JP5526254B2 - Toner supply container and image forming apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner supply container that is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus to supply toner to a developing device of a color image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer having the toner supply container.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a toner supply container (hereinafter referred to as a toner cartridge) that is applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a printer is known. This toner cartridge is for supplying toner to a developing device that forms toner images by supplying toner to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image based on image information is formed in the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus can be detachably mounted.

  This toner cartridge has a shutter member that closes a toner replenishing port opened at the bottom of a box-shaped cartridge main body so as to be freely opened and closed. When the toner cartridge is replaced, the shutter member is opened so that the toner in the cartridge body is loaded into the developing device through the toner supply port.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a magenta developing device, a cyan developing device, a yellow developing device, and a black developing device are sequentially arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side of the transfer belt. Four toner cartridges are provided at positions corresponding to the developing devices of the respective colors on the front side of the main body of the image forming apparatus so as to face each of the developing devices. The color toner is replenished. A mounting frame for mounting each toner cartridge is provided at a position in front of the developing device in the apparatus main body, and can be visually recognized by opening the front door of the apparatus main body. The mounting frame has four mounting recesses corresponding to the respective toner cartridges, and a lower edge portion that can be fitted into the mounting recesses is disposed on the back side of each toner cartridge. When replacing the toner cartridge, each toner cartridge is inserted from above the mounting frame, and the toner cartridge is mounted on the mounting frame in a state where the toner cartridge is positioned by fitting the lower edge of the back side of the toner cartridge into the mounting recess. It has become. In this mounted state, when the shutter member is opened by operating the operation lever of each toner cartridge, the toner is supplied into each developing device through each toner supply port.

  However, in the above-described prior art, the toner cartridges of the respective colors have the same outer shape, the mounting frames of the apparatus main body corresponding to the respective toner cartridges also have the same shape, and each toner cartridge is mounted on the mounting frame by the same operation. For this reason, for example, there is a possibility that the toner cartridge may be erroneously mounted such that the cyan toner cartridge is erroneously mounted in the mounting recess of the magenta developing device.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-235592 (paragraphs [0076] to [0077], FIG. 7)

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and each container body for storing toner of each color is configured in the same shape to reduce the manufacturing cost, and the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner replenishing container with good operability and an image forming apparatus including the toner replenishing container that is not erroneously mounted when being mounted.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a container main body for storing toner, and a toner replenishing port for replenishing toner to a toner loading port of a developing device arranged in the left-right direction of the main body of the image forming apparatus, In the plurality of toner supply containers that are detachably mounted in front of the apparatus main body, the plurality of container main bodies have a columnar body having a bottom surface portion and a side surface portion that is symmetrical with respect to a surface including the central axis of the container main body. The toner replenishing ports are provided at the same position apart from the central axis on the bottom surface, and are different from the central axis in the left-right direction of the apparatus main body when mounted on the apparatus main body. It is said.

  According to this configuration, when each toner supply container is moved in the mounting direction, each toner supply port faces the toner loading port, and each color toner can be supplied to each developing device. At the time of mounting, each toner replenishing port is located at a different position in the left-right direction of the apparatus main body with respect to the central axis of the container main body.

  According to the present invention, in the toner supply container configured as described above, the container body is a quadrangular prism body having a square bottom surface. According to this configuration, the outer shape of each container main body and the toner replenishing port are the same, and three different positions of the toner replenishing port are set when the container main body is mounted.

  Further, according to the present invention, in the toner supply container having the above-described configuration, a storage member is provided on the bottom surface portion, and the storage member has a guide portion that guides attachment to the apparatus main body and is separate from the container main body. It is characterized by being formed by the body. According to this configuration, the outer shape of each container main body and the position of the toner replenishing port are common, and the attachment to the developing device corresponding to the predetermined toner replenishing container is guided by the guide portion at the time of attachment.

  According to the present invention, in the toner replenishing container having the above-described configuration, the storage member has a shutter member that changes an attitude between an open attitude that opens the toner supply port and a closed attitude that closes the toner supply port; A slit portion provided in the shutter member for changing the posture of the shutter member, and the slit portion engages with a protrusion provided in the developing device when mounted on the apparatus main body, It is characterized by being moved to an open posture. According to this configuration, when each toner supply container is moved in the mounting direction, the slit portion of the shutter member comes into contact with the protrusion, and when the toner supply container is further moved in the mounting direction, the shutter member is moved by the protrusion. The developing device is rotated to an open posture, and toner is supplied to the developing device via the toner supply port and the toner loading port.

  Further, according to the present invention, in the toner replenishing container having the above-described configuration, the guide portion is a long hole formed in the mounting direction, and is engaged with the protrusion provided in the developing device to be attached to the mounting main body. It is characterized by guiding the installation. According to this configuration, when the guide portion is aligned with the protrusion at the time of mounting and the toner supply container is moved in the mounting direction, it is not mounted even if another toner supply container is mounted on a predetermined developing device.

  According to the present invention, in the toner replenishing container having the above-described configuration, a driving force transmission mechanism that drives a stirring member that stirs the toner in the container body, and the driving force transmission mechanism that houses the driving force transmission mechanism. A mechanism housing member having an opening formed to be engageable with a drive source of the main body is provided on the upper surface of the container main body, and the opening is formed in the mounting direction. According to this configuration, when the driving force transmission mechanism provided in the toner replenishing container at the time of mounting is aligned with the driving source of the apparatus main body and the toner replenishing container is moved in the mounting direction, another toner is transferred to a predetermined developing device. If you try to install a supply container, it will not be installed.

  In addition, the present invention is an image forming apparatus on which the toner supply container having the above-described configuration is mounted.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when each toner replenishing container is moved in the mounting direction, each toner replenishing port faces the toner loading port, and each color toner can be replenished to each developing device. At this time, each toner replenishing port is located at a different position in the left-right direction of the apparatus main body with respect to the central axis of the container main body. Therefore, even if an attempt is made to attach another toner replenishing container to a predetermined developing device, It is possible to prevent erroneous mounting of the supply container.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the container main body of each toner replenishing container has the same outer shape, and each toner replenishing port is provided at the same position on the bottom surface. Molding with a common mold is possible, and the manufacturing cost of each container body can be reduced.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the outer shape of each container main body and the toner replenishing port are the same, and the toner replenishing port is set at three different positions when mounted on the apparatus main body. The manufacturing cost of the container main body can be reduced, and erroneous mounting of the three toner cartridges can be prevented.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the outer shape of each container body and the position of the toner replenishing port are common, and the guide unit can be attached to a developing device corresponding to a predetermined toner replenishing container at the time of mounting. Since the guide is used, the manufacturing cost of each container body can be reduced, and the guide unit guides the installation to the developing device corresponding to the predetermined toner supply container at the time of installation, so that the toner supply container is incorrectly installed. Can be further prevented.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when each toner supply container is moved in the mounting direction, the slit portion of the shutter member comes into contact with the protrusion, and when the toner supply container is further moved in the mounting direction, The shutter member is rotated by the protruding portion to be in an open posture, and the toner is supplied to the developing device through the toner supply port and the toner loading port. Therefore, a special operation member for opening and closing the shutter may not be employed. . For this reason, the operability is improved, and the apparatus can be reduced in size and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the driving force transmission mechanism provided in the toner replenishing container is aligned with the driving source of the apparatus main body at the time of mounting and the toner replenishing container is moved in the mounting direction, it is ensured. Accordingly, the mounting of the plurality of toner supply containers can be further prevented from being erroneously guided.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, if the toner replenishing container described above is provided, the manufacturing cost of the container main body can be reduced, and the image forming apparatus can be prevented from erroneous mounting of the toner replenishing container. can do.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus including a toner supply container according to an embodiment of the present invention. These are schematic plan views showing the positional relationship with the developing device in a mounted state of the toner supply container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a toner supply container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic top view showing a shutter member and a toner supply port of a toner supply container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a top view showing a housing member that houses a shutter member of a toner supply container before being mounted according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The embodiment of the present invention shows the most preferable form of the invention, and the use of the invention and the terms shown here are not limited thereto.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention. In the rotatable photoconductors 11a to 11d, an amorphous silicon photoconductor or an organic photoconductor (OPC photoconductor) is used as a photosensitive material for forming a photosensitive layer, and black (B), yellow (Y), cyan (C ) And magenta (M), and developing devices 2a to 2d, optical exposure devices 12a to 12d, chargers 13a to 13d, and static eliminators 14a to 14d are arranged around the photoreceptors 11a to 11d. . The exposure unit 12 irradiates the photoconductors 11a to 11d with laser beams from the optical exposure units 12a to 12d based on document image data input to an image input unit (not shown) from a personal computer or the like.

  The developing devices 2 a to 2 d for the respective colors are arranged in the left-right direction of the image forming apparatus 1 (left-right direction in FIG. 1). Corresponding to each of these developing devices 2a to 2d, four toner cartridges 40a to 40d are arranged in the left-right direction of the apparatus main body. When a door (not shown) on the front side of the apparatus main body (front side of the paper surface in FIG. 1) is opened, the toner cartridges 40a to 40d are detachably mounted in the front-rear direction (front and back direction of the paper surface in FIG. 1). The toners of a predetermined color are supplied from the toner cartridges 40a to 40d to the corresponding developing devices 2a to 2d.

  The intermediate transfer belt 17 is stretched around the tension roller 6, the driving roller 25, and the driven roller 27, and the photoconductors 11 a to 11 d are in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 17 in the conveying direction of the intermediate transfer belt 17 (in FIG. 1). Are arranged opposite to each other so as to be adjacent from the upstream side along the arrow direction. The primary transfer rollers 26a to 26d are arranged so as to face the photoconductors 11a to 11d with the intermediate transfer belt 17 interposed therebetween and to contact the intermediate transfer belt 17. Further, the secondary transfer roller 34 is disposed so as to face the drive roller 25 and contact the intermediate transfer belt 17 with the intermediate transfer belt 17 interposed therebetween. The cleaning roller 31 is disposed so as to face the driven roller 27 and contact the intermediate transfer belt 17 with the intermediate transfer belt 17 interposed therebetween.

  The intermediate transfer belt 17 includes an elastic belt as a base material, a fluororesin layer provided on the surface thereof, and a reinforcing resin layer provided on the opposite side of the fluororesin layer with the elastic belt interposed therebetween. The reinforcing resin layer effectively prevents transfer deviation due to expansion and contraction of the elastic belt. Not limited to this, the intermediate transfer belt 17 may have a resin film single layer structure. The primary transfer rollers 26a to 26d and the secondary transfer roller 34 are made of conductive rubber such as foamed EPDM. The cleaning roller 31 may use a cleaning blade, a cleaning brush, or the like instead of the roller.

  When an image formation start operation is performed, the photoconductors 11a to 11d rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 1, and the chargers 13a to 13d uniformly charge the surfaces of the photoconductors 11a to 11d. The exposure units 12a to 12d irradiate the surfaces of the photoconductors 11a to 11d based on the image data, and electrostatic latent images are formed on the surfaces of the photoconductors 11a to 11d. Next, toner of each color adheres to the electrostatic latent images formed on the surfaces of the photoconductors 11a to 11d by a developing bias voltage applied to the developing rollers of the developing devices 2a to 2d, thereby forming toner images.

  Each color toner image formed on the surface of each photoconductor 11a to 11d is moved in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 by primary transfer rollers 26a to 26d to which a primary transfer bias potential (a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity) is applied. The primary transfer is sequentially performed on the intermediate transfer belt 17 being conveyed, and the colors are superimposed, so that a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 17.

  The paper transport unit 33 feeds the paper P stacked in the paper feed cassette 32 one by one, and the transport rollers 33 a and 33 b and the registration rollers 33 c and 33 d transfer the paper P between the intermediate transfer belt 17 and the secondary transfer roller 34. Transport. The full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is secondarily transferred onto the paper P by the secondary transfer roller 34 to which a secondary transfer bias potential (polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity) is applied.

  The paper P on which the full-color toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 18 and heated and pressed by the fixing roller to fix the toner image on the surface of the paper P, thereby forming a full-color image. The paper P on which the full-color image is formed is then discharged out of the apparatus main body by the discharge rollers 19a and 19b.

  The toner remaining without being primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 17 from each of the photoconductors 11a to 11d is removed by the cleaning device, and the charge removers 14a to 14d discharge charges remaining on the surfaces of the photoconductors 11a to 11d. Further, the toner remaining without being secondarily transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 17 to the paper P is removed by the cleaning roller 31 to which a cleaning bias potential (a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner) is applied to prepare for the next image formation. It is done.

  Next, the toner cartridges 40a to 40d will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an arrangement relationship with the developing device when the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the apparatus main body.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the developing devices 2a to 2d for the respective colors have the same length D in the left-right direction, and are provided with toner loading ports 3a to 3d for supplying toner from the toner cartridges 40a to 40d on the upper surface thereof. The toner loading ports 3a and 3c of the developing device 2a for black and the developing device 2c for cyan are arranged at the substantially center in the left-right direction of the developing devices 2a and 2c, and the toner loading port 3b of the developing device 2b for yellow is the developing device. The toner loading port 3d of the magenta developing device 2d is disposed on the right side of the developing device 2d.

  The toner cartridges 40a to 40d for the respective colors include storage members 41a to 41d that are opposed to the upper surfaces of the developing devices 2a to 2d, container bodies 51a to 51d that are disposed above the storage members 41a to 41d and store toner of the respective colors, and It is configured to include mechanism storage members 61a to 61d disposed above the container main bodies 51a to 51d.

  Each of the toner cartridges 40a to 40d has a left-right length CB or C larger than the left-right length D of the developing devices 2a to 2d. Since the amount of black used for image formation is larger than that of other color toners, the length CB of the black toner cartridge 40a is made longer than the other toner cartridges 40b to 40d, and the toner storage capacity of the black toner cartridge 40a is increased. Have a lot. The lengths C of the other toner cartridges 40b to 40d are equal. The gaps between the adjacent toner cartridges 40a to 40d are set so small that they do not come into contact with each other when the toner cartridges 40a to 40d are mounted, thereby increasing the toner storage capacity of the toner cartridges 40a to 40d.

  Based on FIG. 3, the detailed configuration of the container main body and the mechanism housing member of the toner cartridge will be described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the magenta toner cartridge 40d as seen from the rear of the apparatus main body.

  The container main body 51d has a toner replenishing port 52d for replenishing toner via a toner loading port 3d (see FIG. 2) of the developing device 2d, and a feeder 53d for transferring the toner in the container main body 51d to the toner replenishing port 52d while stirring. Is provided.

  Further, the container main body 51d has a quadrangular prism shape in which the bottom surface portion 56d is square and the four side surface portions 57d are square or rectangular, and the center extending in the vertical direction shown in FIG. It has an axis 58d and is formed by blow molding a plastic such as polyethylene.

  The feeder 53d is formed integrally with a feeder shaft 54d concentrically with the central axis 58d in the container main body 51d and extending in the vertical direction shown in FIG. And a fin 55d.

  The toner replenishing port 52d is an opening provided in the bottom surface portion 56d, and is arranged side by side with the central axis 58d in the direction of the left and right arrows shown in FIG. 3 at a position separated from the central axis 58d. It faces the mouth 3d (see FIG. 2).

  Up to this point, the configuration of the magenta container body 51d has been described. The yellow container body 51b and the cyan container body 51c are also rectangular column-shaped containers, like the magenta container body 51d. Feeders 53b and 53c are provided, and the toner supply ports 52b and 52c are arranged at the same position. The black container main body 51a has a larger container volume than the magenta container main body 51d, but includes a feeder 53a and a toner replenishing port 52a, similar to the magenta container main body 51d.

  The mechanism housing member 61d is fixedly supported on the upper part of the container body 51d, and the bottom part to be fixedly supported is a square box shape having substantially the same shape as the container body 51d. An open portion 63d is formed in the direction of the arrow. In the open portion 63d, a gear 62d provided integrally with the feeder shaft 54d can be engaged with a motor gear that is a drive source of the apparatus main body (not shown). When the toner cartridge 40d is attached to the apparatus main body, the gear 62d meshes with the motor gear, and the driving force of this driving source is transmitted to the fins 55d via the feeder shaft 54d.

  The other mechanism housing members 61a to 61c have the same configuration as the magenta mechanism housing member 61d described above, but when assembled to the other container main bodies 51a to 51c, the other opening portions 63a to 63c The other toner supply ports 52a to 52c are fixedly supported so that the positions thereof are different. The difference in position of each toner replenishing port in a state where each mechanism housing member is fixedly supported on each container body will be described later.

  The storage member 41d is fixedly supported by the bottom surface portion 56d of the container main body 51d, and the upper part fixedly supported is formed in a square box shape having substantially the same shape as the container main body 51d, and includes a shutter member therein.

  Based on FIG. 4, the structure of the shutter member will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic top view showing a state in which the shutter member closes the toner supply port before the toner cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, and the apparatus main body (developing device) is on the upper side shown in FIG. When the cartridge is moved upward in FIG. 4 (mounting direction), the toner cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body. 4A shows a shutter member and a toner supply port used for a yellow toner cartridge, FIG. 4B shows a shutter member and a toner supply port used for a cyan toner cartridge, and FIG. 4C shows a magenta toner cartridge. 2 shows a shutter member and a toner replenishing port used in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the toner replenishing port 52b of the yellow toner cartridge is located to the left of the rotation shaft 45b, and as shown in FIG. 4B, the toner replenishing port 52c of the cyan toner cartridge. Is positioned above the rotation shaft 45c, and as shown in FIG. 4C, each toner cartridge is attached to the main body of the apparatus with the toner supply port 52d of the magenta toner cartridge positioned to the right of the rotation shaft 45c. Installed.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the shutter member 42b is a plastic thin plate shaped like four fans, and can rotate around a rotation shaft 45b concentric with the central axis 58b (see FIG. 3). Is supported by the storage member 41b (see FIG. 3). The shutter member 42b is frictionally held, such as a spring bias, between the rotational sliding surface and the contact surface of the storage member 41b, so that the shutter member 42b does not rotate easily except for a predetermined operation described later.

  An opening hole 44b is formed in the lower fan-shaped portion shown in FIG. 4A, and the hole is larger than the opening of the toner supply port 52b and the opening of the toner loading port 3b (see FIG. 2), and the shutter member 42b is formed. When in the open posture, the toner can be supplied from the toner supply port 52b to the toner loading port 3b. An open hole is also formed in the upper fan-shaped portion shown in FIG. 4A, and when the shutter member is incorporated in another toner cartridge, the open hole can supply toner from the toner supply port. To do.

  A shield 46b is formed in the left sector shown in FIG. 4A, and the shield 46b closes the toner supply port 52b so that the toner does not leak from the toner supply port 52b. A shield part is also formed on the right sector shown in FIG. 4A, and when the shutter member is incorporated into another toner cartridge, the shield part closes the toner supply port.

  A slit portion 43b is formed between the fan-shaped portion having the upper open hole shown in FIG. 4A and the fan-shaped portion having the right shielding portion shown in FIG. Is attached to the apparatus main body, the slit portion 43b is engaged with a protrusion provided on the developing device described later, and the shutter member 42b is rotated. A slit part is also formed between the other fan-shaped parts, and when the shutter member is incorporated into another toner cartridge, the slit part engages with a protrusion provided on the developing device, and the shutter member rotates. Be made.

  A shutter member 42c used in the cyan toner cartridge shown in FIG. 4B has the same shape as the shutter member 42b shown in FIG. 4A, but closes the toner supply port 52c above the rotation shaft 45c. The shielding member 46c is disposed so that the shielding portion 46c faces upward.

  The shutter member 42d used in the magenta toner cartridge shown in FIG. 4C has the same shape as the shutter member 42b shown in FIG. 4A, but closes the toner supply port 52d on the right side of the rotating shaft 45d. Therefore, the storage member 41d is disposed so that the shielding part 46d is on the right side.

  Next, attachment of the toner cartridge to the apparatus main body will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic top view showing the housing member housing the shutter member and the developing device. As shown in FIG. 5, the developing device is on the upper side, and the toner cartridge is moved upward shown in FIG. 5 (mounting direction). Then, the toner cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body. FIG. 5A shows a storage member used for the yellow toner cartridge, FIG. 5B shows a storage member used for the cyan toner cartridge, and FIG. 5C shows a storage member used for the magenta toner cartridge.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, in the yellow developing device 2b, the toner loading port 3b is provided at a position corresponding to the toner replenishing port 52b of the yellow toner cartridge when the yellow toner cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body. 4b is provided at a predetermined position with respect to the toner loading port 3b.

  The yellow toner cartridge storage member 41b is formed with a relief hole 47b extending in the mounting direction so as not to interfere with the toner supply port 52b when the toner cartridge is mounted. Further, a guide portion 48b is formed in the storage member 41b, and the guide portion 48b is an elongated hole that engages with the protrusion 4b and guides the mounting direction. Since the guide portion 48b differs from the cyan and magenta toner cartridges in the left-right direction and the clearance positions together with the escape holes 47b, other toner cartridges are mistakenly attached when the toner cartridge is installed together with the escape holes 47b. Guide you not to.

  When the toner cartridge is moved in the mounting direction, the guide portion 48b engages with the protrusion 4b, and then the escape hole 47b comes to a position corresponding to the toner loading port 3b, and further the shielding portion 46b of the shutter member 42b. When the toner reaches the position corresponding to the toner loading port 3b, the slit portion 43b comes into contact with the protruding portion 4b. When the toner cartridge is further moved in the mounting direction, the shutter member 42b is rotated clockwise in FIG. 5A by the protrusion 4b, the opening hole 44b reaches a position corresponding to the toner supply port 52b, and the toner supply The opening 52b reaches a position corresponding to the toner loading opening 3b, and toner is replenished to the developing device 2b via the toner replenishing opening 52b and the toner loading opening 3b.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the cyan developing device 2c is provided at a position corresponding to the toner replenishing port 52c of the cyan toner cartridge when the toner loading port 3c is attached to the apparatus main body. Is provided at a predetermined position with respect to the toner loading port 3c.

  The cyan toner cartridge storage member 41c is formed with a relief hole 47c extending in the mounting direction so as not to interfere with the toner supply port 52c when the toner cartridge is mounted. A guide portion 48c is formed in the storage member 41c, and the guide portion 48c is a long hole that is engaged with the protruding portion 4c to guide the mounting direction. Since the guide portion 48c is different from the yellow and magenta toner cartridges in the left-right direction and the clearance between the guide holes 48c and the toner cartridges for yellow and magenta, other toner cartridges are erroneously attached together with the escape holes 47c. Guide you not to.

  When the toner cartridge is moved in the mounting direction, the guide portion 48c engages with the protrusion 4c, and then the escape hole 47c comes to a position corresponding to the toner loading port 3b, and further the shielding portion 46b of the shutter member 42b. Comes to a position corresponding to the toner loading port 3c, the slit portion 43c comes into contact with the protrusion 4c. When the toner cartridge is further moved in the mounting direction, the shutter member 42c is rotated clockwise in FIG. 5B by the protrusion 4c, and the opening hole 44c reaches a position corresponding to the toner supply port 52c, and the toner supply The port 52c reaches a position corresponding to the toner loading port 3c, and the toner is replenished to the developing device 2c through the toner replenishing port 52c and the toner loading port 3c.

  As shown in FIG. 5C, the magenta developing device 2d is provided at a position corresponding to the toner replenishing port 52d of the magenta toner cartridge when the toner loading port 3d is attached to the apparatus main body, and the protrusion 4d. Is provided at a predetermined position with respect to the toner loading opening 3d.

  The housing member 41d of the magenta toner cartridge is formed with a relief hole 47d extending in the mounting direction so as not to interfere with the toner supply port 52d when the toner cartridge is mounted. Further, a guide part 48d is formed in the storage member 41d, and the guide part 48d is a long hole that engages with the protruding part 4d and guides the mounting direction. Since the guide portion 48d and the clearance hole 47d are different from the cyan and yellow toner cartridges in the left-right position and the distance between them, other toner cartridges are erroneously mounted together with the clearance holes 47d. Guide you not to.

  When the toner cartridge is moved in the mounting direction, the guide portion 48d engages with the protrusion 4d, and then the escape hole 47d comes to a position corresponding to the toner loading port 3d, and further the shielding portion 46d of the shutter member 42d. Comes to a position corresponding to the toner loading port 3b, the slit portion 43d comes into contact with the protrusion 4d. When the toner cartridge is further moved in the mounting direction, the shutter member 42d is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 5C by the protrusion 4d, and the opening hole 44d reaches a position corresponding to the toner supply port 52d, and the toner The replenishing port 52d reaches a position corresponding to the toner loading port 3d, and the toner is replenished to the developing device 2d through the toner replenishing port 52d and the toner loading port 3d.

  According to the above-described embodiment, the plurality of toner cartridges 40 b to 40 d include the container main bodies 51 b to 51 d for storing toner and the toner loading ports of the developing devices 2 b to 2 d arranged in the left-right direction of the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus 1. 3b to 3d are provided with toner replenishing ports 52b to 52d for replenishing toner, and are detachably mounted in front of the apparatus main body. Each of the plurality of container main bodies 51b to 51d has a square bottom surface part 56b to 56d and four side parts 57b to 57d that are symmetrical with respect to a plane including the central axes 58b to 58d of the container main bodies 51b to 51d. The toner supply ports 52b to 52d are formed in a prismatic body, and are provided at the same positions apart from the central axes 58b to 58d in the bottom surface portions 56b to 56d, and the central axis 58b in the horizontal direction of the apparatus main body when mounted on the apparatus main body. At a different position from ~ 58d.

  With this configuration, when the toner cartridges 40b to 40d are moved in the mounting direction, the toner replenishing ports 52b to 52d face the toner loading ports 3b to 3d and replenish toner of each color to the developing devices 2b to 2d. be able to. Since the toner supply ports 52b to 52d are located at different positions in the left-right direction of the apparatus main body with respect to the central axes 58b to 58d of the container main bodies 51b to 51d at the time of mounting, other toner cartridges are placed in a predetermined developing device. If it is installed incorrectly, the toner replenishing port will interfere with the adjacent container body when the toner replenishing port is aligned with the toner loading port in the left-right direction of the device body, or if the adjacent container body is moved in the mounting direction without interference, the toner replenishing port will be loaded with toner. Since it does not face the mouth, it is possible to prevent erroneous mounting of the toner cartridge.

  Further, with this configuration, the container main bodies 51b to 51d of the toner cartridges 40b to 40d have the same rectangular column shape, and the toner supply ports 52b to 52d are the same as the bottom surface portions 56b to 56d of the container main bodies 51b to 51d. Since it is provided at the position, the container main bodies 51b to 51d made of plastic can be molded with a common mold, and the manufacturing costs of the container main bodies 51b to 51d can be reduced.

  Further, storage members 41b to 41d are provided on the bottom surface portions 56b to 56d of the container main bodies 51b to 51d, and the storage members 41b to 41d have guide portions 48b to 48d for guiding the mounting to the apparatus main body and the container main body. It is formed separately from 51b to 51d. As a result, the outer shape of each of the container main bodies 51b to 51d and the position of the toner replenishing port are made common, so that the manufacturing cost of each of the container main bodies 51b to 51d is reduced, and at the time of mounting, the guide portions 48b to 48d are used. Since the installation of the developing device corresponding to the toner cartridge is guided, erroneous mounting of the toner cartridge can be further prevented.

  The storage members 41b to 41d are shutter members 42b to 42d whose posture is changed between an open posture for opening the toner supply ports 52b to 52d and a closed posture for closing the toner supply ports 52b to 52d, and the shutter member 42b. The slit portions 43b to 43d provided in the shutter members 42b to 42d are provided to change the postures of 42d to 42d, and the slits 43b to 43d are provided on the developing devices 2b to 2d when the apparatus is mounted on the apparatus body. The shutter members 42b to 42d are moved to the open posture by engaging with. Thus, when the toner cartridges 40b to 40d are moved in the mounting direction, the slit portions 43d of the shutter members 42b to 42d are brought into contact with the protrusions 4b to 4d, and the toner cartridges 40b to 40d are further moved in the mounting direction. Then, the shutter members 42b to 42d are rotated by the protrusions 4b to 4d to be in the open posture, and the toner is supplied to the developing devices 2b to 2d through the toner supply ports 52b to 52d and the toner loading ports 3b to 3d. The For this reason, since it is not necessary to employ a special operation member for opening and closing the shutter, the operability is improved and the apparatus can be reduced in size and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  The guide portions 48b to 48d are elongated holes formed in the mounting direction, and are engaged with the protrusions 4b to 4d provided in the developing devices 2b to 2d to guide the mounting on the mounting body, When the guide portions 48b to 48d are aligned with the protrusions 4b to 4d and the toner cartridge is moved in the mounting direction at the time of mounting, the mounting to the mounting body is surely guided. Can be prevented.

  Further, gears 62a to 62d for driving the feeders 53b to 53d for stirring the toner in the container main bodies 51b to 51d, and the gears 62a to 62d are accommodated, and the gears 62a to 62d can be engaged with a drive source of the apparatus main body. The mechanism housing members 61b to 61d having the openings 63b to 63d formed as described above are provided on the upper surfaces of the container bodies 51b to 51d, and the openings 63b to 63d are formed in the mounting direction. Thus, when the toner cartridge is moved in the mounting direction by aligning the gears 62a to 62d with the drive source of the apparatus main body at the time of mounting, the mounting on the mounting main body is surely guided. It is possible to further prevent erroneous mounting.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, if the image forming apparatus 1 includes the toner cartridges 40b to 40d, the manufacturing cost of the container main bodies 51b to 51d is reduced, and the toner cartridges 40b to 40d are erroneously attached. Therefore, it is possible to provide the image forming apparatus 1 that prevents the above.

  In addition, in the said embodiment, although the container main bodies 51b-51d showed the structure which is a shape of a square pole body, this invention is not restricted to this, A container main body is a surface containing the bottom face part and the central axis of this container main body. If it is formed of a column having a side part that is symmetrical with respect to the bottom part, the bottom part may be formed in a regular hexagonal shape, a regular octagonal shape, or a circular shape. For example, if the container body is formed of an octagonal prism body having a regular octagonal bottom surface, the toner supply port can be set at five different positions when mounted on the apparatus body, so black toner together with yellow, cyan and magenta If the cartridge is also made of the same container body, it is possible to prevent erroneous mounting of the four color toner cartridges.

  The present invention can be used for a toner supply container provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine, and an image forming apparatus using the same.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2a-2d Developing device 3a-3d Toner loading port 4a-4d Protrusion part 11a-11d Photoconductor 40a-40d Toner cartridge (toner supply container)
41a to 41d Storage members 42a to 42d Shutter members 43a to 43d Slit portions 44a to 44d Open holes 45a to 45d Rotating shafts 46a to 46d Shield portions 47a to 47d Escape holes 48a to 48d Guide portions 51a to 51d Container bodies 52a to 52d Toner supply Mouth 53a-53d Feeder (stirring member)
54a to 54d Feeder shafts 56a to 56d Bottom surface portions 57a to 57d Side surface portions 58a to 58d Center axis lines 61a to 61d Mechanism storage portions 62a to 62d Gears (driving force transmission mechanism)
63a-63d opening part

Claims (2)

A plurality of toner replenishing containers removably attachable to a plurality of developing devices arranged in a predetermined direction;
A first toner supply container mounted on a first developing device included in the plurality of developing devices;
A second toner supply container mounted on a second developing device included in the plurality of developing devices;
With
The first toner supply container is
A first container body for storing toner;
A first toner supply port formed on the bottom surface of the first container body;
A first storage member attached to the bottom surface of the first container body;
The second toner supply container is
A second container body for storing toner;
A second toner supply port formed on the bottom surface of the second container body;
A second storage member attached to the bottom surface of the second container body;
The shape of the first container body and the shape of the second container body are the same,
With the first storage member, the first toner supply port is in a first position corresponding to the first toner loading port of the first developing device;
The second storage member causes the second toner supply port to be in a second position corresponding to the second toner loading port of the second developing device;
The distance at which the first position is separated from the central axis of the first container body and the distance at which the second position is separated from the central axis of the second container body are the same,
The first position is in a first direction with respect to a central axis of the first container body;
The second position is in a second direction with respect to a central axis of the second container body;
The plurality of toner supply containers, wherein the first direction and the second direction are different directions. A toner replenishing container that is detachably attachable to any one of a plurality of developing devices arranged side by side in a predetermined direction;
A container body that stores toner and has a toner replenishing port formed on a bottom surface thereof , a first storage member, and a second storage member ;
Either one of the first storage member and the second storage member is attached to the bottom portion,
When attached to the first developing device included in the plurality of developing devices, said first housing member is attached to the bottom portion,
When attached to the second developing device included in the plurality of developing devices, said second housing member is attached to the bottom portion,
When the first storage member is attached to the bottom surface portion and attached to the first developing device, the toner replenishing port corresponds to the first toner loading port of the first developing device. Position,
When the second storage member is attached to the bottom surface portion and attached to the second developing device, the toner supply port corresponds to a second toner loading port of the second developing device. Position,
The distance at which the first position is separated from the central axis of the container body and the distance at which the second position is separated from the central axis of the container body are the same,
The first position is in a first direction relative to a central axis of the container body;
The second position is in a second direction with respect to a central axis of the container body;
The toner replenishing container, wherein the first direction and the second direction are different directions.

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