JP6287884B2 - Developer container and image forming apparatus provided with the same - Google Patents

Description

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

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet includes an image carrier, a developing device, and a developer container. When the developer is supplied from the developing device to the image carrier, the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier is manifested as a developer image. The developer container has a developer discharge port, and supplies replenishment developer to a replenishment port provided in the developing device.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a developer container including a wall portion that moves while conveying the developer toward the developer discharge port.

JP 2001-092230 A

  The technique described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the movement of the wall portion is hindered by a change in pressure in the container body of the developer container.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and includes a developer storage container in which a moving wall can be smoothly moved and a developer can be replenished stably, and the same. An object is to provide an image forming apparatus.

  A developer container according to one aspect of the present invention includes an inner peripheral portion that defines an internal space that extends in a cylindrical shape along a first direction, and a first end surface that defines one end surface of the internal space in the first direction. A container main body comprising: a wall portion; a developer discharge port that is open to communicate with the internal space and discharges the developer; and the first wall portion in the first direction of the container main body; Is disposed on the opposite end, and is slidably disposed on the second wall defining the other end surface of the inner space in the first direction and the inner peripheral portion of the container body. An outer peripheral portion, and a transport surface that defines a storage space in which the developer is stored together with the inner peripheral portion of the container body, while transporting the developer in the storage space toward the developer discharge port. The inner space from one of the first wall and the second wall to the other A moving wall that moves in the first direction, and a vent opening that opens in the one of the first wall portion and the second wall portion and communicates the outside of the container body and the internal space. It is characterized by having.

  According to this configuration, the moving wall of the developer container moves in the first direction, so that the developer in the housing space is conveyed to the developer discharge port. At this time, the accommodation space is gradually reduced as the moving wall moves. As a result, the amount of developer remaining in the storage space of the container body at the end of use is reduced. The vent is opened on the side of the first wall portion and the second wall portion that faces the initial position of the moving wall, and communicates the outside of the container body with the internal space. For this reason, when the moving wall moves in the first direction, the internal pressure of the internal space upstream of the moving wall in the first direction is suppressed from decreasing. As a result, the movement of the moving wall is prevented from being hindered by a decrease in the internal pressure of the internal space. Therefore, the moving wall is smoothly moved, and the developer can be replenished stably from the developer discharge port.

  In the above configuration, the vent is preferably sealed in advance, and the vent is opened as the moving wall moves in the first direction.

  According to this configuration, the vent is sealed until the developer container is used, and foreign matter is prevented from entering the internal space. The vent is opened with the movement of the moving wall, and the moving wall can be smoothly moved in the first direction.

  In the above configuration, the moving wall further includes a first sealing member that seals the vent from the inner space side, and a connecting member that connects the first sealing member and the moving wall. When the movement of the first sealing member moves in the first direction, it is desirable that the first sealing member is peeled off from the vent by the tension of the connecting member, and the vent is opened.

  According to this configuration, the vent is sealed until the developer container is used, and foreign matter is prevented from entering the internal space. The vent is opened with the movement of the moving wall, and the moving wall can be smoothly moved in the first direction. Moreover, since the 1st sealing member moves with a movement wall, it prevents that an air vent is sealed again accidentally.

  In the above configuration, it is preferable that the vent regulates the outflow of the developer from the internal space to the outside of the container body.

  According to this configuration, even if a slight amount of developer leaks from the accommodation space to the upstream side in the first direction from the moving wall, the developer is prevented from flowing out of the developer container through the vent. Is done.

  In the above configuration, the moving wall includes a developer filling port that is disposed to face the vent hole and communicates the housing space and the internal space on the upstream side in the first direction with respect to the moving wall. It further has a second sealing member that is inserted through the vent and can seal the developer filling port, and the developer is placed in the accommodation space via the vent and the developer filling port. After the filling, the second sealing member is attached to the developer filling port, and the second sealing member attached to the developer filling port is moved by moving the moving wall in the first direction. When detached from the vent, the vent is preferably opened.

  According to this configuration, the developer is filled into the accommodation space using the vent and the developer filling port. Further, until the developer storage container is used, the vent is sealed, and entry of foreign matter into the internal space is suppressed. The vent is opened with the movement of the moving wall, and the moving wall can be smoothly moved in the first direction.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes a developer container according to any one of the above, an image carrier on which a latent electrostatic image is formed and a developer image is carried. And a developing device that replenishes the developer from the developer container and supplies the developer to the image carrier.

  According to this configuration, the moving wall is smoothly moved, and the developer can be replenished stably from the developer discharge port. Accordingly, the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier is stably manifested as a developer image.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes an apparatus main body, the developer container described above that is detachable from the apparatus main body, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface. An image carrier that carries a developer image, a developing device that replenishes the developer from the developer container and supplies the developer to the image carrier, and the developer container inside the device main body. A protrusion projecting toward the container, and the developer container includes a third sealing member that seals the vent in advance, and the developer container is connected to the apparatus main body. The vent is opened by the protrusion pressing the third sealing member with the mounting.

  According to this configuration, the vent is sealed until the developer container is used, and foreign matter is prevented from entering the internal space. The vent is opened along with the mounting of the developer container. For this reason, the moving wall can be smoothly moved in the first direction, and the developer can be replenished stably from the developer discharge port. Accordingly, the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier is stably manifested as a developer image.

  According to the present invention, there are provided a developer storage container in which a moving wall can be smoothly moved and a developer can be replenished stably, and an image forming apparatus including the developer storage container.

1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an internal structure of a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state where a developer is supplied to the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the developer storage container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an internal state of the developer container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an internal state of the developer container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 7A and 7B are schematic cross-sectional views (A), (B), and (C) of a developer container according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view (A), (B), and (C) of a developer container according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view (A) and (B) of a developer container according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer 100 (image forming apparatus) according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer 100 shown in FIG. The printer 100 as the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a so-called monochrome printer. However, in other embodiments, the image forming apparatus is a color printer, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine having these functions, Another apparatus for forming a toner image on a sheet may be used. Note that the terms used in the following description, such as “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, “left” and “right”, are merely for the purpose of clarifying the description. There is no limitation on the principle of the image forming apparatus.

  The printer 100 includes a casing 101 that houses various apparatuses for forming an image on the sheet S. The housing 101 includes an upper wall 102 that defines the upper surface of the housing 101, a bottom wall 103 (FIG. 2) that defines the bottom surface of the housing 101, and a main body rear wall 105 between the upper wall 102 and the bottom wall 103. (FIG. 2) and a main body front wall 104 positioned in front of the main body rear wall 105. The housing 101 includes a main body internal space 107 in which various devices are arranged. A sheet conveyance path PP through which the sheet S is conveyed in a predetermined conveyance direction is extended in the main body internal space 107 of the casing 101. The printer 100 also includes an opening / closing cover 100 </ b> C that is attached to the housing 101 so as to be freely opened and closed.

  The opening / closing cover 100 </ b> C includes a front wall upper portion 104 </ b> B that is an upper portion of the main body front wall 104 and an upper wall front portion 102 </ b> B that is a front portion of the upper wall 102. In the open state of the opening / closing cover 100C, the upper part of the main body internal space 107 is opened to the outside, and a toner container 30 described later is attached and detached.

  A paper discharge unit 102 </ b> A is disposed at the center of the upper wall 102. The paper discharge unit 102 </ b> A includes an inclined surface that is inclined downward from the front portion to the rear portion of the upper wall 102. The sheet S on which an image is formed in the image forming unit 120 described later is discharged to the paper discharge unit 102A. In addition, a manual feed tray 104 </ b> A is disposed at the center in the vertical direction of the main body front wall 104. The manual feed tray 104A is rotatable up and down with the lower end as a fulcrum (arrow DT in FIG. 2).

  Referring to FIG. 2, the printer 100 includes a paper feed cassette 110, a pickup roller 112, a first paper feed roller 113, a second paper feed roller 114, a transport roller 115, a registration roller pair 116, and an image. A forming unit 120 and a fixing device 130 are provided.

  The sheet feeding cassette 110 accommodates the sheet S therein. The paper feed cassette 110 includes a lift plate 111. The lift plate 111 is inclined so as to push up the leading edge of the sheet S. The paper feed cassette 110 can be pulled forward with respect to the housing 101.

  The pickup roller 112 is disposed on the leading edge of the sheet S pushed up by the lift plate 111. When the pickup roller 112 rotates, the sheet S is pulled out from the sheet feeding cassette 110.

  The first paper feed roller 113 is disposed downstream of the pickup roller 112 and sends the sheet S further downstream. The second paper feed roller 114 pulls the sheet S on the manual feed tray 104 </ b> A into the housing 101.

  The conveyance roller 115 is disposed downstream (hereinafter also simply referred to as downstream) of the first paper supply roller 113 and the second paper supply roller 114 in the sheet conveyance direction (hereinafter also simply referred to as conveyance direction). The transport roller 115 transports the sheet S sent out by the first paper feed roller 113 and the second paper feed roller 114 further downstream.

  The registration roller pair 116 has a function of correcting the oblique conveyance of the sheet S. Thereby, the position of the image formed on the sheet S is adjusted. The registration roller pair 116 supplies the sheet S to the image forming unit 120 in accordance with the timing of image formation by the image forming unit 120.

  The image forming unit 120 includes a photosensitive drum 121 (image carrier), a charger 122, an exposure device 123, a developing device 20, a toner container 30 (developer storage container), and a transfer roller 126 (transfer unit). And a cleaning device 127.

  The photosensitive drum 121 has a cylindrical shape. The photosensitive drum 121 has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and carries a toner image (developer image) corresponding to the electrostatic latent image on the surface. The charger 122 is applied with a predetermined voltage and charges the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 substantially uniformly.

  The exposure device 123 irradiates the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 charged by the charger 122 with laser light. The laser light is emitted in accordance with image data output from an external device (not shown) such as a personal computer connected to the printer 100 so as to be communicable. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121.

  The developing device 20 supplies toner to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. The toner container 30 supplies toner (replenishment developer) to the developing device 20. The toner container 30 is detachably disposed with respect to the developing device 20 in the housing 101. When the developing device 20 supplies toner to the photosensitive drum 121, the electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 is developed (visualized). As a result, a toner image (developer image) is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121.

  The transfer roller 126 is disposed below the photosensitive drum 121 so as to face the photosensitive drum 121 with the sheet conveyance path PP interposed therebetween. The transfer roller 126 forms a transfer nip portion with the photosensitive drum 121 and transfers the toner image onto the sheet S. The cleaning device 127 removes the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 after the toner image is transferred to the sheet S.

  The fixing device 130 is disposed downstream of the image forming unit 120 in the transport direction, and fixes the toner image on the sheet S. The fixing device 130 includes a heating roller 131 that melts the toner on the sheet S and a pressure roller 132 that causes the sheet S to adhere to the heating roller 131.

  The printer 100 further includes a transport roller pair 133 disposed downstream of the fixing device 130 and a discharge roller pair 134 disposed downstream of the transport roller pair 133. The sheet S is conveyed upward by the conveyance roller pair 133 and is finally discharged from the housing 101 by the discharge roller pair 134. The sheets S discharged from the housing 101 are stacked on the paper discharge unit 102A.

<About development device>
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the developing device 20. The developing device 20 includes a developing housing 210 having a box shape that is long in one direction (the axial direction of the developing roller 21 and the left-right direction). The developing housing 210 has a storage space 220. In the storage space 220, a developing roller 21, a first stirring screw 23, a second stirring screw 24, and a toner supply port 25 are disposed. In the present embodiment, a magnetic one-component developing method is applied, and the storage space 220 is filled with magnetic toner as a developer.

  The developing roller 21 has a cylindrical shape that extends in the longitudinal direction of the developing housing 210 and has a sleeve portion that is rotationally driven on the outer periphery. The storage space 220 of the developing housing 210 is covered with a top plate (not shown), and is partitioned into a first transport path 221 and a second transport path 222 that are long in the left-right direction by a partition plate 22 extending in the left-right direction. Yes. The partition plate 22 is shorter than the width of the developing housing 210 in the left-right direction, and a first communication path 223 and a first communication path 223 that respectively connect the first transport path 221 and the second transport path 222 to the left end and the right end of the partition plate 22. A double communication path 224 is provided. Thereby, a circulation path that reaches the first conveyance path 221, the second communication path 224, the second conveyance path 222, and the first communication path 223 is formed in the storage space 220. The toner is conveyed counterclockwise in FIG. 3 in the circulation path.

  The toner replenishing port 25 (developer replenishing port) is an opening that is opened in the top plate of the developing housing 210 and is disposed above the left end of the first transport path 221. The toner replenishing port 25 is disposed so as to face the above-described circulation path, and has a function of receiving the replenishing toner (replenishment developer) replenished from the toner discharge port 377 (FIG. 3) of the toner container 30 into the storage space 220.

  The first stirring screw 23 is disposed in the first conveyance path 221. The first stirring screw 23 includes a first rotating shaft 23a and a first spiral blade 23b projecting in a spiral shape on the circumference of the first rotating shaft 23a. The first stirring screw 23 is driven to rotate about the first rotation shaft 23a (arrow R2), thereby conveying the toner in the direction of arrow D1 in FIG. A first paddle 23c is disposed downstream of the first stirring screw 23 in the toner conveyance direction (D1 direction). The first paddle 23c delivers toner from the first conveyance path 221 to the second conveyance path 222 in the direction of arrow D4 in FIG.

  The second stirring screw 24 is disposed in the second conveyance path 222. The second agitating screw 24 includes a second rotating shaft 24a and a second spiral blade 24b protruding in a spiral shape on the circumference of the second rotating shaft 24a. The second agitating screw 24 is driven to rotate around the second rotation shaft 24a (arrow R1), thereby supplying the toner to the developing roller 21 while conveying the toner in the direction of arrow D2 in FIG. A second paddle 24c is disposed downstream of the second stirring screw 24 in the toner conveyance direction (D2 direction). The second paddle 24c delivers toner from the second conveyance path 222 to the first conveyance path 221 in the direction of arrow D3 in FIG.

  The toner container 30 (FIG. 2) is disposed above the toner supply port 25 of the development housing 210. The toner container 30 includes a toner discharge port 377 (FIG. 3). The toner discharge port 377 is disposed on the bottom 371 (FIG. 6) of the toner container 30 corresponding to the toner supply port 25 of the developing device 20. The toner dropped from the toner discharge port 377 is supplied to the developing device 20 from the toner supply port 25.

<About toner supply>
Next, the flow of toner newly supplied from the toner supply port 25 will be described. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the toner supply port 25 disposed in the developing device 20 and the toner discharge port 377 disposed in the toner container 30.

  The replenishment toner T2 supplied from the toner discharge port 377 of the toner container 30 falls to the first transport path 221 and is mixed with the existing toner T1, and is transported in the direction of the arrow D1 by the first stirring screw 23. At this time, the toners T1 and T2 are stirred and charged.

  The first agitating screw 23 includes a suppression paddle 28 (conveyance capability suppression unit) that partially suppresses the developer conveyance performance downstream of the toner supply port 25 in the toner conveyance direction. In the present embodiment, the suppression paddle 28 is a plate-like member disposed between the adjacent first spiral blades 23 b of the first stirring screw 23. As the suppression paddle 28 rotates around the first rotation shaft 23a, the toner conveyed from the upstream side of the suppression paddle 28 starts to stay. The toner stays on the upstream side of the suppression paddle 28 and accumulates until the toner replenishing port 25 faces the first transport path 221. As a result, a developer retention portion 29 (developer retention portion) is formed in the vicinity of the inlet of the toner supply port 25. Moreover, in other embodiment, a conveyance capability suppression part is based on the area | region where the 1st spiral blade 23b of the 1st stirring screw 23 was partially lost, and the 1st rotating shaft 23a was partially exposed along the axial direction. It may be formed. Even in such a configuration, the conveying ability of the first stirring screw 23 is partially suppressed, so that a developer retention portion is formed.

  When the replenishment toner T2 is replenished from the toner replenishing port 25 and the amount of toner in the storage space 220 increases, the toner staying in the staying portion 29 closes (seals) the toner replenishing port 25 and supplies more toner. Suppress. Thereafter, when the toner in the storage space 220 is consumed from the developing roller 21 and the toner staying in the staying portion 29 is decreased, the toner that has blocked the toner replenishing port 25 is reduced, and between the staying portion 29 and the toner replenishing port 25. A gap is created. As a result, the replenishment toner T2 flows again from the toner replenishment port 25 into the storage space 220. As described above, the present embodiment employs a volume replenishment type toner replenishment format in which the amount of replenishment toner received is adjusted as the amount of toner remaining in the retention portion 29 decreases.

<About toner container structure>
Next, the toner container 30 (developer container) according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container 30 according to this embodiment in a state where the moving wall 32 has moved in the first direction from the initial position. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing the inside of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment. 6 and 7 are perspective views in which a container main body 37 to be described later is partially omitted.

  The toner container 30 has a cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction (first direction, arrow DA direction in FIG. 5). The toner container 30 stores supply toner (developer) therein. Referring to FIG. 5, the toner container 30 includes a lid portion 31 (second wall portion), a moving wall 32, a shaft 33, a stirring member 35, a container main body 37 (container main body), and a toner (not shown). A sensor, a first gear 381, a second gear 382, and a cover 39 are provided.

  The lid portion 31 is fixed to the container main body 37 and seals the opening of the container main body 37, thereby defining an end surface of the internal space 37H described later. The lid part 31 includes a lid shaft hole part 31J and a hole part 31H (vent hole). The lid shaft hole 31J is provided at the center of the lid 31 and pivotally supports the shaft 33. The lid shaft hole 31J is a hole formed by a predetermined length leftward from the right side surface (inner surface) of the lid 31. With reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the hole portion 31 </ b> H is a hole opened so as to penetrate the lid portion 31 in the first direction.

  The container main body 37 is a main body portion of the toner container 30 having a cylindrical shape. The container main body 37 includes an inner peripheral portion 37K and an internal space 37H. The inner peripheral portion 37K is an inner peripheral surface of the container main body 37, and defines an inner space 37H extending in a cylindrical shape along the longitudinal direction (first direction, arrow DA direction in FIG. 5) of the toner container 30. Yes.

  The container body 37 has a bottom 371, a top plate 372, a front wall 373 (FIG. 2), a rear wall 374 (FIG. 2), a right wall 375 (FIG. 5) (first wall), and a protrusion. Wall 376 (FIG. 5). The bottom portion 371 is a bottom portion of the container main body 37 and has a semi-cylindrical shape protruding downward. In other words, the bottom portion 371 has an arc shape in a cross-sectional view intersecting the first direction. The front wall 373 and the rear wall 374 are a pair of side walls erected upward from the side end of the bottom 371. The top plate 372 is disposed above the bottom 371 and covers the upper part of the internal space 37H. The right wall 375 is a wall portion that is connected to one end side (right end side) of the bottom portion 371, the front wall 373, the rear wall 374, and the top plate 372 in the first direction and closes the container main body 37. The internal space 37H is a space defined by the inner peripheral portion 37K formed by the bottom portion 371, the top plate 372, the front wall 373, the rear wall 374, and the right wall 375 and the lid portion 31. Further, in the internal space 37H, a region between the right wall 375 and the moving wall 32 is the accommodation space 37S. The accommodation space 37 </ b> S is a space in which the toner is accommodated inside the toner container 30.

  The container body 37 has an opening on the opposite side of the right wall 375 in the first direction. Then, the above-described lid portion 31 closes the opening of the container main body 37. The outer peripheral edge of the lid 31 is ultrasonically welded to the container body 37. When the lid portion 31 is attached to the container main body 37, the aforementioned hole portion 31H communicates the outside of the container main body 37 and the internal space 37H. Referring to FIG. 5, the protruding wall 376 is a portion where the outer peripheral portion of the container body 37 protrudes to the right side of the right wall 375. A cover 39 is attached to the protruding wall 376.

  The container body 37 includes a toner discharge port 377 (developer discharge port), a shutter 30S (FIG. 7), and a main body bearing portion 37J. The toner discharge port 377 is an opening that communicates with the internal space 37 </ b> H and is opened in the lower surface portion of the container main body 37. As shown in FIG. 5, the toner discharge port 377 is opened on the right end side of the container main body 37. In other words, the toner discharge port 377 is disposed adjacent to the right wall 375 in the first direction. The toner discharge port 377 is opened in a rectangular shape with a predetermined length along the first direction and with a predetermined width along the arc shape of the bottom portion 371. In the present embodiment, the toner discharge port 377 is opened at a position shifted rearward and upward along the circumferential direction from the lower end portion of the bottom portion 371.

  The toner stored in the storage space 37S is discharged toward the developing device 20 from the toner discharge port 377. In the present embodiment, as described above, the inner space 37H of the container body 37 is formed by the bottom 371, the front wall 373, the rear wall 374, and the top plate 372. For this reason, the toner in the accommodation space 37S collects in the arc-shaped bottom portion 371 due to the weight of the toner, so that the toner conveyed by the moving wall 32 described later can be efficiently discharged from the toner discharge port 377.

  The shutter 30S (FIG. 7) is slidably disposed at the right end portion of the container main body 37. The shutter 30S closes (seals) the toner discharge port 377 from the outside of the container main body 37 and exposes the toner discharge port 377 to the outside. The sliding movement of the shutter 30S is linked to the mounting operation of the toner container 30 with respect to the developing device 20.

  The main body bearing portion 37J is a bearing formed on the right wall 375. The main body bearing portion 37J has a cylindrical shape that protrudes rightward from the center portion of the right wall 375. The shaft 33 is inserted through the main body bearing portion 37J. At this time, the right end side of the shaft 33 protrudes outside the container body 37. Further, a part of the stirring member 35 (stirring bearing portion 351) is inserted between the main body bearing portion 37J and the shaft 33 inside the cylinder of the main body bearing portion 37J.

  The moving wall 32 is a wall portion disposed facing the first direction (horizontal direction) inside the container body 37 (internal space 37H). The moving wall 32 defines one end face (left end face) in the first direction of the accommodation space 37S. The other end surface (right end surface) of the accommodation space 37S in the first direction is defined by the right wall 375. Further, the moving wall 32 conveys the toner in the accommodation space 37S from the initial position on the one end side in the first direction to the other side from the start of use of the toner container 30 to the end of use. A function of moving in the first direction in the internal space 37H to the final position on the end side is provided. In the present embodiment, the initial position of the moving wall 32 is disposed on the right side (downstream in the first direction) of the lid portion 31, and the final position is disposed on the left side (upstream in the first direction) of the toner discharge port 377. Yes. That is, the moving wall 32 moves from the right wall 375 toward the lid portion 31.

  With reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, the moving wall 32 is a wall portion that defines an accommodation space 37 </ b> S together with the inner peripheral portion 37 </ b> K of the container main body 37. The moving wall 32 includes a conveyance surface 320S, an inner wall seal 322, a shaft seal 323, a bearing portion 32J, and an outer peripheral portion 32K. The main body portion of the moving wall 32 excluding the inner wall seal 322 and the shaft seal 323 is made of a nonmagnetic resin material.

  The conveyance surface 320 </ b> S is a wall surface that intersects the axial direction of the shaft 33. The conveyance surface 320 </ b> S conveys the toner in the accommodation space 37 </ b> S while pressing the toner as the moving wall 32 moves.

  The bearing portion 32 </ b> J is a bearing portion formed at a substantially central portion of the moving wall 32. In other words, the bearing portion 32J moves along the first direction while holding the moving wall 32. The shaft 33 described later is inserted through the bearing portion 32J.

  The bearing portion 32J includes a female spiral portion 320D. The female spiral portion 320D is a spiral thread portion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the bearing portion 32J. The female spiral portion 320 </ b> D has a function of moving the moving wall 32 along the first direction by engaging with a male spiral portion 333 described later of the shaft 33.

  The inner wall seal 322 is a seal member arranged so as to cover the periphery of the moving wall 32. The inner wall seal 322 is an elastic member made of urethane sponge. The inner wall seal 322 is compressed and deformed between the inner peripheral portion 37 </ b> K of the container body 37 and the moving wall 32. Further, the inner wall seal 322 forms the outer peripheral portion 32 </ b> K of the moving wall 32. The outer peripheral portion 32K is closely slidably disposed on the inner peripheral portion 37K of the container main body 37. The inner wall seal 322 prevents the toner in the accommodation space 37 </ b> S from flowing out between the inner peripheral portion 37 </ b> K of the container body 37 and the moving wall 32 to the upstream side in the moving direction from the moving wall 32.

  The shaft seal 323 is fixed to the distal end side in the moving direction of the moving wall 32 with respect to the female spiral portion 320D in the bearing portion 32J (FIGS. 5 and 7). The shaft seal 323 is an elastic member made of urethane sponge. The shaft seal 323 contacts the male spiral portion 333 before the female spiral portion 320D, and cleans the toner attached to the male spiral portion 333. For this reason, toner is prevented from aggregating between the male spiral portion 333 and the female spiral portion 320D, and the movement of the moving wall 32 is stably realized. Further, since the shaft seal 323 has a ring shape, the shaft seal 323 is in close contact with the shaft 33 over the entire circumferential direction of the shaft 33. For this reason, the toner in the accommodation space 37S is prevented from flowing out from the moving wall 32 to the upstream side in the moving direction through the bearing portion 32J.

  The shaft 33 is rotatably supported by the right wall 375 and the lid portion 31 of the container main body 37 so as to extend in the first direction in the internal space 37H. The shaft 33 includes a first shaft end portion 331, a second shaft end portion 332, a male spiral portion 333, and a moving wall stop portion 334.

  Referring to FIG. 5, the first shaft end portion 331 is the right end portion of the shaft 33 that protrudes to the right side through the main body bearing portion 37J. The second shaft end 332 is the left end of the shaft 33. The second shaft end portion 332 is pivotally supported by a lid shaft hole portion 31 </ b> J formed in the lid portion 31.

  The male spiral portion 333 is a spiral thread portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 33 in the internal space 37H. In the present embodiment, the male spiral portion 333 is a region upstream of the toner discharge port 377 in the first direction (arrow DA in FIG. 5) from the region adjacent to the lid portion 31 of the shaft 33 as shown in FIG. It is arranged until.

  The moving wall stop part 334 is continuously arranged on the downstream side in the first direction of the male spiral part 333. The moving wall stop portion 334 is a region of only the shaft portion in which the male spiral portion 333 is partially omitted from the shaft 33 in the internal space 37H.

  The stirring member 35 (FIG. 5) is disposed along the right wall 375 above the toner discharge port 377. The agitating member 35 agitates the toner in the accommodation space 37 </ b> S and sends the toner from the toner discharge port 377. In the present embodiment, the stirring member 35 rotates around the shaft 33 and relative to the shaft 33. In FIG. 6, the stirring member 35 is rotated in the arrow DB direction. The stirring member 35 includes a stirring bearing portion 351, a stirring support portion 352, and a stirring blade 353.

  The agitation bearing portion 351 has a cylindrical shape that is fitted on the shaft 33. The stirring bearing portion 351 is inserted into the main body bearing portion 37J from the storage space 37S side of the container main body 37. As a result, the right end side of the stirring bearing portion 351 passes through the main body bearing portion 37J and is exposed to the outside of the container main body 37 from the right wall 375 (main body bearing portion 37J). On the other hand, the left end side of the stirring bearing portion 351 is disposed in the accommodation space 37S.

  The stirring support portion 352 is a protruding piece that protrudes in the radial direction in the rotation of the shaft 33 from the left end side of the cylindrical stirring bearing portion 351. The stirring support part 352 is disposed along the right wall 375 so as to face the first direction. The agitation support portion 352 rotates around the shaft 33 in the accommodation space 37S. In particular, in this embodiment, a pair of agitation support portions 352 are arranged (FIG. 6). The pair of agitation support portions 352 are arranged so as to extend toward opposite sides in the radial direction, and have a propeller shape whose width in the circumferential direction is set wider toward the outer side in the radial direction (FIG. 7). .

  The stirring blade 353 is a blade member that protrudes from the pair of stirring support portions 352 toward the left side (upstream side in the first direction). As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, two stirring blades 353 are provided so as to protrude from each stirring support portion 352 so as to be spaced apart in the circumferential direction in the rotation of the stirring member 35. The stirring blade 353 stirs the toner around the toner discharge port 377 while circulating around the toner discharge port 377 and discharges the toner from the toner discharge port 377.

  The first gear 381 is connected to the stirring bearing portion 351 of the stirring member 35 and transmits the rotational driving force to the stirring member 35. The first gear 381 is connected to a motor (not shown) via a transmission gear (not shown) of the developing device 20. The stirring member 35 is rotationally controlled in synchronization with the developing roller 21 of the developing device 20 during the developing operation.

  The second gear 382 transmits the rotational driving force to the shaft 33. The second gear 382 is connected (fixed) to the tip end portion (first shaft end portion 331) of the shaft 33 that penetrates the stirring bearing portion 351. The second gear 382 is connected to a motor (not shown) via a transmission gear (not shown) of the developing device 20. The shaft 33 is rotationally controlled independently of the stirring member 35, and the moving wall 32 moves in the first direction.

  The cover 39 is attached to the protruding wall 376 of the container main body 37. The cover 39 has a function of exposing part of the first gear 381 and the second gear 382 in the circumferential direction to the outside and covering other parts of the first gear 381 and the second gear 382 in the circumferential direction. .

  The toner sensor is a sensor disposed on the bottom 371 of the container main body 37. The toner sensor is disposed adjacent to the toner discharge port 377 in the circumferential direction. The toner sensor outputs a HIGH signal (+ 5V) by detecting the toner in the accommodation space 37S. In addition, when there is almost no toner in the area of the accommodation space 37S facing the toner sensor, the toner sensor outputs a LOW signal (0 V). The output signal of the toner sensor is referred to by a control unit (not shown).

<About the movement of the moving wall>
When the new toner container 30 is mounted on the printer 100, the shaft 33 is rotationally driven via the second gear 382. As a result, due to the engagement between the male spiral portion 333 of the shaft 33 and the female spiral portion 320D of the moving wall 32, the moving wall 32 disposed at the initial position is moved in the first direction (arrow DA in FIGS. 5 to 7). It moves toward the toner discharge port 377.

  Eventually, when the moving wall 32 moves to the right by a predetermined distance from the initial position, the accommodation space 37S is filled with toner, and the toner sensor outputs a HIGH signal corresponding to the full state. The control unit receives the HIGH signal output from the toner sensor and stops the moving wall 32.

  In the present embodiment, the inner peripheral portion 37K of the container main body 37 and the outer peripheral portion 32K of the moving wall 32 have a non-circular shape in a cross-sectional view intersecting the first direction. Further, the outer peripheral portion 32K of the moving wall 32 that is in close contact with the inner peripheral portion 37K of the container main body 37 has a shape similar to the inner peripheral portion 37K. For this reason, even when the rotational force around the shaft 33 is applied to the moving wall 32 by the engagement between the male spiral portion 333 and the female spiral portion 370D, the moving wall 32 rotates around the shaft 33. (Turning around) is prevented.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a volume replenishment type toner replenishment format is employed. For this reason, when the staying portion 29 (FIG. 4) on the developing device 20 side seals the toner replenishing port 25 from below, the replenishing toner hardly falls from the toner container 30. On the other hand, when the toner is supplied from the developing roller 21 of the developing device 20 to the photosensitive drum 121 and the toner in the staying portion 29 decreases, the toner flows into the developing device 20 from the toner discharge port 377 through the toner supply port 25. As a result, in the storage space 37S of the toner container 30, the toner around the toner sensor disappears, so the toner sensor outputs a LOW signal. In response to the signal, the control unit further moves the moving wall 32 toward the toner discharge port 377 until the toner sensor outputs a HIGH signal.

  The control unit rotates the stirring member 35 in accordance with the developing operation in the developing device 20. As a result, the stirring member 35 disposed on the right end side of the accommodation space 37S rotates around the shaft 33, so that the toner above the toner discharge port 377 is stably stirred. For this reason, the fluidity of the toner is increased, and the toner is stably dropped from the toner discharge port 377.

  In the present embodiment, a hole 31H is formed in the lid 31. For this reason, when the moving wall 32 moves in the first direction, the internal pressure of the internal space 37H upstream of the moving wall 32 in the first direction is suppressed. As a result, the movement of the moving wall 32 is prevented from being hindered by a decrease in the internal pressure of the internal space 37H. Therefore, the moving wall 32 can be moved smoothly and toner can be replenished stably from the toner discharge port 377. In other words, when the internal space 37H upstream of the moving wall 32 in the first direction is sealed, when the moving wall 32 attempts to move in the first direction, the internal pressure of the internal space 37H decreases. In this case, the moving wall 32 is given a suction force in a direction opposite to the first direction, and the movement of the moving wall 32 is hindered. Note that a mesh or the like may be attached in advance to the hole 31H. In this case, the hole 31 </ b> H restricts the outflow of the toner from the internal space 37 </ b> H to the outside of the container main body 37. Therefore, even if a small amount of toner leaks from the lid portion 31S to the upstream side in the first direction from the moving wall 32, the toner is prevented from flowing out of the toner container 30 through the hole portion 31H.

  Further, when the volume replenishing type toner replenishing method is employed as in the present embodiment, the toner replenishing port 25 is often sealed by the staying portion 29 (FIG. 4), so that the storage space of the toner container 30 is accommodated. 37S tends to be in a sealed state. At this time, as described above, if the internal pressure in the internal space 37H on the upstream side in the first direction with respect to the moving wall 32 decreases, the moving wall 32 becomes more difficult to move. Therefore, even when the volume replenishing type toner replenishing format is adopted, the movement of the moving wall 32 is stably realized by providing the hole 31H.

  If the toner in the storage space 37S of the toner container 30 continues to be used, the moving wall 32 eventually reaches the final position immediately before the toner discharge port 377. As described above, the moving wall 32 gradually moves in the first direction, whereby the toner in the accommodation space 37S is conveyed to the toner discharge port 377 while being pressed by the moving wall 32. At this time, the accommodation space 37S is gradually reduced until the moving wall 32 reaches the final position. Therefore, the space where the toner remains is gradually lost in the toner container 30. As a result, the amount of toner remaining in the storage space 37S of the container body 37 at the end of use is reduced as compared with a conventional toner container in which the volume of the storage space does not change.

  In the present embodiment, as the final position of the moving wall 32, the moving wall 32 stops slightly upstream in the first direction from the toner discharge port 377. Specifically, when the bearing portion 32J of the moving wall 32 reaches the moving wall stop portion 334 as the moving wall 32 moves, the engagement between the male spiral portion 333 and the female spiral portion 320D is released. As a result, transmission of the moving force from the shaft 33 to the moving wall 32 is lost, and the moving wall 32 stops at the final position.

  Next, a toner container 30A according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view (A), (B), and (C) of the toner container 30A. Similar to the toner container 30 according to the previous embodiment, the toner container 30A includes a lid portion 31A, a moving wall 32A, a shaft 33A, a stirring member 35A, and a container body 37A. The container body 37A includes a right wall 375A and a toner discharge port 377A. The moving wall 32A moves in the first direction (right direction) from the initial position on the lid 31A side toward the final position on the right wall 375A side.

  The lid portion 31A includes a communication hole portion 31HA (communication port). The communication hole portion 31HA is a hole formed through the lid portion 31A in the first direction. The moving wall 32A includes a toner filling port 32HA (developer filling port). The toner filling port 32HA is a hole that is disposed to face the communication hole portion 31HA and communicates the accommodation space 37SA and the internal space 37HA upstream of the moving wall 32A in the first direction. Further, the toner container 30A includes a cap 32P (second sealing member). As shown in FIG. 8B, the cap 32P is a cylindrical member that is inserted into the communication hole portion 31HA and that can seal the toner filling port 32HA.

  In the present embodiment, at the manufacturing stage of the toner container 30A, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 8A, a filling nozzle (not shown) is inserted into the accommodation space 37ASA via the communication hole portion 31HA and the toner filling port 32HA. Thus, the accommodation space 37SA is filled with toner. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8B, the cap 32P is attached to the toner filling port 32HA. At this time, the cap 32P is inserted into the communication hole 31HA by a clearance fit with a predetermined gap. The tip of the cap 32P is press-fitted into the toner filling port 32HA, and the tip of the tip is flush with the transport surface of the moving wall 32A. In the state of FIG. 8B, the toner container 30 </ b> A is transported and attached to the printer 100.

  The toner container 30A is attached to the printer 100, and use of the toner container 30A is started. Then, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 8C, when the moving wall 32A moves in the first direction, the cap 32P attached to the toner filling port 32HA is detached from the communication hole portion 31HA. As a result, the communication hole 31HA is opened again. As described above, in the present embodiment, the accommodation space 37SA is filled with toner by using the communication hole portion 31HA and the toner filling port 32HA. Further, the communication hole portion 31HA is sealed in advance by the cap 32P, and the communication hole portion 31HA is opened as the moving wall 32A moves in the first direction. Therefore, until the toner container 30A is used, the communication hole portion 31HA is sealed and entry of foreign matter into the internal space 37SA is suppressed. And if the communicating hole part 31HA is opened with the movement of 32 A of movement walls, it will be suppressed that the internal pressure of internal space 37HA of the 1st direction upstream rather than the movement wall 32A falls. Therefore, the moving wall 32A can move smoothly in the first direction.

  Next, a toner container 30B according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view (A), (B), and (C) of the toner container 30B. Similar to the toner container 30 according to the previous embodiment, the toner container 30B includes a lid portion 31B, a moving wall 32B, a shaft 33B, a stirring member 35B, and a container main body 37B. The container main body 37B includes a right wall 375B and a toner discharge port 377B. The moving wall 32B moves in the first direction (right direction) from the initial position on the lid 31B side toward the final position on the right wall 375B side.

  The lid 31B includes a communication hole 31HB (communication port). The communication hole portion 31HB is a hole formed through the lid portion 31B in the first direction. The toner container 30B further includes a sealing seal 32Q (first sealing member) and a connection tape 32R (connection member). The sealing seal 32Q is a circular sealing member that seals the communication hole portion 31HB from the inner space 37HB (FIG. 8C) side of the container main body 37B. The connecting tape 32R is a tape that connects the sealing seal 32Q and the moving wall 32B. As shown in FIG. 9A, when the moving wall 32B is arranged at the initial position, the connecting tape 32R is in a slack state.

  The toner container 30B is attached to the printer 100, and use of the toner container 30B is started. Then, as shown by the arrow DA in FIG. 9B, when the moving wall 32B moves in the first direction, the connecting tape 32R is pulled in the first direction by the moving wall 32B. Eventually, the sealing tape 32Q is peeled off from the communication hole 31HB by the tension of the connection tape 32R (FIG. 9C), and the communication hole 31HB is opened.

  Thus, also in this embodiment, until the toner container 30B is used, the communication hole 31HB is sealed, and entry of foreign matter into the internal space 37HB is suppressed. When the toner container 30B starts to be used, the communication hole 31HB is opened with the movement of the moving wall 32B, and the moving wall 32B can be smoothly moved in the first direction. Further, since the sealing tape 32Q moves together with the moving wall 32B as shown in FIG. 9C, it is prevented that the communication hole 31HB is accidentally sealed again.

  Next, a toner container 30C according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view (A) and (B) of the toner container 30C. The toner container 30C is attached to the developing housing 210P (FIG. 10A) in the casing 101 (FIG. 1) of the printer 100. Similar to the toner container 30 according to the previous embodiment, the toner container 30C includes a lid portion 31C, a moving wall 32C, a shaft 33C, a stirring member 35C, and a container main body 37C. The container body 37C includes a right wall 375C and a toner discharge port 377C. The moving wall 32C moves in the first direction (right direction) from the initial position on the lid 31C side toward the final position on the right wall 375C side.

  The lid 31C includes a communication hole 31HC (communication port). The communication hole portion 31HC is a hole formed through the lid portion 31C in the first direction. The toner container 30C further includes a sealing piece 31P (third sealing member). The sealing piece 31P is a circular thin plate member that seals the communication hole portion 31HC from the inner space 37HC (FIG. 10A) side of the container main body 37C.

  On the other hand, the development housing 210P in which the toner container 30C is mounted includes a protrusion 210Q. The protrusion 210Q is a protrusion protruding rightward from the developing housing 210P. The outer diameter of the protrusion 210Q is smaller than the inner diameter of the communication hole 31HC. In the present embodiment, the toner container 30C is mounted on the developing housing 210P from above and then slid to the left by the user (arrow DB in FIG. 10A). At this time, while the protrusion 210Q enters the communication hole 31HC, the protrusion 210Q contacts the sealing piece 31P and presses the sealing piece 31P to the right. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10B, inside the toner container 30C, the sealing piece 31P is detached from the communication hole portion 31HC, and the communication hole portion 31HC is opened. As shown in FIG. 10B, it is desirable that a predetermined gap is formed in the left-right direction between the lid portion 31C of the attached toner container 30C and the wall portion of the developing housing 210P. In this case, the wall portion of the developing housing 210P is prevented from blocking the communication hole portion 31HC.

  As described above, also in the present embodiment, until the toner container 30C is used, the communication hole portion 31HC is sealed in advance and entry of foreign matter into the internal space 31HC is suppressed. Then, the communication hole 31HC is opened with the mounting of the toner container 30C. Therefore, the moving wall 32C can be smoothly moved in the first direction (the arrow DA direction in FIG. 10B), and the toner can be replenished stably from the toner discharge port 377C. Therefore, an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum (not shown) is stably manifested as a toner image (developer image). In another embodiment, the protrusion 210Q may press the sealing piece 31P and break the central portion of the sealing piece 31P while entering the communication hole 31HC. Further, the protrusion 210Q may be provided so as to protrude toward the toner container 30C in the housing 101 (FIG. 2) of the printer 100 instead of the developing housing 210P.

  The printer 100 including the toner container 30 (30A, 30B, 30C) according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above. According to such a configuration, the amount of toner remaining in the storage space 37S of the container body 37 at the end of use is reduced. Therefore, a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 121 and the image is stably formed on the sheet S while the toner in the toner container 30 is efficiently supplied to the developing device 20. Furthermore, the moving wall 32 is smoothly moved by forming a vent hole in the lid portion 31 so as to face the moving wall 32 arranged at the initial position. On the other hand, the present invention is not limited to these, and for example, the following modified embodiments can be adopted.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the printer 100 has been described as a monochrome printer, but the present invention is not limited to this. In particular, when the printer 100 is a tandem color printer, after the opening / closing cover 100C (FIG. 1) of the printer 100 is opened, the toner containers 30 are adjacent to each other corresponding to a plurality of colors of toner from above. It may be mounted in the housing 101.

  (2) In the first embodiment described above, the shaft 33 is described as including the moving wall stop 334 in addition to the male spiral 333, but the present invention is not limited to this. The male spiral portion 333 may be disposed on the entire shaft 33 along the first direction. In this case, it is desirable that the stirring member 35 is not provided with the stirring blade 353 but only includes the stirring support portion 352. The toner on the toner discharge port 377 can also be stirred by the rotation of the stirring support portion 352. Then, the moving wall 32 may move along the male spiral portion 333 until the conveyance surface 320S of the moving wall 32 approaches the stirring support portion 352.

  (3) In the first embodiment, the moving wall 32 has been described as moving from the lid 31 side to the right wall 375 side. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The toner discharge port 377 may be opened on the lid portion 31 side, and the moving wall 32 may move from the right wall 375 side to the lid portion 31 side. In this case, the vent may be opened in the right wall 375.

100 Printer (image forming device)
121 Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
126 Transfer roller (transfer section)
20 Developing device 210, 210P Developing housing 210Q Protrusion 30, 30A, 30B, 30C Toner container (developer container)
31 Lid (second wall)
31H hole (vent)
31HA, 31HB, 31HC Communication hole (vent)
31P sealing piece (third sealing member)
32 Moving wall 320S Conveying surface 32HA Toner filling port (developer filling port)
32K outer peripheral part 32P cap (second sealing member)
32Q sealing seal (first sealing member)
32R connecting tape (connecting member)
33 Shaft 35 Stirring member 37 Container body (container body)
377 Toner outlet (developer outlet)
37H Inner space 37K Inner circumference 37S Storage space

Claims (6)

An inner peripheral portion defining an internal space extending in a cylindrical shape along the first direction, a first wall portion defining one end surface of the internal space in the first direction, and communicating with the internal space A container body provided with a developer discharge port that is opened and from which the developer is discharged;
A second wall portion disposed at an end of the container body opposite to the first wall portion in the first direction, and defining another end surface of the internal space in the first direction;
An outer peripheral portion that is slidably disposed in close contact with the inner peripheral portion of the container main body, and a transport surface that defines a storage space in which the developer is stored together with the inner peripheral portion of the container main body, While transporting the developer in the accommodation space toward the developer discharge port, the inside of the internal space is moved in the first direction from one of the first wall portion and the second wall portion to the other. A moving wall that moves to the
A vent opening that is opened in the one of the first wall portion and the second wall portion and communicates the outside of the container body and the internal space;
I have a,
The vent is sealed in advance,
The developer container is characterized in that the vent is opened as the moving wall moves in the first direction . A first sealing member that seals the vent from the internal space side;
A connecting member that connects the first sealing member and the moving wall;
Further comprising
2. The vent according to claim 1 , wherein when the moving wall moves in the first direction, the first sealing member is peeled off from the vent by the tension of the connecting member, and the vent is opened. Developer container. 3. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the vent regulates outflow of the developer from the internal space to the outside of the container main body. 4. The moving wall includes a developer filling port that is disposed to face the vent and communicates the housing space and the internal space on the upstream side in the first direction with respect to the moving wall.
A second sealing member inserted through the vent and capable of sealing the developer filling port;
The second sealing member is attached to the developer filling port after the developer is filled into the accommodation space via the vent and the developer filling port,
When the moving wall moves in the first direction and the second sealing member attached to the developer filling port is detached from the vent port, the vent port is opened. The developer container according to claim 1 . The developer container according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface, and an image carrier that carries a developer image;
A developing device that is replenished with the developer from the developer container and supplies the developer to the image carrier;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The device body;
A developer container that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus body;
An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface, and an image carrier that carries a developer image;
A developing device that is replenished with the developer from the developer container and supplies the developer to the image carrier;
In the inside of the apparatus main body, a protrusion projecting toward the developer container,
Have
The developer container is
An inner peripheral portion defining an internal space extending in a cylindrical shape along the first direction, a first wall portion defining one end surface of the internal space in the first direction, and communicating with the internal space A container body provided with a developer discharge port that is opened and from which the developer is discharged;
A second wall portion disposed at an end of the container body opposite to the first wall portion in the first direction, and defining another end surface of the internal space in the first direction;
An outer peripheral portion that is slidably disposed in close contact with the inner peripheral portion of the container main body, and a transport surface that defines a storage space in which the developer is stored together with the inner peripheral portion of the container main body, While transporting the developer in the accommodation space toward the developer discharge port, the inside of the internal space is moved in the first direction from one of the first wall portion and the second wall portion to the other. A moving wall that moves to the
A vent opening that is opened in the one of the first wall portion and the second wall portion and communicates the outside of the container body and the internal space;
A third sealing member for previously sealing the vent ;
With
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the vent is opened when the protrusion presses the third sealing member as the developer container is attached to the apparatus main body.