JP5644310B2 - Developer container and image forming apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer container and an image forming apparatus using the same.

  Conventionally, the image forming apparatus is configured to form an image while replenishing the developer from a developer container that contains the developer to the developing device at a predetermined timing. At that time, the developer container is particularly vertical due to vibration during transportation before being mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, storage conditions such as long-term storage with the top and bottom reversed. In the developer container formed long along the direction, the developer accommodated in the interior may aggregate near the ceiling.

  In view of this, as a technique that can eliminate the developer replenishment failure caused by the aggregation of the developer in the developer container, for example, a technique disclosed in JP-A-11-305532 has already been proposed. ing.

  A developing device according to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-305532 is provided in a hopper of a developing device and stirs toner while rotating around a support shaft, and stays after stirring by the toner stirring member. A vibration plate disposed along the inner wall of the hopper to shake down the toner to be moved downward, and disposed on the support shaft at a rear angle of less than 180 degrees with respect to the rotation direction of the toner stirring member. The toner agitating member rotates behind the toner agitating member by an angle smaller than 180 degrees, and the toner agitating member contacts and separates from the diaphragm after passing to vibrate and vibrate the diaphragm. And a diaphragm flipping member.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-305532

  By the way, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a developer container that can avoid the agglomerated developer remaining in the developer container and an image forming apparatus using the developer container. is there.

That is, the invention described in claim 1 includes a developer storage chamber for storing a developer,
A rotatable stirring member for stirring the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber;
A vibration member held inside the developer storage chamber,
The vibrating member includes a fixed to said sealing member for sealing the fill opening for filling the developer inside the developer accommodating chamber, the vibration in contact with the agitating member that is applied vibration unit, The developer container is characterized by having a vibration part that has a free end disposed inside the developer storage chamber and vibrates when vibration is transmitted from the excitation part .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the vibration member has a branch point that branches from the vibration unit to the plurality of vibration units, and vibrates from the stirring member of the vibration unit from the branch point. the length to the excitation point that is added, to claim 1, characterized in that said vibration member from the branch point is set to be shorter than the length to holding points held in the developer chamber It is a developing agent storage container of description.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer storage chamber for storing a developer,
A rotatable stirring member for stirring the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber;
A vibrating member held inside the developer storage chamber;
A supply port for supplying a developer accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber;
An opening and closing member for opening and closing the supply port;
An operation member for opening and closing the opening and closing member;
An uneven container-shaped vibration generating portion provided in the developer container for generating vibration in contact with the operation member when the operation member is opened and closed. is there.

Furthermore, the invention described in claim 4 is characterized in that the vibration member further includes a vibration unit that is brought into contact with the stirring member to be vibrated, and a free end whose tip is disposed inside the developer accommodating chamber. The developer container according to claim 3 , wherein:

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an image holding body for holding an electrostatic latent image;
Developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image held on the image carrier;
A developer containing container for containing a developer to be supplied to the developing means,
An image forming apparatus using the developer container described in any one of claims 1 to 4 as the developer container.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to avoid the agglomerated developer remaining in the developer container as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily perform the attaching operation of the vibration member as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

Furthermore, according to the invention described in claim 2, compared with a case not having the present structure, it is possible to vibrate the vibrating member efficiently.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the developer aggregated inside the developer container can be unraveled at the start of use of the developer container as compared with the case without this configuration. .

Furthermore, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to avoid the agglomerated developer remaining in the developer container as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 5 , it is possible to avoid the agglomerated developer remaining in the developer containing container as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided. The developer in the container can be effectively used for image formation.

FIG. 2 is a partially broken perspective configuration diagram illustrating a toner cartridge as a developer container according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a tandem type color printer as an image forming apparatus to which a developer container according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a toner cartridge as a developer container according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a tandem color printer as an image forming apparatus to which a developer container according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a mounting / demounting state of a toner cartridge as a developer container according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective configuration diagram illustrating a toner supply path from a toner cartridge to a developing device. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a toner cartridge as a developer container according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a partially broken perspective view which shows a vibration member. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating a toner filling state of the toner cartridge. It is explanatory drawing which shows the vibration state of a vibration member. It is a perspective block diagram which shows the principal part of the toner cartridge as a developing agent storage container which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the toner cartridge as a developing agent storage container which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating toner cartridges as developer containers according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a tandem type color printer as an image forming apparatus to which the developer container according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing an image forming unit of the color printer.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus is configured to display full color or image data according to image data output from a personal computer, an image reading device (not shown), or the like, or image data sent via a telephone line or a LAN. A monochrome image is output.

  In the image forming apparatus main body 1, as shown in FIG. 2, shading correction, position, and the like are applied to image data sent from a personal computer (PC) or an image reading device (not shown). An image processing apparatus 2 that performs predetermined image processing such as misalignment correction, brightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame erasing, color / moving editing, and the like is disposed, and control for controlling the operation of the entire image forming apparatus. Part 3 is arranged.

  The image data that has been subjected to the predetermined image processing by the image processing device 2 as described above is processed by the image processing device 2 in the same manner as yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). And output as a full-color image, a monochrome image, or the like by the image output unit 4 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 1 as described below.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus main body 1 includes four image forming units (image forming means) 6Y of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). 6M, 6C, and 6K with respect to the horizontal direction so that the yellow (Y) image forming unit 6Y of the first color is relatively high and the black (K) image forming unit 6K is relatively low. They are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval while being inclined by a predetermined angle.

  In this way, the four image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are arranged in an inclined state by a predetermined angle. As a result, the distance between the image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K can be set shorter than in the case where these four image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K are arranged horizontally, and image formation is performed. The width along the arrangement direction of the apparatus main bodies 1 can be reduced to reduce the size.

  These four image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K are basically configured similarly except for the color of the image to be formed. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. The photosensitive drum 8 as an image holding member that is rotationally driven at a predetermined speed along the direction of the arrow A, a charging roll 9 for primary charging that charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 8, and the photosensitive member. An image exposure device 7 that forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing an image corresponding to a predetermined color on the surface of the drum 8, and a toner of a color corresponding to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 8. The developing device 10 that develops the toner and the cleaning device 11 that cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum 8 are configured.

  As the photosensitive drum 8, for example, a drum having a diameter of about 30 mm and having a surface coated with a photosensitive layer made of an organic photoconductor (OPC) or the like is used. It is rotationally driven at a predetermined speed along the A direction.

  Further, as the charging roll 9, for example, a roll-shaped charger in which the surface of the core metal is covered with a conductive layer made of synthetic resin or synthetic rubber and having an adjusted electric resistance is used. Is applied with a predetermined charging bias.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image exposure apparatus 7 includes one image exposure apparatus 7 corresponding to the four image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K. The laser beam is deflected along the axial direction of each photosensitive drum 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K based on image data corresponding to each color of (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). An apparatus that performs image exposure by scanning is used.

  The image exposure device 7 may be an LED exposure device array.

  From the image processing apparatus 2, one image exposure provided corresponding to each of the image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C and 6K of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K). Image data corresponding to each color is sequentially output to the apparatus 7, and the four laser beams emitted according to the image data from the image exposure apparatus 7 are the surfaces of the corresponding photosensitive drums 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K. The electrostatic latent images corresponding to the image data are formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K. The electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive drums 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K are yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black by the developing devices 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K, respectively. It is developed as a toner image of each color of (K).

  Yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) sequentially formed on the photosensitive drums 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K of the image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K. Each color toner image is transferred to four primary transfer rolls 13Y on an endless belt-like intermediate transfer belt 12 as an intermediate transfer member disposed in an inclined state over the image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K. Multiplexed primary transfer is sequentially performed by 13M, 13C, and 13K.

  The intermediate transfer belt 12 is an endless belt-like member stretched by a plurality of rolls, and the lower side running region of the belt-like member is relatively low on the downstream side along the running direction and relatively upstream on the upstream side. The image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K are arranged so as to be inclined at an angle equal to the inclination angle of the image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate transfer belt 12 includes a drive roll 14, a small-diameter driven roll 15, a large-diameter driven roll 16, a back support roll 17 in the secondary transfer portion, and a cleaning. Predetermined along the direction of arrow B by a drive roll 14 that is wound around with a back support roll 18 of the apparatus with a predetermined tension, and is driven to rotate by a drive motor (not shown) having excellent constant speed. It is circulated at a specified speed. As the intermediate transfer belt 12, for example, a belt formed of an endless belt with a synthetic resin film such as flexible polyimide or polyamideimide is used. The intermediate transfer belt 12 is disposed so as to be in contact with the photosensitive drums 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K of the image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K in the lower side running region.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate transfer belt 12 is arranged at the lower end portion of the traveling area of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and records the toner images that have been primary-transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 12 in a multiple manner. A secondary transfer roll 20 as a secondary transfer means for performing secondary transfer collectively on the medium 19 is disposed so as to contact the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12 stretched by the back support roll 17.

  The yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 12 in a multiple manner onto the back support roll 17 as shown in FIG. The secondary transfer roll 20 that is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 12 performs a secondary transfer in a batch on a recording paper 19 as a recording medium, and the recording paper 19 on which the toner images of these colors are transferred is in the vertical direction. Is conveyed to a fixing device 21 located above. The secondary transfer roll 20 is in pressure contact with the side of the back support roll 17 via the intermediate transfer belt 12, and a toner image of each color is recorded on a recording sheet 19 that is conveyed from the lower side to the upper side in the vertical direction. Are collectively transferred to the secondary transfer.

  As the secondary transfer roll 20, for example, an elastic body layer made of a conductive elastic body such as a synthetic rubber material to which a conductive agent is added is formed in a predetermined thickness on the outer periphery of a metal core made of a metal such as stainless steel. A coated one is used.

  The recording paper 19 on which the toner images of the respective colors are transferred is subjected to a fixing process with heat and pressure by a heating roll 22 and a pressure belt (or pressure roll) 22 of a fixing device 21 as a fixing unit. The paper is discharged with the image surface down on a discharge tray 25 provided at the upper end of the printer body 1 by a discharge roll 24.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recording paper 19 is of a predetermined size and material from a paper feed tray 26 arranged at the bottom of the printer main body 1, and includes a paper feed roll 27 and paper separation rolls 28, 29. Thus, the sheets are fed one by one, and are transported to the registration roll 31 via the transport roll 30 and stopped. The recording paper 19 supplied from the paper feed tray 26 is sent out to the secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer belt 12 by a registration roll 31 that rotates at a predetermined timing. As the recording paper 19, in addition to plain paper, thick paper such as coated paper coated on the front surface or both surfaces and the OHP sheet can be supplied, and the recording paper 19 made of coated paper can be supplied. Will also output photographic images.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus includes a foldable manual feed tray 32, and recording paper can be fed from the manual feed tray 32 by a pair of paper feed rolls 33.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, residual toner is removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 8 after the primary transfer process of the toner image by the cleaning device 11 to prepare for the next image forming process. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, residual toner and the like are removed from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12 after the secondary transfer process of the toner image by a belt cleaning device 33 provided in the vicinity of the downstream side of the drive roll 14. In preparation for the next image forming step.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. 2, it is possible to form images on both sides of the recording paper 19, and when forming images on both sides of the recording paper 19, the image is formed on one side. In a state where the recording paper 19 on which is formed is held by the discharge roll 24, the recording paper 19 is not discharged onto the discharge tray 25 as it is, but the discharge roll 24 is reversed and the recording paper transport path is used for both sides. Switching to the conveyance path 34 is performed so that the recording paper 19 is conveyed again to the secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer belt 12 by the registration roll 31 with the front and back sides of the recording paper 19 reversed.

  Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus includes a developing device 10Y in each of the image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Toner cartridge 40Y as a developer container for supplying a developer containing at least toner of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) corresponding to 10M, 10C, and 10K , 40M, 40C, 40B.

  These yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K are provided on the upper end surface of the image forming apparatus main body 1 as shown in FIG. The toner cover 41 provided on one side is opened by releasing a locked state by pulling a handle (not shown) provided on the toner cover 41 by hand, and as shown in FIG. 1 is attached to the opening 42 exposed at the upper end surface of the 1 so as to be detachable in a state of being attached to the cartridge holder 43. The toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40B are basically configured in the same manner except that the color of the toner to be stored is different.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40B are mounted at the mounting positions in the opening 42 of the image forming apparatus main body 1, and the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and The fixed or fixed state is released by operating the lever member 67 provided in 40B.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40B are connected to the developer cartridge pipe 44 from the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40B in a state of being mounted on the cartridge holder 43. The developer corresponding to each of the developing devices 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K or the developer composed of the toner and the carrier is supplied.

  FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a toner cartridge as a developer container according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the toner cartridge 13 is provided by means such as welding in a lower housing 51 and an opening 52 provided on one side surface of the upper end portion of the lower housing 51 to identify the toner cartridge 13. Key member 53, a memory element 54 and a memory element cover 55 provided on the side surface of the lower housing 51, an upper housing 57 to be attached to the upper end opening 56 of the lower housing 51, and the upper housing 57 A cap member 59 that closes the toner filling hole 58 opened at the end face, a cover member 60 that is attached to the upper portion of the upper housing 57 so as to cover the cap member 59, and a lower housing 51 that is rotatable. A paddle member 61 as an agitating member to be disposed, and a seal ring for sealing the rotating shaft of the paddle member 61 62, a drive gear 63 that rotationally drives the paddle member 61, a seal member 65 that is attached to the lower surface of the lower housing 51 so as to cover the supply port 64 that is open on the bottom surface of the lower housing 51, and the lower housing 51 A shutter member 66 for opening and closing the supply port 64 and a lever member 67 for opening and closing the shutter member 66 are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the lower housing 51 has an upper part 51a formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape whose upper end face 56 is open to the entire surface, and a lower half face with the lower end face closed below the upper part 51a. It is comprised from the lower part 51b formed continuously in the cylindrical shape. In addition, a supply port 54 for supplying the developer to the outside is opened in a rectangular shape on the lower end surface of the lower housing 51 at a position slightly shifted to one side surface with respect to the lower end portion.

  A rectangular opening 52 is provided on one side surface 51c of the upper end portion of the lower housing 51. The opening 52 is provided with a recess or a protrusion for individually identifying the toner cartridge 13. An appropriately arranged key member 53 is attached by means such as welding. Further, a memory element 54 and a cover member 55 covering the memory element 54 are similarly attached to one side surface of the lower housing 51 by means such as welding.

  Further, a paddle member 61 is rotatably disposed inside the lower housing 51. As shown in FIG. 1, the paddle member 61 includes a rotating shaft 61a, a pair of arm portions 61b and 61b extending radially outward from both end portions along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 61a, And a stirring flat plate portion 61c arranged in parallel to the rotation shaft 61a so as to connect the arm portions 61b and 61b.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the rotation shaft 61a of the paddle member 61 is supported by a bearing portion 51d provided on the side surface of the lower housing 51 so as to be rotatable while preventing leakage of toner by a seal ring 62. A driving gear 63 that rotationally drives the paddle member 61 is fixedly attached to one end of the rotating shaft 61a that protrudes outside the lower housing 51.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, a seal member 65 made of a thin sponge or the like is attached to the lower surface of the lower housing 51 so as to cover the developer supply port 54. Is provided with an opening 65 a at a position corresponding to the developer supply port 54.

  Further, a shutter member 66 for opening and closing the developer supply port 54 is disposed on the outer periphery of the lower surface of the lower housing 51. The shutter member 66 is attached to the lower end portion of the lever member 67, and the developer supply port 54 provided on the lower surface of the lower housing 51 by rotating the lever member 67 about the bearing portion 51d. Can be opened and closed.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the lever member 67 is used when the toner cartridges 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K are attached to the cartridge holder 41 of the image forming apparatus main body 1, as shown in FIGS. , 13K also has a function as a stopper member for positioning and fixing. That is, the lower end portion of the lever member 67 is provided with a convex portion 67a so as to protrude outward from the side surface of the lower housing 51, as shown in FIGS. By operating, the convex portion 67a is inserted into the concave portion provided on the cartridge holder 41 side, and the developer supply port 54 is kept open by the shutter member 66 so that it cannot be removed from the cartridge holder 41. Has been.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper housing 57 is a member that forms a developer accommodating chamber 68 together with the lower housing 51 by covering the upper end opening 56 of the lower housing 51. It may be formed automatically. Further, as described above, the upper housing 57 has a filling hole 58 for filling the upper end surface thereof with toner, and the filling hole 58 is closed by the cap member 58. The upper housing 57 is provided with a cover member 60 so as to cover the cap member 58. The cover member 60 is attached to the upper housing 57 in a state where it cannot be mistakenly attached or detached by the user. Yes.

  Incidentally, in the toner cartridges 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, a vibrating member 70 is disposed in a state of being integrally provided with a cap member 59.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the vibration member 70 is configured to be flexible with a synthetic resin or the like. For example, the vibration member 70 is integrally formed on the lower surface of the cap member 59 with the same or different synthetic resin as the cap member 59. Or attached to the lower surface of the cap member 59 by means such as adhesion or welding.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the vibrating member 70 includes a vibrating portion 71 formed in a linear bar shape having a relatively small diameter along the vertical direction at the center thereof. The vibration portion 71 has an upper end 71a integrally connected to or fixed to the cap member 59, and the lower end 71b extends to the region of the rotation radius of the paddle member 61 as shown in FIG. The lower end portion 71b of the vibration member 70 is disposed so as to come into contact with the stirring flat plate portion 61c of the paddle member 61 that is rotationally driven. Note that the upper end portion 71a of the vibrating portion 71 does not necessarily need to be connected or fixed to the center of the cap member 59, and the upper end portion 71a of the vibrating portion 71 is connected to the cap member 59 as shown in FIG. The upper end 71a of the excitation part 71 is formed in a substantially crank shape by being connected or fixed so as to be shifted from the center of the excitation part 71. It is possible to cause complicated vibration including a rotational moment with the upper end 71a deviated from the fulcrum as a fulcrum.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of (four in the illustrated example) vibration portions 72 are integrally provided in the vicinity of the upper end portion 71 a of the vibration portion 71 of the vibration member 70. The four vibrating portions 72 are provided with arm portions 72a that are integrally connected to the vibrating portion 71 and extend in the horizontal direction, and at the four corners in the developer storage chamber of the toner cartridges 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K. The distal end of the arm portion 72a extending to the vicinity is bent linearly downward in the vertical direction, and the distal end portion 72b bent downward can freely vibrate without coming into contact with other members. It is a free end.

  With the above configuration, in the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment, it is possible to avoid the agglomerated developer remaining in the developer container as follows.

  That is, in this image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. 6, the corresponding colors from yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K. As shown in FIG. 2, in each of the image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black ( A toner image of each color such as K) is formed.

  At that time, in the image forming apparatus, new toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40M, 40M, 40K, 40K, 40K, 40K, 40K, 40K, etc. 40C and 40K are mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 1. At that time, the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K are stored for a long time in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment at the user's office, etc. For example, the developer 80 in the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K may aggregate. In particular, since the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K are formed to be relatively long along the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 9, the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, When storage is performed with the ceiling surfaces of 40C and 40K facing down, aggregation of the developer 80 (toner), so-called blocking, may occur near the ceiling of the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K.

  Incidentally, the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, are supplied with the developer 80 from the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K to the developing devices 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K. When the toner is supplied, the paddle member 61 is rotationally driven a plurality of times at a predetermined timing, whereby the developer 80 in the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K is stirred by the paddle member 61 and the developer is developed. 80 is supplied from the developer supply port 54.

  At that time, the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K include a vibration member 70 held inside the developer storage chamber 68, as shown in FIGS. The lower end portion 71 b of the vibration portion 71 comes into contact with the horizontal plate portion 61 c of the paddle member 61 that is rotationally driven, and is displaced along the rotation direction of the paddle member 61, and the paddle member 61 rotates and vibrates. When the portion 71 is separated from the horizontal plate portion 61 c of the paddle member 61, the portion 71 vibrates in an attempt to return to the original position by the elastic restoring force of the vibration portion 71 of the vibration member 70. The vibration of the excitation unit 71 of the vibration member 70 is repeated every time the paddle member 61 is rotationally driven a plurality of times.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the vibration of the vibration portion 71 of the vibration member 70 is transmitted to the vibration portion 72, and vibrates up to a tip 72 b that is a free end disposed inside the developer storage chamber 68. As a result, even when the developer 80 is aggregated inside the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K, the developer 80 is gradually released by the vibration of the vibration portion 72 of the vibration member 71, and the paddle member 61 is driven to rotate. Thus, the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K are reliably supplied to the outside from the supply ports 54.

  At that time, as shown in FIG. 1, the vibrating portion 72 of the vibrating member 70 is disposed inside the developer accommodating chamber 68, particularly at the upper end of the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K where the developer 80 is likely to aggregate. Since it is located close to the corners, the developer 80 aggregated in the vicinity of the corners of the upper end portions of the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K is also surely dissolved and supplied in powder form. be able to.

  Therefore, even when the developer 80 is aggregated inside the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K, the developer 80 can be reliably released and supplied, and the toner cartridges 40Y, 40M, It is possible to avoid or prevent the developer 80 aggregated inside the 40C and 40K from remaining.

Embodiment 2
FIG. 11 shows Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in Embodiment 1, and in this Embodiment 2, the vibration member is A branch point that branches from the excitation unit to the plurality of vibration units, and a length from the branch point to the excitation point at which vibration is applied from the stirring member of the excitation unit is from the branch point to the The vibration member is set to be shorter than the length to the holding point held in the developer accommodating chamber.

  That is, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, it has a branch point 91 that branches from the vibration part 71 to a plurality of vibration parts 72, and from the paddle member 61 of the vibration part 72 from the branch point 91. The length L1 to the lower end portion 72b, which is the excitation point to which vibration is applied, is set to be shorter than the length L2 from the branch point 91 to the holding point 71a where the vibration member 70 is held by the cap member 59. ing.

  By doing so, the vibration member 70 is determined by the ratio of the lengths of L2 and L2 + L1 when the vibration point 72b located at the lower end thereof is displaced by the paddle member 61 and vibration is applied. Since the displacement is greatly increased by the amount, the vibration amount of the vibration portion 72 can be set large, and the developer 80 can be solved more effectively.

  Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

Embodiment 3
FIG. 12 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals. In the third embodiment, the developer container is shown in FIG. Includes a supply port for supplying the developer stored in the developer storage chamber, an opening / closing member for opening / closing the supply port, an operation member for opening / closing the opening / closing member, and an opening / closing operation for the operation member. In order to generate vibrations in contact with the operation member, an uneven vibration generator provided in the developer container is provided.

  That is, in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, an uneven vibration generating portion 90 having a wave shape or a saw shape is provided on the upper end surface of the cover member 60 of the toner cartridge 40, and On the inner surface of the lever member 67, a protrusion 67d that contacts the vibration generating portion 90 of the cover member 60 is provided.

  In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, when the toner cartridge 40 is mounted and fixed to the cartridge holder 43 by operating the lever member 67 of the toner cartridge 40, the protrusion 67d of the lever member 67 is fixed. A vibration is generated by contacting the vibration generating portion 90 of the cover member 60, and the vibration is transmitted to the vibration member 70 through the entire toner cartridge 40 to vibrate the vibration member 70. Can be solved.

  Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

Embodiment 4
FIG. 13 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those of the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals. FIG. The toner cartridge 40 is attached to a holding portion 95a such as a lid of the toner cartridge 40 through the member 95. FIG. 7B shows the toner cartridge through the rubber tube 96 with the upper end 71a of the vibration member 71 of the vibration member 70 being interposed. FIG. 10C shows a swinging shaft in which the upper end portion 71a of the vibrating portion 71 of the vibrating member 70 is swingably bridged over a recess 97 on the inner wall surface of the toner cartridge 40. Those fixed to 98 are shown.

  Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In the above embodiment, the vibration member 70 is held by the cap member 59 of the toner cartridge 40. However, the vibration member 70 is not limited to the cap member 59 of the toner cartridge 40 and is held by another member. Of course, it is also good.

40: toner cartridge, 61: paddle member, 70: vibration member, 71: vibration unit, 72: vibration unit.

Claims (5)

A developer storage chamber for storing the developer;
A rotatable stirring member for stirring the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber;
A vibration member held inside the developer storage chamber,
The vibrating member includes a fixed to said sealing member for sealing the fill opening for filling the developer inside the developer accommodating chamber, the vibration in contact with the agitating member that is applied vibration unit, A developer containing container comprising a vibrating portion having a distal end formed of a free end disposed inside the developer containing chamber and vibrated by vibration transmitted from the vibrating portion. The vibration member has a branch point that branches from the excitation unit to the plurality of vibration units,
The length from the branch point to the vibration point where the vibration is applied from the stirring member of the vibration unit is longer than the length from the branch point to the holding point where the vibration member is held in the developer storage chamber. The developer container according to claim 1 , wherein the developer container is set short. A developer storage chamber for storing the developer;
A rotatable stirring member for stirring the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber;
A vibrating member held inside the developer storage chamber;
A supply port for supplying a developer accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber;
An opening and closing member for opening and closing the supply port;
An operation member for opening and closing the opening and closing member;
A developer storage container, comprising: an uneven vibration generating portion provided in the developer storage container for generating vibration in contact with the operation member when the operation member is opened and closed. The vibration member is further in contact with the stirring member, and a vibration unit to which vibration is applied,
The developer container according to claim 3 , wherein a leading end is a free end disposed inside the developer containing chamber. An image carrier for holding an electrostatic latent image;
Developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image held on the image carrier;
A developer containing container for containing a developer to be supplied to the developing means,
An image forming apparatus using the developer container described in any one of claims 1 to 4 as the developer container.

Images