JP6443044B2 - Toner cartridge - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a toner cartridge configured to be mounted on an image forming apparatus adopting an electrophotographic method includes a housing that stores toner therein and a stirring member that is rotatably supported by the housing. Toner cartridges are known. Then, when the toner cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus, the agitating member rotates, so that the toner in the housing is supplied toward the developing device in the image forming apparatus.

  As such a toner cartridge, a first gear connected to the agitating member and having a plurality of continuous gear teeth located on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and a second gear having one gear tooth engaging with the first gear located on the outer peripheral surface thereof. (For example, see Patent Document 1).

  In this toner cartridge, when the second gear rotates and the gear teeth of the second gear mesh with the gear teeth of the first gear, the first gear rotates. Further, when the second gear further rotates and the gear teeth of the second gear no longer mesh with the gear teeth of the first gear, the first gear stops.

  As described above, in the toner cartridge described in Patent Document 1, the first gear rotates intermittently, and accordingly, the stirring member also rotates intermittently. As a result, the pressure applied to the toner can be reduced, and toner deterioration and overcharging can be suppressed.

JP 2010-32779 A

  However, in the toner cartridge described in Patent Document 1, the stirring member may rotate in a direction opposite to the direction in which the toner is supplied. For example, when the first gear and the second gear are not engaged with each other in a state where the toner is on the stirring member, the stirring member may rotate in a direction opposite to the direction in which the stirring gear rotates due to the weight of the toner. Therefore, the stirring member does not rotate in the direction to rotate, and there is a problem that smooth stirring of the toner by the stirring member is hindered.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a toner cartridge that can prevent the agitator from rotating in the other direction while allowing the agitator to rotate intermittently in one direction.

(1) In order to achieve the above object, the toner cartridge of the present invention is provided with an agitator configured to agitate the toner, an agitator gear fixed to the end of the agitator, and an external driving force. A toothed portion gear configured to transmit a driving force to the agitator gear and configured to mesh with the agitator gear, a chipped gear portion that does not mesh with the agitator gear, and the agitator gear to be regulated A restricting member configured to allow the agitator gear to rotate in one direction and to restrict the agitator gear from rotating in the other direction opposite to the one direction; Prepare.

  According to such a configuration, when the chipped gear is rotated by applying a driving force, the agitator gear rotates in one direction by meshing with the teeth of the chipped gear, and the teeth of the chipped gear Stops when it stops meshing. The agitator gear is fixed to the end of the agitator.

  Therefore, the agitator can be intermittently rotated in one direction.

  The restricting member restricts the agitator gear from rotating in the other direction opposite to the one direction.

  Therefore, in a state where the chipped gear and the agitator gear are not engaged with each other, the rotation of the agitator gear in the other direction can be regulated by the regulating member.

As a result, the agitator can be prevented from rotating in the other direction.
(2) Further, the agitator gear may be configured to rotate in one direction by meshing with the tooth portion of the rotating chipped gear and to stop when facing the chipped portion of the rotating chipped gear. Good.

According to such a configuration, the agitator can be reliably rotated intermittently.
(3) Further, the restricting member may include an engaging portion that engages with the gear teeth of the chipped gear when the agitator gear stops.

  According to such a configuration, the engagement portion engages with the gear teeth of the agitator gear, whereby the rotation of the agitator gear in the other direction can be restricted.

Therefore, the rotation of the agitator gear in the other direction can be reliably controlled.
(4) Moreover, the engaging part may be comprised so that it may engage with the gear tooth of an agitator gear from the upstream of one direction.

  According to such a configuration, when the agitator gear rotates in the other direction, that is, when the agitator gear rotates toward the upstream side in one direction, the engaging portion is engaged with the agitator gear from the upstream side in one direction. Match.

  Therefore, the engaging portion can be reliably engaged with the gear teeth of the agitator gear.

As a result, the rotation of the agitator gear in the other direction can be more reliably regulated.
(5) The restricting member may be configured to swing, and may include a central portion including a swing center and a connecting portion that connects the central portion and the engaging portion. The engaging portion may be arranged downstream in one direction from the center portion.

According to such a configuration, the engaging portion can be more reliably engaged with the gear teeth of the agitator gear.
(6) The engaging portion includes a first contact portion that contacts the gear teeth of the agitator gear when the agitator gear rotates in the other direction, and a gear tooth of the agitator gear when the agitator gear rotates in one direction. And a second abutting portion that abuts.

  According to such a configuration, when the agitator gear rotates in the other direction, the first abutment portion and the agitator gear abut, and when the agitator gear rotates in one direction, the second abutment portion and the agitator gear Abut.

Therefore, the engaging portion can be reliably engaged with the agitator gear while having a simple configuration.
(7) Moreover, the 2nd contact part may be comprised from the elastic material.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the sound generated when the second contact portion and the gear teeth come into contact.
(8) Moreover, an engaging part may be located above the rotating shaft line of an agitator gear.

  According to such a configuration, the engagement portion can be returned to the original position by its own weight even if the engagement portion moves by contacting the agitator gear, although it is a simple configuration.

Therefore, the engaging portion can be easily engaged with the agitator gear.
(9) The toner cartridge further includes a developing roller, a developing chamber in which the developing roller is located, and a housing having a communication port that communicates between the agitator and the toner containing chamber in which the toner is accommodated. You may prepare. The agitator is configured to move at least between a first posture positioned upstream of the communication port and a second posture positioned downstream of the communication port in one direction, and the tooth portion is It may be configured to move from the first posture to the second posture while meshing with the agitator gear.

  According to such a configuration, when the rotation of the agitator gear is stopped while the agitator is positioned between the first posture and the second posture, the toner may not be smoothly delivered from the toner storage chamber.

  However, according to such a configuration, the agitator moves from the first posture to the second posture while the tooth portion of the chipped gear and the agitator gear are engaged with each other.

As a result, the toner can be reliably delivered from the toner storage chamber by the agitator.
(10) The agitator may include an agitator shaft and a stirring blade supported by the agitator shaft and elastically deformable. The housing may have a contact portion that contacts the stirring blade and elastically deforms the stirring blade when the stirring blade rotates.

According to such a structure, it can suppress that the rotational speed of an agitator becomes quick by rotating a stirring blade, making a stirring blade contact, so that a stirring blade may be elastically deformed.
(11) Further, in the tooth portion, a line segment connecting the tip of one gear tooth and the rotation axis of the missing gear and a line segment connecting the tip of the adjacent gear tooth and the rotation axis of the missing gear are formed. The angle in the agitator gear is the same as the angle formed by the line connecting the tip of one gear tooth and the rotation axis of the agitator gear and the line connecting the tip of the adjacent gear tooth and the rotation axis of the agitator gear. There may be.

According to such a structure, the gear tooth in a tooth part and the gear tooth of an agitator gear can be reliably meshed | engaged.
(12) The chipped gear may further include a groove that allows elastic deformation of the tooth portion.

  According to such a configuration, even if the chipped gear and the agitator gear are not meshed smoothly due to a shift of the phase of the chipped gear and the phase of the agitator gear, the chipped gear is elastically deformed to cause the chipped gear. The tooth gear and the agitator gear can be meshed.

Therefore, the missing tooth gear and the tooth portion of the agitator gear can be more reliably engaged with each other.
(13) Further, the toner cartridge of the present invention includes an agitator configured to stir the toner, an agitator gear fixed to one end of the agitator, a regulating gear fixed to the other end of the agitator, an external A tooth missing gear configured to transmit the driving force to the agitator gear by being applied with a tooth portion configured to mesh with the agitator gear, and a tooth missing portion not meshed with the agitator gear; A restricting member configured to restrict the restricting gear, configured to allow the restricting gear to rotate in one direction and restrict the restricting gear from rotating in the other direction opposite to the one direction. And a regulating member.

  According to such a configuration, when the chipped gear is rotated by applying a driving force, the agitator gear rotates in one direction by meshing with the teeth of the chipped gear, and the teeth of the chipped gear Stops when it stops meshing. The agitator gear is fixed to the end of the agitator.

  Therefore, the agitator can be intermittently rotated in one direction.

  The restricting member restricts the restricting gear from rotating in the other direction opposite to the one direction. The restriction gear is fixed to the other end of the agitator.

  Therefore, the restriction member can restrict the restriction gear from rotating in the other direction.

As a result, the agitator can be prevented from rotating in the other direction.
(14) Further, the diameter of the restriction gear may be larger than the diameter of the agitator gear.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the force applied to the regulating member, which is generated when the regulating member regulates the regulating gear.
(15) Further, in the restriction gear, the angle formed by the line segment connecting the tip of one gear tooth and the rotation axis of the restriction gear and the line segment connecting the tip of the adjacent gear tooth and the rotation axis of the restriction gear is In the agitator gear, the angle between the line segment connecting the tip of one gear tooth and the rotation axis of the agitator gear and the line connecting the tip of the adjacent gear tooth and the rotation axis of the agitator gear may be smaller. Good.

  According to such a configuration, the angle between one gear tooth and the adjacent gear tooth in the restriction gear can be reduced.

  Therefore, the rotation of the agitator in the other direction can be more reliably regulated.

  In the toner cartridge of the present invention, the agitator can be intermittently rotated in one direction, but the agitator can be prevented from rotating in the other direction.

FIG. 1 is a central sectional view of the developing cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which the agitator assumes a first posture. FIG. 2 is a central sectional view of a printer to which the developing cartridge shown in FIG. 1 is mounted. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the developing cartridge shown in FIG. 1 and shows a state where the gear cover is removed. 4A is a perspective view of a chipped gear of the developing cartridge shown in FIG. 4B is a side view of the chipped gear of the developing cartridge shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the developing cartridge shown in FIG. 1 and shows a state where the meshing state of the chipped gear and the agitator gear is completed. FIG. 6 is a central sectional view of the developing cartridge shown in FIG. 1 and shows a state in which the agitator assumes the second posture. FIG. 7 is a side view of the developing cartridge according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

1. As shown in FIG. 1, a developing cartridge 1 as an example of a toner cartridge includes a developing frame 2, an developing roller 3, a supply roller 4, an agitator 5, and a layer thickness as an example of a housing. And a regulating blade 6.

  In the following description, when referring to the direction of the developing cartridge 1, the direction in which the developing roller 3 is disposed is based on the state where the developing cartridge 1 is placed on a horizontal plane. The opposite is the front of the developing cartridge 1. That is, the left side of FIG. 1 is the rear side of the developing cartridge 1, and the right side of the page is the front side of the developing cartridge 1. 1 is the upper side of the developing cartridge 1, and the lower side of the paper is the lower side of the developing cartridge 1. In addition, when the developing cartridge 1 is viewed from the front, the left and right reference is used. That is, the front side of the sheet of FIG. 1 is the left side of the developing cartridge 1, and the back side of the sheet is the right side of the developing cartridge 1. Specifically, the arrow direction shown in each figure is used as a reference.

  The developing frame 2 has a substantially box shape extending in the left-right direction, and a rear end portion thereof is open in the front-rear direction. The development frame 2 contains toner.

  The developing roller 3 is disposed at the rear end of the developing frame 2. The developing roller 3 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction, and is rotatably supported by the developing frame 2. Further, the upper part and the rear part of the developing roller 3 are exposed from the developing frame 2.

  The supply roller 4 is disposed in front of and below the developing roller 3 in the developing frame 2. The supply roller 4 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction, and is rotatably supported by the developing frame 2. The rear upper end portion of the supply roller 4 is in contact with the front lower end portion of the developing roller 3.

  The agitator 5 is disposed in the front portion of the developing frame 2 and is disposed in front of the supply roller 4. The agitator 5 is rotatably supported by the developing frame 2.

The layer thickness regulating blade 6 is disposed in front of the developing roller 3 and is fixed to the developing frame 2. The lower end portion of the layer thickness regulating blade 6 is in contact with the front end portion of the developing roller 3.
2. 2. Usage Mode of Developing Cartridge As shown in FIG. 2, the developing cartridge 1 is mounted on a printer 10 and used.

  The printer 10 is an electrophotographic monochrome printer. The printer 10 includes a main body casing 11, a process cartridge 12, a scanner unit 13, and a fixing unit 14.

  The main casing 11 has an opening 15, a front cover 16, a paper feed tray 17, and a paper discharge tray 18.

  The opening 15 is disposed on the front wall of the main body casing 11. The opening 15 communicates the inside and outside of the main casing 11 in the front-rear direction so as to allow passage of the process cartridge 12.

  The front cover 16 is disposed at the front end portion of the main body casing 11. The front cover 16 is configured to open or close the opening 15.

  The paper feed tray 17 is disposed at the bottom of the main casing 11. The paper feed tray 17 is configured to accommodate the paper P.

  The paper discharge tray 18 is disposed on the upper wall of the main body casing 11.

  The process cartridge 12 includes a drum cartridge 20 and the developing cartridge 1 described above.

  The drum cartridge 20 includes a drum frame 30, a photosensitive drum 21, a scorotron charger 22, and a transfer roller 23.

  The drum frame 30 has a bottomed frame shape that is substantially rectangular in plan view.

  The photosensitive drum 21 is disposed at the rear end of the drum frame 30. The photosensitive drum 21 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction, and is rotatably supported by the drum frame 30.

  The scorotron charger 22 is disposed above the photosensitive drum 21 in the drum frame 30 and is spaced from the photosensitive drum 21.

  The transfer roller 23 is disposed below the photosensitive drum 21 in the drum frame 30. The transfer roller 23 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction, and is rotatably supported by the drum frame 30. The upper end portion of the transfer roller 23 is in contact with the lower end portion of the photosensitive drum 21.

  The developing cartridge 1 is mounted on the drum frame 30. The developing roller 3 of the developing cartridge 1 is in contact with the front end portion of the photosensitive drum 21 in a state where the developing cartridge 1 is mounted on the drum frame 30.

  The scanner unit 13 is disposed above the process cartridge 12. The scanner unit 13 is configured to emit a laser beam toward the photosensitive drum 21.

  The fixing unit 14 is disposed behind the process cartridge 12. The fixing unit 14 includes a heating roller 24 and a pressure roller 25 pressed against the rear lower end of the heating roller 24.

  When the image forming operation is started in the printer 10, the scorotron charger 22 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 21. Thereafter, the scanner unit 13 exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 based on the image data. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image based on the image data is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21.

  The agitator 5 agitates the toner in the developing frame 2 and supplies it to the supply roller 4. The supply roller 4 supplies the toner supplied from the agitator 5 to the developing roller 3. At this time, the toner is frictionally charged positively between the developing roller 3 and the supply roller 4 and is carried on the developing roller 3. The layer thickness regulating blade 6 regulates the layer thickness of the toner carried on the developing roller 3 to a constant thickness.

  The toner carried on the developing roller 3 is supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21. As a result, the toner image is carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21.

  The paper P is fed from the paper feed tray 17 between the photosensitive drum 21 and the transfer roller 23 one by one at a predetermined timing by the rotation of various rollers. The toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is transferred to the paper P when the paper P passes between the photosensitive drum 21 and the transfer roller 23.

Thereafter, the sheet P is heated and pressed when passing between the heating roller 24 and the pressure roller 25. As a result, the toner image on the paper P is thermally fixed to the paper P. Thereafter, the paper P is discharged to the paper discharge tray 18.
3. Details of Developing Cartridge As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the developing cartridge 1 includes the developing frame 2 described above, the agitator 5 described above, and a drive unit 36.
(1) Development Frame The development frame 2 includes a base frame 37 and a cover frame 38.

  The base frame 37 includes a left side wall 39, a right side wall 40, a front wall 41, and a bottom wall 42.

  The left side wall 39 is disposed at the left end portion of the developing frame 2. The left side wall 39 has a substantially plate shape that is substantially rectangular in a side view extending in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 5, the left side wall 39 includes a coupling support shaft 69 and a gear support shaft 79.

  The coupling support shaft 69 is disposed at the rear portion of the left surface of the left side wall 39 and has a substantially cylindrical shape that protrudes leftward from the left side wall 39.

  The gear support shaft 79 is disposed at the center of the left surface of the left side wall 39 and has a substantially cylindrical shape protruding from the left side wall 39 toward the left.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the right side wall 40 is disposed at the right end portion of the developing frame 2, and is disposed to the right with respect to the left side wall 39. The right side wall 40 has a substantially plate shape that is substantially rectangular in a side view extending in the front-rear direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the front wall 41 is disposed at the front end of the developing frame 2. The front wall 41 is installed between the front end portions of the left side wall 39 and the right side wall 40. The front wall 41 has a substantially plate shape that is substantially rectangular in front view and extends in the left-right direction.

  The bottom wall 42 is disposed at the lower end of the developing frame 2. The bottom wall 42 is constructed between the lower end portions of the left side wall 39 and the right side wall 40. The front end portion of the bottom wall 42 is continuous with the lower end portion of the front wall 41. The bottom wall 42 has a curved portion 45 at the front portion, a circular arc portion 46 at the center portion, and a lip portion 47 at the rear portion.

  The curved portion 45 continuously extends from the lower end portion of the front wall 41 toward the arc portion 46 toward the rear. The curved portion 45 is curved so that its substantially central portion in the front-rear direction is recessed downward.

  The arc portion 46 has a substantially semicircular arc shape in a side view opened upward. The front end portion of the arc portion 46 is continuous with the rear end portion of the curved portion 45. The continuous portion 48 in which the curved portion 45 and the arc portion 46 are continuous has a triangular shape in a side view having a top portion that extends rearward and upward.

  The lip portion 47 continuously extends from the rear end portion of the arc portion 46 and extends rearward and downward.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the cover frame 38 is disposed at the upper end of the base frame 37. The cover frame 38 includes an upper wall 43 and a plurality of ribs 44.

  The upper wall 43 has a substantially plate shape that is substantially rectangular in plan view and extends in the front-rear direction.

  The plurality of ribs 44 are arranged on the lower surface of the upper wall 43 at intervals in the left-right direction. Each of the plurality of ribs 44 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the upper wall 43 and has a substantially plate shape extending in the front-rear direction. Each of the plurality of ribs 44 has a recess 44A. The recess 44A is a lower end edge of the rib 44 and is recessed so as to curve upward.

  The left and right end portions and the front end portion of the upper wall 43 are welded to the upper surfaces of the left side wall 39, the right side wall 40, and the front wall 41, respectively. Further, the rear end portion of the upper wall 43 is disposed at a rear upper position with respect to the continuous portion 48 of the bottom wall 42. In addition, the some rib 44, the front wall 41, and the curved part 45 of the bottom wall 42 comprise an example of a contact part.

  In the developing frame 2, a developing chamber 55 is defined by a rear portion of the left side wall 39, a rear portion of the right side wall 40, and an arc portion 46 and a lip portion 47 of the bottom wall 42. In the developing frame 2, a toner storage chamber 56 is defined by the front portion of the left side wall 39, the front portion of the right side wall 40, the upper wall 43, the curved portion 45 of the bottom wall 42, and the front wall 41. ing.

  The developing chamber 55 and the toner storage chamber 56 communicate with each other in the front-rear direction via a communication port 58. That is, the communication port 58 is a boundary between the developing chamber 55 and the toner storage chamber 56. Specifically, the communication port 58 is defined by the continuous portion 48, the rear end portion of the upper wall 43, and the inner surfaces of the left side wall 39 and the right side wall 40.

  In the developing chamber 55, the developing roller 3 is rotatably supported by the left side wall 39 and the right side wall 40. The left end portion of the developing roller 3 extends to the left from the left side wall 39 of the developing cartridge 1. The developing roller 3 is disposed above the lip portion 47 of the bottom wall 42 with a space therebetween.

  In the developing chamber 55, the supply roller 4 is disposed on the front lower side with respect to the developing roller 3. The supply roller 4 is accommodated in the arc portion 46 of the bottom wall 42 and is rotatably supported by the left side wall 39 and the right side wall 40. The left end portion of the supply roller 4 extends to the left from the left side wall 39 of the developing cartridge 1.

The agitator 5 is rotatably supported by the left side wall 39 and the right side wall 40 in the central portion of the toner storage chamber 56.
(2) Agitator As shown in FIG. 1, the agitator 5 includes an agitator shaft 61, a blade fixing portion 62, and a stirring blade 63.

  The agitator shaft 61 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction. An insertion hole (not shown) is disposed in the left side wall 39, and the left end portion of the agitator shaft 61 extends to the left of the left side wall 39 through the insertion hole as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the blade fixing portion 62 includes a plurality of plate-like portions 62A and a connecting portion 62B.

  Each of the plurality of plate-like portions 62 </ b> A has a substantially plate shape extending from a part of the peripheral surface of the agitator shaft 61 outward in the radial direction. The plurality of plate-like portions 62A are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction.

  The connecting portion 62B has a substantially plate shape extending in the left-right direction so as to connect the ends of the plurality of plate-like portions 62A opposite to the ends connected to the agitator shaft 61.

The stirring blade 63 is made of a flexible film material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The stirring blade 63 has a substantially rectangular shape extending in the left-right direction. The stirring blade 63 is supported by the agitator shaft 61 via the blade fixing portion 62 by fixing one end of the stirring blade 63 to the radially outer surface of the agitator shaft 61 in the connecting portion 62B.
(3) Drive Unit As shown in FIG. 3, the drive unit 36 is disposed at the left end of the developing cartridge 1. The drive unit 36 includes a gear train 65, a gear cover 73, and a restriction member 66.

  The gear train 65 is disposed on the left surface of the left side wall 39 and includes a development coupling 70, a development gear 67, a supply gear 68, a chipped gear 71, and an agitator gear 72.

  The development coupling 70 is disposed at the rear end portion of the left side wall 39. The development coupling 70 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction.

  The development coupling 70 is integrally provided with a coupling gear portion 74 and a coupling portion 75.

  The coupling gear portion 74 is a right portion of the development coupling 70. The coupling gear portion 74 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction. The coupling gear portion 74 has gear teeth over the entire peripheral surface thereof.

  The coupling part 75 is a left part of the development coupling 70. The coupling part 75 has a substantially cylindrical shape sharing a central axis with the coupling gear part 74. The outer diameter of the coupling part 75 is smaller than the outer diameter of the coupling gear part 74. The left end surface of the coupling portion 75 is recessed rightward, and a convex portion 75A is provided on the inner surface. Accordingly, the coupling unit 75 is configured to be coupled to a drive unit (not shown) of the printer 10.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the development coupling 70 is rotatably supported on a coupling support shaft 69 on the left side wall 39. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the developing coupling 70 is configured to rotate about a rotation axis A1 extending in the left-right direction.

  The development gear 67 is disposed below the development coupling 70. The developing gear 67 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction, and has gear teeth over the entire peripheral surface thereof. A front upper end portion of the developing gear 67 meshes with a rear lower end portion of the coupling gear portion 74 of the developing coupling 70. The developing gear 67 is assembled so as to receive the left end portion of the developing roller 3 so as not to be relatively rotatable, and is disposed on the left side of the developing frame 2. As a result, the developing gear 67 is configured so as to rotate integrally with the developing roller 3 about a rotation axis A4 extending in the left-right direction.

  The supply gear 68 is disposed below the development coupling 70. The supply gear 68 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction, and has gear teeth over the entire peripheral surface thereof. The upper end portion of the supply gear 68 meshes with the lower end portion of the coupling gear portion 74 of the developing coupling 70. The supply gear 68 is assembled so as to receive the left end portion of the supply roller 4 in a relatively non-rotatable manner, and is disposed on the left side of the developing frame 2. As a result, the supply gear 68 is configured to rotate integrally with the supply roller 4 about a rotation axis A5 extending in the left-right direction.

  The chipped gear 71 is disposed in front of the development coupling 70. The chipped gear 71 is made of, for example, a resin material, and integrally includes a first gear portion 76, a second gear portion 77, and a bearing portion 78, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

  The first gear portion 76 is disposed at the left end portion of the chipped gear 71. The first gear portion 76 has a substantially disc shape having a thickness in the left-right direction. The first gear portion 76 includes gear teeth (not shown) over the entire peripheral surface thereof. The rear end portion of the first gear portion 76 meshes with the front end portion of the coupling gear portion 74 of the development coupling 70 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the second gear portion 77 has a substantially cylindrical shape whose center axis coincides with the first gear portion 76, and from the right surface of the first gear portion 76 to the right. It protrudes. The outer diameter of the second gear portion 77 is smaller than the outer diameter of the first gear portion 76. The second gear portion 77 includes a slit 80 as an example of a groove, a tooth portion 81, and a missing tooth portion 82.

  The slit 80 is a portion having a central angle of approximately 15 ° in the second gear portion 77 and extends over the entire left and right direction of the second gear portion 77.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the tooth portion 81 is a portion of the second gear portion 77 having a central angle of approximately 55 °, and is disposed adjacent to the slit 80 upstream in the counterclockwise direction in the left side view. Yes. The tooth part 81 has gear teeth on its peripheral surface. The gear teeth of the tooth portion 81 have an involute tooth profile. As shown in FIG. 5, the pitch of the gear teeth in the tooth portion 81, that is, the meshing in the adjacent gear teeth from the contact point (meshing position) where a force is applied in the gear portion 81 in the meshing state in one gear tooth. The distance along the pitch circle to the contact point (engagement position) where force is applied in the state is B1. The pitch circle is a virtual circle that passes through the contact point (engagement position) of the gear teeth and extends along the circumferential direction of the second gear portion 77.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the missing tooth portion 82 is a portion of the second gear portion 77 other than the tooth portion 81 and the slit 80 and has a central angle of approximately 290 °. The peripheral surface of the chipped portion 82 has no curved surface and has a curved surface with no irregularities.

  The bearing portion 78 has a substantially cylindrical shape whose center axis coincides with the first gear portion 76, and protrudes rightward from the right surface of the first gear portion 76. The outer diameter of the bearing portion 78 is smaller than the inner diameter of the second gear portion 77. The length of the bearing portion 78 in the left-right direction is substantially the same as the length of the second gear portion 77 in the left-right direction.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the chipped gear 71 is rotatably supported on the left side wall 33 by the bearing portion 78 receiving the gear support shaft 79 of the left side wall 33 so as to be relatively rotatable. Accordingly, the chipped gear 71 is configured to rotate about the rotation axis A2 extending in the left-right direction.

  Further, in the tooth portion 81, a line segment connecting the tip G1 of one gear tooth and the rotation axis A2 and a line segment connecting the tip G2 of the gear tooth adjacent to the gear tooth and the rotation axis A2 are formed. The angle θ1 is approximately 15 °.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the agitator gear 72 is disposed in front of the chipped gear 71 and has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction. The agitator gear 72 is integrally provided with a gear portion 85 and a bearing portion 86.

  The gear portion 85 is a left portion of the agitator gear 72 and has gear teeth over the entire peripheral surface thereof. The gear teeth of the gear portion 85 have an involute tooth profile. The outer diameter of the gear portion 85 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the second gear portion 77. As shown in FIG. 5, the number of gear teeth in the gear portion 85 is an integral multiple of the number of gear teeth in the tooth portion 81 of the second gear portion 77. Specifically, the gear portion 85 has 28 gear teeth, and the tooth portion 81 has four gear teeth. That is, the number of gear teeth in the gear portion 85 is seven times the number of gear teeth in the tooth portion 81.

  Further, the gear tooth pitch in the gear portion 85, that is, the contact point to which force is applied when the gear portion 85 is engaged with one gear tooth from the contact point to which force is applied when adjacent gear teeth are engaged. The distance along the circle pitch is B2. The gear tooth pitch B <b> 2 in the gear portion 85 is the same as the gear tooth pitch B <b> 1 in the tooth portion 81 of the chipped gear 71.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the bearing portion 86 is a right portion of the agitator gear 72, and the gear portion 85 and the central axis coincide with each other.

  The agitator gear 72 is attached so as to receive the left end portion of the agitator shaft 61 so as not to be relatively rotatable, and is disposed on the left side of the developing frame 2. As a result, the agitator gear 72 is configured to rotate integrally with the agitator 5 about a rotation axis A3 extending in the left-right direction.

  Further, in the gear portion 85, a line segment connecting the tip G3 of one gear tooth and the rotation axis A3 and a line segment connecting the tip G4 of the gear tooth adjacent to the gear tooth and the rotation axis A3 are formed. The angle θ2 is approximately 15 °. The angle θ2 is the same as the angle θ1.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the gear cover 73 has a substantially box shape that opens toward the right, and is a gear train 65, that is, a development coupling 70, a development gear 67, and a supply gear 68. The chipped gear 71 and the agitator gear 72 are covered. The gear cover 73 includes a cover plate 95, a support shaft 88, and a peripheral side wall 96.

  The cover plate 95 has a substantially plate shape extending in the front-rear direction. The cover plate 95 has an opening 87.

  The opening 87 is disposed in the rear portion of the cover plate 95. The opening 87 has a substantially circular shape in side view that penetrates the cover plate 95 in the left-right direction.

  The support shaft 88 is an upper part of the cover plate 95 and extends from the center part in the front-rear direction to the right, and has a substantially cylindrical shape. The support shaft 88 is disposed above the agitator gear 72. That is, the support shaft 88 is disposed above the rotation axis A3.

  The peripheral side wall 96 extends rightward from the entire peripheral edge of the cover plate 95. The peripheral side wall 96 has a substantially annular shape in a side view.

  The gear cover 73 covers the gear train 65 such that the cover plate 95 covers the left side of the gear train 65 and the peripheral side wall 96 covers the upper, lower, front, and rear sides of the gear train 65. In a state in which the gear cover 73 covers the gear train 65, the opening 87 receives the developing coupling 70 therein.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the restricting member 66 includes a swinging portion 89 and a second contact portion 92.

  The swing part 89 is made of, for example, resin, and includes a central part 90 and a protruding part 91 as an example of a connecting part.

  The center part 90 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction. The inner diameter of the central portion 90 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the support shaft 88.

  The projecting portion 91 has a substantially rod shape, specifically a substantially prismatic shape, projecting from the peripheral surface of the center portion 90 toward the radially outer side of the center portion 90.

  The swinging portion 89 is disposed such that the central portion 90 receives the support shaft 88 in a rotatable manner and the protruding portion 91 extends forward and downward.

  Thereby, the swinging portion 89 can swing around the support shaft 88. Further, the lower end portion of the protruding portion 91 is disposed on the front upper side with respect to the agitator gear 72. Further, the edge 91A of the protruding portion 91 as an example of the first abutting portion is disposed downstream of the swinging portion 89 in the rotation direction R1, which will be described later, and above the gear teeth of the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72. Is touching.

The second contact portion 92 is fixed to the rear surface at the lower end portion of the protruding portion 91. The second contact portion 92 is in contact with the gear teeth of the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 from the front. That is, the second contact portion 92 is disposed between the gear teeth of the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 and the protruding portion 91. Further, the second contact portion 92 is disposed downstream of the swinging portion 89 in the rotation direction R1 described later. In addition, the edge 91A of the 2nd contact part 92 and the protrusion part 91 comprises an example of an engaging part.
4). Operation of the Drive Unit As shown in FIG. 3, when a drive unit (not shown) of the printer 10 is coupled to the convex portion 75A of the coupling unit 75 of the development coupling 70 and a driving force is applied, the development coupling 70 is Rotate clockwise in the left side view.

  When the driving force is applied from the development coupling 70 to the development gear 67, the supply gear 68, and the chipped gear 71 by the rotation of the development coupling 70, the development gear 67, the supply gear 68, and the chipped gear 71, respectively Rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the left.

  When the chipped gear 71 rotates, the tooth portion 81 of the chipped gear 71 starts to mesh with the front end portion of the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 from the upstream in the clockwise direction in the left side view, as shown in FIG.

  At this time, if the tooth portion 81 of the chipped gear 71 and the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 do not mesh smoothly, specifically, the tip of the gear tooth of the tooth portion 81 of the chipped gear 71 and the agitator gear When the tips of the gear teeth of the 72 gear portions 85 come into contact with each other so as to face each other, the second gear portion 77 of the chipped gear 71 is elastically deformed. The gear teeth of the tooth portion 81 of the missing tooth gear 71 enter between the gear teeth in the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72, and the tooth portion 81 of the missing tooth gear 71 and the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72. Mesh with each other.

  When the chipped gear 71 is further rotated and a driving force is applied from the chipped gear 71 to the agitator gear 72, the agitator gear 72 rotates as an example of one direction that is the clockwise direction in the left side view. Rotate to R1. Thereby, although mentioned later in detail, a driving force is transmitted to the agitator 5.

  Next, when the chipped tooth gear 71 further rotates, the meshing state between the tooth part 81 of the chipped gear 71 and the gear part 85 of the agitator gear 72 is finished as shown in FIG. Then, the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 faces the missing tooth portion 82 of the missing tooth gear 71 in a state of being separated forward, and the rotation of the agitator gear 72 is stopped.

  Here, as described above, the number of gear teeth in the gear portion 85 is an integral multiple of the number of gear teeth in the tooth portion 81 of the chipped gear 71, that is, seven times. Since the agitator gear 72 moves by the width of each gear tooth between the start and end of the meshing state with the chipped gear 71, the agitator gear 72 rotates more than one-seventh rotation. Specifically, it makes a quarter turn.

  Thereafter, when the missing tooth gear 71 further rotates, the tooth portion 81 of the missing tooth gear 71 moves away from the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72, and then again, as shown in FIG. Engage with the gear portion 85.

  That is, after the engagement state between the tooth portion 81 of the chipped gear 71 and the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 is finished, when the driving force is further applied to the chipped gear 71, the chipped gear 71 further While rotating, the agitator gear 72 maintains a stopped state. Then, when the tooth portion 81 of the chipped gear 71 and the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 are engaged again, the agitator gear 72 rotates again.

Thus, the agitator gear 72 rotates intermittently. When the chipped gear 71 rotates once, the agitator gear 72 rotates one quarter. In other words, when the chipped gear 71 rotates four times, the agitator gear 72 rotates once.
5). Operation of Agitator Further, the agitator 5 rotates integrally with the agitator gear 72. Therefore, the agitator 5 rotates intermittently in the rotation direction R1. In other words, the agitator 5 sequentially repeats the rotation state in which the motor rotates by a quarter in the rotation direction R1 and the stop state. In the stopped state, the agitator 5 stops at a plurality of positions, that is, at any one of the four positions.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the agitator 5 stops at a position A where the stirring blade 63 is upstream of the communication port 58 in the rotation direction R <b> 1 and closest to the communication port 58. As shown in FIG. 6, the agitator 5 is located at a position B where the stirring blade 63 is downstream of the communication port 58 in the rotation direction R <b> 1 and closest to the communication port 58. Then, the agitator 5 stops at a position C that is a position to stop next to the position B and a position D that is a position to stop next to the position C.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the posture of the agitator 5 that stops at the position A is the first posture. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the posture of the agitator 5 that stops at the position B is the second posture. In other words, the agitator 5 rotates in the rotation direction R1 without stopping from the position A to the position B, in other words, from the state of taking the first posture to the state of taking the second posture. That is, the tooth portion 81 of the chipped gear 71 has a central angle necessary to rotate at least the agitator 5 from the first posture to the second posture.

  Similarly, as shown in FIG. 6, the agitator 5 rotates in the rotation direction R1 without stopping between the position B and the position C and between the position C and the position D.

  When the agitator 5 moves from the position B to the position A, the stirring blade 63 maintains an elastically deformed state and sequentially comes into sliding contact with the plurality of ribs 44, the front wall 41, and the curved portion 45. Specifically, when the agitator 5 rotates in the rotation direction R <b> 1 from the position B to the position C, the stirring blade 63 is in sliding contact with the central portion and the front portion of the plurality of ribs 44. Further, when the agitator 5 rotates in the rotation direction R <b> 1 from the position C to the position D, the agitator 5 is in sliding contact with the front wall 41 and the front portion of the curved portion 45 of the bottom wall 42. Further, when the agitator 5 rotates in the rotation direction R <b> 1 from the position D to the position A, the stirring blade 63 is in sliding contact with the central portion and the rear portion of the curved portion 45 of the bottom wall 42. Then, when the agitator 5 rotates in the rotation direction R1 between the position A and the position B, the stirring blade 63 passes through the communication port 58 and its elastic deformation is released.

As a result, the toner in the toner storage chamber 56 passes through the communication port 58 and is smoothly fed into the developing chamber 55.
6). As shown in FIG. 5, when the agitator gear 72 rotates in the rotation direction R <b> 1, one gear tooth M <b> 1 of the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 is It abuts on the second abutment portion 92 from behind.

  Then, when the agitator gear 72 further rotates in the rotation direction R1 from the state where one gear tooth M1 of the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 is in contact with the second contact portion 92 of the swing portion 89, the swing portion 89. The protruding portion 91 is pressed forward by the one gear tooth M <b> 1 of the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 via the second contact portion 92.

  Then, the protruding portion 91 of the swinging portion 89 swings toward the front side about the support shaft 88.

  Next, the agitator gear 72 further rotates, and one gear tooth M1 of the gear portion 85 that has been in contact with the second contact portion 92 of the swing portion 89 is removed from the second contact portion 92 of the swing portion 89. When separated, the protruding portion 91 of the swinging portion 89 swings toward the rear side about the support shaft 88 due to its own weight.

  At this time, the edge 91 </ b> A of the protruding portion 91 is disposed on the upstream side in the rotational direction R <b> 1 with respect to one gear tooth M <b> 1 of the gear portion 85.

  The second abutting portion 92 of the swinging portion 89 abuts on the gear tooth M2 next to one gear tooth M1 in the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72. Specifically, the second contact portion 92 of the swinging portion 89 contacts the next gear tooth M2 of the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 from the front side, that is, from the downstream side in the rotational direction R1. .

  As described above, in the state where the agitator gear 72 rotates in the rotation direction R1, the second contact portion 92 of the swing portion 89 repeats contact and separation with the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72, thereby swinging. The protruding portion 91 of the moving portion 89 repeats swinging in the front-rear direction around the support shaft 88. That is, the swinging portion 89 allows the agitator gear 72 to rotate in the rotational direction R1.

  Further, in a state where the agitator gear 72 is stopped, the edge 91A of the projecting portion 91 is disposed on the upstream side in the rotational direction R1 with respect to the gear teeth of the gear portion 85, and the second abutting portion 92 is disposed on the agitator gear. 72 abuts against the gear portion 85 from the downstream side in the rotational direction R1.

  However, a force may be applied to the agitator gear 72 in the direction opposite to the rotation direction R1. For example, when the agitator 5 is stopped in a state where the blade fixing portion 62 is disposed above and behind the agitator shaft 61, specifically, when the agitator 5 stops at the position B, the blade fixing portion 62 and the agitation Due to the dead weight of the blade 63, a force is applied to the agitator 5, and consequently the agitator gear 72, in the direction opposite to the rotation direction R1.

  At this time, the protruding portion 91 of the swinging portion 89 engages with the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 to rotate the agitator gear 72 in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the left side, that is, as an example of another direction. The rotation in the direction R2 is restricted. Specifically, the edge 91A of the protrusion 91 of the swinging portion 89 is engaged with the gear teeth of the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 from the rear upper side, that is, from the upstream side in the rotational direction of the agitator gear 72. At the same time, the rotation of the agitator gear 72 in the rotation direction R2 is restricted.

  Thereby, the rotation of the agitator 5 in the rotation direction R2 is restricted.

Thus, the regulating member 66 regulates the rotation of the agitator 5 in the rotation direction R2 while allowing the agitator 5 to rotate in the rotation direction R1.
7). Effect
(1) According to the developing cartridge 1, as shown in FIG. 1, when the chipped gear 71 is rotated counterclockwise when the driving force is applied, the agitator gear 72 is moved to the chipped gear. When the toothed portion 81 is engaged with the toothed portion 81, the toothed portion rotates in the clockwise direction when viewed from the left side, and is not engaged with the toothed portion 81 of the missing tooth gear 71. The agitator gear 72 rotates integrally with the agitator 5.

  Therefore, the agitator 5 can be reliably rotated intermittently in the rotation direction R1.

  Further, the swinging portion 89 restricts the agitator gear 72 from rotating in the rotation direction R2.

  Therefore, even when a force that rotates in the rotational direction R2 is applied to the agitator 5 by its own weight, the swinging portion 89 can restrict the agitator gear 72 from rotating in the rotational direction R2.

As a result, the agitator 5 can be prevented from rotating in the rotation direction R2.
(2) Further, according to the developing cartridge 1, as shown in FIG. 5, the swinging portion 89 has the protruding portion 91 engaged with the gear teeth of the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72, whereby the agitator gear 72. Rotation in the rotation direction R2 is restricted.

Therefore, the rotation of the agitator gear 72 in the rotation direction R2 can be reliably restricted.
(3) Further, according to the developing cartridge 1, as shown in FIG. 5, the protruding portion 91 of the swinging portion 89 is formed when the agitator gear 72 rotates in the rotation direction R2, that is, the agitator gear 72 rotates. When rotating toward the upstream side of R1, it engages with the agitator gear 72 from the upstream side in the rotation direction R1.

  Therefore, the protruding portion 91 of the swinging portion 89 can be reliably engaged with the gear teeth of the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72.

As a result, the rotation of the agitator gear 72 in the rotation direction R2 can be more reliably regulated.
(4) Further, according to the developing cartridge 1, as shown in FIG. 5, in the regulating member 66, the edge 91A of the projecting portion 91 and the second contact portion 92 are in the rotational direction R1 more than the central portion 90. It is arranged downstream.

Therefore, the edge 91 </ b> A of the protruding portion 91 and the second contact portion 92 can be more reliably engaged with the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72.
(5) Further, according to the developing cartridge 1, as shown in FIG. 5, when the agitator gear 72 rotates in the rotation direction R2, the edge 91A of the protruding portion 91 abuts on the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72, When the agitator gear 72 rotates in the rotation direction R1, the second contact portion 92 and the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 abut.

Therefore, the edge 91 </ b> A of the protruding portion 91 and the second contact portion 92 can be reliably engaged with the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 with a simple configuration.
(6) Further, according to the developing cartridge 1, as shown in FIG. 5, the regulating member 66 includes the second contact portion 92 made of an elastic material. The second contact portion 92 contacts the gear teeth of the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 from the downstream side in the rotation direction R1.

Therefore, the sound generated when the second contact portion 92 and the gear teeth of the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 abut can be reduced.
(7) Moreover, according to this developing cartridge 1, as shown in FIG. 5, the rocking | swiveling part 89 is arrange | positioned above the rotation axis A3.

  Therefore, even if the protrusion 91 of the swinging portion 89 abuts against the agitator gear 72 and rotates toward the front side around the center portion 90, the original state, that is, the center portion 90 is changed by its own weight. It can be rotated toward the rear side as a center.

  Since the protruding portion 91 is disposed above the rotation axis A3, the protruding portion 91 engages with the agitator gear 72 when the swinging portion 89 rotates rearward about the central portion 90.

Therefore, the protrusion 91 can be easily engaged with the agitator gear 72.
(8) Further, according to the developing cartridge 1, as shown in FIG. 6, the agitator 5 is rotated in the rotational direction R1 while the tooth portion 81 of the chipped gear 71 is engaged with the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72. The first position located upstream of the communication port 58 in FIG. 1 moves to the second position located downstream of the communication port 58 in the rotational direction R1.

  Here, in a state where the agitator 5 is positioned between the first posture and the second posture, if the rotation stops, there are cases where the toner cannot be smoothly delivered from the toner storage chamber 56.

  However, as described above, the agitator 5 moves from the first posture to the second posture while the tooth portion 81 of the chipped gear 71 is engaged with the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72.

As a result, the toner can be reliably delivered from the toner storage chamber 56 by the agitator 5.
(9) According to the developing cartridge 1, as shown in FIG. 6, the stirring blade 63 of the agitator 5 is elastically deformed while the agitator 5 rotates in the clockwise direction when viewed from the left side, and the cover frame 38, the front wall 41, and the lip portion 47 of the bottom wall 42 are sequentially brought into sliding contact.

Therefore, it can suppress that the rotational speed of the agitator 5 becomes high.
(10) Further, according to the developing cartridge 1, as shown in FIG. 5, in the tooth portion 81 of the chipped gear 71, a line segment connecting the tip G1 of one gear tooth and the rotation axis A2 and its gear An angle θ1 formed by a line segment connecting the tip G2 of the gear tooth adjacent to the tooth and the rotation axis A2 is obtained by connecting the tip G3 of one gear tooth and the rotation axis A3 in the gear portion 85 of the chipped gear 71. The angle θ2 formed by the connecting line segment and the line segment connecting the tip end G4 of the gear tooth adjacent to the gear tooth and the rotation axis A3 is the same.

Therefore, the tooth part 81 of the chipped gear 71 and the gear part 85 of the agitator gear 72 can be reliably meshed with each other.
(11) Further, according to the developing cartridge 1, the slit 80 is located in the second gear portion 77 of the chipped gear 71 as shown in FIG.

  Therefore, when the phase of the tooth part 81 of the chipped gear 71 and the phase of the gear part 85 of the agitator gear 72 are shifted and do not mesh smoothly, the second gear part 77 of the chipped gear 71 is elastic. Deform. The gear teeth of the tooth portion 81 of the missing tooth gear 71 enter between the gear teeth in the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72, and the tooth portion 81 of the missing tooth gear 71 and the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72. Mesh with each other.

As a result, the tooth portion 81 of the chipped gear 71 and the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 can be more reliably engaged with each other.
8). Second Embodiment With reference to FIG. 7, a second embodiment of the developing cartridge will be described. In the following, members similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
(1) Second embodiment
(1-1) Details of Developer Cartridge of Second Embodiment In the first embodiment described above, the swinging portion 89 engages with the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72.

  On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the developing cartridge 111 includes the restriction gear 100, and the swinging portion 189 engages with the restriction gear 100.

  Specifically, in the second embodiment, the right end portion of the agitator shaft 161 of the agitator 115 extends to the right from the right side wall 140. The restriction gear 100 is attached to the right end portion of the agitator shaft 161.

  The restriction gear 100 has a substantially disk shape having a thickness in the left-right direction, and has gear teeth over the entire peripheral surface thereof. The diameter of the restriction gear 100 is larger than the diameter of the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72.

  Further, the pitch of the gear teeth in the restriction gear 100 is B3. The gear tooth pitch B3 in the restriction gear 100 is shorter than the gear tooth pitch B2 in the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72 shown in FIG.

  The restriction gear 100 is attached to the right end portion of the agitator shaft 161 so as not to be relatively rotatable, and is disposed on the right side of the developing frame 112. That is, the restriction gear 100 is disposed on the opposite side of the drive unit 36 with respect to the developing frame 112. Accordingly, the restriction gear 100 is configured to rotate about the rotation axis A6 integrally with the agitator gear 72 and the agitator 115.

  In the restriction gear 100, an angle θ3 formed by a line segment connecting the tip G5 of one gear tooth and the rotation axis A6 and a line segment connecting the tip G6 of the gear tooth adjacent to the gear tooth and the rotation axis A6. Is approximately 10 °. The angle θ3 is smaller than the angle θ2.

  A support shaft 188 is disposed on the right side wall 140.

  The support shaft 188 extends rightward from the center portion in the front-rear direction of the right surface of the right side wall 140 and has a substantially cylindrical shape. The support shaft 188 is disposed above the rotation axis A6.

  Further, the restriction member 166 is disposed behind the restriction gear 100 on the right surface of the right side wall 140.

  The restricting member 166 includes a swinging part 189 and a second contact part 192.

  The swinging part 189 is made of, for example, resin and includes a central part 190 and a protruding part 191.

  The center part 190 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction. The inner diameter of the central portion 190 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the support shaft 188.

  The projecting portion 191 has a substantially rod shape projecting from the peripheral surface of the center portion 190 outward in the radial direction of the center portion 190, specifically toward the front upper side, specifically, a substantially prismatic shape. .

  The swinging portion 189 is disposed such that the center portion 190 receives the support shaft 188 in a rotatable manner, and the protruding portion 191 extends forward and downward.

  Thereby, the swinging part 189 can swing around the support shaft 188.

  The second contact portion 192 is fixed to the lower surface of the front end portion of the protruding portion 191. The second contact portion 192 is in contact with the gear teeth of the restriction gear from above.

  Then, when the agitator 115 rotates in the rotation direction R1 and the restriction gear 100 rotates in the rotation direction R1, the second contact portion 192 of the swinging portion 189 makes contact and separation with the gear teeth of the restriction gear 100. repeat. That is, the swinging portion 189 allows the restriction gear 100 to rotate in the rotation direction R1.

  Further, in a state in which the restriction gear 100 is stopped, the edge 191A of the protruding portion 191 is disposed on the upstream side in the rotation direction R1 with respect to the gear teeth of the restriction gear 100, and the second contact portion 192 Abut against 100 gear teeth from the downstream side in the rotational direction R1.

When a force is applied to the agitator 115 in the direction opposite to the rotation direction R1 due to the dead weights of the blade fixing portion 62 and the stirring blade 63 shown in FIG. 1, the protruding portion 191 of the swinging portion 189 engages with the restriction gear 100. Thus, the rotation of the restriction gear 100 in the rotation direction R2 is restricted.
(1-2) Effects of Second Embodiment According to the developing cartridge 111 of the second embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Further, according to the developing cartridge 111 of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the swinging portion 189 engages with the restriction gear 100 having a larger diameter than the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72.

  Therefore, the force applied to the swinging portion 189 can be made smaller than when the swinging portion 189 is engaged with the gear portion 85 of the agitator gear 72.

  Further, according to the developing cartridge 111, as shown in FIG. 7, in the restriction gear 100, a line segment connecting the tip G5 of one gear tooth and the rotation axis A6 and the gear tooth adjacent to the gear tooth. The angle θ3 formed by the line segment connecting the tip G6 of the gear and the rotation axis A6 is a line segment connecting the tip G3 of one gear tooth and the rotation axis A6 in the gear portion 85 of the chipped gear 71 and its gear teeth. Is smaller than an angle θ2 formed by a line segment connecting the tip G4 of the adjacent gear teeth and the rotation axis A6.

  Therefore, the angle between one gear tooth and the adjacent gear tooth in the restriction gear 100 can be reduced.

  As a result, the angle at which the restriction gear 100 rotates can be reduced between the engagement of the gear teeth of the restriction gear 100 and the protrusion 191 until the next engagement of the gear teeth of the restriction gear 100. .

Therefore, the rotation of the agitator 115 in the rotation direction R2 can be more reliably regulated.
9. In the above embodiment, the number of gear teeth in the gear portion 85 is seven times the number of gear teeth in the tooth portion 81, but the number of gear teeth in the gear portion 85 is the gear in the tooth portion 81. There is no particular limitation as long as it is an integral multiple of the number of teeth. That is, the number of gear teeth in the gear unit 85 is appropriately changed depending on the number of times the agitator 5 is stopped.

  In the above embodiment, the support shaft 88 protrudes from the gear cover 73, but may be configured to protrude from the left side wall 39.

  In the above embodiment, the regulating member 66 is provided in the developing cartridge 1 including the developing roller 3. For example, the toner cartridge having only the toner storage chamber 56 therein, or the drum cartridge 20 and the developing cartridge 1 are integrated. A restriction member 66 may be provided in the process cartridge.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Developing cartridge 2 Developing frame 5 Agitator 58 Communication port 61 Agitator shaft 62 Blade fixing portion 63 Stirring blade 71 Broken tooth gear 72 Agitator gear 80 Slit 81 Tooth portion 82 Broken tooth portion 89 Swing portion 91 Protruding portion 92 Second contact portion 100 Regulated gear

Claims (12)

An agitator configured to agitate the toner;
An agitator gear fixed to an end of the agitator;
A tooth portion configured to be applied with an external driving force to transmit the driving force to the agitator gear, and configured to mesh with the agitator gear, and a missing tooth portion not meshed with the agitator gear Chipped gears,
A restricting member configured to restrict the agitator gear, allowing the agitator gear to rotate in one direction and restricting the agitator gear from rotating in the other direction opposite to the one direction; A regulating member configured to:
Bei to give a,
The agitator gear is configured to rotate in the one direction by meshing with the tooth portion of the rotating missing tooth gear, and stop when facing the missing tooth portion of the rotating missing tooth gear. ,
The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the restriction member includes an engaging portion that engages with a gear tooth of the agitator gear when the agitator gear stops . The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion is configured to engage with a gear tooth of the agitator gear from an upstream side in the one direction. The restricting member is configured to swing, and includes a central portion including a swing center, and a connecting portion that connects the central portion and the engaging portion.
The toner cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the engaging portion is disposed downstream of the central portion in the one direction. The engaging portion is
A first contact portion that contacts the gear teeth of the agitator gear when the agitator gear rotates in the other direction;
Said any one of claims 1 gastric Shi 3 and the gear teeth of the agitator gear and the second abutment portion that abuts, characterized in that it comprises a to when the agitator gear is rotated in the one direction The toner cartridge described. The toner cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the second contact portion is made of an elastic material. The engaging portion may be positioned on the upper side than the axis of rotation of the agitator gear, the toner cartridge according to any one of claims 1 gastric Shi 5. A developing roller;
A housing having a communication port that communicates between the developing chamber in which the developing roller is located and the toner containing chamber in which the agitator is located and that contains toner;
The agitator is
In the one direction, configured to move at least between a first posture positioned upstream of the communication port and a second posture positioned downstream of the communication port; and
While the teeth are meshed with the agitator gear, characterized in that it is configured to move from said first position to said second position, in any one of claims 1 stomach Shi 6 The toner cartridge described. The agitator is
An agitator shaft,
A stirring blade supported by the agitator shaft and elastically deformable,
The toner cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the housing includes a contact portion that contacts the stirring blade and elastically deforms the stirring blade when the stirring blade rotates. In the tooth portion, an angle formed by a line segment connecting the tip of one gear tooth and the rotation axis of the chipped gear and a line connecting the tip of the adjacent gear tooth and the rotation axis of the chipped gear is In the agitator gear, the angle formed by a line connecting the tip of one gear tooth and the rotation axis of the agitator gear and a line connecting the tip of an adjacent gear tooth and the rotation axis of the agitator gear is the same. the toner cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the chipped gear further includes a groove that allows elastic deformation of the tooth portion. An agitator configured to agitate the toner;
An agitator gear fixed to one end of the agitator;
A restriction gear fixed to the other end of the agitator;
A tooth portion configured to be applied with an external driving force to transmit the driving force to the agitator gear, and configured to mesh with the agitator gear, and a missing tooth portion not meshed with the agitator gear Chipped gears,
A restricting member configured to restrict the restricting gear, the restricting gear allowing the restricting gear to rotate in one direction, and restricting the restricting gear from rotating in the other direction opposite to the one direction; A regulating member configured to:
Bei to give a,
In the restriction gear, an angle formed by a line segment connecting the tip of one gear tooth and the rotation axis of the restriction gear and a line connecting the tip of an adjacent gear tooth and the rotation axis of the restriction gear is In an agitator gear, the angle is smaller than an angle formed by a line segment connecting the tip of one gear tooth and the rotation axis of the agitator gear and a line connecting the tip of an adjacent gear tooth and the rotation axis of the agitator gear. A toner cartridge. The toner cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein a diameter of the restriction gear is larger than a diameter of the agitator gear.

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