JP5155004B2 - Developer container and image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer container for storing a developer, and an image recording apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer having such a developer container.

  Some image recording apparatuses such as an electrophotographic color recording apparatus have an image forming unit arranged in accordance with each color of toner as a developer along a medium conveyance direction. Each image forming unit is provided with a photoreceptor and the like, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor is visualized based on image information.

  In an image forming unit comprising a developer container for storing a developer and an image forming unit, a developer supply roller is provided at a position facing the photoconductive drum across the developing roller pressed against the surface of the photoconductive drum. A developer is supplied to the image forming unit through an opening from a developer container detachably attached to the unit.

  Here, in the developer container, one end portion side of the swing member is fixed to the upper side of the inner wall of the developer container formed substantially upright, and the claw portion of the other end portion of the swing member is fixed to the stirring shaft. The swing member is provided so as to protrude into the rotation range. The stirring member rotates and contacts the other end of the swinging member to vibrate the swinging member, thereby preventing toner from adhering to the inner wall of the toner container (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-072657 A

  However, in the above-described configuration, the swinging member vibrates only at a part of one side of the inner wall of the developer container, there is little vibration at the upper fixed part of the developer container, and vibration is generated at the top surface portion of the inner wall of the developer container. Therefore, since the developer remains attached to most of the inner wall of the developer container, there is a problem that the developer cannot be used up sufficiently.

  Therefore, in view of the above technical problems, the present invention can use almost all the developer remaining on the top surface and both side surfaces of the developer container as well as one end portion of the inner wall of the developer container. An object is to provide a container and an image recording apparatus.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a developer container according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a developer, a stirring member that is rotatably provided in the storage unit, and the stirring member that rotates at one end. A swing member having a contact portion that contacts the inner wall abutting portion that contacts the inner wall of the housing portion at the other end, and the swing member is engaged between the contact portion and the inner wall contact portion, A support portion supported inside the housing portion, and the inner wall abutting portion contacts and swings on the side surface and the top surface of the housing portion in response to the contact between the stirring member and the contact portion. It is characterized by doing.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a developer, a stirring member that is rotatably provided in the storage unit, and the stirring that rotates at one end. A swing member having a contact portion that contacts the member and an inner wall contact portion that contacts the inner wall of the housing portion at the other end, and the swing member is engaged between the contact portion and the inner wall contact portion. A support portion supported inside the housing portion, and the inner wall abutting portion contacts and swings on the side surface and the top surface of the housing portion according to the contact between the stirring member and the contact portion. And a developer container that moves, and an image forming unit that forms an image using the developer supplied from the developer container.

  According to the developer container having such a configuration, when the developer in the developer container becomes small, the swing member is rotated by the rotating operation of the stirring member, so that the developer is moved by the swing member. The top surface and both side portions of the inner wall of the container can be vibrated.

  According to the developer container of the present invention, when the remaining amount of the developer is reduced, the swing member is rotated by the rotating operation of the stirring member, and the top of the developer container inner wall is rotated by the swing member. By vibrating the surface and both side portions, the developer attached to the top surface and both side surfaces of the inner wall of the developer container can be evenly wiped off. Therefore, almost all the developer in the developer container can be used up.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the developer container of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The developer container of the present invention is not limited to the following description, and can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[First embodiment]
The developer container according to the first embodiment is in a state where one end of a toner adhesion prevention film rotatably provided inside the toner cartridge is in contact with a part of the top surface and both side portions of the inner wall of the toner cartridge. A toner agitation bar rotatably provided inside the toner cartridge is brought into contact with the other end of the toner adhesion preventing film so that the toner adhesion preventing film repeatedly acts on the top surface and both side portions of the inner wall of the toner cartridge. It is characterized by that.

  First, the image recording apparatus of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of the image recording apparatus 1.

  The image recording apparatus 1 includes image forming units 2C, 2M, 2Y, and 2K that print on a recording medium 4 based on image information corresponding to cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors, and a paper feed cassette. A substantially S-shaped paper conveyance path 3 is provided that starts from the stacker 15 from which the recording medium 4 on which the image information is printed starting from 5 is discharged.

  The image forming unit 2 in the image recording apparatus 1 includes image forming units 2C, 2M, 2Y, and 2K that develop image information corresponding to cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors. Since they have substantially the same configuration, they are referred to as the image forming unit 2 in the following description. Details of the image forming unit 2 will be described later.

  The sheet conveyance path 3 provided in the image recording apparatus 1 starts with a paper feed cassette 5 containing a recording medium 4 as a starting point, a cassette hopping roller 6, a first conveyance roller 7, a second conveyance roller 8, a transfer belt 9, and a transfer roller. 10, a fixing roller 11, a pressure roller 12, a third conveyance roller 13, and a fourth conveyance roller 14, and a path having a stacker 15 as an end point. Hereinafter, main elements constituting the sheet conveyance path 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The recording medium 4 is a recording paper having a predetermined size for developing monochrome or color image information, and is generally made of paper such as recycled paper, glossy paper, and high-quality paper, or an OHP film.

  The paper feed cassette 5 stores a plurality of recording media 4 and supplies the recording media 4 into the image recording apparatus 1 when a printing operation is started. The paper feed cassette 5 is configured to be detachable from the image recording apparatus 1.

  The transfer belt 9 is a transport unit for transporting the recording medium 4 into the image forming unit 2 and developing image information. The transfer belt 9 holds an image of toner 24 as a developer on the peripheral surface of the transfer belt 9. This is an endless belt capable of adsorbing the recording medium 4.

  The transfer roller 10 is positioned below a photosensitive drum, which will be described later, and is rotatably provided in a state of being in contact with the recording medium 4 between the transfer roller 10 and the photosensitive drum. The transfer roller 10 is supplied with a bias voltage opposite to the voltage supplied to the photosensitive drum, so that an image formed by the toner 24 formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum can be transferred to the recording medium 4.

  The fixing roller 11 is provided with a heat source such as a halogen lamp inside to fix the toner 24 to the recording medium 4 by thermocompression.

  The pressure roller 12 is provided below the fixing roller 11, and sandwiches the recording medium 4 to which the toner 24 is adhered between the fixing roller 11 and the pressure roller 12, and fixes the toner 24 to the recording medium 4 for conveyance. It is.

  The stacker 15 is a loading space for loading the recording medium 4 that has been developed and discharged from the image information.

  Next, the image forming unit 2 in the image recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of the image forming unit 2. The image forming unit 2 includes a toner cartridge 25 and an image forming unit 31 described later. Hereinafter, each element constituting the image forming unit 2 will be described in detail.

  The image forming unit 2 includes a photosensitive drum 21 that carries an electrostatic latent image based on image information, a charging roller 22 that accumulates charges on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21, and light corresponding to the image information. An electrostatic latent image is developed with the toner 24, an exposure source 23 for irradiating the surface of the toner, a toner 24 as a developer, a toner cartridge 25 containing the toner 24, a toner supply roller 26 for supplying the toner 24 A developing roller 27 for controlling the thickness of the toner 24 to be uniform, and a cleaning blade 29 for cleaning the photosensitive drum 21.

  The photosensitive drum 21 is configured to be able to store electric charges on the surface in order to carry an electrostatic latent image based on image information. The photosensitive drum 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is rotatably provided. Such a photosensitive drum 21 is formed by forming a conductive base layer made of aluminum or the like and further forming a photosensitive layer made of an organic photosensitive member on the surface thereof.

  The charging roller 22 is for storing charges on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 by applying a predetermined positive voltage or negative voltage to the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 using a power source (not shown). The charging roller 22 is provided so as to be rotatable while contacting the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 with a constant pressure. Such a charging roller 22 is configured by coating a conductive metal shaft with a semiconductive rubber such as silicone.

  The exposure source 23 is configured to be able to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 by irradiating the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 with light corresponding to the image information. It is provided above. Such an exposure source 23 includes a combination of a plurality of light emitting diodes in a predetermined shape, or a laser.

  The toner 24 is a developer, and image information can be visualized by adhering to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21.

  The toner cartridge 25 is a developer container that stores the toner 24, and is disposed above the toner supply roller 26. The toner cartridge 25 is configured to be detachable from an image forming unit 31 described later so that it can be replaced when the toner 24 is consumed.

  The toner supply roller 26 is provided so that the toner 24 can be supplied to the developing roller 27 by contacting the developing roller 27 while rotating. Such a toner supply roller 26 is configured, for example, by covering a metal shaft having conductivity with a rubber added with a foaming agent.

  The developing roller 27 is configured to be rotatable while contacting the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 with a constant pressure. The developing roller 27 conveys the toner 24 to the photosensitive drum 21 while rotating, and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 with the toner 24.

  One end of the developing blade 28 is in pressure contact with the surface of the developing roller 27, and scrapes off the toner 24 exceeding a certain amount supplied from the toner supply roller 26 to the surface of the developing roller 27. The thickness of the toner 24 formed on the surface is regulated to be always uniform. Such a developing blade 28 is formed of, for example, a plate-like elastic member made of stainless steel.

  The cleaning blade 29 is configured to remove the toner 24 remaining on the photosensitive drum 21 after the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 21 is transferred to the recording medium 4. Such a cleaning blade 29 is provided upstream of the charging roller 22 in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 21 and is in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 with a constant pressure applied.

  Next, the image forming unit 31 constituting the image forming unit 2 provided in the image recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described in detail. 3 is a perspective view of the image forming unit 31, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the image forming unit 31 with the toner cartridge 25 mounted thereon, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming unit 31 with the toner cartridge 25 mounted thereon. Indicates.

  The image forming unit 31 includes a main body case 32 that houses the photosensitive drum 21 and the like, a toner opening 33 to which the toner 24 is supplied from the toner cartridge 25, and a waste toner transport that transports the waste toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 29. The apparatus 34 includes a waste toner discharge port 35 for discharging the conveyed waste toner, and a waste toner discharge port lid 36 for opening and closing the waste toner discharge port 35. Hereinafter, each element constituting the image forming unit 31 will be described.

  In the main body case 32, the photosensitive drum 21, the charging roller 22, the toner supply roller 26, the developing roller 27, the developing blade 28, and the cleaning blade 29 are provided among the components of the image forming unit 2 shown in FIG. It has been.

  The toner opening 33 is formed in a rectangular shape along the upper surface of the main body case 31 and is formed so as to overlap a later-described toner supply port 42 provided in the toner cartridge 25. The toner opening 33 is an opening for taking the toner 24 supplied from the toner cartridge 25 into the image forming unit 31.

  The waste toner transport device 34 transports the waste toner scraped off from the photosensitive drum 21 by the cleaning blade 29 to the waste toner discharge port 35 using a transport bell provided inside the waste toner transport device 34 (not shown). It is a device for doing.

  The waste toner discharge port 35 is for discharging waste toner to a waste toner storage chamber 44 inside a toner cartridge 25 to be described later. The waste toner discharge port 35 is formed of a cylindrical portion and is provided on a side surface portion of the waste toner transport device 34. Yes.

  The waste toner discharge port lid 36 is provided at the tip of the waste toner discharge port 35 and is provided to prevent the waste toner from leaking from the waste toner discharge port 35 when the toner cartridge 25 is detached from the image forming unit 31. .

  Next, the toner cartridge 25 constituting the image forming unit 2 provided in the image recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described in detail. 4 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge 25, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the image forming unit 31 mounted with the toner cartridge 25, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming unit 31 mounted with the toner cartridge 25. Show.

  The toner cartridge 25 includes a toner storage chamber 41 that stores unused toner 24, a toner supply port 42 that supplies the toner 24 in the toner storage chamber 41 to the image forming unit 31, and the toner 24 in the toner storage chamber 41. A toner opening / closing lever 43 for supplying the image forming unit 31, a waste toner storage chamber 44 for storing waste toner, and a waste toner storage chamber 44 for taking the waste toner from the waste toner discharge port 35 of the image formation unit 31. Waste toner intake port 45, waste toner transport spiral 46 for transporting waste toner inside waste toner storage chamber 44, toner and waste toner storage for shielding side surfaces of toner storage chamber 41 and waste toner storage chamber 44 A room side lid 47 is provided. Hereinafter, each element constituting the toner cartridge 25 will be described.

  The toner storage chamber 41 includes a cylindrical portion having a substantially rectangular side surface and a substantially circular side surface at the bottom of the rectangular portion that is long in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 4 and a long portion in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 4. It is formed to be joined. Since the joint portion is open, the rectangular portion and the cylindrical portion are formed from a single chamber and accommodate the toner 24. Here, in a rectangular part whose side part is substantially rectangular and long in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 4, a swinging base material 62 serving as a support part, which will be described later, and a toner adhesion preventing film 63 for removing the toner 24. A rocking member 61 is provided. In addition, a toner agitation bar 51 described later is provided inside a cylindrical portion having a substantially circular side surface and long in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 4. Similarly, a toner opening / closing lever 43 is provided at one end of a cylindrical portion having a substantially circular side surface and long in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 4.

  The toner supply port 42 is provided in a substantially rectangular shape along the lower portion of the toner storage chamber 41, and is formed so as to overlap the toner opening 33 when the toner cartridge 25 is attached to the image forming unit 31. The toner 24 in the toner cartridge 25 is supplied to a toner opening 33 provided in the image forming unit 31 via a toner supply port 42.

  The toner opening / closing lever 43 is a lever having an arcuate, substantially rectangular shape made of a hard material, and for supplying the toner 24 from the toner cartridge 25 to the image forming unit 31 by rotating in a predetermined direction. is there. When the toner opening / closing lever 43 provided in the toner cartridge 25 is rotated in a predetermined direction, the toner supply port 42 of the toner cartridge 25 and the toner opening 33 of the image forming unit 31 overlap. In this state, when a later-described toner agitation bar 51 disposed inside the toner cartridge 25 is rotated by a drive system (not shown), the toner 24 accommodated in the toner cartridge 25 passes through the toner supply roller 26 and is supplied to the image forming unit 31. The toner is supplied to the toner opening 33.

  The waste toner storage chamber 44 is formed of a rectangular portion having a substantially rectangular side surface and long in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 4. The waste toner storage chamber 44 is provided so that the side surface portion of the toner storage chamber 41 is substantially rectangular and is parallel to a rectangular portion that is long in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 4.

  The waste toner intake port 45 is for taking the waste toner discharged from the waste toner discharge port 35 of the image forming unit 31 into the waste toner storage chamber 44, and the waste toner in the side cover 47 of the toner and waste toner storage chamber It is formed on the outer wall surface that contacts the storage chamber 44. Further, the inner diameter of the waste toner intake port 45 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the waste toner discharge port 35, and when the toner cartridge 25 is attached to the image forming unit 31, the waste toner discharge port 35 becomes the waste toner intake port. 45 to be inserted.

  The waste toner transport spiral 46 is a member provided inside the waste toner storage chamber 44, and transports the waste toner discharged from the waste toner intake port 45 to the waste toner storage chamber 44 to the bottom of the waste toner storage chamber 44. Is to do. Such a waste toner conveying spiral 46 prevents the waste toner from adhering to the vicinity of the waste toner intake 45 of the waste toner storage chamber 44 and being clogged.

  The side cover 47 for the toner and waste toner storage chamber is a cover for shielding one side of the toner storage chamber 41 and the waste toner storage chamber 44, and the unused toner 24 and the waste toner storage chamber 44 inside the toner storage chamber 41. This is a member for preventing the waste toner from leaking.

  Next, a structure in which the toner cartridge 25 is attached to and detached from the image forming unit 31 will be described. 3 is a perspective view of the image forming unit 31, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge 25, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the image forming unit 31 with the toner cartridge 25 attached thereto.

  The toner cartridge 25 is attached after the waste toner discharge port 35 provided in the image forming unit 31 is inserted into the waste toner intake port 45 provided in the toner cartridge 25 while the toner cartridge 25 is inclined at a predetermined angle. The toner cartridge 25 is mounted in the image forming unit 31 in a parallel state.

  The toner cartridge 25 is removed by pulling out the waste toner discharge port 35 provided in the image forming unit 31 from the waste toner intake port 45 provided in the toner cartridge 25 while tilting the toner cartridge 25 again at a predetermined angle.

  Hereinafter, the agitation provided for removing the toner 24 adhering to the top surface and both side surfaces of the inner wall of the toner storage chamber 41 for storing the unused toner 24 in the toner cartridge 25 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The structure related to the member and the swinging member will be described with reference to FIGS.

  7 is a cross-sectional view in the short direction of the toner cartridge 25 when the toner 24 is large, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view in the short direction of the toner cartridge 25 when the toner 24 is small, and FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view, FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the rotating part of the swinging member, and FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of the main part of the rotating part of the swinging member.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the toner storage chamber 41 includes a toner stirring bar 51 for stirring the toner 24 in the toner storage chamber 41 so that the toner 24 does not settle and stick, and a top surface and both side surfaces of the inner wall of the toner storage chamber 41. A swinging member 61 for removing the adhered toner 24 is provided.

  The toner agitation bar 51 is an agitation member that is rotatably provided inside the toner storage chamber 41 and is for agitating the toner 24. The toner agitation bar 51 is made of a hard material, and has, for example, a side portion formed of a plate-like portion having a substantially rectangular shape. It should be noted that the both ends of the plate-like portion of the toner stirring bar 51 have cylindrical portions that are inserted into recesses provided so as to face both walls of the toner storage chamber 41. The cylindrical portion is a rotation shaft 51A of the toner stirring bar 51. The toner agitation bar 51 is always rotated by a drive system (not shown) around the toner agitation bar rotating shaft 51A so that the toner 24 in the toner storage chamber 41 does not settle and adhere. As will be described later, the toner stirring bar 51 also has an action of rotating the swinging member by contacting the swinging member while rotating.

  The swing member 61 includes a swing base material 62 and a toner adhesion preventing film 63. A torsion spring 64 for rotating the swing member 61 is engaged with one end of the swing member 61. Hereinafter, these components will be described in detail.

  The swing base material 62 is for engaging and rotating the toner adhesion preventing film 63. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a swing member including the swing base material 62, and FIG. The swing base material 62 engages the toner adhesion preventing film 63 with a plate-like portion 62A made of a hard material. Further, the swinging member 62 has a plurality of protrusion-shaped portions that are fitted into a plurality of mounting openings 63 </ b> C formed in the toner adhesion preventing film 63. Further, cylindrical portions 62B are provided at both ends of the plate-like portion 62A of the swinging member 62, and are inserted into recesses provided so as to face both walls of the toner storage chamber 41.

  The toner adhesion preventing film 63 is for evenly removing the toner 24 adhering to the top surface and both side surfaces of the inner wall of the toner storage chamber 41. FIG. 14 is a plan view according to an example of the toner adhesion preventing film 63. As the material of the toner adhesion preventing film 63, for example, a flexible and durable plastic material that is elastically deformed can be used. The toner adhesion preventing film 63 has a rectangular shape, and the toner adhesion preventing film end 63A of the toner adhesion preventing film 63 is a part that contacts the toner stirring bar 51, and the toner adhesion preventing film end 63B of the toner adhesion preventing film 63 is This is a portion that contacts either the top surface or both side surfaces of the toner cartridge 25. The toner adhesion preventing film 63 has a plurality of mounting openings 63 </ b> C for holding on the swing base material 62.

  The torsion spring 64 is engaged so that one end of the torsion spring 64 is hooked on the end of the swinging base material 62 and the other end of the torsion spring 64 is hooked on a recess provided in the wall surface of the toner storage chamber 41. Yes. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the rotating part of the swinging member including the swinging base material 62, and FIG. As will be described later, when the toner stirring bar 51 is rotated by the action of the torsion spring 64, the swinging member 61 can be rotated.

  Hereinafter, the relationship between the rotation motion of the toner stirring bar 51 in the toner storage chamber 41 and the rotation motion of the swing member 61 will be described.

  A toner adhesion preventing film end 63A, which is one end of the toner adhesion preventing film 63, protrudes into the rotation path of the toner stirring bar 51, and contacts the toner adhesion preventing film end 63A by the rotation of the toner stirring bar 51.

  Further, the toner adhesion preventing film end 63B, which is the other end of the toner adhesion preventing film 63, is always in contact with either the top surface or both side surfaces of the toner cartridge 25.

  Here, when the toner stirring bar 51 rotates and comes into contact with the toner adhesion preventing film end 63A, the swinging base material 62 rotates in conjunction with it. However, when the toner stirring bar 51 further rotates and moves away from the toner adhesion preventing film end 63A, the swinging base material 62 is reversed and returned to its original state by the elastic action of the torsion spring 74. In other words, the swinging member 61 can be rotated by the rotation of the toner stirring bar 51.

  Next, a detailed description will be given of the operation and effect related to toner removal inside the toner storage chamber 41 that stores unused toner 24. When the amount of toner 24 in the toner storage chamber 41 is large, the toner 24 imposes a load on the rotation of the swinging member 61, so there is no toner removal effect, and only when the toner 24 is low, the toner removal effect is achieved. Yes.

  First, a case where the toner 24 in the toner storage chamber 41 is large will be described. FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view in the short-side direction of the toner cartridge 25 when the toner 24 is large.

  When the amount of toner 24 in the toner storage chamber 41 is large, the swinging member 61 and the toner stirring bar 51 receive a large load from the toner 24. Therefore, although the toner agitation bar 51 contacts the toner adhesion preventing film end 63A, the swinging member 61 does not rotate in conjunction with the toner agitation bar 51, and the toner adhesion preventing film end 63A is bent and the toner agitation bar is not rotated. It only comes off the bar 51. At this time, the toner adhesion preventing film end 63B remains in contact with the left side surface portion 48A of the toner containing chamber inner wall.

  Accordingly, the toner adhesion preventing film 63 held by the swing member 61 hardly vibrates, and therefore, when the amount of toner 24 is large, the toner removal operation does not occur.

  Note that, when the toner 24 is sufficiently present, the operation of wiping off the toner 24 does not occur, so that the deterioration of the swing member 61 and the toner cartridge 25 can be suppressed, and the noise generated from the image recording apparatus 1 can be reduced.

  Next, a case where the toner 24 in the toner storage chamber 41 is small will be described. 8, 9, and 10 are cross-sectional views in the short-side direction of the toner cartridge 25 when the toner 24 is low.

  When the amount of the toner 24 decreases, the swing member 61 and the toner stirring bar 51 receive only a small load from the toner 24. Therefore, the swinging member 61 is pressed by the toner stirring bar 51 and repeatedly abuts and vibrates so as to wipe the inner wall of the toner storage chamber 41, so that the toner 24 attached to the toner storage chamber wall can be removed.

  The operation relating to the above-described removal of the toner 24 will be specifically described. FIG. 8 shows a state immediately before the toner stirring bar 51 contacts the toner adhesion preventing film end 63A of the toner adhesion preventing film by rotating counterclockwise about the toner stirring bar rotating shaft 51A. . At this time, the toner adhesion preventing film end 63B is in contact with the left side surface portion 48A that is the side surface on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 4 on the toner containing chamber inner wall.

  First, when the toner stirring bar 51 is rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 9, the toner adhesion preventing film 63 is substantially upright with the swinging base material 62 as a fulcrum by being pushed by the toner stirring bar 51. At this time, the toner adhesion preventing film end 63B is separated from the left side surface portion 48A of the toner containing chamber inner wall and abuts against the top surface portion 48B of the toner containing chamber inner wall, thereby removing the toner 24 adhering to the top surface portion 48B of the toner containing chamber inner wall. be able to.

  Next, when the toner stirring bar 51 is further rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 10, the toner adhering prevention film end 63B is held by the toner stirring bar 51 with the swinging base material 62 as a fulcrum. It abuts on the right side surface portion 48C, which is the downstream side surface of the recording medium 4 in the conveyance direction on the indoor wall. Hereinafter, the description of the left or right direction in the toner storage chamber corresponds to the downstream direction and the upstream direction of the conveyance direction of the recording medium 4. At this time, the toner adhesion preventing film end 63B is separated from the toner containing chamber inner wall top surface portion 48B while being in contact with the toner containing chamber inner wall right surface portion 48C, so that the toner accommodating chamber inner wall top surface portion 48B and the toner accommodating chamber inner wall right surface portion 48C are removed. The toner 24 adhered to the toner can be removed.

  Further, when the toner stirring bar 51 is further rotated counterclockwise, the toner adhesion preventing film end 63A is detached from the toner stirring bar 51. At this time, the toner adhering prevention film end 63B is swung while abutting against the left side surface portion 48A of the toner containing chamber inner wall 48B through the toner containing chamber inner wall top surface portion 48B with the swing base material 62 as a fulcrum. In addition, the toner 24 adhering to the left side surface portion 48A of the toner containing chamber inner wall can be removed.

  This operation is repeated until almost all the toner 24 in the toner cartridge 25 is used up. Accordingly, the toner adhesion preventing film 63 held by the swing member 61 can evenly remove the toner 24 adhering to the top surface and both side surfaces of the inner wall of the toner storage chamber 41, so that almost all of the toner 24 can be used up. it can.

  A modified example of the toner adhesion preventing film 63 will be described. FIG. 15 shows a plan view of an example of a strip-shaped toner adhesion preventing film. The shape of the toner adhesion preventing film end 63B that contacts either the top surface or both side surfaces inside the toner cartridge 25 is a strip shape. Specifically, the toner adhesion preventing film edge 63B has a similar uneven shape. The interval between the concaves and convexes is preferably 5 mm to 10 mm, but is not limited thereto. The material of the toner adhesion preventing film 63 is the same as that of the rectangular shape. By adopting such a strip shape, the toner adhesion preventing film 63 can be more flexibly vibrated, so that the toner 24 can be efficiently removed.

  FIG. 16 is a plan view according to an example of a method for manufacturing the toner adhesion preventing film 63 in the case of a strip shape. The two concavo-convex portions are cut so as to face each other while maintaining a slight gap. Therefore, the toner adhesion preventing film 63 can be efficiently manufactured with less material.

  In the present invention, since the toner stirring bar 51 and the swinging member 61 are provided so as to be rotatable inside the toner storage chamber 41, the sizes of the toner stirring bar 51 and the swinging member 61 are appropriately set. The present invention can be applied regardless of the size of the toner cartridge 25.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the amount of the toner 24 is reduced, the toner adhesion preventing film end 63B of the toner adhesion preventing film 63 held by the swinging member 61 covers the top surface and both side surfaces of the toner cartridge 25. By repeatedly removing the toner 24, the toner 24 adhering to the top surface and both side surfaces of the toner cartridge 25 can be uniformly removed, so that almost all the toner 24 in the toner cartridge 25 can be used up.

[Second Embodiment]
In the developer container according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a toner agitation bar 51 in the toner cartridge is provided with a toner adhesion preventing film arranged with some spatial freedom with respect to the inner wall of the toner cartridge. The toner adhesion preventing film acts so as to repeatedly remove the top surface and both side portions of the inner wall of the toner cartridge.

  That is, in the developer container according to the first embodiment, one toner adhesion prevention film is rotatably provided inside the developer container, and the top surface portion and both side surfaces of the developer container are repeatedly wiped off. In contrast, the developer container according to the second embodiment is characterized in that the two toner adhesion preventing films are slightly spatially disposed on the right side surface portion and the left side surface portion of the developer container. The toner adhesion prevention film provided on the right side surface portion is provided with a degree of freedom, and the toner adhesion prevention films provided on the right half and the right side surface portion and the left side surface portion of the developer container are the top surfaces of the developer container. It is made to act so that it may pay repeatedly to the left half of a surface part, and a left side surface part.

  Hereinafter, the agitation provided to wipe off the toner 24 adhering to the top surface and both side surfaces of the inner wall of the toner storage chamber 41 for storing unused toner 24 in the toner cartridge 25 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. A structure related to the member and the swing member will be described with reference to the drawings. However, about the member etc. which overlap with 1st Embodiment, after a said member etc. are shown, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Since the image recording apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 2 shown in FIG. 2, and the image forming unit 31 shown in FIG. 3 are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted. However, the internal structure of the toner storage chamber 41 in the toner cartridge 25 shown in FIG. 4 is different from that of the first embodiment, and will be specifically described below.

  First, the structure relating to the toner 24 being removed inside the toner storage chamber 41 will be specifically described. 17 is a cross-sectional view in the short direction of the toner cartridge 25 when the toner 24 is large, FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view in the short direction of the toner cartridge 25 when the toner 24 is small, and FIG. A cross-sectional view is shown in FIG. 22, and a cross-sectional view of the main part of the protruding base portion of the swing member is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the toner storage chamber 41 includes a toner stirring bar 51 for constantly stirring the toner 24 in the toner storage chamber 41 so that the toner 24 does not settle and adhere, and the top surface and both side surfaces of the inner wall of the toner storage chamber 41. A swinging member 71 and a swinging member 73 are provided for evenly removing the toner 24 adhering to the toner.

  The toner agitation bar 51 is rotated by a drive system (not shown) with the toner agitation bar rotation shaft 51A, which is the rotation axis of the toner agitation bar 51, as the rotation center so that the toner 24 in the toner storage chamber 41 does not settle and adhere. .

  The swing member 71 includes a protruding base 75 and a toner adhesion prevention film 72. Similarly, the swing member 73 includes a protruding substrate 75 and a toner adhesion preventing film 74. Hereinafter, these components will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The toner adhesion preventing film 72 and the toner adhesion preventing film 74 are for evenly removing the toner 24 adhering to the top surface and both side surfaces of the inner wall of the toner storage chamber 41. FIG. 23 is a plan view according to an example of the toner adhesion preventing film 72 and the toner adhesion preventing film 74. The toner adhesion preventing film 72 and the toner adhesion preventing film 74 have a plurality of mounting ports 72C and mounting ports 74C for fixing to the protruding substrate 75. The material of the toner adhesion preventing film 72 and the toner adhesion preventing film 74 is the same as the material of the toner adhesion preventing film 63 according to the first embodiment.

  The protruding substrate 75 is a fixing member for providing the toner adhesion preventing film 72 and the toner adhesion preventing film 74 so as to be swingable with respect to the toner storage chamber 41 and having a certain gap. FIG. 22 shows a cross-sectional view of the main part of the protruding base portion of the swing member. The structure of the protruding substrate 75 is a rectangular rectangular portion made of a hard material, and includes a plurality of mounting openings 72C and mounting openings 74C opened in the toner adhesion preventing film 72 and the toner adhesion preventing film 74 shown in FIG. In order to fit, it has a recess. In a state where the protruding substrate 75 is fixed to the inner wall of the toner storage chamber 41, the toner adhesion preventing film 72 and the toner adhesion preventing film 74 are attached. In the present application, the protruding substrate 75 is attached to the toner storage chamber 41, but the protruding substrate 75 may be formed integrally with the toner storage chamber 41 in the toner storage chamber 41.

  Hereinafter, the relationship between the rotation motion of the toner stirring bar 51 in the toner storage chamber 41 and the rotation motion of the swing member 61 will be described.

  The toner adhesion preventing film end 72A, which is one end of the toner adhesion preventing film 72, and the toner adhesion preventing film end 74A, which is one end of the toner adhesion preventing film 74, protrude into the rotation path of the toner stirring bar 51, and the toner stirring bar 51 Rotates to contact the toner adhesion preventing film edge 72A and the toner adhesion preventing film edge 74A.

  The toner adhesion preventing film end 72B, which is the other end of the toner adhesion preventing film 72, and the toner adhesion preventing film end 74B, which is the other end of the toner adhesion preventing film 74, are either the top surface or both side surfaces inside the toner cartridge 25. Is in contact with

  Here, when the toner stirring bar 51 rotates and contacts the toner adhesion preventing film end 72A and the toner adhesion preventing film end 74A, the swinging member 71 and the swinging member 73 vibrate in conjunction with each other. However, when the toner stirring bar 51 further rotates and moves away from the toner adhesion preventing film end 72A and the toner adhesion preventing film end 74A, the swinging member 71 and the swinging member 73 are restored to the original by the restoring force of each toner adhesion preventing film. Return to position. That is, the swinging member 71 and the swinging member 73 can be continuously vibrated by the rotational movement of the toner stirring bar 51.

  Next, the operation and effect related to toner removal inside the toner storage chamber 41 that stores unused toner 24 will be described in detail below. It should be noted that when the toner 24 in the toner storage chamber 41 is large, the toner 24 has no effect of toner removal because the vibration of the swinging member 71 and the swinging member 72 is prevented, and only when the toner 24 becomes low. There is a payout effect.

  First, a case where there is a lot of toner in the toner storage chamber 41 will be described. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view in the short-side direction of the toner cartridge 25 when the toner 24 is large.

  When the amount of toner 24 in the toner storage chamber 41 is large, the swinging member 71, the swinging member 73, and the toner stirring bar 51 receive a large load from the toner 24. Therefore, although the toner stirring bar 51 contacts the toner adhesion preventing film end 72A and the toner adhesion preventing film end 74A, the swinging member 71 and the swinging member 73 are not rotated in conjunction with the toner stirring bar 51. Therefore, the vibration is not sufficiently transmitted on each toner adhesion preventing film, and the toner adhesion preventing film edge 72A and the toner adhesion preventing film edge 74A are bent and only detached from the toner stirring bar 51.

  Accordingly, the toner adhesion preventing film end 72B held by the swinging member 71 and the toner adhesion preventing film end 74 held by the swinging member 73 hardly vibrate, so that the toner removal operation does not occur when the toner 24 is large.

  Note that, when the toner 24 is sufficiently present, the operation of wiping out the toner 24 does not occur, so that deterioration of the swing member 71, the swing member 73, and the toner cartridge 25 is suppressed, and the toner is generated from the image recording apparatus 1. Noise can be reduced.

  Next, a case where the toner 24 in the toner storage chamber 41 is small will be described. 18, 19, and 20 are cross-sectional views in the short-side direction of the toner cartridge 25 when the toner 24 is low.

  When the amount of toner 24 decreases, the swing member 71, swing member 73, and toner stirring bar 51 receive only a small load from the toner 24. For this reason, the swinging member 71 and the swinging member 73 are pressed against the toner stirring bar 51 and repeatedly come into contact with the inner wall of the toner storage chamber 41 to wipe off the toner 24 adhering to the toner storage chamber wall. Can do.

  The action relating to the above-described toner 24 removal will be specifically described individually for the swing member 71 and the swing member 73. First, the function and effect relating to the swing member 71 will be described.

  FIG. 18 shows a state in which the toner stirring bar 51 is in contact with the toner adhesion preventing film end 72A of the toner adhesion preventing film 72 by rotating counterclockwise about the toner stirring bar rotating shaft 51A. At this time, the toner adhesion preventing film end 72B is in contact with the right surface portion 48C of the toner containing chamber inner wall.

  First, as shown in FIG. 19, when the toner agitation bar 51 is rotated counterclockwise, the toner agitation bar 51 is pushed by the toner agitation bar 51 and the toner adhesion preventing film end 72A is bent with the protruding substrate 75 as a fulcrum. Further, as shown in FIG. 20, when the toner stirring bar 51 is further rotated counterclockwise, the toner adhesion preventing film end 72 </ b> A is detached from the toner stirring bar 51.

  At this time, the toner adhesion preventing film end 72B of the toner adhesion preventing film 72 held by using the protruding substrate 75 as a fulcrum vibrates while being in contact with the right half of the toner containing indoor wall top surface 48B and the toner containing wall right side 48C. As a result, the toner 24 adhering to the right half of the toner accommodating chamber inner wall top surface portion 48B and the toner accommodating chamber inner wall right surface portion 48C can be removed.

  Next, functions and effects related to the swing member 73 will be described. FIG. 20 shows a state in which the toner agitation bar 51 contacts the toner adhesion prevention film end 74A of the toner adhesion prevention film 74 by rotating counterclockwise with respect to the toner agitation bar rotation shaft 51A. Here, when the toner agitation bar 51 is further rotated counterclockwise, the toner agitation bar 51 is pushed by the toner agitation bar 51 to bend the end 74A of the toner adhesion preventing film 75 as a fulcrum, and further the toner agitation bar 51 is counterclockwise. , The toner adhering prevention film end 74 </ b> A comes off from the toner stirring bar 51.

  At this time, the toner adhesion preventing film end 74B of the toner adhesion preventing film 74 held with the protruding substrate 75 as a fulcrum vibrates while being in contact with the left half of the toner accommodating chamber inner wall top surface portion 48B and the toner accommodating chamber inner wall left surface portion 48A. As a result, the toner 24 adhering to the left half of the toner accommodating chamber inner wall top surface portion 48B and the toner accommodating chamber inner wall left surface portion 48A can be removed.

  This operation relating to the swing member 71 and the swing member 73 is repeated until the image forming apparatus 1 determines that all the toner 24 in the toner cartridge 25 has been used up. Therefore, the toner 24 adhered to the top surface and both side surfaces of the inner wall of the toner storage chamber 41 can be evenly wiped off by the toner adhesion preventing film 72 and the toner adhesion preventing film 74 held by the rocking member 71 and the rocking member 73. Therefore, all the toner 24 can be used up.

  FIG. 24 shows a plan view of an example of a strip-shaped toner adhesion preventing film as a modified example of the toner adhesion preventing film 72 and the toner adhesion preventing film 74. The structure, material, effects, and the like are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  FIG. 25 is a plan view showing an example of a method for manufacturing the toner adhesion preventing film 72 and the toner adhesion preventing film 74 in the case of a strip shape. The two concavo-convex portions are cut so as to face each other while maintaining a slight gap. Therefore, the toner adhesion preventing film 63 can be efficiently manufactured with less material.

  In the present invention, since the swinging member 71, the swinging member 73, and the toner stirring bar 51 are provided so as to be rotatable inside the toner storage chamber 41, the toner stirring bar 51, the swinging member 71, By appropriately setting the size of the swing member 73, the present invention can be applied regardless of the size of the toner cartridge 25.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the amount of the toner 24 decreases, the toner adhesion preventing film end 72B and the toner adhesion preventing film end 74B held by the swinging member 71 and the swinging member 73 are By repeatedly removing the top surface and both side surfaces, the toner 24 adhering to the top surface and both side surfaces of the toner cartridge 25 can be removed evenly, so that almost all of the toner 24 in the toner cartridge 25 can be used up.

  The toner cartridge 25 according to the first embodiment uses one toner adhesion prevention film to remove the toner 24 adhered to the top and both sides of the toner cut ridge 25, whereas the second implementation. In the toner cartridge 25 according to the embodiment, two toner adhesion preventing films are used. For this reason, the toner adhesion preventing film according to the second embodiment can reduce the rotation range of each toner preventing film, and can suppress the deterioration of the toner adhesion preventing film. Further, even when one of the toner adhesion preventing films breaks down, the effect of removing the toner 24 is maintained.

  The individual toner adhesion preventing films described in this embodiment may be divided into a plurality of sheets and arranged in parallel, and the toner stirring bar 51 may be brought into contact therewith.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image recording apparatus has been described as a printing apparatus. However, the image recording apparatus of the present invention may be provided in a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, an MFP apparatus, or the like.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image forming unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an image forming unit in the image forming unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a toner cartridge in the image forming unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming unit in the image forming unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where a toner cartridge is attached to the image forming unit in the image forming unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a cross-sectional view in the short-side direction showing the toner cartridge when the amount of toner in the image forming unit of the first embodiment of the present invention is large. FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in the short-side direction illustrating the toner cartridge when the toner is low in the image forming unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in the short-side direction illustrating the toner cartridge when the toner is low in the image forming unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in the short-side direction illustrating the toner cartridge when the toner is low in the image forming unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of the toner cartridge in the image forming unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part illustrating a swing member inside a toner cartridge in the image forming unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing a main part of a swing member inside a toner cartridge in the image forming unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an example of a toner adhesion preventing film having a rectangular shape inside a toner cartridge in the image forming unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an example of a toner adhesion preventing film according to a strip shape inside the toner cartridge in the image forming unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating an example of a method for manufacturing a toner adhesion preventing film according to a strip shape inside the toner cartridge in the image forming unit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 7 is a cross-sectional view in the short-side direction showing a toner cartridge when there is a lot of toner in an image forming unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view in the short-side direction showing a toner cartridge when toner is low in an image forming unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view in the short-side direction showing a toner cartridge when toner is low in an image forming unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view in the short-side direction showing a toner cartridge when toner is low in an image forming unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part in a longitudinal direction showing a toner cartridge in an image forming unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a protruding base portion of a swinging member inside a toner cartridge in an image forming portion of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating an example of a toner adhesion preventing film having a rectangular shape inside a toner cartridge in an image forming unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating an example of a toner adhesion preventing film having a strip shape inside a toner cartridge in an image forming unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating an example of a method for manufacturing a toner adhesion preventing film according to a strip shape inside a toner cartridge in an image forming unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image recording apparatus 2 Image forming part 3 Paper conveyance path 4 Recording medium 5 Paper feed cassette 6 Cassette hopping roller 7 First conveyance roller 8 Second conveyance roller 9 Transfer belt 10 Transfer roller 11 Fixing roller 12 Pressure roller 13 Third conveyance Roller 14 Fourth transport roller 15 Stacker 21 Photoconductor drum 22 Charging roller 23 Exposure source 24 Toner 25 Toner cartridge 26 Toner supply roller 27 Developing roller 28 Developing blade 29 Cleaning blade 31 Image forming unit 32 Main body case 33 Toner opening 34 Waste toner Transport device 35 Waste toner discharge port 36 Waste toner discharge port cover 41 Toner storage chamber 42 Toner supply port 43 Toner opening / closing lever 44 Waste toner storage chamber 45 Waste toner intake port 46 Waste toner transfer spiral 47 Side cover 4 of toner and waste toner storage chamber 8A Toner accommodating chamber inner wall left side surface 48B Toner accommodating chamber inner wall top surface 48C Toner accommodating chamber wall right side surface 51 Toner agitating bar 51A Toner agitating bar rotating shaft 61 Oscillating member 62 Oscillating substrate 62A Plate-like portion 62B Columnar portion 63 Toner adhesion Prevention film 63A Toner adhesion prevention film edge 63B Toner adhesion prevention film edge 63C Mounting port 64 Torsion spring 71 Swing member 72 Toner adhesion prevention film 72A Toner adhesion prevention film edge 72B Toner adhesion prevention film edge 72C Mounting port 73 Swing member 74 Toner Adhesion prevention film 74A Toner adhesion prevention film edge 74B Toner adhesion prevention film edge 74C Mounting port 75 Protruding substrate

Claims (9)

An accommodating portion for accommodating the developer;
A stirring member rotatably provided inside the housing part;
A swinging member having a contact portion that contacts the stirring member that rotates at one end and an inner wall contact portion that contacts the inner wall of the housing portion at the other end;
A support portion that engages with the swing member between the contact portion and the inner wall contact portion, and is supported inside the housing portion;
In response to the contact between the stirring member and the contact portion, the inner wall abutting portion contacts and swings on the side surface and the top surface of the housing portion.
A developer container. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the support portion supports the inner wall contact portion so as to be movable with respect to the inner wall of the storage portion. The swing member is biased by a biasing member engaged with the inside of the housing portion.
The developer container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: 4. The developer container according to claim 1 , wherein the support portion is rotatably supported inside the storage portion. 5. The developer container according to claim 1 , wherein the support portion is locked to a locking portion provided on an inner wall of the storage portion. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein at least one end of the swing member is formed in a rectangular shape. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein at least one end of the swing member is formed in a strip shape.   3. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the swinging members are provided inside the housing portion. An accommodating portion for accommodating the developer;
A stirring member rotatably provided inside the housing part;
A swinging member having a contact portion that contacts the stirring member that rotates at one end and an inner wall contact portion that contacts the inner wall of the housing portion at the other end;
A support portion that engages with the swing member between the contact portion and the inner wall contact portion, and is supported inside the housing portion;
In response to the contact between the stirring member and the contact portion, the inner wall abutting portion contacts and swings on the side surface and the top surface of the housing portion ;
An image recording apparatus comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image using the developer supplied from the developer container.