JP4548544B2 - Toner cartridge and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner cartridge containing toner used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a complex machine to which an electrophotographic system is applied, and an image forming apparatus using the toner cartridge.

  For the image forming apparatus, a toner cartridge that is easy to handle and can be easily replenished without scattering toner around is used. The toner cartridge functions as a toner transport container until it is mounted on the image forming apparatus, and also functions as a toner supply tank after it is mounted on the image forming apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the toner cartridge 600 has a coupling portion 500 that is rotatably provided at an end portion 512 of the toner cartridge main body 510.

  In addition, an agitator (agitating and conveying member) 506 formed by spirally bending a metal linear member having a circular cross section in the toner cartridge main body 510 is engaged with the connecting portion 502 of the coupling portion 500. It is inserted into the hole 504.

  The agitator 506 is rotated by being applied with a rotational force by the coupling unit 500, and conveys the toner toward a carry-out port (not shown) formed in the toner cartridge main body 510 while stirring the toner. (For example, see Patent Document 1)

JP-A-10-149006

  An object of the present invention is to improve the conveyance performance for conveying toner in the vicinity of the side wall of the toner cartridge body.

The toner cartridge according to claim 1 is disposed inside the toner cartridge main body filled with toner and toward a carry-out port formed in the toner cartridge main body while stirring the toner. An agitating / conveying member to be conveyed; a coupling portion rotatably provided on a side wall portion of the end portion of the toner cartridge body; And a connecting portion that applies a rotational force to the stirring and conveying member. The stirring and conveying member has an end surface facing a radially outer side of the stirring and conveying member with respect to a rotation center of the stirring and conveying member. A bent portion that is bent, and a spiral curved portion that is formed continuously from the bent portion and that conveys the toner while stirring the toner; Provided, the coupling portion of the coupling portion, in a state in which the end face facing radially outward of the stirring carrying member, engaging groove, wherein the bent portion is inserted from the outer peripheral surface of the bent portion The bent portion and the connecting portion are engaged with each other with the end face protruding from the connecting portion, and the bent portion is disposed along the side wall portion. It is said.

According to the toner cartridge of the first aspect, the bent portion of the agitating and conveying member is disposed along the side wall portion of the toner cartridge main body, and the toner is continuously stirred from the bent portion. A spiral curved portion to be conveyed is formed.

  Therefore, the spiral curved portion is formed from the vicinity of the side wall portion of the toner cartridge main body, and as a result, the conveyance performance for conveying the toner near the side wall portion of the toner cartridge main body is improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the toner cartridge according to the first aspect, wherein the toner cartridge main body is cylindrical, and the curved portion is disposed over substantially the entire area of the toner cartridge. Yes .

According to the toner cartridge of the second aspect, since the curved portion is provided over substantially the entire area of the toner cartridge main body, the conveyance performance for conveying the toner near the side wall of the toner cartridge main body is improved. .

The toner cartridge according to claim 3, in the structure according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the bent portion includes a first bent portion that is bent toward the rotational center of the agitating and conveying member, wherein A second bent portion bent toward the outer side of the rotation center of the agitating / conveying member, and the engaging groove includes a first engaging groove with which the first bent portion is engaged, and the second bent portion. And a second engagement groove with which the bent portion engages.

According to a third aspect of the present invention , the first bent portion is engaged with the first engaging groove, and the second bent portion is engaged with the second engaging groove. Thus, since the stirring and conveying member and the coupling portion are engaged at two locations, the rotation center of the stirring and conveying member is not easily displaced. Therefore, a rotational force is efficiently applied, and the stirring and conveying member rotates smoothly. Further, the agitating and conveying member is also difficult to come off.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the third aspect, the bending angle of the second bent portion with respect to the first bent portion is 60 ° to 120 °.

According to the toner cartridge of the fourth aspect, the same effect as that of the third aspect is achieved, but since the bending angle of the second bent portion is 60 ° to 120 °, the rotation center of the stirring and conveying member is more Hard to slip. Therefore, a rotational force is efficiently applied and the motor rotates smoothly. Further, the agitating and conveying member is also difficult to come off.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the toner cartridge according to the third or fourth aspect, the first engagement groove has a snap portion that is narrower than a shaft diameter of the first bent portion. It is characterized by being.

According to the toner cartridge according to claim 5, although Sosu the same action as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, since it has a snap section on the first engagement groove in which the first bent portion is engaged It ’s not easy to leave. Further, since there is no backlash, a rotational force is efficiently applied, and the agitating and conveying member rotates smoothly.

  Further, the first bent portion is inserted to the middle of the first engaging groove (before the snap portion), and then a force is applied to engage the snap portion. At this time, the insertion direction is not straight, but is oblique. A force is applied to the stirring and conveying member and the first engaging groove, and the stirring and conveying member and the first engaging groove may be deformed. However, since the second bent portion is inserted into the second engaging groove and guided halfway, the first bent portion is inserted straight and accurately. Therefore, the stirring and conveying member and the first engagement groove are not deformed.

A toner cartridge according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the configuration according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, wherein the first engagement groove and the second engagement groove are formed on the cylindrical connecting portion. A peripheral wall is formed by cutting out, and a rotational force is applied to the first bent portion at the larger one of the cut out peripheral walls.

According to the toner cartridge of the sixth aspect, the same effect as in the third to fifth aspects is achieved, but a force is applied to the larger peripheral wall cut by the first engagement groove and the second engagement groove. Therefore, the coupling part of the coupling part is not easily deformed. Accordingly, a rotational force is efficiently applied to the stirring and conveying member, and the stirring and conveying member rotates smoothly.

An image forming apparatus according to a seventh aspect uses the toner cartridge according to any one of the first to sixth aspects.

Since the image forming apparatus according to the seventh aspect uses the toner cartridge according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the toner in the vicinity of the side wall portion of the toner cartridge main body is agitated and conveyed. .

As described above, according to the present invention, the conveyance performance for conveying the toner near the side wall of the toner cartridge main body is improved.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a laser printer using a toner cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a toner cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a diagram schematically illustrating an internal structure of a toner cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. (B) is a figure which shows an agitator. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the inside of a toner cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along a section XX in FIG. 3. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a coupling portion of a toner cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram viewed perpendicularly to the groove center line of the first engagement groove, and FIG. It is the figure seen from the groove centerline direction of the 2nd engagement groove, (C) is the figure seen perpendicularly to the groove centerline of the 2nd engagement groove. The toner cartridge which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is shown, The process of inserting the 1st bending part and 2nd bending part of an agitator in the 1st engagement groove and 2nd engagement groove of the connection part of a coupling part FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a process in which the positions of a carry-out port formed in a toner cartridge body and a carry-in port of a toner transport mechanism are aligned after the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a laser printer. . FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a coupling part and an agitator of a coupling of a toner cartridge according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a coupling part and an agitator of a coupling of a toner cartridge according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a coupling portion and an agitator of a conventional toner cartridge, and a process for inserting the agitator into the coupling portion.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a toner cartridge according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a laser printer 10 as an example of an image forming apparatus using a toner cartridge 70 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The laser printer 10 forms an image (toner image) based on image information input from an external device by a known electrophotographic process, and records the image on a recording paper or the like.

  The electrophotographic process is a process of charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, forming an electrostatic latent image by exposure, developing the electrostatic latent image with toner, and transferring the toner image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member to a recording material. This is a series of processes in which an image is recorded on a recording material by heat fixing.

  Note that detailed descriptions of those not directly related to the essence of the present invention will be omitted.

The laser printer 10 is capable of forming a color image using magenta (M), yellow (Y), black (K), and cyan (C) toners. In the following description, K, Y, M, or C will be added after the reference numerals when displaying the distinction according to each color. (For example, the developing device 20Y)
The printing of a full-color image by the laser printer 10 is generally performed as follows.

  First, in the photosensitive drum unit 12, the four photosensitive drums 11 are uniformly charged by a charging roll (not shown), and then the surface of each charged photosensitive drum 11 is exposed to Y, M, K, C from the exposure unit 16. Each laser beam Bm corresponding to each color is separately irradiated, scanned and exposed on each photosensitive drum 11 through a gap of the developing unit 18, and an electrostatic latent image of each color corresponding to input information is formed on each photosensitive drum 11. Is done.

  Next, the electrostatic latent images on the respective photosensitive drums 11 are developed by the developing devices 20 of the respective colors of the developing unit 18 to become toner images of the respective colors of Y, M, K, and C.

  Subsequently, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the respective photosensitive drums 11 are electrostatically primarily transferred onto the first intermediate transfer drums 21 and 22. That is, yellow and magenta toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 11Y and 11M are magenta and yellow in this order on the first intermediate transfer drum 21, and black and cyan toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 11K and 11C are cyan. Then, the toner images are sequentially transferred on the first intermediate transfer drum 22 in the order of black. As a result, a multiple toner image composed of a magenta toner image and a yellow toner image is formed on the first intermediate transfer drum 21, while a cyan toner image and a black toner are formed on the first intermediate transfer drum 22. A multiple toner image composed of the image is formed.

  Subsequently, each of the multiple toner images respectively formed on the first intermediate transfer drums 21 and 22 is electrostatically secondarily transferred onto the secondary intermediate transfer drum 23. Thus, on the secondary intermediate transfer drum 23, the toner image on the first intermediate transfer drum 21 (M, Y from the lower layer side) and the toner image on the first intermediate transfer drum 22 (C, K from the lower layer side) Are transferred in this order, and a multi-toner image in which Y, M, K, and C are superposed from the lower layer side is formed.

  On the other hand, in accordance with the formation of such a toner image, the recording paper P is sent from the paper supply unit 32 to the transfer roll 50 by the recording paper transport mechanism 34 at a predetermined timing. The recording paper P sent to the transfer roll 50 is held by the transfer roll 50 and the secondary intermediate transfer drum 23, and the multiple toner images on the secondary intermediate transfer drum 23 are electrostatically transferred.

  Next, the recording paper P on which the multiple toner image has been transferred is sent to the fixing unit 40, and passes through the fixing nip portion between the heating roll 42 and the pressure roll 44 of the fixing unit 40, thereby heating and pressing. After the fixing process, the paper is discharged to a paper discharge unit 46 at the top of the laser printer 10.

  A full-color image is formed on one sheet of recording paper P by executing a series of image forming processes as described above.

  Each developing device 20 is supplied with toner as needed by each toner transport mechanism 72 from each toner cartridge 70 (Y, M, K, C) containing toner of four colors. Yes. Each toner cartridge 70 is detachable. When the toner runs out, it can be replaced with a new toner cartridge 70.

  In the toner transport mechanism 72, a pipe portion 76 formed in a cylindrical shape by a soft synthetic resin having flexibility is attached to a joint portion 74 to which the toner cartridge 70 is connected. Inside the pipe portion 76, a conveying screw member (not shown) is disposed. The pipe portion 76 conveys the toner carried to the joint portion 74 from a carry-out port 90 (see FIG. 3) of the toner cartridge main body 80 described later by this screw member, and supplies the toner to the developing device 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the toner cartridge 70 includes a cylindrical toner cartridge main body 80 and side wall portions 82 and 84 fitted to both ends of the toner cartridge main body 80.

  Further, on the peripheral surface of the toner cartridge main body 80 on one end side, a carry-out port 90 (see FIG. 3) for carrying out the toner toward the developing device 20 is provided. A belt portion 86 is slidably attached to the toner cartridge main body 80. The band portion 86 is provided with a storage portion 88 for storing the carry-out port 90 outside the carry-out port 90.

  Accordingly, when the toner cartridge 70 is not attached to the laser printer 10 (or immediately after attachment), the carry-out port 90 is stored in the storage unit 88, and the toner in the toner cartridge main body 80 does not leak out from the carry-out port 90. It is like that.

  FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a process in which the position of the carry-out port 90 formed in the toner cartridge main body 80 and the carry-in port 96 of the joint portion 74 of the toner transport mechanism 72 are aligned after the toner cartridge 70 is mounted on the laser printer 10. FIG. In addition, the dotted line part represents the carry-out port 90 and the carry-in port 96.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, when the toner cartridge 70 is attached to the laser printer 10, the fixing rib 78 formed in the joint portion 74 of the toner transport mechanism 72 is formed in the fixing groove 94 formed in the storage portion 88. The engaging portion 88 (the belt portion 86) is engaged and fixed.

The toner cartridge main body 80 rotates when the knob portion 92 provided on the side wall portion 82 is rotated, and the carry-out port 90 exits from the storage portion 88, and the carry-in port 96 of the joint portion 74 of the toner transport mechanism 72 The position is adapted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a hole 98 is formed in the central portion of the side wall portion 84 on the other end side of the toner cartridge main body 80, and the coupling portion 102 of the coupling portion 100 extends from the hole 98 of the side wall portion 84. The toner cartridge main body 80 is penetrated. Thereby, the coupling part 100 is rotatable with respect to the side wall part 84.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5C, the coupling portion 102 of the coupling portion 100 has a cylindrical shape, and the first engagement groove 104 and the second engagement groove 106 are formed radially on the peripheral wall from the center. Is formed. In the present embodiment, the angle at which the center line of the first engaging groove 104 and the second engaging groove 106 intersects at the center is about 90 °. Further, a first bent portion 204 of an agitator 200 described later is engaged with the first engaging groove 104, and a second bent portion 206 is engaged with the second engaging groove 106.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, the first engagement groove 104 has an entrance narrower than the shaft diameter of the first bent portion 204 and is slightly narrower than the shaft diameter of the first bent portion 204. A circular snap portion 120 is formed. Since the first bent portion 204 is engaged with the snap portion 120, the agitator 200 cannot be easily removed.

  Further, when the toner cartridge 70 is mounted on the laser printer 10, the coupling unit 100 is connected to a rotational driving force member (not shown) disposed on the laser printer 10 main body side. Then, the coupling portion 100 is rotated in the S direction by the rotational driving force member, and the rotational force is transmitted to the agitator 200 in the toner cartridge main body 80.

  The coupling part 100 is made of a synthetic resin, for example, POM (polyacetal resin).

  As shown in FIG. 4, a seal member 150 is attached around a hole through which the coupling portion 102 of the coupling portion 100 passes. The seal member 150 seals between the side wall portion 84 and the coupling portion 100 of the toner cartridge main body 80, and from the gap between the hole 98 (see FIG. 3) of the side wall portion 84 and the coupling portion 100. The toner inside is prevented from leaking outside. The seal member 150 is made of a rubber material such as chloroprene rubber.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the agitator 200 is disposed over substantially the entire area of the toner cartridge main body 80, and is made of a metal linear member having a circular cross section, such as stainless steel, as shown in FIG. (SUS304WP), and the curved portion 202 is formed in a spiral shape. In addition, a first bent portion 204 that is bent in the vertical direction toward the rotation axis (rotation center) M and engages with the first engagement groove 104 is provided at the end of the spiral bending portion 202 of one agitator. Is formed. Further, at the tip of the first bent portion 204, a second bent portion that is bent outward by about 90 ° with respect to the rotation axis (rotation center M) of the agitator 200 and engages with the second engagement groove 106. 206 is formed. The tip of the other end is a free end that is not constrained.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the agitator 200 is rotated in the S direction by applying a rotational force from the connecting portion 102 of the coupling portion 100, and the carry-out port 90 (FIG. 3A) while stirring the toner in the toner cartridge main body 80. ) Refer to)).

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the first bent portion 204 of the agitator 200 is disposed along the vicinity of the inner surface 84A of the side wall portion 84 of the toner cartridge main body 80, and the first bent portion 204 is disposed. Since the spiral curved portion 202 is formed from the curved portion 204, the spiral curved portion 202 is disposed up to the vicinity of the inner surface 84 </ b> A of the side wall portion 84 of the toner cartridge main body 80. Since the portion of the toner cartridge main body 80 that conveys the toner while stirring is the spiral curved portion 202, the toner near the inner surface 84A of the side wall portion 84 of the toner cartridge main body 80 can also be stirred and conveyed.

  When the toner cartridge 70 is assembled, as shown in FIG. 6, the first bent portion 204 of the agitator 200 is moved from the outer peripheral surface side to the first engagement groove 104, and the second bent portion 206 is moved to the second engagement portion. The mating groove 106 is inserted and engaged. When inserted, the end surface 200 </ b> A of the agitator 200 does not contact the first engagement groove 104 and the second engagement groove 106. Further, it does not come into contact with the bottom surface portion 102A of the connecting portion 102 even after insertion.

  Since the agitator 200 is made of a metal linear member as described above, the end surface 200A and the coupling portion 100 made of resin come into contact with each other and are scraped to generate foreign matter (shaving powder). Since the end surface 200A of the toner cartridge 70 does not contact the first engagement groove 104 and the second engagement groove 106, no foreign matter (shaving powder) is generated when the toner cartridge 70 is assembled. Accordingly, foreign matter (shaving powder) due to scraping is generated during assembly, and the foreign matter (shaving powder) is mixed into the toner, and is transported together with the toner to the developing device 20 (see FIG. 1), thereby deteriorating the print quality. It does not cause it.

  Further, the first engagement groove 104 is inserted halfway (before the snap portion 120), and then a force is applied to engage the snap portion 120. At this time, if the insertion direction is not straight but oblique, the agitator A force may be applied to the 200 and the first engaging groove 104, and the agitator 200 and the first engaging groove 104 may be deformed. However, since the second bent portion 206 is inserted into the second engagement groove 106 and guided halfway, the first bent portion 204 can be inserted straight and accurately. Therefore, the agitator 200 and the first engagement groove 104 are not deformed.

  Further, when the first bent portion 204 and the second bent portion 206 of the agitator 200 are inserted into the first engaging groove 104 and the second engaging groove 106, a mistake is made and the first bent portion 204 of the agitator 200 and Even if the second bent portion 206 hits the seal member 150, the end surface 200 </ b> A of the agitator 200 does not hit the seal member 150, so that the seal member 150 is not damaged. Therefore, even if an insertion error occurs, the seal member 150 is not damaged and toner leakage does not occur, and the process can be performed again.

  Next, the operation of the toner cartridge according to the present invention will be described.

  In the toner cartridge 70, the coupling unit 100 is connected to a rotational driving force member (not shown) disposed on the main body side of the laser printer 10, and the coupling unit 100 is rotated by the rotational driving force member.

  The coupling part 100 applies a rotational force to the first bent part 204 of the agitator 200 engaged with the first engaging groove 104 of the connecting part 102. The agitator 200 to which the rotational force is applied rotates, and conveys the toner toward the carry-out port 90 (see FIG. 3) while stirring the toner with the spiral curved portion 202.

  As shown in FIG. 4, even if the agitator 200 rotates, the end surface 200A of the agitator 200 does not contact the coupling part 100. Therefore, even if the coupling part 100 rotates, the end surface 200A of the agitator 200 and the coupling part 100 does not rub. Accordingly, no foreign matter is generated due to scraping by scraping. For this reason, the malfunction by generation | occurrence | production of a foreign material does not occur.

  Further, since the snap portion 120 is formed in the first engagement groove 104, the engagement of the first bent portion 204 is not rattled, and the second bent portion 206 further has the second engagement groove 106. Since there is no backlash in the H direction. For this reason, the agitator 200 is firmly fixed, and the rotation center of the agitator 200 is not easily displaced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the larger angle formed by the groove center lines of the first engagement groove 104 and the second engagement groove 106 intersecting at the center portion of the coupling portion 100, that is, the connection portion 102. Since force is applied to the first bent portion 204 (see FIG. 4) by the portion 102B having a large peripheral wall, the connecting portion 102 of the coupling portion 100 is not easily deformed.

  Therefore, a rotational force is efficiently applied to the agitator 200, and the agitator 200 rotates smoothly. Further, the agitator 200 is also difficult to come off. Therefore, the toner is smoothly conveyed.

  In the present embodiment, the angle at which the second bent portion 206 is bent (the angle at which the groove center line between the first engagement groove 104 and the second engagement groove 106 intersects at the center) is about 90 °. However, according to the experiment results of the present applicant, if the angle is between 60 ° and 120 ° (see FIG. 5), the agitator 200 is firmly fixed, and the rotational center of the agitator 200 is not easily displaced. It has been found that a rotational force to 200 is efficiently applied and rotates smoothly.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the first engagement groove 104 and the second engagement groove 106 are formed in the radial direction from the center of the coupling portion 102 of the coupling portion 100, but this is not restrictive. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the center lines of the first engagement groove 704 and the second engagement groove 706 intersect at a position other than the center of the coupling part 702 of the coupling part 700, and the first center of the agitator 750 intersects with them. You may make it the 1st bending part 754 and the 2nd bending part 756 engage.

  For example, in the said embodiment, although the 1st bending part 204 and the 2nd bending part 206 were formed in the agitator 200, it is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the agitator 850 is not formed with the second bent portion, only the first bent portion 854 is formed, and only the first engaging groove 804 of the coupling portion 802 of the coupling portion 800 is formed. In the formed configuration, the first bent portion 854 may be engaged with the first engagement groove 804 and the second engagement groove 806 formed on the cylinder inner wall of the cylindrical connection portion 802.

10 Laser printer (image forming device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 70 Toner cartridge 80 Toner cartridge main body 90 Unloading port 120 Snap part 100 Coupling part 102 Connection part 104 1st engagement groove 106 2nd engagement groove 200 Agitator (stirring conveyance member)
204 1st bent part 206 2nd bent part

Claims (7)

A toner cartridge body filled with toner;
An agitating and conveying member disposed inside the toner cartridge main body and conveying the toner toward a carry-out port formed in the toner cartridge main body while stirring the toner;
A coupling portion rotatably provided on a side wall portion of the end portion of the toner cartridge body;
A coupling portion that is provided in the coupling portion and engages with an end portion of the stirring and conveying member to apply a rotational force to the stirring and conveying member;
In a toner cartridge having
The stirring and conveying member is
A bent portion that is bent so that an end surface thereof faces radially outward of the stirring and conveying member with respect to the rotation center of the stirring and conveying member;
A spiral curved portion that is formed continuously from the bent portion and conveys the toner while stirring the toner;
With
The coupling portion of the coupling portion is formed with an engagement groove into which the bent portion is inserted from the outer peripheral surface side of the bent portion in a state where the end surface faces the radially outer side of the stirring and conveying member. ,
A toner cartridge, wherein the bent portion and the connecting portion are engaged with the end face protruding from the connecting portion, and the bent portion is disposed along the side wall portion. The toner cartridge body is cylindrical,
The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the curved portion is disposed over substantially the entire area of the toner cartridge.   The bent portion is composed of a first bent portion bent toward the rotation center of the stirring and conveying member, and a second bent portion bent to the outside of the rotation center of the stirring and conveying member,
  The engagement groove is composed of a first engagement groove with which the first bent portion is engaged and a second engagement groove with which the second bent portion is engaged. The toner cartridge according to claim 1.   The toner cartridge according to claim 3, wherein a bending angle of the second bent portion with respect to the first bent portion is 60 ° to 120 °.   5. The toner cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the first engagement groove has a snap portion that is narrower than an axial diameter of the first bent portion. 6.   The first engaging groove and the second engaging groove are formed by cutting a cylindrical peripheral wall of the connecting portion, and a rotational force is applied to the first bent portion by the larger peripheral wall. The toner cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the toner cartridge is a toner cartridge.   An image forming apparatus using the toner cartridge according to claim 1.

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