JP6287590B2 - Toner container, toner supply device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner container that accommodates toner used in an image forming apparatus.

  A developing device is mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer that forms an image on printing paper by an electrophotographic method. A developer containing toner is accommodated in the developing device. The developing device develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum with toner contained in the developer. As a result of the development, the toner in the developing device is reduced. Therefore, the image forming apparatus includes a toner container that contains toner, and is configured to replenish the toner from the toner container to the developing device. The toner container is configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus. When the toner in the toner container becomes empty, the toner container is replaced with a new toner container filled with toner.

  This type of toner container is provided with a toner discharge port for supplying toner to the developing device. The toner discharge port is configured to be opened and closed by sliding an opening / closing member such as a shutter member in conjunction with a toner container mounting operation (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-64930 A

  However, in the configuration in which the toner discharge port is opened and closed by the opening / closing member, when the toner container is pulled out during replacement, the toner around the toner discharge port moves so as to be dragged in the removal direction, and the toner discharge port. There is a problem that the vicinity of the outlet and the vicinity of the toner supply port on the developing device are stained with toner, and the opening / closing member is also stained with toner. In particular, when a replenishment mechanism that continuously replenishes toner from the toner container to the toner replenishing port of the developing device during operation of the image forming apparatus is employed, the toner replenishing port is filled with toner. Toner contamination is likely to occur when the container is pulled out. When the toner container is extracted after the toner container is empty, the toner contamination is small. However, the toner container may be extracted in a state where the toner is stored. In this case, the toner contamination becomes remarkable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a toner container, a toner replenishing device, and an image forming apparatus capable of preventing toner contamination around the toner discharge port.

  A toner container according to one aspect of the present invention includes a container body, a toner discharge port, an opening / closing part, and a movable part. The container body is detachably attached to the mounting portion, and is configured to accommodate toner therein. The toner discharge port discharges the toner stored in the container main body to the lower outer side. The opening / closing part is provided to be slidable in a direction along the attaching / detaching direction of the container main body with respect to the mounting part, and includes a first position for opening the toner discharge port and a second position for covering and closing the toner discharge port. Displace between. The movable portion is formed in a plate shape and is rotatably supported on the inner side of the toner discharge port than the opening / closing portion. The movable portion is disposed at a third position that opens the toner discharge port and protrudes downward from the toner discharge port when the opening / closing portion is in the first position, and the opening / closing portion extends from the first position. In association with the movement to the second position, the toner is closed at a fourth position.

  A toner supply device according to another aspect of the present invention includes the toner container, a mounting portion, and a connection port. The mounting portion detachably supports the toner container. The connection port is provided in the mounting portion and configured to be connectable to the toner discharge port.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes the toner supply device.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention is configured such that the toner container can be attached thereto. The image forming apparatus forms an image on the sheet-like member using the toner supplied from the toner container.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent toner contamination around the toner discharge port.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a toner replenishing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the toner replenishing device. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the toner replenishing device. 5A is a partially enlarged view of the toner replenishing device, and FIG. 5B is a partially enlarged view of a horizontal cross section of the toner replenishing device. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the container mounting portion of the toner replenishing device. 7A and 7B are partial enlarged views of the container mounting portion. FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view of the toner container of the toner replenishing device. FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged view of a longitudinal section of the toner container. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the opening / closing part and the movable part of the toner container.

  Hereinafter, the toner replenishing device 40 and the image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the vertical direction 7 is defined with reference to a state where the image forming apparatus 10 is installed on a flat surface. Further, the front-rear direction 8 is defined with the side on which the toner container 41 is inserted into the image forming apparatus 10 as the front side (front side). Further, a left-right direction 9 is defined when the image forming apparatus 10 is viewed from the front side (front side).

[Outline of Image Forming Apparatus 10]
The image forming apparatus 10 is an apparatus having at least a printing function, for example, a multifunction machine. The image forming apparatus 10 prints an image on a printing paper that is a sheet member using a developer containing toner. Note that the image forming apparatus 10 is not limited to a multifunction machine, and may be a dedicated machine having a single function, such as a printer, a FAX machine, or a copying machine.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 mainly includes an image reading unit 11, an image forming unit 22, an operation display unit 24, a paper feeding device 25, a fixing device 26, a toner replenishing device 40, and the image forming device 10. And a control unit (not shown) that controls the entire system. These components are attached to a housing 28 that forms an external frame (not shown), an internal frame, and the like of the image forming apparatus 10.

  The image reading unit 11 performs processing (image reading processing) for optically reading image data from a document placed on the contact glass 17 or a document conveyed by an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 21.

  The image forming unit 22 executes a process (image forming process) for forming an image on printing paper based on a so-called electrophotographic system. The image forming unit 22 prints an image on a print sheet based on image data read by the image reading unit 11 or image data input from the outside via a network communication unit (not shown). For example, when a print job is transferred from a personal computer, an image is printed on printing paper based on image data and printing conditions included in the print job. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 22 includes a photosensitive drum 31, a charging device 32, a developing device 33, a transfer device 35, a charge eliminating device 36, an exposure device (LSU: Laser Scanning Unit) 37, and the like.

  The fixing device 26 fixes the toner image transferred to the printing paper on the printing paper by heat. The fixing device 26 includes a heating roller 38 and a pressure roller 39 pressed against the heating roller 38. The heating roller 38 is heated by a heating device such as a heater during the fixing operation. When the printing paper passes through the fixing device 26, the toner image on the printing paper is heated by the heating roller 38 to melt the toner, and the printing paper is pressurized by the pressure roller 39. As a result, an image is formed on the printing paper.

[Toner supply device 40]
Hereinafter, the toner replenishing device 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2, the toner replenishing device 40 includes a toner container 41 and a container mounting portion 42 (an example of a mounting portion) on which the toner container 41 is mounted. In each figure, the vertical direction is defined as the up-and-down direction 7 with reference to the posture in which the toner replenishing device 40 is attached to the casing 28, and the attaching / detaching direction (insertion / removal direction) of the toner container 41 with respect to the casing 28 is the front-rear direction 8 The horizontal direction is 9 in the horizontal direction when viewed from the front in the mounting posture.

  The toner container 41 replenishes the developing device 33 with toner. As shown in FIG. 1, the toner container 41 is provided on the left side of the upper portion of the housing 28. More specifically, the toner container 41 is disposed at a position on the upper left side from the position of the developing device 33.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the toner container 41 is formed in a shape that is long in the front-rear direction 8. The toner container 41 includes a container body 52, a drive transmission unit 55, a support frame 56, and the like. The container body 52 has an opening 51 (see FIG. 9) on one side (rear side) and is formed in a cylindrical shape with the other side (front side) closed. The opening 51 is formed in a circular cross section. The inside of the container main body 52 is a storage space that can store toner, and the toner is stored inside the container main body 52. The container body 52 is made of a synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET resin).

  The container body 52 has a spiral chevron rib 53 (see FIG. 5) formed on the inner surface. The chevron rib 53 plays a role of transporting the toner inside to the opening 51 (see FIG. 9) side. As shown in FIG. 9, a drive transmission unit 55 is mounted on the opening 51 side of the container body 52. The drive transmission unit 55 is fixed to the container body 52. The drive transmission portion 55 is an annular member having a gear 54 formed on the peripheral surface. A support frame 56 is provided behind the drive transmission unit 55. The support frame 56 has a cylindrical accommodating portion 58 that accommodates the opening 51. An opening 51 is inserted into the accommodating portion 58. The container main body 52 can be rotated in the circumferential direction in a state in which the opening 51 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 58. That is, the support frame 56 rotatably supports the opening 51 side of the container main body 52. The front end portion 56A of the support frame 56 is loosely fitted to the rear end portion 55A of the drive transmission portion 55 from the outside. Therefore, when the rotational driving force is transmitted to the gear 54 in a state where the toner container 41 is mounted on the container mounting portion 42, the toner container 41 is rotated by the rotational driving force. As the toner container 41 rotates in this way, the toner is conveyed to the opening 51 side by the chevron ribs 53.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the configuration of the rear side of the toner supply device 40. As shown in FIG. 5B, the toner container 41 has a toner discharge port 60. The toner discharge port 60 is for discharging the toner accommodated in the container main body 52 to the lower outer side, and is provided in the support frame 56. Specifically, the toner discharge port 60 is a rectangular through hole that penetrates the bottom surface of the support frame 56 downward. As shown in FIG. 9, a gap with a predetermined interval as a toner flow path 63 is formed between the opening 51 of the container body 52 and the side wall 57 on the rear side of the support frame 56. A toner discharge port 60 is formed below the toner flow path 63. Accordingly, the toner that has moved from the container body 52 to the toner flow path 63 through the opening 51 moves downward in the toner flow path 63 and reaches the toner discharge port 60. When the toner discharge port 60 is open, the toner is discharged from the toner discharge port 60 to the outside outside. On the other hand, when the toner discharge port 60 is closed, the toner is not discharged and the toner flow path 63 is filled with the toner.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the toner container 41 is provided with a slide-type opening / closing portion 64 and a shaft-rotating movable portion 65 (see FIG. 9).

  The opening / closing part 64 is provided on the bottom surface of the support frame 56, and is supported on the bottom surface so as to be slidable in the attaching / detaching direction of the toner container 41 with respect to the container mounting part 42 (direction corresponding to the front-rear direction 8). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, a rail guide portion 64 </ b> A is provided on the bottom surface of the support frame 56. The rail guide portion 64A is provided on the opposite side of the toner discharge port 60 from the direction D1 (see FIG. 10) in which the toner container 41 is extracted. The rail guide portion 64 </ b> A is fixed to the bottom surface of the support frame 56. Accordingly, as will be described later, when the toner container 41 is pulled and moved in the extraction direction D1, the rail guide portion 64A also moves in the extraction direction D1 along with the movement. A rail 64B provided at the end of the opening / closing portion 64 in the width direction is slidably supported by the rail guide portion 64A. The opening / closing part 64 is a shutter-like member formed by a plate member or the like, and is movable between a predetermined first position and a second position. Here, the first position is a position where the toner discharge port 60 is opened (the position shown in FIG. 10A), and the second position is a position where the toner discharge port 60 is covered and closed (see FIGS. 9 and 9). It is the position shown in FIG. The first position is a position on the side of the toner container 41 in the extraction direction D1 (front side) from the toner discharge port 60. As shown in FIG. 8, the rail guide portion 64 </ b> A has a contact portion 64 </ b> C (an example of a contact portion) with which the tip of the opening / closing portion 64 is contacted. In the present embodiment, when the opening / closing part 64 is disposed at the first position, the opening / closing part 64 is separated from the contact part 64C. On the other hand, when the opening / closing part 64 moves from the first position to the second position, the tip of the opening / closing part 64 comes into contact with the contact part 64C and closes the toner discharge port 60 located above the contact part 64C.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the opening / closing part 64 has an engagement piece 66. The engagement piece 66 protrudes outward from each of both end portions in the width direction of the opening / closing portion 64. The engaging piece 66 has flexibility, and is bent inward when the toner container 41 is inserted toward the mounting position in the container mounting portion 42. Specifically, in the process of mounting the toner container 41, the engagement piece 66 comes into contact with an inclined wall 86 and a side wall 87 (see FIG. 5), which will be described later, provided in the container mounting portion 42. A pressing force inward from the side wall 87 is received. The engagement piece 66 is bent inward by this pressing force.

  The pressing force not only bends the engagement piece 66 inward, but also acts as a force for sliding the opening / closing part 64. Specifically, when the toner container 41 is inserted toward the mounting position in the container mounting portion 42, the pressing force acts on the opening / closing portion 64 via the engagement piece 66. Thereby, the opening / closing part 64 is moved from the second position to the first position. At this time, since the toner discharge port 60 is opened by the opening / closing unit 64, the movable unit 65 changes from a fourth position described later to a third position described later, and the toner can be discharged from the toner discharge port 60.

  When the toner container 41 is mounted at the mounting position of the container mounting portion 42, the engaging piece 66 enters and engages with the engaging grooves 71A and 7AB (see FIG. 5) of the container mounting portion 42. In this state, the toner container 41 is restricted from moving from the mounting position in the extraction direction D1 (see FIG. 10). That is, the engagement piece 66 and the engagement groove 71 lock the toner container 41 at the mounting position of the container mounting portion 42 and limit the movement in the extraction direction D1. The locking piece of the present invention is realized by the engagement piece 66 and the engagement groove 71. When the toner container 41 is pulled in the extraction direction D1 in a state where the engagement piece 66 is engaged with the engagement grooves 71A and 7AB, the opening / closing portion 64 receives a forward pressing force from the engagement piece 66. By receiving this pressing force, the opening / closing part 64 is moved from the first position to the second position. At this time, since the toner discharge port 60 is closed by the opening / closing portion 64, the movable portion 65 changes from a third position described later to a fourth position described later to close the toner discharge port 60. When the toner container is pulled with a force capable of releasing the lock, the engagement piece 66 is bent inward to release the engagement, and the toner container 41 can be extracted.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the movable portion 65 is rotatably supported on the inner side of the toner discharge port 60 with respect to the opening / closing portion 64 and the rail guide portion 64A. In other words, the opening / closing part 64 and the rail guide part 64 </ b> A are disposed below the movable part 65. The movable portion 65 is provided in the toner flow path 63, and includes a rotation shaft 67 disposed on the front side in the toner flow path 63 and a door-shaped plate portion 68 extending from the rotation shaft 67. doing. The rotation shaft 67 is rotatably supported by the support frame 56. Specifically, the rotation shaft 67 of the movable portion 65 is rotatably supported at the end of the toner container 41 on the side of the extraction direction D1 of the toner container 41. The movable part 65 is rotatable between a predetermined third position and a fourth position. Here, the third position is a position that opens the toner discharge port 60 and protrudes downward from the toner discharge port 60 when the opening / closing portion 64 is in the first position (position shown in FIG. 10A). It is. The fourth position is a position (the position shown in FIG. 10C) that closes the toner discharge port 60 in conjunction with the movement of the opening / closing portion 64 from the first position to the second position. .

  In the present embodiment, the movable portion 65 extends to the inside of the toner conveyance path 90 from the toner discharge port 60 to the toner storage chamber (not shown) inside the developing device 33 in the state of being arranged at the third position. ing. The toner conveyance path 90 is a conveyance path for sending the toner supplied from the toner discharge port 60 to the developing device 33, and is a tubular toner guide 91 extending from the developing device 33 and extending vertically (see FIG. 10). It is formed by a member such as a later-described through hole 76 (see FIG. 6) and a later-described cylinder portion 78 (see FIG. 7). A toner supply port 77 is provided at the upper end of the toner guide 91, and the toner discharged downward from the toner discharge port 60 is sent to the toner guide 91 from the toner supply port 77 and along the toner conveyance path 90. It is supplied to the developing device 33.

  The container mounting part 42 is fixed to an internal frame of the casing 28 of the image forming apparatus 10. The container mounting unit 42 detachably mounts the toner container 41. That is, the toner container 41 is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus 10 by the container attachment portion 42. The container mounting portion 42 supports the toner container 41 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction 8 (insertion / removal direction).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the container mounting portion 42 has a tray-shaped support base 75. The support base 75 supports the outer peripheral portion of the toner container 41, and is formed in a plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction 8. A guide rail (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction 8 is formed on the bottom surface of the support base 75, and the container main body 52 of the toner container 41 is supported by the upper end of the guide rail. Further, since the guide rail is provided, the toner container 41 can be smoothly attached to the support base 75.

  FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a configuration on the rear side of the support base 75. As shown in FIG. 6, a rectangular through hole 76 (an example of a connection port) penetrating in the vertical direction 7 is formed in the vicinity of the end on the rear side of the support base 75. The through hole 76 is connected to a toner supply port 77 (see FIG. 10) that communicates with the developing device 33. The through hole 76 is connected to the toner discharge port 60 (see FIG. 5B) of the toner container 41 when the toner container 41 is mounted on the container mounting portion 42. The through hole 76 constitutes a toner conveyance path 90 (see FIG. 10) for sending the toner supplied from the toner discharge port 60 to the developing device 33. In the present embodiment, when the toner container 41 is mounted at the mounting position in the container mounting portion 42, the toner discharge port 60 of the toner container 41 is disposed above the through hole 76. That is, the mounting position is a position where toner can be supplied from the container main body 52 of the toner container 41 to the developing device 33 through the toner discharge port 60, the through hole 76, the toner supply port 77, and the toner guide 91.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a rectangular cylindrical portion 78 is provided on the back surface of the support base 75. The cylindrical portion 78 is formed continuously with the through hole 76 and protrudes downward from the back surface of the support base 75. With the container mounting portion 42 mounted on the housing 28, the cylinder portion 78 is connected in close contact with the edge of the toner supply port 77 of the toner guide 91 (see FIG. 10). As a result, the toner that has passed through the through-hole 76 and has been sent downward is guided to the toner supply port 77 by the cylindrical portion 78 without leaking.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an inclined wall 86 and a side wall 87 are erected on the bottom surface of the support base 75. The inclined wall 86 and the side wall 87 are provided in front of the through hole 76 so as to face each other with the through hole 76 interposed therebetween. The inclined wall 86 has an inclined portion 86A inclined inward, and an engagement groove 71B is formed further forward than the inclined portion 86A. Further, the side wall 87 is formed with an engaging groove 71A that is retracted outward. In the present embodiment, the opening / closing part 64 is inserted between the inclined wall 86 and the side wall 87.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a slide member 79 is provided on the rear side of the support base 75. The slide member 79 is supported on the bottom surface of the support base 75 so as to be slidable forward from the rear wall surface 80 of the support base 75. The container mounting portion 42 is provided with a coil spring 81 (an example of an elastic member). The slide member 79 is formed with a cylindrical accommodating portion 82 (corresponding to the first cylindrical accommodating portion of the present invention) for accommodating the coil spring 81. A coil spring 81 is accommodated in the inner hole of the accommodating portion 82. The wall surface 80 is provided with a spring receiver 88 (see FIG. 5B) extending forward. The coil spring 81 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 82 in a state where the rear end portion is supported by the spring receiver 88. In the present embodiment, the coil spring 81 is disposed between the wall surface 80 and the slide member 79 in a state where the coil spring 81 is inserted into the housing portion 82. Thus, when the slide member 79 is pressed rearward, the coil spring 81 is compressed and a forward biasing force is generated.

As shown in FIG. 7, the slide member 79 is provided with a push rod 83 protruding forward. The inside of the push rod 83 is a cavity that is continuous with the inner hole of the accommodating portion 82, and accommodates the coil spring 81 together with the accommodating portion 82. At the lower end of the side wall 57 (see FIG. 5B) of the support frame 56, a cylindrical housing portion 84 (corresponding to the second tubular housing portion of the present invention) capable of housing the push rod 83 is provided. . In the process in which the toner container 41 is mounted at the mounting position in the container mounting portion 42, the push rod 83 is stored in the storage portion 84, and the push rod 83 is pressed backward by the support frame 56. In response to this pressing force, the coil spring 81 is compressed. When the toner container 41 is mounted at the mounting position, the engaging piece 66 enters the engaging grooves 71A and 71B, and the toner container 41 is locked. At this time, since the coil spring 81 is compressed, the toner container 41 receives a biasing force in the extraction direction D1 (see FIG. 10) from the coil spring 81. That is, the coil spring 81 urges the toner container 41 in the extraction direction D1. In this state, when the engagement by the engagement piece 66 is released, the toner container automatically moves rearward by the urging force.

  Next, an operation for removing the toner container 41 from the container mounting portion 42 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the toner container 41 is mounted at the mounting position of the container mounting section 42, the opening / closing section 64 moves from the second position to the first position in the mounting process. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10A, the toner discharge port 60 is opened. As a result, the rotation of the movable portion 65 is released from being restricted by the opening / closing portion 64, and the movable portion 65 is rotated from the fourth position to the third position. As described above, the engagement piece 66 of the opening / closing portion 64 is engaged with the engagement grooves 71A and 71B in a state where the toner container 41 is mounted at the mounting position. Therefore, when the toner container 41 is pulled in the extraction direction D1 from the state where the toner container 41 is mounted at the mounting position, the opening / closing part 64 does not move with respect to the support base 75, and the toner container excluding the opening / closing part 64 is removed. 41 moves in the extraction direction D1. In other words, the opening / closing portion 64 starts to move relative to the toner container 41 in the direction of closing the toner discharge port 60 by pulling the toner container 41 in the extraction direction D1. At this time, the opening / closing part 64 presses the movable part 65 from the front side toward the rear side, and rotates the movable part 65 from the third position to the fourth position (see FIG. 10B). That is, the movable part 65 rotates from the third position to the fourth position in conjunction with the movement of the opening / closing part 64. Then, as shown in FIG. 10C, when the opening / closing portion 64 reaches the second position, the rotation of the movable portion 65 is completed, and the movable portion 65 is disposed at the fourth position, and the toner The toner outlet 60 is closed while entering the inside of the outlet 60.

  In the process in which the movable portion 65 rotates from the third position to the fourth position, the movable portion 65 removes a part of the toner existing around the toner supply port 77 of the toner guide 91 from the toner discharge port 60. Pump inside. As a result, a space 92 (see FIG. 10B) for the amount pumped up is secured (formed) around the inside of the toner supply port 77. Therefore, when the toner container 41 is extracted, even if toner exists around the toner discharge port 60, specifically between the toner discharge port 60 and the toner supply port 77, the toner is stored in the space 92. . Thereby, the toner does not overflow from the vicinity of the toner supply port 77, and even if the toner container 41 is pulled out, the toner is not attached so as to be dragged. Therefore, toner contamination around the toner discharge port 60 and the toner supply port 77 is prevented.

  In the present embodiment, the rail guide portion 64A located behind the toner discharge port 60 is moved together with the toner container 41 in the extraction direction D1 (forward) while the movable portion 65 is rotated from the third position to the fourth position. Moving. As described above, the rail guide portion 64 </ b> A is located below the movable portion 65. Therefore, the rail guide portion 64A passes below the toner discharge port 60 when moving in the extraction direction D1. In such a configuration, if the space 92 is not secured by the movable portion 65, the toner between the toner discharge port 60 and the toner supply port 77 moves so that the contact portion 64C of the rail guide portion 64A pushes away. The toner is leaked forward from the toner supply port 77. However, as described above, in the present embodiment, since the space 92 is formed by the movable portion 65, even if the contact portion 64C pushes the toner forward by the movement of the rail guide portion 64A, the toner remains in the space 92. Be paid. Alternatively, the rail guide portion 64A passes through the space secured between the toner supply port 77 and the toner discharge port 60 by the toner around the space 92 being packed into the space 92 by its own weight, and is extracted in the extraction direction D1. Moving. As a result, even if the rail guide portion 64A moves above the toner supply port 77 as the toner container 41 moves in the extraction direction D1, the toner does not overflow from the toner supply port 77. Toner contamination around the toner supply port 77 is prevented.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the toner is guided from the toner discharge port 60 to the developing device 33 by the toner guide 91 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which the toner guide 91 is not provided, a supply port is formed in the housing of the developing device 33, and the toner discharge port 60 and the supply port are directly connected. . In this case, a portion from the toner discharge port 60 to the replenishing port is a toner conveyance path, and the movable portion 65 is configured to extend into the replenishing port in a state of being disposed at the third position. The The present invention can also be applied to a configuration having a so-called intermediate hopper instead of the toner guide 91. The intermediate hopper guides the toner discharged from the toner discharge port 60 in the horizontal direction while storing it, and then guides it to the developing device 33. In the configuration of this intermediate hopper, the toner discharge port 60 connects to the intermediate hopper. The portion reaching the connection port of the intermediate hopper is a toner conveyance path, and the movable portion 65 extends inside the connection port connected to the toner discharge port 60 in a state of being arranged at the third position. Configured as follows.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example applied to the image forming apparatus 10 including one toner container 41 has been described. However, the present invention is also applied to each of a plurality of toner containers 41 such as a color image forming apparatus. Is possible.

10: image forming device 33: developing device 40: toner replenishing device 41: toner container 42: container mounting portion 64: opening / closing portion 65: movable portion

Claims (5)

A toner container;
A mounting portion that detachably supports the toner container in a horizontal posture;
A locking mechanism that locks the toner container at a mounting position in the mounting portion,
The toner container includes:
It is provided so as to be detachable in a horizontal posture with respect to the mounting portion, can accommodate toner therein, is formed in a shape that is long in the mounting / detaching direction with respect to the mounting portion, and is open at an end on the insertion direction side with respect to the mounting portion A container body having a portion;
A support frame that accommodates the opening of the container body, and supports the opening rotatably in a circumferential direction in a state where the opening is inserted into the housing;
A vertically extending toner flow path formed between the opening and the side wall of the support frame on the insertion direction side;
A toner discharge port that is formed at a position below the toner flow path on the bottom surface of the support frame, and discharges the toner that has moved from the container body to the toner flow path through the opening to the lower outside;
The toner container is slidably movable in a direction along the attaching / detaching direction of the toner container, and is displaced between a first position for opening the toner discharge port and a second position for covering and closing the toner discharge port. An opening and closing part;
Provided inside the toner flow path, rotatably supported to the inner side of the toner discharge port than the opening / closing portion, and opening the toner discharge port when the opening / closing portion is in the first position. It is disposed at a third position that protrudes downward from the toner discharge port, and is disposed at a fourth position that closes the toner discharge port in conjunction with the movement of the opening / closing portion from the first position to the second position. A plate-shaped movable part,
The movable part is
In the state of being disposed at the third position, the toner extends from the toner discharge port to the toner storage chamber in the developing device.
In the process of displacing the opening / closing portion from the third position to the fourth position in conjunction with the movement from the first position to the second position, the toner filled in the toner conveyance path is discharged to the toner discharge port. Through the toner flow path,
The mounting part is
A support for supporting an outer peripheral portion of the toner container;
A connection port formed on the bottom surface of the support base and connected to the toner discharge port when the toner container is disposed at the mounting position;
Provided on the bottom surface of the support base between the connection port and the wall surface on the insertion direction side of the toner container with respect to the mounting portion, and slidable in an extraction direction opposite to the insertion direction. A slide member supported on the bottom surface;
A first cylindrical housing provided on the slide member and extending in the extraction direction;
A compression coil spring provided between the wall surface and the slide member in a state of being housed in the first cylindrical housing portion and biasing the slide member in the extraction direction;
A push rod provided on the slide member and projecting toward the extraction direction;
The toner container includes:
Provided on the side wall on the insertion direction side of the support frame, and having a second cylindrical accommodating portion capable of accommodating the push rod;
In the process in which the toner container is mounted at the mounting position, the support frame presses the push rod in the insertion direction to compress the compression coil spring and move the slide member in the insertion direction. Is mounted at the mounting position, the locking mechanism locks the toner container at the mounting position,
A toner replenishing device in which the toner container receives the urging force of the compression coil spring and moves in the extraction direction when unlocked by the locking mechanism. The first position is a position closer to the extraction direction than the toner discharge port,
The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the movable portion is rotatably supported at an end portion on the extraction direction side at the toner discharge port. A contact portion provided below the movable portion and on a side opposite to the extraction direction from the toner discharge port, the contact portion contacting the opening / closing portion moved to the second position;
3. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion is provided so as to move below the toner discharge port in the extraction direction as the toner container moves in the extraction direction. 4. The opening / closing portion receives a pressing force from the mounting portion and moves from the first position to the second position when the toner container is extracted from the mounting position in the mounting portion. The toner replenishing device according to 1 .   An image forming apparatus comprising the toner replenishing device according to claim 1.

Images