JP5879928B2 - Image forming apparatus and toner supply apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a toner supply apparatus.

  An image forming apparatus of the type that develops with toner has a configuration in which a detachable toner container is mounted, and an amount of toner corresponding to toner consumption is supplied. The toner container is pulled out when it is empty or during maintenance. A shutter is provided to close the opening so that the toner does not spill during the drawing. Nevertheless, when the shutter is closed, the toner may spill out and cause dirt on the apparatus.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a toner supply container for supplying toner to a hopper, which has an opening extending over the entire lower surface and a shutter that closes the opening.

JP 2003-107871 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a toner supply apparatus in which the contamination of the apparatus due to toner spillage when a toner container is removed is suppressed.

Claim 1
An image carrier that receives the formation of the latent image and further develops the toner to hold the toner image;
A developing device for accommodating the toner therein and developing the latent image formed on the image carrier with the toner;
Toner containers that contain replenishment toner and are respectively mounted and removed by a sliding operation in the mounting direction and a sliding operation in the removal direction opposite to the mounting direction;
A container support member for supporting the toner container mounted by a sliding operation in the mounting direction;
A toner supplier disposed below the toner container for supplying toner in the toner container supported by the container support member to the developer according to consumption of the toner in the developer;
A transfer device for transferring a toner image derived from an image carrier onto a recording medium;
A fixing device for fixing the toner image transferred onto the recording medium onto the recording medium,
The container support member has a support member opening for allowing the toner delivered from the mounted toner container to pass downward from above toward the toner supply device;
A container housing having a container opening that communicates with the support member opening in a state where the toner container is mounted on the container support member and feeds the toner in the toner container downward ; and a closed position that closes the container opening. It is slidable in the horizontal direction between the open position where the container opening is opened by sliding from the closed position, and is in the closed position when not attached to the container support member. A plate-shaped shutter member that sometimes moves to the closed position, a hole that communicates with the container opening, and a seal member that is attached to the area surrounding the container opening on the lower surface of the container housing;
The shutter member has a spaced-apart portion that is recessed downward in a stepped manner in comparison with the rear region in the mounting direction at the front end in the mounting direction of the surface of the shutter member facing the container opening. Forming device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect , even when the shutter member is in the open position, at least a part of the front end portion in the mounting direction of the shutter member overlaps the seal member. To do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the rear surface of the shutter member faces the opening of the container in the width direction corners that intersect the mounting direction of the front end of the mounting direction. A pair of rib portions that are flush with the first portion, and the spacing portion is formed in a region sandwiched between the pair of rib portions in the width direction.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the shutter member has the front end in the mounting direction in the width direction intersecting with the mounting direction, and the central portion is located in the mounting direction from both corners. It has a shape recessed toward the rear.

Claim 5
Toner containers that contain replenishment toner and are respectively mounted and removed by a sliding operation in the mounting direction and a sliding operation in the removal direction opposite to the mounting direction;
A container support member for supporting the toner container mounted by a sliding operation in the mounting direction;
A toner supplier disposed below the toner container for supplying the toner in the toner container supported by the container support member to a toner supply body that is supplied with the toner ;
The container support member has a support member opening for allowing the toner delivered from the mounted toner container to pass downward from above toward the toner supply device;
A container housing having a container opening that communicates with the support member opening in a state where the toner container is mounted on the container support member and feeds the toner in the toner container downward ; and a closed position that closes the container opening. It is slidable in the horizontal direction between the open position where the container opening is opened by sliding from the closed position, and is in the closed position when not attached to the container support member. A plate-shaped shutter member that sometimes moves to the closed position, a hole that communicates with the container opening, and a seal member that is attached to the area surrounding the container opening on the lower surface of the container housing;
The shutter member has a separating portion having a shape that is recessed downward in a stepped manner in comparison with a rear region in the mounting direction at a front end in a mounting direction of a surface facing the container opening of the shutter member. It is a supply device.

According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect and the toner supply apparatus of the fifth aspect, the contamination of the apparatus due to the toner when the toner container is removed can be suppressed.
Further, according to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect and the toner supply apparatus of the fifth aspect, the spilling of the toner can be suppressed regardless of whether the shutter member is in the open position or the closed position.
Furthermore, according to the toner supply device of the image forming apparatus and claim 5 of claim 1, toner spilling when the toner container removal is accumulated in the recess of the shutter member.

According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect , the shutter member can be smoothly moved to the closed position when the toner container is removed.

According to the image forming apparatus of the third and fourth aspects, the contamination of the apparatus due to the toner can be more effectively suppressed.

1 is an external perspective view of a copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 1 is an internal configuration diagram of a copier whose appearance is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a toner supply path from a toner container to a developing device. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a toner container is slid on a container support member in a mounting direction, and a container opening of the toner container approaches the support member opening of the container support member. FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 4A and 4B in a state where the toner container is further moved in the mounting direction as compared with FIG. FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4A in a state where the toner container further moves in the mounting direction and reaches the final mounting state as compared with FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the toner container in the final mounted state as in FIG. 6 when viewed from below (from the container support member side). FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view when a support member opening and a container opening in a state of being overlapped with each other and a shutter member as a comparative example are viewed from above (from the toner container side). FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view when the support member opening and the container opening in a state where they overlap each other and the shutter member according to the first embodiment of the present invention are viewed from above (from the toner container side). It is drawing regarding 1st Embodiment of this invention like FIG. 9, Comprising: It is a schematic cross section of the shutter member in the closed position which plugged up the container opening part. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view when a support member opening and a container opening in a state where they overlap each other and a shutter member according to a second embodiment of the present invention are viewed from above (from the toner container side). FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a support member opening and a container opening in a state of being overlapped with each other and a shutter member according to a third embodiment of the present invention when viewed from above (from the toner container side). In FIG. 12, a side view of the shutter member is also arranged. It is a schematic cross section of the shutter member of the comparative example in the open position which opened the container opening. It is a schematic cross section of the shutter member of 1st and 2nd embodiment in an open position. It is a schematic cross section of the shutter member of 3rd Embodiment in an open position.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus.

  The copying machine 1 includes a document reading unit 1A and an image forming unit 1B.

  The document reading unit 1A is provided with a document feed table 11 on which documents are stacked. Documents placed on the document feed tray 11 are sent out one by one, and characters and images recorded on the document are read and discharged onto the document discharge tray 12.

  Further, the document reading unit 1A has a hinge extending left and right on the back side, and the document feeding table 11 and the document discharging table 12 can be lifted integrally around the hinge as a center of rotation. The document reading plate 13 (see FIG. 2) made of transparent glass is widened. In this document reading unit 1A, instead of placing a document on the document feeding table 11, only one document is placed on the document reading plate 13 downward, and characters and images are read from the document on the document reading plate 13. You can also.

  On the front side of the document reading plate 13, various messages are displayed for the user, and various operation buttons are displayed so that the user can perform operations such as document reading and image formation instructions. A portion 14 is provided.

  The entire document reading unit 1A is supported by a support frame 15.

  In addition, the image forming unit 1B is provided with a paper discharge tray 21 on which the paper on which an image is formed is discharged. In addition, a front cover 22 is provided on the front surface of the image forming unit 1B. The front cover 22 can be opened to replace internal components such as a toner container and to remove paper jammed during conveyance. Below that, three drawer-type paper feed tables 23_1, 23_2, and 23_3 are accommodated in a state where sheets before image formation are stacked.

  Further, a lateral cover 24 that is opened when removing paper jammed during conveyance is provided on the left side surface of the image forming unit 1B.

  Further, a wheel 251 that allows the image forming unit 1B to move is attached to the bottom surface of the image forming unit 1B.

  FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the copying machine whose appearance is shown in FIG.

  A document reading optical system 30 is disposed under the document reading plate 13 made of transparent glass. The document reading optical system 30 includes a first block 31 having a lamp 311 and a mirror 312, a second block 32 having two mirrors 321 and 322, and a photoelectric that reads light representing an image and generates an image signal. Sensor 33.

  The first block 31 and the second block 32 are movable in the direction of the arrow A-A ′ along the document reading plate 13, and are in the position on the left side shown in FIG. 2 in the initial state.

  The documents S placed on the document feeding table 11 are fed one by one, and are transported by a transport roller 16 on a transport path 17 in contact with the document reading plate 13. When the document S is conveyed in contact with the document reading plate 13, it is irradiated by the lamp 311, the reflected light from the document S is reflected by the mirrors 312, 321, 322, read by the photoelectric sensor 33, and the document S An image signal representing the recorded character or image is generated. The document S irradiated by the lamp 311 is further conveyed and sent out onto the document discharge table 12.

  When the original is placed on the original reading plate 13, the first block 31 and the second block 32 always have the same optical distance between the original reading position on the original reading plate 13 and the photoelectric sensor 33. Move in the direction of arrow A to keep During this time, the lamp 311 irradiates the original, and the photoelectric sensor 33 reads characters and images on the original and converts them into image signals.

  An image signal obtained by the photoelectric sensor 33 is input to the image processing unit 34. The image signal obtained by the photoelectric sensor 33 is an image signal representing each color of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), and the image processing unit 34 converts the RGB image signal into Y (yellow). , M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black) are converted into image data for four colors and temporarily stored. Then, it is transmitted to the exposure control unit 41 in accordance with the exposure time for forming a latent image to be described later.

  The image forming unit 1B is provided with an exposure unit 42. In forming a latent image, Y, M, C, and K image data are sent from the exposure control unit 41 to the exposure unit 42. Each exposure light 421Y, 421M, 421C, 421K modulated by each Y, M, C, K image data is emitted.

  Further, in FIG. 2, the main control unit 40 is shown at a position adjacent to the exposure control unit 41. The main control unit 40 includes a microcomputer and a program executed by the microcomputer. The main control unit 40 includes an exposure control unit 41, a display operation unit 14 (see FIG. 1), an image processing unit 34, and other various types not shown. The copier 1 is connected to a power supply circuit, a drive circuit, and the like, and is responsible for overall control of the copying machine 1.

  In the lower part of the image forming unit 1B, the above-described three paper feed tables 23_1, 23_2, and 23_3 are supported and accommodated by the left and right guide rails 24_1, 24_2, and 24_3. The sheets P are stored in a stacked state on each of the sheet feeding bases 23_1, 23_2, and 23_3. Each of the sheet feeding bases 23_1, 23_2, and 23_3 is configured to be guided and guided by the guide rails 24_1, 24_2, and 24_3 for replenishing the paper P.

  Of these three paper feed bases 23_1, 23_2, and 23_3, from the paper feed base designated by the operation of the display operation unit 14 (see FIG. 1) or the like (here, the paper feed base 23_1 as an example) The paper P is fed out by the pick-up roll 25 and separated one by one by the separating roll 26, the single paper P is transported upward by the transport roll 27, and the subsequent transport timing is adjusted by the standby roll 28. And further conveyed upward. The conveyance of the sheet after the standby roll 28 will be described later.

  Four image forming units 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K that form toner images with toners of colors Y, M, C, and K are disposed in the central portion of the image forming unit 1B. Since these four image forming units 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K have the same configuration except that the colors of the toners to be used are different, the configuration of the image forming unit 50Y will be described here.

  The image forming unit 50Y includes a photoconductor 51 that rotates in the direction indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 2, and a charger 52, a developing device 53, and a cleaner 55 are disposed around the photoconductor 51. A transfer unit 54 is placed at a position where an intermediate transfer belt 61 described later is sandwiched between the photosensitive member 51 and the intermediate transfer belt 61.

  The photoconductor 51 has a roll shape, holds charges by charging, releases the charges by exposure, and holds an electrostatic latent image on the surface thereof.

  The charger 52 charges the surface of the photoconductor 51 to a certain charging potential.

  The image forming unit 1B has the above-described exposure unit 42. The exposure device 42 receives an image signal from the exposure controller 41 and outputs exposure light 421Y, 421M, 421C, and 421K modulated in accordance with the input image signal. The photoreceptor 51 constituting the image forming unit 50 </ b> Y is charged by the charger 52 and then irradiated with the exposure light 421 </ b> Y from the exposure device 42, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 51.

  The photoreceptor 51 is irradiated with the exposure light 421Y to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface thereof, and then developed by the developing device 53. A toner image (yellow (in this image forming unit 50Y, yellow ( Y) toner image) is formed.

  The developing device 53 includes two augers 532 </ b> _ <b> 1 and 532 </ b> _ <b> 2 that stir the developer in a case 531 that contains a developer composed of toner and a carrier therein, and development that carries the developer to a position facing the photoconductor 51. A roll 533. In developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 51, a bias voltage is applied to the developing roll 533, and the toner in the developer is formed on the photoreceptor 51 by the action of the bias voltage. A toner image is formed by adhering to the photoreceptor 51 according to the electrostatic latent image.

  The toner image formed on the photoreceptor 51 by the development by the developing unit 53 is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 61 by the action of the transfer unit 54.

  The toner remaining on the photoconductor 51 after the transfer is removed from the photoconductor 51 by the cleaner 55.

  The intermediate transfer belt 61 is an endless belt that is looped around a plurality of rolls 62 and circulates in the direction of arrow C.

  The toner images formed by the respective color toners formed by the image forming units 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50K are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 61 so as to overlap one another, and conveyed to the secondary transfer position where the transfer unit 63 is disposed. The In synchronization with this, the sheet that has been conveyed to the standby roll 28 is conveyed to the secondary transfer position, and the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 61 is transferred onto the conveyed sheet by the action of the transfer unit 63. Transcribed. The sheet that has received the transfer of the toner image is further conveyed, the toner image on the sheet is fixed on the sheet by pressurization and heating by the fixing device 64, and an image composed of the fixed toner image is formed on the sheet. Is done. The sheet on which the image is formed is further conveyed, and is discharged onto the discharge table 21 by the discharge roller 65.

  After the toner image is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer unit 63, the intermediate transfer belt 61 is further circulated, and the toner remaining on the surface is removed from the intermediate transfer belt 61 by the cleaner 66.

  Also, container support members 29Y, 29M, 29C, and 29K are provided above the intermediate transfer belt 61 in the image forming unit 1B. These container support members 29Y, 29M, 29C, and 29K include toner containers 67Y, 67M, 67C, and 67K that contain toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Is installed. When the toner containers 67Y, 67M, 67C, and 67K are mounted on the container support members 29Y, 29M, 29C, and 29K, the operator places the toner containers 67Y, 67M, 67C, and 67K in the mounting direction (on the paper surface of FIG. 2). Is slid in the direction of penetrating from the sheet to the paper surface), and is mounted by this sliding operation. When the toner containers 67Y, 67M, 67C, and 67K are removed from the container support members 29Y, 29M, 29C, and 29K, the operator performs a sliding operation in the removal direction opposite to the mounting direction. Removed by slide operation. From the toner containers 67Y, 67M, 67C, and 67K mounted on the container support members 29Y, 29M, 29C, and 29K, the color toners stored in the toner containers 67Y, 67M, 67C, and 67K are transferred to the developing units 53. Each developing device is replenished via the corresponding toner supply device 73 (see FIG. 3) corresponding to the toner consumption amount in each corresponding developing device 53.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a toner supply path from the toner container to the developing device.

  In FIG. 3 and each of the drawings to be described later, for example, the toner container is indicated as a toner container 67, and the components irrelevant to the color of the toner to be used are represented by Y, M, C, The symbol K is omitted.

  FIG. 3 shows the photoreceptor 51, the exposure device 42, the developing device 53, the toner container 67, the container support member 29, and the toner supply device 73. Here, as described above, the developing device 53 includes the case 531, the two augers 532_1 and 532_2, and the developing roll 533. Further, here, a partition wall 534 that partitions the central portion excluding the corners in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 3 in the room in which the developer 80 accommodated in the case 531 and the two augers 532_1 and 532_2 are arranged. A layer thickness regulating portion 535 that regulates the layer thickness of the developer formed on the developing roll 533 is shown.

  The photoreceptor 51 is charged by the charger 52 (see FIG. 2) while rotating in the direction of the arrow B shown in the figure, and is irradiated with the exposure light 421 from the exposure device 42 to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface. Further, a toner image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 51 by development by the developing device 53.

  The developer 80 in the case 531 of the developing unit 53 has toner and a carrier, and is stirred while being circulated and moved in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 3 by two augers 532_1 and 532_2.

  The developer 80 in the case 531 adheres to the surface of the developing roll 533 that rotates in the direction of arrow E, and is transported to a position facing the photoreceptor 51 under the restriction of the layer thickness by the layer thickness regulating member 535. At the opposite position, the toner in the developer adheres to the surface of the photoconductor 51 according to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 51, and a toner image is formed on the photoconductor 51. The developer on the developing roll 533 is further conveyed along with the rotation of the developing roll 533, is separated from the developing roll 533 in the case 531, and is stirred by the augers 532_1 and 532_2. In this way, when the toner constituting the developer 80 in the case 531 is consumed by using the toner for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 51, the developer 80 in the case 531 becomes a carrier. The ratio of will increase.

  Therefore, the toner 81 in the toner container 67 supported on the container support member 29 is supplied to the developing unit 53 so as to compensate for the decrease in the toner in the case 531 of the developing unit 53. When the toner 81 is supplied to the developing device 53, the toner conveying member 731 that rotates in the toner supplying device 73 rotates according to the consumption of the toner in the developing device 53, and the toner is supplied to the toner by the toner conveying member 731. The container 73 is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow J and is accommodated in the case 531 of the developing device 53. The toner accommodated in the developing device 53 from the toner container 67 via the toner supply device 73 is stirred together with the developer 80 in the case 531 of the developing device 53 by the augers 532_1 and 532_2.

  Here, the toner container 67 has a container casing 671 for storing the toner 81, and a container opening on the lower surface of the container casing 671 in a state where the toner container 67 is supported from below by the container support member 29. A portion 672 is formed. From the container opening 672, the toner 81 accommodated in the toner container 67 is sent out toward the toner supplier 73. The toner container 67 includes a shutter member 673 that closes the container opening 672. The toner container 67 is mounted on the container support member 29 by being slid on the container support member 29 from above the sheet of FIG. 2 in a direction (mounting direction) perpendicular to the sheet of FIG. Supported. Further, the toner container 67 is removed from the container support member 29 by being slid in the reverse direction (removal direction). Here, the shutter member 673 provided in the toner container 67 is slidable between a closed position where the container opening 672 is closed and an open position where the container opening 672 is opened. When not attached, it is in the closed position. When the toner container 67 is slid in the mounting direction and mounted on the container support member 29, the shutter member 673 moves from the closed position to the open position along with the sliding in the mounting direction. When the toner container 67 is slid in the removal direction from the state where the toner container 67 is mounted on the container support member 29, the shutter member 673 slides from the open position to the closed position.

  Further, the container support member 29 has a support member opening 291 opened upward at a position communicating with the container opening 672 of the mounted toner container 67. The support member opening 291 is an inlet of the toner supplier 73, and allows the toner 81 delivered from the container opening 672 of the attached toner container 67 to pass toward the toner supplier 73. In this way, the toner 81 in the toner container 67 passes through the container opening 672 and the support member opening 291 and enters the toner supplier 73.

  The toner conveying member 731 in the toner supplier 73 rotates according to the consumption of the toner in the developing device 53 as described above, and the toner corresponding to the consumption is supplied to the developing device 53.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where the toner container is slid on the container support member in the mounting direction, and the container opening of the toner container approaches the support member opening of the container support member. 4A and 4B are a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the container opening of the toner container (A), and from above when the toner container is removed leaving only the shutter member (from the toner container side). It is the top view (B) which looked.

  5A and 5B are views similar to FIGS. 4A and 4B, respectively, in a state where the toner container is further moved in the mounting direction compared to FIG.

  Further, FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4A in a state where the toner container further moves in the mounting direction and reaches the final mounting state as compared with FIG.

  Further, FIG. 7 is a plan view of the toner container in the same final mounting state as FIG. 6 when viewed from below (from the container support member side).

  As shown in FIG. 4A, a stirring member 674 that stirs the internal toner (not shown) by rotation is provided in the container housing 671 of the toner container 67. The stirring member 674 rotates by receiving a rotational driving force from the main body side of the image forming unit 1B (see FIGS. 1 and 2) via a coupling member 675 provided at an end thereof, and removes the toner inside. It plays the role of carrying to the container opening 672 while stirring.

  Further, a support member opening 291 provided in the container support member 29 is shown in the lower left corner of FIG. The illustrated arrow K indicates the mounting direction. Further, the container support member 29 has a butting portion 292. As shown in FIG. 5, the abutting portion 292 abuts the front end 673a in the mounting direction of the shutter member 673 approaching the support member opening 291 by sliding in the mounting direction (arrow K direction) of the toner container 67. It is the receiving wall. The abutting portion 292 receives the abutment of the front end 673a of the shutter member 673 in the mounting direction, and prevents further sliding in the mounting direction of the shutter member. Therefore, when the container casing 671 of the toner container 67 is further slid in the mounting direction, the abutting portion 292 closes the shutter member 673 with the container opening 672 (FIGS. 4A and 5). (A), the container opening 672 is slid relative to the container housing 671 to the open position (see FIG. 6) where the container opening 672 is opened.

  In addition, the container support member 29 has a cantilever-shaped locking claw 293 (FIG. 4B) at a position where it interferes with the side surface 673b of the shutter member 673 when the toner container 67 moves in the mounting direction (arrow K direction). )) Is provided. When the toner container 67 is slid in the mounting direction (arrow K direction), the leading end 293a of the locking claw 293 interferes with the shutter member 673 and is pushed away as shown in FIG. Is further elastically bent, and the side surface 673b of the shutter member 673 further advances in the mounting direction so as to rub the front end portion 293a of the locking claw 293. Then, when the shutter member 673 advances to a position immediately before the front end 673a is abutted against the abutting portion 292, the locking claw 293 releases the interference with the shutter member 673 as shown in FIG. Thus, the front end portion 293a of the locking claw 293 turns around the rear end 673c of the shutter member 673, and the sliding of the shutter member 673 in the removal direction (the direction opposite to the arrow K) is prevented.

  When the toner container 67 is attached to the container support member 29, the toner container 67 is further slid in the attachment direction (arrow K direction) after the front end 673a of the shutter member 673 is abutted against the abutting portion 292. Finally, FIG. The state shown in FIG. 7 is obtained. That is, as a result of the toner container 67 sliding further in the mounting direction (arrow K direction) with the front end 673a of the shutter member 673 being abutted against the abutting portion 292, the shutter member 673 is relative to the container housing 671. To the open position (position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) where the container opening 672 is opened. Then, the mounting is completed at a position where the container opening 672 communicates with the support member opening 291.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the toner container 67 has a seal member 676. The seal member 676 is formed with a hole 676 a that communicates with the container opening 672, and is attached to a region surrounding the container opening 672 of the container housing 671. The shutter member 673 slides relative to the container housing 671 between a closed position where the container opening 672 is closed and an open position shown in FIG. 7 where the container opening 672 is opened. At this time, the shutter member 673 slides on the seal member 676.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the seal member 676 is attached to the region surrounding the container opening 672. For this reason, when the shutter member 673 is in the closed position, the seal member 676 is sandwiched between the region around the container opening 672 of the container housing 671 and the shutter member 673, and toner leakage is prevented. When the shutter member 673 is in the open position, the seal member 676 is disposed around the region around the container opening 672 of the container housing 671 and around the support member opening 291 of the container support member 29 as shown in FIG. Between the two regions. This prevents the toner delivered from the container opening 672 from leaking outside without passing through the support member opening 291.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the front end 673 a of the shutter member 673 is in a position where it overlaps with the seal member 676 even when in the open position. Thus, even when the shutter member 673 is in the open position, a part of the shutter member 673 is overlapped with the seal member 676 so that the shutter member 673 abuts against the seal member 676 when sliding from the open position to the closed position. Accidents such as the seal member 676 being lifted up or the shutter member 673 not moving to the closed position are prevented.

When the toner container 67 is removed from the container support member 29, the toner container 67 is slid in the removal direction opposite to the mounting direction (arrow K direction). As shown in FIG. 5B, the shutter member 673 cannot move in the removal direction because the rear end (removal direction front end) 673 c in the mounting direction is locked by the locking claws 293. For this reason, when the container housing 671 is slid in the removing direction, the container housing 671 is slid relative to the container housing 671 from the open position shown in FIG. 5 to the closed position where the container opening 291 is closed. At the timing when the shutter member 673 moves to the closed position, the locking release rib 679 (see FIG. 7) provided in the container housing 671 pushes the locking claw 293 (see FIG. 5B) sideways. Then, the shutter member 673 is released from being locked by the locking claw 293, and the entire toner container 67 is removed together with the container housing 671 while being slid to the closed position where the container opening 672 is closed.

  Here, the shutter member 673 is recessed at the front end of the mounting direction on the surface 673d facing the container opening 672 in a stepped manner compared to the region behind the mounting direction and spaced away from the container opening 672. 673e.

  Next, the effect | action of this hollow part 673e is demonstrated.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of the support member opening and the container opening in a state of being overlapped with each other and the shutter member as a comparative example viewed from above (from the toner container side).

  FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view when the support member opening and the container opening in a state of being overlapped with each other and the shutter member according to the first embodiment of the present invention are viewed from above (from the toner container side).

  Here, for ease of understanding, the shutter member is indicated by the reference numeral “673” even if there is a difference in shape between the comparative examples and the embodiments.

  When the toner container 67 is mounted on the container support member 29 (see FIG. 3), the support member opening 291 and the container opening 672 are in communication with each other as shown in FIGS. The member 673 is in an open position where the container opening 672 is opened.

  From this state, it is considered that the toner container 67 (see, for example, FIG. 6) has been slid in the removal direction indicated by the arrow L. When the toner container 67 is slid in the removal direction, the container opening 672 is separated from the support member opening 291 and overlaps the shutter member 673, and is relatively in a closed position where the shutter member 673 closes the container opening 672. Move to.

  At the time of this movement, in the case of the comparative example shown in FIG. 8, the toner in the container opening 672 is pushed out of the toner container 67 in the arrow K direction at the front end 673 a of the shutter member 673. The toner container spills out of the container and causes dirt on the apparatus, or the toner container is taken out while the toner adheres to the outer surface of the toner container, and the clothes of the operator who has taken out the toner container with the toner adhered to the outer surface of the toner container There is a fear.

  On the other hand, the shutter member 673 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is a surface facing the container opening 672 and is away from the container opening 672 at the front end in the mounting direction (arrow K direction). Has a recess 673e spaced apart from each other. The hollow portion 673e corresponds to an example of a separation portion according to the present invention. Further, the shutter member 673 is a pair of rib portions that are on the side facing the container opening 672 and at the front end in the mounting direction at both corners in the width direction that change in the mounting direction, and are flush with the rear portion in the mounting direction. The recess portion 673e is formed in a region sandwiched between the pair of rib portions 673f in the width direction.

  FIG. 10 is a drawing related to the first embodiment of the present invention, similar to FIG. 9, and is a schematic cross-sectional view of the shutter member in the closed position where the container opening is closed.

  When the toner container 67 is slid in the removing direction (arrow L direction), the container opening 672 is placed on the shutter member 673 and the container opening 672 is blocked by the shutter member 673 with the seal member 676 interposed therebetween. It becomes. The seal member 676 has elasticity, and is in a state of being compressed by being sandwiched between the shutter member 673 and a region surrounding the container opening 672 of the container housing 671 (see, for example, FIG. 7). A recess 673e is formed at the front end of the shutter member 673, and the toner pushed out of the container opening 672 by the shutter member 673 when the shutter member 673 slides from the open position to the closed position is the shutter. It rides on the depression 673e of the member 673, is pressed by the seal member 676, and stays in the depression 673e. For this reason, according to the first embodiment, the toner contamination of the apparatus when the toner container 67 is taken out and the contamination of the clothes due to the toner adhering to the outer surface of the toner container are reduced. Further, in the case of the shutter member 673 of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, since rib portions 673f are provided at both corners in the width direction, spilling in the width direction is reliably prevented.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of the support member opening and the container opening in a state where they overlap each other and the shutter member according to the second embodiment of the present invention when viewed from above (from the toner container side). The difference of the second embodiment from the first embodiment described above is only the shape of the shutter member. Here, only the shutter member will be described.

  The shutter member 673 has a shape in which the front end 673a in the mounting direction is recessed in the center in the mounting direction rearward (arrow L direction) with respect to the width direction intersecting the mounting direction. It has a recess 673e that is wider. The recessed portion 673e in the second embodiment also corresponds to an example of the separation portion referred to in the present invention.

  When this shape of the shutter member 673 is employed, when the toner container is slid in the removing direction (the direction of the arrow L), the toner pushed out from the container opening 672 is centered in the width direction along the concave shape of the front end 673a. After being collected, it is in a state of being sandwiched between the recess 673e and the seal member 676 as shown in FIG. As described above, when the front end of the shutter member 673 has a shape that is recessed in the width direction, the toner is collected in the central portion, and toner spillage is more reliably prevented.

  FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of the support member opening and the container opening in a state of being overlapped with each other and the shutter member according to the third embodiment of the present invention when viewed from above (from the toner container side). . FIG. 12 also shows a side view of the shutter member.

  Similar to the second embodiment, the third embodiment also differs from the first embodiment only in the shape of the shutter member. The third embodiment will be described by taking only the shutter member.

  The shutter member 673 has a slope 673g that is widely separated toward the mounting direction front end 673a at the mounting direction front end of the surface facing the container opening 672. The inclined surface 673g corresponds to an example of a separation portion according to the present invention.

  Consider that the toner container having the shutter member 673 of the third embodiment is slid in the removing direction indicated by the arrow L.

  When the toner container slides in the removing direction, the shutter member slides from the open position to the closed position relative to the container housing.

  In the case of the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, the toner is allowed to be pushed out from the container opening 672 during the sliding, and the pushed toner is allowed to flow between the recess 673e and the seal member 676. By being confined in a state sandwiched between them, contamination by toner is prevented. On the other hand, in the case of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the presence of the inclined surface 673g acts to push back the toner that is about to leak from the container opening 672 into the container opening 672. In the case of the third embodiment, the toner that is about to leak out is pushed back into the container opening 672 by the inclined surface 673g, so that the toner spilled from the toner container when the toner container is removed is reduced. Dirt and dirt on clothes are prevented or reduced.

  FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a shutter member of a comparative example in an open position where the container opening is opened.

  FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the shutter member of the first and second embodiments in the open position, and FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the shutter member of the third embodiment in the open position.

  While the toner container slides in the mounting direction indicated by the arrow K, the shutter member 673 is prevented from progressing, and the seal member 676 is moved relative to the toner container from the closed position where the container opening 672 is closed. Slide the container opening 672 to the open position shown.

  The shutter member 673 is attached to the container housing 671 of the toner container 67 with some play. The toner container 67 is slid by a human in the mounting direction and the detaching direction. However, when the toner container 67 is slid on the container support member 29, the operation is performed when the degree of freedom of the posture of the toner container 67 with respect to the container support member 29 is small. The sex is extremely bad. For this reason, the toner container 67 is provided with a backlash so as to be accepted even when the toner container 67 is slid in a slightly inclined posture with respect to the container support member 29, thereby improving the operability of the toner container 67. As a part of this, the shutter member 673 has a backlash.

  The shutter member 673 prevents the toner from leaking from the container opening 672 by sandwiching the seal member 676 between the shutter member 673 and a portion around the container opening 672 of the container housing. It is. For this reason, the seal member 676 is in a position where the seal member 676 is slightly pressed in the vertical direction (the direction in which the seal member 676 is sandwiched between the seal member 676 and the container housing). Further, the shutter member 673 has a position where the front end portion in the mounting direction (arrow K direction) of the shutter member 673 overlaps with the seal member 676 even in the open position in order to smoothly slide from the open position to the closed position. It is in. Therefore, the front end portion of the shutter member 673 in the open position that overlaps with the seal member 676 is pushed downward by the seal member 676 crushed at the front end portion as indicated by an arrow M in FIG.

  When the front end portion is pushed downward, the above-mentioned backlash is provided, so that the rear end portion of the shutter member 673 rotates upward as indicated by an arrow N in FIG. The posture is shown in FIG.

  Then, since the toner container 67 has a backlash with respect to the container support member 29, depending on the attitude of the toner container 67 when the toner container 67 is removed from the container support member 29, the toner container 67 originally has no relation to the rear end 673 c of the shutter member 673. After that, the locking by the locking claw 293 (see FIG. 5) that locks the end 673c is released before the shutter member 673 moves to the closed position and closes the container opening 672, so that the container opening 672 is removed. The shutter member 673 is pulled out in a state where it is not completely closed, and there is a possibility that toner stains may occur.

  On the other hand, in the case of the first and second embodiments shown in FIG. 14 and the third embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the mounting direction (arrow K direction) on the front end of the surface facing the container opening 672, Since the recess 673e and the inclined surface 673g in the direction away from the container opening 672 are formed, it is not necessary to strongly push the seal member 676 at the front end when in the open position, and therefore the rear end of the shutter member 673 Lifting of 673c is suppressed. As a result, when the toner container 67 is removed from the container support member 29, the shutter member reliably slides from the open position to the closed position, and toner contamination due to poor sliding to the closed position is prevented.

  Here, the copying machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to the copying machine. The present invention is not limited to any form as long as it is an image forming apparatus of the type that develops with toner, and can be widely applied to, for example, printers and facsimiles.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier 1A Document reading part 1B Image forming part 42 Exposure unit 50Y, 50M, 50C, 50K Image forming unit 51 Photoconductor 52 Charger 53 Developing unit 54, 63 Transfer unit 55 Cleaner 61 Intermediate transfer belt 67Y, 67M, 67C, 67K toner container 73 toner supply device 80 developer 81 toner 291 support member opening 292 abutting portion 293 engaging claw 293a tip 531 case 532_1, 532_2 auger 533 developing roll 534 partition wall 535 layer thickness regulating member 671 container housing 672 Container opening 673 Shutter member 673a Front end 673b Side surface 673c Rear end 673d Surface 673e Recessed portion 673f Rib portion 673g Slope 674 Stirring member 675 Coupling member 676 Sealing member 676a Hole 679 Unlocking rib 731 Toner conveying member

Claims (5)

An image carrier that receives the formation of the latent image and further develops the toner to hold the toner image;
A developing unit that contains toner therein and develops the latent image formed on the image carrier with toner;
A toner container that contains replenishment toner and is respectively mounted and removed by a sliding operation in the mounting direction and a sliding operation in a direction opposite to the mounting direction;
A container support member that supports the toner container mounted by a sliding operation in the mounting direction;
A toner supplier disposed below the toner container for supplying the toner in the toner container supported by the container support member to the developer according to consumption of the toner in the developer;
A transfer device for transferring a toner image derived from the image carrier onto a recording medium;
A fixing device for fixing the toner image transferred onto the recording medium onto the recording medium,
The container support member has a support member opening for allowing the toner sent from the mounted toner container to pass downward from above toward the toner supply device;
A container housing having a container opening that communicates with the opening of the support member and feeds the toner in the toner container downward when the toner container is mounted on the container support member; Is slidable in a horizontal direction between a closed position for closing the container and an open position where the container opening is opened by sliding from the closed position, and is in the closed position when not mounted on the container support member, A flat shutter member that moves to the open position when mounted and moves to the closed position when removed, and a hole that communicates with the container opening, and is an area surrounding the container opening on the lower surface of the container housing And a sealing member attached to
The shutter member has a spaced-apart portion that is recessed downward in a stepped manner in comparison with the rear region in the mounting direction at the front end in the mounting direction of the surface of the shutter member facing the container opening. An image forming apparatus. The shutter member, the open position even when in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is in a position where at least a portion of the mounting direction front end of the shutter member is overlapped with the sealing member . A pair of rib portions that are on the side of the shutter member facing the container opening and at the two corners in the width direction intersecting the mounting direction of the front end portion in the mounting direction are flush with the rear portion in the mounting direction. Have
The separation unit, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the respect the width direction are formed in a region sandwiched between the pair of rib portions. The shutter member, the mounting direction front end relates to the width direction intersecting the said mounting direction, of claims 1 to 3 than both corners central portion and having a shape recessed toward the said mounting direction rear The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A toner container that contains replenishment toner and is respectively mounted and removed by a sliding operation in the mounting direction and a sliding operation in a direction opposite to the mounting direction;
A container support member that supports the toner container mounted by a sliding operation in the mounting direction;
A toner supply device disposed below the toner container for supplying the toner in the toner container supported by the container support member to a toner supply body that is supplied with the toner;
The container support member has a support member opening for allowing the toner sent from the mounted toner container to pass downward from above toward the toner supply device;
A container housing having a container opening that communicates with the opening of the support member and feeds the toner in the toner container downward when the toner container is mounted on the container support member; Is slidable in a horizontal direction between a closed position for closing the container and an open position where the container opening is opened by sliding from the closed position, and is in the closed position when not mounted on the container support member, A flat shutter member that moves to the open position when mounted and moves to the closed position when removed, and a hole that communicates with the container opening, and is an area surrounding the container opening on the lower surface of the container housing And a sealing member attached to
The shutter member has a spaced-apart portion that is recessed downward in a stepped manner in comparison with the rear region in the mounting direction at the front end in the mounting direction of the surface of the shutter member facing the container opening. Toner supply device.

Images