JP5814428B2 - Developer container and image forming apparatus provided with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer container that contains a developer, and an image forming apparatus including the developer container.

  In an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet using toner (developer), a toner container that replenishes toner is assembled to the developing device. From the viewpoint of effective use of the toner material, it is desirable to completely replace the toner stored in the toner container and replace it with a new toner container. However, since the toner adheres to the inner peripheral wall of the container or stays at corners in the container, it is difficult to use up the toner.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a partition plate that is movable toward a discharge port is disposed inside a toner container. The partition plate is urged by a spring in a direction in which the toner is directed toward the discharge port. However, with this technique, it is difficult to move the partition plate smoothly inside the container. In addition, since the partition plate is always urged by the spring, there is a concern that the toner may be pressed and toner performance may be deteriorated.

JP-A-5-107918

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a developer container having a structure that does not allow the developer to remain as much as possible inside the container main body, and an image forming apparatus including the same without the above-described problems. .

A developer container according to an aspect of the present invention is provided with a container main body including a wall that defines an internal space for storing a developer, the container main body disposed at a predetermined position of the container main body, and penetrating through the wall. A developer discharge port that communicates with the outside, a moving shaft that is arranged to extend in the first direction in the internal space, and the developing space that moves in the first direction along the moving shaft in the internal space. A movable plate that conveys the developer toward the developer discharge port, a guide portion that guides the movement of the movable plate in the first direction while maintaining the posture of the movable plate, and is attached to the movable plate. An elastic member that is in sliding contact with the inner surface of the wall of the container body when the moving plate is moved in the first direction, and the moving shaft includes a male spiral portion on a peripheral surface thereof, and the moving The plate is integrally formed with a female spiral portion that engages with the male spiral portion. And when the moving shaft rotates about the axis, the moving plate moves in the first direction and is integrally assembled to the moving plate, and the downstream side of the moving plate is in the first direction. further comprising a peripheral surface and abutting cleaning member of the male spiral portion, the cleaning member, the female helical portion is preliminarily clean the peripheral surface of the male helical portion before contacting the male helical portion, the female helical portion The nut portion, and an extension portion extending from the outer periphery of the nut portion, the extension portion including a holding plane extending downstream in the first direction from the nut portion, and the cleaning member is a thin plate A member is partially held on the holding plane.

  According to this configuration, since the moving plate moves along the moving axis, the moving path is determined. In addition, the moving plate tends to become unstable because the elastic member moves while slidingly contacting the inner surface of the wall of the container body. However, since the posture is maintained by the guide portion, the moving plate is stably moved in the first direction. I can move. Therefore, the developer in the container body can be surely directed to the developer discharge port.

  The moving shaft includes a male spiral portion on a circumferential surface thereof, and the moving plate integrally includes a female spiral portion that engages with the male spiral portion, and the moving shaft is driven by the rotational driving force. By rotating around the axis, the movable plate moves in the first direction. For this reason, since the movable plate can be moved in the first direction only by rotating the movable shaft around the axis, the moving mechanism of the movable plate can be simplified.

  Further, the cleaning plate further includes a cleaning member that is integrally assembled with the moving plate and contacts the peripheral surface of the male spiral portion on the downstream side in the first direction with respect to the moving plate. Before contacting the male spiral portion, the peripheral surface of the male spiral portion is cleaned in advance. For this reason, the moving plate can be moved in the first direction while the developer attached to the peripheral surface of the male spiral portion is removed by the cleaning member. Accordingly, smooth movement of the moving plate can be ensured.

  In the developer container, the female spiral portion includes a nut portion and an extension portion that extends from an outer periphery of the nut portion, and the extension portion is located downstream of the nut portion in the first direction. Preferably, the cleaning member is a thin plate-like member, and a part of the cleaning member is held on the holding plane.

  In this case, the cleaning member includes a base portion made of a flat plate and a brush portion that is connected to the base portion and contacts the peripheral surface of the male spiral portion, and the brush portion is located downstream of the nut portion in the first direction. It is desirable that the base portion is held on the holding plane of the extension portion so as to be adjacent to each other.

  In the developer container, the wall of the container body includes a first wall and a second wall facing each other in a first direction, and a peripheral wall extending in a cylindrical shape between the first wall and the second wall. The movable plate includes an outer peripheral portion facing the inner surface of the peripheral wall with a gap, and the elastic member is a flexible film member, and the film member is attached to the movable plate. It is desirable to include a base end portion, an intermediate portion that crosses the gap from the outer peripheral portion, and a distal end portion that contacts the inner surface of the peripheral wall.

  According to this configuration, there is a gap between the outer peripheral portion of the moving plate and the inner surface of the peripheral wall, and it is the tip portion of the film member that is in sliding contact with the inner surface of the peripheral wall. For this reason, the movement resistance at the time of the movement of the moving plate in the first direction can be reduced. Further, since the gap is provided, the dimensional accuracy with respect to the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the movable plate can be set loosely.

  In the developer container, the developer discharge port is disposed in the second wall or a peripheral wall in the vicinity thereof, and the moving plate has a movement start end in the vicinity of the first wall, and in the vicinity of the second wall. In the first direction, and includes a pressing surface facing the second wall, and the pressing surface is moved by moving the moving plate from the moving start end to the moving end. It is desirable to gradually narrow the space for substantially containing the developer in the internal space.

  According to this configuration, the entire section from the vicinity of the first wall to the vicinity of the second wall becomes the moving area of the moving plate. Then, the developer can be directed toward the developer discharge port while the developer accommodation space is gradually narrowed. That is, all the developers in the container main body can be easily directed to the developer discharge port.

  In the developer container, the second wall is a flat plate, the pressing surface is a plane extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the developer discharge port is disposed in the second wall. When the moving plate reaches the moving end, it is preferable that the pressing surface substantially closes the developer discharge port.

  According to this configuration, when the moving plate reaches the moving end, that is, when the developer in the container body becomes empty, the moving plate functions as a shutter that closes the developer discharge port. Further, by visually observing the state where the developer discharge port is sealed with the moving plate, the user can confirm the state of toner empty.

  In the developer container described above, it is preferable that a protrusion that protrudes toward the internal space is provided in a region of the inner surface of the wall of the container body where the elastic member slides.

  According to this configuration, the elastic member interferes with the protrusion while the moving plate moves in the first direction. Since the elastic member is repelled by this interference, it is possible to cause the elastic member to perform an operation of scraping off toner adhering to the inner surface of the wall by the reaction.

  In this developer container, the protrusion has a maximum protrusion height that can be accommodated in the gap, and a slope portion that gradually increases in height from the upstream side to the downstream side in the first direction, It is desirable to have a step portion where the protruding height suddenly decreases from the maximum protruding height portion of the slope portion.

  According to this configuration, when the moving plate moves in the first direction, the elastic member gradually increases the elastic force as the elastic member ascends the slope portion, and the elastic member is instantly reached when the step portion is reached. The power can be released at once. Therefore, the toner scraping force can be increased.

  The developer container may further include an idling mechanism that idles the male spiral portion with respect to the female spiral portion at a position on the moving shaft where movement of the moving plate along the moving axis is stopped. desirable.

  According to this configuration, when the moving plate reaches a predetermined stop position, the female spiral portion is idled with respect to the male spiral portion, so that the moving plate is stopped without stopping the rotation of the moving shaft. Can do. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the necessity of strictly controlling the rotation of the moving shaft.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes the developer container, an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image and a developer image, and the developer supplied from the developer container. A developing device that supplies the developer to the image carrier, and a transfer unit that transfers the developer image from the image carrier to a sheet.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a developer container that does not allow the developer to remain as much as possible inside the container body, and an image forming apparatus including the developer container.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a toner container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the toner container. FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a moving state of a moving plate in the toner container. FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a moving state of a moving plate in the toner container. It is a front view of the moving board with which the film member was attached. It is explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of a film member. It is explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of a film member. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a toner container according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which expands and shows a cleaning member. (A)-(C) are top views which show the movement condition of the movement board in the toner container which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. (A)-(C) are explanatory drawings which show in order the situation where a film member gets over a projection part.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a photosensitive drum 11 (image carrier), a charger 12, an optical scanning device 13, a developing device 14, a transfer roller 15 (transfer portion), a fixing device 16, a paper feed cassette 17, and a toner container 20 ( A developer container).

  The photosensitive drum 11 is a cylindrical member, and carries an electrostatic latent image and a toner image (developer image) on its peripheral surface. The photosensitive drum 11 receives a driving force from a motor (not shown) and rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. The charger 12 charges the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11 substantially uniformly. The optical scanning device 13 forms an electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11. The optical scanning device 13 includes a light source such as a laser diode, a deflecting body, a scanning lens, an optical element, and the like, and according to image data with respect to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11 that is substantially uniformly charged by the charger 12. Irradiate the laser beam.

  The developing device 14 develops the electrostatic latent image by supplying toner to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11. The developing device 14 includes a developing roller 141 that carries toner and a screw (not shown) that stirs and conveys the toner. The toner container 20 supplies toner to the developing device 14. The toner container 20 includes a toner discharge port 24 (developer discharge port) that communicates with the housing of the developing device 14, and replenishes toner into the developing device 14 through the toner discharge port 24 according to toner consumption.

  The transfer roller 15 is disposed to face the photosensitive drum 11 from below, and forms a transfer nip portion therebetween. A transfer bias is applied to the transfer roller 15 to transfer the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 onto the sheet. The fixing device 16 includes a fixing roller 161 incorporating a heater, and a pressure roller 162 disposed to face the fixing roller 160. The fixing device 16 fixes the toner image on the sheet by heating and pressing the sheet on which the toner image is transferred. The paper feed cassette 17 stores a large number of sheets used for image formation.

  Next, an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be briefly described. First, the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is charged substantially uniformly by the charger 12. The charged peripheral surface is exposed by the optical scanning device 13, and an electrostatic latent image of an image transferred to the sheet is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11. The electrostatic latent image is manifested as a toner image by supplying toner from the developing roller 141 of the developing device 14 to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 11. On the other hand, the sheet is fed out from the sheet feeding cassette 17 to the conveyance path P. The toner image is transferred to the sheet when the sheet passes through the transfer nip portion. After this transfer operation is performed, the sheet is conveyed to the fixing device 16 and the toner image is fixed to the sheet.

  Next, the detailed structure of the toner container 20 will be described. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toner container 20 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the toner container 20. These drawings are attached with XYZ direction indications. The toner container 20 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and includes a container main body 200 including an internal space R for storing toner, a moving shaft 30 accommodated in the internal space R, and a movement along the moving shaft 30. And a film member 50, 50A, 50B (elastic member) attached to the moving plate 40. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the toner container 20 is assembled to the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 with the Y direction being the vertical direction and the + Y side facing down.

  The container body 200 includes a wall that partitions the internal space R. As the walls, the container body 200 includes a first wall 21 (−Y side) and a second wall 22 (+ Y side) that face each other in the Y direction (first direction), and the first wall 21 and the second wall 22. And a peripheral wall 23 extending in a cylindrical shape. The first wall 21 is a rectangular flat plate that is long in the X direction (second direction) and short in the Z direction. The second wall 22 is a flat plate that is slightly smaller in size in the X and Z directions than the first wall 21 and has a convex shape toward the + Z direction.

  The peripheral wall 23 includes a first side wall 231 on the + Z side, a pair of second side walls 232 facing each other in the X direction, and a third side wall 234 on the −Z side. Support walls 233 are connected to the + Z side ends of the second side walls 232, respectively. The support wall 233 is a strip-like wall that is long in the Y direction and short in the X direction, and is a wall perpendicular to the second side wall 232. Connection walls 235 are connected to both ends of the first side wall 231 in the X direction. The connecting wall 235 is a belt-like wall that is long in the Y direction and short in the Z direction, and intersects the support wall 233 at a right angle. Due to the stepped portion formed by the support wall 233 and the connecting wall 235, the width of the container body 200 in the X direction is smaller on the + Z side than on the −Z side. A flange portion 236 is provided at the −Y side end of the container body 200. The flange portion 236 has the same outer diameter size as the first wall 21 and is welded to the first wall 21.

  Near the + X side end portion of the second wall 22, the second wall 22 is penetrated in the Y direction so that the internal space R communicates with the outside (the housing of the developing device 14), and the toner stored in the internal space R is removed. A toner discharge port 24 for supplying to the developing device 14 is provided. A capping portion 25 is welded near the −X side end of the second wall 22. The closing portion 25 is a member that closes a hole for injecting toner into the internal space R from the outside of the container body 200.

  The moving shaft 30 is a screw shaft having rigidity and extending in the Y direction, and is rotatable around the shaft. The −Y side end of the moving shaft 30 is pivotally supported by a bearing portion 211 projecting from the inner surface of the first wall 21, and the + Y side end is pivotally supported by the second wall 22. The moving shaft 30 is the center in the X direction of the container main body 200 and crosses the internal space R in the Y direction in the vicinity of the center in the Z direction.

  The moving shaft 30 includes a threaded portion 31 (male spiral portion) that is continuous in the Y direction and has a spiral screw cut on its peripheral surface, and a round bar portion 32 (idling mechanism) that does not have a screw. The screw portion 31 occupies most of the region except for the vicinity of the + Y side end portion of the moving shaft 30. The spiral screw of the screw portion 31 engages with a nut portion 41 (female spiral portion) of the moving plate 40 described below. In an embodiment in which a simple male screw and female screw engagement structure is applied, the helical screw is a helical groove that matches the male screw included in the nut portion 41. On the other hand, in the embodiment to which the ball screw structure is applied, the spiral screw is a spiral groove suitable for rolling the ball. The round bar portion 32 has a smaller outer diameter than the screw portion 31 and is provided in a short length near the + Y side end portion of the moving shaft 30.

  The + Y side end portion 33 of the moving shaft 30 protrudes from the second wall 22 in the + Y direction. A drive input gear 26 (drive input unit) is integrally attached to the end 33. The drive input gear 26 meshes with a drive gear (not shown) connected to a drive motor provided in the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus 1. When a rotational driving force is applied from the driving gear to the driving input gear 26, the moving shaft 30 rotates around the axis.

  The moving plate 40 moves along the moving shaft 30 in the internal space R, and conveys the toner in the container main body 200 toward the toner discharge port 24. In the present embodiment, the traveling direction of the moving plate 40 is a direction (first direction) from −Y to + Y, and is a direction from top to bottom when assembled in the image forming apparatus 1.

  4 and 5 are plan views showing the movement state of the moving plate 40. FIG. FIG. 6 is a front view of the movable plate 40 to which the film members 50, 50A, and 50B are attached. The moving plate 40 moves (lowers) in the −Y to + Y direction with the vicinity of the first wall 21 as the movement start end and the vicinity of the second wall 22 as the movement end. FIG. 4 shows a state where the moving plate 40 is at the position of the moving start, and FIG. 5 shows a state where the moving plate 40 is at the position of the moving end. The moving plate 40 includes a moving plate main body 400, a nut portion 41, and a pressing surface 42.

  The moving plate main body 400 is made of a flat plate member having rigidity, and has an outer shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the container main body 200 in the X direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the movable plate main body 400 includes a rectangular base 401 that is long in the X direction, and an extension 402 that protrudes in the + Z direction from the + Z side periphery of the base 401. The base 401 is accommodated between the pair of second side walls 232 of the container body 200. The width in the X direction of the base 401 is slightly shorter than the interval between the inner surfaces W <b> 1 of the second side wall 232, and the width in the Z direction is slightly shorter than the length of the second side wall 232 in the Z direction. The extension 402 is accommodated between the pair of connecting walls 235. The X-direction width of the extension 402 is slightly shorter than the interval between the inner surfaces of the connecting wall 235, and the Z-direction width is slightly shorter than the Z-direction length of the connecting wall 235. The X-direction width of the extension portion 402 is shorter than the X-direction width of the base portion 401 by an amount corresponding to the pair of support walls 233. On the + Z side periphery of the base 401, the step periphery 403 at both ends in the X direction where the extension 402 does not protrude faces the inner surface W2 of the support wall 233, respectively.

  The nut portion 41 is integrally assembled to the center portion of the base portion 401 in the X direction and the Z direction, and engages with the moving shaft 30 (screw portion 31). On the inner peripheral surface of the nut portion 41, a helical male screw that engages with the helical screw of the screw portion 31 is formed. When a rotational driving force in a predetermined direction is applied to the drive input gear 26, the moving shaft 30 rotates in a predetermined direction around the axis, whereby the nut portion 41 advances in the + Y direction. As a result, the moving plate 40 can be moved from the position of the moving start end in FIG. The movement of the moving plate 40 is controlled by applying a predetermined amount of rotational driving force to the drive input gear 26 at an appropriate timing according to the remaining amount of toner in the container body 200.

  When the toner in the container body 200 is used up, the moving plate 40 moves to the position of the moving end in FIG. In this state, the nut portion 41 reaches the round bar portion 32 of the moving shaft 30, and the nut portion 41 rotates idly with respect to the moving shaft 30. For this reason, the moving force is no longer transmitted from the moving shaft 30 at the position of the moving end. As described above, the moving plate 40 can be stopped at a predetermined stop position without stopping the rotation of the moving shaft 30, so that it is not necessary to strictly control the rotation of the moving shaft 30 using a sensor or the like. Note that once the nut portion 41 reaches the round bar portion 32 and is disengaged from each other, the moving plate 40 cannot be returned in the direction of the moving start end even if the moving shaft 30 is rotated in the reverse direction.

  The pressing surface 42 is a surface that faces the second side wall 232 and is a plane that is a surface that actually presses the toner in the container body 200 when the moving plate 40 moves. In the internal space R of the container body 200, the toner storage space Q that can substantially store toner is partitioned by the pressing surface 42 at the −Y side surface. That is, the toner storage space Q is partitioned by the inner surfaces of the peripheral wall 23 and the second wall 22 and the pressing surface 42.

  When the moving plate 40 is at the moving start end (FIG. 4), the pressing surface 42 is closest to the first wall 21 and is farthest from the second wall. At this time, the internal space R and the toner storage space Q have substantially the same volume. When the toner container 20 is produced, the toner is filled into the container main body 200 from the toner filling hole at the position of the closing portion 25 in the state shown in FIG. That is, the state of FIG. 4 is a state where the toner container 20 is full of toner.

  As indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 4, when the moving plate 40 is lowered along the traveling direction A, the volume of the toner containing space Q gradually becomes relatively small with respect to the internal space R. With this movement, the toner in the container body 200 is gradually driven toward the toner discharge port 24. Then, when the moving plate 40 reaches the moving end in FIG. 5, the pressing surface 42 and the inner surface of the second wall 22 are in close proximity, and both are parallel flat plates extending in the X direction. Disappears. As described above, the entire section from the vicinity of the first wall 21 to the vicinity of the second wall 22 is a moving area of the moving plate 40, and the toner is gradually reduced to the toner discharge port 24 while the toner containing space Q is gradually narrowed. Can be directed. Accordingly, all the toner in the container body 200 can be directed to the toner discharge port 24.

  Further, in the state of FIG. 5, the pressing surface 42 substantially blocks the toner discharge port 24. As described above, when the moving plate 40 reaches the moving end, that is, when the toner in the container main body 200 becomes empty, the moving plate 40 functions as a shutter that closes the toner discharge port. Further, by visually observing the state where the toner discharge port 24 is sealed by the moving plate 40, the user can recognize that the toner container 20 is in a toner empty state.

  Since the moving plate 40 is moved by the rotation of the moving shaft 30, a force that rotates around the moving shaft 30 acts on the moving plate 40 when moving. However, the moving plate main body 400 of the moving plate 40 has a shape along the cross-sectional shape in the X direction of the container main body 200 as described above. For this reason, the moving plate 40 can move in the traveling direction A without rotating. It is the inner surface W2 (guide portion) of the support wall 233 that contributes to maintaining the posture of the moving plate 40 when the moving plate 40 moves. The rotation of the moving plate 40 is regulated by the stepped peripheral edge 403 abutting against the inner surface W2 of the support wall 233, and the inner surface W2 guides the movement in the traveling direction A of the moving plate 40.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the moving plate main body 400 includes an outer peripheral portion including a + X side peripheral edge 43, a −X side peripheral edge 44, a −Z side peripheral edge 45, and a + Z side peripheral edge 46. As described above, the dimensions of the movable plate body 400 in the X direction and the Z direction are set to be slightly smaller than the dimensions of the internal space of the container body 200. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the + X side peripheral edge 43 and the −X side peripheral edge 44 are opposed to the inner surface W1 of the second side wall 232 with a gap G having a predetermined width, respectively. Although not shown in the figure, gaps also exist between the −Z side peripheral edge 45 and the inner surface of the third side wall 234 and between the + Z side peripheral edge 46 and the inner surface W3 of the first side wall 231. .

  The film members 50, 50 </ b> A, 50 </ b> B are attached in the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the movable plate main body 400 so as to fill the gap G. The film members 50, 50A, and 50B have flexibility, and slidably contact the inner surface of each wall of the container main body 200 when the moving plate 40 moves in the traveling direction A, and remove the toner adhering to the inner surface. Plays the role of scraping. As the film members 50, 50A, and 50B, for example, a PET film such as a Lumirror (registered trademark of Toray Industries, Inc.) film or another resin film having flexibility can be used. Alternatively, a resin sponge or a porous rubber member may be used instead of the film.

  The pair of film members 50 are respectively attached to the movable plate main body 400 in the vicinity of the + X side peripheral edge 43 and the −X side peripheral edge 44. The film member 50 is a rectangular film whose width in the Z direction is substantially the same as that of the base 401. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing the film member 50 attached in the vicinity of the + X side peripheral edge 43. The film member 50 includes a base end portion 51 attached to the movable plate main body 400 in the vicinity of the + X side peripheral edge 43, an intermediate portion 52 extending across the gap G from the + X side peripheral edge 43 (outer peripheral portion), and a second side wall 232. And a front end portion 53 in contact with the inner surface W1 (the inner surface of the peripheral wall). The same applies to the film member 50 attached in the vicinity of the −X side peripheral edge 44.

  The base end portion 51 is attached to the pressing surface 42 side of the moving plate 40 via an adhesive layer made of an adhesive or a double-sided tape. Instead of the adhesive layer, an appropriate holding member may be applied, and the film member 50 may be attached to the moving plate 40 by sandwiching the film member 50 between the holding member and the moving plate 40. The protruding length of the film member 50 in the X direction from the + X side peripheral edge 43 is set to be considerably longer than the gap G. For this reason, the intermediate part 52 is curved so as to change the direction by 90 degrees upstream in the traveling direction A (−Y direction). The distal end portion 53 is in contact with the inner surface W1 of the second side wall 232 and extends in the −Y direction following the inner surface W1. In the present embodiment, the contact surface length in the −Y direction with respect to the inner surface W <b> 1 of the distal end portion 53 is set to be substantially the same as the width of the gap G in the X direction.

  When the moving plate 40 moves in the traveling direction A, the front end portion 53 of the film member 50 rubs the inner surface W1. The toner powder adheres to the inner surface W1, or the adhesion proceeds to form a toner accumulation layer. Or, a lump of toner generated for some reason may adhere to the inner surface W1. These toners are scraped off as the moving plate 40 advances while the front end 53 of the film member 50 rubs against the inner surface W1. The toner that has been scraped off is stored in the toner storage space Q that gradually becomes narrower as the moving plate 40 moves. Therefore, the toner can be effectively used without remaining on the inner surface W1.

  The film members 50A and 50B are similarly attached to the moving plate 40 and perform the same toner scraping action. The film member 50 </ b> A is a rectangular film having substantially the same width as the width of the base 401 in the X direction, and its base end is attached to the pressing surface 42 side of the moving plate 40 in the vicinity of the −Z side peripheral edge 45. Yes. 50 A of film members are provided with the intermediate part which cross | intersects the gap between -Z side peripheral edge 45 and the inner surface of the 3rd side wall 234, and the front-end | tip part which touches the inner surface of the 3rd side wall 234.

  The film member 50 </ b> B is a rectangular film having a width substantially the same as the width of the extension 402 in the X direction, and its base end is attached to the pressing surface 42 side of the moving plate 40 in the vicinity of the + Z side peripheral edge 46. Yes. The film member 50 </ b> B includes an intermediate portion that crosses the gap between the + Z side peripheral edge 45 and the inner surface W <b> 3 of the first side wall 231, and a tip portion that contacts the inner surface W <b> 3 of the first side wall 231. The film members 50 </ b> A and 50 </ b> B scrape off the toner having the respective tip portions attached to the inner surface of the third side wall 234 and the inner surface W <b> 3 of the first side wall 231 as the moving plate 40 moves in the traveling direction A. Fulfill.

  According to the toner container 20 according to the first embodiment as described above, the moving plate 40 moves along the moving shaft 30, so the moving path is fixed. However, there is a gap G between the outer peripheral portion (side peripheral edges 43, 44, 45, 46) of the moving plate 40 and the inner surface of the peripheral wall 23, and the film members 50, 50A, 50B are in sliding contact with the inner surface of the peripheral wall 23. However, the posture of the moving plate 40 tends to become unstable. However, the stepped peripheral edge 403 of the movable plate main body 400 is guided by the inner surface W2 of the support wall 233, so that the posture of the movable plate 40 is maintained in the initial state. Therefore, the moving plate 40 can stably move in the traveling direction A, and the toner in the container body 200 can be reliably directed to the toner discharge port 24.

  Further, a gap G exists between the outer peripheral portion of the movable plate 40 and the inner surfaces W1 and W3 of the peripheral wall 23, and the film member 50 is in sliding contact with the inner surfaces W1 and W3 of the peripheral wall 23 except for the guide region on the inner surface W2. , 50A and 50B only. For this reason, the movement resistance at the time of the movement to the advancing direction A of the movement board 40 can be made small. Further, since the gap G is provided, the dimensional accuracy with respect to the inner surfaces W1 and W3 of the peripheral wall 23 of the movable plate 40 can be set loosely. That is, strict dimensional management is not required for the production of the movable plate 40, and thus the cost can be reduced.

  FIG. 8 is a view showing an attachment mode of the film member 500 according to the modified embodiment. The film member 500 is in contact with the base end portion 51 attached to the moving plate 40 in the vicinity of the + X side peripheral edge 43, the intermediate portion 502 extending from the + X side peripheral edge 43 so as to cross the gap G, and the inner surface W1 of the second side wall 232. Tip 503. The difference from the embodiment of FIG. 7 is the bending direction of the intermediate portion 502. The intermediate portion 502 is curved so as to change the direction by 90 degrees downstream in the traveling direction A (+ Y direction). The tip 503 is in a state extending in the + Y direction following the inner surface W1 of the second side wall 232.

  In the film member 500 according to the modified embodiment, when the moving plate 40 moves in the traveling direction A, the end edge of the front end portion 503 contacts the inner surface W1 from the counter direction. That is, the edge of the tip 503 advances so as to scrape off the toner adhering to the inner surface W1. Accordingly, the toner scraping property on the inner surface W1 can be improved. In addition, as for the film member 500, in order to prevent the buckling at the time of the movement of the moving plate 40, it is desirable to select a member having a corresponding waist strength. According to this modified embodiment, a space corresponding to the bending allowance on the upstream side in the traveling direction A of the film member 50 as shown in FIG. 3 becomes unnecessary. Therefore, the moving plate 40 can be brought closer to the first wall 21 at the moving start end, and the dead space that cannot accommodate the toner can be minimized.

  Next, FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the toner container 20A according to the second embodiment. The toner container 20 </ b> A differs from the toner container 20 of the first embodiment in that the protrusion 60 is provided on the inner surface W <b> 1 of the second side wall 232, and the moving plate 40 has a moving axis. The cleaning member 70 which cleans 30 peripheral surfaces is mounted. Hereinafter, these points will be mainly described.

  The protruding portion 60 protrudes toward the internal space R in the region of the inner surface W1 of the second side wall 232 where the film member 50 is in sliding contact. In the present embodiment, two protrusions 60 are provided on each of the second sidewalls 232 on the + X side and the −X side with a spacing in the Y direction. While the moving plate 40 moves in the traveling direction A (first direction) from the movement start end toward the movement end, the film member 50 interferes with the two protrusions 60. Since the film member 50 is repelled by this interference, the reaction can cause the film member 50 to scrape off the toner adhering to the inner surface W1.

  The maximum protrusion height of each protrusion 60 is set to a height that falls within the range of the gap G. The shape of the protrusion 60 in the Z direction is a right triangle. Specifically, the protrusion 60 has a slope 61 whose protrusion height gradually increases from the upstream side to the downstream side in the traveling direction A, and a protrusion height that suddenly increases from the maximum protrusion height of the slope 61. And a stepped portion 62 that becomes lower. The step portion 62 is a portion perpendicular to the inner surface W1. Since the protrusion 60 has such a shape, when the moving plate 40 moves, the elasticity of the film member 50 is gradually increased as the film member 50 ascends the slope portion 61, and the step portion 62 is formed. The resilience can be released at once at the moment it arrives. Therefore, the scraping force from the inner surface W1 of the toner can be increased.

  Although not shown in FIG. 9, it is desirable that one or a plurality of protrusions similar to the protrusion 60 described above be provided on the first side wall 231 and the third side wall 234 of the peripheral wall 23. Thereby, the film member 50A, 50B can also exert the scraping power of the toner by the elastic force.

  The cleaning member 70 is integrally assembled with the moving plate 40, and is disposed at a position in contact with the peripheral surface of the moving shaft 30 on the downstream side in the traveling direction A with respect to the moving plate 40. FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view showing the cleaning member 70. The cleaning member 70 is a thin plate-like member, and includes a base portion 71 made of a flat plate and a brush portion 72 formed by providing a plurality of slits on the flat plate. The moving shaft 30 is disposed so as to cross the internal space R (toner accommodation space Q) of the container main body 200. For this reason, toner adheres to the peripheral surface of the moving shaft 30. If toner accumulates or adheres to the thread groove of the screw portion 31, the nut portion 41 may not be able to travel on the screw portion 31. The cleaning member 70 cleans the peripheral surface of the moving shaft 30, particularly the peripheral surface of the screw portion 31, so that such a problem does not occur.

  The base portion 71 is a portion corresponding to the base of the brush portion 72. In the present embodiment, an extended portion 41 </ b> A for supporting the base portion 71 that extends from the outer periphery of the nut portion 41 is provided integrally with the nut portion 41. The extension portion 41A has a holding plane, and the back surface of the base portion 71 is bonded to the holding plane. The brush portion 72 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the screw portion 31 (moving shaft 30) with a predetermined pressing force. The brush pieces of the brush portion 72 are arranged in the Y direction, and the illustration is simplified in FIG. 10, but a part of the brush piece is in contact with the screw groove portion of the screw portion 31 and the other portion is in contact with the screw thread portion. .

  FIG. 11A to FIG. 11C are plan views showing the movement state of the moving plate 40 in the toner container 20A according to the second embodiment. 11A shows a state in which the moving plate 40 is at the position of the moving start, FIG. 11B shows a state in which the moving plate 40 has advanced to some extent and is in an intermediate position, and FIG. Each state at the position of the end of movement is shown. As the moving plate 40 advances, the toner storage space Q gradually decreases in the internal space R of the container body 200, and the toner is guided to the toner discharge port 24. This is the same as in the first embodiment.

  As the moving plate 40 advances, the cleaning member 70 also advances. The cleaning member 70 is disposed downstream of the nut portion 41 in the traveling direction A. For this reason, the cleaning member 70 cleans in advance the peripheral surface of the portion immediately downstream of the screw portion 31 through which the nut portion 41 passes due to the rotation of the moving shaft 30. That is, the moving plate 40 can be moved in the traveling direction A while removing the toner adhering to the peripheral surface of the screw portion 31. Therefore, the smooth movement of the moving plate 40 can be ensured.

  FIG. 11B shows a state immediately after the film member 50 has passed through the upstream protruding portion 60, and FIG. 11C shows the state immediately after the film member 50 has passed through the downstream protruding portion 60. . 12 (A) to 12 (C) are explanatory views sequentially showing the situation in which the film member 50 gets over the protrusion 60.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, at the initial stage when the film member 50 passes through the protruding portion 60, the leading end portion 53 of the film member 50 is in sliding contact with the slope portion 61. Since the slope portion 61 protrudes from the inner surface W1 in the direction of the moving shaft 30, the degree of curvature of the intermediate portion 52 gradually increases as the moving plate 40 advances in the moving direction A. That is, the elasticity of the film member 50 is gradually increased. FIG. 12B shows a state immediately before the distal end portion 53 passes through the maximum protruding height portion of the slope portion 61. In this state, the degree of curvature of the intermediate portion 52 is further increased, and the resilience inherent in the film member 50 is increased to the maximum level.

  FIG. 12C shows a moment when the distal end 53 reaches the stepped portion 62 due to the further movement of the moving plate 40 in the traveling direction A, and the elastic force of the film member 50 is suddenly released. At this time, the distal end portion 53 strikes the inner surface W1, and an air flow is also generated. Due to this tapping operation and wind pressure, the toner adhering to the hit portion of the inner surface W1 and the downstream portion thereof is scraped off from the inner surface W1. Accordingly, the toner can be scraped off from the inner surface W1 more effectively than when the film member 50 is simply rubbed against the inner surface W1.

  The toner containers 20 and 20A and the image forming apparatus 1 including the toner containers 20 and 20A according to the embodiment of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can employ the following modified embodiments, for example.

  (1) In the above embodiment, an example in which the toner container 20 is assembled to the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 with the + Y side facing down has been described. Instead, the toner container 20 may be assembled to the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 with the Y direction, that is, the direction in which the moving shaft 30 extends, as the horizontal direction. In this case, the toner discharge port 24 is disposed in the vicinity of the second wall 22 and on the lower surface of the peripheral wall 23.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the application of a mechanism in which the round bar portion 32 is provided near the downstream end of the moving shaft 30 and the nut portion 41 is idled when the moving plate 40 reaches the moving end is illustrated. The round bar portion 32 is an example of an idling mechanism. For example, a one-way clutch or the like may be provided in the nut portion 41 so that the nut portion 41 rotates idly with respect to the moving shaft 30. In addition, a sensor that detects the position of the moving plate 40 may be provided, and the rotational drive of the moving shaft 30 may be controlled based on the detection result of the sensor.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the example in which the inner surface W2 of the support wall 233 is used as the guide portion of the moving plate 40 has been described. The guide part should just be what can move the movement board 40, maintaining the attitude | position of the movement board 40. FIG. For example, it is good also as an aspect which each provides a guide groove and the guide protrusion engaged with this in the outer peripheral part of the moving plate 40, and the inner surface of the surrounding wall 23. FIG.

  (4) In the said embodiment, the cleaning member 70 showed the example comprised with the flat plate which has a slit. Instead, a member that can be easily deformed, for example, a cleaning member 70 made of a flexible film may be used. Such a cleaning member 70 does not prevent the movement wall 40 from moving in the + Y direction after the cleaning member 70 reaches the second wall 22. Finally, the cleaning member 70 is crushed (compressed) between the pressing surface 42 of the moving wall 40 and the second wall 22. Therefore, the pressing surface 70 has an advantage that the toner discharge port 24 can be substantially blocked and the toner can be used up to the end (the storage space Q can finally be minimized).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 11 Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
14 Developing device 15 Transfer roller (transfer section)
20, 20A toner container (developer container)
200 Container Body 21 First Wall 22 Second Wall 23 Peripheral Wall 24 Toner Discharge Port (Developer Discharge Port)
30 Moving shaft 31 Screw part 32 Round bar part (idling mechanism)
40 moving plate 41 nut portion 42 pressing surface 50, 50A, 50B film member (elastic member)
51 Base end portion 52 Intermediate portion 53 Tip portion 60 Projection portion 61 Slope portion 62 Step portion 70 Cleaning member G Gap R Internal space W1 Inner surface (inner surface of wall)
W2 Inner surface (guide part)

Claims (9)

A container body having a wall defining an internal space for containing the developer;
A developer discharge port that is disposed at a predetermined position of the container main body and communicates the internal space with the outside through the wall;
A movement axis arranged to extend in the first direction in the internal space;
A moving plate that moves in the first direction along the moving axis in the internal space and conveys the developer toward the developer discharge port;
A guide portion for guiding the movement of the movable plate in the first direction while maintaining the posture of the movable plate;
An elastic member attached to the moving plate, and in sliding contact with the inner surface of the wall of the container body when the moving plate moves in the first direction;
The moving shaft includes a male spiral portion on a peripheral surface thereof, and the moving plate integrally includes a female spiral portion that engages with the male spiral portion, and the moving shaft rotates around the axis. The moving plate moves in the first direction;
The cleaning plate further includes a cleaning member that is integrally assembled with the moving plate and contacts the peripheral surface of the male spiral portion on the downstream side in the first direction with respect to the moving plate. Before contacting the spiral part, clean the peripheral surface of the male spiral part in advance ,
The female spiral part includes a nut part and an extension part extending from the outer periphery of the nut part,
The extension portion includes a holding plane that extends further downstream in the first direction than the nut portion,
The cleaning member is a thin plate-like member, and a part thereof is held on the holding plane.
Developer container. The developer container according to claim 1 ,
The cleaning member includes a base portion made of a flat plate, and a brush portion that continues to the base portion and contacts the peripheral surface of the male spiral portion,
The developer container, wherein the base portion is held by the holding plane of the extension portion so that the brush portion is adjacent to the nut portion on the downstream side in the first direction. The developer container according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The wall of the container body includes a first wall and a second wall facing each other in a first direction, and a peripheral wall extending in a cylindrical shape between the first wall and the second wall,
The moving plate includes an outer peripheral portion facing the inner surface of the peripheral wall with a gap therebetween,
The elastic member is a flexible film member,
The film member includes a base end portion attached to the moving plate, an intermediate portion that crosses the gap from the outer peripheral portion, and a distal end portion that contacts an inner surface of the peripheral wall. The developer container according to claim 3 ,
The developer discharge port is disposed on the second wall or a peripheral wall in the vicinity thereof,
The moving plate moves in the first direction with the vicinity of the first wall as a movement start end and the vicinity of the second wall as a movement end, and includes a pressing surface facing the second wall,
A developer storage container in which the pressing surface gradually narrows a space for substantially storing the developer in the internal space by movement of the moving plate from the moving start end toward the moving end. In the developer container according to claim 4 ,
The second wall is flat, the pressing surface is a plane extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the developer discharge port is disposed on the second wall, the developer container . In the developer container according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
A developer storage container, wherein a protrusion that protrudes toward the internal space is provided in an area of the inner surface of the wall of the container main body in contact with the elastic member. In the developer container according to claim 6 ,
The protrusion has a maximum protrusion height that fits within the gap, and has a slope portion that gradually increases from the upstream side to the downstream side in the first direction, and the maximum protrusion height of the slope portion. A developer containing container having a stepped portion whose protruding height suddenly decreases from this portion. In the developer container according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
A developer storage container comprising an idle rotation mechanism that idles the male spiral portion with respect to the female spiral portion at a position on the movement axis where the movement of the movable plate along the movement axis is stopped. The developer container according to any one of claims 1 to 8 ,
An image carrier carrying an electrostatic latent image and a developer image;
A developing device that is replenished with the developer from the developer container and supplies the developer to the image carrier;
A transfer unit for transferring the developer image from the image carrier to a sheet;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images