JP4108534B2

JP4108534B2 - Developer storage container and image forming apparatus

Info

Publication number: JP4108534B2
Application number: JP2003146377A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 均長濱; 正信出口; 和弥小山; 重貴林
Original assignee: Sharp Corp
Current assignee: Sharp Corp
Priority date: 2003-05-23
Filing date: 2003-05-23
Publication date: 2008-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 2023-05-23
Also published as: JP2004347961A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、電子写真方式の画像形成に用いられるトナーを収納するトナー収納容器、および前記トナー収納容器が着脱可能に装着される画像形成装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
図３３は、第１の従来技術である現像剤供給容器１を示す斜視図である。現像剤供給容器１は、両端が閉じた円筒状に形成され、トナーを収納する収納空間が設けられる。現像剤供給容器１には、半径方向内方に突出して、軸線方向一端部２から軸線方向中央部３に向かって軸線Ｌ１を中心として螺旋状に延びる第１突起片４と、半径方向内方に突出して、軸線方向他端部５から軸線方向中央部３に向かって軸線Ｌ１を中心として螺旋状に延びる第２突起片６とが設けられる。現像剤供給容器１の軸線方向中央部３には、半径方向に貫通し、収納空間と現像剤供給容器１の外空間とを連通する貫通孔７が形成される。
【０００３】
現像剤供給容器１は、図示しない画像形成装置本体に、軸線Ｌ１が水平方向に平行となるようにして、軸線方向中央部３が、上方に開口するようにして画像形成装置本体に設けられるトナー供給口に臨むようにして、画像形成装置本体に連結する。この状態で、画像形成装置本体に設けられる駆動部からの駆動力によって、現像剤供給容器１を軸線Ｌ１まわりに回転させる。これによって現像剤供給容器１の収納空間に収納されるトナーは、各突起片４，６によって軸線方向中央部３に送られて、貫通孔７がトナー供給口に臨む位置に配置されると、トナーは、貫通孔７を介してトナー供給口に供給される（たとえば特許文献１参照）。
【０００４】
図３４は、第２の従来技術であるトナーカートリッジ１０を示す斜視図である。トナーカートリッジ１０は、両端が閉じた円筒状に形成され、トナーを収納する収納空間が設けられる。トナーカートリッジ１０の軸線方向中央部１１には、軸線方向に延びて半径方向に貫通し、収納空間とトナーカートリッジ１０の外空間とを連通する貫通孔１２が形成される。
【０００５】
トナーカートリッジ１０は、図示しない画像形成装置本体に、軸線Ｌ１０が水平方向に平行となるようにして、軸線方向中央部が、上方に開口するようにして画像形成装置本体に設けられるトナー供給口に臨むようにして、画像形成装置本体に連結する。この状態で、画像形成装置本体に設けられる駆動部からの駆動力によって、トナーカートリッジ１０を軸線Ｌ１０まわりに回転させる。これによってトナーカートリッジ１０の収納空間に収納されるトナーは、貫通孔１２がトナー供給口に臨む位置に配置されると、トナーは、貫通孔１２を介してトナー供給口に供給される（たとえば特許文献２参照）。
【０００６】
【特許文献１】
特開平８−３３９１１５号公報
【特許文献２】
特開平６−３４８１２７号公報
【０００７】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
前述の第１の従来技術の現像剤供給容器１において、軸線Ｌ１まわりに回転する現像剤供給容器１と画像形成装置本体との間に、現像剤供給容器１から排出されたトナーが漏れ出さないようにするためのシール手段に関しては、開示も示唆もされていない。
【０００８】
また前述の第２の従来技術のトナーカートリッジ１０において、軸線Ｌ１０まわりに回転するトナーカートリッジ１０と画像形成装置本体との間に、トナーカートリッジ１０から排出されたトナーが漏れ出さないようにするためのシール手段に関しては、開示も示唆もされていない。
【０００９】
したがって本発明の目的は、容器本体から排出された現像剤が不所望な箇所に漏れ出ることを可及的に防止できる現像剤収納容器、および前記現像剤収納容器を着脱可能にして搭載する画像形成装置を提供することである。
【００１０】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明は、画像形成装置に着脱自在に搭載される現像剤収納容器であって、
画像形成に用いられる現像剤が収納される筒状に形成され、現像剤を排出するための排出孔が設けられ、軸線まわりに回転することによって収納される現像剤を排出孔に向けて搬送する容器本体と、
少なくとも排出孔を含む部分を、半径方向外方から全周にわたって覆って、容器本体を軸線まわりに回転自在に支持し、軸線方向の少なくとも一端部において半径方向内方に突出し周方向に全周にわたって延びる支持側突起部が設けられる支持部材と、
容器本体に巻回され、支持部材の支持側突起部に軸線方向から全周にわたって弾発的に当接する当接部が設けられるシール手段であって、シール手段の外周部と支持部材の内周部との間に進入した現像剤を排出孔側に掻出す掻出部が設けられるシール手段とを含むことを特徴とする現像剤収納容器である。
【００１１】
本発明に従えば、シール手段は、容器本体に巻回され、支持部材の支持側突起部に軸線方向から全周にわたって弾発的に当接する当接部が設けられるので、容器本体の外周部と支持部材の外周部との間のシールが達成される。またシール手段には、シール手段の外周部と支持部材の内周部との間に進入した現像剤を排出孔側に掻出す掻出部が設けられるので、シール手段の外周部と支持部材の内周部との間に進入した現像剤を排出孔に導くことができる。これによって容器本体の外周部と支持部材の外周部との間のほぼ完全なるシールを達成することができる。容器本体の外周部と支持部材の内周部との間のシールを達成するために、たとえば容器本体に巻回されるシール手段の外周部を全周にわたって支持部材の内周部に弾発的に当接させると、半径方向に働く弾発力によって容器本体が支持部材に対して回転することを妨げる摩擦力が大きくなる。本発明では、このようにシール手段の外周部を全周にわたって支持部材の内周部に弾発的に当接させずに、シール手段の当接部を、支持部材の支持側突起部に軸線方向から全周にわたって弾発的に当接することによって、前述のような摩擦力を低減することができる。さらにシール手段には、シール手段の外周部と支持部材の内周部との間に進入した現像剤を排出孔側に掻出す掻出部が設けられるので、現像剤はシール手段の当接部に到達することなく、排出孔側へと導かれ、シールが確実となる。したがって容器本体の回転を妨げる摩擦力の低減と、シールとを同時に達成することができる。
【００１２】
また本発明は、シール手段の掻出部は、複数個の掻出片を有し、各掻出片は、軸線方向の全領域で支持部材の内周部に弾発的に当接し、周方向に間隔をあけて、半径方向外方に突出し、排出孔に近接するにつれて突出量が大きくなるように形成されることを特徴とする。
【００１３】
本発明に従えば、シール手段の掻出部は、複数個の掻出片を有し、各掻出片は、軸線方向の全領域で支持部材の内周部に当接し、周方向に間隔をあけて、半径方向外方に突出し、排出孔に近接するにつれて突出量が大きくなるように形成される。シール手段が容器本体とともに軸線まわりに回転すると、各掻出片の排出孔に近接する部分が、掻出片の排出孔から離反する部分よりも、容器本体の回転方向上流側に配置されるように弾性的に変形して、支持部材の内周部に弾発的に当接しながら摺動する。これによってシール手段の外周部と支持部材の内周部との間に進入した現像剤を、排出孔に向けて掻出すことができる。
【００１４】
また本発明は、シール手段の掻出部は、複数個の掻出片を有し、各掻出片は、軸線方向の全領域で支持部材の内周部に弾発的に当接し、周方向に間隔をあけて、半径方向外方に突出し、排出孔に近接するにつれて容器本体の回転方向上流側に向かって傾斜して複数個形成されることを特徴とする。
【００１５】
本発明に従えば、シール手段の掻出部は、複数個の掻出片を有し、各掻出片は、軸線方向の全領域で支持部材の内周部に弾発的に当接し、周方向に間隔をあけて、半径方向外方に突出し、排出孔に近接するにつれて容器本体の回転方向上流側に向かって傾斜して複数個形成される。シール手段が容器本体とともに軸線まわりに回転すると、各掻出片の排出孔に近接する部分が、掻出片の排出孔から離反する部分よりも、容器本体の回転方向上流側に配置されて、支持部材の内周部に弾発的に当接しながら摺動する。これによってシール手段の外周部と支持部材の内周部との間に進入した現像剤を、排出孔に向けて掻出すことができる。
【００１６】
また本発明は、前述の現像剤収納容器が着脱可能に搭載されることを特徴とする画像形成装置である。
【００１７】
本発明に従えば、画像形成装置は、前述の作用を達成する現像剤収納容器を着脱可能に搭載することができる。
【００１８】
【発明の実施の形態】
図１は、本発明の実施の一形態の現像剤収納容器３０を示す斜視図である。図２は、現像剤収納容器３０を示す正面図である。図３は、現像剤収納容器３０を示す左側面図である。現像剤収納容器３０は、容器本体３１および支持部材３２を含んで構成される。容器本体３１は、略円筒状に形成され、電子写真方式の画像形成に用いる着色トナーなどの現像剤が収納される。支持部材３２は、容器本体３１を、その軸線Ｌ３１まわりに回転自在にして支持する。現像剤収納容器３０は、たとえば１４００グラムの現像剤を収納可能である。以後、容器本体３１の軸線Ｌ３１を、回転軸線Ｌ３１と表記することがある。
【００１９】
図４は、容器本体３１を示す正面図である。図５は、容器本体３１を示す左側面図である。図６は、容器本体３１を示す右側面図である。容器本体３１は、第１容器部３３、第２容器部３４および第３容器部３５を含んで構成される。容器本体３１の軸線Ｌ３１方向の長さ寸法Ａ３１は、任意に設定可能であり、たとえば４５８ミリメートルであってもよい。
【００２０】
第１容器部３３は、有底円筒状に形成される。第１容器部３３の軸線方向の長さ寸法Ａ３３は、任意に設定可能であり、たとえば１６０ミリメートルであってもよい。第１容器部３３の内周部には、軸線Ｌ３１まわりに回転駆動されるときに、現像剤を軸線方向に送る送り手段が設けられる。前記送り手段は、図４に示すように、周方向に交差する第１延在方向に延び、半径方向内方に突出する複数の送り部である第１突起片３６を有する。各第１突起片３６は、周方向および軸線方向に間隔をあけて形成される。各第１突起片３６は、詳細に述べると、回転方向下流側端部が、回転方向上流側端部よりも底部３３ａ側に配置されるように傾斜して円弧状に延びて形成される。
【００２１】
第１容器部３３の底部３３ａには、図４および図５に示すように、開口端部３３ｂから底部３３ａに向かう方向に突出する連結部である嵌合凸部３７および補給口部４５が形成される。嵌合凸部３７は、複数、本実施の形態では、２個形成される。補給口部４５は、第１容器部３３の底部３３ａの中央部に、回転軸線Ｌ３１方向に貫通し、第１容器部３３の軸線Ｌ３３と同軸の円形状に開口するように形成される。補給口部４５には、その形状に対応して形成され、補給口部４５に着脱可能な補給蓋４６が、補給口部４５との間のシールを達成した状態で、容器本体３１の回転によって離脱しないようにして装着される。補給蓋４６を補給口部４５から離脱させることで、容器本体３１の内空間と外空間とが連通し、この状態で、現像剤を容器本体３１に補給することができる。
【００２２】
嵌合凸部３７は、詳細に述べると、補給口部４５よりも半径方向外方に、互いに第１容器部３３の軸線Ｌ３３に関して大略的に対称な位置に配置される。嵌合凸部３７は、さらに詳細に述べると、図５に示すように、第１容器部３３の底部３３ａから見て回転軸線Ｌ３１を中心とする時計回りの回転方向である回転方向Ｒ上流側部分３７ａは、周方向に垂直に延びる平面を有するように形成される。また嵌合凸部３７の回転方向Ｒ下流側部分は、回転方向Ｒ下流側に向かうにつれて軸線方向他端部側に傾斜するように形成される。嵌合凸部３７の底部３３ａの残余の部分からの軸線Ｌ３３方向への突出量Ａ３７は、任意に設定可能であり、たとえば８ミリメートルであってもよい。このような嵌合凸部３７は、後述する画像形成装置７０に設けられる本体側連結部８３（図３２参照）に着脱可能である。
【００２３】
また第１容器部３３の底部３３ａにおいて外周面と端面とが連通する面３３ｃは、図４に示すように、開口端部３３ｂから底部３３ａに向かうにつれて半径方向内方に傾斜するような曲面状に形成される。
【００２４】
第２容器部３４は、有底円筒状に形成される。第２容器部３４の軸線方向の長さ寸法Ａ３４は、任意に設定可能であり、たとえば２１０ミリメートルであってもよい。第２容器部３４の内周部には、軸線Ｌ３１まわりに回転駆動されるときに、現像剤を軸線方向に送る送り手段が設けられる。前記送り手段は、図４に示すように、周方向に交差する前記第１延在方向とは異なる第２延在方向に延び、半径方向内方に突出する複数の送り部である第２突起片３９を有する。各第２突起片３９は、周方向および軸線方向に間隔をあけて形成される。各第２突起片３９は、詳細に述べると、回転方向下流側端部が、回転方向上流側端部よりも底部３４ａ側に配置されるように傾斜して円弧状に延びて形成される。
【００２５】
第２容器部３４の軸線方向の長さ寸法Ａ３４は、第１容器部３３の軸線方向の長さ寸法Ａ３３よりも長く、たとえば３０ミリメートル以上長く設定される。前述したように、第１容器部３３の軸線方向の長さ寸法Ａ３３は、任意に設定可能であり、たとえば１５０ミリメートルであってもよく、第２容器部３４の軸線方向の長さ寸法Ａ３４は、任意に設定可能であり、たとえば２１５ミリメートルであってもよい。また第１容器部３３の第１突起片３６を除く内周部の内径Ｄ３３、および第２容器部３３の第２突起片３９を除く内周部の内径Ｄ３４は、任意に設定可能であり、たとえば１０５ミリメートルであってもよい。軸線方向に隣接する一対の第１突起片３６および第２突起片３９の間隔Ａ１は、任意に設定可能であり、たとえば１５ミリメートルであってもよい。
【００２６】
第１突起片３６の第１延在方向の長さ寸法Ａ３６および第２突起片３９の第２延在方向の長さ寸法Ａ３９は、第１容器部３３の内周長および第２容器部３４の内周長の１６分の１以上８分の３以下程度であることが望ましい。第１突起片３６の第１延在方向の長さ寸法Ａ３６および第２突起片３９の第２延在方向の長さ寸法Ａ３９が、第１容器部３３の内周長および第２容器部３４の内周長の１６分の１よりも短いと、現像剤の送り能力が小さくなる。また第１突起片３６の第１延在方向の長さ寸法Ａ３６および第２突起片３９の第２延在方向の長さ寸法Ａ３９が、第１容器部３３の内周長および第２容器部３４の内周長の８分の３よりも長くなると、容器本体３１の強度が低下して好ましくない。また第１突起片３６および第２突起片３９の送り能力が高すぎると、排出孔の近傍で現像剤の凝集が生じる可能性があり好ましくない。本実施の形態では、第１突起片３６の第１延在方向の長さ寸法Ａ３６および第２突起片３９の第２延在方向の長さ寸法Ａ３９は、任意に設定可能であり、たとえば６０ミリメートルであってもよい。また周方向に隣り合う２つの第１突起片３６の間隔および周方向に隣り合う２つの第２突起片３９の間隔は、任意に設定可能であり、たとえば５０ミリメートルであってもよい。
【００２７】
また第１突起片３６および第２突起片３９の第１容器部３３および第２容器部３４の内周部の残余の部分からの半径方向内方への突出量Ａ２は、１ミリメートル以上１０ミリメートル以下程度が望ましい。前記突出量Ａ２を１０ミリメートルよりも大きくすることによって、第１突起片３６および第２突起片３９の現像剤の送り能力は高くなるが、送り能力が高すぎると、排出孔の近傍において現像剤が凝集する可能性があり好ましくない。また前記突出量Ａ２を１０ミリメートルよりも大きくすると、ブロー成型によって第１突起片３６および第２突起片３９を設けることが困難になるという問題も生じる。逆に前記突出量Ａ２が１ミリメートル未満となると、現像剤の送り能力が小さくなり、排出孔への必要充分な量の現像剤を送ることができなくなる。本実施の形態おいて、第１突起片３６および第２突起片３９の内周部の残余の部分からの半径方向内方への突出量Ａ２は、たとえば６ミリメートルであってもよい。また第１突起片３６および第２突起片３９の数は多い方が送り能力は大きくなり、本実施の形態では、第１突起片３６は２６個、第２突起片３９は３８個設けられてもよい。
【００２８】
また第１突起片３６および第２突起片３９の接線と、第１容器部３３および第２容器部３４の周方向の接線との成す角度αは、２度以上４５度以下、さらに好ましくは５度以上３０度以下が望ましい。本実施の形態において、前記角度αは、たとえば約９度であってもよい。容器本体３１の現像剤の送り能力は、前述のような第１突起片３６および第２突起片３９の幾何学的条件によって決定され、容器本体３１に現像剤が満杯の状態から現像剤が完全に無くなる直前の状態まで、排出孔４３から常に適量を排出できるように決定される。
【００２９】
第２容器部３４の底部３４ａにおいて、すくなくとも外周面と端面とが連通する面は、開口端部３４ｂから底部３４ａに向かうにつれて半径方向内方に傾斜するような曲面状に形成される。詳細に述べると、第２容器部３４の底部３４ａの端面３４ｃは、その中心部が開口端部３４ｂから底部３４ａに向かう方向に突出するような部分球面状に形成される。第２容器部３４の開口端部３４ｂの端面から底部３４ａ寄りに間隔をあけた位置における外周部には、半径方向外方に突出して案内突起片４０が、周方向に間隔をあけて複数個、本実施の形態では２個設けられる。案内突起片４０の軸線方向の寸法は、任意に設定可能であり、たとえば２．５ミリメートルであってもよい。
【００３０】
図７は、第３容器部３５を示す斜視図である。図８は、第３容器部３５付近を拡大して示す正面図である。図９（１）は、図８の切断面線Ｓ９１−Ｓ９１から見た断面図であり、図９（２）は、図４の切断面線Ｓ９２−Ｓ９２から見た断面図である。図４も併せて参照する。第３容器部３５は、大略的に円筒状に形成される。第３容器部３５は、詳細に述べると、その外周部の軸線方向中間部には、半径方向内方に陥没する凹部である第１凹部４１および第２凹部４２が設けられるとともに、第１凹部４１に形成され、現像剤を排出するための排出孔４３が設けられる。第３容器部３５の軸線方向の長さ寸法Ａ３５は、たとえば８０ミリメートルであってもよい。第１凹部４１および第２凹部４２を除く第３容器部３５の内径Ｄ３５は、残余の部分である第１容器部３３および第２容器部３４の内径Ｄ３３，Ｄ３４よりも大きく形成される。第１凹部４１および第２凹部４２を除く第３容器部３５の内径Ｄ３５は、任意に設定可能であり、たとえば１１０ミリメートルであってもよい。
【００３１】
第１凹部４１は、回転方向Ｒに延びて形成されるとともに、回転方向Ｒの寸法Ａ４１に比べて軸線方向の寸法Ｗ４１が小さく形成され、回転方向Ｒ下流側の端部に回転方向Ｒと交差する端壁部４１ａを有する。排出孔４３は、第１凹部４１の回転方向下流側の端壁部４１ａの一部に形成される。第２凹部４２は、回転方向Ｒに延びて形成されるとともに、回転方向Ｒの寸法Ａ４２に比べて軸線方向の寸法Ｗ４２が小さく形成され、第１凹部４１から第３容器部３５の周方向に間隔をあけて設けられる。第１凹部４１の回転方向Ｒの寸法Ａ４１は、第１凹部４１および第２凹部４２を除く第３容器部３５の外周長の４分の１以上、２分の１未満であることが望ましい。第１凹部４１の回転方向Ｒの寸法Ａ４１は、たとえば１２０ミリメートルであってもよく、軸線方向の寸法Ｗ４１は、たとえば３０ミリメートルであってもよい。また第２凹部４３の回転方向Ｒの寸法Ａ４２は、任意に設定可能であり、たとえば３０ミリメートルであってもよく、軸線方向の寸法Ｗ４２は、任意に設定可能であり、たとえば１２０ミリメートルであってもよい。
【００３２】
第１凹部４１は、詳細に述べると、底壁部４１ｂ、第１側壁部４１ｃおよび第２側壁部４１ｄをさらに有する。第１凹部４１の底壁部４１ｂは、回転方向Ｒに延び、その回転方向Ｒ下流側端部が端壁部４１ａの半径方向内方部分に連通し、回転方向Ｒ上流側端部が、第１凹部４１と第２凹部４２との間であって第１凹部４１および第２凹部４２を除く第３容器部３５の外周部に滑らかに連通する。第１凹部４１の底壁部４１ｂの回転方向Ｒ下流側端部と回転方向Ｒ上流側端部との間の回転方向Ｒ中央部は、第１凹部４１および第２凹部４２を除く第３容器部３５よりも半径方向内方に配置され、大略的に第３容器部３５の軸線Ｌ３５を軸線とする部分円筒形状に形成される。第１凹部４１の底壁部４１ｂの回転方向Ｒ中央部の外周部の曲率半径は、任意に設定可能であり、たとえば４９ミリメートルであってもよい。
【００３３】
第１凹部４１の第１側壁部４１ｃは、第１凹部４１の軸線方向一端部側に配置され、回転方向Ｒに延び、その回転方向Ｒ下流側端部が端壁部４１ａの軸線方向一端部に連通し、その半径方向内方部分が底壁部４１ｂの軸線方向一端部に連通し、その半径方向外方部分が第１凹部４１および第２凹部４２を除く第３容器部３５の軸線方向一端部の外周部に連通する。第１凹部４１の第２側壁部４１ｄは、第１凹部４１の軸線方向他端部側に配置され、回転方向Ｒに延び、その回転方向Ｒ下流側端部が端壁部４１ａの軸線方向他端部に連通し、その半径方向内方部分が底壁部４１ｂの軸線方向他端部に連通し、その半径方向外方部分が第１凹部４１および第２凹部４２を除く第３容器部３５の軸線方向他端部の外周部に連通する。第１凹部の第１側壁部４１ｃおよび第２側壁部４１ｄは、底壁部４１ｂから半径方向外方に立設するようにして設けられ、底壁部４１ｂと第１側壁部４１ｃとは略垂直であり、また底壁部４１ｂと第２側壁部４１ｄとは略垂直である。
【００３４】
排出孔４３は、第１凹部４１の端壁部４１ａの軸線方向中間部であって、半径方向外方寄りに、軸線方向を長手方向とする長方形状に開口して形成される。したがって排出孔４３は第１凹部４１の端壁部４１ａにおいて、第１凹部４１の底壁部４１ｂの回転方向Ｒ下流側端部よりも半径方向外方寄り、かつ第１側壁部４１ｃの回転方向Ｒ下流側端部よりも軸線方向他端部寄り、かつ第２側壁部４１ｄの回転方向Ｒ下流側端部よりも軸線方向一端部寄りで開口している。さらに詳細に述べると、排出孔４３の半径方向外方側の面は、第１凹部４１の回転方向Ｒ下流側の、第１凹部４１および第２凹部４２を除く第３容器部３５の内周面に滑らかに連通している。
【００３５】
第２凹部４２は、詳細に述べると、底壁部４２ｂ、第１側壁部４２ｃおよび第２側壁部４２ｄを有する。第２凹部４２の底壁部４２ｂは、回転方向Ｒに延び、その回転方向Ｒ上流側端部および回転方向Ｒ下流側端部が、第１凹部４１と第２凹部４２との間であって第１凹部４１および第２凹部４２を除く第３容器部３５の外周部に滑らかに連通する。第２凹部４２の底壁部４２ｂの回転方向Ｒ下流側端部と回転方向Ｒ上流側端部との間の回転方向Ｒ中央部は、第１凹部４１および第２凹部４２を除く第３容器部３５よりも半径方向内方に配置され、大略的に第３容器部３５の軸線Ｌ３５を軸線とする部分円筒形状に形成される。第２凹部４２の底壁部４２ｂの回転方向Ｒ中央部の外周部の曲率半径は、任意に設定可能であり、たとえば４９ミリメートルであってもよい。
【００３６】
第２凹部４２の第１側壁部４２ｃは、第２凹部４２の軸線方向一端部側に配置され、回転方向Ｒに延び、その半径方向内方部分が底壁部４２ｂの軸線方向一端部に連通し、その半径方向外方部分が第１凹部４１および第２凹部４２を除く第３容器部３５の軸線方向一端部の外周部に連通する。第２凹部４２の第２側壁部４２ｄは、第２凹部４２の軸線方向他端部側に配置され、その半径方向内方部分が底壁部４２ｂの軸線方向他端部に連通し、その半径方向外方部分が第１凹部４１および第２凹部４２を除く第３容器部３５の軸線方向他端部の外周部に連通する。第２凹部の第１側壁部４２ｃおよび第２側壁部４２ｄは、底壁部４２ｂから半径方向外方に立設するようにして設けられ、底壁部４２ｂと第１側壁部４２ｃとは略垂直であり、また底壁部４２ｂと第２側壁部４２ｄとは略垂直である。
【００３７】
第３容器部３５の第１凹部４１および第２凹部４２を除く軸線方向一端部および軸線方向他端部の外周部には、図８に示すように、半径方向外方に突出する複数の排出案内片４４が、周方向に互いに間隔をあけて、周方向に等間隔に配置され設けられる。第３容器部３５の軸線方向一端部に設けられる排出案内片４４は、詳細に述べると、軸線方向他端部から軸線方向一端部に向かうにつれて回転方向Ｒに傾斜している。また第３容器部３５の軸線方向他端部に設けられる排出案内片４４は、詳細に述べると、軸線方向一端部から軸線方向他端部に向かうにつれて回転方向Ｒに傾斜している。第３容器部３５の第１凹部４１および第２凹部４２を除く外周部からの、排出案内片４４の半径方向外方への突出量は、たとえば１ミリメートルであってもよい。また前記排出案内片４４の長手方向寸法は、２４ミリメートルであってもよく、排出案内片４４の長手方向と第３容器部３６の幅方向との成す角度ψは、たとえば３０度であってもよい。
【００３８】
容器本体３１は、第３容器部３５の軸線方向一端部と第１容器部３３の開口端部３３ｂとが連結され、第３容器部３５の軸線方向他端部と第２容器部３４の開口端部３４ｂとが連結されるようにして一体成型される。このような容器本体３１は、たとえばポリエチレンなどの合成樹脂をブロー成型することによって製造されるようにしてもよい。これによって容器本体３１を容易に製造することができるとともに、現像剤収納容器３０の構成部品を少なくすることができる。
【００３９】
第１容器部３３の底部３３ａは、容器本体３１の軸線方向一端部３３ａとなり、第２容器部３４の底部３４ａは、容器本体３１の軸線方向他端部３４ａとなる。このように第１容器部３３、第２容器部３４および第３容器部３５の各軸線Ｌ３３，Ｌ３４，Ｌ３５が同軸になるようにして連結されて、容器本体３１が形成される。またこの状態では、第３容器部３５は容器本体３１の軸線方向両端部３３ａ，３４ａを除く軸線方向中間部に配置される。したがって第３容器部３５の第１容器凹部４１、第２容器凹部４２および排出孔４３は、容器本体３１の軸線方向両端部３３ａ，３４ａを除く軸線方向中間部に配置される。容器本体３１の軸線Ｌ３１は、第１容器部３３の軸線Ｌ３３、第２容器部３４の軸線Ｌ３４および第３容器部３５の軸線Ｌ３５から成る。
【００４０】
図１０は、支持部材３２を示す正面図である。図１１は、支持部材３２を示す右側面図である。支持部材３２は、大略的に円筒状に形成され、前述のように構成される容器本体３１の少なくとも第３容器部３５を含む部分を、半径方向外方から全周にわたって支持する内周部４８を有する。内周部４８は、軸線Ｌ３２を中心とする円筒内周面を有する。支持部材３２は、軸線Ｌ３２に平行な仮想平面上に、少なくとも３点以上の当接部４９ａを有する支持台４９を含む。支持台４９の当接部４９ａは、たとえば軸線Ｌ３２に平行な方向を長手方向とする２つの長方形状の平面に形成されてもよい。この支持台４９の当接部４９ａを水平面に当接させることによって、支持部材３２の内周部４８の軸線Ｌ４８を、前記水平面に平行にして配置することができる。支持部材３２の軸線方向の長さ寸法Ａ３２は、第３容器部３５の軸線方向の長さ寸法Ａ３５よりも大きく設定される。支持部材３２の軸線方向の長さ寸法Ａ３２は、任意に設定可能であり、たとえば１００ミリメートルであってもよい。
【００４１】
支持台４９を水平面状に設置した状態で、支持部材３２には、その上部に、一水平方向一方向である第１水平方向一方向Ｆ１に突出する排出部５０が形成される。排出部５０における支持部材３２の軸線方向中間部には、前記第１水平方向一方向Ｆ１に沿って貫通し、支持部材の軸線Ｌ３２に平行な方向に延びる長円状に開口する導通孔５１が形成される。導通孔５１の長手方向の内径は、容器本体３１の第１凹部４１の軸線方向の寸法Ｗ４１および第２凹部４２の軸線方向の寸法Ｗ４２以上に設定される。
【００４２】
支持部材３２の排出部５０には、導通孔５１の第１水平方向一方向Ｆ１下流側の開口を開状態および閉状態に切換えるシャッタ部６５が設けられる。シャッタ部６５は、シャッタ６５ａおよびシャッタ案内部６５ｂを含む。シャッタ案内部６５ｂは、前記第１水平方向に垂直な水平方向である第２水平方向に延び、第２水平方向一方向Ｂ１上流側端部には、導通孔５１が開口している。シャッタ６５ａは、シャッタ案内部６５ｂに第２水平方向一方向Ｂ１および前記第２水平方向一方向Ｂ１とは逆向きの第２水平方向他方向Ｂ２にスライド変位自在にして支持される。
【００４３】
シャッタ６５ａは、シャッタ案内部６５ｂに沿ってスライド変位することで、図１０の２点鎖線で示される、導通孔５１の第１水平方向一方向Ｆ１下流側の開口を閉状態にする閉位置Ｐ１、および導通孔５１の第１水平方向一方向Ｆ１下流側の開口を開状態にする開位置Ｐ２に配置可能である。またシャッタ６５ａは、閉位置Ｐ１よりも第２水平方向他方向Ｂ２下流側にスライド変位することを規制されるとともに、シャッタ案内部６５ｂの第２水平方向一方向Ｂ１下流側端部から第２水平方向一方向Ｂ１にスライド変位することを規制される。すなわち開位置Ｐ２は、閉位置Ｐ１よりも第２水平方向一方向Ｂ１下流側かつシャッタ案内部６５ｂの第２水平方向一方向Ｂ１下流側端部よりも第２水平方向一方向Ｂ１上流側である。このようにシャッタ６５ａは、閉位置Ｐ１に配置される状態で第２水平方向一方向Ｂ１にスライド変位することで開位置Ｐ２に配置され、開位置Ｐ２に配置される状態で第２水平方向他方向Ｂ２にスライド変位することで閉位置Ｐ１に配置される。
【００４４】
また支持部材３２には、導出手段である導出部材３８および封止手段である封止シート６６が設けられる。導出部材３８は、たとえばポリエチレンテレフタレート（略称：ＰＥＴ）などの高分子樹脂から成り、可撓性および弾発性を有するシート状に形成され、基端部で、換言すれば支持部材３２の内周部、詳細には、支持部材３２の導通孔５１の第１水平方向一方向Ｆ１上流側端部に臨む部分に設けられる。封止シート６６は、たとえばポリエチレンなどから成る柔軟性を有するシート状に形成され、基端部で支持部材３２の導通孔５１の第１水平方向一方向Ｆ１上流側端部に臨む部分に設けられる。導出部材３８の基端部は、封止シート６６の基端部の上面部に積層される。導出部材３８および封止シート６６のさらに詳細な説明は後述する。
【００４５】
また支持部材３２には、半径方向外方に突出する２個の連結突起部５２が形成される。一方の連結突起部５２は、支持台４９を水平面状に設置した状態で、排出部５０よりも上方に配置され、他方の連結突起部５２は、軸線Ｌ３２に関して、前記一方の連結突起部５２とは対称の位置に配置される。また支持部材３２には、支持台４９を水平面状に設置した状態で、排出部５０よりも下方に配置され、第１水平方向一方向Ｆ１に突出して、軸線Ｌ３２に平行に延びる第１案内片５３が形成される。さらに支持部材３２には、支持台４９を水平面状に設置した状態で、排出部５０よりも上方に配置され、第１水平方向一方向Ｆ１とは逆の方向である第１水平方向他方向Ｆ２に突出して、軸線Ｌ３２に平行に延びる第２案内片５４が形成される。
【００４６】
図１２は、支持部材３２を示す分解右側面図である。支持部材３２は、水平面に設置している状態で、軸線Ｌ３２を通り、第１水平方向一方向Ｆ１に向うにつれて上方に傾斜する仮想平面で２分割可能であり、詳細には、前記仮想平面よりも下方の第１支持部５５と、前記仮想平面よりも上方の第２支持部５６とに分割可能である。第１支持部５５は、支持部材３２における、第１案内片５３、排出部５０、各連結突起部５２の一方の部分５２ａ、支持台４９および内周部４８の第１案内片５３側の部分４８ａを含む。第２支持部５６は、支持部材３２における、第２案内片５４、各連結突起部５２の他方の部分５２ｂおよび内周部４８の支持台４９側の部分４８ａを含む。
【００４７】
第１支持部５５と第２支持部５６とは、ねじ部材５７によって着脱可能に連結される。詳細には、第１支持部５５の各連結突起部５２の一方の部分５２ａと、第２支持部５６の各連結突起部５２の他方の部分５２ｂとがねじ部材５７によって連結される。これによって容器本体３１を支持させるときに、支持部材３２を予め分割しておき、分割された支持部材３２を、容器本体３１の第１および第２凹部４１，４２および排出孔４３を含む部分を、半径方向外方から支持することで、容器本体３１を全周にわたって支持することができ、このような組立作業を容易に行うことができる。
【００４８】
図１３は、図１１の切断面線Ｓ１３−Ｓ１３から見た断面図である。図１１も併せて参照する。支持部材３２の内周部４８の軸線方向一端部には、半径方向内方に突出して周方向全周にわたって延びる支持側突起部である第１支持凸部５８が設けられる。支持部材３２の内周部４８の軸線方向他端部には、半径方向内方に突出して周方向全周にわたって延びる支持側突起部である第２支持凸部５９が設けられる。また支持部材３２の内周部４８の軸線方向他端部には、前記第２支持凸部５９よりも軸線方向他端部側に第２支持凸部５９とは間隔をあけて、半径方向内方に突出して周方向全周にわたって延びる第３支持凸部６０が設けられる。第２支持凸部５９と第３支持凸部６０との軸線方向の間隔は、容器本体３１の第２容器部３４の案内突起片４０の軸線方向の寸法よりもわずかに大きく設定され、たとえば３ミリメートルであってもよい。
【００４９】
第１支持凸部５８および第２支持凸部５９には、周方向に間隔をあけて等間隔に、半径方向内方に突出する支持突起片６１が複数個ずつ、本実施の形態では４個ずつ形成される。前記支持突起片６１の半径方向内方側の先端部は、円筒外周面状に湾曲する支持面を有する。第１支持凸部５８および第２支持凸部５９の各支持突起片６１は、軸線Ｌ３２を中心として各案内突起片４０の先端部を通る仮想円の直径が、第１容器部３３の外周部の外径および第２容器部３４の案内突起片４０を除く外周部の外径よりもわずかに大きく設定され、たとえば１０７ミリメートルであってもよい。第３支持凸部６０の内径は、第２容器部３４の案内突起片４０を除く外周部の外径よりもわずかに大きく設定され、たとえば１０７ミリメートルであってもよい。
【００５０】
支持部材３２の内周部４８の軸線方向一端部における第１支持凸部５８の軸線方向他端部側に隣接して、半径方向外方に陥没して周方向全周にわたって延びる第１支持凹所６７が設けられる。支持部材３２の内周部４８の軸線方向他端部における第２支持凸部５９の軸線方向一端部側に隣接して、半径方向外方に陥没して周方向全周にわたって延びる第２支持凹所６８が設けられる。また支持部材３２の内周部４８の軸線方向他端部の第２支持凸部５９と第３支持凸部６０との間に、半径方向外方に陥没して周方向全周にわたって延びる第３支持凹所６９が設けられる。第１支持凹所６７および第２支持凹所６８の軸線方向の寸法は、たとえば７ミリメートルであってもよい。第３支持凹所６９の軸線方向の寸法は、容器本体３１の第２容器部３４の案内突起片４０の軸線方向寸法よりもわずかに大きく設定され、たとえば３ミリメートルであってもよい。
【００５１】
図１４は、シール材４７を示す正面図である。図１５は、シール材４７を示す側面図である。シール手段であるシール材４７は、柔軟性および弾発性を有する、たとえばシリコンゴムなどの合成樹脂から成る。シール材４７は、図１５に示すように、大略的には円環状に形成される。シール材４７は、図１４に示すように、基部４７ａおよび当接部９７を含む。シール材４７の基部４７ａは、軸線Ｌ４７を中心とする周方向に垂直な断面形状が長方形状にして形成される。シール材４７の当接部９７は、基部４７ａの軸線方向一端部であって半径方向内方部から、軸線方向他端部から軸線方向一端部に向かうにつれて半径方向外方に傾斜するように突出する。
【００５２】
シール材４７の基部４７ａの内周部の直径は、容器本体３１の第１容器部３３の外周部および第２容器部３４の案内突起片４０を除く外周部の外径よりも小さく設定され、たとえば９９ミリメートルであってもよい。またシール材４７の基部４７ａおよび当接部９７の外周部の直径は、回転軸線Ｌ３１を中心として容器本体３１の第３容器部３３の各排出案内片４４の外周部を通る仮想円の直径と同等または前記仮想円の直径よりも大きく設定され、たとえば１１５ミリメートルであってもよい。またシール材４７の軸線方向の寸法は、支持部材３２の第１および第２支持凹所６７，６８の軸線方向の寸法以下に設定され、たとえば６ミリメートルであってもよい。
【００５３】
シール材４７には、シール材４７の外周部と支持部材３２の内周部４８との間に進入した現像剤を排出孔４３側に掻出すための掻出部９８が設けられる。シール材４７の掻出部９８は、複数個の掻出片９９を有する。掻出片９９の個数は、多すぎると、掻出片９９と支持部材３２との接触面積が大きくなり、容器本体３１の回転方向とは逆の方向の摩擦力が大きくなり、容器本体３１の回転を妨げる恐れがある。また掻出片９９の個数は、少なすぎると、後述するような現像剤を排出孔４３に導く力が小さくなる。したがって掻出片９９の個数は、望ましくは２個以上、８個以下であり、本実施の形態では８個である。
【００５４】
各掻出片９９は、周方向に間隔を、望ましくは等間隔をあけて、基部４７ａから半径方向外方に突出し、容器本体３１に巻回される状態で、排出孔４３に近接するにつれて突出量が大きくなるように形成される。掻出片９９の残余の基部４７ａからの半径方向外方への突出量は、大きすぎると、掻出片９９と支持部材３２との接触面積が大きくなり、容器本体３１の回転方向とは逆の方向の摩擦力が大きくなり、容器本体３１の回転を妨げる恐れがある。また掻出片９９の残余の基部４７ａからの半径方向外方への突出量は、小さすぎると、後述するような現像剤を排出孔４３に導く力が小さくなる。したがって掻出片９９の残余の基部４７ａからの半径方向外方への最大突出量は、０．１ミリメートル以上、３ミリメートル以下が望ましく、たとえば２ミリメートルであってもよい。
【００５５】
図１６は、現像剤収納容器３０を組立てる状態を示す正面図である。図１７は、図１６の切断面線Ｓ１７−Ｓ１７から見た断面図である。現像剤収納容器３０を組立てる前に、支持部材３２を第１支持部５５と第２支持部５６とに分割しておく。またこのとき２つのシール材４７のうち、一方のシール材４７を第１容器部３３の開口端部３３ｂに密着して巻回するとともに、シール材４７の基部４７ａを第３容器部３５の軸線方向一端部の端面に密着させるようにして、容器本体３１の第１容器部３３に装着する。また他方のシール材４７を第２容器部３４の開口端部３４ｂであって、案内突起片４０よりも軸線方向一端部側に密着して巻回するとともに、シール材４７の基部４７ａを第３容器部３５の軸線方向他端部の端面に密着させるようにして、容器本体３１の第２容器部３４に装着する。
【００５６】
第１支持部５５と第２支持部５６とによって、容器本体３１の第３容器部３５を含む部分を、半径方向外方から挟持する。この状態で、第１支持部５５と第２支持部５６とをねじ部材５７とによって連結する。
【００５７】
図１８は、図３の切断面線Ｓ１８−Ｓ１８から見た断面図である。図１９は、図１８における一方のシール材４７付近を拡大して示す断面図である。図２０は、図１９のセクションＸＸを拡大して示す断面図である。容器本体３１が支持部材３２によって支持されている状態では、容器本体３１の軸線Ｌ３１と支持部材３２の内周部４８の軸線Ｌ３２とが、完全に、またはほぼ一致しており、容器本体３１は、支持部材３２に対して、軸線Ｌ３１まわりに回転自在である。この状態で、支持部材３２の支持台４９を水平面に設置した場合、容器本体３１の第１および第２容器部３３，３４は、水平面から離間しており、水平面と回転軸線Ｌ３１とは平行となる。
【００５８】
支持部材３２において、詳細に述べると、第１支持凸部５８の各支持突起片６１が、第１容器部３３の外周部に当接し、第２支持凸部５９の各支持突起片６１が、第２容器部３４の案内突起片４０を除く外周部に当接する。このように第１容器部３３の外周部は、第１支持凸部５８の各支持突起片６１によって、周方向に等間隔をあけて大略的に４点支持されるとともに、第２支持凸部５９の各支持突起片６１によって、周方向に等間隔をあけて大略的に４点支持される。これによって第１容器部３３の外周部と第１支持凸部５８との間、および第２容器部３４の外周部と第２支持凸部５９との間における、容器本体３１の回転に抗する摩擦力を極めて小さくすることができる。
【００５９】
第１容器部３３に巻回されるシール材である一方のシール材４７は、支持部材３２の第１支持凹所６７に嵌り込み、シール材４７の当接部９７は、第１支持凸部５８の軸線方向他端面に軸線方向から全周にわたって弾発的に当接する。一方のシール材４７の各掻出片９９は、軸線方向の全領域で支持部材３２の内周部、詳細には、第１支持凹所６７に半径方向外方から臨む内周部に弾発的に当接する。第２容器部３４に巻回されるシール材である他方のシール材４７は、支持部材３２の第２支持凹所６８に嵌り込み、シール材４７の当接部９７は、第２支持凸部５９の軸線方向一端面に軸線方向から全周にわたって弾発的に当接する。他方のシール材４７の各掻出片９９は、軸線方向の全領域で支持部材３２の内周部、詳細には、第２支持凹所６８に半径方向外方から臨む内周部に弾発的に当接する。
【００６０】
このような２つのシール材４７によって、容器本体３１の第１および第２凹部４１，４２および排出孔４３ならびに支持部材３２の導通孔５１よりも容器本体３１の軸線方向一端側および軸線方向他端側における容器本体３１と支持部材３２との間において、周方向全周にわたってシールが達成される。容器本体３１の外周部と支持部材３２の内周部との間のシールを達成するために、たとえば容器本体３１に巻回されるシール材の外周部を全周にわたって支持部材の内周部に弾発的に当接させると、半径方向に働く弾発力によって容器本体が支持部材に対して回転することを妨げる摩擦力が大きくなる。本実施の形態では、このようにシール材の外周部を全周にわたって支持部材３２の内周部に弾発的に当接させずに、シール材４７の当接部９７を、支持部材３２の第１支持凸部５８および第２支持凸部に軸線方向から全周にわたって弾発的に当接することによって、前述のような摩擦力を低減することができる。
【００６１】
シール材４７が容器本体３１とともに軸線Ｌ３１まわりに回転すると、図２０に示すように、支持部材３２に当接している各掻出片９９の排出孔４３に近接する部分が、掻出片９９の排出孔４３から離反する部分よりも、容器本体３１の回転方向上流側に配置されるように弾性的に変形して、第１および第２支持凹所６７，６８に臨む支持部材３２の内周部に弾発的に当接しながら摺動する。これによってシール材４７の外周部と支持部材３２の前記内周部との間に進入した現像剤を、排出孔４３に向けて掻出すことができる。これによって現像剤はシール材４７の当接部９７に到達することなく、排出孔４３側へと導かれ、シールが確実となる。したがって容器本体３１の回転を妨げる摩擦力の低減と、シールとを同時に達成することができる。
【００６２】
容器本体３１の第２容器部３４の案内突起片４０は、支持部材３２の第３支持凹所６９に、支持部材３２に対して軸線方向へのスライド変位を規制されて嵌り込む。これによって、容器本体３１は、支持部材３２に対して、軸線方向へのスライド変位が規制される。容器本体３１の第３容器部３５の各排出案内片４４の外周部は、支持部材３２の内周部４８に当接する。このようにして支持部材３２は、半径方向外方から全周にわたって、容器本体３１の少なくとも第１凹部４１を含む部分を回転軸線Ｌ３１まわりに回転自在にして支持する。
【００６３】
図２１は、図２の切断面線Ｓ２１−Ｓ２１から見た断面図である。図２２は、図２１のセクションＸＸＩＩを拡大して示す図である。図２１および図２２（１）は、容器本体３１が支持部材３２に対して初期状態にあるときの図である。導出部材３８は、基端部３８ａで支持部材３２の導通孔５１の第１水平方向一方向Ｆ１上流側端部に臨む部分に設けられて回転方向Ｒ上流側へ延び、遊端部３８ｂが容器本体３１の第３容器部３５の第１凹部４１の少なくとも底壁部４１ｂおよび第２凹部４２の底壁部４２ｂの外周面に弾発的に当接可能である。また導出部材３８の遊端部３８ｂは、容器本体３１の第３容器部３５の第１凹部４１の少なくとも底壁部４１ｂおよび第２凹部４２の底壁部４２ｂの外周面に対して９０度を超える角度θを成して当接する。詳細には、前記角度θは、導出部材３８の遊端部３８ｂの上方に臨む面と各凹部４１，４２の底壁部４１ｂ，４２ｂの外周面との成す角度である。
【００６４】
封止シート６６は、基端部６６ａで支持部材３２の導通孔５１の第１水平方向一方向Ｆ１上流側端部に臨む部分に設けられる。封止シート６６の基端部６６ａを除く部分６６ｂは、容器本体３１が支持部材３２に対して初期状態にあるとき、第１凹部４１の少なくとも端壁部４１ａを覆うようにして、たとえば熱溶着などによって離脱可能に設けられる。このようにして初期状態では、排出孔４３は封止シート６６の基端部６６ａを除く部分６６ｂによって塞がれる。これによって初期状態において、利用者がシャッタ部６５のシャッタ６５を開位置Ｐ２に誤って配置しても、導通孔５１から容器本体３１に収納される現像剤が不所望に排出されることを防止することができる。
【００６５】
前記初期状態から容器本体３１が回転軸線Ｌ３１まわりに回転方向Ｒに回転されることによって、封止シート６６の基端部６６ａを除く部分６６ｂが第１凹部４１の端壁部４１ａから離脱して、排出孔４３が開放される。また第１凹部４１の端壁部４１ａから離脱した封止シート６６の基端部６６ａを除く部分６６ｂは、図２２（２）に示すように、支持部材３２の導通孔５１の回転方向Ｒ下流側で、容器本体３１の第３容器部３５と支持部材３２の内周部４８との間に配置される。これによって利用者が封止シート６６を直接取除くことなく、容器本体３１を回転することで、容易に排出孔４３を開放させることができる。
【００６６】
支持部材３２の支持台４９を水平面に設置して、現像剤が収納されている状態では、容器本体３１の内空間は、現像剤で占められる現像剤層と、現像剤層よりも上方の気体で占められる気層との２層が形成される。容器本体３１を、第１容器部３３から第２容器部３４を見て回転軸線Ｌ３１を中心にして時計まわりに回転させる。このとき第１容器部３３の現像剤層の現像剤は、各第１突起片３６によって回転軸線Ｌ３１に沿って第１容器部３３から第３容器部３５に向かう第１搬送方向Ｃ１（図２参照）に搬送される。またこのとき第２容器部３４の現像剤層の現像剤は、各第２突起片３９によって回転軸線Ｌ３１に沿って第２容器部３４から第３容器部３５に向かう第２搬送方向Ｃ２（図２参照）に搬送される。このように容器本体３１を回転軸線Ｌ３１まわりに回転することによって、収納される現像剤を排出孔４３に向けて搬送することができる。さらに第３容器部３５において、第１搬送方向Ｃ１に向かう現像剤と、第２搬送方向Ｃ２に向かう現像剤とが互いに衝突して、これによって現像剤を攪拌することができる。
【００６７】
現像剤が搬送されるときに現像剤には、第１および第２突起片３６，３９を含む第１および第２容器部３３，３４の内周部から第３容器部３５に向かう力が与えられる。容器本体３１に収納される現像剤の量が多いとき、第１および第２容器部３３，３４の内周部から第１および第２突起片３６，３９の半径方向内方への突出量Ａ２以内に配置される現像剤は、容器本体２１が回転することによって主に攪拌され、容器本体２１内でバランスが保たれている。
【００６８】
図２３および図２４は、容器本体３１が回転軸線Ｌ３１まわりの回転方向Ｒに回転しているときに、容器本体３１の第３容器部３５内の現像剤が支持部材３２の導通孔５１に導かれるまでの動作を説明するための図である。図７、図９および図１８をも併せて参照する。容器本体３１が支持部材３２によって回転軸線Ｌ３１まわりに回転自在に指示されている状態では、第３容器部３１の第１凹部４１と支持部材３２の内周部４８とに臨む第１保持空間６２ａが形成される。第１保持空間６２ａは、排出孔４３を除いて大略的には閉じた空間となっており、排出孔４３の回転方向Ｒ上流側に配置され、排出孔４３を介して容器本体３１内の空間に連通している。また第３容器部３１の第２凹部４１と支持部材３２の内周部４８とに臨む第２保持空間６２ｂが形成される。第２保持空間６２ｂは、大略的には閉じた空間となっている。
【００６９】
図２３（１）に示す、排出孔４３および第１保持空間６２ａが、容器本体３１内の現像剤層６３の上面６３ａよりも上方に配置される状態から、容器本体３１が回転方向Ｒに回転して、図２３（２）に示す、排出孔４３および第１保持空間６２ａの回転方向Ｒ下流部が、容器本体３１内の現像剤層６３の上面６３ａよりも下方に配置される状態となると、容器本体３１内の現像剤層６３の現像剤が、矢符Ｇ１に示すように、排出孔４３を介して第１保持空間６２ａの回転方向Ｒ下流部に流入する。
【００７０】
前述したように、排出孔４３は、第１凹部４１の端壁部４１ａの軸線方向中間部であって、半径方向外方寄りに、軸線方向を長手方向とする長方形状に開口して形成される。したがって排出孔４３は第１凹部４１の端壁部４１ａにおいて、第１凹部４１の底壁部４１ｂの回転方向Ｒ下流側端部よりも半径方向外方寄り、かつ第１側壁部４１ｃの回転方向Ｒ下流側端部よりも軸線方向他端部寄り、かつ第２側壁部４１ｄの回転方向Ｒ下流側端部よりも軸線方向一端部寄りで開口している。
【００７１】
たとえば前記端壁部４１ａに全体に排出孔４３が開口する場合、現像剤は、容器本体３１が回転方向Ｒに回転することによって、容器本体３１の第１凹部４１および支持部材３２の内周部４８に沿って密にして押出されるようにして、排出孔４３から第１保持空間６２ａに排出される。このような状態で容器本体３１がさらに回転方向Ｒに回転することによって、第１保持空間６２ａに保持されている現像剤は、容器本体３１の第１凹部４１および支持部材３２の内周部４８によって押圧されて、凝集してしまう危険性がある。本実施の形態では、前述のように、排出孔４３は第１凹部４１の端壁部４１ａの一部に形成される、換言すれば、排出孔４３の開口面積が端壁部４１ａの面積よりも小さく形成されるので、現像剤は、第１保持空間６２ａにおける排出孔４３付近において、拡散するようにして第１保持空間６２ａに排出される。これによって第２保持空間６２ａに排出される現像剤を粉体状にすることができるとともに、前述のような容器本体３１の回転による現像剤の凝集を可及的に防止することができる。
【００７２】
さらに排出孔４３の半径方向外方側の面は、第１凹部４１の回転方向Ｒ下流側の、第１凹部４１および第２凹部４２を除く第３容器部３５の内周面に滑らかに連通している。これによって容器本体３１に収納される現像剤の量が非常に少なくなっても、現像剤は、排出孔４３を介して第１保持空間６２ａの回転方向Ｒ下流部に容易に流入することができる。
【００７３】
図２３（２）に示す状態から、さらに容器本体３１が回転方向Ｒに回転すると、容器本体３１内の現像剤層６３の現像剤が、排出孔４３を介して第１保持空間６２ａの回転方向Ｒ下流部に流入ながら、図２４（１）に示す、排出孔４３が容器本体３１内の現像剤層６３の上面６３ａよりも上方に配置され、第１保持空間６２ａが容器本体３１内の現像剤層６３の上面６３ａよりも下方に配置される状態となる。このような図２４（１）に示す状態では、予め定める量の現像剤が、第１保持空間６２ａに保持される。このように第１保持空間６２ａに保持される現像剤の量は、たとえば６グラムであってもよい。
【００７４】
図２４（１）に示す状態から、さらに容器本体３１が回転方向Ｒに回転すると、図２４（２）に示す、支持部材３２の導出部材３８の遊端部３８ｂが、第１保持空間６２ａに進入して、回転方向Ｒ上流側に延びて、第１凹部４１の底壁部４１ｂの外周面に対して９０度を超える角度θを成して弾発的に当接しながら、当該外周面に対して摺動する状態となる。このとき導出部材３８よりも回転方向Ｒ上流側の第１保持空間６２ａに保持されている現像剤は、容器本体３１が回転方向Ｒに回転することによって、支持部材３２に向かって流動する。
【００７５】
導出部材３８は、このように流動してきた現像剤、換言すれば容器本体３１の排出孔４３から排出された現像剤を、矢符Ｇ２に示すように、導出部材３８の上面に沿って案内して導通孔５１に導く。導出部材３８は、現像剤を第１凹部４１の底壁部４１ｂの外周面から掻き取るようにして、当該外周面に対して摺動するので、第１保持空間６２ａに保持されていた現像剤を可及的に全て導通孔５１に導くことができる。このように導通孔５１に導かれた現像剤は、現像剤収納容器３０の外部へと導かれて排出される。このように容器本体３１が軸回転軸線Ｌ３１まわりに回転方向Ｒに１回転する毎に、前述の予め定める量の現像剤が、外部に排出される。
【００７６】
第３容器部３１の第１および第２凹部４１，４２を除く部分と、支持部材３２の内周部４８とは、前述したように、容器本体３１の回転軸線Ｌ３１まわりの回転を阻止する摩擦力を低減するために、周方向全周にわたって全体的に当接していない。したがって前述のように第１保持空間６２ａに保持されている現像剤が、第１保持空間６２ａから漏れ出す可能性が全くないわけではない。前述のように、第３容器部３５の第１凹部４１および第２凹部４２を除く軸線方向一端部および軸線方向他端部の外周部には、排出案内片４４が設けられている。第３容器部３５の軸線方向一端部に設けられる排出案内片４４は、軸線方向他端部から軸線方向一端部に向かうにつれて回転方向Ｒに傾斜しており、第３容器部３５の軸線方向他端部に設けられる排出案内片４４は、軸線方向一端部から軸線方向他端部に向かうにつれて回転方向Ｒに傾斜しているので、万一、第１保持空間６２ａに保持されている現像剤が、回転軸線Ｌ３２方向一方側および他方側に漏れ出た場合には、容器本体３１が回転方向Ｒに回転しているときに、各排出案内片４４によって、第３容器部３５および支持部材３２の軸線方向中間部に寄せ集めることができる。
【００７７】
また前述のように第２保持空間６２が形成されているので、万一、第１保持空間６２ａに保持されている現像剤が、第１保持空間６２ａの回転方向Ｒ上流部から漏れ出た場合、このように漏れ出た現像剤および各排出案内片４４によって軸線方向中間部に寄せ集められた現像剤は、第２保持空間６２に保持される。容器本体３１が回転方向Ｒに回転すると、図２４（１）に示す、支持部材３２の導出部材３８の遊端部３８ｂが、第２保持空間６２ｂに進入して、回転方向Ｒ上流側に延びて、第２凹部４２の底壁部４２ｂの外周面に対して９０度を超える角度θを成して弾発的に当接しながら、当該外周面に対して摺動する状態となる。このとき導出部材３８よりも回転方向Ｒ上流側の第２保持空間６２ｂに保持されている現像剤は、容器本体３１が回転方向Ｒに回転することによって、支持部材３２に向かって流動して、導通孔５１に導かれて、現像剤収納容器３０の外部へと導かれて排出される。このように容器本体３１が軸回転軸線Ｌ３１まわりに回転方向Ｒに１回転する毎に、万一、第１保持空間６２ａから現像剤が漏れ出てたとしても、漏れ出た現像剤は第２保持空間６２ｂによって保持されるので、前述の予め定める量の現像剤を、可及的に確実に外部に排出することができる。
【００７８】
また前述のように、支持台４９を水平面状に設置した状態で、支持部材３２には、その上部に、一水平方向一方向である第１水平方向一方向Ｆ１に突出する排出部５０が形成され、排出部５０における支持部材３２の軸線方向中間部には、前記第１水平方向一方向Ｆ１に沿って貫通し、支持部材の軸線Ｌ３２に平行な方向に延びる長円状に開口する導通孔５１が形成される。これによって容器本体３１に満杯の現像剤が収納されているときでも、現像剤層６３の上面６３ａが、導通孔５１と同じ高さ、または導通孔５１よりも下方に配置されるので、現像剤が容器本体３１から導通孔５１に不所望に流出することを確実に防止できる。
【００７９】
図２５は、現像剤収納容器３０から排出される現像剤の量と時間との関係を示すグラフである。図２５において、曲線Ｈ１は、容器本体３１の第３容器部３５の内径Ｄ３５が、第１および第２容器部３３，３４の内径Ｄ３３，Ｄ３４以下に形成されている場合の、現像剤収納容器３０から排出される現像剤の量と時間との関係を示す。また曲線Ｈ２は、容器本体３１の第３容器部３５の内径Ｄ３５が、第１および第２容器部３３，３４の内径Ｄ３３，Ｄ３４よりも大きく形成されている場合の、現像剤収納容器３０から排出される現像剤の量と時間との関係を示す。
【００８０】
粉体状になった現像剤は、たとえば水平面に鋭利な山のように載置しても、すぐになだらかな山のようになってしまう性質がある。たとえば容器本体３１の第３容器部３５の内径Ｄ３５が、第１および第２容器部３３，３４の内径Ｄ３３，Ｄ３４以下に形成されている場合、容器本体３１の回転によって排出孔４３に向けて搬送された現像剤は、容器本体３１の回転が停止すると、排出孔４３から離反するようになる。このような場合、容器本体３１内に収納される現像剤の量が非常に少なくなったときには、容器本体３１の回転が再開した直後に、充分な量の現像剤を排出孔４３に向けて搬送することが困難となる。
【００８１】
本実施の形態では、前述した図８に示すように、容器本体３１の第３容器部３４の内径は、残余の部分である第１および第２容器部３３，３４の内径Ｄ３３，Ｄ３４よりも大きく形成されるので、容器本体３１内に収納される現像剤の量が非常に少なくなったとき、一旦、第３容器部３５に搬送された現像剤が第３容器部３５から離反することを可及的に防止することができる。これによって容器本体３１内に収納される現像剤の量が非常に少なくなったときにも、容器本体３１の回転が再開した直後に、充分な量の現像剤を排出孔４３に向けて搬送することが可及的に可能となる。さらに容器本体３１に収納される全ての現像剤を、外部に排出することが可及的に可能となる。
【００８２】
曲線Ｈ１に示すように、容器本体３１の第３容器部３５の内径Ｄ３５が、第１および第２容器部３３，３４の内径Ｄ３３，Ｄ３４以下に形成されている場合、容器本体３１に収納されている現像剤の量が減少すると、現像剤の排出量は、それに鋭く対応して減少する。一方、曲線Ｈ２に示すように、容器本体３１の第３容器部３５の内径Ｄ３５が、第１および第２容器部３３，３４の内径Ｄ３３，Ｄ３４よりも大きく形成されている場合、曲線Ｈ１に比べて、容器本体３１に収納されている現像剤の量が減少しても、現像剤の排出量は、現像剤の量が零に近くなるまでは、ほぼ一定を保っている。したがって、本実施の形態の現像剤収納容器３０は、より長時間にわたって安定した現像剤の排出が可能になる。
【００８３】
以上のように本実施の形態の現像剤収納容器３０によれば、容器本体３１が軸線Ｌ３１まわりに回転駆動することで、容器本体３１の内周部に設けられる送り手段によって、容器本体３１に収納される現像剤を軸線方向に送ることができる。送り手段が、従来技術のような軸線Ｌ３１まわりの螺旋方向に大略的に沿って延びる、たとえば半径方向内方に突出する突起片または半径方向外方に陥没する溝に形成されている場合、送り手段付近の現像剤は、常に送り手段に当接しているので、送り手段の近傍で凝集する危険性がある。またこの場合、容器本体にねじりおよび曲げの外力および衝撃が加わることによって、容器本体が送り手段において容易に螺旋方向に大略的に沿って延びるような亀裂が生じて破損する危険性がある。本実施の形態では、送り手段は、第１延在方向に延びる複数の第１突起片３６および第２延在方向に延びる第２突起片３７を有し、各第１突起片３６および第２突起片３９は、周方向および軸線方向に間隔をあけて形成されるので、送り手段の近傍の現像剤は、容器本体３１が回転するときに、第１および第２突起片３６，３９に対して当接および離脱を繰返すので、常に送り手段に当接している状態とはならず、送り手段の近傍において現像剤が凝集することを可及的に防止することができる。また各突起片３６，３９は、第１および第２延在方向に間隔をあけて形成されるので、容器本体３１にねじりおよび曲げの外力ならびに衝撃が加わることによって、容器本体３１が送り手段において容易に螺旋方向に大略的に沿って延びるような亀裂が生じて破損することを可及的に防止することができる。
【００８４】
また本実施の形態の現像剤収納容器３０によれば、支持部材３２によって容器本体３１を安定して支持しながら回転軸線Ｌ３１まわりに回転することができる。現像剤が収納される従来技術のような円筒状の容器を、その軸線が水平面に対して垂直になるように立設して放置しておくと、容器の下方の現像剤が凝集する危険性がある。またこのような現像剤の凝集をできるだけ防ぐために、前記容器を、その軸線が水平面に対して平行になるように水平面に設置すると、前記容器が転がってしまう。本実施の形態の現像剤収納容器３０では、支持部材３２の支持台４９を水平面に設置することで、容器本体３１の軸線Ｌ３１を水平面に平行に安定して配置することができる。また万一、現像剤収納容器３０に収納される現像剤が部分的に凝集しても、たとえば利用者がシャッタ部６５のシャッタ６５ａを閉位置Ｐ１に配置して容器本体３１を回転させることによって、現像剤を容易に攪拌して粉体状にすることができる。
【００８５】
さらに容器本体３１の軸線方向両端部３３ａ，３４ａにおける外周面と端面とが連通する面３３ｃ，３４ｃは、前述のように半径方向内方に傾斜するような曲面状に形成されるので、容器本体３１の軸線方向両端部３３ａ，３４ａのいずれかを水平面に設置して、軸線Ｌ３１が水平面に垂直になるようにして現像剤収納容器３０を水平面に立設させようとしても、倒れやすくなっている。これによって利用者が現像剤収納容器３０を軸線Ｌ３１が水平面に垂直になるようにして立設して放置することを防止して、収納される現像剤が凝集する要因を減らすことができる。
【００８６】
また本実施の形態の現像剤収納容器３０によれば、支持部材３２は、容器本体３１の少なくとも第３容器部３５を含む部分を、半径方向外方から全周にわたって支持している。さらに容器本体３１と支持部材３２との間に２つのシール材４７が設けられて、前述のようにシールが達成されているので、容器本体３１が回転しても、容器本体３１と支持部材３２との間から現像剤が漏出することを防止できる。
【００８７】
また本実施の形態の現像剤収納容器３０によれば、現像剤の排出量は、第１保持空間６２ａの容積と、容器本体３１の回転速度に依存する。本実施の形態の現像剤収納容器３０において、凹所は第１および第２凹所４１，４２の２個設け、第１凹所４１だけに排出孔４３を設ける構成としたけれども、これに限ることはない。たとえば、容器本体３１の１回転あたりの現像剤の排出量を増やしたい場合には、第２凹所４２を第１凹所４１と同様の形状にして排出孔４３を設ける構成としてもよい。また凹所の数および排出孔の数をさらに増やすようにしてもよい。
【００８８】
本実施の形態において、送り手段は、軸線Ｌ３１まわりの第１延在方向に延び、半径方向内方に突出する第１突起片３６、および軸線Ｌ３１まわりの第２延在方向に延び、半径方向内方に突出する第２突起片３９を有するとしたけれども、これに限ることはない。送り手段は、たとえば半径方向外方に陥没し、第１延在方向および第２延在方向に延びて、周方向および軸線方向に間隔をあけて設けられる溝であってもよい。
【００８９】
図２６は、シール手段の他の実施例であるシール材４７Ａを示す正面図である。このシール材４７Ａは、柔軟性および弾発性を有する、たとえばシリコンゴムなどの合成樹脂から成る。シール材４７Ａは、大略的には円環状に形成される。シール材４７Ａは、図２６に示すように、基部４７ａおよび当接部９７Ａを含む。シール材４７Ａの基部４７ａは、軸線Ｌ４７を中心とする周方向に垂直な断面形状が長方形状にして形成される。シール材４７Ａの当接部９７Ａは、基部４７ａの軸線方向一端部であって半径方向内方部から、軸線方向他端部から軸線方向一端部に向かうにつれて半径方向外方に傾斜するように突出する。
【００９０】
シール材４７Ａの基部４７ａの内周部の直径は、容器本体３１の第１容器部３３の外周部および第２容器部３４の案内突起片４０を除く外周部の外径よりも小さく設定され、たとえば９９ミリメートルであってもよい。またシール材４７Ａの基部４７ａおよび当接部９７Ａの外周部の直径は、回転軸線Ｌ３１を中心として容器本体３１の第３容器部３３の各排出案内片４４の外周部を通る仮想円の直径と同等または前記仮想円の直径よりも大きく設定され、たとえば１１５ミリメートルであってもよい。またシール材４７Ａの軸線方向の寸法は、支持部材３２の第１および第２支持凹所６７，６８の軸線方向の寸法以下に設定され、たとえば６ミリメートルであってもよい。
【００９１】
シール材４７Ａには、シール材４７Ａの外周部と支持部材３２の内周部４８との間に進入した現像剤を排出孔４３側に掻出すための掻出部９８Ａが設けられる。シール材４７Ａの掻出部９８Ａは、複数個の掻出片９９Ａを有する。掻出片９９Ａの個数は、多すぎると、掻出片９９Ａと支持部材３２との接触面積が大きくなり、容器本体３１の回転方向とは逆の方向の摩擦力が大きくなり、容器本体３１の回転を妨げる恐れがある。また掻出片９９Ａの個数は、少なすぎると、後述するような現像剤を排出孔４３に導く力が小さくなる。したがって掻出片９９Ａの個数は、望ましくは２個以上、８個以下であり、本実施の形態では８個である。
【００９２】
各掻出片９９Ａは、周方向に間隔を、望ましくは等間隔をあけて、基部４７ａから半径方向外方に突出し、容器本体３１に巻回される状態で、排出孔４３に近接するにつれて容器本体３１の回転方向上流側に向かって傾斜して形成される。掻出片９９Ａの残余の基部４７ａからの半径方向外方への突出量は、大きすぎると、掻出片９９Ａと支持部材３２との接触面積が大きくなり、容器本体３１の回転方向とは逆の方向の摩擦力が大きくなり、容器本体３１の回転を妨げる恐れがある。また掻出片９９Ａの残余の基部４７ａからの半径方向外方への突出量は、小さすぎると、後述するような現像剤を排出孔４３に導く力が小さくなる。したがって掻出片９９Ａの残余の基部４７ａからの半径方向外方への最大突出量は、０．１ミリメートル以上、３ミリメートル以下が望ましく、たとえば２ミリメートルであってもよい。
【００９３】
図２７は、容器本体３１に巻回される一方のシール材４７Ａ付近を拡大して示す断面図である。図２８は、図２７のセクションＸＸＶＩＩＩを拡大して示す断面図である。第１容器部３３に巻回されるシール材である一方のシール材４７Ａは、支持部材３２の第１支持凹所６７に嵌り込み、シール材４７Ａの当接部９７Ａは、第１支持凸部５８の軸線方向他端面に軸線方向から全周にわたって弾発的に当接する。一方のシール材４７Ａの各掻出片９９Ａは、軸線方向の全領域で支持部材３２の内周部、詳細には、第１支持凹所６７に半径方向外方から臨む内周部に弾発的に当接する。第２容器部３４に巻回されるシール材である他方のシール材４７Ａは、支持部材３２の第２支持凹所６８に嵌り込み、シール材４７Ａの当接部９７Ａは、第２支持凸部５９の軸線方向一端面に軸線方向から全周にわたって弾発的に当接する。他方のシール材４７Ａの各掻出片９９Ａは、軸線方向の全領域で支持部材３２の内周部、詳細には、第２支持凹所６８に半径方向外方から臨む内周部に弾発的に当接する。
【００９４】
このような２つのシール材４７Ａによって、容器本体３１の第１および第２凹部４１，４２および排出孔４３ならびに支持部材３２の導通孔５１よりも容器本体３１の軸線方向一端側および軸線方向他端側における容器本体３１と支持部材３２との間において、周方向全周にわたってシールが達成される。容器本体３１の外周部と支持部材３２の内周部との間のシールを達成するために、たとえば容器本体３１に巻回されるシール材の外周部を全周にわたって支持部材の内周部に弾発的に当接させると、半径方向に働く弾発力によって容器本体が支持部材に対して回転することを妨げる摩擦力が大きくなる。本実施の形態では、このようにシール材の外周部を全周にわたって支持部材３２の内周部に弾発的に当接させずに、シール材４７Ａの当接部９７Ａを、支持部材３２の第１支持凸部５８および第２支持凸部に軸線方向から全周にわたって弾発的に当接することによって、前述のような摩擦力を低減することができる。
【００９５】
シール材４７Ａが容器本体３１とともに軸線Ｌ３１まわりに回転すると、図２８に示すように、支持部材３２に当接している各掻出片９９Ａの排出孔４３に近接する部分が、掻出片９９Ａの排出孔４３から離反する部分よりも、容器本体３１の回転方向上流側に配置されて、第１および第２支持凹所６７，６８に臨む支持部材３２の内周部に弾発的に当接しながら摺動する。これによってシール材４７Ａの外周部と支持部材３２の前記内周部との間に進入した現像剤を、排出孔４３に向けて掻出すことができる。これによって現像剤はシール材４７Ａの当接部９７Ａに到達することなく、排出孔４３側へと導かれ、シールが確実となる。したがって容器本体３１の回転を妨げる摩擦力の低減と、シールとを同時に達成することができる。
【００９６】
図２９は、本発明の実施の他の形態の画像形成装置７０を示す断面図である。図３０は、トナーホッパ７２付近を拡大して示す断面図である。図３１は、トナーホッパ７２付近を拡大して示す平面図である。図２９は、画像形成装置７０の正面外装部７１ａ側から見た断面図であり、理解を容易にするために、厚みを省略している。正面外装部７１ａとは、通常、利用者が画像形成装置７０を利用するときに、利用者が臨んでいる部分である。背面外装部７１ｂとは、画像形成装置７０において、前記正面外装部７１ａ側にいる利用者から見て、前記正面外装部７１ａに対して対して裏側に当たる部分である。また画像形成装置７０は、水平面に設置されているとし、正面外装部７１ａから背面外装部７１ｂに向かう方向である正背方向Ｅは、水平面に平行となる。
【００９７】
プリンタ装置および複写装置などの電子写真記録方式の画像形成装置７０は、前述の現像剤収納容器３０および画像形成装置本体（以後、単に「装置本体」と表記することがある）７１を含む。現像剤収納容器３０は、装置本体７１に備えられるトナーホッパ７２に、装置本体７１の正面外装部７１ａに設けられる開閉自在の容器着脱口（図示せず）を介して着脱可能に装着される。また画像形成装置本体７１は、正面外装部７１ａよりも背面外装部７１ｂ側に筐体正面部９３が設けられ、厚み方向に貫通し現像剤収納容器３０を挿通可能な開口部が形成される。また画像形成装置本体７１は、背面外装部７１ｂよりも正面外装部７１ａ側に筐体背面部９４が設けられる。筐体正面部９３および筐体背面部９４を含む筐体（全ては図示せず）によって、画像形成装置本体７１の各種構成が保持される。
【００９８】
トナーホッパ７２は、ハウジング７３、現像剤供給部７４、攪拌部材７５および供給ローラ７６を備える。ハウジング７３の内空間は、現像剤供給部７４によって、少なくとも容器収容空間７７と攪拌空間７８とに分割される。容器収容空間７７は、装置本体７１の正面外装部７１ａに臨んで開放している。攪拌空間７８は、大略的に閉じた空間である。現像剤収納容器３０は、前記収納容器空間７７に配置される。
【００９９】
容器収容空間７７に臨むハウジング７３の上壁部７３ａには、現像剤収納容器３０の支持部材３２の第１案内片５３が嵌入可能な、装置本体７１の正背方向Ｅに延びる第１案内凹所７９が形成される。第１案内凹所７９は、現像剤収納容器３０の支持部材３２の第１案内片５３が長手方向、換言すれば、装置本体７１の正背方向Ｅに平行であって、正面外装部７１ａから背面外装部７１ｂに向かう方向の装着方向Ｅ１および装着方向Ｅ１とは逆の方向である離脱方向Ｅ２に摺動可能にして嵌合可能である。また容器収容空間７７に臨むハウジング７３の前記上壁部７３ａに対向する下壁部７３ｂには、現像剤収納容器３０の支持部材３２の第２案内片５４が嵌入可能な、装置本体７１の正背方向Ｅに延びる第２案内凹所８０が形成される。第２案内凹所８０は、現像剤収納容器３０の支持部材３２の第２案内片５４が長手方向、換言すれば、装置本体７１の装着方向Ｅ１および離脱方向Ｅ２に摺動可能にして嵌合可能である。
【０１００】
現像剤供給部７４は、ハウジング７３の内空間を、容器収容空間７７と攪拌空間７８とに分割する板状の部材であり、その厚さ方向に貫通して、容器収容空間７７と攪拌空間７８とを連通する連通孔８１が設けられる。また現像剤供給部７４の連通孔８１の下方には、容器収容空間７７に突出する案内部材８２が設けられる。
【０１０１】
図３２は、本体側連結部８３を拡大して示す斜視図である。装置本体７１のモータなどの駆動源８４からの現像剤収納容器３０の容器本体３１を回転するための駆動力は、歯車などの減速装置８５を介して、本体側連結部８３に伝達する。駆動手段は、本体側連結部８３、駆動源８４および減速装置８５を含む。本体側連結部８３は、回転軸８６、継手受部８７およびばね部材８８を含んで構成される。回転軸８６は、その軸線Ｌ８６が装置本体７１の正背方向Ｅに平行にして、装置本体７１の背面外装部７１ｂ側のハウジング７３の背壁部となる筐体背面部９４を厚さ方向に貫通して設けられる軸受部８９に回転自在に挿通されて、その遊端部が容器収容空間７７に配置される。
【０１０２】
継手受部８７は、略円盤状に形成され、容器収容空間７７に臨み、回転軸８６と一体となって軸線Ｌ８６まわりに回転自在にして、回転軸８６の遊端部に連結される。継手受部８７の筐体背面部９４に臨む表面部とは逆の表面部８７ａの中央部には、回転軸８６の軸線Ｌ８６を軸線として筐体背面部９４側に陥没し、現像剤収納容器３０の補給蓋４６が装着されている補給口部４５が嵌入可能な補助凹所９６が設けられる。また継手受部８７の前記表面部８７ａの前記補助凹所９６よりも半径方向外方には、互いに回転軸８６の軸線Ｌ８６をに関して対称な位置に配置されて、筐体背面部９４側に陥没する複数、本実施の形態では２個の嵌合凹所９０が形成される。これらの嵌合凹所９０は、容器本体３１の各嵌合凸部３７に対応する形状となっており、容器本体３１の各嵌合凸部３７が嵌合凹所９０に嵌入することで、嵌合凸部３７と嵌合凹所９０とが嵌合する。
【０１０３】
また継手受部８７は、回転軸８６の遊端部から脱落することなく、回転軸８６の軸線方向に変位自在である。また圧縮コイルばねなどで実現されるばね部材８８は、筐体背面部９４と継手受部８７との間に配置され、回転軸８６および継手受部８７の回転を阻害することなく、継手受部８７が筐体背面部９４から離間する方向へのばね力を付勢する。現像剤収納容器３０の容器本体３１の嵌合凸部３７を含む軸線方向一端部３３ａと、本体側連結部８３の継手受部８７とによって、カップリング構造が形成される。したがって容器本体３１の嵌合凸部３７は、本体側連結部８３の継手受部８７に着脱可能に連結することができる。
【０１０４】
現像剤収納容器３０を装置本体７１に装着するときは、現像剤収納容器３０を、回転軸線Ｌ３１と装着方向Ｅ１とを平行にして、装置本体７１の正面外装部７１ａからトナーホッパ７２の容器収納空間７７に挿入する。このとき現像剤収納容器３０の支持部材３２の第１案内片５３をハウジング７３の第１案内凹所７９に嵌合するとともに、支持部材３２の第２案内片５４をハウジング７３の第２案内凹所８０に嵌合して、支持部材３２の装着方向Ｅ１および離脱方向Ｅ２を除く方向への変位を阻止する。この状態で、現像剤収納容器３０を装着方向Ｅ１に変位させて、支持部材３２の排出部５０の導通孔５１と現像剤供給部７４の連通孔８１とが連通する位置である装着位置に配置する。このとき本体側連結部８３の継手受部８７が容器本体３１の嵌合凸部３７によって装着方向Ｅ１に押圧されて縮退し、ばね部材８８が圧縮される。
【０１０５】
トナーホッパ７２には、現像剤収納容器３０が装着位置に配置されている状態で、支持部材３２が装着方向Ｅ１および離脱方向Ｅ２への変位の規制および規制の解除を行う規制部材が設けられる（図示せず）。現像剤収納容器３０に収納されていた現像剤が全て排出されると、利用者は、前記規制部材による支持部材３２への規制を解除して、現像剤収納容器３０を離脱方向Ｅ２に変位させて、装置本体７１から現像剤収納容器３０を離脱する。
【０１０６】
トナーホッパ７２の現像剤供給部７４の容器収容空間７７に臨む連通孔８１の周囲には、現像剤収納容器３０のシャッタ部６５のシャッタ６５ａをスライド変位させるためのシャッタ変位手段が設けられる（図示せず）。現像剤収納容器３０を、回転軸線Ｌ３１と装着方向Ｅ１とを平行にして、装置本体７１の正面外装部７１ａからトナーホッパ７２の容器収納空間７７に挿入するとき、シャッタ変位手段によって、閉位置Ｐ１に配置されていたシャッタ６５ａが第２水平方向一方向Ｂ１にスライド変位して、現像剤収納容器３０が装着位置に配置されると、シャッタ６５ａは開位置Ｐ２に配置される。また装置本体７１に装着されて装着位置に配置されている現像剤収納容器３０を離脱方向Ｅ２に変位させて、装置本体７１から現像剤収納容器３０を離脱するとき、シャッタ変位手段によって、開位置Ｐ２に配置されていたシャッタ６５ａが第２水平方向他方向Ｂ２にスライド変位して、閉位置Ｐ１に配置される。
【０１０７】
また現像剤収納容器３０の支持部材３２の排出部５０の導通孔５１の周囲、およびトナーホッパ７２の現像剤供給部７４の容器収容空間７７に臨む連通孔８１の周囲の、少なくともいずれかには、導通孔５１から連通孔８１に流下する現像剤が攪拌空間７８以外に漏れ出ることを防止するためのシール材が設けられる（図示せず）。
【０１０８】
図３１に示すように、装置本体７１において、現像部２００は、正背方向Ｅ中間部に配置される。これは装置本体７１の感光体ドラム２０２が、装置本体７１において正背方向Ｅ中間部に配置されているためである。また本体側連結部８３ならびに攪拌部材７５および供給ローラ７６を回転するための駆動源８４および減速装置８５などの駆動部は、装置本体２１において筐体背面部９４と背面外装部７１ｂとの間に配置される。したがって現像剤収納容器３０が装着位置に配置されている状態で、現像剤収納容器３０の支持部材３２は、装置本体７１の正背方向Ｅ中間部に配置される。現像剤収納容器３０において、前述のように容器本体３１の支持部材３２から嵌合凸部３７が形成される軸線方向一端部３３ａの端面までの長さ寸法は、支持部材３２から軸線方向他端部３４ａの端面までの長さ寸法よりも小さく形成される。
【０１０９】
本実施の形態の画像形成装置７０における現像剤収納容器３０では、支持部材３２は容器本体３１の軸線方向中間部に配置されるので、画像形成装置本体７１における装着位置に装着した状態で、支持部材３２は、装置本体７１における正背方向Ｅ中間部に配置される。これによって容器本体３１を、装置本体７１の正背方向Ｅ中間部から正面部まで伸ばすとともに、正背方向Ｅ中間部から背面まで伸ばして、容量を極めて大きくすることができる。本実施の形態では、図３１に示すように、現像剤収納容器３０の軸線方向他端部３４ａは、筐体正面部９３よりも正面外装部７１側に出っ張っている。
【０１１０】
また容器本体３１の支持部材３２から軸線方向一端部３３ａの端面までの長さ寸法を、支持部材３２から軸線方向他端部３４ａの端面までの長さ寸法よりも小さくすることで、装置本体７１の背面部において、容器本体３１の軸線方向一端部３３ａの嵌合凸部３７に連結される駆動源８４および減速装置８５を含む駆動部を設ける領域を確保することができる。このように現像剤収納容器３０は、装置本体７１内の空間を有効に利用して、かつ現像剤の収納量を可及的に大きくするという２つの比類ない効果を奏する。
【０１１１】
このように現像剤収納容器３０が装着位置に配置されている状態で、駆動源８４を駆動して、継手受部８７を回転すると、継手受部８７の嵌合凹所９０と現像剤収納容器３０の嵌合凸部３７とが嵌合している状態では、そのまま容器本体３１が回転軸線Ｌ３１まわりに回転する。また、継手受部８７の嵌合凹所９０と現像剤収納容器３０の嵌合凸部３７とが嵌合していない状態では、継手受部８７の嵌合凹所９０と現像剤収納容器３０の嵌合凸部３７とが嵌合するまでは、しばらくの間、継手受部８７だけが角変位し、継手受部８７の嵌合凹所９０と現像剤収納容器３０の嵌合凸部３７とが嵌合すると、ばね部材８８によるばね力が付勢されて、継手受部８７の嵌合凹所９０と現像剤収納容器３０の嵌合凸部３７とが密着するように嵌合する。容器本体３１が回転軸線Ｌ３１まわりに回転する。このように現像剤収納容器３０の容器本体３１が回転軸線Ｌ３１まわりに回転することで、現像剤収納容器３０に収納されている現像剤が、支持部材３２の排出部５０の導通孔５１およびトナーホッパ７２の現像剤供給部７４の連通孔８１を介して、攪拌空間７８に供給されて収容される。
【０１１２】
攪拌部材７５および供給ローラ７６は、互いに間隔をあけて装置本体７１の正背方向Ｅに延び、攪拌空間７８に配置される。攪拌部材７５は、正背方向Ｅに平行な攪拌軸線Ｌ７５まわりに回転自在であり、攪拌軸線Ｌ７５方向に延びて可撓性を有する掻出部材９１を有する。また攪拌部材７５は、装置本体７１に設けられる駆動源８４からの駆動力によって、装置本体７１の正面から見て攪拌軸線Ｌ７５まわりの時計回り方向Ｊ１に回転する。供給ローラ７６は、正背方向Ｅに平行な供給軸線Ｌ７６まわりに回転自在であり、その外周面部は、たとえばスポンジなどの多孔質の樹脂から成る。また供給ローラ７６は、装置本体７１に設けられる駆動源８４からの駆動力によって、装置本体７１の正面から見て攪拌軸線Ｌ７６まわりの反時計回り方向Ｊ２に回転する。
【０１１３】
トナーホッパ７２の攪拌空間７８に臨み、現像剤供給部７４に連通し、装置本体２１の正背方向Ｅに延び、攪拌部材７５の攪拌軸線Ｌ７５に垂直な断面形状が略Ｕ字状で、上方に開放する部分円筒内周面状に形成される攪拌壁部９２が設けられる。現像剤は１箇所の連通孔８１から攪拌空間７８に供給されるけれども、前述のように現像剤収納容器３０から排出される現像剤は、攪拌されるだけでなく気体とも混合されて微粉体状になり、極めて流動性が良好であるので、連通孔８１から供給されただけでも、攪拌空間７８において攪拌軸線Ｌ７５方向に拡散する。攪拌空間７８に収容された現像剤は、攪拌部材７５による攪拌によって、攪拌空間７８において攪拌軸線Ｌ７５方向にさらに拡散する。
【０１１４】
攪拌部材７５が回転すると、連通孔８１から供給され攪拌空間７８に収容される現像剤を攪拌するとともに、掻出部材９１は、その遊端部が攪拌壁部９２に当接しながら、攪拌空間７８に収容される現像剤を掻き出して供給ローラ７６に与える。したがって供給ローラ７６には、その軸線Ｌ７６方向にほぼ均一にして、微粉体状の現像剤が与えられる。また攪拌空間７８に収容される現像剤の残量が少なくなっても、掻出部材９１によって掻きとるようにして供給ローラ７６に与えられるので、供給ローラ７６に与えられずに攪拌空間７８に残留する現像剤を、可及的に少なくすることができる。供給ローラ７６に与えられた現像剤は、供給ローラ７６の回転によって、良好な状態で現像部２００に供給される。
【０１１５】
装置本体７１は、現像部２００、記録紙カセット２０１、感光体ドラム２０２、帯電部２０３、レーザ露光部２０４および定着部２０５をさらに含む。現像部２００は、トナーホッパ７２から供給される現像剤であるトナーと、予め用意されている磁性を有する粒子であるキャリアとを攪拌して２成分現像材を生成する。
【０１１６】
記録紙カセット２０１は、画像を形成すべき記録紙を保持する。感光体ドラム２０２は、外周部に感光体が設けられる円筒状のドラムであり、前記駆動部からの駆動力によって、その軸線まわりに回転する。帯電部２０３は、感光体ドラム２０２の感光体を帯電させて感光性を与える。レーザ露光部２０４は、帯電している感光体ドラム２０２の感光体をレーザ光像で露光して、感光体に静電潜像を形成する。
【０１１７】
現像部２００は、２成分現像材を攪拌するとともに、静電潜像が形成された感光体ドラム２０２の感光体に２成分現像材を供給して現像して、静電潜像に対応するトナー像が形成される。感光体ドラム２０２は、記録紙カセット２０１からの給紙される記録紙に、感光体ドラム２０２のトナー像を転写する。定着部２０５は、トナー像が転写された記録紙のトナー像を記録紙に定着する。トナー像が定着されて画像が形成された記録紙は、排紙トレイ２０６に排出される。現像部４における２成分現像材のトナー濃度を一定にするために、供給ローラ７６は、その外周部がスポンジで形成されており、さらにその回転が制御されている。これによって供給ローラ７６は、適量なトナーを微粉末の状態で現像部２００に供給する。
【０１１８】
このような現像剤収納容器３０の容器本体３１、ならびにトナーホッパ７２の攪拌部材７５および供給ローラ７６の制御について以下に簡単に述べる。トナーホッパ７２の攪拌空間７８に収容される現像剤（以後、「トナー」と表記することがある）が少なくなって来たことを、攪拌壁部９２に設けられるトナー残量検出部９５が検出すると、図示しない制御部は、駆動源８４を制御して、現像剤収納容器３０の容器本体３１を回転して、トナーを攪拌空間７８に供給させる。容器本体３１を予め定める時間回転しても、トナー残量検出部９５から攪拌空間７８に収容されるトナーの量が満杯になっていないと検出されると、制御部は、容器本体３１の回転を停止するとともに、図示しない表示部に現像剤収納容器３０を交換することを意味するメッセージを表示して、利用者に報知する。この時点では、トナーホッパ７２の攪拌空間７８には、相当量の現像剤が収納されている。トナーホッパ７２の攪拌空間７８に現像剤が収容されているうちに、利用者は空になった現像剤収納容器３０を装置本体７１から離脱して、現像剤が収納されている新たな現像剤収納容器３０を装置本体７１に装着する。これによって画像形成装置７０が記録紙に画像形成している途中であっても、画像形成に必要な現像剤はトナーホッパ７２の攪拌空間７８に収容されているので、画像形成作業を中断することなく装置本体７１への現像剤の補給をすることができる。
【０１１９】
本実施の形態では、現像剤を補給するときには、現像剤収納容器３０だけを交換するだけでよく、利用者は、たとえば現像剤収納容器３０の支持部材３２と第２容器部３４とを把持して、嵌合凸部３７が形成される第１容器部３３から、装置本体７１の筐体正面部９３から装着方向Ｅ１に向けてトナーホッパ７２の容器収容空間７７に挿入するだけでよく、非常に簡便である。また装置本体７１から現像剤収納容器３０を離脱するときには、利用者は、現像剤収納容器３０の第２容器部３４を把持して、離脱方向Ｅ２に向けて引っ張り出すだけでよく、非常に簡便である。
【０１２０】
また収納される現像剤を攪拌して凝集を防ぐためには、従来では大重量かつ大形のトナーカートリッジを利用者が上下左右に揺動したけれども、本実施の形態の現像剤収納容器３０では、利用者が容器本体３１を回転軸線Ｌ３１まわりに回転するだけでよく、非常に容易である。また本実施の形態の現像剤収納容器３０は、収納される現像剤の攪拌を行うための構成が非常に簡単である。また現像剤収納容器３０は、容器本体３１と支持部材３２との間がシールを達成しているとともに、現像剤収納容器３０が装置本体７１に装着位置において装着されている場合には、互いに連通する排出部５０の導通孔５１周囲および現像剤供給部７４の連通孔８１の周囲の少なくともいずれかシールを達成しているので、トナーホッパ７２の容器収容空間７７において現像剤が漏れ出ることが可及的に防止できる。したがって、利用者が現像剤収納容器３０の交換をするときに、現像剤によって手が汚れることを可及的に防止することができる。また現像剤収納容器３０は、大略的に円筒状であるので、細長い直方体状の梱包箱に収納することができ、運搬および補間が極めて容易である。
【０１２１】
また現像剤収納容器３０は、前述したように容器本体３１を回転するための回転力をあまり大きくすること無く、さらに容器本体３１の１回転あたりの現像剤の排出量が可及的に一定量である。これによって容器本体３１の回転速度を高める必要が無く低速でも、トナーホッパ７２の攪拌空間７８への現像剤の供給が可能であり、容器本体３１の１回転あたりの現像剤の排出量を可及的に一定にして、前記攪拌空間７８に現像剤を供給可能であり、駆動源８４のトルクを小さくででき、駆動源８４を、たとえば小形のモータにすることができる。
【０１２２】
前述の実施の形態の現像剤収納容器３０および画像形成装置７０において、２成分現像の場合として扱ったけれども、トナーのみの現像システムでも適用可能である。
【０１２３】
【発明の効果】
以上のように本発明によれば、シール手段は、容器本体に巻回され、支持部材の支持側突起部に軸線方向から全周にわたって弾発的に当接する当接部が設けられるので、容器本体の外周部と支持部材の外周部との間のシールが達成される。またシール手段には、シール手段の外周部と支持部材の内周部との間に進入した現像剤を排出孔側に掻出す掻出部が設けられるので、シール手段の外周部と支持部材の内周部との間に進入した現像剤を排出孔に導くことができる。これによって容器本体の外周部と支持部材の外周部との間のほぼ完全なるシールを達成することができる。容器本体の外周部と支持部材の内周部との間のシールを達成するために、たとえば容器本体に巻回されるシール手段の外周部を全周にわたって支持部材の内周部に弾発的に当接させると、半径方向に働く弾発力によって容器本体が支持部材に対して回転することを妨げる摩擦力が大きくなる。本発明では、このようにシール手段の外周部を全周にわたって支持部材の内周部に弾発的に当接させずに、シール手段の当接部を、支持部材の支持側突起部に軸線方向から全周にわたって弾発的に当接することによって、前述のような摩擦力を低減することができる。さらにシール手段には、シール手段の外周部と支持部材の内周部との間に進入した現像剤を排出孔側に掻出す掻出部が設けられるので、現像剤はシール手段の当接部に到達することなく、排出孔側へと導かれ、シールが確実となる。したがって容器本体の回転を妨げる摩擦力の低減と、シールとを同時に達成することができる。
【０１２４】
また本発明によれば、シール手段の掻出部は、複数個の掻出片を有し、各掻出片は、軸線方向の全領域で支持部材の内周部に当接し、周方向に間隔をあけて、半径方向外方に突出し、排出孔に近接するにつれて突出量が大きくなるように形成される。シール手段が容器本体とともに軸線まわりに回転すると、各掻出片の排出孔に近接する部分が、掻出片の排出孔から離反する部分よりも、容器本体の回転方向上流側に配置されるように弾性的に変形して、支持部材の内周部に弾発的に当接しながら摺動する。これによってシール手段の外周部と支持部材の内周部との間に進入した現像剤を、排出孔に向けて掻出すことができる。
【０１２５】
また本発明によれば、シール手段の掻出部は、複数個の掻出片を有し、各掻出片は、軸線方向の全領域で支持部材の内周部に弾発的に当接し、周方向に間隔をあけて、半径方向外方に突出し、排出孔に近接するにつれて容器本体の回転方向上流側に向かって傾斜して複数個形成される。シール手段が容器本体とともに軸線まわりに回転すると、各掻出片の排出孔に近接する部分が、掻出片の排出孔から離反する部分よりも、容器本体の回転方向上流側に配置されて、支持部材の内周部に弾発的に当接しながら摺動する。これによってシール手段の外周部と支持部材の内周部との間に進入した現像剤を、排出孔に向けて掻出すことができる。
【０１２６】
また本発明によれば、画像形成装置は、前述の効果を達成する現像剤収納容器を着脱可能に搭載することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施の一形態の現像剤収納容器３０を示す斜視図である。
【図２】現像剤収納容器３０を示す正面図である。
【図３】現像剤収納容器３０を示す左側面図である。
【図４】容器本体３１を示す正面図である。
【図５】容器本体３１を示す左側面図である。
【図６】容器本体３１を示す右側面図である。
【図７】第３容器部３５を示す斜視図である。
【図８】第３容器部３５付近を拡大して示す正面図である。
【図９】（１）は、図８の切断面線Ｓ９１−Ｓ９１から見た断面図であり、（２）は、図４の切断面線Ｓ９２−Ｓ９２から見た断面図である。
【図１０】支持部材３２を示す正面図である。
【図１１】支持部材３２を示す右側面図である。
【図１２】支持部材３２を示す分解右側面図である。
【図１３】図１１の切断面線Ｓ１３−Ｓ１３から見た断面図である。
【図１４】シール材４７を示す正面図である。
【図１５】シール材４７を示す側面図である。
【図１６】現像剤収納容器３０を組立てる状態を示す正面図である。
【図１７】図１６の切断面線Ｓ１７−Ｓ１７から見た断面図である。
【図１８】図３の切断面線Ｓ１８−Ｓ１８から見た断面図である。
【図１９】図１８における一方のシール材４７付近を拡大して示す断面図である。
【図２０】図１９のセクションＸＸを拡大して示す断面図である。
【図２１】図２の切断面線Ｓ２１−Ｓ２１から見た断面図である。
【図２２】図２１のセクションＸＸＩＩを拡大して示す図である。
【図２３】容器本体３１が回転軸線Ｌ３１まわりの回転方向Ｒに回転しているときに、容器本体３１の第３容器部３５内の現像剤が支持部材３２の導通孔５１に導かれるまでの動作を説明するための図である。
【図２４】容器本体３１が回転軸線Ｌ３１まわりの回転方向Ｒに回転しているときに、容器本体３１の第３容器部３５内の現像剤が支持部材３２の導通孔５１に導かれるまでの動作を説明するための図である。
【図２５】現像剤収納容器３０から排出される現像剤の量と時間との関係を示すグラフである。
【図２６】シール手段の他の実施例であるシール材４７Ａを示す正面図である。
【図２７】容器本体３１に巻回される一方のシール材４７Ａ付近を拡大して示す断面図である。
【図２８】図２７のセクションＸＸＶＩＩＩを拡大して示す断面図である。
【図２９】本発明の実施の他の形態の画像形成装置７０を示す断面図である。
【図３０】トナーホッパ７２付近を拡大して示す断面図である。
【図３１】トナーホッパ７２付近を拡大して示す平面図である。
【図３２】本体側連結部８３を拡大して示す斜視図である。
【図３３】第１の従来技術である現像剤供給容器１を示す斜視図である。
【図３４】第２の従来技術であるトナーカートリッジ１０を示す斜視図である。
【符号の説明】
３０現像剤収納容器
３１容器本体
３２支持部材
４７，４７Ａシール材
４８内周部
５８第１支持凸部
５９第２支持凸部
９７当接部
９８，９８Ａ掻出部
９９，９９Ａ掻出片[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a toner storage container for storing toner used for electrophotographic image formation, and an image forming apparatus to which the toner storage container is detachably mounted.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing the developer supply container 1 according to the first prior art. The developer supply container 1 is formed in a cylindrical shape with both ends closed, and is provided with a storage space for storing toner. The developer supply container 1 has a first projecting piece 4 protruding inward in the radial direction and extending spirally from the axial end portion 2 toward the axial central portion 3 about the axis L1. And a second projecting piece 6 that spirally extends from the other end 5 in the axial direction toward the central portion 3 in the axial direction with the axis L1 as the center. A through-hole 7 is formed in the central portion 3 in the axial direction of the developer supply container 1 so as to penetrate the storage space and the outer space of the developer supply container 1 in the radial direction.
[0003]
The developer supply container 1 is a toner provided in the image forming apparatus main body (not shown) so that the axis L1 is parallel to the horizontal direction and the central portion 3 in the axial direction opens upward. The image forming apparatus main body is connected so as to face the supply port. In this state, the developer supply container 1 is rotated around the axis L1 by a driving force from a driving unit provided in the image forming apparatus main body. As a result, the toner stored in the storage space of the developer supply container 1 is sent to the central portion 3 in the axial direction by the projecting pieces 4 and 6, and when the through hole 7 is disposed at a position facing the toner supply port, The toner is supplied to the toner supply port through the through hole 7 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
FIG. 34 is a perspective view showing the toner cartridge 10 according to the second prior art. The toner cartridge 10 is formed in a cylindrical shape with both ends closed, and is provided with a storage space for storing toner. A through hole 12 is formed in the central portion 11 of the toner cartridge 10 in the axial direction, extending in the axial direction and penetrating in the radial direction so as to communicate the storage space and the outer space of the toner cartridge 10.
[0005]
The toner cartridge 10 is connected to a toner supply port provided in the image forming apparatus main body (not shown) so that the axis L10 is parallel to the horizontal direction and the center in the axial direction opens upward. Then, it is connected to the image forming apparatus main body. In this state, the toner cartridge 10 is rotated around the axis L10 by a driving force from a driving unit provided in the image forming apparatus main body. Thus, the toner stored in the storage space of the toner cartridge 10 is supplied to the toner supply port via the through hole 12 when the through hole 12 faces the toner supply port (for example, a patent). Reference 2).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-339115
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-6-348127
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the developer supply container 1 of the first prior art described above, the toner discharged from the developer supply container 1 does not leak between the developer supply container 1 rotating around the axis L1 and the image forming apparatus main body. There is no disclosure or suggestion regarding the sealing means to do so.
[0008]
Further, in the above-described second conventional toner cartridge 10, the toner discharged from the toner cartridge 10 is prevented from leaking between the toner cartridge 10 rotating around the axis L10 and the image forming apparatus main body. There is no disclosure or suggestion regarding the sealing means.
[0009]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a developer container that can prevent the developer discharged from the container body from leaking to an undesired location as much as possible, and an image in which the developer container is detachably mounted. A forming apparatus is provided.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is a developer storage container detachably mounted on the image forming apparatus,
Formed in a cylindrical shape for storing the developer used for image formation, provided with a discharge hole for discharging the developer, and transporting the developer stored by rotating around the axis toward the discharge hole A container body;
Cover at least the portion including the discharge hole from the radially outer side over the entire circumference, support the container body rotatably around the axis, project radially inward at at least one end in the axial direction, and extend over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction A support member provided with a support-side protrusion that extends; and
Sealing means wound around the container body and provided with a contact portion that elastically contacts the support-side protruding portion of the support member over the entire circumference from the axial direction, the outer peripheral portion of the seal means and the inner periphery of the support member And a sealing means provided with a scraping portion for scraping the developer that has entered between the two portions to the discharge hole side.
[0011]
According to the present invention, the sealing means is wound around the container body, and the contact-side protrusion of the support member is provided with a contact portion that elastically contacts the entire circumference from the axial direction. And the outer periphery of the support member is achieved. Further, the sealing means is provided with a scraping portion that scrapes the developer that has entered between the outer peripheral portion of the sealing means and the inner peripheral portion of the support member to the discharge hole side. The developer that has entered between the inner peripheral portion can be guided to the discharge hole. As a result, a substantially perfect seal between the outer periphery of the container body and the outer periphery of the support member can be achieved. In order to achieve a seal between the outer periphery of the container body and the inner periphery of the support member, for example, the outer periphery of the sealing means wound around the container body is elastically applied to the inner periphery of the support member over the entire circumference. When the contact is made, the frictional force that prevents the container body from rotating relative to the support member by the elastic force acting in the radial direction increases. In the present invention, the outer peripheral portion of the sealing means is not elastically brought into contact with the inner peripheral portion of the support member over the entire circumference in this way, and the contact portion of the sealing means is axially aligned with the support-side protruding portion of the support member. The frictional force as described above can be reduced by elastically contacting the entire circumference from the direction. Further, since the sealing means is provided with a scraping portion that scrapes the developer that has entered between the outer peripheral portion of the sealing means and the inner peripheral portion of the support member to the discharge hole side, the developer is brought into contact with the sealing means. Without reaching, it is guided to the discharge hole side, and sealing is ensured. Therefore, the reduction of the frictional force that hinders the rotation of the container body and the sealing can be achieved at the same time.
[0012]
Further, according to the present invention, the scraping portion of the sealing means has a plurality of scraping pieces, and each scraping piece elastically contacts the inner peripheral portion of the support member in the entire area in the axial direction. It protrudes outward in the radial direction with an interval in the direction, and is characterized in that the protruding amount increases as it approaches the discharge hole.
[0013]
According to the present invention, the scraping portion of the sealing means has a plurality of scraping pieces, and each scraping piece is in contact with the inner peripheral portion of the support member in the entire axial direction region and spaced in the circumferential direction. It is formed so that it protrudes outward in the radial direction and the amount of protrusion increases as it approaches the discharge hole. When the sealing means rotates about the axis together with the container body, the portion adjacent to the discharge hole of each scraping piece is arranged upstream of the portion separating from the discharge hole of the scraping piece in the rotation direction of the container body. It is elastically deformed and slides while elastically contacting the inner periphery of the support member. As a result, the developer that has entered between the outer peripheral portion of the sealing means and the inner peripheral portion of the support member can be scraped toward the discharge hole.
[0014]
Further, according to the present invention, the scraping portion of the sealing means has a plurality of scraping pieces, and each scraping piece elastically contacts the inner peripheral portion of the support member in the entire area in the axial direction. A plurality of protrusions are formed to protrude outward in the radial direction at intervals in the direction, and are inclined toward the upstream side in the rotation direction of the container body as they approach the discharge hole.
[0015]
According to the present invention, the scraping portion of the sealing means has a plurality of scraping pieces, and each scraping piece elastically contacts the inner peripheral portion of the support member in the entire area in the axial direction. A plurality are formed to protrude outward in the radial direction at intervals in the circumferential direction, and to incline toward the upstream side in the rotational direction of the container body as they approach the discharge hole. When the sealing means rotates around the axis together with the container main body, the portion adjacent to the discharge hole of each scraping piece is arranged on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the container main body from the portion separating from the discharge hole of the scraping piece, It slides while elastically contacting the inner periphery of the support member. As a result, the developer that has entered between the outer peripheral portion of the sealing means and the inner peripheral portion of the support member can be scraped toward the discharge hole.
[0016]
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus in which the developer container is detachably mounted.
[0017]
According to the present invention, the image forming apparatus can detachably mount a developer storage container that achieves the above-described action.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a developer container 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the developer storage container 30. FIG. 3 is a left side view showing the developer storage container 30. The developer storage container 30 includes a container main body 31 and a support member 32. The container main body 31 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and stores a developer such as a colored toner used for electrophotographic image formation. The support member 32 supports the container main body 31 so as to be rotatable around its axis L31. The developer storage container 30 can store, for example, 1400 grams of developer. Hereinafter, the axis L31 of the container body 31 may be referred to as a rotation axis L31.
[0019]
FIG. 4 is a front view showing the container main body 31. FIG. 5 is a left side view showing the container main body 31. FIG. 6 is a right side view showing the container main body 31. The container body 31 includes a first container part 33, a second container part 34, and a third container part 35. The length dimension A31 of the container body 31 in the direction of the axis L31 can be arbitrarily set, and may be, for example, 458 millimeters.
[0020]
The first container part 33 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. The length dimension A33 in the axial direction of the first container portion 33 can be arbitrarily set, and may be, for example, 160 millimeters. The inner peripheral portion of the first container portion 33 is provided with a feeding means for feeding the developer in the axial direction when being driven to rotate around the axis L31. As shown in FIG. 4, the feeding means has a first protruding piece 36 that is a plurality of feeding portions extending in a first extending direction intersecting the circumferential direction and projecting inward in the radial direction. Each first protrusion piece 36 is formed at intervals in the circumferential direction and the axial direction. More specifically, each first projecting piece 36 is formed so as to incline and extend in an arc shape so that the downstream end portion in the rotational direction is disposed closer to the bottom portion 33a than the upstream end portion in the rotational direction.
[0021]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bottom 33a of the first container part 33 is formed with a fitting convex part 37 and a supply port part 45 that are connecting parts protruding in the direction from the opening end part 33b toward the bottom part 33a. Is done. In the present embodiment, two fitting protrusions 37 are formed. The replenishing port portion 45 is formed in the central portion of the bottom portion 33a of the first container portion 33 so as to penetrate in the direction of the rotation axis L31 and open in a circular shape coaxial with the axis L33 of the first container portion 33. The replenishing port portion 45 is formed in accordance with its shape, and the replenishment lid 46 detachably attached to the replenishing port portion 45 achieves a seal with the replenishing port portion 45, by rotating the container body 31. It is attached so as not to leave. By removing the supply lid 46 from the supply port 45, the inner space and the outer space of the container main body 31 communicate with each other, and the developer can be supplied to the container main body 31 in this state.
[0022]
More specifically, the fitting convex portion 37 is disposed at a position substantially symmetrical with respect to the axis L33 of the first container portion 33 on the outer side in the radial direction from the supply port portion 45. More specifically, the fitting convex portion 37 is, as shown in FIG. 5, the upstream side in the rotational direction R that is the clockwise rotational direction around the rotational axis L31 as viewed from the bottom 33a of the first container portion 33. The portion 37a is formed to have a plane extending perpendicular to the circumferential direction. Moreover, the rotation direction R downstream part of the fitting convex part 37 is formed so that it may incline to the axial direction other end part side as it goes to the rotation direction R downstream. The protrusion amount A37 in the direction of the axis L33 from the remaining portion of the bottom 33a of the fitting convex portion 37 can be arbitrarily set, and may be, for example, 8 millimeters. Such a fitting convex portion 37 is detachable from a main body side connecting portion 83 (see FIG. 32) provided in the image forming apparatus 70 described later.
[0023]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the surface 33 c where the outer peripheral surface and the end surface communicate with each other at the bottom 33 a of the first container portion 33 is a curved surface that inclines radially inward from the opening end 33 b toward the bottom 33 a. Formed.
[0024]
The second container part 34 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. The length dimension A34 in the axial direction of the second container portion 34 can be arbitrarily set, and may be 210 millimeters, for example. In the inner peripheral portion of the second container portion 34, there is provided a feeding means for feeding the developer in the axial direction when being rotated around the axis L31. As shown in FIG. 4, the feeding means extends in a second extending direction different from the first extending direction that intersects the circumferential direction, and is a second protrusion that is a plurality of feeding parts protruding inward in the radial direction. It has a piece 39. Each 2nd protrusion piece 39 is formed at intervals in the circumferential direction and the axial direction. More specifically, each of the second projecting pieces 39 is formed to be inclined and extend in an arc shape so that the downstream end portion in the rotational direction is disposed closer to the bottom portion 34a than the upstream end portion in the rotational direction.
[0025]
The length dimension A34 in the axial direction of the second container part 34 is set to be longer than the length dimension A33 in the axial direction of the first container part 33, for example, 30 mm or longer. As described above, the length dimension A33 of the first container portion 33 in the axial direction can be arbitrarily set, for example, 150 mm, and the length dimension A34 of the second container portion 34 in the axial direction is It can be set arbitrarily, and may be 215 millimeters, for example. Further, the inner diameter D33 of the inner peripheral portion excluding the first protrusion piece 36 of the first container portion 33 and the inner diameter D34 of the inner peripheral portion excluding the second protrusion piece 39 of the second container portion 33 can be arbitrarily set, For example, it may be 105 millimeters. The distance A1 between the pair of first protrusions 36 and second protrusions 39 adjacent in the axial direction can be arbitrarily set, and may be 15 millimeters, for example.
[0026]
The length dimension A36 of the first projecting piece 36 in the first extending direction and the length dimension A39 of the second projecting piece 39 in the second extending direction are the inner peripheral length of the first container part 33 and the second container part 34. It is desirable that it is about 1/16 or more and 3/8 or less of the inner peripheral length. The length dimension A36 in the first extending direction of the first protruding piece 36 and the length dimension A39 in the second extending direction of the second protruding piece 39 are the inner peripheral length of the first container part 33 and the second container part 34. When the length is shorter than 1/16 of the inner peripheral length of the developer, the developer feeding capability is reduced. The length dimension A36 of the first projecting piece 36 in the first extending direction and the length dimension A39 of the second projecting piece 39 in the second extending direction are the inner peripheral length of the first container section 33 and the second container section. If it is longer than three-eighths of the inner peripheral length of 34, the strength of the container body 31 is undesirably lowered. Further, if the feeding ability of the first protrusion piece 36 and the second protrusion piece 39 is too high, the developer may be aggregated in the vicinity of the discharge hole, which is not preferable. In the present embodiment, the length dimension A36 of the first projecting piece 36 in the first extending direction and the length dimension A39 of the second projecting piece 39 in the second extending direction can be arbitrarily set, for example 60 It may be millimeters. The interval between the two first protrusions 36 adjacent in the circumferential direction and the interval between the two second protrusions 39 adjacent in the circumferential direction can be arbitrarily set, and may be, for example, 50 millimeters.
[0027]
Further, the protruding amount A2 in the radially inward direction from the remaining portion of the inner peripheral portion of the first container portion 33 and the second container portion 34 of the first protrusion piece 36 and the second protrusion piece 39 is 1 millimeter or more and 10 millimeters. The following degree is desirable. By making the protrusion amount A2 larger than 10 millimeters, the developer feeding ability of the first projection piece 36 and the second projection piece 39 is increased. However, if the feeding ability is too high, the developer in the vicinity of the discharge hole. May agglomerate, which is not preferable. Further, when the protruding amount A2 is larger than 10 millimeters, there arises a problem that it becomes difficult to provide the first protruding piece 36 and the second protruding piece 39 by blow molding. On the other hand, when the protruding amount A2 is less than 1 millimeter, the developer feeding capability is reduced, and a necessary and sufficient amount of developer cannot be fed to the discharge hole. In the present embodiment, the projecting amount A2 radially inward from the remaining portions of the inner peripheral portions of the first projecting piece 36 and the second projecting piece 39 may be 6 millimeters, for example. Further, as the number of the first projecting pieces 36 and the second projecting pieces 39 increases, the feeding ability increases. In the present embodiment, 26 first projecting pieces 36 and 38 second projecting pieces 39 are provided. Also good.
[0028]
The angle α formed between the tangent line of the first projecting piece 36 and the second projecting piece 39 and the circumferential tangent line of the first container part 33 and the second container part 34 is 2 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less, and more preferably 5 degrees. More than 30 degrees and less than 30 degrees are desirable. In the present embodiment, the angle α may be about 9 degrees, for example. The developer feeding ability of the container body 31 is determined by the geometrical conditions of the first protrusion piece 36 and the second protrusion piece 39 as described above, and the developer is completely discharged from the state where the container body 31 is full. It is determined so that an appropriate amount can always be discharged from the discharge hole 43 until the state immediately before disappearing.
[0029]
In the bottom portion 34a of the second container portion 34, at least the surface where the outer peripheral surface and the end surface communicate with each other is formed in a curved shape that inclines radially inward from the opening end portion 34b toward the bottom portion 34a. Specifically, the end surface 34c of the bottom portion 34a of the second container portion 34 is formed in a partial spherical shape such that the center portion projects in a direction from the opening end portion 34b toward the bottom portion 34a. A plurality of guide projection pieces 40 projecting outward in the radial direction are provided at the outer peripheral portion at a position spaced from the end face of the opening end portion 34b of the second container portion 34 toward the bottom portion 34a. In this embodiment, two are provided. The dimension of the guide protrusion piece 40 in the axial direction can be arbitrarily set, and may be, for example, 2.5 millimeters.
[0030]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the third container portion 35. FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view showing the vicinity of the third container portion 35. 9 (1) is a cross-sectional view taken along section line S91-S91 in FIG. 8, and FIG. 9 (2) is a cross-sectional view taken along section line S92-S92 in FIG. Reference is also made to FIG. The third container portion 35 is generally formed in a cylindrical shape. More specifically, the third container part 35 is provided with a first concave part 41 and a second concave part 42 which are concave parts recessed inward in the radial direction in the axially intermediate part of the outer peripheral part, and the first concave part. A discharge hole 43 is formed in 41 for discharging the developer. The length dimension A35 in the axial direction of the third container portion 35 may be, for example, 80 millimeters. The inner diameter D35 of the third container portion 35 excluding the first concave portion 41 and the second concave portion 42 is formed larger than the inner diameters D33 and D34 of the first container portion 33 and the second container portion 34 which are the remaining portions. An inner diameter D35 of the third container portion 35 excluding the first concave portion 41 and the second concave portion 42 can be arbitrarily set, and may be, for example, 110 millimeters.
[0031]
The first recess 41 is formed to extend in the rotation direction R, has a smaller dimension W41 in the axial direction than the dimension A41 in the rotation direction R, and intersects the rotation direction R at the downstream end of the rotation direction R. End wall portion 41a. The discharge hole 43 is formed in a part of the end wall portion 41 a on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the first recess 41. The second recess 42 is formed to extend in the rotation direction R, and has a smaller dimension W42 in the axial direction than the dimension A42 in the rotation direction R. The second recess 42 extends from the first recess 41 to the circumferential direction of the third container portion 35. Provided at intervals. The dimension A41 in the rotation direction R of the first recess 41 is preferably not less than one quarter and less than one half of the outer peripheral length of the third container portion 35 excluding the first recess 41 and the second recess 42. The dimension A41 in the rotation direction R of the first recess 41 may be, for example, 120 millimeters, and the dimension W41 in the axial direction may be, for example, 30 millimeters. The dimension A42 in the rotation direction R of the second recess 43 can be arbitrarily set, for example, 30 mm. The dimension W42 in the axial direction can be arbitrarily set, for example, 120 mm. Also good.
[0032]
More specifically, the first concave portion 41 further includes a bottom wall portion 41b, a first side wall portion 41c, and a second side wall portion 41d. The bottom wall portion 41b of the first recess 41 extends in the rotational direction R, the downstream end portion in the rotational direction R communicates with the radially inner portion of the end wall portion 41a, and the upstream end portion in the rotational direction R is the first end portion. Between the first concave portion 41 and the second concave portion 42 and smoothly communicates with the outer peripheral portion of the third container portion 35 excluding the first concave portion 41 and the second concave portion 42. The central portion of the rotation direction R between the rotation direction R downstream end and the rotation direction R upstream end of the bottom wall portion 41b of the first recess 41 is the third container excluding the first recess 41 and the second recess 42. It is arranged radially inward from the portion 35 and is formed in a partially cylindrical shape having the axis L35 of the third container portion 35 as an axis. The radius of curvature of the outer peripheral portion of the center portion in the rotation direction R of the bottom wall portion 41b of the first recess 41 can be arbitrarily set, and may be, for example, 49 millimeters.
[0033]
The first side wall 41c of the first recess 41 is arranged on one end side in the axial direction of the first recess 41, extends in the rotation direction R, and its downstream end in the rotation direction R is one end in the axial direction of the end wall 41a. The radially inner portion communicates with one axial end portion of the bottom wall portion 41b, and the radially outer portion communicates with the axial direction of the third container portion 35 excluding the first concave portion 41 and the second concave portion 42. It communicates with the outer periphery of one end. The second side wall 41d of the first recess 41 is disposed on the other end side in the axial direction of the first recess 41, extends in the rotation direction R, and the downstream end of the rotation direction R is in the axial direction of the end wall 41a and the like. The third container portion 35 is communicated with the end portion, the radially inner portion thereof communicates with the other axial end portion of the bottom wall portion 41 b, and the radially outer portion thereof excluding the first concave portion 41 and the second concave portion 42. It communicates with the outer peripheral portion of the other axial end portion. The first sidewall portion 41c and the second sidewall portion 41d of the first recess are provided so as to stand radially outward from the bottom wall portion 41b, and the bottom wall portion 41b and the first sidewall portion 41c are substantially vertical. The bottom wall portion 41b and the second side wall portion 41d are substantially vertical.
[0034]
The discharge hole 43 is an intermediate portion in the axial direction of the end wall portion 41a of the first concave portion 41, and is formed to open in a rectangular shape with the axial direction as a longitudinal direction, closer to the outer side in the radial direction. Accordingly, the discharge hole 43 is closer to the outer side in the radial direction than the downstream end portion in the rotational direction R of the bottom wall portion 41b of the first concave portion 41 in the end wall portion 41a of the first concave portion 41, and the rotational direction of the first side wall portion 41c. The opening is closer to the other end in the axial direction than the end on the R downstream side, and closer to one end in the axial direction than the end on the downstream side in the rotation direction R of the second side wall 41d. More specifically, the radially outer surface of the discharge hole 43 is the inner periphery of the third container portion 35 excluding the first recess 41 and the second recess 42 on the downstream side in the rotation direction R of the first recess 41. Smooth communication with the surface.
[0035]
More specifically, the second recess 42 has a bottom wall portion 42b, a first side wall portion 42c, and a second side wall portion 42d. The bottom wall portion 42 b of the second recess 42 extends in the rotation direction R, and the rotation direction R upstream end and the rotation direction R downstream end are between the first recess 41 and the second recess 42. The first recess 41 and the second recess 42 are smoothly communicated with the outer peripheral portion of the third container portion 35 excluding the first recess 41 and the second recess 42. The center portion in the rotational direction R between the downstream end portion in the rotational direction R and the upstream end portion in the rotational direction R of the bottom wall portion 42b of the second concave portion 42 is the third container excluding the first concave portion 41 and the second concave portion 42. It is arranged radially inward from the portion 35 and is formed in a partially cylindrical shape having the axis L35 of the third container portion 35 as an axis. The radius of curvature of the outer peripheral portion of the central portion in the rotational direction R of the bottom wall portion 42b of the second recess 42 can be arbitrarily set, and may be, for example, 49 millimeters.
[0036]
The first side wall portion 42c of the second recess 42 is disposed on one end side in the axial direction of the second recess 42, extends in the rotation direction R, and its radially inner portion communicates with one end in the axial direction of the bottom wall portion 42b. Then, the radially outer portion communicates with the outer peripheral portion of one end portion in the axial direction of the third container portion 35 excluding the first concave portion 41 and the second concave portion 42. The second side wall portion 42d of the second concave portion 42 is disposed on the other axial end side of the second concave portion 42, and its radially inner portion communicates with the other axial end portion of the bottom wall portion 42b. The outer portion in the direction communicates with the outer peripheral portion of the other end portion in the axial direction of the third container portion 35 excluding the first concave portion 41 and the second concave portion 42. The first sidewall portion 42c and the second sidewall portion 42d of the second recess are provided so as to stand radially outward from the bottom wall portion 42b, and the bottom wall portion 42b and the first sidewall portion 42c are substantially vertical. Further, the bottom wall portion 42b and the second side wall portion 42d are substantially vertical.
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of discharges projecting outward in the radial direction are provided on the outer peripheral portions of the one axial end portion and the other axial end portion excluding the first concave portion 41 and the second concave portion 42 of the third container portion 35. The guide pieces 44 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction with a space therebetween in the circumferential direction. More specifically, the discharge guide piece 44 provided at one end in the axial direction of the third container portion 35 is inclined in the rotation direction R from the other end in the axial direction toward the one end in the axial direction. Further, in detail, the discharge guide piece 44 provided at the other axial end of the third container portion 35 is inclined in the rotation direction R from the one axial end to the other axial end. The protruding amount of the discharge guide piece 44 in the radial direction from the outer peripheral portion excluding the first concave portion 41 and the second concave portion 42 of the third container portion 35 may be, for example, 1 millimeter. The longitudinal dimension of the discharge guide piece 44 may be 24 millimeters, and the angle ψ formed by the longitudinal direction of the discharge guide piece 44 and the width direction of the third container portion 36 may be 30 degrees, for example. Good.
[0038]
The container main body 31 is connected to one end in the axial direction of the third container portion 35 and the opening end 33 b of the first container portion 33, and the other end in the axial direction of the third container portion 35 and the opening of the second container portion 34. It is integrally formed so that the end 34b is connected. Such a container main body 31 may be manufactured by blow molding a synthetic resin such as polyethylene. As a result, the container body 31 can be easily manufactured and the number of components of the developer storage container 30 can be reduced.
[0039]
The bottom portion 33 a of the first container portion 33 serves as one end portion 33 a in the axial direction of the container body 31, and the bottom portion 34 a of the second container portion 34 serves as the other end portion 34 a in the axial direction of the container body 31. In this way, the container main body 31 is formed by connecting the axes L33, L34, L35 of the first container part 33, the second container part 34, and the third container part 35 so as to be coaxial. Further, in this state, the third container part 35 is disposed in the axially intermediate part excluding the axially opposite ends 33a and 34a of the container body 31. Accordingly, the first container recess 41, the second container recess 42 and the discharge hole 43 of the third container portion 35 are disposed in the axial intermediate portion excluding the axial end portions 33 a and 34 a of the container body 31. An axis L31 of the container main body 31 includes an axis L33 of the first container part 33, an axis L34 of the second container part 34, and an axis L35 of the third container part 35.
[0040]
FIG. 10 is a front view showing the support member 32. FIG. 11 is a right side view showing the support member 32. The support member 32 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and an inner peripheral portion 48 that supports at least a portion including at least the third container portion 35 of the container main body 31 configured as described above from the outer side in the radial direction. Have The inner peripheral portion 48 has a cylindrical inner peripheral surface with the axis L32 as the center. The support member 32 includes a support base 49 having at least three contact portions 49a on a virtual plane parallel to the axis L32. The contact portion 49a of the support base 49 may be formed on, for example, two rectangular planes whose longitudinal direction is a direction parallel to the axis L32. By bringing the abutment portion 49a of the support base 49 into contact with the horizontal plane, the axis L48 of the inner peripheral portion 48 of the support member 32 can be arranged parallel to the horizontal plane. The length dimension A32 of the support member 32 in the axial direction is set larger than the length dimension A35 of the third container portion 35 in the axial direction. The length A32 in the axial direction of the support member 32 can be arbitrarily set, and may be, for example, 100 millimeters.
[0041]
In a state where the support base 49 is installed in a horizontal plane, the support member 32 is formed with a discharge portion 50 projecting in the first horizontal direction F1 which is one horizontal direction. A conduction hole 51 that penetrates along the first horizontal direction one direction F1 and opens in an elliptical shape extending in a direction parallel to the axis L32 of the support member is formed in the intermediate portion of the support member 32 in the discharge portion 50 in the axial direction. It is formed. The inner diameter in the longitudinal direction of the conduction hole 51 is set to be equal to or larger than the dimension W41 in the axial direction of the first recess 41 of the container body 31 and the dimension W42 in the axial direction of the second recess 42.
[0042]
The discharge portion 50 of the support member 32 is provided with a shutter portion 65 that switches the opening of the conduction hole 51 downstream in the first horizontal direction F1 between the open state and the closed state. The shutter unit 65 includes a shutter 65a and a shutter guide unit 65b. The shutter guide portion 65b extends in a second horizontal direction, which is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, and a conduction hole 51 is opened at the upstream end portion in the second horizontal direction B1. The shutter 65a is supported by the shutter guide portion 65b so as to be slidably displaceable in the second horizontal direction B1 and the second horizontal direction B2 opposite to the second horizontal direction B1.
[0043]
The shutter 65a slides and displaces along the shutter guide portion 65b, thereby closing the opening P1 downstream of the conduction hole 51 in the first horizontal direction F1 indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. , And the opening in the first horizontal direction one direction F1 downstream of the conduction hole 51 can be disposed at the open position P2. Further, the shutter 65a is restricted from slidingly displaceable downstream in the second horizontal direction other direction B2 than the closed position P1, and the second horizontal direction B1 downstream end of the shutter guide portion 65b in the second horizontal direction. Slide displacement in one direction B1 is restricted. That is, the open position P2 is downstream in the second horizontal direction B1 downstream of the closed position P1 and upstream of the second horizontal direction B1 downstream end of the shutter guide portion 65b in the second horizontal direction B1. . As described above, the shutter 65a is disposed at the open position P2 by sliding and displacing in the second horizontal direction B1 in the state where the shutter 65a is disposed at the closed position P1, and the second horizontal direction and the like when disposed at the open position P2. It is arranged at the closed position P1 by sliding displacement in the direction B2.
[0044]
The support member 32 is provided with a lead-out member 38 that is a lead-out means and a sealing sheet 66 that is a sealing means. The lead-out member 38 is made of, for example, a polymer resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (abbreviation: PET), and is formed in a sheet shape having flexibility and elasticity. In other words, at the base end, in other words, the inner periphery of the support member 32 Part, specifically, provided in the portion of the conduction hole 51 of the support member 32 that faces the upstream end of the first horizontal direction F1. The sealing sheet 66 is formed in a flexible sheet shape made of, for example, polyethylene, and is provided at a portion facing the upstream end portion in the first horizontal direction F1 of the conduction hole 51 of the support member 32 at the base end portion. . The base end portion of the lead-out member 38 is stacked on the upper surface portion of the base end portion of the sealing sheet 66. Further details of the lead member 38 and the sealing sheet 66 will be described later.
[0045]
The support member 32 is formed with two connecting protrusions 52 protruding outward in the radial direction. One connection protrusion 52 is disposed above the discharge part 50 in a state where the support base 49 is installed in a horizontal plane, and the other connection protrusion 52 is connected to the one connection protrusion 52 with respect to the axis L32. Are arranged at symmetrical positions. The support member 32 is arranged below the discharge portion 50 with the support base 49 installed in a horizontal plane, protrudes in the first horizontal direction F1, and extends in parallel with the axis L32. 53 is formed. Further, the support member 32 is disposed above the discharge unit 50 in a state where the support base 49 is installed in a horizontal plane, and the first horizontal other direction F2 is opposite to the first horizontal direction F1. The second guide piece 54 is formed so as to protrude in parallel with the axis L32.
[0046]
FIG. 12 is an exploded right side view showing the support member 32. The support member 32 can be divided into two on a virtual plane that passes through the axis L32 and inclines upward as it goes in the first horizontal direction F1 in a state where the support member 32 is installed on the horizontal plane. Can be divided into a first support portion 55 below and a second support portion 56 above the virtual plane. The first support part 55 is a part of the support member 32 on the first guide piece 53 side of the first guide piece 53, the discharge part 50, one part 52 a of each connecting projection part 52, the support base 49 and the inner peripheral part 48. 48a is included. The second support portion 56 includes a second guide piece 54, the other portion 52 b of each connection projection 52, and a portion 48 a on the support base 49 side of the inner peripheral portion 48 in the support member 32.
[0047]
The first support part 55 and the second support part 56 are detachably connected by a screw member 57. Specifically, one part 52 a of each connection protrusion 52 of the first support 55 and the other part 52 b of each connection protrusion 52 of the second support 56 are connected by the screw member 57. Thus, when the container body 31 is supported, the support member 32 is divided in advance, and the divided support member 32 is divided into portions including the first and second recesses 41 and 42 and the discharge hole 43 of the container body 31. By supporting from the outside in the radial direction, the container body 31 can be supported over the entire circumference, and such assembling work can be easily performed.
[0048]
13 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line S13-S13 in FIG. Reference is also made to FIG. A first support convex portion 58 that is a support-side protruding portion that protrudes inward in the radial direction and extends over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction is provided at one axial end portion of the inner peripheral portion 48 of the support member 32. At the other end in the axial direction of the inner peripheral portion 48 of the support member 32, a second support convex portion 59 that is a support-side protruding portion that protrudes inward in the radial direction and extends over the entire circumference is provided. Further, the other end portion in the axial direction of the inner peripheral portion 48 of the support member 32 is radially inwardly spaced from the second support convex portion 59 on the other end side in the axial direction with respect to the second support convex portion 59. A third support convex portion 60 that protrudes in the direction and extends over the entire circumference is provided. The interval in the axial direction between the second support convex portion 59 and the third support convex portion 60 is set to be slightly larger than the dimension in the axial direction of the guide projection piece 40 of the second container portion 34 of the container main body 31. It may be millimeters.
[0049]
Each of the first support convex portion 58 and the second support convex portion 59 has a plurality of support protrusion pieces 61 that protrude inward in the radial direction at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, four in the present embodiment. Formed one by one. The distal end portion on the radially inner side of the support protrusion piece 61 has a support surface that is curved into a cylindrical outer peripheral surface. Each support protrusion 61 of the first support protrusion 58 and the second support protrusion 59 has a diameter of an imaginary circle passing through the tip of each guide protrusion 40 around the axis L32, and the outer periphery of the first container 33. And the outer diameter of the outer peripheral portion excluding the guide projection piece 40 of the second container portion 34 are set to be slightly larger, and may be 107 millimeters, for example. The inner diameter of the third support convex portion 60 is set slightly larger than the outer diameter of the outer peripheral portion excluding the guide projection piece 40 of the second container portion 34, and may be 107 millimeters, for example.
[0050]
A first support recess that extends in the radially outer direction and extends outward in the radial direction adjacent to the other axial end side of the first support convex portion 58 at one axial end portion of the inner peripheral portion 48 of the support member 32. A location 67 is provided. A second support recess extending in the radially outward direction and extending over the entire circumference in the radial direction, adjacent to one end in the axial direction of the second support convex portion 59 at the other axial end of the inner peripheral portion 48 of the support member 32. A location 68 is provided. Further, a third recess extending outward in the radial direction and extending over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction between the second support convex portion 59 and the third support convex portion 60 at the other axial end of the inner peripheral portion 48 of the support member 32. A support recess 69 is provided. The axial dimension of the first support recess 67 and the second support recess 68 may be, for example, 7 millimeters. The dimension in the axial direction of the third support recess 69 is set slightly larger than the dimension in the axial direction of the guide projection piece 40 of the second container portion 34 of the container body 31 and may be, for example, 3 millimeters.
[0051]
FIG. 14 is a front view showing the sealing material 47. FIG. 15 is a side view showing the sealing material 47. The sealing material 47, which is a sealing means, is made of a synthetic resin such as silicon rubber having flexibility and elasticity. As shown in FIG. 15, the sealing material 47 is generally formed in an annular shape. As shown in FIG. 14, the sealing material 47 includes a base portion 47 a and a contact portion 97. The base 47a of the sealing material 47 is formed so that the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the circumferential direction centering on the axis L47 is rectangular. The contact portion 97 of the sealing material 47 protrudes so as to incline radially outward from one end portion in the axial direction of the base portion 47a toward the one end portion in the axial direction from the radially inner portion. To do.
[0052]
The diameter of the inner peripheral portion of the base portion 47a of the sealing material 47 is set smaller than the outer diameter of the outer peripheral portion excluding the outer peripheral portion of the first container portion 33 of the container main body 31 and the guide protrusion piece 40 of the second container portion 34, For example, it may be 99 millimeters. The diameter of the outer periphery of the base 47a of the sealing material 47 and the contact part 97 is the diameter of a virtual circle passing through the outer periphery of each discharge guide piece 44 of the third container part 33 of the container body 31 with the rotation axis L31 as the center. It is set equal to or larger than the diameter of the virtual circle, and may be 115 millimeters, for example. The axial dimension of the sealing material 47 is set to be equal to or smaller than the axial dimension of the first and second support recesses 67 and 68 of the support member 32, and may be, for example, 6 millimeters.
[0053]
The sealing material 47 is provided with a scraping portion 98 for scraping the developer that has entered between the outer peripheral portion of the sealing material 47 and the inner peripheral portion 48 of the support member 32 to the discharge hole 43 side. The scraping portion 98 of the sealing material 47 has a plurality of scraping pieces 99. If the number of the scraped pieces 99 is too large, the contact area between the scraped pieces 99 and the support member 32 increases, and the frictional force in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the container main body 31 increases. May interfere with rotation. If the number of scraped pieces 99 is too small, the force for guiding the developer to the discharge hole 43 as described later becomes small. Therefore, the number of scraped pieces 99 is desirably 2 or more and 8 or less, and 8 in the present embodiment.
[0054]
Each scraping piece 99 protrudes radially outward from the base 47a at an interval in the circumferential direction, preferably at an equal interval, and protrudes as it approaches the discharge hole 43 while being wound around the container body 31. The amount is formed to be large. If the protruding amount of the scraped piece 99 from the remaining base portion 47a to the outside in the radial direction is too large, the contact area between the scraped piece 99 and the support member 32 becomes large, which is opposite to the rotation direction of the container body 31. There is a risk that the frictional force in the direction will increase and hinder the rotation of the container body 31. Further, if the protruding amount of the scraped piece 99 outward from the remaining base 47a in the radial direction is too small, the force for guiding the developer to the discharge hole 43 as described later becomes small. Therefore, the maximum protrusion amount in the radially outward direction from the remaining base portion 47a of the scraping piece 99 is preferably 0.1 mm or more and 3 mm or less, and may be 2 mm, for example.
[0055]
FIG. 16 is a front view showing a state in which the developer container 30 is assembled. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line S17-S17 in FIG. Before assembling the developer container 30, the support member 32 is divided into a first support portion 55 and a second support portion 56. At this time, one of the two sealing materials 47 is wound in close contact with the opening end 33 b of the first container portion 33, and the base portion 47 a of the sealing material 47 is the axis of the third container portion 35. It is attached to the first container portion 33 of the container body 31 so as to be in close contact with the end surface of one end portion in the direction. The other sealing material 47 is wound around the opening end 34b of the second container portion 34, closer to one end in the axial direction than the guide projection piece 40, and the base 47a of the sealing material 47 is thirdly wound. The container part 35 is attached to the second container part 34 of the container main body 31 so as to be in close contact with the end surface of the other end in the axial direction of the container part 35.
[0056]
The first support portion 55 and the second support portion 56 sandwich the portion including the third container portion 35 of the container body 31 from the outside in the radial direction. In this state, the first support part 55 and the second support part 56 are connected by the screw member 57.
[0057]
18 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line S18-S18 in FIG. FIG. 19 is an enlarged sectional view showing the vicinity of one sealing material 47 in FIG. FIG. 20 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of section XX in FIG. In a state where the container main body 31 is supported by the support member 32, the axis L31 of the container main body 31 and the axis L32 of the inner peripheral portion 48 of the support member 32 are completely or substantially coincided with each other. The support member 32 is rotatable around the axis L31. In this state, when the support base 49 of the support member 32 is installed on a horizontal plane, the first and second container portions 33 and 34 of the container body 31 are separated from the horizontal plane, and the horizontal plane and the rotation axis L31 are parallel to each other. Become.
[0058]
In detail, in the support member 32, each support projection piece 61 of the first support projection 58 abuts on the outer periphery of the first container portion 33, and each support projection piece 61 of the second support projection 59 is It abuts on the outer peripheral portion of the second container portion 34 excluding the guide projection piece 40. As described above, the outer peripheral portion of the first container portion 33 is supported by the respective support protrusions 61 of the first support convex portion 58 at approximately four points at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and the second support convex portion. The support protrusions 61 of 59 are supported at approximately four points at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. This resists rotation of the container body 31 between the outer peripheral portion of the first container portion 33 and the first support convex portion 58 and between the outer peripheral portion of the second container portion 34 and the second support convex portion 59. The frictional force can be made extremely small.
[0059]
One sealing material 47, which is a sealing material wound around the first container portion 33, fits into the first support recess 67 of the support member 32, and the contact portion 97 of the sealing material 47 is the first support convex portion. 58 elastically contacts the other end surface in the axial direction from the axial direction over the entire circumference. Each scraping piece 99 of one sealing material 47 is elastically applied to the inner peripheral portion of the support member 32 in the entire axial direction, specifically to the inner peripheral portion facing the first support recess 67 from the radially outer side. Abut. The other seal material 47, which is a seal material wound around the second container portion 34, is fitted into the second support recess 68 of the support member 32, and the contact portion 97 of the seal material 47 is the second support convex portion. 59 is elastically brought into contact with one end face in the axial direction over the entire circumference from the axial direction. Each scraping piece 99 of the other sealing material 47 is elastically applied to the inner peripheral portion of the support member 32 in the entire axial direction, specifically to the inner peripheral portion facing the second support recess 68 from the outside in the radial direction. Abut.
[0060]
By such two sealing materials 47, one end side in the axial direction of the container body 31 and the other end in the axial direction than the first and second recesses 41 and 42 and the discharge hole 43 of the container body 31 and the conduction hole 51 of the support member 32. Sealing is achieved over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction between the container body 31 and the support member 32 on the side. In order to achieve a seal between the outer peripheral portion of the container main body 31 and the inner peripheral portion of the support member 32, for example, the outer peripheral portion of the sealing material wound around the container main body 31 is made the inner peripheral portion of the support member over the entire periphery. When the contact is made elastically, the frictional force that prevents the container body from rotating relative to the support member by the elastic force acting in the radial direction increases. In the present embodiment, the contact portion 97 of the seal member 47 is made to move the outer periphery of the seal member 47 to the inner periphery of the support member 32 over the entire periphery. The frictional force as described above can be reduced by elastically contacting the first support convex portion 58 and the second support convex portion over the entire circumference from the axial direction.
[0061]
When the sealing material 47 rotates around the axis L31 together with the container main body 31, as shown in FIG. 20, the portion close to the discharge hole 43 of each scraping piece 99 in contact with the support member 32 The inner periphery of the support member 32 that is elastically deformed so as to be disposed on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the container body 31 with respect to the portion away from the discharge hole 43 and faces the first and second support recesses 67 and 68. Slide while elastically contacting the part. As a result, the developer that has entered between the outer peripheral portion of the sealing material 47 and the inner peripheral portion of the support member 32 can be scraped toward the discharge hole 43. Thus, the developer is guided to the discharge hole 43 side without reaching the contact portion 97 of the sealing material 47, and the sealing is ensured. Therefore, the reduction of the frictional force that hinders the rotation of the container body 31 and the sealing can be achieved at the same time.
[0062]
The guide projection piece 40 of the second container portion 34 of the container body 31 is fitted into the third support recess 69 of the support member 32 while being restricted from sliding in the axial direction with respect to the support member 32. As a result, the container body 31 is restricted from sliding in the axial direction with respect to the support member 32. The outer peripheral part of each discharge guide piece 44 of the third container part 35 of the container main body 31 abuts on the inner peripheral part 48 of the support member 32. In this way, the support member 32 supports the portion including at least the first concave portion 41 of the container body 31 so as to be rotatable around the rotation axis L31 from the radially outer side to the entire circumference.
[0063]
FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line S21-S21 in FIG. FIG. 22 is an enlarged view of section XXII of FIG. FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 (1) are views when the container main body 31 is in an initial state with respect to the support member 32. The lead-out member 38 is provided at a portion of the base end portion 38a facing the upstream end portion in the first horizontal direction F1 of the conduction hole 51 of the support member 32 and extends upstream in the rotation direction R, and the free end portion 38b is a container. The third container portion 35 of the main body 31 can elastically contact at least the outer peripheral surfaces of the bottom wall portion 41 b of the first recess 41 and the bottom wall portion 42 b of the second recess 42. Further, the free end portion 38 b of the lead-out member 38 is 90 degrees with respect to the outer peripheral surface of at least the bottom wall portion 41 b of the first recess 41 and the bottom wall portion 42 b of the second recess 42 of the third container portion 35 of the container body 31. Abut with an angle θ exceeding. Specifically, the angle θ is an angle formed between the surface of the lead-out member 38 that faces the free end portion 38b and the outer peripheral surfaces of the bottom wall portions 41b and 42b of the recesses 41 and 42.
[0064]
The sealing sheet 66 is provided at a portion facing the upstream end portion in the first horizontal direction F1 of the conduction hole 51 of the support member 32 at the base end portion 66a. When the container main body 31 is in an initial state with respect to the support member 32, the portion 66b excluding the base end portion 66a of the sealing sheet 66 covers, for example, at least the end wall portion 41a of the first recess 41, for example, heat welding. It is provided so that it can be detached. In this way, in the initial state, the discharge hole 43 is blocked by the portion 66b excluding the base end portion 66a of the sealing sheet 66. Thus, in the initial state, even if the user mistakenly arranges the shutter 65 of the shutter portion 65 at the open position P2, the developer stored in the container body 31 is prevented from being undesirably discharged from the conduction hole 51. can do.
[0065]
When the container body 31 is rotated in the rotation direction R around the rotation axis L31 from the initial state, the portion 66b of the sealing sheet 66 excluding the base end portion 66a is detached from the end wall portion 41a of the first recess 41. The discharge hole 43 is opened. Further, the portion 66b excluding the base end portion 66a of the sealing sheet 66 detached from the end wall portion 41a of the first recess 41 is downstream in the rotation direction R of the conduction hole 51 of the support member 32 as shown in FIG. On the side, it is arranged between the third container part 35 of the container body 31 and the inner peripheral part 48 of the support member 32. Accordingly, the user can easily open the discharge hole 43 by rotating the container body 31 without directly removing the sealing sheet 66.
[0066]
In a state where the support 49 of the support member 32 is installed on a horizontal plane and the developer is accommodated, the inner space of the container body 31 includes a developer layer occupied by the developer and a gas above the developer layer. Two layers are formed with a gas layer occupied by. The container main body 31 is rotated clockwise around the rotation axis L31 as seen from the first container part 33 to the second container part 34. At this time, the developer in the developer layer of the first container section 33 is conveyed in the first transport direction C1 (FIG. 2) from the first container section 33 toward the third container section 35 along the rotation axis L31 by the first protrusions 36. To be referred to). At this time, the developer in the developer layer of the second container portion 34 is moved in the second transport direction C2 (see FIG. 5) from the second container portion 34 toward the third container portion 35 along the rotation axis L31 by the second protrusions 39. 2). Thus, by rotating the container main body 31 around the rotation axis L <b> 31, the stored developer can be conveyed toward the discharge hole 43. Further, in the third container portion 35, the developer heading in the first transport direction C1 and the developer heading in the second transport direction C2 collide with each other, whereby the developer can be stirred.
[0067]
When the developer is conveyed, a force is applied to the developer from the inner peripheral portion of the first and second container portions 33 and 34 including the first and second projecting pieces 36 and 39 toward the third container portion 35. It is done. When the amount of the developer stored in the container main body 31 is large, the protrusion amount A2 from the inner peripheral portions of the first and second container portions 33 and 34 to the radially inner sides of the first and second projecting pieces 36 and 39. The developer disposed within is mainly agitated by the rotation of the container body 21, and the balance is maintained in the container body 21.
[0068]
23 and 24, the developer in the third container portion 35 of the container body 31 is guided to the conduction hole 51 of the support member 32 when the container body 31 is rotating in the rotation direction R around the rotation axis L31. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement until it is written. Please refer to FIG. 7, FIG. 9, and FIG. In a state where the container main body 31 is instructed to be rotatable around the rotation axis L31 by the support member 32, the first holding space 62a facing the first recess 41 of the third container portion 31 and the inner peripheral portion 48 of the support member 32 is provided. Is formed. The first holding space 62 a is generally a closed space except for the discharge hole 43, and is disposed on the upstream side in the rotation direction R of the discharge hole 43, and is a space in the container body 31 through the discharge hole 43. Communicating with Further, a second holding space 62 b is formed that faces the second recess 41 of the third container portion 31 and the inner peripheral portion 48 of the support member 32. The second holding space 62b is generally a closed space.
[0069]
The container body 31 rotates in the rotation direction R from the state where the discharge hole 43 and the first holding space 62a are disposed above the upper surface 63a of the developer layer 63 in the container body 31 shown in FIG. Then, when the discharge hole 43 and the rotation direction R downstream portion of the first holding space 62a shown in FIG. 23 (2) are disposed below the upper surface 63a of the developer layer 63 in the container main body 31. The developer in the developer layer 63 in the container body 31 flows into the downstream portion in the rotation direction R of the first holding space 62a through the discharge hole 43 as indicated by an arrow G1.
[0070]
As described above, the discharge hole 43 is an intermediate portion in the axial direction of the end wall portion 41a of the first concave portion 41, and is formed to open in a rectangular shape with the axial direction as the longitudinal direction at the outer side in the radial direction. The Accordingly, the discharge hole 43 is closer to the outer side in the radial direction than the downstream end portion in the rotational direction R of the bottom wall portion 41b of the first concave portion 41 in the end wall portion 41a of the first concave portion 41, and the rotational direction of the first side wall portion 41c. The opening is closer to the other end in the axial direction than the end on the R downstream side, and closer to one end in the axial direction than the end on the downstream side in the rotation direction R of the second side wall 41d.
[0071]
For example, when the discharge hole 43 is opened in the end wall portion 41a as a whole, the developer rotates in the rotation direction R so that the first concave portion 41 of the container main body 31 and the inner peripheral portion of the support member 32 are used. It is discharged from the discharge hole 43 to the first holding space 62 a so as to be extruded along the line 48. In this state, the container main body 31 further rotates in the rotation direction R, so that the developer held in the first holding space 62a becomes the first concave portion 41 of the container main body 31 and the inner peripheral portion 48 of the support member 32. There is a risk of being pressed and aggregated. In the present embodiment, as described above, the discharge hole 43 is formed in a part of the end wall portion 41a of the first recess 41. In other words, the opening area of the discharge hole 43 is larger than the area of the end wall portion 41a. Therefore, the developer is discharged to the first holding space 62a so as to diffuse in the vicinity of the discharge hole 43 in the first holding space 62a. As a result, the developer discharged into the second holding space 62a can be made into powder, and the aggregation of the developer due to the rotation of the container body 31 as described above can be prevented as much as possible.
[0072]
Further, the radially outward surface of the discharge hole 43 smoothly communicates with the inner peripheral surface of the third container portion 35 excluding the first recess 41 and the second recess 42 on the downstream side in the rotation direction R of the first recess 41. is doing. Thus, even if the amount of the developer stored in the container body 31 is very small, the developer can easily flow into the downstream portion in the rotation direction R of the first holding space 62a through the discharge hole 43. .
[0073]
When the container body 31 further rotates in the rotation direction R from the state shown in FIG. 23 (2), the developer in the developer layer 63 in the container body 31 rotates in the first holding space 62a through the discharge hole 43. 24 (1), the discharge hole 43 is disposed above the upper surface 63a of the developer layer 63 in the container body 31, and the first holding space 62a is developed in the container body 31. It will be in the state arrange | positioned below the upper surface 63a of the agent layer 63. FIG. In the state shown in FIG. 24A, a predetermined amount of developer is held in the first holding space 62a. Thus, the amount of the developer held in the first holding space 62a may be 6 grams, for example.
[0074]
When the container main body 31 further rotates in the rotation direction R from the state shown in FIG. 24 (1), the free end portion 38b of the lead-out member 38 of the support member 32 shown in FIG. 24 (2) enters the first holding space 62a. Entering the outer circumferential surface while extending elastically in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the bottom wall portion 41b of the first recess 41 at an angle θ exceeding 90 degrees. It will be in the state which slides with respect to it. At this time, the developer held in the first holding space 62a on the upstream side in the rotation direction R from the lead-out member 38 flows toward the support member 32 as the container body 31 rotates in the rotation direction R.
[0075]
The lead-out member 38 guides the developer flowing in this way, in other words, the developer discharged from the discharge hole 43 of the container body 31 along the upper surface of the lead-out member 38 as indicated by an arrow G2. To the conduction hole 51. Since the lead-out member 38 scrapes the developer from the outer peripheral surface of the bottom wall portion 41b of the first recess 41 and slides with respect to the outer peripheral surface, the developer held in the first holding space 62a. Can be guided to the conduction hole 51 as much as possible. Thus, the developer guided to the conduction hole 51 is guided to the outside of the developer storage container 30 and discharged. Thus, each time the container main body 31 makes one rotation in the rotation direction R around the axis rotation axis L31, the above-mentioned predetermined amount of developer is discharged to the outside.
[0076]
As described above, the portion of the third container portion 31 excluding the first and second recesses 41 and 42 and the inner peripheral portion 48 of the support member 32 are frictions that prevent the container body 31 from rotating about the rotation axis L31. In order to reduce the force, there is no overall contact over the entire circumference. Therefore, as described above, there is no possibility that the developer held in the first holding space 62a leaks out of the first holding space 62a. As described above, the discharge guide piece 44 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the one end portion in the axial direction and the other end portion in the axial direction excluding the first concave portion 41 and the second concave portion 42 of the third container portion 35. The discharge guide piece 44 provided at one end in the axial direction of the third container portion 35 is inclined in the rotational direction R from the other end in the axial direction toward one end in the axial direction. Since the discharge guide piece 44 provided at the end portion is inclined in the rotation direction R from the one end portion in the axial direction toward the other end portion in the axial direction, the developer held in the first holding space 62a should be removed. When the container main body 31 rotates in the rotation direction R, when the container body 31 rotates in the rotation direction R, the third container portion 35 and the support member 32 are They can be gathered together in the middle in the axial direction.
[0077]
In addition, since the second holding space 62 is formed as described above, the developer held in the first holding space 62a should leak from the upstream portion in the rotation direction R of the first holding space 62a. The developer leaked in this way and the developer gathered to the intermediate portion in the axial direction by the discharge guide pieces 44 are held in the second holding space 62. When the container body 31 rotates in the rotation direction R, the free end portion 38b of the lead-out member 38 of the support member 32 shown in FIG. 24 (1) enters the second holding space 62b and extends upstream in the rotation direction R. Thus, it slides with respect to the outer peripheral surface while making an elastic contact with the outer peripheral surface of the bottom wall portion 42b of the second recess 42 at an angle θ exceeding 90 degrees. At this time, the developer held in the second holding space 62b on the upstream side in the rotation direction R from the lead-out member 38 flows toward the support member 32 when the container body 31 rotates in the rotation direction R, It is led to the conduction hole 51 and led to the outside of the developer storage container 30 to be discharged. Thus, every time the container main body 31 makes one rotation in the rotation direction R around the axis rotation axis L31, even if the developer leaks from the first holding space 62a, the leaked developer is the second Since it is held by the holding space 62b, the aforementioned predetermined amount of developer can be discharged to the outside as reliably as possible.
[0078]
In addition, as described above, with the support base 49 installed in a horizontal plane, the support member 32 is formed with a discharge portion 50 projecting in the first horizontal direction F1 which is one horizontal direction. In the discharge portion 50, a conduction hole that penetrates along the first horizontal direction F1 and opens in an elliptical shape extending in a direction parallel to the axis L32 of the support member is provided in the intermediate portion of the support member 32 in the axial direction. 51 is formed. Accordingly, even when the full developer is stored in the container body 31, the upper surface 63a of the developer layer 63 is disposed at the same height as the conduction hole 51 or below the conduction hole 51. Can be reliably prevented from undesirably flowing out from the container body 31 into the conduction hole 51.
[0079]
FIG. 25 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of developer discharged from the developer storage container 30 and time. In FIG. 25, a curved line H1 indicates a developer container when the inner diameter D35 of the third container portion 35 of the container body 31 is formed to be equal to or smaller than the inner diameters D33, D34 of the first and second container portions 33, 34. The relationship between the amount of developer discharged from 30 and time is shown. The curve H2 indicates that the inner diameter D35 of the third container portion 35 of the container main body 31 is larger than the inner diameters D33 and D34 of the first and second container portions 33 and 34. The relationship between the amount of developer discharged and time is shown.
[0080]
Even when the developer in powder form is placed like a sharp mountain on a horizontal surface, for example, it has a property of becoming a gentle mountain immediately. For example, when the inner diameter D35 of the third container portion 35 of the container body 31 is formed below the inner diameters D33, D34 of the first and second container portions 33, 34, the container body 31 rotates toward the discharge hole 43. The conveyed developer comes away from the discharge hole 43 when the rotation of the container body 31 stops. In such a case, when the amount of the developer stored in the container main body 31 becomes very small, a sufficient amount of developer is conveyed toward the discharge hole 43 immediately after the rotation of the container main body 31 is resumed. Difficult to do.
[0081]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8 described above, the inner diameter of the third container portion 34 of the container body 31 is larger than the inner diameters D33 and D34 of the first and second container portions 33 and 34 that are the remaining portions. Since it is formed large, when the amount of developer stored in the container main body 31 becomes very small, the developer once transported to the third container part 35 is separated from the third container part 35. It can be prevented as much as possible. As a result, even when the amount of the developer stored in the container main body 31 becomes very small, a sufficient amount of developer is conveyed toward the discharge hole 43 immediately after the rotation of the container main body 31 is resumed. It becomes possible as much as possible. Furthermore, it is possible to discharge all the developer stored in the container body 31 to the outside as much as possible.
[0082]
As shown by the curve H1, when the inner diameter D35 of the third container portion 35 of the container body 31 is formed below the inner diameters D33, D34 of the first and second container portions 33, 34, they are stored in the container body 31. As the amount of developer being reduced, the developer discharge decreases sharply correspondingly. On the other hand, when the inner diameter D35 of the third container portion 35 of the container body 31 is formed larger than the inner diameters D33, D34 of the first and second container portions 33, 34 as shown by the curve H2, the curve H1 In comparison, even if the amount of the developer stored in the container main body 31 decreases, the amount of developer discharged remains substantially constant until the amount of developer approaches zero. Therefore, the developer storage container 30 of the present embodiment can discharge the developer more stably for a longer time.
[0083]
As described above, according to the developer storage container 30 of the present embodiment, the container main body 31 is rotationally driven around the axis L31 so that the feeding means provided on the inner peripheral portion of the container main body 31 causes the container main body 31 to move. The stored developer can be fed in the axial direction. When the feeding means is formed in a protruding piece projecting radially inward or a groove recessed radially outward, for example, extending substantially along the spiral direction around the axis L31 as in the prior art Since the developer in the vicinity of the means is always in contact with the feeding means, there is a risk of aggregation near the feeding means. Further, in this case, there is a risk that the container body may be cracked and easily broken along the spiral direction in the feeding means by applying torsional and bending external forces and impacts to the container body. In the present embodiment, the feeding means has a plurality of first protrusion pieces 36 extending in the first extending direction and second protrusion pieces 37 extending in the second extending direction. Since the protruding pieces 39 are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction and the axial direction, the developer in the vicinity of the feeding means is in contact with the first and second protruding pieces 36 and 39 when the container body 31 rotates. Thus, the contact and separation are repeated, so that the developer is not always in contact with the feeding means, and the developer can be prevented from aggregating in the vicinity of the feeding means as much as possible. In addition, since the protruding pieces 36 and 39 are formed at intervals in the first and second extending directions, the container main body 31 is moved by the feeding means when an external force and impact of twisting and bending are applied to the container main body 31. It is possible to prevent, as much as possible, the occurrence of a crack that easily extends substantially along the spiral direction.
[0084]
Further, according to the developer container 30 of the present embodiment, the container body 31 can be rotated around the rotation axis L31 while being stably supported by the support member 32. If a cylindrical container like the prior art in which developer is stored is left standing with its axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane, the developer under the container may agglomerate There is. In order to prevent such agglomeration of the developer as much as possible, if the container is placed on a horizontal plane such that its axis is parallel to the horizontal plane, the container will roll. In the developer container 30 of the present embodiment, the axis L31 of the container main body 31 can be stably arranged in parallel to the horizontal plane by installing the support base 49 of the support member 32 on the horizontal plane. Even if the developer stored in the developer storage container 30 partially aggregates, for example, the user places the shutter 65a of the shutter unit 65 in the closed position P1 and rotates the container body 31. The developer can be easily stirred to form a powder.
[0085]
Further, since the surfaces 33c and 34c where the outer peripheral surfaces and end surfaces of the both ends 33a and 34a in the axial direction of the container main body 31 communicate with each other are formed in a curved shape inclined inward in the radial direction as described above, Even if one of the end portions 33a and 34a in the axial direction of 31 is installed on the horizontal plane and the developer container 30 is erected on the horizontal plane so that the axis L31 is perpendicular to the horizontal plane, it is easy to fall down. . This prevents the user from standing and leaving the developer storage container 30 so that the axis L31 is perpendicular to the horizontal plane, thereby reducing factors that cause the stored developer to aggregate.
[0086]
Further, according to the developer storage container 30 of the present embodiment, the support member 32 supports the part including at least the third container part 35 of the container main body 31 from the outside in the radial direction over the entire circumference. Further, since two sealing members 47 are provided between the container body 31 and the support member 32 and the sealing is achieved as described above, even if the container body 31 rotates, the container body 31 and the support member 32. The developer can be prevented from leaking from between the two.
[0087]
Further, according to the developer storage container 30 of the present embodiment, the developer discharge amount depends on the volume of the first holding space 62 a and the rotation speed of the container main body 31. In the developer storage container 30 of the present embodiment, two recesses, the first and second recesses 41 and 42, are provided, and the discharge hole 43 is provided only in the first recess 41. However, the present invention is not limited to this. There is nothing. For example, when it is desired to increase the amount of developer discharged per rotation of the container body 31, the second recess 42 may have the same shape as the first recess 41 and the discharge hole 43 may be provided. Further, the number of recesses and the number of discharge holes may be further increased.
[0088]
In the present embodiment, the feeding means extends in the first extending direction around the axis L31 and protrudes radially inward, and extends in the second extending direction around the axis L31. Although it has said that it has the 2nd protrusion piece 39 which protrudes inward, it is not restricted to this. The feeding means may be, for example, a groove that is depressed outward in the radial direction, extends in the first extending direction and the second extending direction, and is provided at intervals in the circumferential direction and the axial direction.
[0089]
FIG. 26 is a front view showing a sealing material 47A which is another embodiment of the sealing means. The sealing material 47A is made of a synthetic resin such as silicon rubber having flexibility and elasticity. The sealing material 47A is generally formed in an annular shape. As shown in FIG. 26, the sealing material 47A includes a base portion 47a and a contact portion 97A. The base 47a of the sealing material 47A is formed so that a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the circumferential direction centering on the axis L47 is rectangular. The contact portion 97A of the sealing material 47A protrudes from one end portion in the axial direction of the base portion 47a so as to incline radially outward from the other end portion in the axial direction toward one end portion in the axial direction. To do.
[0090]
The diameter of the inner peripheral portion of the base portion 47a of the sealing material 47A is set to be smaller than the outer diameter of the outer peripheral portion excluding the outer peripheral portion of the first container portion 33 of the container main body 31 and the guide protrusion piece 40 of the second container portion 34, For example, it may be 99 millimeters. Further, the diameter of the outer peripheral portion of the base 47a of the sealing material 47A and the contact portion 97A is the diameter of a virtual circle passing through the outer peripheral portion of each discharge guide piece 44 of the third container portion 33 of the container main body 31 around the rotation axis L31. It is set equal to or larger than the diameter of the virtual circle, and may be 115 millimeters, for example. The dimension in the axial direction of the sealing material 47A is set to be equal to or smaller than the dimension in the axial direction of the first and second support recesses 67 and 68 of the support member 32, and may be, for example, 6 millimeters.
[0091]
The sealing material 47A is provided with a scraping portion 98A for scraping the developer that has entered between the outer peripheral portion of the sealing material 47A and the inner peripheral portion 48 of the support member 32 to the discharge hole 43 side. The scraping portion 98A of the sealing material 47A has a plurality of scraping pieces 99A. If the number of the scraping pieces 99A is too large, the contact area between the scraping pieces 99A and the support member 32 increases, and the frictional force in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the container body 31 increases. May interfere with rotation. If the number of scraped pieces 99A is too small, the force for guiding the developer to the discharge hole 43 as described later becomes small. Therefore, the number of scraped pieces 99A is desirably 2 or more and 8 or less, and is 8 in the present embodiment.
[0092]
Each scraping piece 99A protrudes radially outward from the base portion 47a at an interval in the circumferential direction, preferably at an equal interval, and is wound around the container body 31 as it approaches the discharge hole 43. The main body 31 is formed to be inclined toward the upstream side in the rotation direction. If the protruding amount of the scraping piece 99A from the remaining base 47a in the radially outward direction is too large, the contact area between the scraping piece 99A and the support member 32 becomes large, which is opposite to the rotation direction of the container body 31. There is a risk that the frictional force in the direction will increase and hinder the rotation of the container body 31. If the protruding amount of the scraping piece 99A from the remaining base portion 47a to the outside in the radial direction is too small, the force for guiding the developer to the discharge hole 43 as described later becomes small. Therefore, the maximum protrusion amount in the radially outward direction from the remaining base portion 47a of the scraping piece 99A is preferably 0.1 mm or more and 3 mm or less, and may be 2 mm, for example.
[0093]
FIG. 27 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of one sealing material 47 </ b> A wound around the container body 31. 28 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of section XXVIII in FIG. One seal material 47A, which is a seal material wound around the first container portion 33, fits into the first support recess 67 of the support member 32, and the contact portion 97A of the seal material 47A is the first support convex portion. 58 elastically contacts the other end surface in the axial direction from the axial direction over the entire circumference. Each scraping piece 99A of one sealing material 47A is elastically applied to the inner peripheral portion of the support member 32 in the entire axial direction region, specifically, to the inner peripheral portion facing the first support recess 67 from the radially outer side. Abut. The other seal material 47A, which is a seal material wound around the second container portion 34, is fitted into the second support recess 68 of the support member 32, and the contact portion 97A of the seal material 47A is the second support convex portion. 59 is elastically brought into contact with one end face in the axial direction over the entire circumference from the axial direction. Each scraping piece 99A of the other sealing material 47A is elastically applied to the inner peripheral portion of the support member 32 in the entire axial direction region, specifically, to the inner peripheral portion facing the second support recess 68 from the outside in the radial direction. Abut.
[0094]
By such two sealing materials 47A, the one axial end and the other axial end of the container main body 31 are more than the first and second recesses 41 and 42 and the discharge hole 43 of the container main body 31 and the conduction hole 51 of the support member 32. Sealing is achieved over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction between the container body 31 and the support member 32 on the side. In order to achieve a seal between the outer peripheral portion of the container main body 31 and the inner peripheral portion of the support member 32, for example, the outer peripheral portion of the sealing material wound around the container main body 31 is made the inner peripheral portion of the support member over the entire periphery. When the contact is made elastically, the frictional force that prevents the container body from rotating relative to the support member by the elastic force acting in the radial direction increases. In the present embodiment, the contact portion 97A of the seal material 47A is made to be in contact with the support member 32 without elastically contacting the outer periphery of the seal material with the inner periphery of the support member 32 over the entire circumference. The frictional force as described above can be reduced by elastically contacting the first support convex portion 58 and the second support convex portion over the entire circumference from the axial direction.
[0095]
When the sealing material 47A rotates around the axis L31 together with the container main body 31, as shown in FIG. 28, the portion close to the discharge hole 43 of each scraping piece 99A that is in contact with the support member 32 is a portion of the scraping piece 99A. It is arranged on the upstream side in the rotational direction of the container body 31 with respect to the part away from the discharge hole 43 and elastically contacts the inner peripheral part of the support member 32 facing the first and second support recesses 67 and 68. Slide while. As a result, the developer that has entered between the outer peripheral portion of the seal material 47 </ b> A and the inner peripheral portion of the support member 32 can be scraped toward the discharge hole 43. As a result, the developer is guided to the discharge hole 43 side without reaching the contact portion 97A of the seal material 47A, and the seal is ensured. Therefore, the reduction of the frictional force that hinders the rotation of the container body 31 and the sealing can be achieved at the same time.
[0096]
FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus 70 according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 30 is an enlarged sectional view showing the vicinity of the toner hopper 72. FIG. 31 is an enlarged plan view showing the vicinity of the toner hopper 72. FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 70 viewed from the front exterior portion 71a side, and the thickness is omitted for easy understanding. The front exterior part 71 a is a part that the user usually faces when the user uses the image forming apparatus 70. In the image forming apparatus 70, the back exterior portion 71b is a portion that hits the back side of the front exterior portion 71a when viewed from the user on the front exterior portion 71a side. Further, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus 70 is installed on a horizontal plane, and a front-back direction E that is a direction from the front exterior portion 71a toward the back exterior portion 71b is parallel to the horizontal plane.
[0097]
An electrophotographic recording type image forming apparatus 70 such as a printer apparatus and a copying apparatus includes the developer storage container 30 and the image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter simply referred to as “apparatus main body”) 71. The developer storage container 30 is detachably attached to a toner hopper 72 provided in the apparatus main body 71 via an openable / detachable container attachment / detachment opening (not shown) provided in the front exterior portion 71 a of the apparatus main body 71. Further, the image forming apparatus main body 71 is provided with a housing front portion 93 on the back exterior portion 71b side of the front exterior portion 71a, and an opening is formed through which the developer storage container 30 can be inserted. Further, the image forming apparatus main body 71 is provided with a housing rear surface portion 94 on the front outer surface portion 71a side with respect to the rear surface outer surface portion 71b. Various configurations of the image forming apparatus main body 71 are held by a housing (all not shown) including the housing front surface portion 93 and the housing back surface portion 94.
[0098]
The toner hopper 72 includes a housing 73, a developer supply unit 74, a stirring member 75, and a supply roller 76. The inner space of the housing 73 is divided into at least a container housing space 77 and a stirring space 78 by the developer supply unit 74. The container housing space 77 is open facing the front exterior portion 71 a of the apparatus main body 71. The stirring space 78 is a substantially closed space. The developer storage container 30 is disposed in the storage container space 77.
[0099]
A first guide recess extending in the front-back direction E of the apparatus main body 71 into which the first guide piece 53 of the support member 32 of the developer storage container 30 can be fitted into the upper wall portion 73a of the housing 73 facing the container storage space 77. A location 79 is formed. The first guide recess 79 is formed so that the first guide piece 53 of the support member 32 of the developer container 30 is parallel to the longitudinal direction, in other words, the front-back direction E of the apparatus main body 71, and from the front exterior portion 71a. The mounting direction E1 in the direction toward the rear exterior portion 71b and the detachable direction E2 that is opposite to the mounting direction E1 can be slidably fitted. Further, the main body 71 of the apparatus main body 71 in which the second guide piece 54 of the support member 32 of the developer container 30 can be fitted in the lower wall part 73 b facing the upper wall part 73 a of the housing 73 facing the container housing space 77. A second guide recess 80 extending in the back direction E is formed. The second guide recess 80 is fitted so that the second guide piece 54 of the support member 32 of the developer container 30 can slide in the longitudinal direction, in other words, in the mounting direction E1 and the detaching direction E2 of the apparatus main body 71. Is possible.
[0100]
The developer supply unit 74 is a plate-like member that divides the inner space of the housing 73 into a container housing space 77 and a stirring space 78, and penetrates in the thickness direction so as to penetrate the container housing space 77 and the stirring space 78. And a communication hole 81 is provided. A guide member 82 that projects into the container housing space 77 is provided below the communication hole 81 of the developer supply unit 74.
[0101]
FIG. 32 is an enlarged perspective view showing the main body side connecting portion 83. A driving force for rotating the container main body 31 of the developer storage container 30 from a driving source 84 such as a motor of the apparatus main body 71 is transmitted to the main body side connecting portion 83 via a speed reducer 85 such as a gear. The drive means includes a main body side connecting portion 83, a drive source 84, and a speed reducer 85. The main body side connecting portion 83 includes a rotating shaft 86, a joint receiving portion 87, and a spring member 88. The rotating shaft 86 has a longitudinal axis L86 parallel to the front-back direction E of the apparatus main body 71, and the casing rear surface portion 94, which is the back wall portion of the housing 73 on the rear exterior portion 71b side of the apparatus main body 71, in the thickness direction. The free end portion is disposed in the container housing space 77 by being rotatably inserted into a bearing portion 89 provided therethrough.
[0102]
The joint receiving portion 87 is formed in a substantially disk shape, faces the container housing space 77, and is connected to the free end portion of the rotating shaft 86 so as to be rotatable about the axis L 86 together with the rotating shaft 86. At the center of the surface portion 87a opposite to the surface portion facing the housing rear surface portion 94 of the joint receiving portion 87, the developer receiving container is depressed toward the housing rear surface portion 94 with the axis L86 of the rotating shaft 86 as an axis. An auxiliary recess 96 is provided in which the replenishing port 45 to which 30 replenishing lids 46 are attached can be inserted. Further, radially outward from the auxiliary recess 96 of the surface portion 87a of the joint receiving portion 87, the joint receiving portion 87 is disposed at a symmetrical position with respect to the axis L86 of the rotation shaft 86, and is depressed toward the housing rear surface portion 94 side. In this embodiment, two fitting recesses 90 are formed. These fitting recesses 90 have shapes corresponding to the respective fitting convex portions 37 of the container main body 31, and the fitting convex portions 37 of the container main body 31 are fitted into the fitting concave portions 90. The fitting convex part 37 and the fitting recess 90 are fitted.
[0103]
Further, the joint receiving portion 87 is displaceable in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 86 without dropping from the free end portion of the rotating shaft 86. A spring member 88 realized by a compression coil spring or the like is disposed between the housing back surface portion 94 and the joint receiving portion 87, and does not hinder the rotation of the rotary shaft 86 and the joint receiving portion 87. 87 biases the spring force in a direction away from the housing back surface portion 94. A coupling structure is formed by the axial one end 33 a including the fitting convex portion 37 of the container main body 31 of the developer container 30 and the joint receiving portion 87 of the main body side connecting portion 83. Therefore, the fitting convex part 37 of the container main body 31 can be detachably connected to the joint receiving part 87 of the main body side connecting part 83.
[0104]
When the developer storage container 30 is mounted on the apparatus main body 71, the container storage space of the toner hopper 72 from the front exterior portion 71a of the apparatus main body 71 is set so that the rotation axis L31 and the mounting direction E1 are parallel to each other. 77. At this time, the first guide piece 53 of the support member 32 of the developer container 30 is fitted into the first guide recess 79 of the housing 73, and the second guide piece 54 of the support member 32 is fitted to the second guide recess of the housing 73. The support member 32 is fitted to the location 80 to prevent displacement of the support member 32 in directions other than the mounting direction E1 and the removal direction E2. In this state, the developer container 30 is displaced in the mounting direction E1, and is disposed at the mounting position where the conduction hole 51 of the discharge portion 50 of the support member 32 and the communication hole 81 of the developer supply portion 74 communicate with each other. To do. At this time, the joint receiving portion 87 of the main body side connecting portion 83 is pressed in the mounting direction E1 by the fitting convex portion 37 of the container main body 31 and retracts, and the spring member 88 is compressed.
[0105]
The toner hopper 72 is provided with a regulating member that regulates and releases the displacement of the support member 32 in the loading direction E1 and the detaching direction E2 in a state where the developer container 30 is disposed at the loading position (FIG. Not shown). When all the developer stored in the developer storage container 30 is discharged, the user releases the restriction on the support member 32 by the restriction member, and displaces the developer storage container 30 in the separation direction E2. Then, the developer container 30 is detached from the apparatus main body 71.
[0106]
A shutter displacing means for slidingly displacing the shutter 65 a of the shutter portion 65 of the developer storage container 30 is provided around the communication hole 81 facing the container storage space 77 of the developer supply portion 74 of the toner hopper 72 (not shown). ) When the developer storage container 30 is inserted into the container storage space 77 of the toner hopper 72 from the front exterior portion 71a of the apparatus main body 71 with the rotation axis L31 and the mounting direction E1 parallel to each other, the shutter is moved to the closed position P1. When the arranged shutter 65a is slid in the second horizontal direction B1 and the developer container 30 is arranged at the mounting position, the shutter 65a is arranged at the open position P2. Further, when the developer storage container 30 mounted on the apparatus main body 71 and disposed at the mounting position is displaced in the detaching direction E2 to release the developer storage container 30 from the apparatus main body 71, the shutter displacing means opens the open position. The shutter 65a arranged at P2 is slid in the second other direction B2 in the second horizontal direction and arranged at the closed position P1.
[0107]
At least one of the periphery of the conduction hole 51 of the discharge portion 50 of the support member 32 of the developer storage container 30 and the communication hole 81 facing the container storage space 77 of the developer supply portion 74 of the toner hopper 72 is provided. A sealing material is provided for preventing the developer flowing down from the conduction hole 51 to the communication hole 81 from leaking outside the stirring space 78 (not shown).
[0108]
As shown in FIG. 31, in the apparatus main body 71, the developing unit 200 is disposed in the middle part in the normal direction E. This is because the photosensitive drum 202 of the apparatus main body 71 is disposed in the middle portion in the front-back direction E in the apparatus main body 71. The main body side connecting portion 83, the driving source 84 for rotating the stirring member 75 and the supply roller 76, and the driving portion such as the speed reduction device 85 are provided between the housing back surface portion 94 and the back surface exterior portion 71b in the device main body 21. Be placed. Accordingly, the support member 32 of the developer storage container 30 is disposed at the middle portion in the front-back direction E of the apparatus main body 71 in a state where the developer storage container 30 is disposed at the mounting position. In the developer storage container 30, as described above, the length dimension from the support member 32 of the container body 31 to the end surface of the axial one end 33a where the fitting convex portion 37 is formed is from the support member 32 to the other end in the axial direction. It is formed smaller than the length dimension to the end face of the portion 34a.
[0109]
In the developer storage container 30 in the image forming apparatus 70 according to the present embodiment, the support member 32 is disposed at the intermediate portion in the axial direction of the container main body 31. The member 32 is disposed in the middle portion in the normal direction E in the apparatus main body 71. As a result, the container main body 31 can be extended from the middle portion of the device main body 71 in the front-back direction E to the front portion, and can be extended from the middle portion in the front-back direction E to the back surface, thereby greatly increasing the capacity. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 31, the other axial end 34 a of the developer container 30 protrudes toward the front exterior portion 71 from the housing front portion 93.
[0110]
Further, by making the length dimension from the support member 32 of the container body 31 to the end face of the one end portion 33a in the axial direction smaller than the length dimension from the support member 32 to the end face of the other end portion 34a in the axial direction. In the back surface portion, it is possible to secure a region in which a drive unit including a drive source 84 and a speed reducer 85 connected to the fitting convex portion 37 of the one axial end portion 33a of the container body 31 is provided. Thus, the developer storage container 30 has two unique effects of effectively using the space in the apparatus main body 71 and increasing the storage amount of the developer as much as possible.
[0111]
When the drive source 84 is driven and the joint receiving portion 87 is rotated in a state where the developer storage container 30 is arranged at the mounting position in this way, the fitting recess 90 of the joint receiving portion 87 and the developer storage container are rotated. In a state where the 30 fitting convex portions 37 are fitted, the container body 31 rotates around the rotation axis L31 as it is. In addition, in a state where the fitting recess 90 of the joint receiving portion 87 and the fitting convex portion 37 of the developer storage container 30 are not fitted, the fitting recess 90 of the joint receiving portion 87 and the developer storage container 30. Until the fitting convex portion 37 is fitted, only the joint receiving portion 87 is angularly displaced for a while, and the fitting concave portion 90 of the joint receiving portion 87 and the fitting convex portion 37 of the developer container 30 are fitted. Are engaged, the spring force of the spring member 88 is urged, and the fitting recess 90 of the joint receiving portion 87 and the fitting convex portion 37 of the developer storage container 30 are fitted in close contact with each other. The container body 31 rotates around the rotation axis L31. As the container main body 31 of the developer storage container 30 rotates about the rotation axis L31 in this way, the developer stored in the developer storage container 30 is allowed to flow into the conduction hole 51 of the discharge portion 50 of the support member 32 and the toner hopper. The developer is supplied to and stored in the stirring space 78 through the communication hole 81 of the developer supply unit 74.
[0112]
The stirring member 75 and the supply roller 76 extend in the normal direction E of the apparatus main body 71 with a space therebetween and are disposed in the stirring space 78. The stirring member 75 is rotatable around a stirring axis L75 parallel to the front-back direction E, and has a scraping member 91 that extends in the direction of the stirring axis L75 and has flexibility. Further, the stirring member 75 is rotated in the clockwise direction J1 around the stirring axis L75 when viewed from the front of the apparatus main body 71 by the driving force from the driving source 84 provided in the apparatus main body 71. The supply roller 76 is rotatable about a supply axis L76 parallel to the front-back direction E, and the outer peripheral surface portion is made of a porous resin such as sponge, for example. Further, the supply roller 76 rotates in the counterclockwise direction J2 around the stirring axis L76 when viewed from the front of the apparatus main body 71 by the driving force from the drive source 84 provided in the apparatus main body 71.
[0113]
Facing the stirring space 78 of the toner hopper 72, communicating with the developer supply unit 74, extending in the normal direction E of the apparatus main body 21, and having a substantially U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the stirring axis L 75 of the stirring member 75. An agitating wall 92 formed in the shape of the inner circumferential surface of the partial cylinder to be opened is provided. Although the developer is supplied to the stirring space 78 from one communicating hole 81, the developer discharged from the developer storage container 30 as described above is not only stirred but also mixed with gas to form a fine powder. Since the fluidity is extremely good, even if it is supplied from the communication hole 81, it diffuses in the stirring axis L75 in the stirring space 78. The developer accommodated in the stirring space 78 is further diffused in the direction of the stirring axis L75 in the stirring space 78 by stirring by the stirring member 75.
[0114]
When the agitating member 75 rotates, the developer supplied from the communication hole 81 and agitated in the agitating space 78 is agitated, and the scraping member 91 is in contact with the agitating wall 92 while its free end abuts the agitating space 78. The developer contained in the toner is scraped out and supplied to the supply roller 76. Therefore, the supply roller 76 is supplied with the fine powder developer substantially uniformly in the direction of the axis L76. Further, even when the remaining amount of the developer stored in the stirring space 78 is reduced, it is given to the supply roller 76 by being scraped off by the scraping member 91, so that it remains in the stirring space 78 without being supplied to the supply roller 76. The developer to be used can be reduced as much as possible. The developer supplied to the supply roller 76 is supplied to the developing unit 200 in a good state by the rotation of the supply roller 76.
[0115]
The apparatus main body 71 further includes a developing unit 200, a recording paper cassette 201, a photosensitive drum 202, a charging unit 203, a laser exposure unit 204, and a fixing unit 205. The developing unit 200 agitates toner, which is a developer, supplied from the toner hopper 72 and a carrier, which is magnetic particles prepared in advance, to generate a two-component developer.
[0116]
The recording paper cassette 201 holds recording paper on which an image is to be formed. The photoconductor drum 202 is a cylindrical drum having a photoconductor provided on the outer peripheral portion thereof, and rotates around its axis by a driving force from the driving unit. The charging unit 203 charges the photosensitive member of the photosensitive drum 202 to impart photosensitivity. The laser exposure unit 204 exposes the charged photosensitive member of the photosensitive drum 202 with a laser light image to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member.
[0117]
The developing unit 200 agitates the two-component developer, supplies the two-component developer to the photosensitive member of the photosensitive drum 202 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, and develops the toner corresponding to the electrostatic latent image. An image is formed. The photosensitive drum 202 transfers the toner image of the photosensitive drum 202 onto the recording paper fed from the recording paper cassette 201. The fixing unit 205 fixes the toner image of the recording paper to which the toner image is transferred onto the recording paper. The recording paper on which the toner image is fixed and the image is formed is discharged to the paper discharge tray 206. In order to make the toner density of the two-component developer in the developing unit 4 constant, the outer periphery of the supply roller 76 is formed of a sponge, and the rotation thereof is controlled. Accordingly, the supply roller 76 supplies an appropriate amount of toner to the developing unit 200 in a fine powder state.
[0118]
Control of the container main body 31 of the developer storage container 30 and the stirring member 75 and the supply roller 76 of the toner hopper 72 will be briefly described below. When the toner remaining amount detecting unit 95 provided in the stirring wall 92 detects that the amount of developer (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as “toner”) stored in the stirring space 78 of the toner hopper 72 has decreased. The control unit (not shown) controls the drive source 84 to rotate the container main body 31 of the developer storage container 30 and supply the toner to the stirring space 78. If it is detected from the toner remaining amount detection unit 95 that the amount of toner stored in the stirring space 78 is not full even if the container body 31 is rotated for a predetermined time, the control unit rotates the container body 31. And a message indicating that the developer storage container 30 is to be replaced is displayed on a display unit (not shown) to notify the user. At this time, a considerable amount of developer is stored in the stirring space 78 of the toner hopper 72. While the developer is stored in the stirring space 78 of the toner hopper 72, the user removes the empty developer storage container 30 from the apparatus main body 71 and stores a new developer in which the developer is stored. The container 30 is attached to the apparatus main body 71. Thus, even when the image forming apparatus 70 is in the process of forming an image on the recording paper, the developer necessary for image formation is stored in the stirring space 78 of the toner hopper 72, so that the image forming operation is not interrupted. The developer can be supplied to the apparatus main body 71.
[0119]
In the present embodiment, when the developer is replenished, it is only necessary to replace the developer container 30, and the user holds the support member 32 and the second container part 34 of the developer container 30, for example. Thus, it is only necessary to insert from the first container part 33 in which the fitting convex part 37 is formed into the container accommodating space 77 of the toner hopper 72 from the housing front part 93 of the apparatus main body 71 toward the mounting direction E1. Convenient. Further, when the developer storage container 30 is detached from the apparatus main body 71, the user only has to hold the second container portion 34 of the developer storage container 30 and pull it out in the removal direction E2, which is very simple. It is.
[0120]
Further, in order to stir the stored developer to prevent agglomeration, a user has conventionally swung a large and large toner cartridge vertically and horizontally, but in the developer storage container 30 of the present embodiment, The user only needs to rotate the container body 31 around the rotation axis L31, which is very easy. Further, the developer storage container 30 of the present embodiment has a very simple configuration for stirring the developer stored therein. The developer storage container 30 achieves a seal between the container main body 31 and the support member 32, and communicates with each other when the developer storage container 30 is mounted on the apparatus main body 71 at the mounting position. Since at least one of the periphery of the conduction hole 51 of the discharging unit 50 and the periphery of the communication hole 81 of the developer supply unit 74 is achieved, the developer can leak out in the container housing space 77 of the toner hopper 72. Can be prevented. Therefore, when the user replaces the developer container 30, it is possible to prevent as much as possible that the hand is soiled by the developer. Further, since the developer storage container 30 is substantially cylindrical, it can be stored in an elongated rectangular parallelepiped packing box, and is very easy to transport and interpolate.
[0121]
Further, the developer storage container 30 does not increase the rotational force for rotating the container body 31 as described above, and the developer discharge amount per rotation of the container body 31 is as constant as possible. It is. As a result, it is not necessary to increase the rotation speed of the container main body 31, and the developer can be supplied to the stirring space 78 of the toner hopper 72 even at a low speed, and the developer discharge amount per rotation of the container main body 31 is made as much as possible. The developer can be supplied to the stirring space 78, the torque of the drive source 84 can be reduced, and the drive source 84 can be a small motor, for example.
[0122]
Although the developer storage container 30 and the image forming apparatus 70 of the above-described embodiment have been treated as two-component development, the present invention can also be applied to a toner-only development system.
[0123]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the sealing means is wound around the container body, and the support-side protrusion of the support member is provided with the contact portion that elastically contacts the entire circumference from the axial direction. A seal between the outer periphery of the main body and the outer periphery of the support member is achieved. Further, the sealing means is provided with a scraping portion that scrapes the developer that has entered between the outer peripheral portion of the sealing means and the inner peripheral portion of the support member to the discharge hole side. The developer that has entered between the inner peripheral portion can be guided to the discharge hole. As a result, a substantially perfect seal between the outer periphery of the container body and the outer periphery of the support member can be achieved. In order to achieve a seal between the outer periphery of the container body and the inner periphery of the support member, for example, the outer periphery of the sealing means wound around the container body is elastically applied to the inner periphery of the support member over the entire circumference. When the contact is made, the frictional force that prevents the container body from rotating relative to the support member by the elastic force acting in the radial direction increases. In the present invention, the outer peripheral portion of the sealing means is not elastically brought into contact with the inner peripheral portion of the support member over the entire circumference in this way, and the contact portion of the sealing means is axially aligned with the support-side protruding portion of the support member. The frictional force as described above can be reduced by elastically contacting the entire circumference from the direction. Further, since the sealing means is provided with a scraping portion that scrapes the developer that has entered between the outer peripheral portion of the sealing means and the inner peripheral portion of the support member to the discharge hole side, the developer is brought into contact with the sealing means. Without reaching, it is guided to the discharge hole side, and sealing is ensured. Therefore, the reduction of the frictional force that hinders the rotation of the container body and the sealing can be achieved at the same time.
[0124]
According to the invention, the scraping portion of the sealing means has a plurality of scraping pieces, and each scraping piece abuts on the inner peripheral portion of the support member in the entire area in the axial direction, and in the circumferential direction. It is formed so as to protrude outward in the radial direction with an interval, and to increase the amount of protrusion as it approaches the discharge hole. When the sealing means rotates about the axis together with the container body, the portion adjacent to the discharge hole of each scraping piece is arranged upstream of the portion separating from the discharge hole of the scraping piece in the rotation direction of the container body. It is elastically deformed and slides while elastically contacting the inner periphery of the support member. As a result, the developer that has entered between the outer peripheral portion of the sealing means and the inner peripheral portion of the support member can be scraped toward the discharge hole.
[0125]
According to the invention, the scraping portion of the sealing means has a plurality of scraping pieces, and each scraping piece elastically abuts against the inner peripheral portion of the support member in the entire area in the axial direction. A plurality are formed to project outward in the radial direction at intervals in the circumferential direction and to incline toward the upstream side in the rotational direction of the container body as they approach the discharge hole. When the sealing means rotates around the axis together with the container main body, the portion adjacent to the discharge hole of each scraping piece is arranged on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the container main body from the portion separating from the discharge hole of the scraping piece, It slides while elastically contacting the inner periphery of the support member. As a result, the developer that has entered between the outer peripheral portion of the sealing means and the inner peripheral portion of the support member can be scraped toward the discharge hole.
[0126]
Further, according to the present invention, the image forming apparatus can detachably mount a developer storage container that achieves the above-described effects.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a developer container 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a developer storage container 30. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a left side view showing the developer storage container 30. FIG.
4 is a front view showing a container body 31. FIG.
5 is a left side view showing the container body 31. FIG.
6 is a right side view showing the container body 31. FIG.
7 is a perspective view showing a third container part 35. FIG.
8 is an enlarged front view showing the vicinity of a third container part 35. FIG.
9 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line S91-S91 in FIG. 8, and (2) is a cross-sectional view seen from section line S92-S92 in FIG.
10 is a front view showing a support member 32. FIG.
11 is a right side view showing the support member 32. FIG.
12 is an exploded right side view showing the support member 32. FIG.
13 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line S13-S13 in FIG.
14 is a front view showing a sealing material 47. FIG.
15 is a side view showing a sealing material 47. FIG.
FIG. 16 is a front view showing a state in which the developer container 30 is assembled.
17 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line S17-S17 in FIG.
18 is a sectional view taken along section line S18-S18 in FIG.
19 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of one sealing material 47 in FIG.
20 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a section XX in FIG.
21 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line S21-S21 in FIG.
22 is an enlarged view of section XXII in FIG. 21. FIG.
FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a process until the developer in the third container portion 35 of the container body 31 is guided to the conduction hole 51 of the support member 32 when the container body 31 is rotating in the rotation direction R around the rotation axis L31. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement.
FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a state where the developer in the third container portion 35 of the container main body 31 is guided to the conduction hole 51 of the support member 32 when the container main body 31 rotates in the rotation direction R around the rotation axis L31. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement.
FIG. 25 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of developer discharged from the developer storage container 30 and time.
FIG. 26 is a front view showing a sealing material 47A which is another embodiment of the sealing means.
FIG. 27 is an enlarged sectional view showing the vicinity of one sealing material 47A wound around the container body 31. FIG.
28 is an enlarged sectional view showing a section XXVIII in FIG. 27. FIG.
FIG. 29 is a sectional view showing an image forming apparatus 70 according to another embodiment of the present invention.
30 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the vicinity of a toner hopper 72. FIG.
FIG. 31 is an enlarged plan view showing the vicinity of the toner hopper 72;
32 is an enlarged perspective view showing a main body side connecting portion 83. FIG.
FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing a developer supply container 1 according to the first prior art.
FIG. 34 is a perspective view showing a toner cartridge 10 according to the second prior art.
[Explanation of symbols]
30 Developer storage container
31 Container body
32 Support member
47, 47A Sealing material
48 Inner circumference
58 1st support convex part
59 Second support projection
97 Contact part
98, 98A Raised part
99,99A scraped pieces

Claims

A developer storage container detachably mounted on the image forming apparatus,
Formed in a cylindrical shape for storing the developer used for image formation, provided with a discharge hole for discharging the developer, and transporting the developer stored by rotating around the axis toward the discharge hole A container body;
Cover at least the portion including the discharge hole from the radially outer side over the entire circumference, support the container body rotatably around the axis, project radially inward at at least one end in the axial direction, and extend over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction A support member provided with a support-side protrusion that extends; and
Sealing means wound around the container body and provided with a contact portion that elastically contacts the support-side protruding portion of the support member over the entire circumference from the axial direction, the outer peripheral portion of the seal means and the inner periphery of the support member And a sealing means provided with a scraping portion for scraping the developer that has entered between the discharge portion to the discharge hole side.

The scraping portion of the sealing means has a plurality of scraping pieces, and each scraping piece elastically contacts the inner peripheral portion of the support member in the entire area in the axial direction, and is spaced apart in the circumferential direction. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein the developer storage container is formed so as to protrude outward in the radial direction and to increase in amount as it approaches the discharge hole.

The scraping portion of the sealing means has a plurality of scraping pieces, and each scraping piece elastically contacts the inner peripheral portion of the support member in the entire area in the axial direction, and is spaced apart in the circumferential direction. 2. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the developer storage containers are formed so as to project outward in the radial direction and to incline toward the upstream side in the rotation direction of the container body as they approach the discharge hole.

An image forming apparatus, wherein the developer container according to claim 1 is detachably mounted.