JP5435380B1 - Powder container and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a powder storage container in which a transfer pipe is inserted and powder inside is sent out to the outside through the transfer pipe. A storage container and an image forming apparatus including the powder storage container are provided.
[Solution]
The conveying nozzle 611 in which the nozzle opening 610 is formed, the nozzle shutter 612, the nozzle shutter spring 613 that urges the nozzle shutter 612, and the nozzle opening 610 with respect to the nozzle shutter 612 in contact with the inner bottom portion of the tip opening 305. A toner container 32 to be attached to the toner replenishing device 60 having a nozzle shutter collar 612 a that is moved to be opened. A nozzle receiving port 331 is disposed at the inner bottom of the tip opening 305, and when attached to the toner replenishing device 60, a cylindrical shape. The nozzle shutter collar 612a and the nozzle shutter spring 613 are accommodated in the internal space of the front end opening 305.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

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

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile using an electrophotographic process, a latent image formed on a photosensitive member is visualized with toner of a developing device, and the latent image is developed. Therefore, it is necessary to replenish the toner in the developing device. Therefore, toner is supplied from the toner container as the powder container to the developing device by the toner replenishing device as the powder supply device provided in the apparatus main body, and the toner is supplied into the developing device. Thus, it is possible to continuously perform development by the developing device in which toner is replenished. The toner container is detachable from the toner replenishing device. When the toner stored in the toner container is exhausted, the toner container is replaced with a toner container storing new toner.

  As a toner container that can be attached to and detached from a toner replenishing device, a toner container in which a spiral protrusion is formed on a cylindrical inner peripheral surface of a toner storage member that stores toner is known (Patent Documents 1 to 5, etc.). In such a toner container, the toner accommodated therein is conveyed from one end side to the other end side in the rotation axis direction by rotating the toner accommodating member in a state where the toner container is mounted. Then, the toner is sent out from the opening provided on the other end side of the toner storage member toward the main body of the toner supply device.

  Patent Document 6 discloses a toner container that conveys toner stored by rotating a toner storage member from one end side to the other end side, and is transported from an opening on the other end side of the toner storage member to a toner supply device. A configuration for inserting a tube is described. A toner receiving port is formed in the vicinity of the end in the insertion direction of the conveying tube inserted into the toner container, and the conveying tube receives the toner in the toner storage member while being inserted into the toner container. Is received in the tube and conveyed to the main body of the toner replenishing device. Further, in this toner container, a tube insertion member in which a tube receiving port for inserting a conveyance tube is formed is fixed in an opening at the other end of the toner storage member. Further, the toner container includes an opening / closing member that closes the tube receiving port before the conveyance tube is inserted and opens the tube receiving port when the conveyance tube is inserted.

  The toner container described in Patent Document 6 can maintain a state where the tube receiving port is closed until the conveyance tube is inserted, and can prevent leakage and scattering of toner in a state before being attached to the toner supply device. . When the toner container is mounted on the toner replenishing device, the toner in the toner storage member passes from the toner receiving port near the end in the insertion direction of the inserted transport tube to the toner supply device main body side through the transport tube. The pipe receiving port is closed by the carrying pipe. For this reason, leakage and scattering of toner can be prevented even when the toner container is mounted on the toner supply device.

However, in the configuration described in Patent Document 6, when toner accumulates above the toner receiving port, the accumulated toner aggregates when left unattended, and there is a possibility of causing a toner conveyance failure upon restart.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to leave a powder storage container into which a transfer tube is inserted and feed the powder inside to the outside through the transfer tube , and then restart the device after leaving it alone. It is an object of the present invention to provide a powder container that can prevent the powder from being poorly conveyed and an image forming apparatus including the powder container.

To achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1, the powder conveying device with a horizontal longitudinal mounted, the housing a powder for image formation is supplied to the powder conveying device, the inner portion And a conveying means for conveying the powder from one longitudinal end to the other end provided with the cylindrical container opening, and a conveyance disposed at the container opening and fixed to the powder conveying apparatus. receiving a pipe receiving port for receiving inserted tubes, arranged in the container opening, and the tubular insertion member for guiding the inner portion of the conveying pipe communicating with the tube receiving opening, the powder from the conveying means, lift the powder upwardly from the bottom side by itself is rotated, a pumping unit that moves the powder to the powder receiving port of the conveying pipe, in the powder container provided with, the tube insertion member, said pipe A container opening / closing member that opens and closes the receiving port, and the container opening / closing member is movably supported. A support portion that is disposed adjacent to the support portion and that allows communication between the pumping portion and the powder receiving port of the transport pipe inserted into the tube insertion member; And the support portion and the support portion opening alternately cross the powder receiving port as the tube insertion member rotates .

According to the present invention, even if the powder is momentarily deposited above the powder receiving port, the deposited powder collapses across the support, so that the powder deposited during standing is agglomerated, There is an excellent effect that it is possible to suppress the occurrence of poor powder conveyance during restart .

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the toner supply device and the toner container before the toner container is mounted. 1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating a copying machine according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image forming unit of the copier. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state where a toner container is installed in a toner supply device in the copier. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state where a toner container is installed in a toner container housing portion of the copier. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective explanatory view of a toner supply device and a toner container before the toner container is mounted. FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner supply device and the toner container with the toner container mounted. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the toner supply device and the toner container with the toner container mounted. FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner container with a container front end cover removed. FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner container with a nozzle receiving member removed from the container body. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the toner container with a nozzle receiving member removed from the container body. FIG. 13 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a toner container in a state where a nozzle receiving member is attached to the container body from the state of FIG. 12. A perspective view of the nozzle receiving member viewed from the container front end side The perspective explanatory drawing of the nozzle receiving member seen from the container rear end side. FIG. 14 is a top sectional view of the nozzle receiving member in the state shown in FIG. 13. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle receiving member in the state shown in FIG. 13. The disassembled perspective view of a nozzle receiving member. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the toner container has dropped on the rear end side downward. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram before setting a toner container including a second shutter omission prevention claw on the apparatus main body. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a toner container having a second shutter slip-off preventing claw is set on the apparatus main body. Cross-sectional explanatory drawing of a nozzle shutter. The perspective explanatory view which looked at the nozzle shutter from the nozzle tip side. The perspective explanatory view which looked at the nozzle shutter from the nozzle base side. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory view in the vicinity of a conveyance nozzle of a toner supply device. FIG. 6 is a perspective cross-sectional explanatory diagram in the vicinity of a nozzle opening of a transport nozzle. The perspective explanatory view which looked at the conveyance nozzle vicinity of the state which removed the nozzle shutter from the nozzle front end side. The perspective explanatory view near the nozzle opening of the state where the nozzle shutter is removed. 6 is a timing chart of a configuration in which the conveying screw is rotated after the toner container is first rotated. Explanatory drawing of the drive transmission part of the structure which makes the rotation timing of a toner container and a conveyance screw differ by the same drive source, (a) is a front view, (b) is side sectional explanatory drawing. FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram of a state in which the toner container is mounted on the toner replenishing device. FIG. 9A is an explanatory diagram when the position of the end surface of the tip opening and the end surface of the nozzle receiving member are the same in the rotational axis direction. Explanatory drawing when the end surface of a nozzle receiving member exists in a container rear end side rather than the end surface of this. FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory view of a toner container during storage. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the vicinity of the end portion of the toner container in a state where a cap is attached. Sectional explanatory drawing of the 1st example of the toner container which provided the cap with the adsorbent. Sectional explanatory drawing of the 2nd example of the toner container which provided the adsorbent in the cap. Sectional explanatory drawing of the 3rd example of the toner container which provided the cap with the adsorbent. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a first example of a toner container in which a cap is provided with toner leakage prevention means. Sectional explanatory drawing of the 2nd example of the toner container which provided the toner leak prevention means in the cap. Sectional explanatory drawing of the 3rd example of the toner container which provided the toner leak prevention means in the cap. Sectional explanatory drawing of the 4th example of the toner container which provided the toner leak prevention means in the cap. Sectional explanatory drawing of the 5th example of the toner container which provided the toner leak prevention means in the cap. The perspective explanatory drawing of the container shutter support member used for the nozzle receiving member fixed to a container main body by screwing. Explanatory drawing of the cross section orthogonal to the rotating shaft in the position of a pumping-up part. Sectional explanatory drawing of the structure where the shutter side surface support part in the EE cross section in FIG. 9 acts as a bridging means. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram (schematic diagram) in the section EE in FIG. 9, (a) is an explanatory diagram of a configuration that does not act as a bridging means, and (b) is a shutter side surface support portion 335 a that acts as a bridging means. Explanatory drawing of a structure. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the toner remaining amount in the container and the replenishment speed in the example and the comparative example. Explanatory drawing of the structure provided with the pumping rib as a pumping part, (a) is a perspective explanatory view of a nozzle receiving member, (b) is a cross-sectional description of the state which assembled | attached the nozzle receiving member shown to (a) to the container main body. FIG. 4C is a side sectional view of the entire toner container assembled with the nozzle receiving member shown in FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4D is a perspective view of a container shutter provided in the toner container shown in FIG. (A) is a perspective explanatory view of the toner container of Embodiment 14 with the nozzle receiving member removed from the container body, and (b) is an enlarged view of the receiving member engaging protrusion. FIG. 25 is a perspective explanatory view of the end side end portion and the container setting portion of the toner container according to the fourteenth embodiment. FIG. 15A is a cross-sectional view of a toner container according to a fourteenth embodiment; FIG. FIG. 17 is an explanatory view of a toner container according to a sixteenth embodiment, (a) is a perspective explanatory view of a nozzle receiving member, and (b) is a perspective explanatory view of a container main body. FIG. 18 is an explanatory view of a toner container according to a seventeenth embodiment, (a) is a perspective explanatory view of a nozzle receiving member, and (b) is a perspective explanatory view of a container main body. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of a toner container according to an eighteenth embodiment, (a) is an enlarged perspective view of a front end opening, (b) is an enlarged perspective view of a receiving member fixing portion, and (c) is the vicinity of the end portion on the front end side of the toner container. FIG. FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of a toner container according to a nineteenth embodiment, (a) is an enlarged perspective view of a tip opening, and (b) is an enlarged perspective view of a receiving member fixing portion. FIG. 5 is a perspective explanatory view of a connector fixed to the toner supply device and a container tip side end of a toner container. FIG. 3 is a perspective explanatory view of a container tip side end portion and a connector of a toner container in a state where an ID tag holding mechanism is disassembled. FIG. 3 is a perspective explanatory view of a container tip side end of a toner container and a connector in a state where an ID tag is temporarily fixed to a holding member. Three views of an ID tag, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view, and (c) is a back view. The perspective view which shows the relative positional relationship of an ID tag, a holding member, and a connector. The perspective view which shows the state which the ID tag engaged with the connector. The circuit diagram which shows the electric circuit of an ID tag, and the electric circuit of a connector. Front view of the ID tag, (a) is a front view showing a state where the ID tag is held by the connector, and (b) is a state where the ID tag is rotated around the ID tag hole for positioning. FIG. The figure which shows the ID tag of the state in which the probe of the electricity supply inspection apparatus was contact | abutted. An explanatory view of the toner container in which the opening position of the nozzle receiving port in the rotation axis direction is the same position as the end portion of the front end opening on the front end side of the container. FIG. b) is a cross-sectional explanatory view in the vicinity of the container tip side end. Explanatory drawing of the nozzle shutter which has a cylindrical sealing member, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is sectional drawing. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the container opening, the inner diameter of the receiving member fixing portion, and the diameters of the configuration of the container setting portion of the toner replenishing device.

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

  The toner container storage unit 70 provided at the top of the printer unit 100 includes four toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, and K) as powder storage containers corresponding to the respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black). ) Is detachably (replaceable). An intermediate transfer unit 85 is disposed below the toner container housing portion 70.

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

  The printer unit 100 is provided with four image forming units 46 (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to the respective colors so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 48. Also, below the four toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K), four toner supply devices 60 (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to the respective toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) are arranged. The toner stored in the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) is imaged by the toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to each image forming unit 46 (Y , M, C, K) is supplied (supplemented) into the developing device (powder material use section).

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

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

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

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

  The four primary transfer bias rollers 49 (Y, M, C, K) of the intermediate transfer unit 85 respectively sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 48 between the photoreceptor 41 (Y, M, C, K) and perform primary transfer. A nip is formed. Then, a transfer bias reverse to the polarity of the toner is applied to the primary transfer bias roller 49 (Y, M, C, K).

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

  Such an image forming process is performed in the other image forming units 46 (M, C, K) similarly to the yellow image forming unit 46Y. That is, the laser beam L based on the image information from the exposure device 47 disposed below the image forming unit 46 (M, C, K) is a photoconductor of each image forming unit 46 (M, C, K). 41 (M, C, K). Specifically, the exposure device 47 emits a laser beam L from a light source, and scans the laser beam L with a polygon mirror that is rotationally driven, while each photoconductor 41 (M, C, K) via a plurality of optical elements. ) Irradiate the top. Thereafter, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photoreceptors 41 (M, C, K) through the developing process are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 48.

  At this time, the intermediate transfer belt 48 travels in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 and sequentially passes through the primary transfer nip of each primary transfer bias roller 49 (Y, M, C, K). As a result, the toner images of the respective colors on the respective photoreceptors 41 (Y, M, C, K) are primarily transferred while being superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 48, and a color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 48.

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

Next, the movement of the recording medium P will be described.
The recording medium P conveyed to the secondary transfer nip described above is fed from the paper feed tray 26 of the paper feed unit 200 disposed below the printer unit 100 via the paper feed roller 27, the registration roller pair 28, and the like. It is to be transported. Specifically, a plurality of recording media P are stored in the paper feed tray 26 in an overlapping manner. When the paper feed roller 27 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 2, the uppermost recording medium P is conveyed toward a roller nip formed by the two rollers of the registration roller pair 28.

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

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

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

  As shown in FIG. 3, the developing device 50Y includes a developing roller 51Y, a doctor blade 52Y, two developer conveying screws 55Y, a toner concentration detection sensor 56Y, and the like. The developing roller 51Y faces the photoconductor 41Y, and the doctor blade 52Y faces the developing roller 51Y. The two developer transport screws 55Y are disposed in the two developer accommodating portions (53Y, 54Y). The developing roller 51Y includes a magnet roller fixed inside, a sleeve rotating around the magnet roller, and the like. In the first developer accommodating portion 53Y and the second developer accommodating portion 54Y, a two-component developer G composed of a carrier and toner is accommodated. The second developer accommodating portion 54Y communicates with the toner dropping conveyance path 64Y through an opening formed thereabove. Further, the toner concentration detection sensor 56Y detects the toner concentration in the developer G in the second developer accommodating portion 54Y.

  The developer G in the developing device 50 circulates between the first developer accommodating portion 53Y and the second developer accommodating portion 54Y while being agitated by the two developer conveying screws 55Y. The developer G in the first developer accommodating portion 53Y is supplied onto the sleeve surface of the developing roller 51Y by the magnetic field formed by the magnet roller in the developing roller 51Y while being conveyed to one of the developer conveying screws 55Y. Is done. The sleeve of the developing roller 51Y is driven to rotate counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3, and the developer G carried on the developing roller 51Y moves on the developing roller 51Y as the sleeve rotates. At this time, the toner in the developer G is charged on the potential opposite to that of the carrier due to frictional charging with the carrier in the developer G, and is electrostatically attracted to the carrier, and is formed on the developing roller 51Y. Along with the carrier attracted by the magnetic field, it is carried on the developing roller 51Y.

  The developer G carried on the developing roller 51Y is conveyed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3, and reaches the doctor portion where the doctor blade 52Y and the developing roller 51Y face each other. The amount of the developer G on the developing roller 51Y is adjusted to an appropriate amount when passing through the doctor portion, and is then transported to a developing region that is a position facing the photoreceptor 41Y. In the development area, the toner in the developer G is attracted to the latent image formed on the photoreceptor 41Y by the development electric field formed between the development roller 51Y and the photoreceptor 41Y. The developer G remaining on the surface of the developing roller 51Y that has passed through the developing region reaches the upper portion of the first developer containing portion 53Y as the sleeve rotates, and is detached from the developing roller 51Y at this position.

The developer G in the developing device 50Y is adjusted so that the toner density is within a predetermined range. Specifically, the toner stored in the toner container 32Y passes through the toner replenishing device 60Y, which will be described later, according to the consumption amount of the toner contained in the developer G in the developing device 50Y. 54Y is replenished.
The toner replenished in the second developer accommodating portion 54Y is mixed and stirred together with the developer G by the two developer conveying screws 55Y, while the first developer accommodating portion 53Y, the second developer accommodating portion 54Y, Cycle between.

Next, the toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K) will be described.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a state in which the toner container 32Y is installed in the toner replenishing device 60Y, and FIG. 5 shows that four toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) are installed in the toner container housing portion 70. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the state made.

  The toner in each toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) installed in the toner container housing part 70 of the printer unit 100 consumes toner in each color developing device 50 (Y, M, C, K). Accordingly, each developing device 50 (Y, M, C, K) is appropriately replenished. At this time, the toner in each toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) is replenished by a toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K) provided for each toner color. The four toner replenishing devices 60 (Y, M, C, K) and the toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) have substantially the same structure except that the colors of the toners used in the image forming process are different. . Therefore, only the toner replenishing device 60Y and toner container 32Y corresponding to yellow will be described below, and the toner replenishing device 60 (M, C, K) and toner container 32 (M, C) corresponding to the other three colors will be described. , K) will be omitted as appropriate.

The toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K) includes a toner container housing portion 70, a transport nozzle 611 (Y, M, C, K), a transport screw 614 (Y, M, C, K), and a toner drop transport. A path 64 (Y, M, C, K), a container rotation drive unit 91 (Y, M, C, K), and the like are included.
When the toner container 32Y moves in the direction of the arrow Q in the drawing and is attached to the toner container housing part 70 of the printer unit 100, the toner replenishing device 60Y is connected to the toner replenishing device 60Y from the front end side of the toner container 32Y in conjunction with the attaching operation. The transport nozzle 611Y is inserted. As a result, the inside of the toner container 32Y communicates with the inside of the transport nozzle 611Y. Details of the configuration communicating in conjunction with the mounting operation will be described later.

  As a toner container form common to Embodiments 1 to 20, the toner container 32Y is a substantially cylindrical toner bottle. The main part is mainly composed of a container front end side cover 34Y that is non-rotatably held in the toner container housing portion 70 and a container body 33Y in which a container gear 301Y is integrally formed. The container main body 33Y is rotatably held relative to the container front end side cover 34Y.

  The toner container housing part 70 mainly includes a container cover receiving part 73, a container receiving part 72, and an insertion port forming part 71. The container cover receiving part 73 is a part for holding the container front end side cover 34Y of the toner container 32Y, and the container receiving part 72 is a part for holding the container main body 33Y of the toner container 32Y. The insertion port forming portion 71 is a portion that forms an insertion port during the mounting operation of the container receiving portion 72 and the toner container 32Y. When the main body cover (not shown) installed on the front side of the copier 500 (the front side in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2) is opened, the insertion port forming portion 71 of the toner container housing portion 70 is exposed. Then, each toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) can be attached / detached from the front side of the copier 500 in a state where the longitudinal direction of each toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) is horizontal. An attachment / detachment operation in which the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32 is the attachment / detachment direction is performed. A set cover 608Y in FIG. 4 is a part of the container cover receiving portion 73 of the toner container housing portion 70.

  The container receiving portion 72 is formed so that the length in the longitudinal direction is substantially equal to the length in the longitudinal direction of the container body 33Y. The container cover receiving portion 73 is provided on the container front end side in the longitudinal direction (attachment / detachment direction) of the container receiving portion 72, and the insertion port forming portion 71 is provided on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the container receiving portion 72. Therefore, along with the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y, the container front end side cover 34Y slides on the container receiving portion 72 for a while after passing through the insertion port forming portion 71, and is thereafter mounted on the container cover receiving portion 73. It will be.

  With the container front end side cover 34Y mounted on the container cover receiving portion 73, the container body 33Y is provided via the container drive gear 601Y from the container rotation drive unit 91Y configured by a drive motor, a drive gear, and the like. The rotation drive is input to the container gear 301Y. Thereby, the container main body 33Y is rotationally driven in the arrow A direction in FIG. As the container body 33Y itself rotates, the toner contained in the container body 33Y is formed along the longitudinal direction of the container body by the spiral protrusion 302Y formed in a spiral on the inner peripheral surface of the container body 33Y. It is conveyed from the left side to the right side. Thereby, it is supplied into the transport nozzle 611Y from the container front end side cover 34Y side.

A transport screw 614Y is disposed in the transport nozzle 611Y, and the transport screw 614Y is rotated and supplied to the transport nozzle 611Y by inputting rotational drive from the container rotation drive unit 91Y to the transport screw gear 605Y. Transports toner. The downstream end of the transport nozzle 611Y in the transport direction is connected to the toner drop transport path 64Y, and the toner transported by the transport screw 614Y falls by its own weight on the toner drop transport path 64Y, and the developing device 50Y (second developer storage). Part 54Y).
Each of the toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) is replaced with a new one when it reaches the end of its life (when almost all of the contained toner is consumed and emptied). A handle portion 303 is provided at the end of the toner container 32 in the longitudinal direction opposite to the container front end side cover 34. When replacing, the operator grasps the handle portion 303 and pulls it out. The toner container 32 can be removed.

The control unit 90 may calculate the toner consumption based on the image information used in the exposure device 47 described above, and the control unit 90 may determine that it is necessary to supply toner to the developing device 50Y. Further, the controller 90 may detect that the toner concentration in the developing device 50Y has decreased based on the detection result of the toner concentration detection sensor 56Y. In these cases, the container rotation drive unit 91Y is rotationally driven by the control of the control unit 90, and the container main body 33Y and the transport screw 614Y of the toner container 32Y are rotated for a predetermined time to supply toner to the developing device 50Y. Further, since the toner is supplied by rotating the transport screw 614Y disposed in the transport nozzle 611Y, the amount of toner supplied from the toner container 32Y can be accurately determined by detecting the rotational speed of the transport screw 614Y. It can also be calculated. When the toner supply amount cumulatively calculated from when the toner container 32Y is mounted reaches the amount of toner in the toner container 32Y at the time of mounting, it is assumed that there is no toner in the toner container 32Y and the copying machine 500 is A display for prompting replacement of the toner container 32Y is displayed on the illustrated display unit.
Even if the toner concentration detection sensor 56Y detects a decrease in toner concentration, executes a replenishment operation, and repeats the determination whether the toner concentration has been recovered or not, the toner concentration detection sensor 56Y has recovered the toner concentration. May not be detected. Also in this case, it is assumed that there is no toner in the toner container 32Y, and a display to the effect that the toner container 32Y is to be replaced is displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the copier 500.

In the toner replenishing device 60Y common to the first to twentieth embodiments, the amount of toner supplied to the developing device 50Y is controlled by the rotational speed of the conveying screw 614Y. Therefore, the toner that has passed through the transport nozzle 611Y is directly transported to the developing device 50Y via the toner dropping transport path 64Y without controlling the supply amount to the developing device 50Y. As in the present embodiment, the toner supply device 60Y that inserts the transport nozzle 611Y into the toner container 32Y may be provided with a toner reservoir such as a toner hopper. The toner supply amount to the developing device 50Y may be controlled by controlling the toner conveyance amount from the toner storage unit to the developing device 50Y.
Further, in the toner replenishing device 60Y of the present embodiment, the toner supplied into the transport nozzle 611Y is transported by the transport screw 614Y. It is not limited to members. As in Patent Document 6, a configuration in which a conveyance force is applied by means other than a screw member, such as a configuration in which a negative pressure is generated in the opening of the conveyance nozzle 611Y using a powder pump, may be used.

  In the configuration in which the toner storage unit is provided, a toner end sensor that detects that the amount of toner stored in the toner storage unit has become a predetermined amount or less is installed. Then, based on the toner end detection of the toner end sensor, the container main body 33Y and the conveying screw 614Y are rotationally driven for a predetermined time to replenish the toner in the toner reservoir. Further, if the toner end detection by the toner end sensor is not canceled even if such control is repeated a predetermined number of times, it is assumed that there is no toner in the toner container 32Y, and the toner container 32Y is displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the copier 500. A message prompting the user to replace the product is displayed. As described above, if it is configured to detect that the toner in the toner container 32Y runs out based on the toner end detection of the toner end sensor, the toner supply amount from when the toner container 32Y is mounted is cumulatively calculated. There is no need. However, the toner replenishing device 60Y can be downsized and the entire copying machine 500 can be downsized if the toner replenishing device 60Y of the present embodiment does not include a toner storage unit. .

  Next, the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) and the toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K) of the present embodiment common to Embodiments 1 to 20 will be described in more detail. As described above, the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) and the toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K) have substantially the same configuration except that the colors of the toners used are different. It has become. Therefore, in the following description, the suffixes Y, M, C, and K that indicate the color of the toner to be used are omitted.

FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory view of a toner container 32 common to the first to twentieth embodiments. FIG. 7 is an explanatory perspective view of the toner replenishing device 60 before the toner container 32 is mounted and the front end side end portion of the toner container 32. FIG. 8 is a toner replenishing state in which the toner container 32 is mounted. FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory view of the device 60 and the end of the toner container 32 on the container front end side.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the toner replenishing device 60 before the toner container 32 is mounted and the end of the toner container 32 on the front end side of the container, and FIG. 9 is a toner replenishing state with the toner container 32 mounted. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the device 60 and an end portion of the toner container 32 on the container front end side.

  The toner replenishing device 60 includes a transport nozzle 611 including a transport screw 614 therein. The toner replenishing device 60 includes a nozzle shutter 612. The nozzle shutter 612 closes the nozzle opening 610 formed in the transport nozzle 611 when the toner container 32 is not attached before the toner container 32 is attached (the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 7), and the toner shutter 32 is attached. At some time (the state shown in FIGS. 8 and 9), the nozzle opening 610 is opened. On the other hand, at the center of the front end surface of the toner container 32, a nozzle receiving port 331 into which the transport nozzle 611 is inserted when mounted is formed, and a container shutter 332 that closes the nozzle receiving port 331 when not mounted is provided.

First, the toner container 32 will be described.
As described above, the toner container 32 mainly includes the container main body 33 and the container front end side cover 34. FIG. 10 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner container 32 with the container front end cover 34 removed. As shown in FIG. 10, the toner container 32 from which the container distal end cover 34 has been removed includes a container body 33 and a nozzle receiving member 330 that forms a nozzle receiving port 331.
11 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner container 32 with the nozzle receiving member 330 removed from the container main body 33. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container 32 with the nozzle receiving member 330 removed from the container main body 33. As shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container 32 with the nozzle receiving member 330 attached to the container body 33 from the state of FIG. 12 (the toner container 32 with the container front end cover 34 removed as in FIG. 10). FIG.

  The container body 33 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is configured to rotate with the central axis of the cylinder as a rotation axis. Hereinafter, a direction parallel to the rotation axis is referred to as a “rotation axis direction”, and in the rotation axis direction, the side where the nozzle receiving port 331 is formed in the toner container 32 (the side where the container front end side cover 34 is disposed). Is called “container tip side”. The side of the toner container 32 on which the handle portion 303 is disposed (the side opposite to the container front end side) will be referred to as “container rear end side”. The longitudinal direction of the toner container 32 described above is the rotational axis direction, and when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner supply device 60, the rotational axis direction is the horizontal direction. The container rear end side of the container main body 33 is larger in outer diameter than the container front end side, and a spiral projection 302 is formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof. When the container main body 33 rotates in the direction of arrow A in the figure, the toner in the container main body 33 is moved from one end side (container rear end side) to the other end side (container front end side) in the rotation axis direction by the action of the spiral protrusion 302. ) Is applied.

On the inner wall of the container main body 33 on the container front end side, the toner that has been conveyed to the container front end side by the spiral protrusion 302 when the container main body 33 rotates in the direction of arrow A in the figure is moved upward by the rotation of the container main body 33. A pumping unit 304 for pumping is formed. The pumping portion 304 includes a convex portion 304h and a pumping wall surface 304f. The convex portion 304h is a portion that protrudes inside the container body 33 so as to form a ridge line of a mountain toward the rotation center of the container body 33 while forming a spiral. The pumping wall surface 304f is a wall surface on the downstream side as viewed from the container rotation direction among the wall surfaces of the raised portions that connect from the convex portion 304h (ridge line) to the inner wall of the peripheral surface of the container body 33. When the pumping wall surface 304 f is below, the toner that has entered the internal space facing the pumping unit 304 by the conveying force of the spiral protrusion 302 is pumped upward by the pumping wall surface 304 f according to the rotation of the container body 33. As a result, the toner can be pumped up above the inserted transport nozzle 611.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 10 and the like, the pumping portion spiral projection formed in a spiral shape on the inner peripheral surface of the pumping portion 304 so as to convey the toner inside as well as the spiral projection 302. 304a is formed.

  A container gear 301 is formed further on the tip side of the container than the pumping portion 304 of the container body 33. The container tip side cover 34 is provided with a gear exposure opening 34a so that a part (the back side in FIG. 6) of the container gear 301 is exposed when attached to the container body 33. When the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the container gear 301 exposed from the gear exposure opening 34a is engaged with the container driving gear 601 on the toner replenishing device 60 side.

A cylindrical container opening 33 a is formed on the container tip side of the container body 33 further than the container gear 301. The nozzle receiving member 330 can be fixed to the container body 33 by press-fitting the receiving member fixing portion 337 of the nozzle receiving member 330 into the container opening 33a. The method for fixing the nozzle receiving member 330 is not limited to press-fitting, but may be fixing by an adhesive or fixing by screws.
The toner container 32 is configured to fix the nozzle receiving member 330 to the container opening 33 a of the container body 33 after filling the container body 33 with toner from the opening of the container opening 33 a.

  Further, a cover claw hooking portion 306 is formed at the end of the container opening 33 a of the container body 33 on the container gear 301 side. A container tip side cover 34 is attached to the toner container 32 (container body 33) in the state shown in FIG. 10 from the container tip side (lower left side in FIG. 10). Accordingly, the container main body 33 penetrates the container front end side cover 34 in the rotation axis direction, and the cover claw portion 341 provided on the upper portion of the container front end side cover 34 is hooked on the cover claw hooking portion 306. The cover claw hooking portion 306 is formed so as to make a round around the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a, and the container main body 33 and the container front end side cover 34 are relatively rotatable by being caught by the cover claw portion 341. It becomes the attachment.

  Moreover, the container main body 33 is shape | molded by the biaxial stretch blow molding method (refer patent documents 1-3). This biaxial stretch blow molding method generally comprises a two-stage process including a preform molding process and a stretch blow molding process. In the preform molding step, a test tubular preform is molded by injection molding using a resin. By the injection molding at this time, the container opening 33a, the cover claw hook 306, and the container gear 301 are formed in the mouth portion of the test tube. In the stretch blow molding process, the preform cooled after the preform molding process is heated and softened, and then blow molded and stretched.

In the container main body 33, the container rear end side is formed by the stretch blow molding process with respect to the container gear 301. That is, the pumping portion 304, the portion where the spiral protrusion 302 is formed, and the handle portion 303 are formed by a stretch blow molding process.
In the container main body 33, each part on the container tip side from the container gear 301 such as the container gear 301, the container opening 33a, and the cover claw hooking part 306 has a shape as it is an injection-molded preform, so that it is accurately molded. it can. On the other hand, since the pumping portion 304, the portion where the spiral protrusion 302 is formed, and the handle portion 303 are injection-molded and then stretched and molded in a stretch blow molding process, the accuracy of molding is a preform. It is inferior to the molding part.

Next, the nozzle receiving member 330 fixed to the container main body 33 will be described.
14 is a perspective explanatory view of the nozzle receiving member 330 viewed from the container front end side, and FIG. 15 is a perspective explanatory view of the nozzle receiving member 330 viewed from the container rear end side. 16 is a top sectional view of the nozzle receiving member 330 in the state shown in FIG. 13 as viewed from above. FIG. 17 is a side view of the nozzle receiving member 330 in the state shown in FIG. 13 (the back side in FIG. 13). FIG. Further, FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the nozzle receiving member 330.

  The nozzle receiving member 330 includes a container shutter support member 340, a container shutter 332, a container seal 333, a container shutter spring 336, and a receiving member fixing portion 337. The container shutter support member 340 includes a shutter rear end support portion 335, a shutter side surface support portion 335a, and a receiving member fixing portion 337, and the container shutter spring 336 includes a coil spring.

  The container shutter 332 includes a tip cylindrical portion 332c, a sliding portion 332d, a guide lot 332e, and a shutter removal preventing claw 332a. The distal end cylindrical portion 332 c is a portion on the distal end side of the container that is in close contact with the cylindrical opening (nozzle receiving port 331) of the container seal 333. The sliding portion 332d is a cylindrical portion that is formed on the container rear end side with respect to the front end cylindrical portion 332c, has a slightly larger outer diameter than the front end cylindrical portion 332c, and slides on the inner peripheral surfaces of the pair of shutter side surface support portions 335a. is there. The guide lot 332e is a column that stands up from the inside of the cylinder of the front end cylindrical portion 332c toward the rear end of the container and is inserted into the coil of the container shutter spring 336 to guide the container shutter spring 336 so that it does not buckle. Part. The shutter slip-off preventing claws 332a are a pair of claw portions that are provided at the end of the guide lot 332e opposite to the standing base and prevent the container shutter 332 from dropping off from the container shutter support member 340.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the front end side end of the container shutter spring 336 hits the inner wall surface of the front end cylindrical portion 332 c, and the rear end side end portion of the container shutter spring 336 hits the wall surface of the shutter rear end support portion 335. At this time, since the container shutter spring 336 is in a compressed state, the container shutter 332 receives an urging force in a direction away from the shutter rear end support portion 335 (the right direction in FIGS. 16 and 17 and the container front end direction). However, the shutter slip-off preventing claw 332 a formed on the container rear end side of the container shutter 332 is caught on the outer wall surface of the shutter rear end support 335. Accordingly, the container shutter 332 is prevented from moving in a direction away from the shutter rear end support portion 335 than in the state shown in FIGS. Positioning is performed by such hooking of the shutter slip-off preventing claw 332a to the shutter rear end support portion 335 and the urging force of the container shutter spring 336. Specifically, the distal end cylindrical portion 332 c that exhibits the toner leakage preventing function of the container shutter 332 and the container seal 333 are positioned with respect to the container shutter support member 340 in the axial direction. Positioning is performed in such a manner that the two come into close contact with each other, and toner leakage can be prevented.

  The receiving member fixing portion 337 has a cylindrical shape in which the diameters of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface are gradually reduced toward the container rear end side. The diameter decreases in order from the container front end side to the container rear end side. The outer peripheral surface has two outer diameter portions (outer peripheral surfaces AA, BB in order from the container front end), and the inner peripheral surface has five inner diameter portions (outer peripheral surfaces CC, DD, EE, FF, GG in order from the container front end). There is. The boundary between the outer peripheral surface AA and the outer peripheral surface BB is connected by a tapered surface. The boundary between the fourth inner diameter portion FF and the fifth inner diameter portion GG on the inner peripheral surface is similarly connected by a tapered surface. The inner diameter portion FF of the inner peripheral surface and the tapered surface connected to the inner surface correspond to a seal member entanglement prevention space 337b described later, and a ridge line of these surfaces corresponds to a side of a pentagonal cross section described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, a pair of shutter side surface support portions 335 a which are opposed to each other from the receiving member fixing portion 337 to the rear end side of the container and are in the form of a piece obtained by cutting a cylinder in the axial direction protrude. . The end portions of the two shutter side surface support portions 335a on the container rear end side are connected to a cup-shaped shutter rear end support portion 335 having an oval hole in the center of the bottom. The two shutter side surface support portions 335a are opposed to each other to form a columnar space S1 that can be recognized by the inner wall cylindrical surface and the virtual cylindrical surface extending from the inner wall cylindrical surface. The receiving member fixing portion 337 has a fifth inner diameter portion GG from the tip as a cylindrical inner peripheral surface having an inner diameter that is the same as the diameter of the columnar space S1. The sliding portion 332d of the container shutter 332 slides on the columnar space S1 and the cylindrical inner peripheral surface GG. The third inner circumferential surface EE of the receiving member fixing portion 337 is a virtual circumferential surface that passes through the longitudinal tops of the nozzle shutter abutment ribs 337a arranged at equal intervals of 45 [°] distribution. Corresponding to the inner peripheral surface EE, a cylindrical (circular tubular) container seal 333 having a rectangular cross section (the cross section in the cross sectional views of FIGS. 16 and 17) is disposed. The container seal 333 is fixed to a vertical surface connected from the third inner peripheral surface EE to the fifth inner peripheral surface FF by an adhesive or a double-sided tape. The exposed surface on the opposite side (the right side in FIGS. 16 and 17) from the attachment of the container seal 333 forms the inner bottom of the cylindrical opening of the cylindrical receiving member fixing portion 337 (container opening).

  As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, a seal member entanglement prevention space 337 b (a pinching prevention space) is formed corresponding to the inner peripheral surface FF of the receiving member fixing portion 337 and the tapered surface connected thereto. The seal member entanglement prevention space 337b is a ring-shaped sealed space surrounded by three different members. That is, the inner peripheral surface (fourth inner peripheral surface FF and a tapered surface connected thereto) of the receiving member fixing portion 337, the vertical surface on the application side of the container seal 333, and the sliding portion 332d from the tip cylindrical portion 332c of the container shutter 332 It is a ring-shaped space surrounded by the outer peripheral surface. The section of the ring-shaped space (the section in the sectional views of FIGS. 16 and 17) has a pentagonal shape. The angle formed between the inner peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 and the end surface of the container seal 333 and the angle formed between the outer peripheral surface of the container shutter 332 and the end surface of the container seal 333 are both 90 °.

The function of the seal member entanglement prevention space 337b will be described. When the container shutter 332 moves from the state of shielding the nozzle receiving port 331 toward the container rear end, the inner peripheral surface of the container seal 333 slides with the tip cylindrical portion 332 c of the container shutter 332. For this reason, the inner peripheral surface of the container seal 333 is elastically deformed so as to be pulled by the container shutter 332 and moved toward the container rear end.
At this time, when there is no seal member entanglement prevention space 337b and the vertical surface (the attachment surface of the container seal 333) connected from the third inner peripheral surface and the fifth inner peripheral surface GG are connected so as to be orthogonal, There is a risk of such a situation. That is, the elastically deformed portion of the container seal 333 may be caught between the inner peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 that slides with the container shutter 332 and the outer peripheral surface of the container shutter 332. There is. When the container seal 333 is caught between the portion where the receiving member fixing portion 337 and the container shutter 332 slide, that is, between the distal end cylindrical portion 332 c and the inner peripheral surface GG, the container shutter 332 with respect to the receiving member fixing portion 337. Is locked, and the nozzle receiving port 331 cannot be opened and closed.

  On the other hand, the nozzle receiving member 330 of the present embodiment has a seal member entanglement preventing space 337b formed on the inner peripheral portion thereof. Since the inner diameter of the seal member entanglement prevention space 337b (the inner diameter of each of the inner peripheral surface EE and the tapered surface connected thereto) is smaller than the outer diameter of the container seal 333, the entire container seal 333 enters the seal member entanglement prevention space 337b. Never come. In addition, there is a limit to the region of the container seal 333 that is elastically deformed by being pulled by the container shutter 332, and is restored by the elasticity of the container seal itself before reaching the inner peripheral surface GG. This action can prevent the nozzle receiving port 331 from being opened and closed due to the container shutter 332 being locked with respect to the receiving member fixing portion 337.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, a plurality of nozzle shutter abutment ribs 337 a extend radially on the inner peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 and adjacent to the outer periphery of the container seal 333. Is formed. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, in the state where the container seal 333 is fixed to the receiving member fixing portion 337, the vertical surface on the container front end side of the container seal 333 is the end portion on the container front end side of the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a. Protrudes slightly in the direction of the rotation axis. As shown in FIG. 9, when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the nozzle shutter collar 612 a of the nozzle shutter 612 on the toner replenishing device 60 side is urged by the nozzle shutter spring 613 to Crush the protruding part. Further, the nozzle seal inlet 331 of the container seal 333 abutted against the end of the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a is covered from the nozzle receiving port 331 to cover the end face of the container seal 333 from the outside of the container. Accordingly, it is possible to secure the sealing around the transport nozzle 611 at the nozzle receiving port 331 at the time of mounting, and to prevent toner leakage.

  The back side of the nozzle shutter spring receiving surface 612f of the nozzle shutter collar 612a biased by the nozzle shutter spring 613 abuts against the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a, whereby the position of the nozzle shutter 612 in the rotational axis direction with respect to the toner container 32 is determined. . Thereby, the end surface on the container front end side of the container seal 333 and the end surface on the container front end side of the front end opening 305 (internal space of a cylindrical receiving member fixing portion 337 disposed in a container opening 33a described later), The positional relationship with the nozzle shutter 612 in the rotation axis direction is determined.

  As shown in FIG. 9 and the like, when the toner container 32 is mounted on the main body of the toner replenishing device 60, a nozzle shutter 612 serving as a contact member and a nozzle serving as an urging member are inserted into a tip opening 305 that is a cylindrical internal space. The shutter spring 613 is accommodated. Here, regarding the relationship between the diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a, the inner diameter of the receiving member fixing portion 337, and the diameters of the configurations of the container setting portion 615 of the toner replenishing device 60 and the like for realizing such a configuration. explain.

66 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship among the diameters of the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a, the inner diameter of the receiving member fixing portion 337, and the diameters of the configuration of the container setting portion 615 of the toner replenishing device 60 and the like.
As will be described later, the container setting portion 615 includes a container setting portion inner peripheral surface 615a that fits with the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 when the toner container 32 is set, and the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface is D1. And The diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 is defined as d1.
The nozzle shutter 612 provided in the transport nozzle 611 has a nozzle shutter collar 612a, and the outer diameter of the nozzle shutter collar 612a is D2. Further, of the inner diameter of the receiving member fixing portion 337, the inner diameter (the inner diameter of the second inner peripheral surface from the tip of the container) outside the container seal 333 is d2, and the outer diameter of the container seal 333 is d3. A plurality of nozzle shutter abutment ribs 337 a are in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the container seal 333, and a plurality of nozzle shutter abutment ribs 337 a are disposed between the outer peripheral surface of the container seal 333 and the second inner peripheral surface from the container front end of the receiving member fixing portion 337. . The outer diameter of the nozzle shutter 612 (the outer diameter of a nozzle shutter cylindrical portion 612e described later) is D3, and the inner diameter of the container seal 333 is d4.

  When the toner container 32 is mounted, the transport nozzle 611 enters the nozzle receiving port 331 while the nozzle opening 610 is closed by the nozzle shutter 612. Then, the nozzle shutter collar 612a is crushed after contacting the container seal 333. Thereafter, the nozzle shutter collar 612a abuts against the end of the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a on the container front end side, whereby the nozzle opening 610 is opened, and the interior of the toner container 32 and the interior of the transport nozzle 611 are communicated. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 and the inner peripheral surface 615a of the container set portion are fitted, and the container main body 33 is rotatably held at this fitting portion.

  In order for the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 and the inner peripheral surface 615a of the container set to be rotatably fitted, the diameter d1 of the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 and the inner peripheral surface of the container set portion The inner diameter D1 of 615a is set so as to satisfy the relationship of “d1 <D1”. Further, d1 and D1 are set to a fitting tolerance of about 0.01 to 0.1 [mm]. Thus, by having a relationship of “d1 <D1”, the container main body 33 can be rotationally driven while being held by the container setting portion 615.

The transport nozzle 611 and the nozzle shutter 612 are configured to enter the nozzle receiving port 331 while the nozzle opening 610 of the transport nozzle 611 is closed by the nozzle shutter 612. In order to realize this configuration, the outer diameter D2 of the nozzle shutter collar 612a and the inner diameter of the receiving member fixing portion 337 that is on the axially outer side than the container seal 333 (the inner peripheral surface DD that is the second from the tip of the container) Is set so as to satisfy the relationship “D2 <d2”.
Further, the outer diameter D2 of the nozzle shutter collar 612a is set so that the nozzle shutter collar 612a contacts the container seal 333 and crushes, and then abuts against the end of the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a on the container front end side. It is set so as to satisfy the relationship of “D2> d3”. That is, between the outer diameter D2 of the nozzle shutter collar 612a, the inner diameter d2 of the inner diameter of the receiving member fixing portion 337 that is axially outer than the container seal 333, and the outer diameter of the container seal 333 between d3 The relationship d3 <D2 <d2 ”is set.

  With this setting, the nozzle shutter 612 can be stored in the front end opening 305 of the toner container 32 (inside the receiving member fixing portion 337). As the container body 33 rotates, the container seal 333 and the nozzle shutter collar 612a slide, and deterioration of the container seal 333 due to this sliding can also be suppressed. This is because the nozzle shutter collar 612a is brought into contact with the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a so as not to crush the container seal 333 excessively, so that a sliding load can be suppressed. Further, since the nozzle shutter collar 612a crushes the container seal 333 and is in an appropriate close contact state, toner scattering that occurs when the toner container 32 is attached can be reduced.

Furthermore, the outer diameter D3 of the nozzle shutter 612 and the inner diameter d4 of the container seal 333 of the nozzle receiving member 330 are set so as to satisfy the relationship “d4 <D3”. By setting in this way, the container seal 333 can be appropriately adhered to the nozzle shutter 612 with the inner diameter being expanded as the transport nozzle 611 enters. For this reason, it is possible to prevent toner leakage from the toner container 32 to the outside when the transport nozzle 611 is inserted.
To summarize the above-described relationships, each part of the toner container 32 is set so as to satisfy the diameter relationship of “d4 <D3 <d3 <D2 <d2 <d1 <D1”. By setting in this way, the sealing property that does not cause toner scattering or toner leakage from the toner container 32 and the accommodation property that accommodates the nozzle shutter 612 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 are combined. it can.

  As will be described later, when the toner container 32 is mounted, the nozzle opening 610 has the nozzle shutter collar 612a abutted against the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a, and the relative position of the nozzle shutter 612 with respect to the toner container 32 is fixed. Start to open from. On the other hand, when the toner container 32 is removed, even if the conveying nozzle 611 starts to come out of the toner container 32, when the nozzle opening 610 is opened, the nozzle shutter spring 613 biases the nozzle shutter 612 relative to the toner container 32. The general position does not change.

  When the toner container 32 is pulled out, the relative position of the toner container 32 with respect to the transport nozzle 611 changes, so the relative position of the nozzle shutter 612 with respect to the transport nozzle 611 also changes, and the nozzle shutter 612 closes the nozzle opening 610. Begin to. At this time, as the toner container 32 is pulled out, the distance between the toner container 32 and the container setting unit 615 increases. As a result, the nozzle shutter spring 613 starts to return to its natural length by its own restoring force, and the urging force against the nozzle shutter 612 begins to decrease.

Further, when the toner container 32 is pulled out and the nozzle shutter 612 completes the closing of the nozzle opening 610, a part of the nozzle shutter 612 (“shutter inner peripheral first rib 612 b” to be described later in detail) is one of the conveying nozzles 611. It strikes against the part. By this abutment, the relative position of the nozzle shutter 612 with respect to the transport nozzle 611 is fixed, and the abutment of the nozzle shutter collar 612a against the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a is released.
Thereafter, when the toner container 32 is further pulled out, the nozzle shutter 612 is removed from the toner container 32 together with the transport nozzle 611.

  In a state in which the nozzle shutter collar 612a abuts against the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a, the portion where the nozzle opening 610 of the transport nozzle 611 is formed is sufficiently inside the toner container 32 (container than the inlet portion of the nozzle receiving port 331). It is located on the rear end side and back side. Specifically, it is arranged so that there is a nozzle opening at a position facing the pumping portion 304 beyond the container gear 301 in the direction of the rotation axis toward the container rear end. Since the nozzle opening 610 opens and closes from a state where it is sufficiently located inside the toner container 32, toner leakage from the nozzle opening 610 to the outside can be prevented.

In addition, the shutter side support portion 335a and the shutter support opening 335b are configured such that two mutually facing shutter side support portions 335a form a part of a cylindrical shape, and the portion of the shutter support opening 335b (two places) has a large cylindrical shape. It has a cut shape. With such a shape, the container shutter 332 can be guided so as to move in the direction of the rotation axis in the columnar space S1 formed inside the cylindrical shape.
The nozzle receiving member 330 fixed to the container main body 33 rotates together with the container main body 33 when the container main body 33 rotates. At this time, the shutter side surface support portion 335a of the nozzle receiving member 330 serves as a transport nozzle on the toner supply device 60 side. Rotate around 611. For this reason, the rotating shutter side surface support part 335 a passes through the space immediately above the nozzle opening 610 formed in the upper part of the transport nozzle 611. As a result, even if the toner is momentarily accumulated above the nozzle opening 610, the accumulated toner is broken across the shutter side support portion 335a, so that the accumulated toner is aggregated when left, and the toner is conveyed at the time of restart. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of defects. On the other hand, at the timing when the shutter side surface support portion 335a is positioned on the side of the transport nozzle 611 and the nozzle opening 610 and the shutter support opening 335b face each other, as shown by the arrow β in FIG. Is fed into the transport nozzle 611.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the outer diameter of the rear end side of the container is reduced in the middle of the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 of the nozzle receiving member 330 in the direction of the rotation axis, and the step (the first outer peripheral surface AA and the second outer peripheral surface AA). A step of the second outer peripheral surface BB) is formed. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 13, the inner peripheral surface of the container opening 33a of the container main body 33 has a shape along the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 so that the inner peripheral diameter of the container rear end side becomes smaller. A step is formed. And the level | step difference of the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing | fixed part 337 collides with the level | step difference of the internal peripheral surface of the container opening part 33a in the whole area of the circumferential direction. This prevents the axis of the nozzle receiving member 330 from tilting relative to the container body 33 (the state where the central axis of the cylindrical receiving member fixing part 337 is inclined with respect to the central axis of the cylindrical container opening 33a).

<Embodiment 2>
Next, the toner container 32 of the second embodiment in which the container shutter 332 is improved with respect to the toner container 32 of the first embodiment will be described.
The toner container 32 is detachable from the copying machine 500 in the state shown in FIG. 6, but the toner container 32 may be dropped during transportation of the toner container 32 alone or when the user sets it in the main body. .
FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the toner container 32 has fallen downward on the rear end side, and an arrow δ1 in FIG. 19 indicates the dropping direction.

  As shown in FIG. 19, when the toner container 32 is dropped and collides with the floor surface, the inertia force of the container shutter 332 acts in the same direction as the dropping direction as indicated by an arrow δ2 in FIG. The greater the drop impact, the greater the inertial force. When this inertial force exceeds the pressure applied by the container shutter spring 336, the container shutter 332 moves in the direction in which the inertial force acts (the direction of arrow δ2 in FIG. 19). At this time, if the amount of movement of the container shutter 332 exceeds the thickness of the container seal 333, there is a possibility that a gap may be instantaneously formed between the container shutter 332 and the container seal 333, and the toner may be scattered. When the container body 33 of the toner container 32 is a hollow resin product obtained by blow molding, the impact is converted into a spring at the time of collision, and there is a possibility that the inertial force is increased.

In order to reduce the movement amount of the container shutter 332 due to the inertial force at the time of dropping, it is effective to use a container shutter spring 336 having a large applied pressure. However, when the pressure applied to the container shutter spring 336 is increased, the following side effects occur.
That is, when the pressure applied to the container shutter spring 336 is increased, the contact pressure between the container shutter 332 and the transport nozzle 611 with the toner container 32 attached to the toner replenishing device 60 increases. As the contact pressure increases, the drive torque for rotating the toner container 32 increases, and a drive motor 603 with a high output is required, and the cost of the drive motor 603 increases. In addition, the contact pressure increases, wear of the contact surfaces of both the container shutter 332 and the transport nozzle 611 increases, and the life is shortened.

Further, when the pressure applied to the container shutter spring 336 is increased, a large force is required to set the toner container 32 on the main body of the toner replenishing device 60, and the operability is impaired.
Further, the pressure applied by the container shutter spring 336 acts in the direction in which the toner container 32 is pushed out of the toner supply device 60 main body. For this reason, if the pressure applied to the container shutter spring 336 is increased, the toner container 32 may be ejected. Specifically, there is a risk that the toner container 32 may jump out of the main body of the toner replenishing device 60 at the moment when the mechanism for locking the toner container 32 with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 (the replenishing device side lock member 609 and the container locking portion 339) is disconnected. is there.

  20 and 21 are explanatory views of a configuration in which the second shutter removal preventing claw 332b is provided slightly closer to the distal end side of the container than the shutter removal preventing claw 332a in the guide rod 332e of the container shutter 332. 20 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the toner replenishing device 60 before the toner container 32 is mounted and the end of the toner container 32 on the front end side of the container, and FIG. 21 is a toner replenishing state with the toner container 32 mounted. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the device 60 and an end portion of the toner container 32 on the container front end side.

  20 and 21, the container shutter 332 of the toner container 32 is pressurized by the container shutter spring 336 in the direction of closing the nozzle receiving port 331 (left direction in FIG. 20). As a stopper, two pairs of hook-shaped stopper claws 332a and a second shutter stopper claw 332b are provided on the container rear end side of the guide rod 332e.

  The container rear end side of the guide rod 332e is broken into two to form a pair of cantilever beams 332f. The shutter omission prevention claw 332a and the second shutter omission prevention claw 332b are disposed on the outer peripheral surface of each beam. As shown in FIG. 20, when the container shutter 332 closes the nozzle receiving port 331, there is a vertical surface of the shutter rear end support portion 335 between the shutter removal prevention claw 332a and the second shutter removal prevention claw 332b. Are arranged as follows. On the vertical surface of the shutter rear end support portion 335, a hole smaller than the axial projection area of the shutter slip-off preventing claw 332a is formed. The guide rod 332e is passed through the container shutter spring 336, and the pair of cantilever beams 332f of the guide rod 332e are bent toward the axial center of the guide rod 332e, so that the shutter is removed from the vertical hole of the shutter rear end support portion 335. The prevention claw 332a is passed. Thus, the guide rod 332e is assembled to the nozzle receiving member 33 as shown in FIG. The guide rod 332 is molded of a resin such as polystyrene so that the cantilever 332f has elasticity to bend.

The state shown in FIG. 20 is a state before the toner container 32 is set in the main body of the toner replenishing device 60 when the toner container 32 is shipped (when not in use).
When the toner container 32 is set in the main body of the toner replenishing device 60 from the state shown in FIG. Push inside. At this time, the shutter removal preventing claw 332a at the end of the guide rod 332e is pushed out toward the container rear end of the shutter rear end support 335. Then, the second shutter removal preventing claw 332b, which is the second hook, relates to the hole on the vertical surface of the shutter rear end support portion 335.

Since the hole on the vertical surface is smaller than the projected area in the axial direction of the second shutter removal prevention claw 332b, the second shutter removal prevention claw 332b does not come off when it comes into contact with the vertical surface. However, when the user further increases the force for pushing the toner container 32, the force for pushing the second shutter drop-out preventing claw 332b and the contact portion between the vertical surfaces acts. By the action of this pushing force, both the pair of cantilever beams 332f provided with the second shutter slip-off preventing claws 332b on the outer peripheral surface thereof are bent toward the axial center of the rod 332e, whereby the second shutter slip-off preventing claws are obtained. 332b passes through the hole in the vertical plane. As a result, as shown in FIG. 21, the second shutter removal preventing claw 332 b is positioned inside the toner container 32 relative to the shutter rear end support portion 335.
After the container shutter 332 of the toner container 32 is set, the second shutter removal prevention claw 332b functions as a retention prevention of the container shutter 332 thereafter.

  As described above, the toner container 32 may be dropped during transportation of the toner container 32 alone or when the user sets it in the main body. At this time, as described with reference to FIG. 19, there is a case where force is applied to the container shutter 332 in the direction in which the container shutter 332 opens due to its own inertial force. As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, if the configuration includes the second shutter omission prevention claw 332 b, the occurrence of toner scattering when the toner container 32 is dropped can be prevented for the following reason. That is, when the container shutter 332 is about to move in the opening direction, the pressure required to pass the hole of the container shutter spring 336 and the second shutter removal prevention claw 332b (= the force that bends the cantilever 332f) ) Prevents the container shutter 332 from moving in the opening direction. Since the inertia force due to the impact at the time of dropping does not increase unlike the pushing force of the user, the second shutter slip-off preventing claw 332b is related to the hole on the vertical surface of the shutter rear end support portion 335. Opening of the shutter 332 can be suppressed. As a result, the occurrence of toner scattering when the toner container 32 is dropped can be prevented.

  According to the configuration of the toner container 32 shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the movement of the shutter at the time of the toner container dropping collision can be suppressed without increasing the pressure applied to the container shutter spring 336, so that the above-mentioned side effects occur. It is possible to prevent toner scattering at the time of falling collision. Further, in contrast to the configuration described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 9 and the like, the container shutter 332 only needs to be formed by adding the second shutter removal prevention claw 332b, and no additional parts are required. By changing, it becomes possible to prevent toner scattering at the time of falling collision.

Next, the structure of the container front end side cover 34 common to Embodiments 1 to 20 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The container front end side cover 34 of the toner container 32 is slid and moved on the container receiving portion 72 of FIG. In FIG. 5, grooves extending from the insertion port forming portion 71 to the container cover receiving portion 73 are formed directly below the four toner containers 32 with the axial direction of the container main body 33 as the longitudinal direction. A pair of slide guides 361 are provided on both side surfaces of the lower portion of the container front end side cover 34 so as to fit in the groove and allow sliding movement. More specifically, the groove of the container receiving portion 72 has a pair of slide rails protruding from both side surfaces thereof. The slide guide 361 is formed with a slide groove 361 a parallel to the rotation axis of the container body 33 so as to be sandwiched between the pair of slide rails from above and below. Further, the container front end cover 34 includes a container lock portion 339 that is coupled to a replenishment device side lock member 609 provided in the set cover 608 when the toner replenishment device 60 is mounted.

  In addition, the container front end cover 34 is provided with an ID tag (ID chip) 700 that records data such as the usage status of the toner container 32. Furthermore, the container front end cover 34 is provided with a color non-compatible rib 34b for preventing the toner container 32 having a different toner color from being attached to the set cover 608 of another color. As described above, when the slide guide 361 is engaged with the slide rail of the container receiving portion 72 when mounted, the posture of the container front end side cover 34 on the replenishing device 60 is determined. Then, the positioning of the container lock 339 and the replenishing device side locking member 609 and the positioning of the ID tag 700 and the main body side connector 800 described later can be performed smoothly.

Next, a toner replenishing device 60 common to Embodiments 1 to 20 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the toner replenishing device 60 includes a nozzle holder 607 that fixes the transport nozzle 611 to the frame 602 of the copying machine 500, and the set cover 608 is fixed to the nozzle holder 607. Has been. Further, a toner drop conveyance path 64 is fixed to the nozzle holder 607 so as to communicate with the inside of the conveyance nozzle 611 from below the conveyance nozzle 611.

As the toner dropping conveyance path 64, a swinging spring 640 may be disposed inside the toner dropping conveyance path 64 as in the configuration shown in FIGS.
One end of the swinging spring 640 is engaged with the rotating shaft of the conveying screw 614 and is configured to move up and down as the conveying screw 614 rotates. The swinging spring 640 scrapes off the toner stagnating and adhering to the vicinity of the inner wall surface of the toner dropping conveyance path 64 that is a tubular member by the vertical movement. In order to improve the effect of preventing the toner dropping / conveying path 64 from clogging, it is desirable that the swinging spring 640 is moved closer to the inner wall surface of the toner falling / conveying path 64. In the configuration of the present embodiment, since the toner drop conveyance path 64 is a cylindrical member, the swing spring 640 (a spring member whose diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of the inner wall of the toner drop conveyance path 64) is rocked. Used as a moving scraping member. However, if the cross-sectional shape of the toner drop conveyance path 64 is not circular, the shape of the rocking scraping member may be adjusted along with the cross-sectional shape of the toner drop conveyance path 64 so as to follow the cross-sectional shape.

  A container rotation drive unit 91 is fixed to the frame 602. The container rotation drive unit 91 includes a drive motor 603 and a container drive gear 601, and further includes a worm gear 603 a that transmits the rotation drive of the drive motor 603 to the rotation shaft of the container drive gear 601. A drive transmission gear 604 is fixed to the rotation shaft of the container drive gear 601, and is configured to mesh with the conveyance screw gear 605 fixed to the rotation shaft of the conveyance screw 614. With such a configuration, the toner container 32 can be rotated via the container drive gear 601 and the container gear 301 by rotating the drive motor 603. In addition, the toner container 32 can be rotated, and the conveying screw 614 can be rotated via the drive transmission gear 604 and the conveying screw gear 605.

  A clutch may be provided in the drive transmission path from the drive motor 603 to the container gear 301 or in the drive transmission path from the drive motor 603 to the conveying screw gear 605. By providing such a clutch, it is possible to realize a configuration in which only one of the toner container 32 and the conveying screw 614 is rotated when the drive motor 603 is driven to rotate.

Next, the transport nozzle 611 of the toner replenishing device 60 will be described.
FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of the nozzle shutter 612. FIG. 23 is an explanatory perspective view of the nozzle shutter 612 as viewed from the side where the toner container 32 is attached (nozzle tip side), and FIG. FIG. FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram in the vicinity of the transport nozzle 611 of the toner replenishing device 60, and FIG. 26 is a perspective cross-sectional explanatory diagram in the vicinity of the nozzle opening 610 of the transport nozzle 611. 27 is an explanatory perspective view of the vicinity of the transport nozzle 611 with the nozzle shutter 612 removed, as viewed from the nozzle tip side. FIG. 28 is an explanatory perspective view of the vicinity of the nozzle opening 610 with the nozzle shutter 612 removed. FIG. In FIG. 25, FIG. 26 and FIG. 28, the illustration of the conveying screw 614 arranged in the conveying nozzle 611 is omitted.

  A container set portion 615 into which the container opening 33 a is fitted in the state where the toner container 32 is attached to the toner supply device 60 is formed at the base of the transport nozzle 611. The container setting portion 615 has a cylindrical shape, and is fitted in a state where the inner peripheral surface 615a and the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a are slidable. By this fitting, the toner container 32 is positioned with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 in the plane direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the toner container 32. Further, when the toner container 32 rotates, the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a functions as a rotation shaft portion, and the container setting portion 615 functions as a bearing. The position at which the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a is slidably in contact with the container set 615 and the toner container 32 is positioned with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 is indicated by α in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 22 and the like, the nozzle shutter 612 includes a nozzle shutter collar 612a and a nozzle shutter cylindrical portion 612e. A shutter inner peripheral first rib 612b is formed on a part of the upper portion of the inner peripheral surface in the vicinity of the nozzle tip end portion of the nozzle shutter cylindrical portion 612e. On the other hand, a shutter inner peripheral second rib 612c and a shutter inner peripheral third rib 612d are formed on the inner peripheral surface in the vicinity of the nozzle base end portion of the nozzle shutter cylindrical portion 612e so as to make one round of the inner peripheral surface. Has been.
The circumferential length of the inner circumferential surface of the shutter inner circumferential first rib 612b is a length that can fit within the circumferential width of the nozzle opening 610 in a state where the nozzle shutter 612 is attached to the transport nozzle 611. .

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 25, the end portion of the nozzle shutter spring 613 on the nozzle base side abuts against the end surface 615 b of the container setting portion 615. Further, the end of the nozzle shutter spring 613 on the nozzle front end side abuts against the nozzle shutter spring receiving surface 612f of the nozzle shutter flange 612a. At this time, since the nozzle shutter spring 613 is in a compressed state, the nozzle shutter 612 receives an urging force in a direction of falling off from the nozzle tip side (left direction in FIG. 25). However, the shutter inner peripheral first rib 612b hits the edge of the nozzle opening 610 on the nozzle tip side, that is, the upper part of the inner wall surface of the nozzle tip 611a of the transport nozzle 611. This prevents the nozzle shutter 612 from moving in the direction of falling off the transport nozzle 611 as compared to the state shown in FIGS. Positioning of the nozzle shutter 612 with respect to the transport nozzle 611 in the rotation axis direction is performed by the contact of the shutter inner peripheral first rib 612b and the biasing force of the nozzle shutter spring 613.

Also, the inner peripheral first rib tip 612g, which is the circumferential end of the shutter inner peripheral first rib 612b, has a shape that abuts against the nozzle opening lateral edge 611s, which is the lateral edge of the nozzle opening 610. Yes. This is a shape in which when the nozzle shutter 612 attempts to rotate in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 26, the inner peripheral first rib tip 612g hits the nozzle opening lateral edge 611s.
When the toner container 32 rotates, the nozzle shutter 612 in which the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle shutter cylindrical portion 612e contacts the inner peripheral surface of the container seal 333 fixed to the toner container 32 is in the direction of arrow A in FIG. The force which tries to rotate acts on. At this time, if the nozzle shutter 612 rotates with respect to the transport nozzle 611 and the shutter inner peripheral first rib 612b is at a position away from the nozzle opening 610, the following problem may occur. That is, when the toner container 32 is removed from the toner replenishing device 60, there is a possibility that the nozzle shutter 612 may fall out of the transport nozzle 611 due to the biasing force due to the restoring action of the nozzle shutter spring 613.

  Further, depending on the elasticity of the nozzle shutter 612, the shutter inner peripheral first rib 612 b that is removed from the nozzle opening 610 strongly tightens the outer peripheral surface of the transport nozzle 611, and the nozzle shutter 612 may not be able to move with respect to the transport nozzle 611. . In any case, when the toner container 32 is removed from the toner replenishing device 60, the nozzle opening 610 remains open, causing toner leakage.

  In contrast, in the toner replenishing device 60 of the present embodiment, when the nozzle shutter 612 tries to rotate in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 26, the inner peripheral first rib tip 612g hits the nozzle opening lateral edge 611s. Accordingly, the nozzle shutter 612 is prevented from rotating with respect to the transport nozzle 611 as compared with the state shown in FIG.

  Further, the inner diameter of the shutter inner peripheral second rib 612c and the shutter inner peripheral third rib 612d is formed to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical transport nozzle 611. The shutter inner peripheral rib 612c and the shutter inner peripheral third rib 612d formed of resin are elastically deformed, so that the nozzle shutter 612 can be attached to the transport nozzle 611. With the two ribs (612c and 612d) having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the transport nozzle 611 being elastically deformed, the inner surface of the nozzle shutter 612 and the transport nozzle 611 are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the transport nozzle 611. The sealing property between the outer peripheral surface can be improved. Therefore, toner leakage from between the nozzle shutter 612 and the transport nozzle 611 can be prevented.

  Further, the toner supply device 60 of the present embodiment uses a conical spring as the nozzle shutter spring 613. When a conical spring is in a fully compressed state, at least a part of adjacent coils can overlap, and the length in the winding axis direction in a fully compressed state than a cylindrical spring having the same spring length. Can be shortened. For this reason, it is possible to save the space in the winding axis direction of the nozzle shutter spring 613 in a fully compressed state.

Next, a process of attaching the toner container 32 to the toner supply device 60 will be described.
7 and 1, the nozzle tip 611a of the transport nozzle 611 contacts the end surface of the container shutter 332 on the container tip side by moving the toner container 32 in the direction of the toner replenishing device 60. To do. Further, by moving the toner container 32 toward the toner replenishing device 60, the transport nozzle 611 presses the end surface of the container shutter 332 on the container front end side. When the container shutter 332 is pressed, the container shutter spring 336 is contracted, and the container shutter 332 is pushed into the inner side (container rear end side) of the toner container 32, and the nozzle tip side of the transport nozzle 611 is received by the nozzle. Inserted into the inlet 331. At this time, the nozzle shutter cylindrical portion 612e on the nozzle tip side of the nozzle shutter 612a in the nozzle shutter 612 is also inserted into the nozzle receiving port 331 together with the transport nozzle 611.

Further, by moving the toner container 32 in the direction of the toner replenishing device 60, the surface opposite to the nozzle shutter spring receiving surface of the nozzle shutter collar 612 a comes into contact with the end surface of the container seal 333 on the front end side of the container. Further, the container seal 333 is slightly crushed to abut against the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a. As a result, the relative position of the nozzle shutter 612 in the rotation axis direction with respect to the toner container 32 is fixed.
Further, by moving the toner container 32 toward the toner supply device 60, the transport nozzle 611 is further inserted into the toner container 32. At this time, the nozzle shutter 612 that has abutted against the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337 a is pushed back toward the nozzle base with respect to the transport nozzle 611. As a result, the nozzle shutter spring 613 contracts, and the relative position of the nozzle shutter 612 with respect to the transport nozzle 611 moves to the nozzle base side. Along with the movement of the relative position, the nozzle opening 610 covered with the nozzle shutter 612 is exposed inside the container main body 33, and the inside of the container main body 33 communicates with the inside of the transport nozzle 611.

  In a state where the transport nozzle 611 is inserted into the nozzle receiving port 331, the toner container 32 is pushed back against the toner replenishing device 60 by the urging force of the contracted container shutter spring 336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 (arrow in the figure). A force in the opposite direction to Q acts. However, when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the toner container 32 is moved in the direction of the toner replenishing device 60 to a position where the container locking portion 339 is coupled to the replenishing device side locking member 609 against this force. Move. As a result, the urging force of the container shutter spring 336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 and the hook of the container lock portion 339 against the replenishment device side lock member 609 act. By such an action of the urging force and the catch, the toner container 32 is positioned in the rotation axis direction with respect to the toner supply device 60 in the state shown in FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the container lock portion 339 includes a guide protrusion 339a, a guide groove 339b, a climbing portion 339c, and a rectangular locking hole 339d. The lids are arranged so as to form a pair on both sides of the container front end cover 34 with respect to a vertical line passing through the nozzle receiving port 331. The guide protrusion 339 a is disposed on a vertical surface on the distal end side of the container distal end side cover 34 and on a horizontal line passing through the center of the nozzle receiving port 331. The guide protrusion 339a includes an inclined surface connected to the guide groove 339b so that the replenishment device side lock member 609 is brought into contact with the guide container 339b when the toner container 32 is attached and can be guided toward the guide groove 339b. The guide groove 339 b is a groove that is one step lower than the side peripheral surface of the container front end side cover 34.

The width of the guide groove 339b is set to be slightly larger than the width of the replenishing device side locking member 609 so that the replenishing device side locking member 609 does not fall out of the groove.
The container rear end side of the guide groove 339b has a terminal end rather than a shape directly connected to the locking hole 339d, and is the height of the side peripheral surface of the container front end side cover 34. That is, there is an outer peripheral surface of the container front end side cover 34 having a width of about 1 [mm] between the guide groove 339b and the locking hole 339d, which corresponds to the overpass portion 339c. The replenishment device side lock member 609 climbs over the overpass portion 339c and falls into the locking hole 339d, and the coupling between the toner container 32 and the toner replenishment device 60 is achieved.

The toner container 32 is configured such that a container shutter 332 is positioned at the center of a line segment connecting two container lock portions 339 on a virtual plane orthogonal to the rotation axis. If the container shutter 332 is not on the line connecting the two container lock portions 339, the following may occur. That is, the distance from the line segment to the container shutter 332 serves as a lever, and the force of rotating the toner container 32 around the line segment by the biasing force of the container shutter spring 336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 acting at the position of the container shutter 332. Moment acts. Due to the action of this moment of force, the toner container 32 may be inclined with respect to the toner supply device 60. In this case, the mounting load of the toner container 32 increases, and a load is applied to the nozzle receiving member 330 that holds and guides the container shutter 332.

  In particular, when the toner container 32 is a new article sufficiently containing toner, the toner weight is also taken into account when the toner container 32 is pushed from the rear end side so that the conveying nozzle 611 protruding from the horizontal direction is inserted. A moment of force that rotates the toner container 32 acts. As a result, a load is applied to the nozzle receiving member 330 into which the transport nozzle 611 is inserted, and the nozzle receiving member 330 may be deformed or damaged in the worst case. On the other hand, in the toner container 32 of the present embodiment, the container shutter 332 is positioned on a line segment connecting the two container lock portions 339. For this reason, the toner container 32 can be prevented from being inclined with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 by the urging force of the container shutter spring 336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 acting at the position of the container shutter 332.

  As shown in FIG. 31B, the circular end surface of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 is connected to the end surface 615b of the container setting unit 615 in a state where the toner container 32 is mounted on the toner replenishing device 60. It is configured not to touch. This is due to the following reason. Temporarily, it is set as the structure where the circular end surface of the container opening part 33a contacts the end surface 615b of the container setting part 615. FIG. With such a configuration, the circular end surface of the container opening 33a may hit the end surface 615b of the container setting portion 615 before the locking hole 339d of the container lock portion 339 is caught by the replenishing device side lock member 609. . If it abuts in this way, the toner container 32 can no longer be moved to the toner replenishing device 60 side, and positioning in the rotation axis direction cannot be performed. In order to prevent this, when the toner container 32 is mounted on the toner replenishing device 60, there is a slight gap between the circular end surface of the container opening 33a and the end surface 615b of the container setting portion 615. It becomes a state.

  Further, in the state where the rotation axis direction is positioned in this way, the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a is slidably fitted to the inner peripheral surface 615a of the container setting portion 615. Therefore, as described above, the toner container 32 is positioned with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 in the plane direction orthogonal to the rotation axis. Thereby, the mounting of the toner container 32 to the toner supply device 60 is completed.

By rotating the drive motor 603 in a state where the toner container 32 is completely mounted, the container body 33 of the toner container 32 and the transport screw 614 in the transport nozzle 611 are rotated.
As the container main body 33 rotates, the toner in the container main body 33 is conveyed to the front end side of the container main body 33 by the spiral protrusion 302. The toner that has reached the pumping unit 304 by this conveyance is lifted up above the nozzle opening 610 by the pumping unit 304 as the container body 33 rotates. The toner lifted up above the nozzle opening 610 falls into the nozzle opening 610, whereby the toner is supplied into the transport nozzle 611. The toner supplied into the transport nozzle 611 is transported by the transport screw 614 and supplied to the developing device 50 through the toner dropping transport path 64. The toner flow from the inside of the container main body 33 to the toner dropping conveyance path 64 at this time is indicated by an arrow β in FIG.

<Embodiment 3>
As Embodiment 3, improvement of the rotation timing of the toner container 32 and the like will be described.
In the above-described configurations of the first and second embodiments, the configuration in which the toner container 32 and the conveying screw 614 are simultaneously rotated has been described. As a timing for rotating them, the toner container 32 may be driven to rotate first at the start of toner replenishment, and the conveying screw 614 may be rotated after a predetermined time. Alternatively, the toner container 32 may be stopped first when the toner supply is stopped, and the conveying screw 614 may be stopped after a predetermined time. FIG. 29 shows a timing chart of such a rotation timing configuration.

  In the configuration of the rotation timing shown in FIG. 29, when toner supply is stopped, the rotation of the toner container 32 is stopped before the rotation of the transfer screw 614 in the transfer nozzle 611 is stopped. With such a rotation timing configuration, the conveyance by the conveyance screw 614 is continued in a state where supply of new toner is stopped at the nozzle opening 610, and the rotation of the conveyance screw 614 is also stopped after a certain time. Therefore, the toner T present in the vicinity of the nozzle opening 610 of the transport nozzle 611 when the rotation of the toner container 32 is stopped can be transported to the toner dropping transport path 64 side by the transport screw 614. As a result, the amount of toner T remaining on the transport nozzle 611 near the nozzle opening 610 can be reduced. Thereafter, when the toner container 32 is removed from the apparatus main body, since the amount of toner on the transport nozzle 611 is reduced, the transport nozzle 611 can be easily cleaned by the container seal 333 provided on the nozzle receiving member 330. it can. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent toner scattering and toner dropping accompanying attachment / detachment of the toner container 32 to / from the apparatus main body.

Further, in the configuration of the rotation timing described above, the toner container 32 starts to rotate before the conveying screw 614 at the start of toner supply. For this reason, the rotation drive of the conveyance screw 614 can be started in a state where the vicinity of the nozzle opening 610 of the conveyance nozzle 611 is filled with toner. As a result, the amount of toner transported by one rotation of the transport screw 614 is stabilized from the start of the rotational drive of the transport screw 614, so that the stability of the toner replenishment amount is improved.
As described above, the configuration in which the rotation timings of the toner container 32 and the conveying screw 614 are made different can be easily realized by using independent drive sources as the drive sources that rotate the respective toner containers.

<Embodiment 4>
As the fourth embodiment, an improvement for realizing the change of the rotation timing of the toner container 32 and the like of the third embodiment with the same drive source will be described.
In the configuration using the same drive source, this can be realized by providing a clutch. By using the same drive source, the above-described configuration for varying the rotation timing can be realized at low cost.

FIG. 30 shows an example of a drive transmission unit configured to be able to vary the rotation timing with the same drive source. 30A is a front view of the drive transmission unit, and FIG. 30B is a side cross-sectional explanatory view of the HH cross section in FIG. 30A of the drive transmission unit.
The drive transmission unit shown in FIG. 30 includes a container drive gear 601 fixed to the toner container drive shaft 650 and an idler gear 653 arranged to be rotatable with respect to the toner container drive shaft 650. The idler gear 653 is formed with a gear surface hole 653a along the rotation direction along the rotation direction. Furthermore, a drive pin 652 is provided that is fixed to the container drive gear 601 and is provided to engage with the gear surface hole 653a. Further, as shown in FIG. 30A, a delayed rotation generating spring 651 having one end fixed to an idler gear 653 by a spring fixing pin 651a and the other end fixed to a drive pin 652 is provided.

Further, on the front side of the idler gear 653, a spring guide circle is arranged concentrically with the idler gear 653 so as to be inside the gear surface hole 653a, and the delayed rotation generating spring 651 is extended along the outer peripheral surface thereof. A plate 655 is provided.
Further, a transport screw gear 605 is provided that is fixed to the rotation shaft of the transport screw 614, is gear-coupled with the idler gear 653, and transmits the rotation of the idler gear 653 to the transport screw 614.

In the drive transmission unit shown in FIG. 30, when a drive motor (not shown) rotates the toner container drive shaft 650 in the direction of arrow I in the figure, the container drive gear 601 also rotates. Then, the drive pin 652 configured integrally with the container drive gear 601 rotates along the gear surface hole 653a provided in the idler gear 653.
Then, when the container drive gear 601 rotates about 180 [°] from the state where the drive pin 652 is at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 30A, the drive pin 652 is shown by the broken line in FIG. It strikes against the end of the gear surface hole 653a. When the container drive gear 601 further rotates from the bumped state, the idler gear 653 is rotated. As a result, the transport screw gear 605 rotates via the idler gear 653 and the transport screw 614 starts to rotate.

As described above, the time for the drive pin 652 to move through the gear surface hole 653a after the toner container drive shaft 650 starts to rotate is the time difference from when the toner container 32 starts to rotate to when the conveying screw 614 starts to rotate. become.
At this time, the delayed rotation generation spring 651 is extended by about a half circumference along the outer circumference of the spring guide disk 655.

On the other hand, when the drive motor stops the rotation drive of the toner container drive shaft 650, the drive pin 652 stops rotating. At this time, one end is fixed to the drive pin 652 and a force is applied to return to the natural length of the delayed rotation generation spring 651 in a state of extending from the natural length so that the spring fixing pin 651a is brought close to the drive pin 652. The idler gear 653 rotates. Then, the idler gear 653 rotates by an amount corresponding to the gear surface hole 653a (about a half circumference). Therefore, after the rotation of the toner container 32 is stopped, the conveying screw 614 can be driven to rotate by an amount corresponding to the rotation of the idler gear 653 by the delayed rotation generation spring 651 described above.
At this time, a target driving time difference can be provided by appropriately setting various parameters. Various parameters include the number of teeth of the idler gear 653 and the conveying screw gear 605, the movable range of the drive pin 652 (opening range of the gear surface hole 653a of the idler gear), the pitch of the conveying screw 614, the width of the nozzle opening 610, and the like.

  In addition, after the rotation of the toner container 32 is stopped, the conveyance screw 614 is rotated and driven at least by a conveyance amount corresponding to the width in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle opening 610 of the conveyance nozzle 611, and then the rotation of the conveyance screw 614 is stopped. It is desirable. Accordingly, the toner T present in the vicinity of the nozzle opening 610 of the transport nozzle 611 can be transported to the toner dropping transport path 64 side from the position facing the nozzle opening 610. By this conveyance, it is possible to more reliably prevent the toner scattering and the toner dropping accompanying the attachment / detachment of the toner container 32 to / from the apparatus main body.

  Also, after the toner container 32 starts to rotate, the toner screw 32 is driven to rotate at least by a conveying amount that the nozzle opening 610 of the conveying nozzle 611 is filled with the toner T, and then the rotation of the conveying screw 614 is started. It is desirable. This further improves the stability of the toner replenishment amount.

A fitting portion between the toner container 32 and the container setting unit 615 common to the first to twentieth embodiments and a peripheral configuration thereof will be described.
As described above, the position where the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a is slidably in contact with the container setting portion 615 and the toner container 32 is positioned with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 is indicated by α in FIG. Here, the position of α in FIG. 9 is not limited to a configuration having both functions of the sliding portion and the positioning portion, and may be a configuration having either function of the sliding portion or the positioning portion. .

  The toner container 32 of this embodiment includes a nozzle receiving member 330 that is disposed in the opening of the container body 33 and forms a nozzle receiving port 331 and a shutter support opening 335b. The nozzle receiving port 331 is a portion into which a transport nozzle 611 having a nozzle opening 610 that is a powder receiving port is inserted, and the shutter support opening 335 b supplies toner that is powder in the container main body 33 to the nozzle opening 610. It is a supply port. In addition, the toner container 32 is supported by the nozzle receiving member 330, and the opening / closing member that opens and closes the nozzle receiving port 331 by sliding the moving nozzle 611 in the rotation axis direction by an operation of inserting or extracting the toner nozzle 32 from the nozzle receiving member 330 As a container shutter 332. With such a configuration, the toner container 32 maintains the state in which the nozzle receiving port 331 is closed until the transport nozzle 611 is inserted, and toner leakage and the like before being attached to the toner replenishing device 60 can be maintained. Spattering can be prevented.

Further, when the transport nozzle 611 is inserted into the nozzle receiving port 331 and the container shutter 332 pushed by the transport nozzle 611 slides toward the back of the container, the toner accumulated in the vicinity of the shutter support opening 335b is pushed away. Therefore, it is possible to secure a space where the transport nozzle 611 in the portion where the nozzle receiving port 331 is formed enters the periphery of the shutter support opening 335b, and to reliably supply toner from the shutter support opening 335b to the nozzle receiving port 331.
As described above, when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the toner container 32 is securely attached to the toner replenishing device 60 while preventing leakage and scattering of the toner stored in the container main body 33 in a state before the toner replenishing device 60 is attached. The toner can be discharged out of the main body 33.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, in the toner container 32, the nozzle receiving port 331 is formed by the container rear end side, that is, the cylindrical tip opening 305 with respect to the container tip side end of the tip opening 305. It is formed at a position entering the back side of the opening.
Here, FIG. 64 shows an explanatory diagram of a toner container 32 as a comparative example in which the opening position of the nozzle receiving port 331 in the rotation axis direction is the same position as the end portion of the front end opening 305 on the container front end side. FIG. 64A is a perspective explanatory view of the vicinity of the end of the toner container 32 near the front end of the container, and FIG. 64B is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the vicinity of the end of the toner container 32 near the front end of the container.

The toner container 32 shown in FIG. 64 is in a state in which the nozzle receiving port 331 is closed until the transport nozzle 611 is inserted, like the toner container 32 of the embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. To maintain. For this reason, it is possible to prevent leakage and scattering of toner in a state before being attached to the toner replenishing device 60. Further, when the transport nozzle 611 is inserted into the nozzle receiving port 331 and the container shutter 332 pushed by the transport nozzle 611 slides toward the back of the container, the toner accumulated in the vicinity of the shutter support opening 335b is pushed away. For this reason, when the toner supply device 60 is mounted, the toner can be reliably discharged out of the container main body 33.
A toner container 32 shown in FIG. 64 is configured to supply toner in the container body 33 to a nozzle opening 610 provided in a portion of the transport nozzle 611 inserted into the container body 33. In such a configuration, the contact portion between the container seal 333 and the transport nozzle 611 that is a seal portion of the container main body 33 that easily causes toner leakage from the nozzle opening 610 that supplies toner from the container main body 33 into the transport nozzle 611. is seperated. For this reason, during the toner replenishing operation completely attached to the toner replenishing device 60, even in the case of the toner container 32 as a comparative example shown in FIG. 64, the contact between the container seal 333 away from the nozzle opening 610 and the transport nozzle 611 It is possible to prevent toner leakage from the portion.

  However, when the transport nozzle 611 is inserted into the container main body 33, the outer peripheral surface of the transport nozzle 611 is in contact with the toner in the container main body 33 by the toner replenishment operation. Part of the toner that has come into contact remains attached to the transport nozzle 611 even when the transport nozzle 611 is extracted from the toner container 32 (when removed from the toner supply device 60). Most of the toner remaining on the transport nozzle 611 is scraped off by the container seal 333 when the transport nozzle 611 passes through the contact portion with the container seal 333. However, a small amount of toner may pass through the contact portion with the container seal 333 together with the transport nozzle 611, resulting in toner leakage. The leaked toner goes around the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33 a of the toner container 32 or adheres to the inner peripheral surface 615 a of the container setting unit 615. Then, there may be a setting failure when the toner container 32 is remounted due to replacement or the like, or the agglomerated adhered toner is developed and may cause an image defect.

  On the other hand, in the toner container 32 of the first to twentieth embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the end surface on the container front end side of the container main body 33 is on the container front end side where the nozzle receiving port 331 of the nozzle receiving member 330 is open. It protrudes in the direction of the rotation axis from the end face. That is, the toner container 32 is provided with the opening position of the nozzle receiving port 331 closer to the container rear end side than the end part of the front end opening 305 which is the opening position of the container body 33 on the container front end side.

  As described above, since the opening position of the nozzle receiving port 331 is behind the opening position of the container main body 33, it is possible to prevent the toner from adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a. This is because even if toner leakage occurs when the conveying nozzle 611 is extracted from the toner container 32, the toner leaking from the nozzle receiving port 331 does not easily go around the end of the container opening 33a on the container front end side. . Further, since the toner that has leaked and dropped from the nozzle receiving port 331 is caught on the inner peripheral surface below the tip opening 305, the toner can be prevented from adhering to the inner peripheral surface 615a of the container setting portion 615. In this way, the toner leaking from the nozzle receiving port 331 can be retained in the region surrounded by the inner peripheral surface on the container rear end side rather than the end surface on the container front end side of the container opening 33a. It is possible to prevent the toner from scattering outside.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, in the first to twentieth embodiments, the container setting unit 615 serving as the positioning unit and the rotary bearing of the toner container 32 is more than the case where the toner container 32 of the comparative example of FIG. 64 is mounted. There is a space apart from the nozzle opening 610 where toner scattering may occur. Further, the end of the container opening 33a on the toner container 32 side serving as the positioning portion of the toner container 32 and the rotation shaft protrudes from the nozzle opening 610 where toner scattering may occur. In the space between the container setting unit 615 and the nozzle receiving port 331, there are a nozzle shutter flange 612a and a nozzle shutter spring 613. Therefore, the effect of suppressing toner adhesion around the inner peripheral surface 615b of the container setting portion 615 and the container front end side end of the container opening portion 33a is exhibited even during the attachment / detachment.

  A container shutter 332 that seals a nozzle receiving port 331 that is a toner discharge portion in the toner container 32 is disposed on the container rear end side (back side) from the container front end side end of the front end opening 305 of the container main body 33. . By arranging in this way, a certain distance from the container shutter 332 can be secured with respect to the container tip side end of the tip opening 305. As a result, it is possible to prevent the toner from reaching the opening position of the container body 33 from the nozzle receiving port 331 which is located behind the opening position of the container body 33 and reaching the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a. The occurrence of toner scattering can be suppressed.

  As described above, the fitting of the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a and the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 615a of the container setting portion 615 allows the toner supply device 60 to be positioned in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the toner container 32. Has been made. That is, the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a of the container main body 33 that is a powder storage member is a positioning portion for the toner replenishing device 60 that is a powder conveying device. For this reason, if toner contamination occurs on the outer peripheral surface side of the container opening portion 33a, the fitting state with the inner peripheral surface of the container setting portion 615 may change, and the positioning accuracy may decrease. On the other hand, since the toner container 32 of the present embodiment can suppress the toner from reaching the outer peripheral surface side of the container opening 33a, the positioning accuracy of the toner container 32 with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 is stabilized.

  Further, the contact portion between the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a and the inner peripheral surface of the container setting portion 615 is also in a relationship of sliding when the toner container 32 rotates. That is, the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a of the container main body 33 that is a powder storage member is a sliding portion with the toner supply device 60 that is a powder conveying device. When the toner enters the sliding portion, the sliding load increases and the rotational torque of the toner container 32 may increase. On the other hand, the toner container 32 of the present embodiment suppresses the toner from reaching the outer peripheral surface side of the container opening 33a, and the toner enters the contact portion with the inner peripheral surface of the container setting portion 615. Can be suppressed. For this reason, an increase in the sliding load is suppressed and the slidability is stabilized, so that an increase in the rotational torque of the toner container 32 can be suppressed. Further, since the toner can be prevented from entering the sliding portion, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of toner aggregates due to the toner being pressed and solidified by the sliding portion.

  Further, as described above, when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the container seal 333 is crushed by the nozzle shutter collar 612a. As a result, the nozzle shutter collar 612a is in a state of being tightly pressurized with the container seal 333, and toner leakage can be prevented more reliably. By adopting a configuration in which the container shutter 332 is arranged on the inner side in the longitudinal direction (on the container rear end side) from the opening position, a cylindrical shape is formed between the front end of the toner container 32 and the end surfaces of the container shutter 332 and the container seal 333 on the container front end side. The space portion is formed.

A toner container common to Embodiments 1 to 20 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG.
FIG. 31 shows a case where the position in the rotation axis direction of the end surface 330f on the container front end side of the nozzle receiving member 330 with respect to the end surface 305f on the container front end side of the container opening 33a is the same position and a position on the container rear end side. FIG. Here, the end surface 330f on the container front end side of the nozzle receiving member 330 is an end surface where the nozzle receiving port 331 is open. FIG. 31A is an explanatory diagram when the position of the end surface 330f of the nozzle receiving member 330 with respect to the end surface 305f of the container opening 33a is the same position. FIG. 31B is an explanatory diagram when the position of the end surface 330f of the nozzle receiving member 330 relative to the end surface 305f of the container opening 33a in the rotation axis direction is the position on the container rear end side.

  In the toner replenishing device 60 shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B, the nozzle shutter 612 is tubed by the nozzle shutter spring 613 before the transport nozzle 611 is inserted into the nozzle receiving port 331 of the nozzle receiving member 330. It is biased in the insertion direction (right direction in the figure). Thereby, the nozzle shutter 612 is located in the vicinity of the end portion on the front end side of the transport nozzle 611 and closes the nozzle opening 610. At this time, one end of the nozzle shutter spring 613 hits the back side of the nozzle shutter collar 612 a that is the abutting portion of the nozzle shutter 612, and the other end of the nozzle shutter spring 613 hits the end surface 615 b of the toner supply device 60.

  A toner container 32, which is a powder container, is slid and mounted in the arrow Q direction (container mounting direction) in FIG. 31 on the toner replenishing device 60 shown in FIGS. When mounted in this manner, the nozzle shutter 612 biased in the direction opposite to the Q direction by the nozzle shutter spring 613 is the container body 33 in which the nozzle receiving port 331 of the nozzle receiving member 330 is opened. The end face 330f on the container front end side. Thereafter, when the toner container 32 is further slid in the Q direction, the nozzle shutter 612 moves in the Q direction with respect to the transport nozzle 611 inserted into the toner container 32. As a result, the nozzle shutter 612 moves to the base side of the transport nozzle 611 and the nozzle opening 610 is opened. Then, as shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B, after the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the entire nozzle opening 610 is opened.

  The nozzle shutter spring 613 is compressed as the nozzle shutter 612 moves to the base side of the transport nozzle 611. As shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B, after the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the length of the nozzle shutter spring 613 in the rotation axis direction is the shortest. The nozzle shutter spring 613 also has a certain contact length in the rotation axis direction. Therefore, a retreat space (the length in the rotation axis direction is W) is required between the end surface 330f of the nozzle receiving member 330 and the end surface 615b of the toner supply device 60. Here, the retreat space (the length in the rotation axis direction is W) is a space in which the portion of the nozzle shutter 612 closer to the tip of the container than the nozzle shutter collar 612a and the nozzle shutter spring 613 fit.

  In addition, the nozzle opening 610 needs to reach a position where the toner that is powder in the container main body 33 that is a powder storage member can be received. The optimum position of the nozzle opening 610 is the shape of the container main body 33. It depends on. For this reason, if the shape of the container main body 33 is the same, the distance in the rotation axis direction from the end surface 305f of the container opening 33a of the container main body 33 on the container front end side to the position of the optimal nozzle opening 610 is constant.

  In such a configuration, if the toner container 32 has the structure shown in FIG. In the structure shown in FIG. 31A, the position of the container opening 33a in the rotational axis direction of the end surface 305f on the container front end side and the end surface 330f on the container front end side where the nozzle receiving port 331 of the nozzle receiving member 330 is open are formed. The position in the rotation axis direction is the same position.

For this reason, the distance (L1) from the end surface 615b of the toner replenishing device 60 to the fitting portion 615s becomes longer than the length (W) of the retreat space in the rotation axis direction, leading to an increase in the size of the toner replenishing device 60.
Further, if the shape of the container main body 33 is the same, the distance in the rotation axis direction from the end surface 305f on the container front end side of the container opening 33a in the container main body 33 to the position of the optimum nozzle opening 610 is constant. Further, the position of the end surface 305f on the container front end side of the container opening 33a, which is the starting point for determining the position of the nozzle opening 610 in the rotation axis direction, is the length (W of the retreat space from the end surface 615b of the toner replenishing device 60 in the rotation axis direction. ) The position is far away. For this reason, the distance (L2) from the end surface 615b of the toner replenishing device 60 to the tip of the conveying nozzle 611 is increased, leading to an increase in the size of the toner replenishing device 60.
Further, the position of the end surface 305f on the container front end side of the container opening 33a, which is the end portion on the container front end side of the toner container 32, is separated from the end surface 615b of the toner replenishing device 60 by a length W in the rotational axis direction of the retreat space. Position. For this reason, the distance (L3) from the end surface 615b of the toner replenishing device 60 to the end of one end of the toner container 32 becomes longer, leading to an increase in the size of the toner replenishing device 60 that holds the toner container 32.

  On the other hand, in the configuration shown in FIG. 31 (b), the nozzle receiving port 331 in the nozzle receiving member 330 is opened closer to the container rear end side (right side in FIG. 31) than the end 305f on the container front end side of the container opening 33a. An end surface 330f on the front end side of the container is provided. For this reason, when the toner container 32 is mounted on the toner replenishing device 60, the nozzle shutter of the nozzle shutter 612 is positioned at the front end side of the transport nozzle 611 with respect to the end surface 305f on the front end side of the container in the container opening 33a in the rotation axis direction. Part 612a hits. Thereby, at least a part of the retreat space is on the container rear end side (the front end side of the transport nozzle 611) with respect to the end surface 305f on the container front end side in the container opening 33a. Therefore, the distance (L1) from the end surface 615b of the toner replenishing device 60 to the fitting portion 615s can be made shorter than the configuration shown in FIG. 31A (for La in FIG. 31). Further, the distance (L2) from the end surface 615b of the toner replenishing device 60 to the tip of the transport nozzle 611 can be made shorter than the configuration shown in FIG. 31A (for La in FIG. 31). Furthermore, the distance (L3) from the end surface 615b of the toner replenishing device 60 to the one end of the toner container 32 can be made shorter than the configuration shown in FIG. 31A (by La in FIG. 31). Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the toner replenishing device 60, which is a powder conveying device, in the rotation axis direction.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 31 (b), the end surface on the container front end side where the nozzle receiving port 331 of the nozzle receiving member 330 is open is formed from the end portion on the container front end side of the container opening 33a (305f in FIG. 31). Is also provided on the container rear end side (right side in FIG. 31). Here, the end surface on the container front end side where the nozzle receiving port 331 of the nozzle receiving member 330 is open is 330f in FIG. 31, and the end surface on the container front end side of the container seal 333 in the embodiment or the nozzle shutter protrusion. It is a container front end side end part of the abutting rib 337a. For this reason, when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the nozzle shutter collar 612a of the nozzle shutter 612 is located at a position closer to the container rear end than the container front end on the container opening 33a in the rotation axis direction. bump into. As a result, at least a part of the retreat space is in a cylindrical space formed between the opening position of the tip opening 305 (the container tip side end) and the container seal 333 on the container tip side end surface. For this reason, the distances L1, L2, and L3 in FIG. 31 can be made shorter than the configuration shown in FIG. 31A (by the amount La in FIG. 31), and the toner replenishing device 60 can be enlarged in the direction of the rotation axis. Can be suppressed. Here, L1 is a distance from the end surface 615b of the toner replenishing device 60 to the fitting portion 615s, and L2 is a distance from the end surface 615b of the toner replenishing device 60 to the tip of the transport nozzle 611. L3 is the distance from the end surface 615b of the toner supply device 60 to the container rear end side end of the toner container 32.
If the toner replenishing device 60 is not downsized, the container body 33 can be lengthened by La in the rotation axis direction, and the amount of toner that can be stored in the toner container 32 can be increased.

The nozzle opening 610 of the transport nozzle 611 closes the nozzle shutter 612 when the toner container 32 is not attached to the toner supply device 60. Further, in a state where the toner container 32 is attached to the toner supply device 60, it is necessary to open the nozzle shutter 612 so that the toner can be received.
In the toner replenishing device 60, a cylindrical space portion (front end opening 305) is formed between the container front end side end of the container opening 33a and the end surfaces of the container shutter 332 and the container seal 333 on the front end side of the container. In this space portion, the retreat space is configured so that all or a part of the retreat space of the nozzle shutter 612 when the nozzle shutter 612 is opened is accommodated. Further, all or part of the nozzle shutter spring 613 for closing the nozzle shutter 612 is also stored in this retreat space. With such a configuration, the arrangement space of the nozzle shutter 612 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 can be saved.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the present embodiment, in the state where the toner container 32 is mounted on the toner replenishing device 60, the retraction position of the nozzle shutter 612 is the container seal 333 on the nozzle tip side of the nozzle shutter collar 612a. Located inside. The nozzle base side of the nozzle shutter collar 612a is substantially contained in a cylindrical space formed between the opening position of the tip opening 305 (the container tip side end) and the container seal 333 on the container tip side. . Further, the compressed nozzle shutter spring 613 is also substantially contained in this cylindrical space.
With this configuration, the position from the opening position of the leading end opening 305 that is the most advanced portion of the toner container 32 to the toner dropping portion of the toner replenishing device 60 (the position where the toner dropping conveyance path 64 is connected to the conveyance nozzle 611). The distance can be shortened. Thereby, size reduction of an apparatus main body can be achieved.

  As described with reference to FIGS. 22 to 28, the shutter inner peripheral first rib 612 b is the edge on the nozzle tip side of the nozzle opening 610, that is, the nozzle tip in the transport nozzle 611 in a state where the nozzle shutter 612 is closed. It hits the upper part of the inner wall surface of the part 611a. Thereby, it has a function of preventing the nozzle shutter 612 from coming off. In addition, the shutter inner peripheral first rib 612b has an inner peripheral first rib tip 612g that is an end in the circumferential direction abuts against a nozzle opening lateral edge 611s that is a lateral edge of the nozzle opening 610, and the nozzle shutter. 612 has an anti-rotation function. The rotation stopping function of the nozzle shutter 612 functions in the same manner even when the toner container 32 is mounted on the toner supply device 60.

Further, as described above, the inner diameter of the shutter inner peripheral second rib 612c and the shutter inner peripheral third rib 612d is formed to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the transport nozzle 611. As an example, when the outer diameter of the transport nozzle 611 is φ15 [mm], the inner diameters of the shutter inner peripheral second rib 612c and the shutter inner peripheral third rib 612d are φ14.8 [mm] to 14.9 [mm]. It is good to set it to a degree. In this way, the circumferential inner shutter second rib 612c and the inner shutter third rib 612d having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the transport nozzle 611 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the nozzle shutter 612. As a result, the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the nozzle shutter 612 and the outer peripheral surface of the transport nozzle 611 can be shielded, and a toner seal function can be obtained without a seal member, so that a seal member such as sponge or rubber is not required. become. Since it is not necessary to use a seal member that is separate from the nozzle shutter 612, it is possible to reduce the cost while preventing toner leakage.
As a configuration for preventing toner leakage, an annular seal member may be disposed instead of the shutter inner peripheral second rib 612c and the shutter inner peripheral third rib 612d. However, since the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the nozzle shutter 612 and the outer peripheral surface of the transfer nozzle 611 is a very narrow gap, an annular seal member does not enter. Therefore, when the annular seal member is arranged, the annular nozzle shutter seal member 612h is arranged as shown in FIG. At this time, the outer diameter of the nozzle shutter seal receiving portion 612j is set to be smaller than the diameter of the nozzle shutter spring 613 so that the nozzle shutter spring 613 abuts against the nozzle shutter spring receiving surface 612f.

In order to assemble the nozzle shutter 612 to the transport nozzle 611, the nozzle shutter 612 needs to be elastically deformed to some extent because the nozzle shutter 612 is temporarily deformed. This is because if a material that is hard and hardly elastically deforms is used, it will break without elastic deformation during assembly. The nozzle shutter 612 is formed of a material having moderate elasticity. For example, when the outer shape of the transfer nozzle 611 is a cylinder, the nozzle shutter 612 is a cylinder having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter. Then, a shutter inner peripheral first rib 612b which is a protrusion toward the inside is formed on the inner diameter portion of the nozzle shutter 612. By making the shutter inner peripheral first rib 612 b face the nozzle opening 610 of the transport nozzle 611, it can function as a stopper and a rotation stopper of the nozzle shutter 612. The portion of the transport nozzle 611 with which the projection of the nozzle shutter 612 engages is not limited to the nozzle opening 610, and any portion of the transport nozzle 611 can be used as long as it can provide a retaining function and a detent function. It may be.
According to the experiments by the present inventors, it is preferable to select a resin material having a tensile elastic modulus of 500 [MPa] to 2000 [MPa] as the material of the nozzle shutter 612. When the nozzle shutter 612 is assembled to the transport nozzle 611, three ribs (612b to 612d) formed on the inner peripheral surface of the nozzle shutter 612 serve as resistance when the transport nozzle 611 is inserted into the nozzle shutter 612. This resistance is particularly great when the shutter inner peripheral first rib 612b gets over the nozzle tip 611a and enters the nozzle opening 610.

At this time, if the nozzle shutter 612 is made of a material having a certain degree of elasticity, the nozzle shutter 612 is deformed and can be easily assembled. Furthermore, there is a merit that the sliding load due to the shutter inner peripheral second rib 612c and the shutter inner peripheral third rib 612d not tightening the transport nozzle 611 does not increase.
Further, if the nozzle shutter 612 is too easily deformed, the function of preventing the shutter inner peripheral first rib 612b from coming off and the function of preventing rotation are impaired.
By selecting polyethylene or polypropylene as a material having a certain degree of elasticity used for such a nozzle shutter 612, the above-described merit can be obtained stably. The thickness of the nozzle shutter cylindrical portion 612e of the nozzle shutter 612 is preferably 0.3 [mm] to 0.5 [mm].
Since the nozzle shutter 612 has the material characteristics and shape as described above, the cost of the shutter mechanism that opens and closes the nozzle opening 610 can be reduced.

Next, the cap 370 common to the first to fourth embodiments will be described in relation to the toner container 32 during storage.
FIG. 32 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner container 32 during storage, and shows a state where a cap 370 as a sealing member for sealing the opening of the front end opening 305 of the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 6 is attached. FIG. 33 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the end of the toner container 32 with the cap 370 attached.

  A toner container 32 shown in FIG. 32 includes the following invention. That is, the toner container 32 stores toner as a powdery developer inside, and a cap 370 as a sealing member for sealing the nozzle receiving port 331 serving as a developer discharge port is provided in the container opening 33a. It is a powder container that can be attached. As described above, the container opening 33 a is a part of the container main body 33, and the container main body 33 is used to fix the toner container 32 to the toner replenishing device 60 as shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7. A container opening 33a is formed so as to penetrate the container tip side cover 34 necessary for the above. Thereby, the container opening 33 a of the container main body 33 can be exposed from the container front end side cover 34. Since the container opening 33a, which is a part of the container main body 33 in which the toner is stored, can be directly sealed by the cap 370, the sealing effect is improved and toner leakage can be prevented more reliably.

In the toner container 32 common to Embodiments 1 to 20, the cap collar 371 is provided on the cap 370. In the state where the cap 370 is attached to the toner container 32, as shown in FIG. 32, the cap collar portion 371 is configured to hide the ID tag 700 provided on the container front end side cover 34. Thereby, the external contact and impact to the ID tag 700 when the toner container 32 is stored can be prevented, and the ID tag 700 can be protected.
In the toner container 32 of the first to fourth embodiments, the cap collar 371 of the cap 370 is made larger than the outer diameter of the container front end side cover 34 and the container main body 33. As a result, the toner container 32 can be prevented from being damaged when dropped, and the toner container 32 can be protected.

  Further, the container opening 33a, which is a part of the container body 33, is directly sealed by the cap 370, and is sealed via a member separate from the container body 33 (for example, the container tip side cover 34). The sealing effect is higher than that. And if it is the structure which seals the container opening part 33a directly, it is also possible to seal the container main body 33, and if it can be sealed, the penetration | invasion of the air and a water | moisture content in the container main body 33 can be prevented, and storage is possible. It is possible to reduce the packing material for the toner container 32 at the time.

When the toner container 32 is used (attached to the toner supply device 60), the cap 370 is removed and used. Any method may be used for attaching the cap 370 to the toner container 32 as long as the cap 370 can be fixed by either a screw method or a hook method. At this time, a fixing portion on the toner container 32 side such as a screw-type screw thread or a hook-type hook is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33 a exposed from the container front end side cover 34. In the toner container 32 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 33, a cap fixing screw thread 309 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a, and a screw method is adopted as a fixing method of the sealing member.
The structure for sealing the opening formed by the tip opening 305 is not limited to the one in which the cap 370 is fixed by a screw method, and the opening is sealed by pressing the film member to the container tip side end of the container opening 33a. May be.

<Embodiment 5>
A cap 370 provided with an adsorbent will be described as a fifth embodiment.
First, the toner container 32 that uses an adsorbent such as a desiccant during storage will be described. The adsorbent is not limited to moisture, but adsorbs various things (gas etc.). Therefore, the desiccant is included in the adsorbent. Examples of the adsorbent include silica gel, aluminum oxide, zeolite, and the like, but any adsorbent may be used.

Here, when the container main body 33 is completely sealed with the cap 370, the infiltration of air and moisture can be prevented, so that the adsorbent is unnecessary, and the packing material is also unnecessary. In this method, the environmental burden can be reduced by reducing the material used by reducing the packaging material such as the bag, the cushioning material, and the individual packaging box for packaging the toner container 32 and reducing the size of the packaging.
However, the inventors of the present invention have confirmed that gas is generated from the toner itself as a powder and aggregation is formed as a small lump of toner, although aggregation or solidification is not achieved. Since such an aggregate leads to generation of abnormal images such as white spots and spots of each color, it is necessary to suppress the generation. As long as the gas does not generate from the toner itself, as shown in FIG. 33, a configuration may be adopted in which the adsorbent is not provided and the toner is sealed. It is desirable to provide an adsorbent that adsorbs.

FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a first example of the toner container 32 in which the adsorbent 372 is provided on the cap 370. The toner container 32 shown in FIG. 34 includes the following invention. That is, the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 34 has a configuration in which an adsorbent 372 is provided on the cap 370 with respect to the toner container 32 shown in FIG. In the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 34, the operability is improved because the adsorbent 372 can be removed together with the cap 370 by removing the cap 370 when used.
However, in the configuration shown in FIG. 34, since the adsorbent 372 is exposed to the outside air around the toner container 32, a packaging material is required.

<Embodiment 6>
As a sixth embodiment, a second example of a cap 370 provided with an adsorbent will be described.
FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of a second example of the toner container 32 in which the adsorbent 372 is provided on the cap 370. The toner container 32 shown in FIG. 35 includes the following invention. That is, the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 35 contains toner as a powdery developer inside. Then, a cap 370 as a sealing member that seals the nozzle receiving port 331 serving as a developer discharge port is attached to the container opening 33a that forms the tip opening so that the inside of the container main body 33 is sealed. It is a powder container that can be made. Furthermore, the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 35 is provided with an adsorbent 372 inside a cap 370 that seals the opening at the tip.

The toner container 32 shown in FIG. 35 is provided with an adsorbent 372 on the cap 370, and similarly to the toner container 32 shown in FIG. Because it can be removed, operability is enhanced.
Further, since the space for accommodating the toner (the internal space of the container main body 33) is completely sealed by the cap 370, it is possible to prevent air and moisture from entering the space for accommodating the toner. Further, since the adsorbent 372 is provided inside the space in a sealed state, the gas generated from the toner itself can be adsorbed, and the adsorption performance is improved as compared with the toner container 32 shown in FIG. Further, since the space for storing the toner (the internal space of the container body 33) is sealed and the adsorbent 372 is provided in the sealed space, both the toner and the adsorbent 372 Not affected. For this reason, a packing material becomes unnecessary.

<Embodiment 7>
As a seventh embodiment, a third example of a cap 370 provided with an adsorbent will be described.
FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a third example of the toner container 32 in which the adsorbent 372 is provided on the cap 370. The toner container 32 shown in FIG. 36 includes the following invention. That is, the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 36 stores toner as a powdery developer therein. Then, a cap 370 as a sealing member that seals the nozzle receiving port 331 serving as a developer discharge port is attached to the container opening 33a that forms the tip opening so that the inside of the container main body 33 is sealed. It is a powder container that can be made. Also, the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 36 has an adsorbent 372 inside a cap 370 that seals the opening at the tip. Further, the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 36 is arranged so that at least a part of the adsorbent 372 is accommodated in the recess at the tip of the toner container 32. Here, the concave portion at the front end of the toner container 32 is a cylindrical space formed between the opening position of the front end opening 305 and the container front end side end surface of the container seal 333.

A toner container 32 shown in FIG. 36 is provided with an adsorbent 372 on a cap 370. As a result, like the toner container 32 shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, by removing the cap 370 when used, the adsorbent 372 can be removed together with the cap 370, so that the operability is improved.
Similarly to the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 35, the space for storing the toner (the internal space of the container main body 33) is completely sealed by the cap 370, so that air and moisture can enter the space for storing the toner. It can be prevented. Further, since the adsorbent 372 is provided inside the space in a sealed state, the gas generated from the toner itself can be adsorbed, and the adsorption performance is improved as compared with the toner container 32 shown in FIG. Further, since the space for storing the toner (the internal space of the container body 33) is sealed and the adsorbent 372 is provided in the sealed space, both the toner and the adsorbent 372 Not affected. For this reason, a packing material becomes unnecessary.

  The toner container 32 shown in FIG. 36 is arranged so that at least a part of the adsorbent 372 is accommodated in the recess at the tip of the toner container 32 in addition to the same operation as the toner container 32 shown in FIG. Therefore, the length of the cap 370 in the rotation axis direction can be shortened. Thereby, the toner container 32 at the time of storage can be reduced in size.

In the case where the toner container 32 is sealed with the cap 370, a packing material or the like may be used to improve the degree of adhesion between the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 and the cap 370.
Further, as a configuration in which the adsorbent 372 is provided in the cap 370, the adsorbent 372 may be provided integrally with the cap 370 (fixed to the cap 370) or may be provided separately (not fixed to the cap 370). However, if the adsorbent 372 is fixed to the cap 370 and provided integrally, the cap 370 and the adsorbent 372 can be taken out together, so that the adsorbent 372 is not forgotten and the operability is improved.

Here, the problem of the conventional toner container, in which the space (container main body) for storing the toner cannot be directly sealed by the sealing member, will be described.
In recent years, toners used in image forming apparatuses have become low-temperature fixing and small particle diameters, and tend to have poor heat resistance. There is a risk that supply to the image forming apparatus may become impossible. It has been found that this toner aggregation and solidification is more likely to occur when the humidity is high under the same temperature environment. There are various routes for supplying the toner container to the user, and the environment cannot be managed. For example, there are transportation by land, air and sea, but it is difficult to control their temperature and humidity.

  Although there is a method using a container for controlling the transportation environment as a countermeasure for such a background, it is impossible to cope with all transportation routes, and there is a problem that it is expensive. With respect to such a problem, the toner container 32 of the first to seventh embodiments can directly seal the container opening 33a, which is a part of the container main body 33 in which the toner is stored, with the cap 370. The sealing effect is improved and toner leakage can be more reliably prevented. Further, since the sealing effect is improved, the toner container 32 is hardly affected by the external environment when stored.

Further, by removing the cap 370 from the toner container 32, it is possible to mount the toner replenishing device 60 on the toner container 32. Therefore, it is possible to provide a powder container that is easy to use when used.
Furthermore, since the cap 370 has a shape that protects the ID tag 700 and the toner container 32, the cushioning material and the individual packaging box for packaging the toner container 32 can be reduced, and the size of the packaging can be reduced, thereby reducing the material used. Thus, the environmental load can be reduced.

<Eighth embodiment>
As an eighth embodiment, a first example of a toner container 32 having a cap 370 provided with a toner leakage prevention means will be described.
After the toner container 32, which is a powder container, is supplied to the user, it is often handled by the user, and the handling at this time is not particularly restricted, and may be handled roughly. For this reason, the toner container 32 needs to have sufficient measures against vibration and dropping so that toner leakage does not occur even if it is handled roughly.
It is necessary to prevent toner leakage from the nozzle receiving port 331. In order to prevent this leakage, the toner leaks out when a gap is generated between the container seal 333 that forms the nozzle receiving port 331 and the container shutter 332 that shields the nozzle receiving port 331. There is a need to prevent.

  FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a first example of a toner container 32 in which a cap is provided with toner leakage prevention means as an eighth embodiment. The toner container 32 shown in FIG. 37 includes the following invention. That is, the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 37 is a powder container having a container body 33, a container seal 333, a container shutter 332, and a cap 370, and a powder in which a cylindrical member 373 is attached to the cap 370. It is a body storage member. Here, the container main body 33 is a powder storage member that stores toner that is powder inside, and the container seal 333 is a nozzle that is a tube receiving port provided in the opening of the container main body 33 on the container front end side. The receiving port 331 is formed. Further, the container shutter 332 is an opening / closing member for the nozzle receiving port 331, the cap 370 is a sealing member for the opening on the container front end side which is the powder discharge side in the container main body 33, and the columnar member 373 is This is toner leakage prevention means.

  In the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 37, the cylindrical member 373 is formed of a material different from that of the cap 370, and the container tip side (left side in FIG. 37) in the rotation axis direction of the toner container 32 is adhesive to the cap 370. It is fixed with etc. Further, as shown in FIG. 37, in a state where the cap 370 is attached, the cylindrical member 373 has an end surface on one end side (right side in FIG. 37) of the toner container 32 in the rotation axis direction. It is the structure which contacts with the end surface. The end surface on one end side of the cylindrical member 373 is circular, and has a diameter larger than the end surface on the container front end side of the container shutter 332 and smaller in diameter than the annular outer periphery of the end surface on the container front end side of the container seal 333.

  With such a configuration, when the cap 370 is attached to the toner container 32, the end surface on one end side of the cylindrical member 373 simultaneously contacts the end surface on the container front end side of the container shutter 332 and the container seal 333. At this time, the end surface on the container rear end side of the columnar member 373 is in contact with the boundary between the container shutter 332 and the container seal 333. As a result, the nozzle receiving port 331 can be directly sealed, and even if a gap is generated between the container seal 333 and the container shutter 332 due to an impact caused by vibration or dropping, the toner is prevented from leaking out. be able to. As described above, the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 37 can prevent the occurrence of toner leakage, which is advantageous for vibration and dropping. Even if the toner container 32 is handled roughly during transportation, the toner leakage is prevented. Can be prevented.

As described above, in the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 37, the cylindrical member 373 is formed of a material different from that of the cap 370. For this reason, the cap 370 can be made of an inexpensive resin such as polystyrene resin, and the columnar member 373 can be made of a highly flexible material such as rubber or sponge. By making the cylindrical member 373 from a highly flexible material, when the container shutter 332 and the container seal 333 come into contact with the end surfaces of the container front end, the adhesion to these members is improved. Therefore, it is further advantageous for preventing toner leakage caused by vibration or impact caused by dropping.
In addition, the cap 370 is made of an inexpensive resin such as polystyrene resin, which is a material different from that of the cylindrical member 373, so that it is possible to reduce the cost while maintaining the function of preventing the toner leakage by the cylindrical member 373. .

<Embodiment 9>
As a ninth embodiment, a second example of the toner container 32 having a cap 370 provided with a toner leakage preventing means will be described.
FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a second example of the toner container 32 in which the cap is provided with toner leakage preventing means. The toner container 32 shown in FIG. 38 includes the following invention. That is, in the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 38, a cylindrical portion 374 is formed integrally with the cap 370 in a powder container having a container main body 33, a container seal 333, a container shutter 332, and a cap 370. It is a powder storage member. Here, the cylindrical portion 374 is a toner leakage preventing means.

  In the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 38, the cylindrical portion 374 formed as a part of the cap 370 comes into contact with the container shutter 332 with the cap 370 attached. At this time, the end surface on one end side (right side in FIG. 38) of the cylindrical portion 374 in the rotation axis direction of the toner container 32 is in contact with the end surface on the container front end side (left side in FIG. 38) of the container shutter 332. It has become. The end surface on one end side of the cylindrical portion 374 has a circular shape, and has a diameter larger than the end surface on the container front end side of the container shutter 332 and smaller in diameter than the annular outer periphery of the end surface on the container front end side of the container seal 333.

  With such a configuration, when the cap 370 is attached to the toner container 32, the end face on one end side of the cylindrical portion 374 simultaneously contacts the end face on the container front end side of the container shutter 332 and the container seal 333. At this time, the end surface on the one end side of the cylindrical portion 374 comes into contact with the boundary between the container shutter 332 and the container seal 333. As a result, the nozzle receiving port 331 can be directly sealed, and even if a gap is generated between the container seal 333 and the container shutter 332 due to an impact caused by vibration or dropping, the toner is prevented from leaking out. be able to. As described above, the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 38 can prevent the occurrence of toner leakage, which is advantageous for vibration and dropping. Even if the toner container 32 is roughly handled during transportation, the toner leakage is prevented. Can be prevented. Further, since the cylindrical portion 374 can be integrally formed (integrated molding) as a part of the cap 370, the cost can be reduced.

<Embodiment 10>
As a tenth embodiment, a third example of the toner container 32 having a cap 370 provided with a toner leakage preventing means will be described.
FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a third example of the toner container 32 in which the toner leakage preventing means is provided in the cap. The toner container 32 shown in FIG. 39 includes the following invention. That is, the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 39 is a powder container having a container body 33, a container seal 333, a container shutter 332, and a cap 370, and the cylindrical portion 374 is formed integrally with the cap 370. . Further, the cylindrical portion 374 is a powder storage member in which a cylindrical tip elastic member 375 is provided on an end surface that contacts the nozzle receiving port 331. The cylindrical tip elastic member 375 is made of a highly flexible material such as rubber or sponge.

  In the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 39, the cylindrical tip elastic member 375 in the cylindrical portion 374 is in contact with the end face on the container tip side (left side in FIG. 39) of the container shutter 332 with the cap 370 attached. ing. Here, the cylindrical portion 374 is formed as a part of the cap 370, and the cylindrical tip elastic member 375 is an end surface of the cylindrical portion 374 on one end side (right side in FIG. 39) in the rotation axis direction of the toner container 32. Is provided. The end surface on one end side of the cylindrical tip elastic member 375 has a circular shape, and has a larger diameter than the end surface on the container tip side of the container shutter 332, and smaller in diameter than the annular outer periphery of the end surface on the container tip side of the container seal 333. .

  With such a configuration, when the cap 370 is attached to the toner container 32, the end face on one end side of the cylindrical tip elastic member 375 simultaneously contacts the end face on the container tip side of the container shutter 332 and the container seal 333. At this time, the end surface on one end side of the cylindrical tip elastic member 375 is in contact with the boundary between the container shutter 332 and the container seal 333. As a result, the nozzle receiving port 331 can be directly sealed, and even if a gap is generated between the container seal 333 and the container shutter 332 due to an impact caused by vibration or dropping, the toner is prevented from leaking out. be able to. As described above, the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 39 can prevent the occurrence of toner leakage, which is advantageous with respect to vibration and dropping. Even if the toner container 32 is handled roughly during transportation, the toner leakage is prevented. Can be prevented. In particular, in the configuration shown in FIG. 39, the cap 370 is attached by providing a column tip elastic member 375 at the tip of the columnar portion 374. Accordingly, when the cylindrical tip elastic member 375 comes into contact with the container shutter 332 and the container seal 333, the adhesion to these members is improved as compared with the toner container 32 shown in FIG. Therefore, it is further advantageous for preventing toner leakage caused by vibration or impact caused by dropping.

<Embodiment 11>
As the eleventh embodiment, a fourth example of the toner container 32 having the cap 370 provided with the toner leakage preventing means will be described.
FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of a fourth example of the toner container 32 in which the cap is provided with toner leakage preventing means. The toner container 32 shown in FIG. 40 includes the following invention. That is, the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 40 includes a cylindrical portion 374 in the cap 370 in a powder container having a container main body 33, a container seal 333, a container shutter 332, and a cap 370. Further, the adsorbent 372 is provided inside the cylindrical portion 374 so as to be open to the outside, that is, exposed to the outside air.

The toner container 32 shown in FIG. 40 has a configuration in which an adsorbent 372 is added to the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 38, and thus is advantageous for vibration and dropping, like the toner container 32 shown in FIG. Thereby, even if the toner container 32 is roughly handled during transportation, the occurrence of toner leakage can be prevented. Further, since the cylindrical portion 374 can be integrally formed (integrated molding) as a part of the cap 370, the cost can be reduced.
Furthermore, since the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 40 includes the adsorbent 372, air and moisture can be prevented from entering the toner container 32. In addition, since the adsorbent 372 is provided on the cylindrical portion 374 formed on the cap 370, the adsorbent 372 can be removed together with the cap 370 by removing the cap 370 when in use, so that the operability is improved.

However, in the configuration shown in FIG. 40, the adsorbent 372 is exposed to the outside air around the toner container 32, and the adsorbent 372 is provided to absorb the water around the toner container 32. Such packaging materials are required.
Originally, it is considered that the cap 370 is sufficient. However, if the cap 370 is not sealed (when used for shock reduction or the like), as shown in FIG. The structure provided with the agent 372 is effective.

<Embodiment 12>
As a twelfth embodiment, a fifth example of the toner container 32 having a cap 370 provided with a toner leakage preventing means will be described.
FIG. 41 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a fifth example of the toner container 32 in which the cap is provided with toner leakage preventing means. The toner container 32 shown in FIG. 41 includes the following invention. That is, the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 41 is provided with a cylindrical portion 374 in the cap 370 in a powder container having a container main body 33, a container seal 333, a container shutter 332, and a cap 370. The cap 370 can be attached to the container opening 33a that forms the tip opening so that the inside of the container main body 33 is in a sealed state. Furthermore, the adsorbent 372 is disposed inside the cylindrical portion 374 so as to adsorb the object to be adsorbed in the space sealed by the cap 370.
In the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 41, an adsorption hole 374a as an opening is provided on the side surface of the cylindrical portion 374 in order to cause the adsorbent to adsorb gas or the like generated from the toner itself. The space that is sealed by the cap 370 communicates with the space in which the suction holes 374a are arranged.

The toner container 32 shown in FIG. 41 has a configuration in which the end surface of the cylindrical portion 374 of the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 38 is closed and an adsorbent 372 is added thereto. Therefore, similarly to the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 38, it is advantageous against vibration and dropping, and even if the toner container 32 is handled roughly during transportation, the occurrence of toner leakage can be prevented.
In addition, since the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 41 includes the adsorbent 372, air and moisture can be prevented from entering the toner container 32. In addition, since the adsorbent 372 is provided on the cylindrical portion 374 formed on the cap 370, the adsorbent 372 can be removed together with the cap 370 by removing the cap 370 when in use, so that the operability is improved.

  In the toner container 32 shown in FIG. 41, the space for storing the toner (the internal space of the container main body 33) is completely sealed by the cap 370, so that intrusion of air and moisture into the space for storing the toner can be prevented. Further, since the space sealed by the cap 370 communicates with the space in which the suction holes 374a are arranged, the gas generated from the toner itself can be adsorbed, and the adsorption performance compared to the configuration shown in FIG. Will improve. Further, since the space for storing the toner (the internal space of the container body 33) is sealed and the adsorbent 372 is provided in the sealed space, both the toner and the adsorbent 372 Not affected. For this reason, a packing material becomes unnecessary.

In the toner container 32 shown in FIGS. 40 and 41 described above, the configuration in which the adsorbent 372 is provided on the cylindrical portion 374 formed integrally with the cap 370 has been described. However, the toner leakage preventing means for providing the adsorbent 372 may be a columnar member 373 provided as a separate member with respect to the cap 370 as shown in FIG.
In the toner container 32 shown in FIGS. 37 to 41, a screw method is adopted as a fixing method of the cap 370 which is a sealing member. However, any method may be used for attaching the cap 370 to the toner container 32 as long as it can be fixed by either a screw method or a hook method, as in the configuration described with reference to FIG.

In the toner container 32 (Embodiments 8 to 12) shown in FIGS. 37 to 41, the container shutter 332 and the container seal 333 are pressed by the columnar member 373, the columnar portion 374, or the column end elastic member 375. For this reason, it is advantageous for vibration and drop impact, and toner leakage can be prevented even if it is handled roughly during transportation.
In addition, since the container shutter 332 and the container seal 333 are pressed by the cylindrical member 373, the cylindrical portion 374, or the cylindrical tip elastic member 375, the movement of the container shutter 332 is restricted even when the toner container 32 vibrates and falls. The Further, since the container seal 333 is compressed to some extent and is in contact with the container seal 333 so that no gap is generated, toner leakage does not occur.
Each of the toner containers 32 shown in FIGS. 36 to 41 (Embodiments 7 to 12) is an invention using a space between the end of the container opening 33a and the container shutter 332. Such a space is originally intended to contain the nozzle shutter 612 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 in close contact with each other when the toner replenishing device 60 is mounted, thereby suppressing toner scattering and reducing the size. The invention of FIGS. 36 to 41 is also unique in that the space is used even in the engaged state with the cap 370 when the toner container 32 is stored as a single item.

<Embodiment 13>
The fixing of the nozzle receiving member 330 to the container body 33 by screwing will be described.
In the toner container 32 according to the first to twelfth embodiments described with reference to FIG. 11 and the like, after the toner is filled into the container main body 33 from the opening of the container opening 33a in the toner filling factory or the like, the nozzle receiving member 330 is placed in the container. It is configured to press fit into the container opening 33 a of the main body 33.
Therefore, by releasing the press-fitting, removing the nozzle receiving member 330 from the container main body 33, and refilling the container main body 33 with toner, each member can be reused. Further, by removing the nozzle receiving member 330 from the container body 33, disassembly and sorting are facilitated, and material recycling is possible.

Next, a configuration example in which the nozzle receiving member 330 is fixed to the container body 33 by screwing will be described.
FIG. 42 is a perspective explanatory view of a container shutter support member 340 used for the nozzle receiving member 330 fixed to the container main body 33 by screwing. The container shutter support member 340 shown in FIG. 42 has a thread 337 c formed on the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337. Although not shown, a thread groove used for screwing with a screw thread 337c is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the container opening 33a of the container main body 33 of the toner container 32 using the container shutter support member 340 shown in FIG. Is formed.
In the nozzle receiving member 330 using the container shutter support member 340 shown in FIG. 42, the container shutter 332 is held by the container shutter support member 340 together with the container seal 333, and is screwed to the container main body 33. The toner container 32 including the container shutter support member 340 shown in FIG. 42 is the same as the toner container 32 described with reference to FIG. 11 and the like, except that the nozzle receiving member 330 is fixed to the container body 33 by screws. It is the same composition.

  In the toner container 32 described with reference to FIG. 11 and the like described above, the opening of the container opening 33a for filling the toner is blocked by the press-fitted nozzle receiving member 330. For this reason, it may be difficult to remove the nozzle receiving member 330 from the container body 33 after use, and recycling may be difficult. Here, the recycling includes refilling which is refilled with toner and used again as the toner container 32 and material recycling which is performed by disassembling the toner container 32 and selecting the material.

  To solve such a problem, in the toner container 32 using the container shutter support member 340 shown in FIG. 42, the nozzle receiving member 330 is rotated in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 42 while the toner container 32 is fixed. Alternatively, the toner container 32 is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow A in FIG. 42 with the nozzle receiving member 330 fixed. By rotating in this way, screwing of the nozzle receiving member 330 to the container main body 33 is released, and the nozzle receiving member 330 can be easily detached from the container main body 33 after use. Therefore, the nozzle receiving member 330 that closes the opening of the container opening 33a that is a toner filling port can be easily removed from the container main body. Therefore, in the case of the toner container 32 using the container shutter support member 340 shown in FIG. 42, refilling the toner after use and re-use as the toner container 32 can be easily performed.

  The nozzle receiving member 330 includes a container shutter support member 340, a container shutter 332, a container seal 333, a container shutter spring 336, and the like. The container shutter support member 340 and the container shutter 332 are made of resin members such as ABS, PS, and POM. The container seal 333 is made of sponge or the like, and the container shutter spring 336 is made of SW-C (hard steel wire), SWP-A (piano wire), SUS304 (spring stainless wire) or the like. As described above, the nozzle receiving member 330 is made of a different material. Therefore, by easily removing the nozzle receiving member 330 from the container body 33 made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or the like, material recycling can be easily performed by disassembling the toner container 32 and selecting the material.

Further, the present embodiment includes the following inventions. That is, in the toner container 32 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the spiral protrusion 302 on the side surface of the container main body 33 on the right side when viewed from the front end of the container is inclined so as to be on the front end side of the container. It has become a direction. For this reason, the container main body 33 rotates (rotates in the direction of arrow A in the figure) so that the side surface of the container main body 33 on the right side as viewed from the front end of the container moves from the upper side to the lower side. Can be transported to the container tip side.
The nozzle receiving member 330 rotates together with the container main body 33 in the direction A in the figure. However, since the container seal 333 slides with the transport nozzle 611, a frictional force acting in a direction to stop the rotation acts from the transport nozzle 611. Here, a case where the winding direction of the screw thread 337c is different from that in FIG. 42 will be described. In such a case, the winding direction of the screw thread 337c is the same as that of the spiral protrusion 302, that is, the screw thread 337c on the side surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 on the right side when viewed from the front end of the container is closer to the front end side of the container. Thus, the winding direction is inclined (the direction of the right screw). Thus, in the case where the winding direction of the screw thread 337c is different from that in FIG. It becomes the direction to loosen.

  On the other hand, in the toner container 32 using the container shutter support member 340 shown in FIG. 42, the winding direction of the thread 337c is set opposite to the winding direction of the spiral protrusion 302. That is, in the toner container 32 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 42, the thread 337c is formed so that the nozzle receiving member 330 is a left-hand thread. Thereby, rotation of the container main body 33 in the direction of arrow A can be prevented from acting so that the screwing of the nozzle receiving member 330 to the container main body 33 is loosened.

Next, the positional relationship between the pumping wall surface 304f and the shutter side surface support portion 335, which is a configuration in the container body 33, will be described.
First, I will describe the issues. In a state where there is sufficient toner in the container main body 33, such as immediately after the toner container 32 is mounted on the toner replenishing device 60, toner that overflows is continuously supplied to the nozzle opening 610 of the transport nozzle 611. For this reason, the shutter side support portion 335a is rotated so as to cross over the nozzle opening 610, the overflowing toner is destroyed, and the rotation amount of the conveying screw 614 is controlled by intermittent rotation so that the developing device 50 is targeted. The toner amount can be replenished.

  On the other hand, when the amount of toner in the container body 33 decreases due to use over time, the rotation center side end of the pumping wall surface 304f and the transport nozzle 611 with respect to the toner amount from the pumping unit 304 toward the nozzle opening 610. The ratio of the amount of toner that slips through the gap increases. As a result, the amount of toner that can be supplied to the developing device 50 is reduced. If the amount of toner that can be replenished to the developing device 50 is reduced, the toner concentration of the developer G in the developing device 50 becomes unstable, and the toner container 32 needs to be replaced. In this state, a large amount of toner remains in the container main body 33. As a result, a problem that the remaining amount of toner in the toner container 32 at the time of replacement increases.

FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis where the position in the rotation axis direction is the position of the pumping portion 304 with respect to the container main body 33 to which the nozzle receiving member 330 is fixed.
This embodiment includes the following inventions. That is, as shown in FIG. 43, in the toner container 32, in a state where the nozzle receiving member 330 is fixed to the container main body 33, the outer peripheral surface of the shutter side support part 335a is the upstream side of the convex part 304h. Set to face the inner wall. Specifically, out of the inner wall surface divided by the convex portion 304h corresponding to the ridge line of the raised portion that protrudes toward the inside of the container body 33, the inner wall surface on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the container body 33 and the shutter side surface support portion 335a. Is set so as to face the outer peripheral surface. This setting has the following advantages. That is, the pumping wall surface 304f, which is the inner wall surface on the downstream side in the rotation direction, among the inner wall surfaces divided by the convex portions 304h of the container body 33 when viewed in a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis, is accompanied by the rotation of the container body 33. Thus, it can be positioned relatively above the shutter support opening 335b. The nozzle opening 610 always opens upward. Therefore, at the timing when the pumping unit 304 is positioned upward by the rotation of the toner container 32, the shutter support opening 335b is also positioned above, and the toner pumped up by the pumping unit 304 passes through the shutter support opening 335b and passes through the nozzle opening. 610 is supplied.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 43, the rotation direction downstream end surface 335c, which is the end surface on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the shutter side surface support portion 335a, is positioned at a position close to the convex portion 304h protruding toward the rotation center side of the container body 33. Arrange to do. As a result, the toner that has flowed downward along the pumping wall surface 304 f drops and is repelled on the downstream end surface 335 c in the rotational direction, and is supplied to the nozzle opening 610. In other words, the rotation direction downstream end surface 335 c has a function of bridging the toner received from the pumping wall surface 304 f to the nozzle opening 610.

The bridging function of the shutter side support portion 335a common to the first to twentieth embodiments will be described.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the pumping portion 304 and the nozzle receiving port 331 of the container main body 33 common to the first to twentieth embodiments. FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the container body 33 taken along the line E-E, which is cut at the end of the bearing of the conveyance screw 614 on the tip side of the conveyance nozzle 611 in FIG. 9.
FIG. 45 is a schematic diagram functionally showing a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE. FIG. 45A is a schematic diagram of a comparative example functionally, and is an explanatory diagram of a configuration in which the shutter side surface support portion 335a does not act as a bridging means. FIG. 45B is a schematic diagram functionally illustrating FIG. 44, and is an explanatory diagram of a configuration in which the shutter side surface support portion 335a functions as a bridging means.

  First, the issues are described. In the case of a configuration capable of controlling the amount of toner transported in the transport tube as in Patent Document 6, stable toner transport is performed if sufficient toner is present near the opening of the transport tube. I can do it. However, when the amount of toner in the toner container decreases, the amount of toner to be transported may decrease, and stable toner transport may not be possible. Even though the toner can be moved to the vicinity of the entrance by the spiral protrusion provided in the toner container, the toner slides before reaching the opening provided in the transport tube, and the transport tube This is because the amount of toner entering the toner decreases. When the amount of toner to be transported decreases and stable toner transport cannot be performed, the toner concentration of the developer in the developing device becomes unstable, and the toner container needs to be replaced. In this state, a large amount of toner remains in the container main body, and as a result, there arises a problem that the remaining amount of toner in the toner container at the time of replacement increases.

In FIG. 9, a transport nozzle (transport pipe) 611 is inserted into a nozzle receiving member (pipe insertion member) 330 in the container main body 33. The nozzle opening (powder receiving port) 610 of the transport nozzle 611 inserted into the nozzle receiving member 330 is open, and the toner can be transported to the toner replenishing device.
The pumping portion 304 partially overlaps the nozzle opening 610 in the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32, and a part corresponds to the inner wall surface of the container main body 33 on the container rear end side with respect to the nozzle opening 610. More specifically, the pumping unit 304 includes a convex portion 304h corresponding to the ridge line of the raised portion of the inner wall of the container body 33 in the rotation axis direction, and a downstream side in the container rotation direction among the inner wall surfaces divided by the ridge line. And a pumping wall surface 304f (see FIG. 44).

  As shown in FIG. 44, the ridge line of the convex portion 304h is influenced by the fact that the container body 33 is formed by blow molding, and has a gentle mountain shape. In FIG. 9 and the like, the convex portion 304h is represented by a curved line for convenience in order to distinguish the pumping portion 304f. The pumping wall surface 304f is a region represented by a grid as shown in FIG. 9, and as shown in FIG. 44, the convex portion 304h and the inner peripheral surface of the container main body 33 with the rotation axis of the container main body 33 as a point target. It consists of a pair of slopes connecting the two. In addition, in the location of the EE cross section, since the wall surface on the upstream side in the container rotation direction among the inner wall surfaces divided by the ridgeline, the cutting direction of the EE cross section and the extending direction of the wall surface are approximately the same. It appears in a thick state like 44. The convex portion 304h is also located at a portion that appears to be thick.

  In FIG. 44, the tubular conveying nozzle 611 has a nozzle opening 610 that opens upward. Between the transfer nozzle 611 and the convex portion 304h, there is a pair of shutter side surface support portions 335a fixed to the container body 33, and rotates integrally with the pumping wall surface 304f as the container body 33 rotates. At the position of the EE cross section (the position of the end face of the bearing of the conveyance screw 614 on the tip side of the conveyance nozzle 611), the convex portion 304h and the shutter side surface support portion 335a are in a position facing each other. Further, there are a pumping wall surface 304f as viewed from the downstream side in the container rotation direction, a downstream end surface 335c in the rotation direction of the shutter side support portion 335a, and a lateral edge 611s on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the nozzle opening 610.

  Similarly to the pumping action described above with reference to FIG. 43, the pumping portion 304 formed by the pumping wall surface 304f of the container body 33 in FIG. 44 also has a nozzle opening 610 that is an opening of the transport nozzle 611 that is a transport pipe. The toner moves in the direction of the arrow T1. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the shutter side surface support portion 335a and the downstream end surface 335c in the rotation direction function as a toner bridging portion that bridges the toner from the pumping portion 304 to the nozzle opening 610.

  As shown in FIG. 44, the inner diameter of the shutter side surface support portion 335a is larger than the outer diameter of the transport nozzle 611. This prevents the transport nozzle 611 that has passed through the region in contact with the container seal 333 from coming into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the shutter side surface support portion 335a, and it is difficult to apply a load when the transport nozzle 611 is inserted into the container body. doing. Since the nozzle receiving member 330 is formed with a container seal 333 having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the transport nozzle 611, the toner in the container main body 33 leaks to the outside of the container main body 33 along the outer peripheral surface of the transport nozzle 611. It prevents it from being put out. As a result, the toner is prevented from flowing out of the container main body 33 through the transport nozzle 611 and going to the developing device 50 other than the toner transport path.

Details of the bridging function will be described with reference to the schematic views of FIGS. 45 (a) and 45 (b).
FIG. 45A shows the flow of toner inside the container main body 33 when the shutter side surface support portion 335a has an arrangement configuration that does not exhibit a bridging function. Due to the rotation of the container body 33 in the direction of arrow A in the figure, the toner pumped up along the circumferential direction of the container body by the pumping wall surface 304f flows in the direction of the nozzle opening 610 by gravity (arrow T1 in the figure). However, a part of the toner that flows from the gap between the conveying nozzle 611 and the convex portion 304h (the convex portion protruding toward the rotation center of the pumping wall surface 304f) is generated (arrow T2 in the figure).

  More specifically, the state as shown in FIG. 46A is a state at the moment when the pumping wall surface 304f is not sufficiently upward and the convex portion 304h is around the 9 o'clock position of the timepiece. At this moment, when viewed from the downstream side in the rotation direction of the container body 33, the nozzle opening lateral edge portion 611s on the upstream side, the convex portion 304h of the pumping wall surface 304f, and the downstream side end surface of the shutter side surface support portion 335a are sequentially formed. In such a state, the end surface of the intermediate shutter side surface support portion 335a is always in a state of being delayed from the convex portion 304f of the pumping wall surface 304f to which the toner is to be delivered, and can exert a toner bridging function. Can not. For this reason, a part of the toner leaks from the gap generated in the transport nozzle 611, the convex portion 304h, and the shutter side surface support portion 335a caused by the delay. As a result, problems such as the replenishment speed becoming unstable and the amount of toner remaining in the container body 33 when the toner container 32 is replaced increase.

FIG. 45B shows the flow of toner inside the container main body 33 including the shutter side surface support portion 335a that functions as a bridging means.
By the rotation of the container body 33 in the direction of arrow A in the drawing, the toner pumped up along the circumferential direction of the container body by the pumping wall surface 304f flows to the nozzle opening 610 by gravity (arrow T1 in the figure). Is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. However, in the configuration shown in FIG. 45 (b), the shutter side surface support portion 335a is disposed so as to close the gap between the transport nozzle 611 and the convex portion 304h (the convex portion protruding toward the rotation center of the pumping wall surface 304f). Has been. As seen from the downstream side in the rotational direction of the container main body 33, the shutter side surface support portion 335a is disposed in the rotational direction downstream end surface 335c and the pumping portion 304 has a convex portion 304h in this order.

  With such an arrangement, the toner flow as indicated by the arrow T2 in FIG. 45A is suppressed, and the pumped toner efficiently enters the nozzle opening 610. For this reason, even when the amount of toner in the container main body 33 decreases, the replenishment speed is stabilized, and furthermore, the amount of toner remaining in the container main body 33 when the toner container 32 is replaced can be reduced. Further, since the amount of toner remaining in the container main body 33 at the time of replacement can be reduced, the running cost can be reduced to improve economy, and the residual toner to be discarded can be reduced to reduce the influence on the environment. it can.

  It should be noted that the degree of closing the gap between the transport nozzle 611 and the convex portion 304h is not more than the close contact between the shutter side surface support portion 335a and the convex portion 304h. However, if it is possible to inhibit toner flow-off as in T2, a slight gap (0.3 [mm]) between the shutter side surface support portion 335a and the convex portion 304h as shown in the lower convex portion 304h of FIG. About 1 [mm]). This is because if there is a small gap, the toner is clogged by the operation when a large amount of toner is present at the start of replenishment and serves as a seal. Further, since the pumping wall surface 304f is formed by blow molding, which has a dimensional accuracy that is not as high as that of injection molding, it is difficult to achieve complete contact, and it is preferable to form with a slight gap from the viewpoint of mass productivity. .

46 shows the remaining amount of toner in the container and the replenishment speed (toner replenishment per unit time) of the example (configuration shown in FIGS. 44 and 45 (b)) and the comparative example (configuration shown in FIG. 45 (a)). It is a graph which shows the relationship with quantity.
46, in the example, the replenishment speed is stable even when the remaining amount of toner in the container decreases, but in the comparative example, the replenishment speed decreases as the remaining amount of toner in the container decreases. Recognize. This is because, in the comparative example having no bridging member, the toner passes through the gap formed between the end portion on the rotation center side of the pumping wall surface 304f that is a part of the container body 33 and the transport nozzle 611 (slide and escape). End up). For this reason, it is considered that when the remaining amount of toner decreases, a sufficient amount of toner cannot reach the nozzle opening 610, the supply amount to the nozzle opening 610 cannot be maintained, and the replenishment speed decreases.

  The toner container 32 of the example shown in FIGS. 9, 44, and 45 (b) includes the following invention. That is, pumping wall surfaces 304f are provided at two locations on the container body, and bridging members (shutter side support portions 335a) are provided at two locations corresponding to the pumping wall surfaces 304f. When the pumping wall surface 304f of the container main body 33 is provided at three locations, it is effective to provide the same number of pumping portions 304 and bridging members so that three bridging members are also provided. Similarly, when four or more pumping parts of the container body 33 are provided, it is effective to provide the same number of bridging members as the pumping parts 304.

Of course, there are a plurality of shutter side surface support portions 335a, but it is also possible to correspond to the wall surface 304f by using a limited number of portions less than these as bridging members. For example, it is conceivable that only one of the two shutter side surface support portions 335a is used as a bridging member, and the pumping wall surface 304f is formed in the container main body 33 corresponding to the bridge member.
Further, although the component cost is higher than that of the toner container 32 in FIG. 1, the container body 33 is made of a resin cylindrical member (for convenience, the container body 1033 is used for distinction from the container body of other embodiments). Consider a configuration in which a part of the conveying member has a pumping function.

  FIG. 47A is a perspective view of the nozzle receiving member 330 integrated with a pumping rib 304g corresponding to the pumping wall surface 304f (hereinafter referred to as a nozzle receiving member 1330). FIG. 47B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the relationship with the transport nozzle 611 in which the nozzle receiving member 1330 of FIG. 47A is disposed inside the container body 1033. 47C is a side sectional view of the entire toner container 1032 on which the nozzle receiving member 1330 shown in FIG. 47A is mounted. FIG. 47D is a part of the toner container 1032. It is a perspective view of the container shutter 1332.

The nozzle receiving member 1330 shown in FIG. 47 includes the pumping rib 304g as described above, and is integrated with the transport blade holding portion 1330b to which the transport blade 1302 made of a flexible material such as a resin film is fixed. It is configured.
47 includes a container seal 1333, a nozzle receiving port 1331, a container shutter 1332, and a container shutter spring 1336. The container seal 1333 is a seal member having a contact surface that faces and contacts the nozzle shutter flange 612 a of the nozzle shutter 612 held by the transport nozzle 611 when the toner container 1032 is attached to the copying machine 500 main body. The nozzle receiving port 1331 is an opening into which the transfer nozzle 611 is inserted, and the container shutter 1332 is a shutter member that opens and closes the nozzle receiving port 1331. The container shutter spring 1336 is a biasing member that biases the container shutter 1332 toward a position where the nozzle receiving port 1331 is closed.

47, the nozzle receiving member 1330 includes a nozzle receiving member outer peripheral surface 1330a that is slidably fitted to the container set portion inner peripheral surface 615a on the copier 500 main body side. Further, as shown in FIG. 47D, the container shutter 1332 includes a contact portion 1332a that contacts the transport nozzle 611 and a shutter support portion 1332b. The shutter support portion 1332b extends from the contact portion 1332a in the longitudinal direction of the container main body 1033, and a hook portion 1332c that prevents the container shutter 1332 from dropping from the nozzle receiving member 1330 due to the bias of the container shutter spring 1336. Have. In the toner container 1032, a separate container gear 1301 is fixed to the nozzle receiving member 1330 so that the drive can be transmitted.
In this manner, a configuration in which the toner up to the pumping inner wall surface, the bridge portion, and the shutter support opening 1335b is poured into the nozzle opening 610 can be integrated.

Next, details of the toner container 1032 provided with the pumping rib 304g will be described.
As shown in FIG. 47C, the toner container 1032 includes a container front end cover 1034, a container main body 1033, a bottom lid 1035, a nozzle receiving member 1330, and the like. The container front end cover 1034 is provided on the front end side of the toner container 1032 in the mounting direction with respect to the copying machine 500 main body, and the container main body 1033 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The bottom cover 1035 is provided on the rear end side in the mounting direction of the toner container 1032, and the nozzle receiving member 1330 is rotatably held by the above-described substantially cylindrical container main body 1033.

  The container front end cover 1034 is provided with a gear exposure opening 1034a (not shown) similar to the gear exposure opening 34a for exposing the container gear 1301 fixed to the nozzle receiving member 1330. The container body 1033 having a substantially cylindrical shape rotatably holds the nozzle receiving member 1330, and the container front end side cover 1034 and the bottom lid 1035 are fixed (by a known method such as heat welding or adhesive). The bottom cover 1035 has a rear end side bearing 1035a that supports one end of the above-described conveyance blade holding portion 1330b, and a grip portion 1303 for a user to hold when the toner container 1032 is attached to and detached from the copying machine 500 main body. Have

Next, an assembling method for assembling the container front end side cover 1034, the bottom lid 1035, and the nozzle receiving member 1330 to the container main body 1033 will be described.
First, the nozzle receiving member 1330 enters the container main body 1033 from the rear end side of the container, and the nozzle receiving member 1330 is positioned so as to rotatably support the front end side bearing 1036 on the front end side of the container main body 1033. . Next, the rear end side bearing 1035a provided on the bottom lid 1035 is aligned so as to rotatably support one end of the conveying blade holding portion 1330b of the nozzle receiving member 1330, and the bottom lid 1035 is fixed to the container body 1033. To do. Thereafter, the container gear 1301 is fixed to the nozzle receiving member 1330 from the front end side of the container. After the container gear 1301 is fixed, the container front end cover 1034 is fixed to the container main body 1033 so as to cover the container gear 1301 from the container front end side.
In addition, regarding the fixation between the container main body 1033 and the container front end side cover 1034, the fixation between the container main body 1033 and the bottom lid 1035, and the fixation between the nozzle receiving member 1330 and the container gear 1301, a known method (for example, heat welding, An adhesive or the like can be used.

Next, a description is given of a configuration for conveying toner from the toner container 1032 to the nozzle opening 610.
The pumping rib 304g is projected from the downstream end 1335c in the rotation direction of the shutter side support 1335a to the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface of the container body 1033 so that the rib surface is connected. The middle of the rib surface is bent at one place to be close to a curved surface. However, this configuration is not necessarily required depending on the compatibility with the toner, and a simple flat rib without bending may be used. With such a configuration, it is not necessary to form a raised portion on the container body 1033. Further, since the pumping rib 304g is erected integrally from the shutter support opening 1335b, the effect of bridging can be exhibited as in the case where the shutter side surface support portion 335a and the convex portion 304h are brought into close contact with each other. That is, when the nozzle receiving member 1330 rotates when the toner container 1032 is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the conveying blade rotates, and the toner received in the toner container 1032 is provided with the nozzle receiving member 1330 from the rear end side. It is conveyed toward the leading end. Then, the toner conveyed by the conveying blade 1302 is received by the pumping rib 304g, and is rotated to be pumped upward from below, and the toner can be poured into the nozzle opening 610 using the rib surface as a slide.

  Next, in the toner container 32, a configuration for fixing the nozzle receiving member 330 to the container body 33 will be described as Embodiments 14 to 19. The container gear 301 appearing in FIGS. 48, 49, 51 (b) and 52 (b) is shown in a roller form, with the gear teeth not shown.

<Embodiment 14>
48 to 50 are explanatory diagrams of the toner container 32 according to the fourteenth embodiment. FIG. 48 is an explanatory perspective view of the toner container 32 of the fourteenth embodiment with the nozzle receiving member 330 removed from the container main body 33. FIG. 49 shows the front end side end of the toner container 32 of the fourteenth embodiment. It is perspective explanatory drawing with the container setting part 615. FIG. 50 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container 32 of the fourteenth embodiment, FIG. 50 (a) is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the end portion on the front end side of the toner container 32, and FIG. 50 (b) is a cross-sectional view of FIG. It is expansion explanatory drawing of area | region (eta) in a). 48 to 50, the description of the container front end side cover 34 is omitted, and in FIGS. 48 and 49, the description of the container shutter 332 is omitted. In FIG. 50, the description of the nozzle shutter 612 is omitted.

The container main body 33 of the toner container 32 of the fourteenth embodiment is molded by the blow molding method as described in the description of the previous embodiment. This blow molding is an injection molding used in general resin molding. There is a tendency for the accuracy to become worse. For this reason, the roundness of the cylindrical cross section of the container opening 33a which is a part of the container main body 33 formed by blow molding may deteriorate.
As described above, the container opening 33a (the radial outer peripheral surface of the tip opening 305) is fitted to the inner peripheral surface 615a of the container setting portion 615 in a slidable state. As a result, the toner container 32 is positioned relative to the toner replenishing device 60 in the plane direction orthogonal to the rotation axis. At this time, if the roundness of the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a that contributes to positioning is poor, there is a possibility that the position of the toner container 32 with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 fluctuates when the toner container is rotated. There is.

On the other hand, since the nozzle receiving member 330 is a general resin molded product by injection molding, it can be molded with higher accuracy than the container body 33, and the receiving member fixing portion 337, which is a part of the nozzle receiving member 330, has a roundness. It can be molded into a good cylinder.
In the fourteenth embodiment, the outer diameter of the receiving member fixing portion 337 in the nozzle receiving member 330 is larger than the inner diameter of the container opening 33a. With this configuration, when the nozzle receiving member 330 is attached to the container main body 33, the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a is corrected so as to follow the receiving member fixing portion 337, and the roundness is improved.
By improving the roundness of the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a, the positioning accuracy of the toner container 32 with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 is improved.

  In addition, when the roundness of the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a is poor, it is necessary to set the dimension of the inner peripheral surface 615a of the container setting portion 615 to be larger in consideration of variation in the shape. However, if the size of the inner peripheral surface 615a is set to be large, the degree of freedom of displacement in the plane direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a with respect to the inner peripheral surface 615a of the container setting portion 615 increases. Becomes larger. On the other hand, in the fourteenth embodiment, the roundness of the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a is improved, and it is not necessary to set the dimension of the inner peripheral surface 615a of the container setting portion 615 to be large, so that the backlash is reduced. As the play is reduced in this manner, the positioning accuracy of the toner container 32 with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 is improved.

  As shown in FIGS. 48A and 50, the nozzle receiving member 330 is provided with two receiving member engaging protrusions 3301 on the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337. The two receiving member engaging protrusions 3301 are arranged at positions shifted by 180 [°] in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface, that is, at positions opposite to each other on the peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337. The shape is a rectangle extending in the circumferential direction when viewed from the radial direction of the receiving member fixing portion 337 which is a cylinder. As shown in FIG. 48B, the receiving member fixing portion 337 has a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the axial direction. The protruding amount (height) is about 0.5 mm from the peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337. The trapezoidal slope is downstream in the rotational direction when viewed from the rotational direction of the container body 33. The surface on the opposite side to the slope stands in the radial direction, and is on the upstream side in the rotational direction of the container body 33.

  On the other hand, the container body 33 is provided with two tip opening engagement holes 3051 in the container opening 33a. The two tip opening engagement holes 3051 are located at positions shifted by 180 [°] in the circumferential direction of the inner circumferential surface of the container opening 33a, that is, at positions facing the inner circumferential surface of the container opening 33a and the inner circumferential surface side. It is provided so as to communicate with the outer peripheral surface side. The tip opening engagement hole 3051 is a long hole extending in the circumferential direction when viewed from the radial direction of the receiving member fixing portion 337.

With such a configuration, when the nozzle receiving member 330 is attached to the container main body 33, the two receiving member engaging protrusions 3301 engage with the two tip opening engaging holes 3051, respectively. By this engagement, it is possible to prevent the nozzle receiving member 330 from coming off from the container main body 33 and to prevent it from rotating.
This anti-rotation is effective in maintaining the above-described inner peripheral surface 304f of the pumping up and the convex portion 304h and the shutter side support portion 335a serving as a bridging member in a relative positional relationship that exerts a bridging function of the toner. Demonstrate. The reason why the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 is trapezoidal in the axial direction is as follows.

  Next, it demonstrates in detail based on FIG.48 (b). When the receiving member fixing portion 337 is rotated toward the slope side, the nozzle receiving member 330 can be easily removed from the container main body 33, and the toner in the container main body 33 can be easily removed or refilled. On the other hand, when the container main body 33 is driven by being attached to the toner replenishing device, the surface that stands in the radial direction opposite to the inclined surface is on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the container main body 33, so that the rotational force transmitted from the container gear 301 is transmitted. Is received through a contact portion with the tip opening engagement hole 3051. That is, since the vertical surface opposite to the inclined surface of the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 rotates so as to always bite into the tip opening engaging hole 3051, the nozzle receiving member 330 rotates relative to the container body 33 during the replenishment operation. , No misalignment. If the trapezoidal slope side is on the side in the rotational direction, there is a risk that the slope will receive the rotational force described above and cause a displacement.

  Further, an annular receiving member outer periphery seal 3302 is provided at the step portion where the outer diameter of the receiving member fixing portion 337 of the nozzle receiving member 330 is reduced. This stepped portion faces the stepped portion where the inner periphery of the container opening 33a is reduced, and when the nozzle receiving member 330 is attached to the container main body 33, the receiving member outer periphery seal 3302 becomes two stepped portions. It will be in a state of being pinched. Thereby, the toner inside the container main body 33 is prevented from leaking from the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 and the inner peripheral surface of the container opening 33a.

  Further, the receiving member outer periphery seal 3302 is compressed by two step portions. For this reason, in a state where the nozzle receiving member 330 is attached to the container main body 33, the restoring force of the compressed receiving member outer peripheral seal 3302 acts to push the nozzle receiving member 330 back against the container main body 33. This restoring force is received by contact (engagement) between the vertical surface of the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 and the inner surface of the tip opening engaging hole 3051.

As described above, in the fourteenth embodiment, the container opening 33a is corrected so as to follow the receiving member fixing portion 337, and the roundness is improved.
The material of the container body 33 including the container opening 33a is a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) material, and the thickness W1 of the cylindrical container opening 33a is 1.1 [mm]. On the other hand, the material of the nozzle receiving member 330 including the receiving member fixing portion 337 is a PS (polystyrene) material, and the thickness W2 of the cylindrical receiving member fixing portion 337 is 2 [mm]. At this time, assuming that the press-fitting allowance (difference between the outer diameter of the receiving member fixing portion 337 and the inner diameter of the container opening 33a) is 0.01 [mm] to 0.1 [mm], the toner replenishing device 60 can Good results were obtained in terms of positioning accuracy of the toner container 32 and prevention of toner leakage.

  In general, press fitting may be used to fix components, but in the mechanism according to the fourteenth embodiment, the component tolerance can be set large. As a result, it is possible to ensure mass productivity, and the engagement by the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 is performed on the receiving member outer periphery seal 3302 so that the press-fitting allowance is established even at a very small value of 0.01 [mm]. Take resilience. Further, the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 serves to prevent rotation. And in the press-fitting part, it is configured to correct the shape of the container opening 33a, and the function is separated by the function of fixing the position of the parts in the axial direction and the function of correcting the shape of the container opening 33a. Is doing.

  In the fourteenth embodiment, the nozzle receiving member 330 is fixed to the container body 33 using the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301. Here, if the container main body 33 and the nozzle receiving member 330 are to be fixed only by the engagement of the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301, the nozzle reception with respect to the container main body 33 in the plane direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the toner container 32 is performed. There is a possibility that the position of the member 330 may shift. On the other hand, in the fourteenth embodiment, press-fitting is performed while correcting the container opening 33a, and the position of the nozzle receiving member 330 with respect to the container main body 33 is shifted in the plane direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the toner container 32. Can be prevented.

  As described above, in the fourteenth embodiment, both the engagement using the receiving member engaging projection 3301 and the press-fitting are used for fixing the container main body 33 and the nozzle receiving member 330. The amount of compression of the receiving member outer periphery seal 3302 made of rubber packing or the like is determined by the engagement of the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 and contributes to the positioning of the toner container 32 in the rotation axis direction. On the other hand, the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 and the inner peripheral surface of the container opening portion 33a are in close contact with each other as the shape of the container opening portion 33a is corrected so as to follow the shape of the receiving member fixing portion 337 by press-fitting. Such press-fitting contributes to positioning in the planar direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the toner container 32.

<Embodiment 15>
As in the fourteenth embodiment, the fifteenth embodiment is configured as shown in FIGS. 48 to 50, but the outer diameter of the receiving member fixing portion 337 in the nozzle receiving member 330 is larger than the inner diameter of the container opening 33a. This is different from Embodiment 14 in that this is smaller.
The container opening 33 a and the receiving member fixing portion 337 are made of a hard material because dimensional accuracy is required for fitting with the toner replenishing device 60. As a specific example, the material of the nozzle receiving member 330 having the receiving member fixing portion 337 may be a PS (polystyrene) material, and the material of the container body 33 having the container opening 33a may be a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) material. it can. When the container opening 33a and the receiving member fixing portion 337 are fixed to each other by press-fitting, the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 is tightly sealed with the inner peripheral surface of the container opening 33a. In order to improve the adhesion between the inner peripheral surface of the container opening 33a and the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337, it is considered to set the outer diameter of the receiving member fixing portion 337 larger than the inner diameter of the container opening 33a. It is done. Here, when the outer diameter of the receiving member fixing portion 337 is increased, as in the toner container 32 of the fourteenth embodiment, the effect of correcting the container opening 33a can be exhibited, but a large pressure input is required during assembly. become. If the pressure input is large, the container opening 33a and the receiving member fixing portion 337 may be deformed and damaged. Therefore, it is necessary to set a small dimensional tolerance at the fitting portion between the two and strictly manage the process.

  On the other hand, when the outer diameter of the receiving member fixing portion 337 is simply made smaller than the inner diameter of the container opening 33a, the following problems occur. In other words, by installing the engaging portion as a prevention against slipping, the receiving member fixing portion 337 of the nozzle receiving member 330 moves up and down within the container opening 33a within the component tolerance even if positioning in the rotation axis direction is performed. . For this reason, it is difficult to seal between the container opening 33a and the receiving member fixing portion 337.

  Therefore, in the fifteenth embodiment, an annular receiving member outer peripheral seal 3302 which is a sealing member made of an elastic body seals between the inner peripheral surface of the container opening 33a and the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337. It has stopped. Specifically, the receiving member outer periphery seal 3302 is sandwiched between the container opening 33a and the receiving member fixing portion 337, so that the receiving member outer periphery seal 3302 is elastically deformed so as to be compressed and sealed. Since the receiving member outer periphery seal 3302 is elastically deformed, a restoring force acts in a direction in which the receiving member fixing portion 337 is removed from the container opening 33a. However, in the fifteenth embodiment, the movement of the receiving member fixing portion 337 from the container opening portion 33a in the direction in which the receiving member fixing projection portion 337 is pulled out is restricted by the engaging portion between the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 and the tip opening engaging hole 3051. Yes. Accordingly, the nozzle receiving member 330 is positioned with respect to the container body 33 in the rotation axis direction.

  In addition, since the receiving member outer peripheral seal 3302 is elastically deformed between the inner peripheral surface of the container opening 33a and the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337, the restoring force against the deformation is the above-described internal force. It acts on the entire area in the circumferential direction between the peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface. Due to the action of the restoring force, the position of the receiving member fixing portion 337 in the plane direction orthogonal to the rotation axis inside the container opening 33a is determined, and the position in the plane direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the nozzle receiving member 330 with respect to the container body 33 is determined. Positioning is performed. This positioning is effective for maintaining the above-described pumping inner peripheral surface 304f and its convex portion 304h and the shutter side surface support portion 335a serving as a bridging member in a relative positional relationship that exerts a bridging function of toner. To do.

  In Embodiment 15, since sealing is not performed between the inner peripheral surface of the container opening 33a and the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337, it is possible to increase the dimensional tolerance of parts. By increasing the dimensional tolerance, it is possible to improve the mass productivity. Further, even if the receiving member fixing portion 337 of the nozzle receiving member 330 moves up and down within the container opening 33a within the dimensional tolerance, the receiving member outer periphery seal 3302 is elastically deformed and sealed, thus preventing toner leakage. It becomes possible.

  In the fifteenth embodiment, the receiving member outer peripheral seal 3302 that is the sealing member is compressed by the inner peripheral surface that is the seal receiving surface of the container opening 33a and the outer peripheral surface that is the seal receiving surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337. To seal. A receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 which is an engaging portion of the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 enters and engages with the distal end opening engaging hole 3051 which is an engaged portion of the container opening 33a. The repulsive force (restoring force) received from the compressed receiving member outer periphery seal 3302 is received by this engagement, and is prevented from coming off. By the repulsive force received from the receiving member outer periphery seal 3302 and the prevention of disconnection due to engagement, the position of the toner container 32 in the axial direction is determined, and the nozzle receiving member 330 is prevented from coming off from the container main body 33 due to an impact caused by an external force or the like. To do.

In addition, since the restoring force of the receiving member outer periphery seal 3302 acts on the tip opening engagement hole 3051 in the container opening 33a by the engagement of the receiving member engagement protrusion 3301, a certain level of strength is required. For this reason, it is desirable for the tip opening engagement hole 3051 to utilize the strength of the thick portion of the container opening 33a. In the fifteenth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 50, there is a cap fixing screw thread 309 on the container front end side (upper side in FIG. 50) from the front end opening engagement hole 3051 and more than the other part of the container opening 33a. It is thick. By utilizing the strength of such a thick portion, it is possible to prevent the container opening 33a from being damaged due to the restoring force of the receiving member outer periphery seal 3302.
In the fifteenth embodiment, the configuration in which the receiving member outer periphery seal 3302 that is a sealing member is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 of the nozzle receiving member 330 has been described, but the inner periphery of the container opening 33a of the container body 33 is described. It is good also as a structure which provides a sealing member in a surface.

<Embodiment 16>
Next, as in the fifteenth embodiment, the nozzle receiving member 330 is positioned with respect to the container main body 33 using the elastic deformation of the sealing member that seals the gap between the container main body 33 and the nozzle receiving member 330. A first modification (hereinafter referred to as Embodiment 16) will be described.
51A and 51B are explanatory views of the toner container 32 according to the sixteenth embodiment. FIG. 51A is a perspective explanatory view of the nozzle receiving member 330 and FIG. 51B is a perspective explanatory view of the container main body 33. .

The toner container 32 of the sixteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 51 includes the following invention. That is, when the nozzle receiving member 330 is inserted into the container main body 33 on the container rear end side of the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 that is the engaging portion and the tip opening engaging hole 3051 that is the engaged portion. An insertion position restricting portion that restricts the insertion position in the rotation direction is provided.
The shape of the sixteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 51 will be described. The receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 is a pentagon when viewed from the radial direction of the nozzle receiving member 330. The protruding amount (height) is about 0.5 mm from the peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337. This is the top 3301a of the engaging protrusion formed on the container rear end side as the insertion position restricting portion of the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301. The tip opening engagement hole 3051 is a through hole formed by overlapping an oblong hole extending in the circumferential direction of the container opening 33a and the pentagon at the center of the oblong hole. As an insertion restricting portion for the front end opening engagement hole 3051, an engagement hole top portion 3051a (top portion of a pentagonal hole) formed on the rear end side of the container is provided.

A front end opening engagement hole 3051 which is an engaged portion is on the inner side (the side where the toner is stored) than the front end portion (open end portion) of the cylindrical front end opening 305. For this reason, when the receiving member fixing portion 337 is inserted into the container opening 33a when the nozzle receiving member 330 is attached to the container main body 33, the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 is hidden behind the container opening 33a and cannot be seen. Therefore, it is difficult to mount the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 at a predetermined position where the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 is engaged with the tip opening engaging hole 3051.
On the other hand, as in the sixteenth embodiment, if the shape has the insertion position regulating tip, even if the insertion position in the rotational direction varies within a slight range, the receiving member engagement protrusion 3301 can be guided to a predetermined insertion position. Due to the oblong hole extending in the circumferential direction, the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 at a shifted position can be easily visually confirmed.

  Further, the provision of the insertion position restricting portion also has the following advantages. When rotation drive is input and the container main body 33 rotates, one insertion position restricting portion of the engaging portion and the engaged portion is caught by a part of the other, and the nozzle receiving member 330 is integrated with the container main body 33. Can be rotated. Thereby, when the toner container 32 is rotated, it is possible to prevent the nozzle receiving member 330 from rotating with respect to the container main body 33 and shifting its position.

<Embodiment 17>
Next, as in the fifteenth embodiment, the nozzle receiving member 330 is positioned with respect to the container main body 33 using the elastic deformation of the sealing member that seals the gap between the container main body 33 and the nozzle receiving member 330. A second modification (hereinafter referred to as Embodiment 17) will be described.
52A and 52B are explanatory views of the toner container 32 according to the seventeenth embodiment. FIG. 52A is a perspective explanatory view of the nozzle receiving member 330, and FIG. 52B is a perspective explanatory view of the container main body 33. .

The toner container 32 of the seventeenth embodiment shown in FIG. 52 includes the following invention. That is, it has a pair of insertion positioning part which positions in the rotation direction at the time of inserting the nozzle receiving member 330 in the container main body 33 so that it may overlap with at least one of an engaging part and an engaged part.
In the seventeenth embodiment shown in FIG. 52, first, as an engaging portion of the receiving member fixing portion 337, there is a receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 that is a protrusion extending in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, as one insertion positioning part for restricting the insertion position of the engaging part to the engaged part, it overlaps at the center in the circumferential direction of the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 and extends in the direction of the rotation axis of the container body 33. There is a receiving member side positioning groove 3303 formed. Further, as an engaged portion of the container opening 33a, there is a tip opening engagement hole 3051 which is an oblong hole extending in the circumferential direction of the tip opening 305. Further, as the other insertion positioning portion for restricting the insertion position of the engaging portion to the engaged portion, it is formed so as to overlap at the center in the circumferential direction of the tip opening engaging hole 3051 and to extend in the rotation axis direction of the container body 33. And a leading end opening side positioning rib 3052.

When the receiving member fixing portion 337 is inserted into the container opening 33a when the nozzle receiving member 330 is attached to the container body 33, the periphery of the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 protruding on the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 is The container opening 33a is expanded. For this reason, if an insertion positioning part such as a rib or a groove is provided in the vicinity of the engaging part or the engaged part and not overlapping the engaging part or the engaged part, the container opening 33a is engaged. It must be expanded at both the joint portion and the insertion positioning portion, which increases the press-fitting load.
On the other hand, in the seventeenth embodiment, the pair of insertion positioning portions (3303, 3052) including ribs and grooves are viewed from the direction of the rotation axis of the container body 33, and the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 and the engaged member are engaging portions. It is formed at a position overlapping the tip opening engagement hole 3051 which is a joint. In this way, by forming the insertion positioning portion, the distal end opening side positioning rib 3052 and the receiving member side on the engaging portion (receiving member engaging protrusion 3301) closely contacting the inner peripheral surface of the container opening 33 a at the time of mounting. The positioning groove 3303 is fitted. As a result, the nozzle receiving member 330 rotates relative to the container main body 33 when the toner container 32 is rotated and the positioning of the toner container 32 is rotated while the position where the container opening 33a is expanded is minimized only by the engaging portion. This can be suppressed.

<Embodiment 18>
Next, as in the fifteenth embodiment, the nozzle receiving member 330 is positioned with respect to the container main body 33 using the elastic deformation of the sealing member that seals the gap between the container main body 33 and the nozzle receiving member 330. A third modification (hereinafter referred to as the eighteenth embodiment) will be described.
FIG. 53 is an explanatory diagram of the toner container 32 according to the eighteenth embodiment, FIG. 53 (a) is an enlarged perspective view of the container opening 33a, and FIG. 53 (b) is an enlarged view of the receiving member fixing portion 337. FIG. 53C is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the end portion on the front end side of the toner container 32.

  In the eighteenth embodiment, the receiving member outer periphery seal 3302 which is a sealing member is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 of the nozzle receiving member 330, but the sealing is performed on the inner peripheral surface of the container opening 33 a of the container main body 33. It is good also as a structure which provides a stop member.

  As in the fifteenth embodiment, the toner container 32 according to the eighteenth embodiment also has a configuration in which the nozzle receiving member 330 is provided with an engaging portion, and the container opening 33a is provided with an engaging hole that engages with the engaging portion. is there. In order to more reliably prevent the nozzle receiving member 330 from coming off, it is conceivable to enlarge the engaging portion and increase the catch on the engaging hole. However, if the engaging portion provided in the nozzle receiving member 330 is enlarged, the insertion load becomes too large, and the container opening 33a may be deformed or damaged. In contrast to this, in the eighteenth embodiment, in addition to the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 of the nozzle receiving member 330, an engaging protrusion 3053 is also provided on the container body 33 side. Furthermore, in addition to the tip opening engagement hole 3051 of the container opening 33a, a receiving member engagement hole 3304 which is an engagement hole is also provided on the nozzle receiving member 330 side. Thereby, even if each engagement amount is small, it becomes possible to increase the amount of catching as a whole.

<Embodiment 19>
Next, as in the fifteenth embodiment, the nozzle receiving member 330 is positioned with respect to the container main body 33 using the elastic deformation of the sealing member that seals the gap between the container main body 33 and the nozzle receiving member 330. A fourth modification (hereinafter referred to as the nineteenth embodiment) will be described.
54 is an explanatory diagram of the toner container 32 according to the nineteenth embodiment. FIG. 54 (a) is an enlarged perspective view of the container opening 33a. FIG. 54 (b) is an enlarged view of the receiving member fixing portion 337. It is a perspective view.

  The toner container 32 of the nineteenth embodiment shown in FIG. 54 includes the following invention. That is, in the toner container 32 of the eighteenth embodiment, the insertion is performed in the rotational direction when the nozzle receiving member 330 is inserted into the container body 33 so as to overlap at least one of the engaging portion and the engaged portion. It has a positioning part.

  When the receiving member fixing portion 337 is inserted into the container opening 33a when the nozzle receiving member 330 is attached to the container body 33, the periphery of the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 protruding on the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 is The container opening 33a is expanded. For this reason, if an insertion positioning part such as a rib or a groove is provided in the vicinity of the engaging part or the engaged part and not overlapping the engaging part or the engaged part, the container opening 33a is engaged. It must be expanded at both the joint portion and the insertion positioning portion, which increases the press-fitting load.

  On the other hand, in the nineteenth embodiment, the pair of insertion positioning portions (3052, 3303) made up of ribs and grooves are seen as seen from the rotation axis direction of the container main body 33, with the engagement protrusions 3053 and the engaged portions. It is formed at a position overlapping with a certain receiving member engaging hole 3304. Thus, by forming the insertion positioning portion, the leading end opening-side positioning rib 3052 and the receiving member on the engaging portion (receiving member engaging protrusion 3301) that is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the container opening 33 a during fitting. The side positioning groove 3303 is fitted. As a result, the nozzle receiving member 330 rotates relative to the container main body 33 when the toner container 32 is rotated and the positioning of the toner container 32 is rotated while the position where the container opening 33a is expanded is minimized only by the engaging portion. This can be suppressed.

  The toner container 32 of the fourteenth to nineteenth embodiments includes the following invention in common. That is, a container main body 33 that is a powder storage member that stores toner that is powder supplied to the toner replenishing device 60 that is a powder conveyance device is provided. The container main body 33 conveys the toner accommodated therein by rotating itself from the container rear end side to the container front end side provided with an opening in the rotation axis direction. Further, a nozzle insertion port 331 that is a tube reception port for inserting a conveyance nozzle 611 that is a conveyance tube fixed to the toner replenishing device 60 is formed, and is a tube insertion member that is attached in the opening of the container body 33. A nozzle receiving member 330 is provided. In such a toner container 32, the nozzle receiving member 330 is an engaging portion that engages with a tip opening engagement hole 3051 that is an engaged portion provided in a container opening 33a that forms an opening. A member engaging protrusion 3301 is provided. Further, with the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 engaged with the tip opening engaging hole 3051, the receiving member engaging protrusion 3301 is interposed between the nozzle receiving member 330 and the container main body 33, and a gap between the nozzle receiving member 330 and the container main body 33 is formed. A receiving member outer periphery seal 3302 which is a sealing member to be sealed is provided.

<Embodiment 20>
Next, a twentieth embodiment of the toner container 32 will be described. In the toner container 32 according to the twentieth embodiment, the nozzle receiving member 330 is press-fitted into the container main body 33.
Although FIG. 13 was used in the description of the previous embodiment, it can also be used for the description of the press-fitting location of the nozzle receiving member 330 to the container body 33 in the present twentieth embodiment. Either the region γ1 or γ2 in the figure is a press-fitting location. The region γ1 is the inner peripheral surface of the container main body 33 where the container gear 301 is provided, and the region γ2 is the inner peripheral surface of the container main body 33 where the cover claw hooking portion 306 is provided.

  The toner container 32 shown in FIG. 13 includes the following invention. That is, it is a powder container that contains toner as a developer made of powder and has a container shutter 332 and a nozzle receiving member 330. The container shutter 332 is a nozzle receiving opening / closing member that opens or closes a nozzle receiving opening 331 serving as a powder discharge port through which toner discharged from the container main body 33 passes, and the nozzle receiving member 330 moves the container shutter 332 down. An opening / closing member holding member to be held. Further, the toner container 32 has a cylindrical container opening 33a formed at the end of the container on the tip side, and the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a (corresponding to the rotating shaft of the container body 33) is the container. It fits so that it may slide with respect to the cylindrical internal peripheral surface 615a (bearing part) of the set part 615. FIG. Further, the nozzle receiving member 330 is press-fitted and fixed with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the container main body 33. The position of the press-fitted and fixed portion in the rotation axis direction is such that the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a is a container set. It is a container rear end side rather than the position which slides with the cylindrical internal peripheral surface of the part 615. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 13 and the like, the container front end side end of the nozzle receiving member 330 and the container front end side end of the container opening 33a coincide with each other in the rotational axis direction. For this reason, the structure which press-fits the nozzle receiving member 330 with respect to the internal peripheral surface near the container front end side edge part of the container opening part 33a can be considered. However, the vicinity of the container front end side end of the container opening 33a is fitted to the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 615a of the container set 615. For this reason, when the nozzle receiving member 330 is press-fitted, the press-fitting portion of the container opening 33a swells, and when the outer diameter of the container opening 33a increases, the container set 615 cannot be fitted, and the toner container 32 is placed in the toner. There is a possibility that the replenishment device 60 cannot be mounted. Further, even if it can be attached, there is a risk that the rotational torque of the toner container 32 will increase.

  In order to prevent such a problem, it is conceivable to set the outer diameter of the container opening 33a when the toner container 32 is created by estimating the amount of swelling of the container opening 33a due to press-fitting in advance. However, if the outer diameter of the container opening 33a is set in view of the amount of swelling due to press-fitting, the following problem may occur. That is, it is necessary to set the outer diameter dimension tolerance large. When the bulge amount is small within the tolerance range, the difference between the outer diameter of the container opening 33a and the inner diameter of the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 615a of the container setting section 615 may increase, and positioning may be insufficient. is there.

  As a configuration for preventing such a problem, the toner container 32 of the twentieth embodiment has an outer diameter in the vicinity of the container tip side end portion of the receiving member fixing portion 337 of the nozzle receiving member 330, which is the inner peripheral surface of the container opening portion 33a. However, it is a little smaller than the press fit. And as a press-fitting location, it is set to the position (position which does not influence mounting | wearing) irrelevant to mounting | wearing with the container setting part 615 and container main body 33 which become a container rear end side rather than a container front end side end. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the receiving member fixing portion 337 at this position is set to a size that allows sufficient press-fitting to the inner diameter of the container. Examples of the irrelevant position include a location corresponding to the thickness portion of the container gear 301 (region γ1 in FIG. 13) or a location where the inner diameter of the container opening 33a is further reduced and the thickness of the container opening 33a is increased ( This is a region γ2) in FIG. A portion where the inner diameter changes and a step (region γ2 in FIG. 13) also has a cover claw hooking portion 306 formed of a ring-shaped rib on the outer peripheral side.

About a part to be fitted to the container set part 615 by forming a part having a large outer diameter as a press-fitting part on the container rear end side than the container front end side end part of the receiving member fixing part 337 of the nozzle receiving member 330 The swelling of the container opening 33a can be prevented. As a result, it is possible to prevent the toner container 32 from being attached to the toner replenishing device 60 and the rotational torque of the toner container 32 from increasing.
Moreover, since the container opening part 33a is the shape as it is the injection-molded preform, it can shape | mold accurately. Since such a position can be used as a positioning part or sliding part without swelling due to the press-fitting of the nozzle receiving member 330, it is possible to maintain good precision of injection molding and realize accurate positioning and good sliding. it can.

  The toner container 32 formed by press-fitting in the region γ1 includes the following invention. That is, the press-fitting location in the receiving member fixing portion 337 of the resin nozzle receiving member 330 is a location corresponding to the inner peripheral surface of the container main body 33 where the container gear 301 is provided. The portion provided with the container gear 301 has a gear structure on the entire circumference in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, and therefore has a higher strength than the other portions of the container body 33 and is not easily deformed by press-fitting. Further, since the receiving member fixing portion 337 is strongly tightened, the nozzle receiving member 330 does not easily come off over time, which is suitable as a press-fitting position.

  The toner container 32 formed by press-fitting in the region γ2 includes the following invention. That is, the press-fitting location in the receiving member fixing portion 337 of the nozzle receiving member 330 is a location where the inner diameter of the container opening 33a is further reduced and the wall thickness is increased. The portion where the inner diameter of the container opening 33a is one step smaller is thicker than the other part of the container body 33 because the entire circumference in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis is thick, and deformation due to press-fitting is unlikely to occur. . Further, since the receiving member fixing portion 337 is strongly tightened, the nozzle receiving member 330 does not easily come off over time, which is appropriate as a press-fitting position.

  The toner container 32 formed by press-fitting in the region γ2 includes the following invention. That is, the press-fitting location in the receiving member fixing portion 337 of the nozzle receiving member 330 is a location corresponding to the inner peripheral surface of the container main body 33 where the cover claw hooking portion 306 is provided. The portion provided with the cover claw hooking portion 306 has a rib structure around the entire circumference in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, and therefore has a higher strength than other portions of the container main body 33 and is hardly deformed by press-fitting. Further, since the receiving member fixing portion 337 is strongly tightened, the nozzle receiving member 330 does not easily come off over time, which is appropriate as a press-fitting position.

Next, a holding mechanism for an ID tag (ID chip) 700 provided in the toner container 32 having a configuration common to the first to twentieth embodiments will be described.
FIG. 55 is a perspective explanatory view of the connector 800 fixed to the toner replenishing device 60 and the container tip side end of the toner container 32. As shown in FIG. 55, the toner container 32 is formed in the container body 33 in such a manner that a container opening 33a provided with a container body 33 and a nozzle receiving port 331 formed as a toner discharge port formed in the container body 33 is exposed. An attached container front end cover 34 is provided. Further, the toner container 32 includes an ID tag 700 serving as an information storage device attached to the tip of the container tip side cover 34, and an ID tag holding mechanism 345 that holds the ID tag 700.

The communication method of the ID tag 700 of this embodiment is a contact type. Accordingly, the connector 800 is disposed at a position facing the container front end side end surface of the container front end side cover 34 on the main body side of the toner supply device 60.
FIG. 56 is a perspective explanatory view of the container tip side end portion of the toner container 32 and the connector 800 in a state where the ID tag holding mechanism 345 is disassembled. As shown in FIG. 56, an ID tag hole 701 for positioning is formed in the ID tag 700, and when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the ID tag hole 701 has a connector 800. The positioning pin 801 is inserted.

  The ID tag holding mechanism 345 includes a holding portion 343 having a pedestal 358 for holding the ID tag 700, and holds the ID tag 700 movably in the XZ direction in the figure and is detachably fitted to the holding portion 343. And a holding member 344 as a cover member to be joined. The ID tag 700 and its holding mechanism 345 are disposed in a space obliquely on the right side of the container leading end side cover 34 when the toner container 32 is viewed from the container leading end side along the rotation axis. In this case, when a toner container 32 of another color is provided, a holding mechanism 345 is arranged on the container front end side cover 34 using a space on the right side which becomes a dead space. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a compact toner replenishing device capable of arranging cylindrical toner containers 32 close to each other. Note that a container gear 301 and a container drive gear 601 on the main body side are arranged in a space on the left side of the container front end side cover 34. The ID tag 700, the holding mechanism 345, the main body side terminal 804, and the main body side container drive gear 601 are arranged so as not to interfere with each other so that adjacent toner supply systems do not interfere with each other.

  FIG. 57 is a perspective explanatory view of the container tip side end portion of the toner container 32 and the connector 800 in a state where the ID tag 700 is temporarily fixed to the holding member 344. As shown in FIG. 57, the holding portion 343 is formed on the ID tag attachment surface 357 at the container distal end side end of the container distal end side cover 34, and supports four prisms that support the substrate surface without the wiring on the back surface of the ID tag 700. A pedestal 358 is provided. The holding member 344 includes a frame 352 and a holding member protrusion 353. The frame 352 is a frame formed so as to prevent the ID tag 700 from being detached by surrounding the pedestal 358 from the outside when fitted to the holding portion 343. The holding member protruding portion 353 is a portion that protrudes from the inner wall surface of the frame 352 so as to cover a region without a terminal on the surface of the ID tag 700. With respect to the frame 352 provided in the holding member 344, when the ID tag 700 is set on the inner side of the frame, the ID tag 700 is set to X− It is held so as to be movable to some extent in the Z direction.

Here, the holding mechanism 345 will be described in more detail.
The frame 352 provided in the holding member 344 is formed longer than the length of the pedestal 358 in the Y-axis direction in the drawing (the height from the ID tag mounting surface 357). Therefore, when the ID tag 700 is installed on the pedestal 358, the ID tag 700 is not fixed to the container front end side cover 34. Further, it is installed with a gap from the frame 352 existing so as to surround the outer side of the ID tag 700 in the XZ direction. Further, the ID tag 700 has a slight gap with respect to the holding member protruding portion 353 of the holding member 344, so that the ID tag 700 is not fixed to the container front end side cover 34 but does not come off. If the toner container 32 is shaken lightly, the ID tag 700 is held within the holding member 344 so that it rattles and moves.

  When the ID tag 700 is assembled, as shown in FIG. 57, the ID tag 700 is hooked on the inner wall rib 351 (see FIG. 56) of the holding member 344 and temporarily fixed to the base 358 of the holding portion 343. Assembled. At this time, the outside of the pedestal 358 composed of four prisms serves as a guide for the holding member 344, and the ID tag 700 after being assembled to the pedestal is placed on the end surface of the four pedestals 358 on the container front end side away from the inner wall rib 351. Become so.

Next, the attachment of the holding member 344 will be described in detail.
In the toner container 32 of the present embodiment, the holding member 344 is not fixed to the container front end side cover 34 by being fastened by a process such as heat caulking or a fastening member, but is fixed by a fitting method using a claw member.
As shown in FIG. 56, the holding member 344 includes a holding member upper claw 355, a holding member lower claw 354, and a holding member right side claw 356 on the holding member upper portion 350, the holding member lower portion 348, and the holding member right side surface portion 349, respectively. ing.
Around the ID tag mounting surface 357 on the container front side cover 34 side, there are three positions facing the respective claw portions of the holding member upper claw 355, the holding member lower claw 354, and the holding member right side claw 356. The hook part of the location is formed. Specifically, a hooking portion 359a on the mounting surface is formed at a position facing the holding member upper claws 355 around the ID tag mounting surface 357. Further, a mounting surface lower hook portion 359b is formed at a position facing the holding member lower claw 354 around the ID tag mounting surface 357, and a mounting surface side hook is formed at a position facing the holding member right side claw 356. A groove portion 360 is formed.

When the holding member 344 is set on the container front end side cover 34, the three claw portions (355, 354 and 356) on the holding member 344 side are set to the three hook portions (359a, 359b and 360). As for the three hooking portions, the mounting surface upper hooking portion 359a and the mounting surface lower hooking portion 359b have a hole shape, and one mounting surface lateral hooking portion 360 has a nail shape. ing.
For the hole-shaped attachment surface upper hook portion 359a and the attachment surface lower hook portion 359b, the inclination of the two claw tip ends of the holding member upper claw 355 and the holding member lower claw 354 and the elasticity of the claw portion are used. Set. Further, the hook-shaped attachment surface lateral hooking portion 360 is set using the inclination of the tip of the holding member right side surface pawl 356 and the attachment surface lateral hooking portion inclined surface 360a of the attachment surface lateral hooking portion 360. To do.

In such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 57, the ID tag 700 is temporarily set inside the frame 352 of the holding member 344, and the holding member 344 is moved along the base 358 on the container front end side cover 34 side. As a result, the claw portions (355, 354, and 356) formed on the holding member 344 side engage with the hook portions (359a, 359b, and 360) formed on the container front end side cover 34 side, and the two are fitted. Thus, the holding member 344 can be fixed to the container front end side cover 34.
In the example described with reference to FIGS. 55 to 57, the upper and lower portions and the right one portion of the holding member 344 are connected to the claw portions (355, 354 and 356) and the catch portions (359a, 359b and 360). It was set as the fitting part. The fitting portion of the holding member 344 is not limited to the combination of the upper and lower sides and the right side, but may be only the upper and lower sides, only the left and right sides, or the upper and lower sides and the right side of the holding member 344. Not what you want.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the fitting method using the claw member has been described. However, depending on the case, the holding member 344 may be fixed to the container front end side cover 34 by fastening with a process such as heat caulking or the like or a fastening member. You can also Furthermore, there is a case where there is a demand for attaching the ID tag holding member 344 more firmly, or a case where there is a jig that can be rewritten (rewritten) without being removed from the container front end side cover 34 when the ID tag is recycled. Can do.

Next, an ID tag 700 as an information storage device provided in the toner container 32 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the following description, “substantially rectangular metal plate” is defined to include a substantially rectangular plate in addition to a rectangular plate. Accordingly, a shape obtained by chamfering all or a part of the corners of the rectangular metal plate, an R shape, and the like are included in the “substantially rectangular metal plate”.

FIG. 58 is a three-side view of the ID tag 700. 58 (a) is a front view of the ID tag 700 viewed from the connector 800 side, and FIG. 58 (b) is an ID tag 700 viewed from a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction (upwardly diagonally to the right in FIG. 55). FIG. FIG. 58C is a rear view of the ID tag 700 as viewed from the container front end side cover 34 side.
FIG. 59 is a perspective view showing the ID tag 700, the holding member 344, and the connector 800, and is a perspective view showing the relative positional relationship of the three members (700, 344, and 800). In FIG. 59, the holding member upper claws 355 and the holding member lower claws 354 shown in FIGS. 56 and 57 are not shown.
FIG. 60 is a perspective view showing a state in which the ID tag 700 is engaged with the connector 800. FIG. 61 is a circuit diagram showing an electric circuit of the ID tag 700 and an electric circuit of the connector 800.

62A is a front view showing a state in which the ID tag 700 is held by the connector 800. FIG. 62B shows a state in which the ID tag 700 is rotated around the positioning ID tag hole 701. FIG. It is a front view which shows the state which exists. FIG. 63 is a diagram showing the ID tag 700 in a state in which the probe 901 of the current-carrying inspection apparatus 900 is abutted in the inspection process at the time of factory manufacture.
In the ID tag 700 of this embodiment, only one ID tag hole 701 is formed in the substrate 702, and the ID tag hole 701 is a plurality of metal pads 710 (710a, 710b, 710c) made of a rectangular metal plate. ).

  As shown in FIG. 55, the toner container 32 of the present embodiment is arranged such that the long side of the rectangular ID tag 700 is not parallel to the vertical direction and the long side is slanted. Yes. For this reason, the vertical direction in the state where the toner container 32 is disposed does not coincide with the longitudinal direction of the ID tag 700. However, in the following description, for convenience, the direction parallel to the long side of the ID tag 700 (Z′-axis direction in FIG. 58) is referred to as the chip vertical direction, and the direction parallel to the short side of the ID tag 700 (FIG. 58). The X′-axis direction in the middle) is referred to as the chip left-right direction. The same applies to the connector 800 disposed obliquely with respect to the toner supply device 60.

As shown in FIG. 58, an ID tag 700 as an information storage device in this embodiment has an ID tag hole 701 formed at a position vertically above the center of gravity of the substrate 702 in the vertical direction of the chip. In addition, an earth terminal 703 for grounding (earth) made of a metal terminal is provided on the inner diameter portion and the periphery of the ID tag hole portion 701. As shown in FIG. 58, the ground terminal 703 formed on the surface of the substrate 702 of the present embodiment has two ground terminal protrusions 705 extending in the left-right direction of the chip with respect to the annular portion. Is formed.
In addition, one rectangular metal pad 710 (first metal pad 710a) is installed at a position above the ID tag hole 701 in the chip vertical direction. Further, two metal pads 710 (a second metal pad 710b and a third metal pad 710c) are provided at a position below the chip in the vertical direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 58 (c), a protective member 720 is provided on the back surface of the substrate 702 to cover and protect the information storage unit (not shown) made of a resin material such as hemispherical epoxy. . The ID tag 700 has an ID tag hole on the upper side in the chip vertical direction of the protective member 720, which is an element having an information storage unit such as an IC (integrated circuit) inside and is disposed on the back surface and has the largest weight. The part 701 is arranged. Thereby, as described above, the positional relationship that the ID tag hole 701 is vertically above the center of gravity of the ID tag 700 in the vertical direction of the chip is realized. The arrangement of the ID tag hole portion 701 depends on the shape of the substrate 702 and the configuration / arrangement of the back surface of the protective member 720 and the like.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 62A, in the ID tag 700 of the present embodiment, the center position of the ID tag hole 701 is above the center of the ID tag 700 by a distance Za in the vertical direction of the chip. It is formed as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 59, the connector 800 has a connector main body 805 which is a resin-made hollow box, and the connector main body 805 has a positioning pin 801 (positioning pin 801 having a hollow cylinder and a tapered shape at the tip. Projections) are provided so as to stand in the horizontal direction. The positioning pin 801 is provided with a grounding main body side terminal 802. The grounding main body side terminal 802 is a plate-shaped (or linear) metal member, and a part thereof is housed in a hollow portion of a positioning pin 801 formed integrally with the connector main body 805. The curved portion is exposed from a slit-like opening formed in a part of the peripheral surface of the hollow cylinder and protrudes from the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the positioning pin 801. One main body side terminal 804 is installed vertically above the positioning pin 801 (grounding main body side terminal 802) in the vertical direction of the chip, and the vertical downward position in the vertical direction of the chip relative to the positioning pin 801. Two main body side terminals 804 are installed. These main body side terminals 804 are plate-shaped (or linear) metal members.

  In addition, a pair of ribs are formed below the connector main body 805 and on both sides in the left-right direction of the chip across the positioning pin 801 so that the tapered surfaces on the inner sides of the tips are axisymmetric. Further, a shake preventing member 803 is provided as a pair of restricting members on both side end faces of the ID tag 700 and opposed to a lower portion in the chip vertical direction than the center of the ID tag hole 701.

The holding member 344 is fixed to the container tip side cover 34 of the toner container 32, and is positioned between the connector 800 and the ID tag 700 when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner supply device 60. Then, the ID tag 700 is held movably (with some backlash).
As shown in FIG. 59, the holding member 344 includes a holding member protrusion 353 on each of the holding member lower part 348, the holding member left side part 342, and the holding member right side part 349. The three holding member protrusions 353 provided on the holding member lower portion 348, the holding member left side surface portion 342, and the holding member right side surface portion 349 respectively prevent the ID tag 700 from dropping to the connector 800 side from the holding member 344. ing.
A holding member opening 347 is formed at the end of the holding member 344 on the connector 800 side (wall surface including the holding member protrusion 353). The holding member opening 347 has a large end portion on the connector 800 side of the holding member 344 including a region facing the four terminals on the connector 800 side (three main body side terminals 804 and one grounding main body side terminal 802). It is the shape which makes a part an opening. Further, the holding member opening 347 of the holding member 344 has a shape opened to a portion corresponding to the shake preventing member 803 provided in the connector 800. When the toner container 32 is mounted, after the positioning pin 801 passes through the opening position of the holding member opening 347, the shake prevention member 803 also passes through the opening position of the holding member opening 347 to hold the holding member 344. It will enter the inside of.

Four pedestals 358 facing the back side of the ID tag 700 (the side of the protective member 720) are a part of the container front end side cover 34 and are members extending from the holding portion 343 to the connector 800 side. . The four pedestals 358 are configured to press in the vicinity of the four corners of the rectangular substrate 702, and the protection member 720 fixed to the ID tag 700 and the shake prevention member 803 that enters when the connector 800 is connected. The shape can avoid interference.
On the other hand, when the positioning pin 801 is inserted into the ID tag hole 701 of the ID tag 700, the ID tag 700 is pushed to the container rear end side by the grounding main body side terminal 802 or the main body side terminal 804 of the positioning pin 801. It will be. At this time, since the four pedestals 358 are supported from the back surface of the substrate 702, the contact state between the terminals can be maintained.

  FIG. 60 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the positioning of the connector 800 on the toner supply device 60 side and the ID tag 700 is completed in a state where the toner container 32 is mounted on the toner supply device 60 (copier 500 main body). is there. The state shown in FIG. 60 is a state where terminals on the main body side (main body side terminal 804 and grounding main body side terminal 802) and terminals on the ID tag 700 side (metal pad 710 and ground terminal 703) are connected. 60, illustration of the holding member 344 between the connector 800 and the ID tag 700 and the three metal pads 710 is omitted for easy understanding.

In the toner container 32 of the present embodiment, the container opening 33 a protrudes from the container front end side cover 34. Then, when the unmounted toner container 32 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow Q in the drawing to be mounted on the toner replenishing device 60, first, the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a and the container setting portion 615 are fitted. The Then, the position of the toner container 32 in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction with respect to the toner supply device 60 is determined. Thereafter, the toner container 32 is further moved in the direction of the arrow Q in the figure, whereby the connection between the ID tag 700 and the connector 800 is started.
After the toner container 32 is positioned in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction and the position of the container front end side cover 34 in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction is determined, the ID tag 700 is positioned in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction. Is made. Specifically, after the position of the container tip side cover 34 in the direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction is determined, the ID tag hole portion 701 of the ID tag 700 is positioned so as to be picked up by the taper at the tip of the positioning pin 801 of the connector 800. The pin 801 is fitted. By this fitting, the positions of the ID tag 700 in the chip vertical direction and chip horizontal direction are determined simultaneously. That is, the ID tag 700 is positioned in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 62 (a), the connector 800 swings to the lower edge on the left and right sides of the substrate 702 in the left-right direction of the chip and below the center of the ID tag hole 701 in the vertical direction of the chip. The prevention member 803 enters. At this time, even if the posture of the ID tag 700 is shifted as shown in FIG. 62B, when the tapered surface at the tip of the rib-like vibration preventing member 803 comes into contact with one of the edge portions, the ID tag hole portion 701 Also, the lower part rotates so as to face the opposite side of the contacted tapered surface. Then, the rotation stops at the position where the two tapered surfaces are evenly contacted, and the deviation of the posture in the rotation direction (the rotation in the direction of the double arrow shown in FIG. 62B) is corrected (in FIG. 62A). State). Thereby, positioning of the ID tag 700 is completed.

  At this time, a part of the ground terminal 703 of the ID tag 700 (corresponding to the inner diameter portion of the ID tag hole 701) comes into contact with the grounding main body side terminal 802 of the positioning pin 801 shown in FIG. The ID tag 700 is grounded (conducted). Further, after the grounding, as shown in FIG. 61A, the three metal pads 710 (710a, 710b, 710c) of the ID tag 700 also contact the three body side terminals 804 of the connector 800, respectively. To do. Information can be transmitted between the ID tag 700 and the control unit (control unit 90 of the copier 500) on the toner replenishing device 60 side including the connector 800.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a high-precision positioning mechanism is realized with an inexpensive configuration by adding various ideas (1) to (5) below.

  (1) One ID tag hole 701 is provided. Thereby, the processing cost of the substrate 702 can be suppressed.

  (2) The grounding main body side terminal 802 is integrally installed on the side peripheral surface of the positioning pin 801. Thus, the distance between the positioning pin 801 and the grounding main body side terminal 802 can be substantially zero, and the positional accuracy of the ground terminal 703 relative to the grounding main body side terminal 802 can be increased.

  (3) In the mounting completion state shown in FIG. 60, the ID center of the ID tag hole 701 is made to coincide with the hole center on the straight line connecting the vertices of the curved portions (contact portions) of the three main body side terminals 804 on the connector 800 side. The arrangement relationship between the tag hole portion 701 and the curved portion of the main body side terminal 804 is adjusted. As a result, the distance in the left-right direction of the chip from the ID tag hole portion 701 serving as the positioning portion to the contact portion between the terminals (the body-side terminal 804 and the metal pad 710) can be reduced to near 0 [mm]. . As a result, the positional accuracy when the three metal pads 710 (710a, 710b, 710c) and the three main body side terminals 804 come into contact with each other is improved.

  (4) The position of the ID tag hole 701 is arranged in any one of the plurality of gaps generated when the plurality of metal pads 710 (710a, 710b, 710c) are arranged. As a result, the distance (corresponding to the arm length of the pendulum) to the third metal pad 710c located farthest from the center of the ID tag hole 701 can be shortened. This is a case compared to a case where a positioning hole (or notch) is arranged above or below in the chip vertical direction, which is the outside of the arrangement of the plurality of metal pads 710 (710a, 710b, 710c). . Specifically, when positioning holes (or notches) are arranged outside the arrangement of the three metal pads 710 (710a, 710b, 710c), the longest arm length is the center of the hole (or notch The distance from the center) is three times the metal pad 710. On the other hand, in the ID tag 700 of this embodiment, the longest arm length can be set to a distance corresponding to two of the metal pads 710. Even if the parallelism with respect to the body side terminal 804 of the third metal pad 710c at the farthest position is shifted due to a variation in mass production, etc., the shift is minimized as the arm length of the swing is shortened. Can do.

  (5) When the toner container 32 is stored as a single item, a foreign substance enters the holding member 344 and is sandwiched between the ID tag 700 and the holding member protruding portion 353 and the pedestal 358, and the position remains shifted. There is a risk that. In order to deal with such a problem, in the present embodiment, the positional relationship is devised so that the ID tag hole portion 701 of the ID tag 700 is above the center of gravity in the vertical direction of the chip. As a result, the ID tag 700 can be rotated when the shake preventing member 803 made up of a pair of ribs enters below the ID tag hole 701 as the center of rotation in the chip vertical direction. Specifically, the ID tag 700 can be rotated so as to be in a position where the vibration preventing member 803 (rib) is in contact with the two tapered surfaces evenly. As a result, the posture can be corrected by restricting the positional deviation. As a result, even if there is only one ID tag hole 701, the positional accuracy of the plurality of metal pads 710 (710a, 710b, 710c) with respect to the plurality of main body side terminals 804 can be improved at the same time.

  As described above, as described in (1) to (5), each of the five devices exerts each function and effect. Even if an inexpensive configuration of minimizing the area of the metal pad 710 is adopted, a plurality of terminals (703, 710) on the ID tag 700 side including the ground terminal 703 and a plurality of main body side terminals (802, 804). The positioning accuracy can be made extremely high.

Further, the devices and effects of the present embodiment will be described separately from those described above.
First, each of the three metal pads 710 (710a, 710b, 710c) will be described in detail. A clock signal for communication control is input to the first metal pad 710a at the highest level. For serial communication, a low-cost but low-cost serial communication system is adopted, and I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) is adopted as a serial bus. A signal line for inputting a serial clock (SCL) is formed in a state of being connected to the connector 800 on the toner supply device 60 side. The first metal pad 710a corresponds to a terminal on the clock signal input direction side, but the clock signal has a one-way signal flow, so the ID tag 700 is caused by a short circuit with Vcc (power supply, third metal pad 710c) described later. It is predicted that the possibility of destruction is higher than other terminals. Therefore, in order to avoid destruction of the ID tag 700, the ID tag 700 is arranged at a location away from Vcc. This is because the possibility of breakage is low even if it is short-circuited to GND (earth terminal 703).

  The second metal pad 710b also adopts a serial communication method, adopts I2C as a serial bus, and forms a signal line through which serial data (SDA) is input / output in a state connected to the connector 800 on the toner replenishing device 60 side. Since the second metal pad 710b is bidirectional for input and output, the possibility of destruction of the ID tag 700 due to a short circuit is smaller than that of the first metal pad 710a for unidirectional input.

  The third metal pad 710c is a power input unit (Vcc), and is input with a voltage of 5 [V] or 3.3 [V] while being connected to the connector 800 on the toner replenishing device 60 side. Serial data input terminal (second metal pad) between GND (ground terminal 703) and serial clock input terminal (first metal pad 710a) in order to reduce the risk of failure for the entire device such as a short circuit between the power supply and GND. 710b). As shown in FIG. 58, the third metal pad 710c, which is Vcc, overlaps with the protective member 720 on the back side of the ID tag via the substrate 702, and is close to an IC drive circuit (not shown) in the protective member 720. As a result, the power supply line can also be shortened and thickened, and power supply operation can be stabilized (= noise malfunctions can be reduced).

Next, I will describe some ideas regarding grounding. In the mounting operation of the toner container 32, the ground terminal 703 of the ID tag 700 comes into contact with the grounding main body side terminal 802 of the positioning pin 801 (connector 800). After the contact, the three metal pads 710 (710a, 710b, 710c) of the ID tag 700 are configured to start contact with the three main body side terminals 804 of the connector 800. In other words, in the separation operation of the toner container 32, the contact of the three metal pads 710 (710a, 710b, 710c) in the ID tag 700 with the three main body side terminals 804 in the connector 800 is released. After the contact is released, the ground terminal 703 of the ID tag 700 is configured to be released from (separated from) the grounding main body side terminal 802 of the positioning pin 801 (connector 800).
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 61A, in the connector 800, the contact start position of the grounding main body side terminal 802 is closer to the ID tag 700 side than the three main body side terminals 804. Is formed.

With such a configuration, in the mounting operation of the toner container 32, the connection between the metal pad 710 and the body side terminal 804 is started while the ID tag 700 is always grounded. In the removal operation of the toner container 32, the separation (contact release) between the metal pad 710 and the main body side terminal 804 is started while the ID tag 700 is always grounded. Therefore, the electric circuit on the ID tag 700 side is prevented from being electrically floated without being grounded, and the ID tag 700 is less likely to be electrically damaged.
Specifically, when the electric circuit on the ID tag 700 side is in an electrically floating state without being grounded, the electric circuit is grounded with a very large impedance. At this time, if even a small amount of static electricity generated when the three metal pads 710 and the three body-side terminals 804 are in contact with or separated from each other flows into the electric circuit, a high voltage equivalent to that obtained by multiplying the current by impedance is generated. . The high voltage causes dielectric breakdown inside the IC in the ID tag 700, and the IC is broken.

As shown in FIG. 61 (b), in the connector 800, the contact start positions of the three body side terminals 804 and the grounding body side terminal 802 with respect to the ID tag 700 are formed at the same position as shown in FIG. This is likely to occur.
On the other hand, in this embodiment, it arrange | positions as follows. That is, the curved portion of the grounding main body side terminal 802 exposed from the slit-shaped opening of the positioning pin 801 is more than the curved portion that is the most protruding portion of the main body side terminal 804 toward the ID tag 700 side. It is arranged to be closer. As a result, the grounding of the circuit at the time of contact is performed first, and the grounding of the circuit at the time of separation is the last, so the impedance is always theoretically zero, and even if static electricity flows into the electrical circuit, the breakdown inside the IC is prevented. Can be prevented.

Further, in the ID tag 700 of the present embodiment, as described above with reference to FIG. 58, two ground terminal protrusions 705 are provided on a part of the outer periphery of the ground terminal 703.
By providing the ground terminal protruding portion 705 on the front surface of the substrate 702 of the ID tag 700 in this way, energization is performed in an inspection process (a process for inspecting whether the ID tag 700 is good or defective) at the time of manufacture at the factory. The contact operation of the inspection probe can be facilitated. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 63, the tips of a plurality of probes 901 included in the current-carrying inspection apparatus 900 are attached to the metal pad 710 and the ground terminal 703 of the ID tag 700 placed on the inspection table from above. Press each one. At this time, the ground terminal projecting portion 705 of the ground terminal 703 has a sufficient area for the tip of the probe 901 to come into contact with it, so that it is possible to prevent an energization inspection failure due to poor contact of the probe 901. In addition, the power supply inspection is performed by bringing the tip of the probe 901 into contact with the ground terminal 703 (ground terminal protruding portion 705) from above. For this reason, compared with the case where the probe 901 is inserted into the ID tag hole portion 701 and the energization inspection is performed, the resistance of the probe 901 itself that is repeatedly used for each inspection can be improved. Further, it is possible to prevent a problem that the ID tag hole 701 of the ID tag 700 is worn by the energization inspection.

  In the surplus space extending in a wedge shape between the annular ring of the ground terminal 703 and the rectangular metal pad 710, the following arrangement is made. That is, the ground terminal protruding portion 705 is arranged so that the boundary (boundary line) in the left-right direction of the chip is in contact with the outer periphery of the ring and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the metal pad 710 (710a, 710b, 710c). Yes. As a result, the ground terminal projecting portion 705 does not project in the vertical direction of the chip, and the ground terminal projecting portion 705 projects into the left and right sliding regions of the holding member projecting portion 353 and the substrate 702 that slides. Can be suppressed). As a result, without increasing the size of the substrate 702, it is possible to increase the number of substrates 702 from the substrate material whose standard dimensions are determined in manufacturing as much as possible, and increase the cost of the ID tag 700. Can be suppressed.

Further, the three main body side terminals 804 in the connector 800 are plate-shaped (or linear) metal members, and are fixedly supported by the connector main body 805 with one end side as a fixed end and the container front end side as a free end. . Further, the three main body side terminals 804 are formed with a curved portion curved toward the ID tag 700 (toner container 32) side on the container front end side. That is, the main body terminal 804 is bent toward the ID tag 700 like a knee (or boomerang). The curved portion of the body-side terminal 804 is a portion that becomes a contact point with the metal pad 710.
As the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the curved portion of the main body side terminal 804 comes into contact with the substantially central portion of the metal pad 710 in the longitudinal direction (chip left-right direction). Then, when the mounting operation of the toner container 32 further proceeds, the ID tag 700 further approaches the connector 800 side, and the main body side terminal 804 is pressed against the metal pad 710 to be elastically deformed (the bent knee is extended). However, the curved portion of the main body side terminal 804 is displaced so as to approach the free end side. That is, as the toner container 32 is mounted, the curved portion of the main body side terminal 804 slides from the central portion in the longitudinal direction (chip left-right direction) toward the free end while gradually increasing the contact pressure with respect to the metal pad 710. It will be.

  With such a configuration, contact failure between the main body side terminal 804 and the metal pad 710 can be reliably suppressed. Specifically, the position of the container tip side cover 34 (metal pad 710) in the longitudinal direction (chip left-right direction) is displaced with respect to the connector 800 (main body side terminal 804) due to the level of dimensional accuracy and assembly accuracy of related parts (dimensional variation). May end up. However, with the above-described configuration, even if the longitudinal position of the container front end cover 34 with respect to the connector 800 is displaced, contact failure between the main body side terminal 804 and the metal pad 710 can be reliably suppressed.

  As described above, in the toner container 32 of this embodiment, the contact type ID tag 700 (information storage device) is held by the holding mechanism 345 such as the holding member 344. Specifically, the ID tag 700 can move on a virtual plane that is substantially orthogonal to the moving direction (arrow Q direction) when the metal pad 710 that is the container side terminal approaches and contacts the main body side terminal 804. Are held by a holding mechanism 345 such as a holding member 344. Accordingly, even in the following cases, poor contact due to poor positioning between the metal pad 710 of the ID tag 700 and the main body side terminal 804 of the connector 800 included in the toner supply device 60 is less likely to occur. That is, even if the contact type ID tag 700 is installed in the toner container 32 that is detachably installed in the toner replenishing device 60 (the copying machine 500 main body), the contact failure is less likely to occur.

  Further, in the present embodiment, even when the contact-type ID tag 700 is installed in the toner container 32 that is detachably installed in the toner supply device 60, the ID tag 700 is electrically damaged. It becomes difficult to occur. In this case, a ground terminal 703 is formed in one ID tag hole 701 formed on the substrate 702 of the ID tag 700 and engages with the grounding main body side terminal 802 formed on the positioning pin 801 of the connector 800. Because.

When the fluidity of the toner is high, toner scattering is easily caused when the toner replenishing container is attached and detached, which is a problem of the present embodiment.
Accelerated aggregation degree [%] and loose apparent density [g / cm ³ ] are known as indicators of toner fluidity. The toner accommodated in the toner container 32 of the present embodiment has a volume average particle size of about 5.5 [μm], an accelerated aggregation degree of about 13 [%], and a loose apparent density of about 0.36 [g / cm ³ ]. In addition, about 3.3 [parts by weight] of silica and about 0.6 [parts by weight] of titanium are used. This toner is a toner that can be fixed with a heat quantity of about 120 [° C.] and is excellent in so-called low-temperature fixability.
Other toners having a volume average particle diameter of about 4.5 [μm], an accelerated aggregation degree of about 18 [%], and a loose apparent density of about 0.38 [g / cm ³ ] have a silica of 2.3. It is also possible to use a toner added with about [parts by weight] and about 0.7 [parts by weight] of titanium. Of course, it is possible to use toners other than those exemplified.

The toner can be produced using a known polymerization method or pulverization method.
A Coulter counter method can be applied as a method for measuring the particle size distribution of the toner particles. Examples of the measuring apparatus by this method include Coulter Counter TA-II and Coulter Multisizer II (both manufactured by Coulter).
The accelerated aggregation degree of the toner was measured using a powder tester (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation) in an environment with an air temperature of 24 [° C.] and a humidity of 72 [%]. Other conditions are as shown in Table 1.

After the measurement, the degree of toner aggregation is determined by the following formula.
Weight% of powder remaining on upper stage sieve x 1 (a)
Weight% of powder remaining on the middle stage sieve × 0.6 (b)
% By weight of powder remaining on the lower screen × 0.2 (c)
Aggregation degree (%) = (a) + (b) + (c).
The measurement results are shown in Table 2. (unit:[%])

From the results shown in Table 2, toners of toner types D and E were evaluated as having low fluidity.
The loose apparent density is a value calculated by filling the container loosely with toner, cleaving, and dividing the content weight by the container volume.
Although toner scattering is likely to occur when the toner fluidity is high, the toner container and toner supply device to which the present invention is applied are configured to supply toner to the toner supply device inside the toner container. For this reason, it is of course an effective configuration for toners that are not so high in fluidity, but it can be said to be a more effective configuration in terms of preventing toner scattering for such highly fluid toners.

What has been described above is merely an example, and the present invention has a specific effect for each of the following modes.
(Aspect A)
A container main body such as a container main body 33 which is mounted on a powder conveying device such as the toner replenishing device 60 with the horizontal direction as the longitudinal direction and stores powder such as image forming toner supplied to the powder conveying device; A conveying means such as a spiral protrusion 302 that conveys the powder from one longitudinal end to the other end provided with a container opening such as a cylindrical tip opening 305, and the container opening. A pipe receiving port, such as a nozzle receiving port 331, which is inserted and receives a transfer pipe such as a transfer nozzle 611 which is disposed and fixed to the powder transfer apparatus, and a container opening, is connected to the pipe receiving port, and is connected to the pipe receiving port. A tube insertion member such as a nozzle receiving member 330 that guides the inside of the container main body and the powder from the conveying means, and by itself rotating to lift the powder upward from below the container main body, Powder receiving port such as opening 610 In a powder container such as the toner container 32 provided with a pumping unit such as a pumping unit 304 for moving powder, the powder transport device includes a powder inlet for receiving powder from the container body, and a powder inlet A transfer tube opening / closing member such as a nozzle shutter 612 that opens and closes the nozzle, a biasing member such as a nozzle shutter spring 613 that biases the powder receiving opening to close the transfer tube opening / closing member, and a container tip of the container seal 333 An abutting member such as a nozzle shutter collar 612a that abuts against the cylindrical inner bottom of the container opening such as the side end face and moves the powder receiving opening to the conveying pipe opening and closing member; The container opening is provided with a tube receiving port at the inner bottom, and the cylindrical inner space of the container opening has a contact member and a biasing member when the powder container is mounted on the powder transfer device. Stored.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, since the tube receiving port is disposed at the cylindrical inner bottom of the container opening, the end face on the other end side such as the container front end side in the container opening is The tube insertion port of the tube insertion member has a portion protruding in the rotation axis direction from the end surface on the other end side where the tube receiving port is open. This protruding portion prevents the powder leaking from the pipe receiving port from scattering when the conveying pipe is extracted from the powder container, and can suppress the powder from scattering. Further, the abutting member and the biasing member are accommodated in the internal space of the cylindrical container opening when the powder container is attached to the powder conveying device, so that the powder conveying device has a powder. The enlargement of the powder conveying apparatus in the longitudinal direction with the storage container attached can be suppressed.
(Aspect B)
In (Aspect A), the outer peripheral surface of the container opening such as the tip opening 305 of the container main body such as the container main body 33 and the tip end surface such as the end face 305f are positioning portions for the powder conveying device such as the toner replenishing device 60.
According to this, since the powder such as toner can be prevented from reaching the outer peripheral surface side of the container opening as described in the above embodiment, the positioning accuracy of the powder container with respect to the powder conveyance device is stable. To do.
(Aspect C)
In (Aspect A), the container main body such as the container main body 33 is powdered by the toner replenishing device 60 and the like so as to be rotatable with respect to the conveying pipe such as the conveying nozzle 611 with the longitudinal direction as the rotation axis when conveying the powder. The cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the container opening such as the tip opening 305 of the container body has a rotating shaft portion that is inserted into a rotary bearing portion such as the container setting portion 615 of the powder conveying device. .
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, when the powder enters the gap between the rotary bearing portion serving as the sliding portion and the rotary shaft portion, the sliding load during rotation increases and the container body rotates. Although torque may increase, in this embodiment, it is possible to suppress the powder from reaching the outer peripheral surface side of the container opening. For this reason, it can suppress that a powder approachs into a sliding part, can suppress the increase in a sliding load, can stabilize slidability, and can suppress that the rotational torque of a container main body raises.
(Aspect D)
In (Aspect C), the outer peripheral surface and the tip end surface of the container opening such as the tip opening 305 of the container main body such as the container main body 33 are positioning portions for the powder conveying device such as the toner replenishing device 60.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the positioning accuracy of the powder container with respect to the powder conveying device is stabilized.
(Aspect E)
In the aspect C or D, the tube insertion member such as the nozzle receiving member 330 has a fixing portion such as a cylindrical receiving member fixing portion 337 fixed to the container opening such as the tip opening 305 of the container main body 33 or the like. The fixing portion is fixed to the container opening of the container body by screwing with a screw thread 337c or the like, and the tightening direction of the screwing is such that the powder container such as the toner container 32 supplies powder to the toner supply device 60 or the like. This corresponds to the direction of rotational driving in the apparatus.
According to this, as described in the thirteenth embodiment, the rotational drive of the container body can be prevented from acting so that the screwing of the tube insertion member to the container body is loosened.
(Aspect F)
In the aspect C or D, the tube insertion member such as the nozzle receiving member 330 has a fixing portion such as a cylindrical receiving member fixing portion 337 fixed to the container opening such as the tip opening 305 of the container main body 33 or the like. The cylindrical outer diameter of the fixed part is larger than the cylindrical inner diameter of the container opening of the container body, and the receiving member is engaged with either the outer periphery of the fixed part or the inner periphery of the container opening of the container body. A protrusion such as a protrusion 3301 is formed, and an engagement hole such as a tip opening engagement hole 3051 that engages with the protrusion is formed on the other side. Is press-fitted into the container opening.
According to this, as described in the fourteenth embodiment, the tube insertion member can be prevented from coming off and prevented from being rotated with respect to the container body by the engagement between the protrusion and the engagement hole. Furthermore, since the cylindrical outer diameter of the fixed portion is larger than the cylindrical inner diameter of the container opening, the container opening is corrected so as to follow the fixed portion when the tube insertion member is attached to the container main body. The degree improves. By improving the roundness of the container opening, the positioning accuracy of the powder container such as the toner container 32 with respect to the powder conveying device such as the toner replenishing device 60 is improved.
(Aspect G)
In the aspect C or D, the tube insertion member such as the nozzle receiving member 330 has a fixing portion such as a cylindrical receiving member fixing portion 337 fixed to the container opening such as the tip opening 305 of the container main body 33 or the like. The cylindrical outer diameter of the fixed part is smaller than the cylindrical inner diameter of the container opening of the container body, and the receiving member is engaged with either the outer periphery of the fixed part or the inner periphery of the container opening of the container body. A protrusion such as a protrusion 3301 is formed, and an engagement hole such as a tip opening engagement hole 3051 that engages with the protrusion is formed on the other side, and an outer peripheral seal 3302 or the like is formed in the gap between the fixed portion and the container body. The pipe insertion member is fitted into the container opening so that the seal is sandwiched between the fixing part and the container body and compressed at the position where the protrusion and the engagement hole engage with each other. Yes.
According to this, as described in the fifteenth embodiment, the tube insertion member can be prevented from coming off and prevented from being rotated with respect to the container body by the engagement between the protrusion and the engagement hole. Furthermore, the axial position of the powder container such as the toner container 32 is determined by the repulsive force received from the seal and the prevention of disconnection due to engagement, and the tube insertion member is pulled out of the container body due to an impact caused by an external force or the like. To prevent. Further, since the seal is compressed and sealed, it is possible to prevent powder leakage of toner and the like.
(Aspect H)
In the aspect C or D, the tube insertion member such as the nozzle receiving member 330 has a fixing portion such as a cylindrical receiving member fixing portion 337 fixed to the container opening such as the tip opening 305 of the container main body 33 or the like. And the outer diameter of the cylinder in the region that coincides with at least the rotation shaft portion of the fixed portion is smaller than the cylindrical inner diameter of the container opening of the container body, and the outer portion of the fixed portion is outside the region such as γ1. A location larger than the cylindrical inner diameter of the container opening of the container main body is provided, and the fixing portion is press-fitted into the container opening.
According to this, as described in the above-described embodiment 20, the portion serving as the rotating shaft portion of the container opening does not swell due to the press-fitting of the fixing portion, and can be used as a positioning portion or a sliding portion. The accuracy of molding of the container opening can be maintained, and accurate positioning and good sliding can be realized.
(Aspect I)
In aspect H, the outer circumference of the cylinder outside the above region, which is a press-fitting location of γ1, etc., is a container gear 301 formed at a container opening such as the tip opening 305 so as to transmit a rotational force to the container main body such as the container main body 33. The position of the gear.
According to this, as described in the above-described embodiment 20, the strength is higher than other portions of the container body, and deformation due to press-fitting is unlikely to occur. In addition, since the container body strongly tightens the fixing portion, it is difficult for the tube insertion member such as the nozzle receiving member 330 to come off over time.
(Aspect J)
In the aspect H, the outer circumference of the cylinder outside the region, which is a press-fitting location such as γ1, is a position where the thickness of the container opening such as the tip opening 305 is larger than the thickness of the rotating shaft.
According to this, as described in the above-described embodiment 20, the strength is higher than other portions of the container body, and deformation due to press-fitting is unlikely to occur. In addition, since the container body strongly tightens the fixing portion, it is difficult for the tube insertion member such as the nozzle receiving member 330 to come off over time.
(Aspect K)
In any one of the aspects A to J, the pipe receiving port such as the nozzle receiving port 331 is formed by a through hole of an annular seal such as the container seal 333, and the annular seal and a tube insertion member such as the nozzle receiving member 330 And a closed space such as a seal member entanglement prevention space 337b is formed around the transport pipe when the transport pipe such as the transport nozzle 611 is inserted.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to prevent the annular seal from being caught between the tube insertion member and the container opening / closing member such as the container shutter 332. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the tube receiving opening from being opened and closed due to the annular seal being caught.
(Aspect L)
A container main body such as a container main body 33 which is mounted on a powder conveying device such as the toner replenishing device 60 with the horizontal direction as a longitudinal direction and stores powder such as image forming toner supplied to the powder conveying device; Conveying means such as a spiral protrusion 302 that is arranged inside and conveys the powder from one longitudinal end to the other end provided with a container opening such as a tip opening 305 and the container opening. A pipe receiving port, such as a nozzle receiving port 331, into which a transfer pipe such as a transfer nozzle 611 fixed to the transfer apparatus is inserted and received, and a container opening, are communicated with the pipe receiving opening and are connected to the inside of the container main body. Receiving the powder from the tube insertion member such as the nozzle receiving member 330 and the conveying means to guide the powder, and rotating the powder upward from the lower side of the container body by rotating itself, and the powder such as the nozzle opening 610 of the conveying tube Move the powder to the receiving port In a powder container such as a toner container 32 provided with a pumping unit such as a pumping unit 304, the tube insertion member can move the container opening and closing member such as a container shutter 332 that opens and closes the tube receiving port, and the container opening and closing member And a support portion such as a shutter side surface support portion 335a that is supported on the support portion, and is disposed adjacent to the support portion, and enables communication between the pumping portion and the powder receiving port of the transfer tube inserted into the tube insertion member. Supporting part openings such as a shutter supporting opening 335b are provided, and the supporting part and the supporting part opening alternately cross the powder inlet by rotating the tube insertion member.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, even if the powder is momentarily deposited above the powder receiving port, the deposited powder is broken across the support portion, and thus deposited when left standing. It is possible to suppress the powder from agglomerating and causing a powder conveyance failure at the time of restart.
(Aspect M)
In the aspect L, the inner edge portion of the support portion opening such as the shutter support opening 335b or the outer peripheral surface and the inner edge portion of the support portion such as the shutter side surface support portion 335a are separated from the pumping portion such as the pumping portion 304 or the like. It serves as a bridging part for moving toner or other powder to the body receiving port.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the powder passes through a gap between the transport pipe such as the transport nozzle 611 and the inner wall of the container main body 33 or the like that forms the pumping part such as the convex portion 304h. The flow of the body can be suppressed. As a result, the pumped powder efficiently enters the powder receiving port. For this reason, even when the amount of powder in the container body decreases, the replenishment speed is stabilized, and furthermore, the amount of powder remaining in the container body when the powder container such as the toner container 32 is replaced can be reduced. it can. In addition, since the amount of powder remaining in the container body at the time of replacement can be reduced, the running cost can be reduced to improve economy, and the residual powder to be discarded can be reduced to reduce the impact on the environment. Can do.
(Aspect N)
In the aspect M, the pumping unit such as the pumping unit 304 and the bridging unit such as the shutter side surface support unit 335a have the same rotation direction, and the support unit such as the shutter support opening 335b or the like from the downstream side to the upstream side in the rotation direction. The inner edge portion of the opening and the convex portion such as the convex portion 304h that protrudes into the container main body such as the container main body of the pumping portion are arranged close to each other.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the powder passes through a gap between the transport pipe such as the transport nozzle 611 and the inner wall of the container main body 33 or the like that forms the pumping part such as the convex portion 304h. The flow of the body can be suppressed.
(Aspect O)
In the aspect M, the container body such as the container body 33 conveys the powder by the toner replenishing device 60 and the like so as to be rotatable with respect to the conveying pipe such as the conveying nozzle 611 with the longitudinal direction as the rotation axis when conveying the powder. The pipe insertion member such as the nozzle receiving member 330 is fixed to the container body, and the pumping part such as the pumping part 304 is a convex part in which the inner wall surface of the container body is raised toward the container body. A convex portion such as 304h and an inner wall surface such as a raised pumping wall surface 304f connected from the convex portion to the inner wall of the peripheral surface of the container body.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to realize a configuration for pumping powder by rotation of the container body.
(Aspect P)
In the aspect L or M, the container main body such as the container main body 33 is powdered by the toner replenishing device 60 and the like so as to be rotatable with respect to the conveying pipe such as the conveying nozzle 611 with the longitudinal direction as a rotation axis when conveying the powder. The pipe insertion member such as the nozzle receiving member 330 is fixed to the container main body, and the pumping part such as the pumping 304 has a convex shape in which the inner wall surface of the container main body is raised toward the container main body. A convex portion such as a portion 304h and an inner wall surface such as a raised pumping wall surface 304f connected from the convex portion to the inner wall of the peripheral surface of the container body, and the convex portion and a bridging portion such as a shutter side surface support portion 335a are in close contact with each other. Or they face each other with a slight gap.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to realize a configuration for pumping powder by rotation of the container body. Further, it is possible to suppress the flow of powder that passes through a gap between the transfer pipe such as the transfer nozzle 611 and the inner wall of the container main body 33 or the like that forms the pumping portion such as the convex portion 304h.
(Aspect Q)
In the aspect L, the container body such as the container body 33 conveys the powder by the toner replenishing device 60 and the like so as to be rotatable with respect to the conveying tube such as the conveying nozzle 611 with the longitudinal direction as the rotation axis when conveying the powder. The pipe insertion member such as the nozzle receiving member 330 is fixed to the container main body, and the pumping part such as the pumping part 304 extends from the pipe insertion member to the vicinity of the inner wall of the peripheral surface of the container main body. It has ribs such as a pumping rib 304g that protrudes.
According to this, as described in the above-described modification, the rib can receive the powder conveyed by the conveying means such as the spiral protrusion 302, and can be pumped up from below by rotation. Then, the powder can be poured into the powder receiving port such as the nozzle opening 610 using the rib surface as a slide.
(Aspect R)
An image forming unit such as a printer unit 100 that forms an image on an image carrier such as the photosensitive member 41 using image forming powder such as toner, and a toner replenishing device 60 that conveys the powder to the image forming unit. In an image forming apparatus such as a copier 500 including a powder conveyance unit such as a toner container 32 detachably held in the powder conveyance unit, the aspect A The powder container as described in any one of thru | or Q is used.
According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to prevent the powder from scattering, and to reduce the positioning accuracy of the powder container and to increase the rotational torque of the powder container due to the powder scattering. Therefore, stable powder conveyance can be performed toward the powder conveyance destination. Since the powder for image formation can be stably conveyed, the amount of the powder conveyed to the image forming unit is stabilized, so that the image density is stabilized and good image formation can be performed.

26 Paper feed tray 27 Paper feed roller 28 Registration roller pair 29 Paper discharge roller pair 30 Stack unit 32 Toner container (powder container)
33 Container body (powder storage member)
33a Container opening 34 Container tip side cover (housing part cover member)
34a Gear exposure opening 34b Color incompatible rib 41 Photoconductor 42a Cleaning blade 42 Photoconductor cleaning device 44 Charging roller 46Y Yellow image forming portion 46 Image forming portion 47 Exposure device 48 Intermediate transfer belt 49 Primary transfer bias roller 50 Developing device 51 Developing roller 52 Doctor blade 53 First developer container 54 Developer container 54 Second developer container 55 Developer conveying screw 56 Toner concentration detection sensor 60 Toner replenishing device (powder conveying device)
64 Toner drop conveyance path 70 Toner container accommodating portion 71 Insert port forming portion 72 Container receiving portion 73 Container cover receiving portion (tip receiving portion)
82 Secondary transfer backup roller 85 Intermediate transfer unit 86 Fixing device 89 Secondary transfer roller 90 Control unit (information processing means)
91 Container Rotation Drive Unit 100 Printer Unit 200 Paper Feed Unit 301 Container Gear 302 Helical Projection 303 Handle Part 304 Pumping Unit 304a Pumping Unit Helical Projection 304f Pumping Wall Surface 304g Pumping Rib 304h Protrusion 305 Tip Opening (Opening Forming Unit)
305f End surface 306 Cover claw hooking portion 309 Cap fixing screw thread 310 Toner discharge port 320 Rotating conveying member with shaft 321 Rotating conveying member without shaft 330 Nozzle receiving member (tube insertion member)
330f End surface 331 Nozzle receiving port (pipe receiving port)
332 Container shutter 332a Shutter removal prevention claw 332b Second shutter removal prevention claw 332c End cylindrical portion 332d Sliding portion 332e Guide rod 332f Cantilever 333 Container seal 335 Shutter rear end support portion 335a Shutter side support portion 335b Shutter support opening 336 Container shutter spring 337 Receiving member fixing portion 337a Nozzle shutter abutment rib 337b Seal member entanglement prevention space 337c Thread 339 Container lock portion 339a Guide projection 339b Guide groove 339c Overpass portion 339d Locking hole 340 Container shutter support member 341 Cover claw portion 342 Holding member left side Surface (left side of the holding lid)
343 Holding part 344 Holding member (holding lid)
345 Holding mechanism 347 Holding member opening (holding lid opening)
348 Lower holding member (lower holding lid)
349 Holding member right side (holding lid right side)
350 Upper part of holding member (upper part of holding lid)
351 Inner wall rib (ID chip temporary fixing rib)
352 frame (ID chip installation wall)
353 Protruding part of holding member (ID chip pressing convex part)
354 Holding member lower claws (holding lid lower claws)
355 Holding member upper claws (holding lid upper claws)
356 Holding member right side nail (holding lid right side nail)
357 ID tag mounting surface (ID chip mounting surface)
358 Base (holding base)
359a Mounting surface upper hook portion 359b Mounting surface lower hook portion 360 Mounting surface horizontal hook portion 360a Mounting surface horizontal hook portion inclined surface 361 Slide guide 361a Slide groove 370 Cap (cap member)
371 Cap collar 372 Adsorbent 373 Cylindrical member 374 Cylindrical portion 374a Adsorption hole 375 Cylindrical tip elastic member 400 Scanner unit 500 Copying machine (image forming apparatus)
601 Container drive gear 602 Frame (main body frame)
603 Drive motor 604 Drive transmission gear 605 Conveying screw gear 607 Nozzle holder 608 Set cover 609 Replenisher side lock member (container lock member)
610 Nozzle opening (powder receiving port)
611 Conveying nozzle (conveying pipe)
611a Nozzle tip 611s Nozzle opening lateral edge 612 Nozzle shutter (powder receiving opening / closing member)
612a Nozzle shutter collar (butting portion)
612b Shutter inner peripheral first rib 612c Shutter inner peripheral second rib 612d Shutter inner peripheral third rib 612e Nozzle shutter cylindrical portion 612f Nozzle shutter spring receiving surface 612g Inner peripheral first rib tip 613 Nozzle shutter spring (biasing member)
614 Conveying screw 615 Container set portion 615a Container set portion inner peripheral surface 615b Container set portion end surface 640 Oscillating spring 650 Toner container drive shaft 651 Delayed rotation generation spring 651a Spring fixing pin 652 Drive pin 653 Idler gear 653a Gear surface hole 655 Spring guide disk 700 ID tag (ID chip, information storage device)
701 ID tag hole (hole or notch)
702 Substrate 703 Ground terminal 705 Ground terminal protrusion 710 Metal pad (container side terminal)
710a First metal pad 710b Second metal pad 710c Third metal pad 720 Protective member 800 Connector 801 Positioning pin (protrusion)
802 Ground side terminal 803 Shake prevention member (regulation member)
804 Main body side terminal 805 Connector main body 1032 Toner container 1033 Container main body 1034 Container front end side cover 1034a Gear exposure opening 1035 Bottom cover 1035a Rear end side bearing 1036 Front end side bearing 1301 Container gear 1302 Carrying blade 1303 Handle portion 1330 Nozzle receiving member 1330a Nozzle receiving Member outer peripheral surface 1330b Conveying blade holding portion 1331 Nozzle receiving port 1332 Container shutter 1332a Contact portion 1332b Shutter support portion 1332c Hook portion 1333 Container seal 1335b Shutter support opening 1336 Container shutter spring 3051 Tip opening engagement hole 3051a Engagement hole top portion 3052 Tip Opening positioning rib 3053 Tip opening engagement protrusion (tip opening forming portion engagement claw)
3301 Receiving member engaging protrusion (receiving member engaging claw)
3301a Top of engaging protrusion (tip shape on claw side)
3302 Receiving member outer periphery seal 3303 Receiving member side positioning groove 3304 Receiving member engaging hole G Developer L Laser beam P Recording medium

JP 2003-24196 A JP 2005-221825 A Japanese Patent No. 4342958 JP 2002-202656 A JP 2003-233247 A JP 2009-276659 A

Claims (7)

It is mounted on the powder conveying device with the horizontal direction as the longitudinal direction,
Conveying means for storing image forming powder to be supplied to the powder conveying device, disposed inside, and conveying the powder from one longitudinal end to the other end provided with a container opening;
A pipe receiving port that is disposed in the container opening and receives a transfer pipe fixed to the powder transfer device;
A pipe insertion member that is disposed in the container opening, communicates with the pipe receiving port, and guides the transfer pipe to the inside;
A pumping unit that receives the powder from the conveying means, lifts the powder upward from below by rotating itself, and moves the powder to the powder receiving port of the conveying pipe;
In a powder storage container comprising:
The tube insertion member is
A container opening and closing member for opening and closing the pipe receiving port;
A support part for movably supporting the container opening and closing member;
A support opening that is disposed adjacent to the support and allows communication between the pumping section and the powder receiving port of the transport pipe inserted into the pipe insertion member;
A powder container, wherein the support portion and the support portion opening alternately cross the powder receiving port as the tube insertion member rotates. The powder container of claim 1,
The inner edge part of the opening of the support part, or the outer peripheral surface of the support part and the inner edge part serve as a bridging part when moving the powder from the pumping part to the powder receiving port. Powder storage container. The powder container of claim 2,
The pumping part and the bridging part have the same rotational direction, and the convex part that protrudes toward the inner edge of the opening of the support part and the inside of the pumping part from the downstream side to the upstream side in the rotational direction. A powder container characterized by being arranged close to each other in order. The powder container of claim 1,
A container body containing powder,
The container body is held by the powder conveyance device so as to be rotatable with respect to the conveyance tube with the longitudinal direction as a rotation axis when conveying the powder,
The tube insertion member is fixed to the container body,
The above-mentioned pumping-up part has a convex part where the inner wall surface of the container main body is raised toward the inside of the container main body, and a raised inner wall surface connected from the convex part to the inner wall of the peripheral surface of the container main body. Body storage container. The powder container of claim 2 ,
A container body containing powder,
The container body is held by the powder conveyance device so as to be rotatable with respect to the conveyance tube with the longitudinal direction as a rotation axis when conveying the powder,
The tube insertion member is fixed to the container body,
The pumping unit has a convex part in which the inner wall surface of the container main body is raised toward the inside of the container main body, and a raised inner wall surface that is connected from the convex part to the inner wall of the peripheral surface of the container main body,
A powder container, wherein the convex part and the bridging part are in close contact with each other with a slight gap. The powder container of claim 1,
The powder storage container, wherein the pumping portion has a rib protruding so as to extend from the tube insertion member to the vicinity of the inner wall of the container. An image forming unit that forms an image on an image carrier using powder for image formation;
A powder conveying unit for conveying the powder to the image forming unit;
In an image forming apparatus comprising: a powder container that is detachably held in the powder transport unit;
An image forming apparatus using the powder container according to any one of claims 1 to 6 as the powder container.

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