JP5999479B2 - Powder supply device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder that conveys powder stored in a storage unit in a predetermined direction in the storage unit by rotational driving of the storage unit or rotation driving of a powder transport member disposed in the storage unit. It relates to a body container. The present invention also relates to a powder replenishing device and an image forming apparatus using such a powder container.

  As this type of powder replenishing device, a toner replenishing device described in Patent Document 1 is known. A toner container as a powder container of the toner replenishing device includes a toner bottle as a container for storing toner, and a tip cover as a holding part for receiving and rotatably holding the tip of the toner bottle. Have. A bottle gear is provided on the peripheral surface of the tip of the toner bottle. When the bottle bottle rotates with the bottle gear engaged with the drive gear provided in the apparatus main body, the toner contained in the toner bottle is moved by the spiral protrusion provided on the inner peripheral surface of the bottle. It is sent from the rear end side toward the front end side. The toner sent to the tip of the toner bottle enters the tip cover that covers the tip of the toner bottle and then enters a hopper provided at the tip of the tip cover. Then, it is sucked from the outside of the front end cover by the nozzle inserted into the hopper and sent to the developing device of the image forming apparatus.

  There is also known a toner replenishing device that conveys the toner in the toner bottle from the rear end of the bottle toward the front end without rotating the toner bottle. For example, the toner replenishing device described in Patent Document 2 rotates a toner conveying member inserted along a circular center line of a cylindrical toner bottle of a toner container around the circular center line. Thus, the toner in the toner bottle is transported from the bottle rear end side toward the front end side along the bottle longitudinal direction. Then, the toner is discharged from the front end of the toner bottle.

  In these toner replenishing devices, the toner container is replaced with a new one when the toner in the toner bottle is almost exhausted (hereinafter referred to as toner end). For this reason, it is desirable to provide toner end detecting means for detecting that the toner end has been reached, and to prompt the user to replace the toner container based on the detection.

  In order to detect such a toner end detection means, the toner replenishing device described in Patent Document 2 has the following configuration. That is, the toner replenishing device temporarily stores the toner discharged from the toner container that rotates the toner bottle in the temporary storage tank, and then transports the toner from the temporary storage tank to the developing device. When the toner container becomes a toner end, the toner is not supplied from the toner container to the temporary storage tank, so the toner level in the temporary storage tank eventually falls below the lower limit level. As a result, the toner detection sensor disposed at the position of the lower limit level does not detect the toner. As described above, the toner end is detected based on the fact that the toner detection sensor stops detecting the toner.

  However, in such a configuration, it is necessary to provide a temporary storage tank for temporarily storing toner in the toner supply path from the toner container to the developing device. For this reason, the toner end cannot be detected unless a temporary storage tank is provided. Also in the toner replenishing device described in Patent Document 1, in order to detect the toner end in the same manner as the toner replenishing device described in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to provide a temporary storage tank.

  Up to now, the problem that occurs in the toner container that contains toner as powder and the toner replenishing device that uses the toner has been described, but the same applies to the powder container that contains powder different from the toner and powder replenishment. Problems can arise.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inside of a storage unit without providing a temporary storage tank for temporarily storing powder discharged from a powder container. The present invention is to provide a toner container or the like that can detect the remaining amount of powder.

To achieve the above object, the present onset Ming has a powder container for containing the powder, and a conveying means for conveying the powder discharged from the powder container to supply destination, the powder body container is a rotatable storage portion for storing the powder, the end portion in the rotation axis direction of the receiving portion; and a holding portion which rotatably receive and retain their inside, the housing portion The powder that has been accommodated is conveyed from the other end side in the rotation axis direction of the accommodation unit toward the one end side with the rotation of the accommodation unit, and moved to one end portion in the rotation axis direction of the accommodation unit. In the powder replenishing device for discharging the body to the outside, at least one end of the housing portion in the rotation axis direction of the housing portion disposed at the one end side received by the holding portion and In contrast, the light is orthogonal to the rotational axis direction. And a window portion made of a material whose light transmitting property is for transmitting the direction, and a plurality of openings for locking arranged on the holding portion to lock the holder, for those the locking A plurality of locking members disposed in the holding portion for locking the holding portion in a state of being inserted into each of the openings is provided in the powder container, and at least one of the engagement members is provided. The stop opening is also used as a light receiving opening for receiving light from the outside into the holding part and guiding it to the window part of the housing part, and at least one other locking opening is provided. , Serving as a light emission opening for receiving light emitted from the inside to the outside in the window portion of the housing portion and guiding it to the outside of the holding portion, and in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis The light receiving opening of the holding portion and the light emission of the holding portion. A light emitting means and a light receiving means that face each other through the opening for opening and the window portion of the housing portion, and are emitted from the light emitting means and pass through the light receiving opening and the window portion to store the inside of the housing portion. As a result of the light receiving means receiving the light that has passed through the light emitting opening after being moved through the internal space of the housing portion and then released to the outside of the housing portion again through the window portion. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided powder remaining amount detecting means for detecting the amount of powder remaining in the container.

In the present invention, when light is irradiated from the outside of the storage portion to the window portion of the toner container, the light enters the storage portion through the window portion. In a state where the amount of powder in the container is reduced to some extent, a part of the light that has entered the container moves in the inner space of the container in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction of the container and is again stored. After passing through the window of the part, it is released out of the accommodating part. In such a configuration, the light emitting means and the light receiving means are arranged to face each other through the window portion of the housing portion in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the housing portion, and light emitted from the light emitting means is transmitted to the window of the housing portion. If the light is received by the light receiving means through the part or the internal space, it is possible to detect the remaining amount of powder in the container based on the amount of light received. Since the amount of powder stored in the storage unit is detected instead of the amount of powder discharged from the storage unit, a temporary storage tank for temporarily storing the powder discharged from the storage unit is not provided. In addition, it is possible to detect the remaining amount of powder in the container.

Further, in the present invention, when the light emitting means is disposed to face the light incident window of the housing portion and the light receiving means is disposed to face the light emission window of the housing portion, after emitting from the light emitting means, Based on the amount of light received by the light receiving means via the light incident window, the internal space of the storage unit, and the light emission window, it is possible to detect the remaining amount of powder in the storage unit. Even in such a configuration, since the amount of powder stored in the storage unit is detected instead of the amount of powder discharged from the storage unit, the remaining amount of powder in the storage unit can be determined without providing a temporary storage tank. Can be detected.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a toner replenishing device and a front end portion of the toner container before the toner container is mounted. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a copying machine according to a reference embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an image forming unit for Y of the copier. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state where a toner container is installed in a toner supply device in the copier. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a container mounting portion of the copier in a state where a toner container is set. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the toner container. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a toner replenishing device and a front end portion of the toner container before the toner container is mounted. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a toner replenishing device in a state in which a toner container is mounted and a front end side of the toner container. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a toner replenishing device with a toner container mounted thereon and a front end portion of the toner container. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a toner bottle of the toner container. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a toner bottle in a state where a nozzle receiving member is pulled out. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a tip portion of a toner bottle in a state where a nozzle receiving member is pulled out. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a tip portion of an upper cheer toner bottle equipped with a nozzle receiving member. The perspective view which shows the nozzle receiving member 330 from the front end side. The perspective view which shows the nozzle receiving member 330 from the rear end side. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the nozzle receiving member of the state fractured | ruptured in the position of a shutter side surface support part. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the nozzle receiving member of the state fractured | ruptured in the position of a shutter support opening part. The disassembled perspective view which shows the nozzle receiving member of the state which pulled out the container shutter member. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a set cover in the toner replenishing device and a front end portion of the toner container received in the set cover. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing the set cover and the tip when the toner bottle is slightly rotated from the state of FIG. 19. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a set cover in a toner supply device according to a reference example and a front end portion of a toner container that is received in the set cover. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a set cover in the toner supply device according to the embodiment and a tip portion of the toner container that is received in the set cover. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a toner container and a peripheral configuration thereof in a toner supply device according to another reference embodiment.

Hereinafter, a copying machine of the present invention as an image forming apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a copier 500) Before describing the implementation form of application to be described reference embodiment that can help in understanding the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a copying machine 500 according to a reference embodiment. The copying machine 500 includes a copying machine main body (hereinafter referred to as a printer unit 100), a paper feed table (hereinafter referred to as a paper feed unit 200), and a scanner (hereinafter referred to as a scanner unit 400) mounted on the printer unit 100. .

  Four toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to the respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) are detachable (replaceable) in a container mounting section 70 provided in the upper part of the printer section 100. It is installed freely. An intermediate transfer unit 85 is disposed below the container mounting portion 70.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  The toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K) includes a container mounting portion 70, a transport nozzle 611 (Y, M, C, K), a transport screw 614 (Y, M, C, K), and a toner drop transport. A path 64 (Y, M, C, K), a container rotation drive unit 91 (Y, M, C, K), and the like are configured.

  When the toner container 32Y is inserted in the direction of the arrow Q in the drawing and is mounted on the container mounting portion 70 of the printer unit 100, the toner replenishing device 60Y from the front end side of the toner container 32Y is interlocked with the mounting operation. The transfer nozzle 611Y is inserted, and the toner container 32Y communicates with the transfer nozzle 611Y.

  The toner container 32Y has a cylindrical shape, such as a container tip cover 34Y fixed to the container mounting portion 70 in a non-rotating state, a toner bottle 33Y integrally formed with a container rotation gear 301Y, and the like. It is composed of The container front end cover as a holding unit rotatably holds the toner bottle 33Y in a state where the front end of the toner bottle 33Y in the rotation axis direction is received.

  The container mounting unit 70 is configured to mount the tip receiving part 73 for fixing the container tip cover 34Y of the toner container 32Y, the container receiving part 72 for receiving the toner bottle 33Y of the toner container 32Y, and the toner container 32Y. It is comprised from the insertion port formation part 71 etc. which form the insertion port at the time. When the main body cover (not shown) installed on the front side of the copier 500 (the front side in the direction perpendicular to the paper in FIG. 2) is opened, the insertion port forming portion 71 of the container mounting portion 70 is exposed. Then, each toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) is attached / detached from the front side of the copying machine 500 in a state where the longitudinal direction of each toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) is horizontal. An operation (attachment / detachment operation in which the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32 is the attachment / detachment direction) is performed. The set cover 608Y in FIG. 4 is a part of the tip receiving portion 73 of the container mounting portion 70.

  The container receiving portion 72 is formed so that its length in the longitudinal direction is substantially equal to the length of the toner bottle 33Y in the longitudinal direction. Further, the tip receiving portion 73 is provided on one end side in the longitudinal direction (attachment / detachment direction) of the container receiving portion 72, and the insertion port forming portion 71 is provided on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the container receiving portion 72. The container tip cover 34Y slides on the container receiving portion 72 for a while after passing through the insertion port forming portion 71 in accordance with the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y, and is then attached to the tip receiving portion 73.

  In a state where the container front end cover 34Y is attached to the front end receiving portion 73, the container rotation driving unit 91 configured by a drive motor, a drive gear, and the like transmits a rotation driving force to the container rotation gear 301Y, whereby the toner bottle 33Y. Is rotated in the direction of arrow A in FIG. By rotating the toner bottle 33Y itself, the toner contained in the toner bottle 33Y is moved along the longitudinal direction of the toner bottle by the spiral protrusion 302Y formed in a spiral shape on the inner peripheral surface of the toner bottle 33Y. It is transported from the rear end side to the front end side (from the left side to the right side in FIG. 4) and supplied from the container front end cover 34Y side into the transport nozzle 611Y.

  A transport screw 614Y is disposed in the transport nozzle 611Y, and rotation is input to the transport screw gear 605Y from the container rotation drive unit 91Y, whereby the transport screw 614Y rotates to remove the toner in the transport nozzle 611Y. Transport. The downstream end of the transport nozzle 611Y in the transport direction is connected to the toner drop transport path 64Y, and the toner transported by the transport screw 614Y falls by its own weight on the toner drop transport path 64Y, and the developing device 50Y (second developer storage). Part 54Y).

  Each of the toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) is replaced with a new one when it reaches the end of its life (when almost all the toner to be stored is consumed and emptied). A handle 303 is provided at the end of the toner container 32 opposite to the container tip cover 34 in the longitudinal direction. When replacing, the operator holds the handle 303 and pulls it out. The toner container 32 can be removed.

The control unit 90 calculates the toner consumption based on the image information used for the exposure device 47, and when the control unit 90 determines that it is necessary to supply the toner to the developing device 50Y, or the detection result of the toner density detection sensor 56Y. If the controller 90 detects that the toner concentration in the developing device 50Y has decreased, the container rotation drive unit 91Y is rotated by the control of the control unit 90, and the toner bottle 33Y of the toner container 32Y The conveying screw 614Y is rotated for a predetermined time to supply toner to the developing device 50Y. Further, since the toner is replenished by rotating the conveying screw 614Y disposed in the conveying nozzle 611Y, the amount of toner supplied from the toner container 32Y can be accurately detected by detecting the number of rotations of the conveying screw 614Y. It can also be calculated well. When the toner supply amount cumulatively calculated from when the toner container 32Y is mounted reaches the amount of toner in the toner container 32Y at the time of mounting, the control unit 90 causes the toner to be stored in the toner container 32Y. It is determined that there is no toner (toner end). Then, a message prompting replacement of the toner container 32Y is displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the copier 500. In addition, even when the replenishment operation is repeatedly executed and the toner density recovery is not detected, the control unit 90 determines that the toner has ended and displays the above-described message.
Display to the effect.

  The control unit 90 controls the amount of toner supplied to the developing device 50Y based on the rotation speed of the transport screw 614Y. Therefore, the toner that has passed through the transport nozzle 611Y is directly transported to the developing device 50Y via the toner dropping transport path 64Y without controlling the supply amount to the developing device 50Y. Even if the conveyance nozzle 611Y is configured to be inserted into the toner container 32Y, a primary toner storage unit such as a toner hopper may be provided. The toner supply amount to the developing device 50Y may be controlled by controlling the toner conveyance amount from the toner primary storage unit to the developing device 50Y.

  The toner replenishing device 60Y transports the toner supplied into the transport nozzle 611Y by the transport screw 614Y, but means for transporting the toner supplied into the transport nozzle 611Y is not limited to the screw member. The structure which provides a conveyance force by things different from a screw member, such as the structure which generate | occur | produces a negative pressure in the opening part of the conveyance nozzle 611Y using a powder pump, may be sufficient.

In a configuration in which the toner primary storage unit is provided, it is common to provide a toner end sensor that detects that the amount of toner stored in the toner primary storage unit has become a predetermined amount or less. Then, based on the toner end detection of the toner end sensor, the toner bottle 33Y and the conveying screw 614Y are rotationally driven for a predetermined time to replenish the toner in the toner primary storage unit. Further, if the toner end detection by the toner end sensor is not canceled even after such control is repeated a predetermined number of times, it is assumed that there is no toner in the toner container 32Y, and the toner is stored in a display unit (not shown) of the copier 500. A message to prompt the user to replace the device 32Y is displayed. As described above, if it is configured to detect that the toner in the toner container 32Y runs out based on the toner end detection of the toner end sensor, the toner supply amount from when the toner container 32Y is mounted is cumulatively added. There is no need to calculate. However, if the toner replenishing device 60Y according to the reference embodiment is not provided with a primary toner storage unit, the toner replenishing device 60Y can be reduced in size, and the entire copying machine 500 can be reduced in size. it can.

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

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the toner container 32 according to the reference embodiment. FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing the toner replenishing device 60 before the toner container 32 is mounted and the end portion on the front end side of the toner container 32. FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing the toner replenishing device 60 with the toner container 32 attached and the front end side of the toner container 32. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the toner replenishing device 60 before the toner container 32 is mounted and the tip of the toner container 32. FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the toner replenishing device 60 with the toner container 32 attached and the tip of the toner container 32.

  The toner replenishing device 60 includes a transport nozzle 611 having a transport screw 614 therein. A nozzle shutter member 612 is also provided. The nozzle shutter member 612 closes the nozzle opening 610 formed in the transport nozzle 611 when the toner container 32 is not attached (the state shown in FIGS. 7 and 9) before the toner container 32 is attached. Further, when the toner container 32 is mounted (the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 8), the nozzle opening 610 is opened.

  In the center of the front end surface of the toner container 32, a nozzle receiving port 331 into which the transport nozzle 611 is inserted when mounted and a container shutter member 332 that closes the nozzle receiving port 331 when not mounted are provided.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the toner bottle 33 of the toner container 32. A container front end cover (34) is attached to the front end of the toner bottle 33, but the container front end cover is removed in FIG. A nozzle receiving port 331 and a nozzle receiving member 330 are provided at the tip of the toner bottle 33.

  FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the toner bottle 33 with the nozzle receiving member 330 pulled out. FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the tip of the toner container 32 with the nozzle receiving member 330 pulled out. FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the tip of the toner bottle 33 with the nozzle receiving member 330 attached.

  The toner bottle 33 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is configured to rotate about the central axis of the cylinder as a rotation axis. Hereinafter, in the rotation axis direction of the toner bottle 33, the side on which the container front end cover 34 is mounted is the front end side of the toner bottle 33, and the opposite side is the rear end side of the toner bottle 33. The longitudinal direction of the toner container 32 described above is along the rotation axis direction, and in the state where the toner container 32 is mounted on the toner replenishing device 60, the rotation axis direction is along the horizontal direction.

  The rear end side of the toner bottle 33 with respect to the container rotation gear 301 has an outer diameter larger than that of the front end side, and a helical protrusion 302 is formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof. When the toner bottle 33 rotates in the direction of arrow A in the figure, the toner in the toner bottle 33 moves from one end side (rear end side) to the other end side (front end side) in the rotation axis direction by the action of the spiral protrusion 302. The conveying force to go is given.

  At the front end side of the toner bottle 33, a pumping unit that pumps up the toner that has been transported to the front end side by the spiral protrusion 302 by rotating the toner bottle 33 in the direction of arrow A in the figure. 304 is formed. A pumping inner wall surface 304f, which is the inner wall surface of the casing on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the internal space of the pumping unit 304, has a shape like a paddle feather with respect to the rotation direction. Then, when the internal space of the pumping unit 304 is below, the toner that has entered the pumping unit 304 by the conveying force of the spiral projection 302 is inserted by the pumping inner wall surface 304f pumping up by the rotation of the toner bottle 33. The toner can be pumped up above the transport nozzle 611.

  A container rotation gear 301 is formed further on the front end side than the pumping portion 304 of the toner bottle 33. The container front end cover 34 is provided with a gear exposure opening 34a so that a part (the back side in FIG. 6) of the container rotation gear 301 is exposed in a state of being attached to the toner bottle 33. By attaching the toner container 32 to the toner replenishing device 60, the container rotation gear 301 exposed from the gear exposure opening 34a is engaged with the container drive output gear 601 on the toner replenishing device 60 side.

  A cylindrical tip opening forming portion 305 is formed on the tip side of the toner bottle 33 further than the container rotation gear 301. The nozzle receiving member 330 can be fixed to the toner bottle 33 by press-fitting the receiving member fixing portion 337 of the nozzle receiving member 330 into the tip opening forming portion 305. The method for fixing the nozzle receiving member 330 is not limited to press-fitting, but may be fixing by an adhesive or fixing by screws.

  The toner container 32 is configured such that after the toner bottle 33 is filled with toner from the opening of the tip opening forming portion 305, the nozzle receiving member 330 is fixed to the tip opening forming portion 305 of the toner bottle 33.

  A cover claw hooking portion 306 is formed at the end of the toner bottle 33 at the end opening forming portion 305 on the container rotation gear 301 side. A container front end cover 34 is attached to the toner container 32 (toner bottle 33) in the state shown in FIG. 10 from the front end side (lower left side in FIG. 10). It penetrates the tip cover 34. Then, the cover claw portion 341 provided on the upper portion of the container front end cover 34 is hooked on the cover claw hooking portion 306. The cover claw hooking portion 306 is formed so as to go around the outer peripheral surface of the front end opening forming portion 305, and the toner bottle 33 and the container front end cover 34 can be rotated relative to each other when the cover claw portion 341 is hooked. It has become. The cover claw hooking portion 306 does not need to go around completely, and may have a configuration in which, for example, three places are provided at intervals of 120 [°].

  The toner bottle 33 is formed by a biaxial stretch blow molding method. This biaxial stretch blow molding method generally comprises a two-stage process including a preform molding process and a stretch blow molding process. In the preform molding step, a test tubular preform is molded by injection molding using a resin. By this injection molding, a tip opening forming portion 305, a cover claw hooking portion 306, and a container rotation gear 301 are formed in the mouth portion of the test tube. In the stretch blow molding process, the preform cooled after the preform molding process is heated and softened, and then blow molded and stretched.

  The rear end side of the toner bottle 33 with respect to the container rotation gear 301 is formed by a stretch blow molding process. Therefore, the pumping part 304, the part in which the spiral protrusion 302 is formed, and the handle part 303 are formed by a stretch blow molding process.

  Each portion on the tip side from the container rotation gear 301 such as the container rotation gear 301, the tip opening forming portion 305, and the cover claw hooking portion 306 has a shape as an injection-molded preform, so that the dimensions are maintained with high accuracy. be able to. On the other hand, since the pumping portion 304, the portion where the spiral protrusion 302 is formed, and the handle portion 303 are injection molded and then stretched and molded in a stretch blow molding process, the accuracy is inferior. .

Next, the nozzle receiving member 330 fixed to the toner bottle 33 will be described.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the nozzle receiving member 330 from the front end side. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the nozzle receiving member 330 from the rear end side. FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the nozzle receiving member 330 in a state of being broken at the position of the shutter side surface support portion 335a. FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the nozzle receiving member 330 in a state of being broken at the position of the shutter support opening 335b. FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view showing the nozzle receiving member 330 with the container shutter member 332 pulled out.

  The nozzle receiving member 330 includes a shutter rear end support portion 335, a container shutter support member 340 including a shutter side surface support portion 335 a and a receiving member fixing portion 337, and a container shutter member 332. Further, a container seal member 333, a container shutter spring 336 made of a coil spring, and the like are also provided. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the end portion on the front end side of the container shutter spring 336 hits the wall surface of the container shutter member 332, and the end portion on the rear end side of the container shutter spring 336 is the wall surface of the shutter rear end support portion 335. I hit it. At this time, since the container shutter spring 336 is in a compressed state, the container shutter member 332 receives an urging force in a direction away from the shutter rear end support portion 335 (right direction in FIGS. 16 and 17 and the container front end direction).

  A shutter removal preventing claw 332 a formed at the end on the rear end side of the container shutter member 332 is hooked on the outer wall surface of the shutter rear end support portion 335. By this catch, the container shutter member 332 is prevented from moving in a direction away from the shutter rear end support portion 335 as compared with the state shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. Positioning of the container shutter member 332 with respect to the container shutter support member 340 is performed by the hook of the shutter removal preventing claw 332a with respect to the shutter rear end support portion 335 and the urging force of the container shutter spring 336.

  The receiving member fixing portion 337 has a cylindrical shape in which the diameter of the inner peripheral surface decreases stepwise toward the rear end side. And as FIG. 16 shows, the part (The outer peripheral surface of the container shutter member 332 slides) in which the diameter of the column-shaped space between the two shutter side surface support parts 335a and the diameter of an inner peripheral surface become the same magnitude | size. A donut-shaped container seal member 333 is arranged so as to abut against a step on the tip side with respect to a portion forming the inner peripheral surface. The container seal member 333 is fixed to the above-described step of the receiving member fixing portion 337 with an adhesive or a double-sided tape.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, a seal member entanglement prevention space 337 b is formed at the innermost portion of the step portion where the container seal member 333 of the receiving member fixing portion 337 of the nozzle receiving member 330 abuts. The seal member entanglement prevention space 337b is a cylindrical space. The diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the doughnut-shaped container seal member 333 and larger than the diameter of the portion forming the inner peripheral surface on which the outer peripheral surface of the container shutter member 332 slides.

  When the container shutter member 332 moves from the state of shielding the nozzle receiving port 331 toward the container rear end, the inner peripheral surface of the doughnut-shaped container seal member 333 slides with the container shutter member 332. For this reason, the part which forms the inner peripheral surface of the container seal member 333 is elastically deformed so as to be pulled by the container shutter member 332 and move toward the container rear end. It is assumed that the step portion where the container seal member 333 abuts on the receiving member fixing portion 337 and the portion forming the inner peripheral surface on which the outer peripheral surface of the container shutter member 332 slides are continuously formed. Then, the elastically deformed portion of the container seal member 333 is sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 that slides with the container shutter member 332 and the outer peripheral surface of the container shutter member 332, and is wound up. There is a risk of becoming. When the container seal member 333 is caught in a portion where the receiving member fixing portion 337 and the container shutter member 332 slide, the container shutter member 332 is locked with respect to the receiving member fixing portion 337 and the nozzle receiving port 331 can be opened and closed. Disappear.

Therefore, the nozzle receiving member 330 of the toner container 32 according to the reference embodiment has a seal member entanglement preventing space 337b formed on the inner peripheral portion thereof. Since the diameter of the seal member entrainment prevention space 337b is smaller than the outer diameter of the doughnut-shaped container seal member 333, the entire container seal member 333 does not enter. Even if the elastically deformed portion pulled by the container shutter member 332 of the container seal member 333 moves in the container rear end direction and enters the seal member entanglement prevention space 337b, the diameter of the seal member entanglement prevention space 337b is Because the diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the container shutter member 332 is larger than the diameter of the portion that forms the inner peripheral surface that slides, the container seal member 333 is wound around the portion where the receiving member fixing portion 337 and the container shutter member 332 slide. There is nothing. Therefore, the container seal member 333 is prevented from being caught in the portion where the receiving member fixing portion 337 and the container shutter member 332 slide, and the container shutter member 332 is locked with respect to the receiving member fixing portion 337. Thus, it is possible to prevent the nozzle receiving port 331 from being opened and closed.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, a plurality of nozzle shutter abutment ribs 337 a are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 where the container seal member 333 is disposed. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, in the state where the container seal member 333 is fixed to the receiving member fixing portion 337, the end surface on the front end side of the container seal member 333 is the end portion on the front end side of the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a. Protrudes in the direction of the rotation axis. As shown in FIG. 9, when the toner container 32 is mounted on the toner replenishing device 60, the nozzle shutter collar 612a of the nozzle shutter member 612 on the toner replenishing device 60 side is connected to the tip side end of the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a. I hit the part. At this time, after the nozzle shutter collar 612a comes into contact with the container seal member 333, the container seal member 333 protrudes from the front end side of the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a. 333 is crushed and hits the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a. As described above, when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the container seal member 333 is crushed by the nozzle shutter collar 612a, so that the sealing around the transport nozzle 611 at the nozzle receiving port 331 at the time of attachment is performed. Can be ensured and toner leakage can be prevented.

  In the toner container 32, the end surface on the distal end side where the nozzle receiving port 331 that is the tube insertion port of the nozzle receiving member 330 that is the tube insertion member is opened is formed by the container seal member 333 that is an elastic member. Then, a nozzle shutter collar 612a that is an abutting portion of the nozzle shutter member 612 that is a powder receiving opening / closing member abuts in a state where the container seal member 333 is crushed and compressed. Thereby, the surface opposite to the nozzle shutter spring receiving surface 612f in the nozzle shutter collar 612a is brought into close contact with the container seal member 333, so that the toner leakage prevention function can be further improved.

  When the container seal member 333, which is an elastic member, is compressed in the receiving member fixing portion 337 of the nozzle receiving member 330, the nozzle shutter collar portion 612a (see FIG. 9) abuts against the plurality of nozzle shutter abutment ribs 337a. The back side of the nozzle shutter spring receiving surface 612f of the nozzle shutter collar 612a biased by the nozzle shutter spring 613 abuts against the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a, so that the position of the nozzle shutter member 612 in the rotational axis direction with respect to the toner container 32 Is decided. Thereby, the positional relationship in the rotational axis direction between the end surface on the front end side of the container seal member 333 and the end surface on the front end side of the front end opening forming portion 305 and the nozzle shutter member 612 is determined.

  When the toner container 32 is mounted, the nozzle opening 610 starts to open after the nozzle shutter collar 612a hits the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a and the relative position of the nozzle shutter member 612 with respect to the toner container 32 is fixed. . On the other hand, when the toner container 32 is removed, the relative position of the nozzle shutter member 612 with respect to the toner container 32 changes in a state where the nozzle opening 610 is opened even if the transport nozzle 611 starts to come out of the toner container 32. Instead, after the nozzle shutter member 612 closes the nozzle opening 610, the nozzle shutter member 612 moves out of the toner container 32 together with the transport nozzle 611. In a state in which the nozzle shutter collar 612a abuts against the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a, the portion where the nozzle opening 610 of the transport nozzle 611 is formed is sufficiently inside the toner container 32 than the inlet portion of the nozzle receiving port 331. Is located. Since the nozzle opening 610 opens and closes from a state where it is sufficiently located inside the toner container 32, toner leakage from the nozzle opening 610 to the outside can be prevented.

  The shutter side support part 335a and the shutter support opening part 335b have a shape in which the two shutter side support parts 335a form a part of a cylindrical shape, and the cylindrical shape is largely cut off at the part of the shutter support opening part 335b. . With such a shape, it is possible to guide the container shutter member 332 to move in the direction of the rotation axis in a columnar space formed inside the cylindrical shape.

  The nozzle receiving member 330 fixed to the toner bottle 33 rotates together with the toner bottle 33 when the toner bottle 33 rotates. At this time, the shutter side surface support portion 335a of the nozzle receiving member 330 is a transport nozzle on the toner supply device 60 side. Rotate around 611. For this reason, the toner in the toner bottle 33 is supplied into the transport nozzle 611 at a timing when the rotating shutter side surface support portion 335a is positioned above the nozzle opening 610 formed in the upper portion of the transport nozzle 611. Be inhibited. On the other hand, at the timing when the shutter side surface support portion 335a is positioned on the side of the transport nozzle 611 and the nozzle opening portion 610 and the shutter support opening portion 335b face each other, as shown by the arrow β in FIG. The toner inside is supplied into the transport nozzle 611.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, a step is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 of the nozzle receiving member 330 such that the outer peripheral diameter on the rear end side becomes smaller in the middle of the rotation axis direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the inner peripheral surface of the front end opening forming portion 305 of the toner bottle 33 is shaped along the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 so that the inner peripheral diameter becomes smaller at the rear end side. Are stepped. Then, the step of the outer peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 abuts on the step of the inner peripheral surface of the tip opening forming portion 305 in the entire circumferential direction, so that the axis of the nozzle receiving member 330 with respect to the toner bottle 33 is prevented from falling. The axis collapse is a phenomenon in which the central axis of the cylindrical receiving member fixing portion 337 is inclined with respect to the central axis of the cylindrical tip opening forming portion 305.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the container front end cover 34 of the toner container 32 has a lock for allowing a container lock member 609 provided on the set cover 608 of the toner replenishing device 60 to penetrate from the outer side to the inner side. An opening 339 is provided. The container tip cover 34 is also provided with an ID chip 700 that records data such as the usage status of the toner container 32. Furthermore, a color non-compatible rib 34b is provided to prevent the toner container 32 having a different toner color from being attached to the set cover 608 of another color.

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

  A container rotation drive unit 91 is fixed to the frame 602. The container rotation drive unit 91 includes a drive motor 603 and a container drive output gear 601, a worm gear 603 a that transmits the rotation drive of the drive motor 603 to the rotation shaft of the container drive output gear 601 (not shown), and the like. A drive transmission gear 604 is fixed to the rotating shaft of the container drive output gear 601, and is configured to mesh with the conveying screw gear 605 fixed to the rotating shaft of the conveying screw 614. With such a configuration, the toner container 32 is rotated via the container drive output gear 601 and the container rotation gear 301 by rotating the drive motor 603. Then, the transport screw 614 is rotated via the drive transmission gear 604 and the transport screw gear 605.

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

Next, a process of attaching the toner container 32 to the toner supply device 60 will be described.
When the toner container 32 moves in the direction of the toner supply device 60 as indicated by an arrow Q in FIGS. 7 and 1, the nozzle tip 611 a of the transport nozzle 611 contacts the end surface on the tip side of the container shutter member 332. To do. When the toner container 32 further moves in the direction of the toner replenishing device 60, the transport nozzle 611 presses the end surface on the front end side of the container shutter member 332. Thus, when the container shutter spring 336 contracts, the container shutter member 332 is pushed into the inner side (rear end side) of the toner container 32 and the nozzle front end side of the transport nozzle 611 is inserted into the nozzle receiving port 331. At this time, the nozzle shutter cylindrical portion 612e on the nozzle tip side of the nozzle shutter collar 612a in the nozzle shutter member 612 is also inserted into the nozzle receiving port 331 together with the transport nozzle 611.

  When the toner container 32 further moves in the direction of the toner replenishing device 60, the surface opposite to the nozzle shutter spring receiving surface of the nozzle shutter collar 612 a comes into contact with the end surface on the front end side of the container seal member 333 and the container seal. The member 333 is crushed a little. As a result, the relative position of the nozzle shutter member 612 in the rotation axis direction with respect to the toner container 32 is fixed by abutting the aforementioned surface against the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a.

  When the toner container 32 further moves in the direction of the toner supply device 60, the transport nozzle 611 is further inserted into the toner container 32. At this time, the nozzle shutter member 612 that has been in contact with the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337 a is pushed back toward the nozzle base with respect to the transport nozzle 611. As a result, the nozzle shutter spring 613 contracts, and the relative position of the nozzle shutter member 612 with respect to the transport nozzle 611 moves to the nozzle base side. Along with the movement of the relative position, the nozzle opening 610 covered with the nozzle shutter member 612 is exposed inside the toner bottle 33, and the inside of the toner bottle 33 and the inside of the transport nozzle 611 communicate with each other.

  In a state where the transport nozzle 611 is inserted into the nozzle receiving port 331, the following force acts by the biasing force of the container shutter spring 336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 in a contracted state. That is, the force is in the direction in which the toner container 32 is pushed back against the toner replenishing device 60 (the direction opposite to the arrow Q in the figure). However, when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the toner container 32 is moved to a position where the container lock member 609 of the set cover 608 of the toner replenishing device 60 is received by the lock opening 339. It is moved in the direction of the toner replenishing device 60 against this force. Accordingly, the toner replenishing device of the toner container 32 in the state shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 by the urging force of the container shutter spring 336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 and the hook of the container lock member 609 with respect to the lock opening 339. Positioning in the rotation axis direction with respect to 60 is performed.

As shown in FIG. 7, the lock openings 339 are provided on both side surfaces of the container tip cover 34. The toner container 32 has a layout in which the container shutter member 332 is positioned at the center of a line segment connecting two locking openings 339 on a virtual plane orthogonal to the rotation axis. If the container shutter member 332 does not exist on the line segment connecting the two locking openings 339, the following rotational moment acts. That is, the rotational moment that rotates the toner container 32 around the line segment by the biasing force of the container shutter spring 336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 acting at the position of the container shutter member 332. As a result, the toner container 32 may be inclined with respect to the toner supply device 60. Therefore, in the toner container 32 according to the reference embodiment, the container shutter member 332 is located on a line segment connecting the two lock openings 339. In such a configuration, the toner container 32 can be prevented from being tilted with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 by the urging force of the container shutter spring 336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 acting at the position of the container shutter member 332.

  When the toner container 32 is mounted on the toner replenishing device 60, the circular end surface of the front end opening forming portion 305 that is the end portion on the front end side of the toner container 32 is the end surface (615b) of the container setting portion 615. It is the structure which does not touch. The reason why such a configuration is adopted is as follows. That is, before the container locking member 609 enters the locking opening 339, when the circular end surface of the tip opening forming portion 305 hits the end surface (615b) of the container setting portion 615, the toner container 32 is further moved to the toner. It cannot be moved toward the supply device 60 side. As a result, positioning in the direction of the rotation axis cannot be performed. Therefore, in a state where the toner container 32 is mounted on the toner supply device 60, there is a slight gap between the circular end surface of the tip opening forming portion 305 and the end surface (615b) of the container setting portion 615. I have to.

  When the toner container is positioned in the rotation axis direction, the outer peripheral surface of the tip opening forming portion 305 is slidably fitted to the inner peripheral surface (615a) of the container setting portion 615. For this reason, the toner container 32 is positioned with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 in the plane direction orthogonal to the rotation axis. Thereby, the mounting of the toner container 32 to the toner supply device 60 is completed.

  In a state where the toner container 32 is completely installed, the drive motor 603 is rotated to rotate the toner bottle 33 of the toner container 32 and the transport screw 614 in the transport nozzle 611. As the toner bottle 33 rotates, the toner in the toner bottle 33 is conveyed to the front end side of the toner bottle 33 by the spiral protrusion 302. The toner that has reached the pumping unit 304 by this conveyance is lifted above the nozzle opening 610 by the pumping unit 304 as the toner bottle 33 rotates. The toner that has been lifted above the nozzle opening 610 falls into the nozzle opening 610, whereby the toner is supplied into the transport nozzle 611. The toner supplied into the transport nozzle 611 is transported by the transport screw 614 and supplied to the developing device 50 through the toner dropping transport path 64. In FIG. 9, the flow of toner from the toner bottle 33 to the toner dropping / conveying path 64 at this time is indicated by an arrow β in FIG.

  9 indicates a position where the tip opening forming portion 305 is slidably in contact with the container setting portion 615 and the toner container 32 is positioned with respect to the toner replenishing device 60. This position is not limited to a configuration having both functions of the sliding portion and the positioning portion, and may have a configuration having either function of the sliding portion or the positioning portion.

  The nozzle receiving member 330 of the toner container 32 has a nozzle receiving port 331, a shutter support opening 335 b, and a container shutter member 332. A nozzle receiving port 331 provided at the position of the opening of the toner bottle 33 receives a transport nozzle 611 having a nozzle opening 610 that is a powder receiving port. The shutter support opening 335 b functions as a replenishing port for supplying toner, which is powder in the toner bottle 33, to the nozzle opening 610 at least partially. Further, the container shutter member 332 is supported by the nozzle receiving member 330, and is opened and closed to slide the moving nozzle 611 in the direction of the rotation axis and open / close the nozzle receiving port 331 by an operation of inserting or extracting the conveying nozzle 611 from the nozzle receiving member 330. Functions as a member. With such a configuration, the toner container 32 maintains the state in which the nozzle receiving port 331 is closed until the transport nozzle 611 is inserted, and the toner leakage in the state before being attached to the toner supply device 60. And can prevent scattering.

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

  In FIGS. 1 and 9, toner may be scattered from the nozzle opening 610 and the nozzle receiving port 331. The container setting portion 615 on the toner replenishing device 60 side and the tip end portion of the tip opening forming portion 305 on the toner container 32 side are separated from these openings in any state before and after the toner container 32 is mounted. Yes. Therefore, the toner leaks from the nozzle receiving port 331 before the toner container 32 is mounted, and the contact portion between the container seal member 333 and the transport nozzle 611 in a state where the toner container 32 is mounted on the toner supply device 60. Can be prevented. Further, the container setting unit 615 on the toner supply device 60 side is separated from the nozzle opening 610 when the toner container 32 is attached or detached. Further, the tip end portion of the tip opening forming portion 305 on the toner container 32 side is separated from the container shutter member 332.

  The container shutter member 332 that seals the nozzle receiving port 331 that is a toner discharge portion in the toner container 32 is disposed on the rear end side (back side) from the front end side end portion of the front end opening forming portion 305 of the toner bottle 33. Has been. Accordingly, a certain distance is secured from the container shutter member 332 with respect to the distal end side end of the distal opening forming portion 305. In such a configuration, the toner goes around the opening position of the toner bottle 33 from the nozzle receiving port 331 located on the back side of the opening position of the toner bottle 33. Thereby, the toner can be prevented from reaching the outer peripheral surface side of the tip opening forming portion 305, and the occurrence of toner scattering can be suppressed.

Positioning in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the toner container 32 with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 is performed by fitting the outer peripheral surface of the tip opening forming portion 305 and the cylindrical inner peripheral surface (615a) of the container setting portion 615. ing. That is, the outer peripheral surface of the tip opening forming portion 305 of the toner bottle 33 that is a powder storage member is a positioning portion for the toner replenishing device 60 that is a powder conveying device. For this reason, if toner contamination occurs on the outer peripheral surface side of the tip opening forming portion 305, the fitting state with the inner peripheral surface of the container setting portion 615 may change, and the positioning accuracy may decrease. Therefore, the toner container 32 according to the reference form suppresses the toner from reaching the outer peripheral surface side of the tip opening forming portion 305, and stabilizes the positioning accuracy of the toner container 32 with respect to the toner replenishing device 60. ing.

The contact portion between the outer peripheral surface of the tip opening forming portion 305 and the inner peripheral surface of the container setting portion 615 is in a sliding relationship when the toner container 32 rotates. That is, the outer peripheral surface of the tip opening forming portion 305 of the toner bottle 33 that is a powder storage member is a sliding portion with the toner replenishing device 60 that is a powder conveying device. When the toner enters the sliding portion, the sliding load increases and the rotational torque of the toner container 32 may increase. On the other hand, the toner container 32 according to the reference embodiment suppresses the toner from reaching the outer peripheral surface side of the tip opening forming portion 305, and the toner enters the contact portion with the inner peripheral surface of the container setting portion 615. This can be suppressed. For this reason, it is possible to suppress an increase in the rotational load of the toner container 32 by suppressing an increase in the sliding load and stabilizing the slidability. Further, since the toner can be prevented from entering the sliding portion, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of toner aggregates due to the toner being pressed and solidified by the sliding portion.

  When the toner container 32 is attached to the toner supply device 60, the container seal member 333 is crushed by the nozzle shutter collar 612a. As a result, the nozzle shutter collar 612a is brought into close contact with the container seal member 333, and toner leakage can be prevented more reliably. By arranging the container shutter member 332 on the inner side (rear end side) in the longitudinal direction from the opening position, the space between the front end of the toner container 32 and the end surfaces on the front end side of the container shutter member 332 and the container seal member 333 is provided. A cylindrical space is formed.

In FIG. 10, the toner bottle 33 as a storage unit has a cover claw hook 306, a container rotation gear 301, and a pumping unit 304 at the tip which is one end in the rotation axis direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the tip portion is received and held rotatably in a container tip cover 34 as a holding portion. Of the entire region of the toner bottle 33 in the rotational axis direction, the pumping unit 304 functions as a window portion whose cylindrical wall is made of a light transmissive material over the entire region in the rotational direction. In the drawing, a large number of black spots are drawn on the pumping unit 304, and these black spots indicate that the toner in the bottle is seen through from the outside of the toner bottle 33.

  FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing the set cover 608 in the toner replenishing device 60 and the tip of the toner container (32) received in the set cover 608. This cross-sectional view shows a cross-section of the toner replenishing device 60 at the position of the pumping unit 304 in the entire region of the toner bottle 33 in the rotation axis direction. The front end side of the pumping portion 304 in the toner bottle 33 has a flat box shape instead of a cylindrical shape as shown in the figure, but the window portion in which the entire area in the rotation direction of the flat box is made of a transparent material. It has become.

  In the container front end cover 34 that receives the front end of the toner bottle 33, a light receiving opening 338 is provided in a region adjacent to the pumping unit 304 of the toner bottle 33 on the left side in the drawing. A light emission opening 337 is provided in a region adjacent to the pumping portion 304 of the toner bottle 33 on the right side in the drawing.

  The toner replenishing device 60 includes toner remaining amount detecting means as powder remaining amount detecting means. The toner remaining amount detecting means includes a light emitting element 620 as a light emitting means, a light receiving element 621 as a light receiving means, a toner replenishment control unit (not shown), and the like. The toner replenishment control unit includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory) as information storage means, a ROM (Read Only Memory) as information storage means, and the like.

  The light emitting element 620 and the light receiving element 621 are arranged as follows in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the toner bottle 33 (direction along the drawing sheet). That is, the light receiving opening 338 of the container front end cover, the pumping portion 304 of the toner bottle 33, and the light emission opening 337 of the container front end cover are arranged to face each other. The light emitted from the light emitting element 620 made of LED or the like enters the inside of the container tip cover 34 through the light receiving opening 338 and then becomes a transparent window portion of the toner bottle 33 as indicated by a one-dot chain line in the drawing. It passes through the wall of the pumping unit 304.

  Since the wall of the pumping part 304 is a transparent window part in the entire rotation direction, the light that has entered the container tip cover 34 through the light receiving opening 338 can be measured in any rotational angle posture. Even if it is, it passes through the wall of the pumping unit 304. In a state where the remaining amount of toner in the pumping unit 304 is reduced to some extent, a part of the light that has entered the pumping unit 304 moves through the internal space of the pumping unit 304, and then again passes through the transparent wall of the pumping unit 304. It penetrates and goes out of the pumping unit 304. Then, the light is emitted to the outside of the container front end cover 34 through the light emitting opening 337 of the container front end cover 34 and then received by the light receiving element 621.

  The amount of light received by the light receiving element 621 has a correlation with the remaining amount of toner in the pumping unit 304. Specifically, as the remaining amount of toner decreases, the amount of toner in the pumping unit 304 decreases and the amount of light received by the light receiving element 621 increases (the output voltage value from the light receiving element 621 increases). Therefore, the toner replenishment control unit stores in advance an algorithm (function, data table, etc.) indicating the relationship between the amount of light received by the light receiving element 621 and the remaining amount of toner, and the output voltage value from the light receiving element 621 and its algorithm. Based on the above, the remaining amount of toner is obtained. When the remaining amount of toner falls below a predetermined threshold, a toner end occurrence message is displayed on a display unit (not shown).

  Note that the tip of the pumping portion 304 has a flat box shape as shown in the figure (the cross section of the flat box shape is shown in the figure), so that depending on the rotation angle of the toner bottle 33, FIG. As shown, the pumping unit 304 is not positioned in the optical path between the light emitting element 620 and the light receiving element 621, and light directly reaches the light receiving element 621 from the light emitting element 620. The amount of light received by the light emitting element 621 at this time is not related to the remaining amount of toner. Therefore, the toner replenishment control unit calculates an average value of the amount of received light within a predetermined time, and obtains the remaining amount of toner based on the average value. The specified time is set longer than the time required for one rotation of the toner bottle 33. If the average value of the amount of received light within the specified time is correlated with the remaining amount of toner at the tip of the flat box shape of the pumping unit 304, it is possible to grasp the remaining amount of toner.

  In such a configuration, since the amount of toner stored in the pumping unit 304 is detected based on the transmitted light, not the amount of powder discharged from the toner container 32, the powder discharged from the toner container 32 is detected. The remaining amount of toner in the toner bottle 33 can be detected without providing a temporary storage tank for temporarily storing the body.

  In addition, since the rear end portion of the entire area of the pumping portion 304 in the rotation axis direction has a cylindrical shape, the light from the light emitting element 620 is received at the position of the rear end portion of the pumping portion 304. You may make it receive light by.

As shown in FIG. 6, of the entire region of the toner bottle 33 in the rotational axis direction, the front end portion (one end portion) which is the front end portion in the drawing is received in the container front end cover 34 as a holding portion. It has been. A pumping portion 304 shown in FIG. 19 is formed at the tip portion. That is, in the preparative toner replenishing device 60 is provided with a window portion to the tip portion of the toner bottle 33.

  Since the front end portion of the toner bottle 33 provided with the window portion is received in the container front end cover 34 as described above, the light emitted from the light emitting element 620 enters the pumping portion 304 as the window portion. In order to pass through, it is necessary to pass through the wall of the container front end cover 34 before and after that. Therefore, the container tip cover 34 is provided with a light receiving opening 338 for allowing light to pass therethrough and a light emitting opening 337.

  When the toner end approaches, first, the toner level (loading height) in the bottle becomes considerably low in the entire region of the toner bottle 33 in the rotation axis direction. Hereinafter, this state is referred to as toner near-end initial stage. However, a certain amount of toner remains in the bottle at the beginning of the toner near end.

  Thereafter, when the toner in the bottle further decreases, the toner level at the rear end portion of the toner bottle 33 becomes almost zero, but a certain amount of toner still remains at the front end portion. Hereinafter, such a state is referred to as a toner near-end late stage. Even in the latter stage of the toner near-end, the toner remains in the bottle although it is still small.

  When the amount of toner in the bottle is further reduced, the toner level at the tip of the toner bottle 33 is considerably lowered. This state is the toner end. In the case where a window portion is provided at the rear end portion of the entire region in the rotation axis direction of the toner bottle 33, the time point when the toner in the rear end portion is almost exhausted is detected based on the change in the amount of light received by the light receiving element 621. It will be. However, this time point is the latter stage of the toner near end described above, which is a little earlier than the toner end.

On the other hand, when the window is provided at the tip of the toner bottle 33 as in the toner replenishing device 60 according to the reference embodiment, the change in the amount of light received by the light receiving element 621 is the time when the toner in the tip is almost gone. It will be detected based on. This time is the above-mentioned toner end time. As described above, by providing the window portion at the front end portion of the toner bottle 33, it is possible to detect the toner end timing more accurately than when the window portion is provided at the rear end portion.

In FIG. 19, the position of the rotation axis of the toner bottle 33 is the position of the center of the circle of the transport screw. As illustrated, in the toner replenishing device according to the reference embodiment, the light receiving opening 338 and the light emitting opening 337 are opposed to each other on the lower side in the gravity direction than the rotation axis in the pumping unit 304. By doing so, it is detected based on the change in the amount of light received by the light receiving element 621 that the toner level (loading amount) in the pumping unit 304 has decreased to a position that is considerably lower than the rotational axis. Can do. Therefore, the toner end timing can be detected more accurately than when the openings are provided above the rotation axis in the direction of gravity.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the container tip cover 34 has been described with an example in which two locking openings 339, a light receiving opening 338, and a light emitting opening 337 are separately provided. You may do it. That is, the left locking opening 339 and the light receiving opening 338 are connected to form one opening, and the right locking opening 339 and the light emitting opening 337 are connected to form one opening. Also good.

Then, the toner supply device according to the reference embodiment, reference example and added with a further arrangement, the toner supply device of the embodiment according to the present invention will be described. Unless otherwise specified, the configuration of the toner supply device according to the reference example and the embodiment is the same as that of the reference embodiment.
[ Reference example]
FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing the set cover 608 in the toner replenishing device 60 according to the reference example and the tip of the toner container received in the set cover. In addition, although the cross section of the two container locking members 609 is drawn in the same figure, since it consists of a transparent material, illustration of hatching is abbreviate | omitted. The same applies to FIG. 22 described later.

  In the toner replenishing device 60, the container lock member 609 is made of a transparent plastic and includes a reflecting mirror 609a therein. The light emitting element 620 is disposed so as to face the lock opening 339 on the left side in the figure as a locking opening. In addition, the light receiving element 621 is disposed so as to face the lock opening 339 on the right side in the figure as a locking opening.

  The light emitted from the light emitting element 620 enters the container lock member 609 on the left side in the figure, and is then deflected at an angle of about 90 ° by the reflecting mirror 609a of the container lock member 609 so that the light is emitted from above in the vertical direction to below. It will move toward. A first optical cable 662 is arranged vertically below the container lock member 609 on the left side in the figure, and the light deflected by the reflecting mirror 609a of the container lock member 609 on the right side in the figure is the first optical cable 662. Enter inside. Then, after descending to some extent along the first optical cable 662 bent in an L-shape, it is deflected in the horizontal direction and emitted toward the light receiving opening 338 of the container tip cover 34.

  Thereafter, the light that has passed through the light receiving opening 338 of the container front end cover 34, the inside of the pumping portion 304 of the toner bottle 33, and the light emitting opening 337 of the container front end cover 34 enters the second optical cable 623. . Then, after the traveling direction is deflected in the second optical cable 623 bent in an L shape and proceeds from the lower side to the upper side in the vertical direction, the second optical cable 623 is released from the second optical cable 623 and is transparent on the right side in the figure. The container lock member 609 is entered. Thereafter, the light is deflected by the reflecting mirror 609 a of the container lock member 609 and then received by the light receiving element 621.

  In such a configuration, it is possible to transmit and receive light between the light emitting element 620 and the light receiving element 621 using the arrangement space of the container lock member 609.

[ Embodiment ]
FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view showing the set cover 60 in the toner replenishing device 60 according to the embodiment and the front end portion of the toner container received in the set cover. Also in this toner replenishing device, the two container lock members 609 are each made of a transparent plastic material. However, unlike the reference example, those container lock members 609 do not have a reflecting mirror.

  In this example, out of the two locking openings 339 as locking openings provided in the container front end cover 34, the left locking opening 339 in the figure is also used as the light receiving opening. Further, the lock opening 339 on the right side in the figure is also used as the light emission opening.

  The light emitted from the light emitting element passes through the container lock member 609 inserted into the lock opening 339 on the left side in the drawing, enters the container tip cover 34, and then passes through the pumping unit 34. Thereafter, the light passes through the container lock member 609 inserted into the lock opening 339 on the right side in the drawing and exits from the container front end cover 34, and then is received by the light receiving element 621.

  In such a configuration, light can be transmitted and received between the light emission preventing 620 and the light receiving element 621 using the installation space for the lock opening 339 and the container lock member 609.

Next, a copying machine according to another reference embodiment will be described. Incidentally, unless otherwise noted below, the configuration of a copying machine according to another reference embodiment is the same as Reference Embodiment.
FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing a toner container 900 and its peripheral configuration in a toner replenishing device according to another reference embodiment.

  In the figure, a toner container 900 includes a toner bottle 901 and a toner conveying member 902 disposed so as to extend along the center axis of the circle at the position of the center of the circle of the toner bottle 901. The toner conveying member 902 includes a rotating shaft member 902a that is rotatably supported in a state of extending along the above-described circle central axis, and a plurality of agitation conveying blades 902b. In the drawing, only one agitating / conveying blade 902b is drawn, but actually, a plurality of stirring / conveying blades 902b are arranged along the center axis of the circle (direction perpendicular to the drawing sheet). A plurality of these agitating / conveying blades 902b are respectively fixed to the rotary shaft member 902a in a state of being arranged along the circle center axis.

  The rotating shaft member 902a is connected to the driving device in a region (not shown) outside the toner bottle 901. When the rotation shaft member 902a is rotationally driven by the driving device, the plurality of agitation transport blades 902b rotate accordingly, and each toner in the toner bottle 901 is transported from the bottle rear end side toward the front end side.

  At the front end of the toner bottle 901, a light incident window 903 for allowing light to enter from the outside of the toner bottle 901, and light that has entered the toner bottle 901 through the light incident window are emitted to the outside of the toner bottle 901. A light emission window 904 is provided. In a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the toner conveying member 902 (bottle cross-sectional direction), the light incident window 903 and the light emitting window 904 are opposed to each other via the bottle inner space.

  Outside the toner bottle 901, the light emitting element 920 faces the light incident window 903 of the toner bottle 901. The light receiving element 921 faces the light emission window 904 of the toner bottle 901. These windows are made of transparent plastic or transparent glass.

  Light emitted from the light emitting element 920 enters the toner bottle 901 through the light incident window 903. Then, after traveling through the bottle inner space along the bottle cross-sectional direction, the light is emitted to the outside of the toner bottle 901 through the light emission window 904 and then received by the light receiving element 921. The toner supply control unit grasps the remaining amount of toner in the toner bottle 901 based on the amount of received light. Even in such a configuration, the toner end can be detected without providing a temporary toner storage tank.

32: Toner container (powder container)
33: Toner bottle (container)
34: Container tip cover (holding part)
46Y, M, C, K: Image forming section (image forming means)
60: Toner supply device (powder supply device)
64Y: Toner dropping conveyance path (conveying means)
339: Locking opening (locking opening)
304: Pumping part (window part)
338: Light receiving opening 337: Light emitting opening 609: Container lock member (locking member)
903: Light incident window 904: Light emission window

JP 2007-65613 A JP 2011-27934 A

Claims (3)

A powder container for containing powder; and a conveying means for conveying the powder discharged from the powder container to a replenishment destination, wherein the powder container is rotatable to contain the powder. a housing portion, one end portion in the rotation axis direction of the receiving portion; and a holding portion which rotatably receive and retain their inside, the powder is accommodated in the accommodation portion, rotation of the housing part A powder replenishing device that conveys from the other end side in the rotation axis direction of the housing portion toward one end side and discharges the powder that has moved to one end portion in the rotation axis direction of the housing portion to the outside. In
Of the entire region in the rotation axis direction of the housing portion, the light is disposed at least at the end portion on the one end side received by the holding portion and transmits light to the housing portion in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction. A window portion made of a light transmissive material for ,
A plurality of locking openings disposed in the holding portion to lock the holding portion;
A plurality of locking members disposed in the holding portion to lock the holding portion in a state of being individually inserted into each of the locking openings are provided in the powder container,
At least one of the locking openings is also used as a light receiving opening for receiving light from the outside into the holding portion and guiding it to the window portion of the housing portion,
At least one of the other locking openings is also used as a light emitting opening for receiving light emitted from the inside to the outside in the window portion of the housing portion and guiding it to the outside of the holding portion. And
and,
In a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis, the light receiving means and the light receiving portion that face each other through the light receiving opening of the holding portion, the light emitting opening of the holding portion, and the window portion of the housing portion. And a light source that is emitted from the light emitting means and enters the accommodating portion through the light receiving opening and the window portion, and then moves through the internal space of the accommodating portion and then again through the window portion. Provided is a powder remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of powder in the receiving portion based on the result of receiving the light that has passed through the light emitting opening after being emitted outside the receiving portion by the light receiving means. A powder replenishing device characterized by that. The powder supply device according to claim 1 , wherein
A powder replenishing device, wherein the locking member is made of a transparent material. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms a toner image; and a toner supply device that supplies toner as powder to the image forming unit.
An image forming apparatus using the powder replenishing device according to claim 1 or 2 as the toner replenishing device.

Images