta is automatically provided with the thrust under the container holding guide 402 by further rotating the container pull-in lever 403 by the urging force of the pull-in spring 404. It is pulled up to the contact portion 402a. When the tip of the storage container Ta abuts on the abutting portion 402a, the mounting operation of the storage container Ta on the receiving device 400 of the device main body 200A is completed, and the toner is discharged from the storage container Ta at the first position as described later. The storage container Ta is attached. That is, the container pull-in lever 403 engages with the boss 21k, which is a part of the storage container Ta, during the mounting operation (during the insertion operation) of the device main body 200A of the storage container Ta to the receiving device 400, and the pull-in spring 404 is attached. The storage container Ta is pulled into the first position by force.

Here, the container-side contact 23 as the first contact is at the tip of the storage container Ta, and the main body-side contact as the second contact is at a position facing the tip of the storage container Ta of the receiving device 400 of the apparatus main body 200A. 405 are provided respectively. By contacting the main body side contact 405 with the container side contact 23, communication is possible between the storage container Ta and the device main body 200A. The container-side contact 23 is connected to a memory in which information about the storage container Ta is stored. When the storage container Ta is mounted in the first position, the container-side contact 23 comes into contact with the main body-side contact 405, and this information is sent to the control unit 50 of the device main body 200A.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, at a position facing the tip of the storage container Ta of the receiving device 400 of the device main body 200A, a sensor 406 as a detection unit that detects the storage container Ta by coming into contact with the storage container Ta is provided. It is provided. The sensor 406 is a sensor that detects whether or not the storage container Ta is mounted at the first position. Therefore, when the storage container Ta is mounted in the first position, the sensor 406 comes into contact with the tip of the storage container Ta, and the control unit 50 determines that the storage container Ta is mounted in the first position. On the other hand, if the tip of the storage container Ta is not in contact with the sensor 406, the control unit 50 determines that the storage container Ta is not mounted in the first position.

Further, with the storage container Ta mounted at the first position of the receiving device 400 of the device main body 200A, as shown in FIG. 5, the container drive gear 302 provided on the device main body 200A side is on the storage container Ta side. Engage with the gear portion 20a provided on the. Then, the drive can be transmitted from the container drive gear 302 to the gear portion 20a.

[Opening and closing the shutter]
Next, with reference to FIGS. 9A to 10C, the relationship between the attachment / detachment of the storage container Ta to the receiving device 400 of the device main body 200A and the opening / closing of the shutter 4 provided in the storage container Ta will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B described above, the shutter 4 is provided inside the storage container Ta so as to be relatively movable with respect to the flange portion 21. As described above, the storage container Ta is formed with a discharge port 21a for discharging toner, and the storage container Ta has a shutter 4 that can open and close the discharge port 21a.

The shutter 4 is formed with an opening 4a as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. When the positional relationship between the opening 4a of the shutter 4 and the discharge port 21a is shown in FIG. 9A, the shutter 4 blocks the discharge port 21a, so that the toner cannot be discharged from the storage container Ta. On the other hand, when the shutter 4 slides to the position shown in FIG. 9B, the opening 4a provided in the shutter 4 and the discharge port 21a overlap, and the opening 4a and the discharge port 21a communicate with each other. Therefore, the toner can be discharged from the storage container Ta through the discharge port 21a and the opening 4a.

10 (a) to 10 (c) are views showing the positional relationship between the storage container Ta and the shutter 4 on the container bottom holding guide 402. Further, FIGS. 10A to 10C show the process of mounting the storage container Ta on the apparatus main body 200A in order, and the broken line arrow indicates the moving direction (insertion direction) of the storage container Ta. ing.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the positional relationship between the storage container Ta and the shutter 4 when the storage container Ta is not attached to the receiving device 400 of the apparatus main body 200A is such that the discharge port 21a is closed by the shutter 4. It is in a state of being. Therefore, the storage container Ta is started to be inserted into the receiving device 400 of the apparatus main body 200A in this state, and the discharge port 21a is still closed by the shutter 4 even in the state of FIG. 10A.

Next, when the storage container Ta is further inserted into the receiving device 400 of the device main body 200A, as shown in FIG. 10B, the storage container Ta is formed in the shutter engaging groove 402c and the shutter 4 formed in the holding guide 402 under the container. The formed protrusions 4b are engaged with each other. At this time, the positions of the discharge port 402b formed in the container bottom holding guide 402 and the opening 4a formed in the shutter 4 overlap and communicate with each other, but do not communicate with the discharge port 21a. Therefore, in this state, the toner is not yet discharged from the storage container Ta.

When the storage container Ta is further inserted into the receiving device 400 from this state, the shutter 4 is fixed to the holding guide 402 under the container by the engagement between the shutter engaging groove 402c and the protrusion 4b, so that the storage container excluding the shutter 4 is stored. The container Ta moves with respect to the container bottom holding guide 402. That is, the storage container Ta and the shutter 4 move relative to each other. Then, as shown in FIG. 10C, when the storage container Ta is inserted to the first position where it abuts against the abutting portion 402a of the receiving device 400 of the device main body 200A, the movement of the storage container Ta with respect to the shutter 4 is eliminated. It is performed up to a position where the outlet 21a and the opening 4a communicate with each other. That is, all of the discharge port 21a, the opening 4a, and the discharge port 402b communicate with each other, and the toner can be discharged from the storage container Ta. As described above, the image forming apparatus 200 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which toner can be discharged from the accommodating container Ta only when the accommodating container Ta is mounted at the first position of the receiving device 400 of the apparatus main body 200A. ..

[About the bundled transfer of storage containers]
Here, when the bundled transfer in which the storage container Ta is mounted on the device main body 100A is performed with the storage container Ta mounted on the first position of the receiving device 400 of the device main body 200A as described above, the following is performed. There is a risk of problems such as. That is, when the storage container Ta is mounted in the first position, the container-side contact 23 comes into contact with the main body-side contact 405 and the sensor 406 comes into contact with the tip of the storage container Ta, as described above. Further, the container drive gear 302 is connected to the gear portion 20a provided on the storage container Ta side. If the image forming apparatus is transferred while various devices are connected or in contact with each other between the storage container Ta and the device main body 200A, the storage container Ta vibrates during the transfer and a load is applied to the various devices. There is a risk. That is, there is a risk that a load will be applied to the contact portion between the container-side contact 23 and the main body-side contact 405, the sensor 406, and the connection portion between the container drive gear 302 and the gear portion 20a.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the receiving device 400 of the apparatus main body 200A mounts the accommodating container Ta at the above-mentioned first position and at the second position where the developer is not discharged from the accommodating container Ta, unlike the first position. It is possible. Then, in the case of bundled transportation, the position of the storage container Ta is regulated to the second position by the regulating member 500 as a regulating means. This second position is a position on the upstream side (upstream side in a predetermined direction) in the insertion direction of the storage container Ta from the first position. The second position is a position where the sensor 406 does not contact the tip of the container Ta, the container-side contact 23 does not contact the main body-side contact 405, and the container drive gear 302 is not connected to the gear portion 20a. ..

[Regulatory members]
The regulation member 500 that restricts the storage container Ta to the second position of the receiving device 400 of the device main body 200A will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 16. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the storage container Ta is mounted when the storage container Ta is mounted at the second position of the receiving device 400 of the device main body 200A and transferred. As will be described in detail below, the restricting member 500 is attached to the handle portion 25 provided at each of the upstream ends of the storage containers Ta to Td of each color in the insertion direction (the tips on the upstream side of the storage containers Ta to Td in the insertion direction). Will be done. Then, with the regulating member 500 sandwiched between the handle portion 25 and the insertion port cover 210, the positions of the storage containers Ta to Td are restricted to the second positions, respectively, and the image forming apparatus is transferred in this state. I try to do it. That is, the restricting member 500 is detachably arranged between the storage container Ta and the insertion port cover 210 (a part of the device main body), and the storage container Ta can be mounted in the first position in the non-mounted state, and is in the mounted state. The position of the storage container Ta is restricted to the second position. Since the configuration for restricting the positions of the storage containers Ta to Td of each color to the second position is the same, the configuration for restricting the position of the storage container Ta to the second position will be described in detail below as a representative.

As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the storage container Ta has a handle portion 25 as a mounting portion on which the regulation member 500 can be mounted at the upstream end portion in the insertion direction (upstream end portion in the predetermined direction). As shown in FIG. 12A, the handle portion 25 has a partially constricted shape so that a user or the like can easily grasp it by hand. That is, the handle portion 25 is provided so as to project further upstream from the upstream end (rear end) in the insertion direction of the storage container Ta, and is outside the portion on the upstream side of the base end portion or the intermediate portion on the storage container Ta side. It is formed so that the diameter becomes large. The upstream portion is a large diameter portion 25a, and the base end portion to the intermediate portion is a constricted portion 25b.

On the other hand, the regulating member 500 has a base portion 501, projecting portions 502a, 502b, 502c, and abutting protrusion 503. The projecting portions 502a, 502b, and 502c are provided so as to project from the three positions of the base 501 in the radial direction of the accommodating container Ta in a mounted state on the accommodating container Ta. The abutting protrusion 503 is provided so as to protrude from the protruding portions 502a to 502c in the insertion direction, respectively. The base portion 501 is formed with a recessed portion 504 that is recessed in a substantially U shape from between the protruding portions 502b and 502c toward the protruding portion 502a. As shown in FIG. 12B, the regulating member 500 is attached to the storage container Ta by allowing the constricted portion 25b to enter the recessed portion 504.

As shown in FIG. 13A, an insertion port cover 210 as a contact portion is provided on the inlet side into which the storage container Ta of the receiving device 400 of the device main body 200A is inserted. The insertion port cover 210 is provided on the front side plate 201 (FIG. 4), and the insertion port cover 210 and the front side plate 201 are formed with an insertion port into which the storage container Ta can be inserted. The insertion port cover 210 is provided at a portion where the storage container Ta is mounted at the first position and the upstream end (upstream end in the predetermined direction) of the storage container Ta is located (see FIG. 16).

In the case of bundled transportation, the storage container Ta is inserted into the apparatus main body 200A with the regulating member 500 attached to the handle portion 25. At this time, the storage container Ta is inserted into the device main body 200A while being inserted into the insertion port formed in the insertion port cover 210 and the front side plate 201. Then, as shown in FIG. 13A, when the storage container Ta reaches the second position, the abutting portion 503 of the regulating member 500 attached to the handle portion 25 abuts against the insertion port cover 210. At this time, the base portion 501 of the regulating member 500 abuts on the large diameter portion 25a of the handle portion 25, and the storage container Ta is held so as not to move further downstream in the insertion direction. That is, the restricting member 500 abuts on the insertion port cover 210 while being attached to the handle portion 25, and restricts the position of the storage container Ta to the second position on the upstream side in the insertion direction from the first position.

In the state where the storage container Ta is located at the second position, the container pull-in lever 403 is located between FIGS. 7 (c) and 7 (d), and the storage container Ta has the device main body 200A. The force in the direction of being attached to is working. Therefore, the storage container Ta, which is pulled in by the container pull-in lever 403, is fixed to the insertion port cover 210 via the regulating member 500 in a regulated state. In other words, the regulating member 500 regulates the position of the storage container Ta at the second position regardless of the force for pulling the storage container Ta by the container pull-in lever 403.

Further, the receiving device 400 of the device main body 200A has a front door 230 as a cover that can open and close the space 220 into which the storage container Ta is inserted. The front door 230 is provided on the front side of the apparatus main body 200A, and rotates around a hinge to open and close the space in which the storage containers Ta to Td are inserted. The front door 230 is formed so that the storage container Ta with the regulating member 500 attached to the handle portion 25 can be closed even if it is located at the second position.

That is, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13A, at the second position, the handle portion 25 projects to the upstream side (front side) from the upstream end portion in the insertion direction of the storage container Ta. Therefore, the front door 230 is shaped so as to form a space 221 that does not interfere with the handle portion 25 even when the storage container Ta is closed at the second position.

Further, when the storage container Ta is located at the second position, as shown in FIG. 13B, the sensor 406 does not contact the tip of the storage container Ta, and the container side contact 23 and the main body side contact 405 also Do not touch. Further, in the second position, the container drive gear 302 does not engage with the gear portion 20a.

Further, in the state where the storage container Ta is located at the second position, the positional relationship between the discharge port 21a of the flange portion 21 of the storage container Ta and the opening 4a of the shutter 4 is as shown in FIG. That is, the discharge port 21a and the opening 4a do not communicate with each other. Therefore, in the second position, the toner is not discharged from the storage container Ta.

On the other hand, when the restricting member 500 is removed from the accommodating container Ta, the restriction on the position of the accommodating container Ta is released, and the accommodating container Ta can be inserted into the first position. That is, when the user or the like opens the front door 230 and pulls out the regulating member 500 from the handle portion 25 of the storage container Ta, the abutting protrusion 503 and the insertion port cover 210 are engaged and the base portion 501 and the large diameter portion 25a are engaged. The case is removed, and the storage container Ta can be moved from the second position to the first position. At this time, since the storage container Ta is in a state of being pulled in by the container pull-in lever 403, it is automatically pulled into the first position and mounted in the first position. That is, in the present embodiment, the container retracting device 410 is configured to retract the container Ta to the first position when the regulation by the regulating member 500 is released at the second position.

When the storage container Ta is pulled into the first position, as shown in FIG. 8 described above, the sensor 406 comes into contact with the tip of the storage container Ta, and the storage container Ta is detected by the sensor 406. Further, the container-side contact 23 comes into contact with the main body-side contact 405, and communication between the storage container Ta and the device main body 200A becomes possible. Further, the container drive gear 302 engages with the gear portion 20a, and the drive can be transmitted from the container drive gear 302 to the gear portion 20a. Further, when the storage container Ta is attached to the first position, as shown in FIG. 9B, the discharge port 21a of the flange portion 21 of the storage container Ta and the opening 4a of the shutter 4 communicate with each other, and the storage container Ta Toner can be discharged from.

[Storage of regulatory members]
In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 15 (a) to 15 (c), the front door 230 is provided with a storage portion 231 capable of accommodating the restricting member 500 thus removed from the handle portion 25. There is. As shown in FIG. 16, the storage unit 231 is formed so that the stored restricting member 500 does not interfere with the storage container Ta even if the front door 230 is closed while the storage container Ta is mounted in the first position. Has been done.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15A, the storage portion 231 is provided on the plate-shaped portion 230A on the front surface of the front door 230. As shown in FIG. 15B, such a storage portion 231 has a pair of upper engaging portions 232a and 232b, a pair of lower engaging portions 233a and 233b, and a pair of protrusions 234. The pair of upper engaging portions 232a and 232b sandwich the protruding portion 502a of the regulating member 500. The pair of lower engaging portions 233a and 233b sandwich the base portion 501. The pair of lower engaging portions 233a and 233b are formed with engaging grooves into which a pair of engaging plate portions 506 (see FIG. 15C) provided on both sides of the base portion 501 of the regulating member 500 can be engaged with each other. Has been done. The pair of protrusions 234 can each penetrate into the pair of engagement holes 505 formed in the base 501 of the regulating member 500. Further, the regulating member 500 can be elastically deformed in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 15 (c).

When the restricting member 500 is stored in the storage portion 231, as shown in FIG. 15C, the base portion 501 is elastically deformed in the direction in which the pair of lower protrusions 502b and 502c approach each other. In this state, the restricting member 500 is moved toward the plate-shaped portion 230A of the front door 230 so that the pair of protrusions 234 penetrate into the pair of engagement holes 505. At the same time, the protruding portion 502a is pushed between the pair of upper engaging portions 232a and 232b, and the base portion 501 is pushed between the lower engaging portions 233a and 233b. At this time, as shown in FIG. 15C, the pair of engaging plate portions 506 do not interfere with the pair of lower engaging portions 233a and 233b. Then, after pushing the regulating member 500 in this way, when the force applied to the pair of lower protrusions 502b and 502c is released, the shape of the base 501 is elastically restored, and the pair of engaging plate portions 506 Invade the engaging grooves of the lower engaging portions 233a and 233b, respectively.

As a result, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the regulation member 500 is attached to the storage portion 231 so as not to fall off from the front door 230 or rattle. That is, when the pair of protrusions 234 penetrates into the pair of engagement holes 505, the regulating member 500 is supported so as not to fall below the front door 230. Further, the pair of engaging plate portions 506 may enter the engaging grooves of the lower engaging portions 233a and 233b, respectively, so that the regulating member 500 may fall off from the front side of the paper surface of FIGS. 15A and 15B. Be regulated. Further, the protrusion 502a is sandwiched between the pair of upper engaging portions 232a and 232b, and the base portion 501 is sandwiched between the pair of lower engaging portions 233a and 233b, so that the rattling of the regulating member 500 is suppressed.

On the other hand, when the regulating member 500 is removed from the accommodating portion 231, as shown in FIG. 15C, the base portion 501 is elastically deformed in the direction in which the pair of lower protruding portions 502b and 502c approach each other. Then, the pair of engaging plate portions 506 are pulled out downward from the engaging grooves of the lower engaging portions 233a and 233b, respectively, and the engagement between the engaging grooves and the engaging plate portions 506 is disengaged. In this state, the regulating member 500 is moved away from the plate-shaped portion 230A of the front door 230 to pull out the pair of protrusions 234 from the pair of engaging holes 505. At the same time, the protruding portion 502a is pulled out from between the pair of upper engaging portions 232a and 232b, and the base portion 501 is pulled out from between the lower engaging portions 233a and 233b. As a result, the regulation member 500 is removed from the storage portion 231.

As described above, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15A, when the storage container Ta is in the first position, which is the position at the time of use, the front door 230 has a storage portion 231 capable of storing the regulation member 500. It is provided in. In addition to the configuration in which the regulation member 500 is bent and fitted into the storage portion 231 as described above, the regulation member 500 may be stored in another configuration such as fixing with screws.

In the present embodiment, even if the restricting member 500 is stored in the accommodating portion 231 of the front door 230 as described above, the restricting member 500 does not interfere with the handle portion 25 of the accommodating container Ta as shown in FIG. That is, the front door 230 can be arranged in the closed state between the plate-shaped portion 230A on the front surface and the handle portion 25 of the storage container Ta at the first position so that the regulating member 500 does not interfere with the handle portion 25. It is formed like this.

Further, when the front door 230 of the storage unit 231 is closed with the storage container Ta located upstream of the first position in the insertion direction, the stored restricting member 500 inserts the storage container Ta downstream in the insertion direction (downstream in the predetermined direction). It is formed to push to the side). Here, the clearance dimension G between the regulating member 500 stored in the storage portion 231 of the front door 230 and the handle portion 25 of the storage container Ta is smaller than the retractable range in which the container pull-in lever 403 pulls in the storage container Ta. That is, as shown in FIGS. 7 (b) and 7 (d), the storage container Ta moves from the position of the pull-in spring 404 exceeding the dead center until the tip of the storage container Ta abuts on the abutting portion 402a. The clearance dimension G is smaller than the distance to be used.

Therefore, when the front door 230 accommodating the restricting member 500 is closed while the accommodating container Ta is inserted in a halfway state where it has not reached the second position, for example, the restricting member 500 abuts against the handle portion 25 and is accommodated. Push the container Ta into the retractable range. As a result, the storage container Ta is automatically pulled into the first position by the container pull-in lever 403. That is, in the present embodiment, even when the storage container Ta is insufficiently inserted, the storage container Ta is automatically pulled into the first position by closing the front door 230.

In the case of the present embodiment as described above, it is possible to prevent a load from being applied to various devices connected between the mounted storage container Ta and the device main body 200A when the image forming apparatus 200 is transferred. That is, when the storage container Ta is bundled with the device main body 200A and transferred, the storage container Ta is mounted on the device main body 200A with the regulation member 500 attached to the handle portion 25 of the storage container Ta. As a result, the position of the storage container Ta is restricted to the second position. As described above, at the second position, the discharge port 21a and the opening 4a do not communicate with each other, and the toner is not discharged from the storage container Ta. Therefore, it is possible to prevent toner from leaking from the storage container Ta when the image forming apparatus 200 is transferred.

In particular, at the second position, the sensor 406 does not contact the tip of the container Ta, the container-side contact 23 does not contact the main body-side contact 405, and the container drive gear 302 is not connected to the gear portion 20a. Therefore, it is possible to prevent various devices such as the sensor 406, the container-side contact 23, the main body-side contact 405, the container drive gear 302, and the gear portion 20a from being loaded by the vibration during transfer of the image forming apparatus 200.

Further, in the case of the present embodiment, even after the regulating member 500 is removed, the storage container Ta is mounted in the first position, and the image forming apparatus 200 is driven, the position of the storage container Ta is similarly set to the second position. Regulated, bundled transport is possible as described above. That is, in the case of bundled transfer after the device is driven, the storage container Ta is moved to the second position, and the restricting member 500 removed from the storage unit 231 is reattached to the handle portion 25 of the storage container Ta. The position of the storage container Ta can be regulated to the second position again.

In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the container retracting device 410 is provided has been described, but the image forming apparatus may have a configuration in which the container retracting device 410 is not provided. In this case, for example, by providing a configuration in which the regulating member 500 is fixed to the insertion port cover 210, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

In this embodiment, as a developing method using the developing devices 100a to 100d, a two-component developing method using a two-component developing agent containing a non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier is adopted. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, each of the developing devices 100a to 100d has an inductance sensor 90a for detecting the toner concentration of the developing agent (indicating the weight ratio of the toner in the developing agent, also referred to as T / D). ~ 90d is provided. The inductance sensors 90a to 90d as the detection means use the inductance to output an output voltage according to the magnetic permeability in the vicinity of the detection surface. When the T / D is small, the proportion of carriers contained in the developer in the unit volume near the detection surface is large, so that the apparent magnetic permeability in the developer is high and the sensor output value is high. On the contrary, when the T / D is large, the ratio of carriers contained in the developer in the unit volume near the detection surface of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d becomes small, so that the apparent magnetic permeability in the developer becomes low and the sensor output value. Will be low.

The two-component developing method is more advantageous than other developing methods in terms of image quality stability and device durability. On the other hand, the toner concentration (T / D) decreases due to the consumption of toner during development, and as a result, the image density fluctuates due to the increase in the amount of toner charged, and the carriers on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d. Carrier adhesion and the like are likely to occur. In order to prevent this, the toner concentration detected by the inductance sensors 90a to 90d arranged in the developing devices 100a to 100d is compared with a predetermined target toner concentration, and the toner is replenished with a replenishment amount according to the result. I have to. The target toner concentration is a predetermined value (for example, 8%). In the case of the present embodiment, as a developer that is pre-filled in the developing devices 100a to 100d before shipment from the factory, a developer whose toner concentration has been adjusted to a target toner concentration (for example, 8%) is used.

By the way, as already described, after the transfer of the image forming apparatus 200, the operator performs the output adjustment of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d together with the mounting of the storage containers Ta to Td as described above as the initial maintenance work. When the output adjustment of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d is performed based on the developer pre-filled in the developing devices 100a to 100d at the time of shipment from the factory, a correct sensor output value can be obtained. However, depending on the operator, the output of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d may be adjusted after mounting the above-mentioned storage containers Ta to Td, and in that case, the correct sensor output value cannot be obtained from the inductance sensors 90a to 90d. There was something. Conventionally, the toner discharged from the storage containers Ta to Td is supplied to the developing devices 100a to 100d due to vibration when the storage containers Ta to Td are pulled in, and the toner concentration of the developer is set at the time of shipment from the factory. This is because the output is adjusted even though the concentration is different from that of. In this way, since the restricting member 500 is removed and the storage containers Ta to Td are mounted on the first position by the operator, the mounting timing may be before or after the output adjustment of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d. As a result, even if the output of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d is adjusted, the sensor output values of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d may not be set correctly. If the sensor output values of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d cannot be set correctly, it is difficult to set the actual toner concentration to the target toner concentration even if the toner is replenished based on the detection results of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d. In that case, stable image quality cannot be provided at the time of image formation.

<First Embodiment>
Therefore, in view of the above points, in the present embodiment, even if the storage containers Ta to Td are mounted by the operator before the output adjustment of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d, the sensor output values of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d are set. I am trying to set it correctly. The configuration of the first embodiment for realizing this will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 (a) to 17 (c). Since the storage containers Ta to Td and the developing devices 100a to 100d shown in FIG. 1 have a common configuration, the storage container Ta and the developing device 100a will be described as examples below. 17 (a) shows the case where the storage container Ta is in the second position, FIG. 17 (b) shows immediately after the storage container Ta is moved to the first position, and FIG. 17 (c) shows the time when the toner is replenished.

As shown in FIG. 17A, one end is connected to the opening 400a of the receiving device 400 and the other end is connected to the receiving port 111a of the developing container 101a to form a transport path for toner discharged from the container Ta. A developer retaining portion 600 is formed on the transport pipe 70. As shown in FIG. 17B, the developer retaining portion 600 contains toner that can be discharged from the discharge port 21a of the storage container Ta due to vibration or the like when the storage container Ta is moved to the first position. The discharged toner is formed so as to be able to stay so as not to be conveyed to 101a.

Specifically, the transport pipe 70 is arranged in a state of being obliquely inclined downward in the direction of gravity from the storage container Ta toward the developing container 101a when viewed from the direction of the rotation axis of the stirring screw 700. 600 is formed on the inclined surface of the transport pipe 70. The developer retention portion 600 may be formed directly below the discharge port 21a of the storage container Ta in the vertical direction, but when the storage container Ta is in the first position, it overlaps with the discharge port 21a when viewed from above in the vertical direction. It is preferable that the transfer pipe 70 is formed in the middle of the inclined surface so as not to be formed. This is because, by doing so, it is possible to reduce the scattering of the toner when it reaches the developer retaining portion 600, as compared with the case where the toner is directly conveyed to the developing agent retaining portion 600, and the toner is transferred to the developing agent retaining portion 600. This is because can be reliably retained. When the storage container Ta is in the first position and is not overlapped with the discharge port 21a when viewed from above in the vertical direction, the toner discharged from the discharge port 21a of the storage container Ta according to gravity is placed on the inclined surface of the transport pipe 70. It slides off along the line and reaches the developer retaining portion 600 to be retained. The developer retaining portion 600 has a toner receiving portion 600a in order to receive and retain the toner sliding down the inclined surface of the transport pipe 70.

The volume of the developer retaining portion 600 is determined by the shape and size of the toner receiving portion 600a. In the case of the present embodiment, when the storage container Ta is moved to the first position, it is discharged by vibrating or the like, and a sufficient volume is secured to retain the toner that slides down the inclined surface of the transport pipe 70. ing. In this way, when the container Ta is mounted in the first position by the operator, even if the toner is discharged from the storage container Ta, the discharged toner is retained in the developer retaining portion 600 and is stored in the transport pipe 70. It does not reach below the developer retention portion 600. That is, the developer retaining portion 600 retains the toner, so that when the storage container Ta is mounted in the first position by the operator, the toner discharged from the storage container Ta is not allowed to be conveyed to the developing container 101a. The toner retention by the developer retention unit 600 does not affect the output adjustment of the inductance sensor 90a, that is, the toner concentration of the developer filled before shipment from the factory does not change. The supply of toner to is not allowed.

Further, the toner discharged from the storage container Ta due to the toner replenishment based on the detection result of the inductance sensor 90a described above slides down the inclined surface of the transport pipe 70 and reaches the developer retention portion 600, so that the developer stays. The unit 600 can be satisfied. When the developer retaining portion 600 is filled with the retained toner, the developer retaining portion 600 can allow the toner that slides down the inclined surface of the transport pipe 70 to pass through while maintaining the retained toner. As shown in FIG. 17C, when the developer retaining portion 600 is filled with toner, the toner discharged from the storage container Ta and sliding down the inclined surface of the transport pipe 70 is already in the developer retaining portion 600. It passes through the surface layer of the retained toner and is unlikely to be retained in the developer retaining portion 600. Therefore, when the developer retaining portion 600 is filled with the retained toner, the toner discharged from the storage container Ta is conveyed so as to reach the lower side of the developer retaining portion 600 of the transport pipe 70 in the direction of gravity. It is conveyed in the pipe 70 to the developing container 101a. In order to make this possible, in the present embodiment, as described above, the developer retaining portion 600 is viewed from above in the vertical direction in the middle of the inclined surface of the transport pipe 70 arranged in an obliquely inclined state. It is formed so as not to overlap with the discharge port 21a.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the developer retention portion 600 is formed in the transport pipe 70 that connects the developing container 101a to 101d and the receiving device 400. When the accommodating containers Ta to Td from which the regulating member 500 has been removed by the operator are mounted in the first position, the developer retaining portion 600 retains the toner discharged from the accommodating containers Ta to Td according to gravity. The transfer of toner to the developing container 101a to 101d is not allowed. That is, even if the accommodating containers Ta to Td are mounted at the first positions before the operator adjusts the outputs of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d, the toner is not supplied to the developing containers 101a to 101d. Therefore, the toner concentration of the developer in the developing container 101a to 101d is maintained at the toner concentration before shipment from the factory. If this is the case, the operator correctly sets the sensor output values of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d even if the storage containers Ta to Td are first mounted in the first position and then the output of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d is adjusted. be able to. As described above, in the present embodiment, the operator can correctly adjust the output of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d regardless of the mounting timing of the storage containers Ta to Td, which is highly convenient.

<Second embodiment>
Next, the configuration of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 18A to 19. In the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment in which the developer retaining portion 600 is formed on the transport pipe 70, the developer retaining portion 600 is formed in each of the developing devices 100a to 100d (see FIG. 1). Since the developing devices 100a to 100d have a common configuration in each device, the developing devices 100a will be described as an example below. FIG. 18 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the developing apparatus 100a in which the developer retaining portion 600 is formed. FIG. 19A is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the developing device 100a immediately after the storage container Ta is moved to the first position, and FIG. 19B is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the developing device 100a at the time of toner replenishment. ..

As shown in FIG. 18, a developing chamber 103 and a stirring chamber 105 capable of storing the developing agent are formed in the developing container 101a. The inside of the developing container 101a is partitioned by a partition wall 106 so that the developing chamber 103 and the stirring chamber 105 communicate with each other at both ends of the developing container 101a in the longitudinal direction (direction of the rotation axis of the stirring screw 700a) by communication ports. The developing chamber 103 (first chamber) is provided with a developing screw 800a as a transport screw, and the stirring chamber 105 (second chamber) is provided with a stirring screw 700a as a transport screw. These developing screws 800a (first transport screw) and stirring screw 700a (second transport screw) are screws formed by providing spiral blades (fins) around the rotating shaft, respectively, and stir the developer. It can be transported while.

The developer in the developing chamber 103 is moved in the first direction (arrow Y direction in the drawing) while being stirred by the developing screw 800a, and is moved from the developing chamber 103 to the stirring chamber 105 via the communication port 104 downstream in the first direction. Is handed over. On the other hand, the developer in the stirring chamber 105 is moved in the second direction (arrow X direction in the figure) opposite to the first direction while being stirred by the stirring screw 700a, and has a communication port (not shown) downstream in the second direction. It is delivered from the stirring chamber 105 to the developing chamber 103 via the stirring chamber 105. In this way, the developing agent is circulated and conveyed in the developing container 101a (inside the developing container) while being stirred by the developing screw 800a and the stirring screw 700a. The inductance sensor 90a (see FIG. 1) is arranged in the stirring chamber 105 in the developing agent circulation path on the downstream side in the second direction from the center in the longitudinal direction of the stirring screw 700a.

In this embodiment, the developer retention portion 600 is formed in the developing apparatus 100a. As shown in FIG. 18, the developer retaining portion 600 partially overlaps the receiving port 111a of the developing container 101a to which the transport pipe 70 (see FIG. 19A) is connected when viewed from above in the vertical direction. It is formed like this. The receiving port 111a of the developing container 101a is on the upstream side in the second direction (arrow X direction in the drawing) in the stirring chamber 105, and the developing agent is circulated and conveyed in the developing container 101a by the developing screw 800a and the stirring screw 700a. It is formed at a position deviating from the circulation path of. Specifically, the receiving port 111a is formed on the upstream side in the second direction from the communication port 104. The developer retaining portion 600 is also formed in the stirring chamber 105 of the developing container 101a at a position deviated from the developing agent circulation path. As shown in FIG. 18, the stirring screw 700a is provided so that a part of the stirring screw 700a overlaps the receiving port 111a and the developer retaining portion 600 when viewed from above in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 19A, the volume of the developer retention portion 600 is discharged when the storage container Ta (see FIG. 1) is moved to the first position, and is discharged through the transport pipe 70 to the stirring chamber of the developing container 101a. A sufficient volume is secured to retain the toner supplied to the 105. Specifically, the developer retaining portion 600 is outside the transport region V (inside the broken line circle in the figure) where the stir screw 700a can transport the developer (outside the transportable region) when viewed from the direction of the rotation axis of the stirring screw 700a. Is formed in. In that case, the developer retaining portion 600 is preferably formed in a range from the lower side of the stirring screw 700a in the vertical direction to a position substantially horizontal to the center of rotation. Further, the developer retaining portion 600 is formed so that the distance from the inner wall surface of the developing container 101a to the rotation center of the stirring screw 700a is larger than the distance from the partition wall 106 to the rotation center of the stirring screw 700a. preferable.

By doing so, when the storage container Ta is mounted in the first position by the operator, even if the toner is discharged from the storage container Ta, the discharged toner is retained in the developer retaining portion 600 and stirred. The screw 700a does not convey the developer to the circulation path. In other words, the developer retention unit 600 retains the toner so that the toner discharged from the storage container Ta when the storage container Ta is mounted in the first position by the operator can be used in the developing container 101a. Do not allow transport to the circulation path. By retaining the toner in the developer retaining portion 600 formed in the developing apparatus 100a in this way, it is difficult for the toner discharged from the storage container Ta to be mixed with the existing developer filled in the developing container 101a before shipment from the factory. Become. Therefore, since the toner concentration of the developer filled before shipment from the factory does not change, it does not affect the output adjustment of the inductance sensor 90a.

Further, the toner discharged from the storage container Ta due to the toner replenishment based on the detection result of the inductance sensor 90a described above can fill the developing agent retention portion 600 by being supplied from the transport pipe 70 to the developing container 101a. When the developer retaining portion 600 is filled with the retained toner, the developer retaining portion 600 maintains the retained toner and the toner supplied from the transport pipe 70 is agitated by the stirring screw 700a to circulate the developer. Can be transported to. That is, as shown in FIG. 19B, when the developer retaining portion 600 is filled with toner, the toner discharged from the container Ta is not retained in the developer retaining portion 600, and the stirring screw 700a is used. Is mixed with the developer in the developing container 101a.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the developer retaining portion 600 is formed in the developing containers 101a to 101d. The developer retention unit 600 retains the toner discharged from the storage containers Ta to Td when the storage containers Ta to Td from which the regulating member 500 has been removed are mounted in the first position, and the developing container 101a to 101d Does not allow the transfer of toner to the transfer path of the developer inside. That is, even if the accommodating containers Ta to Td are mounted at the first positions before the operator adjusts the outputs of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d, the toner is not mixed with the developing agent in the developing containers 101a to 101d. Therefore, the toner concentration of the developer in the developing container 101a to 101d is maintained at the toner concentration before shipment from the factory. Therefore, the operator can correctly set the sensor output values of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d even if the storage containers Ta to Td are first mounted in the first position and then the output of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d is adjusted. .. As described above, also in the present embodiment, the same effect as the above-described first embodiment that the operator can adjust the output of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d regardless of the mounting timing of the storage containers Ta to Td. Is obtained.

[Another Embodiment of Regulatory Member]
Next, another embodiment of the regulation member will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 (a) to 23 (c). In the case of the above-mentioned restricting member 500, the position of the accommodating container Ta is restricted to the second position by attaching the restricting member 500 to the handle portion 25 of the accommodating container Ta. On the other hand, in the case of the regulation member 500A which is another embodiment, the regulation member 500A is attached to the flange portion 28 of the storage container Ta so that the position of the storage container Ta is regulated to the second position. .. Since other configurations and operations are the same as in the case of the above-mentioned regulating member 500, the same configurations will be described with the same reference numerals and the description and illustration will be omitted or simplified, and the different parts will be mainly described below. ..

FIG. 20A is a perspective view showing a state in which the regulation member 500A is mounted on the storage container Ta when the container is packaged and transferred. FIG. 20B is a perspective view showing a state in which the regulation member 500A is removed from the storage container Ta. As a general rule, the regulation member 500A is attached to the flange portion (cover member) 28 provided on the discharge side of the storage containers Ta to Td of each color, and the regulation member 500A is attached to the flange portion 28 and the abutting portion 402a (FIG. 21 described later). (Refer to (b)), it is mounted and bundled in a state of being sandwiched between it and transferred. The flange portion 28 has substantially the same configuration as the flange portion 21 described in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, the flange portion 28 and the regulating member 500A have a locking hole 28b provided in the flange portion 28 and a locking claw as an engaging portion provided in the regulating member 500A. Positioned by engaging the 512 with each other.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 23 (a) to 23 (c), the locking claw 512 bends in the process of locking the regulating member 500A to the flange portion 28, and when pushed all the way in, the locking claw 512 bends. Is returned to the original position, and the regulating member 500 is fixed to the flange portion 28.

With reference to FIGS. 21 (a) and 21 (b), the positional relationship between the toner storage container Ta and related parts when the toner is mounted and packaged and transferred will be described in detail. FIG. 21A is a cross-sectional view of the discharge side in a state where the regulation member 500A is attached to the storage container Ta. FIG. 21B is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the storage container Ta and the shutter 4 on the container lower holding guide 402 of the receiving device when the regulation member 500A is attached to the storage container Ta.

When the regulating member 500A is attached to the flange portion 28 as shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B, the regulating member 500A abuts against the abutting portion 402a and is held so that the storage container Ta does not go deeper than a certain amount. .. That is, the storage container Ta is mounted at the second position of the receiving device.

In this state, the container pull-in lever 403 is located between FIGS. 7 (c) to 7 (d) described above, and a force in the direction of being attached to the apparatus main body acts on the storage container Ta. Therefore, the container pulling lever 403 fixes the storage container Ta in a state of being restricted to the abutting portion 402a via the regulating member 500A mounted on the flange portion 28. That is, the storage container Ta is mounted at the first position of the receiving device.

Further, as shown in FIG. 21B, at the positions of the discharge port 21a of the flange portion 28 of the storage container Ta and the opening 4a of the shutter 4, toner is discharged from the storage container Ta because the discharge port 21a and the opening 4a do not communicate with each other. It does not discharge.

When the regulating member 500A is provided at the tip of the storage container Ta in the insertion direction as in the present embodiment, the force of the container pull-in lever 403 is not applied to the force of extending the storage container Ta. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the storage container Ta from being deformed by being left for a long period of time. Further, since the positions of the discharge port 21a of the flange portion 28 and the opening 4a of the shutter 4 are not affected by the total length of the storage container Ta, high accuracy can be guaranteed.

FIG. 22 is a side view showing the positional relationship between the front door 230 and the storage container Ta when the regulation member 500A is attached. As shown in FIG. 22, a space is provided so that the front door 230 can be closed even when the regulation member 500A is attached to the storage container Ta, as in the first embodiment.

In the above configuration, when the apparatus main body is transferred, the restricting member 500A is attached to the receiving device of the apparatus main body in a state of being attached to the flange portion 28 of the accommodating container Ta, so that the toner does not leak from the accommodating container Ta. It can be bundled.

On the other hand, when moving the storage container Ta to the first position for toner supply, the storage container Ta is taken out from the receiving device, and the locking claw 512 of the regulation member 500A is lightly squeezed to move the storage container 500A to the storage container. It can be easily removed from Ta. Then, by mounting the storage container Ta from which the regulating member 500A has been removed on the receiving device again, the storage container Ta can be mounted at the first position. Further, even after the operation of the main body, if the storage container Ta is taken out from the receiving device, the restricting member 500A is mounted on the storage container Ta again, and then the storage container Ta is mounted on the receiving device, the container can be returned to the state in which it can be transported together with the container. Can be done.

Even when such a regulating member 500A is used, the present invention can be adopted. That is, as shown in the first and second embodiments described above, the developer retaining portion 600 is formed in the transport pipe 70 or the developing container 101a to 101d. In this case, as described above, even if the operator first mounts the storage containers Ta to Td in the first position and then adjusts the outputs of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d, the sensor output values of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d can be adjusted. It can be set correctly. That is, the operator can correctly adjust the output of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d regardless of the mounting timing of the storage containers Ta to Td.

[Another Embodiment of Regulatory Member]
Next, yet another embodiment of the regulatory member will be described with reference to FIG. 24. In the case of the above-mentioned regulation member 500A, the regulation member 500A is fixed to the flange portion 28 by engaging the locking hole 28b of the flange portion 28 with the locking claw 512 provided on the regulation member 500A. On the other hand, in the case of the regulating member 500B of still another embodiment, as a method of fixing the regulating member 500B, an adhesive tape (seal) 510 that can be attached and detached without using a locking claw is used. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the above-described regulatory member 500A (see FIGS. 20A to 23C).

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B, an adhesive tape 510 is used to fix the regulation member 500B to the flange portion 28. As shown in FIG. 24 (c), the flange portion 28 is formed with a positioning protrusion 28a, and the regulating member 500B is formed with a hole portion 511 and a hook portion 513, respectively. When the regulating member 500B is attached to the flange portion 28, the flange portion 28 is regulated by inserting the positioning protrusion 28a into the hole portion 511 while hooking the hooking portion 513 to the hooked portion 28c of the flange portion 28. Position the member 500B. Then, in this state, the adhesive tape 510 is wound around the regulating member 500B and the flange portion 28 as shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B, and the regulating member 500B is fixed to the flange portion 28.

The storage container Ta is attached to the receiving device of the apparatus main body in a state where the regulating member 500B is fixed to the flange portion 28 by the adhesive tape 510. Then, when replenishing the toner, the restricting member 500B is removed from the flange portion 28 by peeling off the adhesive tape 510 from the storage container Ta. Then, after removing the regulation member 500B, the storage container Ta is reattached to the receiving device.

In the above configuration, when the image forming apparatus is transferred, the regulating member 500B is attached to the receiving device of the apparatus main body in a state of being attached to the flange portion 28 of the accommodating container Ta, so that toner does not leak from the accommodating container Ta. It can be installed and bundled.

Even when such a regulating member 500B is used, the present invention can be adopted. That is, as shown in the first and second embodiments described above, the developer retaining portion 600 is formed in the transport pipe 70 or the developing container 101a to 101d. In this case, as described above, even if the operator first mounts the storage containers Ta to Td in the first position and then adjusts the outputs of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d, the sensor output values of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d can be adjusted. It can be set correctly. That is, the operator can correctly adjust the output of the inductance sensors 90a to 90d regardless of the mounting timing of the storage containers Ta to Td.

1a (1b to 1d) ... Image carrier (photosensitive drum), 4 ... Shutter, 21a ... Discharge port, 70 ... Conveying pipe, 90a (90b to 90d) ... Detection means (inductivity sensor), 100a (100b to 100d) ... Developer, 101a (101b-101d) ... Development container, 102a (102b-102d) ... Developer carrier (development sleeve), 103 ... First chamber (development chamber), 105 ... Second chamber (stirring chamber), 106 ... partition, 111a ... inlet, 400 ... receiving device, 410 ... retracting part (container drawing device), 500 (500A, 500B) ... regulating member, 510 ... seal (adhesive tape), 512 ... engaging part (locking) Claw), 600 ... Developer retention part, 700a (700b to 700c) ... Conveying screw (second transport screw, stirring screw), 800a ... Conveying screw (first transport screw, developing screw), Ta (Tb to Td) ... Storage container

Claims (12)

An image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and
It has a developing container containing a developer containing toner and a carrier, and a plurality of transport screws for circulating and transporting the developer in the developing container, and the electrostatic latent image of the image carrier is tonered with toner. A developing device that develops images and
A detection means for detecting the toner concentration of the developer in the developing container, and
A rotatable storage container containing toner to be replenished in the developing container, and
A receiving device that receives the storage container inserted along the rotation axis of the storage container so that toner can be discharged when the storage container is in the first position.
The first position in the insertion direction in which the storage container is detachably arranged between the storage container and a part of the receiving device, attached to the storage container when the image forming apparatus is transferred, and the storage container is inserted in the mounted state. A regulating member that regulates the movement of the storage container from the second position on the upstream side to the first position where toner is not discharged from the storage container.
One end is connected to the receiving device and the other end is connected to the developing container to form a transport pipe for forming a transport path for toner discharged from the storage container.
When the restricting member is removed and the container is moved to the first position, the transfer pipe is discharged from the container according to gravity so as not to allow the toner to be transferred to the developing container. A developer retention portion is formed to retain the toner.
An image forming apparatus characterized in that. The storage container is formed with a discharge port for discharging toner, and has a shutter that can open and close the discharge port.
The shutter is in a position of closing the discharge port at the second position.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The transport pipe is arranged so as to be inclined downward in the direction of gravity from the receiving device toward the developing container.
The developer retaining portion is formed at a position that does not overlap with the discharge port when viewed from above in the vertical direction when the storage container is in the first position.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. An image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and
It has a developing container containing a developer containing toner and a carrier, and a plurality of transport screws for circulating and transporting the developer in the developing container, and the electrostatic latent image of the image carrier is tonered with toner. A developing device that develops images and
A detection means for detecting the toner concentration of the developer in the developing container, and
A rotatable storage container containing toner to be replenished in the developing container, and
A receiving device that receives the storage container inserted along the rotation axis of the storage container so that toner can be discharged when the storage container is in the first position.
The first position in the insertion direction in which the storage container is detachably arranged between the storage container and a part of the receiving device, attached to the storage container when the image forming apparatus is transferred, and the storage container is inserted in the mounted state. A regulating member that regulates the movement of the storage container from the second position on the upstream side to the first position where toner is not discharged from the storage container.
One end is connected to the receiving device and the other end is connected to the developing container to form a transport pipe for forming a transport path for toner discharged from the storage container.
When the regulating member is removed and the storage container is moved to the first position, the developing container allows toner to be transported to the circulation path of the developing agent which is circulated and transported by the plurality of transport screws. A developer retaining portion for retaining the toner discharged from the container according to gravity is formed so as not to prevent the toner.
An image forming apparatus characterized in that. The storage container is formed with a discharge port for discharging toner, and has a shutter that can open and close the discharge port.
The shutter is in a position of closing the discharge port at the second position.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4. The developing container is formed with a receiving port to which the transport pipe is connected to receive the toner discharged from the container.
A position where the receiving port and the developing agent retaining portion are partially overlapped when viewed from above in the vertical direction, and are separated from the circulation path of the developing agent which is circulated and conveyed in the developing container by the plurality of conveying screws. Is formed in
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 or 5. The developing apparatus includes a developing agent carrier that carries and rotates a developing agent.
The developing container has a partition wall that separates a first chamber for supplying the developing agent to the developing agent carrier and a second chamber that forms a circulation path for the developing agent in the first chamber.
The plurality of transport screws include a first transport screw that transports the developer in the first direction in the first chamber and a second transport screw that conveys the developer in the second direction opposite to the first direction in the second chamber. With a transport screw
The receiving port and the developing agent retaining portion are formed on the upstream side in the second direction in the second chamber.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6. The developer retaining portion is formed so as to store the developer outside the transportable region of the developer by the second transport screw when viewed from the direction of the rotation axis of the second transport screw.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 7. The receiving device has a pull-in portion that engages with a part of the containing container during the insertion operation of the containing container into the receiving device and pulls the containing container into the first position.
The regulating member regulates the position of the storage container at the second position regardless of the force for pulling the storage container by the pull-in portion.
The pull-in portion pulls the storage container into the first position when the regulation by the regulating member is released at the second position.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The regulating member is attached to the upstream end of the storage container in the insertion direction.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9. The regulatory member has an engaging portion that engages with the containment container.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10. The regulating member is fixed to the storage container by a seal.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

Images