JP6794923B2 - A developer container and an image forming apparatus equipped with the container. - Google Patents

Description

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

Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, an image forming apparatus including an image carrier, a developing apparatus, and a developer accommodating container is known. 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 is provided with a developer outlet, and the replenisher developer is supplied to the replenishment port provided in the developing apparatus.

Patent Document 1 discloses a developer storage container provided with a moving wall that moves while transporting the developer toward the developer discharge port. The moving wall moves in a predetermined moving direction toward the developer discharge port inside the tubular container body.

JP-A-2015-125333

In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the developer may leak from between the outer peripheral surface of the moving wall and the inner peripheral surface of the container body to the upstream side in the moving direction with respect to the moving wall. In this case, there is a problem that the developer leaking to the upstream side in the moving direction from the moving wall cannot be discharged from the developer discharge port.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the developer leaks from between the outer peripheral surface of the moving wall and the inner peripheral surface of the container body to the upstream side in the moving direction of the moving wall. It is an object of the present invention to provide a developer containing container capable of suppressing the above-mentioned problems, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the container.

The developer containing container according to one aspect of the present invention is a container body having an inner peripheral surface that defines an internal space extending in a tubular shape along a first direction, and is opened so as to communicate with the internal space for development. A container body, an outer peripheral surface arranged to face the inner peripheral surface of the container body, and an inner peripheral surface of the container body, in which a developer discharge port that allows the agent to be discharged is formed. In addition, the container is provided with a transport surface that defines a storage space in which the developer is housed, and while transporting the developer in the storage space toward the developer discharge port, the inside space is moved in the first direction. The moving moving wall is fixed to the moving wall so as to wrap around the entire peripheral surface of the moving wall in the circumferential direction, and is slidably closely arranged with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the container body. A seal member is provided, and the seal member is a one end portion fixed to an upper surface portion of the moving wall and the other end portion opposite to the one end portion at the upstream side of the one end portion in the first direction. The other end portion fixed to the upper surface portion of the moving wall so as to face the one end portion, and the region between the one end portion and the other end portion of the sealing member is the said moving wall. The amount of compression that is arranged so as to wrap around the outer peripheral surface and the one end of the sealing member is compressed between the inner peripheral surface of the container body and the outer peripheral surface of the moving wall is the amount of compression of the sealing member. It further has a compression promoting portion that presses the one end portion so that the other end portion is larger than the amount of compression compressed between the inner peripheral surface of the container body and the outer peripheral surface of the moving wall.

According to this configuration, the moving wall of the developer storage container moves in the first direction, so that the developer in the storage 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 the developer remaining in the storage space of the container body at the end of use is reduced. Further, the seal member has one end and the other end fixed to the upper surface of the moving wall. By arranging one end and the other end on the upper surface of the moving wall, the developer leaks between the two as compared with the case where the one end and the other end are arranged on the lower surface of the moving wall. Is deterred. Further, the compression promoting portion presses one end portion so that the compression amount of one end portion of the seal member is larger than the compression amount of the other end portion. Therefore, compression of one end portion arranged at a position close to the accommodation space is promoted, and leakage of the developer from between one end portion and the other end portion of the sealing member can be stably suppressed.

In the above configuration, the compression promoting portion is formed so that the gap between the one end portion and the other end portion is closed by the compression deformation of the one end portion and the other end portion of the sealing member. It is desirable to press the part.

According to this configuration, leakage of the developer from between one end and the other end is further suppressed.

In the above configuration, the compression promoting portion is a protruding portion projecting from the outer peripheral surface of the moving wall toward the inner peripheral surface of the container body in a region facing the one end portion of the sealing member. It is desirable to have.

According to this configuration, by providing a simple protrusion on the moving wall, it is possible to prevent the developer from leaking from between one end and the other end.

In the above configuration, it is desirable that the protrusion has an inclined surface that rises toward the downstream side in the first direction.

According to this configuration, the inclined surface compresses and deforms one end so as to approach the other end. As a result, it is possible to further prevent the developer from leaking from between one end and the other end.

In the above configuration, it is desirable that the protrusions are arranged in the entire circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the moving wall.

According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent a difference in the amount of deformation of the seal member from occurring in the circumferential direction of the moving wall. Therefore, the leakage of the developer can be stably suppressed, and the movement of the moving wall is stably realized.

In the above configuration, it is desirable that the compression promoting portion includes a region in which the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the container body is set to decrease toward the downstream side in the first direction.

According to this configuration, the amount of compression of the seal member can be increased according to the movement of the moving wall, and leakage of the developer can be suppressed.

The image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes the developer accommodating container according to any one of the above, an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface, and a developer image. It is characterized by having a developing device in which the developing agent is replenished from the developing agent containing container and the developing agent is supplied to the image carrier.

According to this configuration, one end and the other end of the seal member are arranged on the upper surface of the moving wall, so that the developer is prevented from leaking between the two.

According to the present invention, a developer containing container capable of preventing the developer from leaking from between the outer peripheral surface of the moving wall and the inner peripheral surface of the container body to the upstream side in the moving direction of the moving wall, and a developer containing container. An image forming apparatus is provided.

It is a perspective view which shows the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows the internal structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows the internal structure of the developing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows the mode that the developer is supplied to the developing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the state of the inside of the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the state of the inside of the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the moving wall of the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the moving wall of the developer container of FIG. It is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the moving wall of the developer containing container which concerns on the modified embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the moving wall of the developer containing container which concerns on the modified embodiment of this 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 present 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, but in other embodiments, the image forming apparatus includes a color printer, a facsimile machine, a multifunction device having these functions, and the like. It may be another device for forming a toner image on a sheet. The terms used in the following explanations to indicate the directions such as "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", and "right" are for the purpose of clarifying the explanation. Yes, it does not limit the principle of the image forming apparatus.

The printer 100 includes a housing 101 that houses various devices for forming an image on the sheet S. The housing 101 is a main body rear wall 105 between 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 the upper wall 102 and the bottom wall 103. (FIG. 2) and the main body front wall 104 located 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. In the main body internal space 107 of the housing 101, a sheet transport path PP for transporting the sheet S in a predetermined transport direction extends. Further, the printer 100 includes an opening / closing cover 100C that is openably / closably attached to the housing 101.

The opening / closing cover 100C is composed of a front wall upper portion 104B which is an upper portion of the main body front wall 104 and an upper wall front portion 102B which 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 the toner container 30 described later is attached / detached.

A paper ejection portion 102A is arranged at the center of the upper wall 102. The paper ejection portion 102A is formed of an inclined surface inclined downward from the front portion to the rear portion of the upper wall 102. The sheet S on which the image is formed is discharged to the paper discharge unit 102A in the image forming unit 120 described later. A manual feed tray 104A is arranged at the center of the front wall 104 of the main body in the vertical direction. The manual feed tray 104A can rotate up and down with the lower end as a fulcrum (arrow DT in FIG. 2).

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

The paper feed cassette 110 houses the sheet S inside. 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 seat S. The paper cassette 110 can be pulled out forward with respect to the housing 101.

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

The first paper feed roller 113 is arranged downstream of the pickup roller 112, and feeds the sheet S further downstream. The second paper feed roller 114 pulls the sheet S on the manual feed tray 104A into the housing 101.

The transport roller 115 is arranged downstream (hereinafter, also simply referred to as downstream) of the sheet transport direction (hereinafter, also simply referred to as the transport direction) of the first paper feed roller 113 and the second paper feed roller 114. The transport roller 115 transports the sheet S fed by the first paper feed roller 113 and the second paper feed roller 114 further downstream.

The resist roller pair 116 has a function of correcting the oblique transport of the sheet S. As a result, the position of the image formed on the sheet S is adjusted. The resist roller pair 116 supplies the sheet S to the image forming unit 120 at the timing of image formation by the image forming unit 120.

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

The photoconductor drum 121 has a cylindrical shape. The photoconductor 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. A predetermined voltage is applied to the charger 122 to charge the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 121 substantially uniformly.

The exposure apparatus 123 irradiates the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 121 charged by the charger 122 with laser light. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 121.

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

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

The fixing device 130 is arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the image forming unit 120, and fixes the toner image on the sheet S. The fixing device 130 includes a heating roller 131 for melting the toner on the sheet S and a pressure roller 132 for bringing the sheet S into close contact with the heating roller 131.

The printer 100 further includes a transfer roller pair 133 arranged downstream of the fixing device 130, and a discharge roller pair 134 arranged downstream of the transfer roller pair 133. The sheet S is conveyed upward by the transfer roller pair 133, and 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 ejection section 102A.

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

The developing roller 21 has a cylindrical shape extending in the elongated 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 divided 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. There is. The partition plate 22 is shorter than the width in the left-right direction of the developing housing 210, and at the left and right ends of the partition plate 22, the first communication passage 223 and the first communication passage 223 and the second transfer passage 223 and the second transfer passage 222, which communicate with each other, respectively A double passage 224 is provided. As a result, the storage space 220 is formed with a circulation path leading to the first transport path 221 and the second continuous passage 224, the second transport passage 222, and the first continuous passage 223. The toner is conveyed counterclockwise in FIG. 3 in the circulation path.

The toner supply port 25 (developer supply port) is an opening opened in the top plate of the developing housing 210, and is arranged above the left end of the first transport path 221. The toner supply port 25 is arranged so as to face the circulation path, and has a function of receiving the replenishment 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 arranged in the first transport path 221. The first stirring screw 23 includes a first rotating shaft 23a and a first spiral blade 23b spirally projecting on the circumference of the first rotating shaft 23a. The first stirring screw 23 is rotationally driven around the first rotation shaft 23a (arrow R2) to convey toner in the direction of arrow D1 in FIG. A first paddle 23c is arranged on the downstream side of the first stirring screw 23 in the toner transport direction (D1 direction). The first paddle 23c delivers toner from the first transport path 221 to the second transport path 222 in the direction of arrow D4 in FIG.

The second stirring screw 24 is arranged in the second transport path 222. The second stirring screw 24 includes a second rotating shaft 24a and a second spiral blade 24b spirally projecting on the circumference of the second rotating shaft 24a. The second stirring screw 24 is rotationally driven around the second rotation shaft 24a (arrow R1) to supply toner to the developing roller 21 while conveying toner in the direction of arrow D2 in FIG. A second paddle 24c is arranged on the downstream side of the second stirring screw 24 in the toner transport direction (D2 direction). The second paddle 24c delivers toner from the second transport path 222 to the first transport path 221 in the direction of arrow D3 in FIG.

The toner container 30 (FIG. 2) is arranged above the toner supply port 25 of the developing housing 210. The toner container 30 includes a toner discharge port 377 (FIG. 3). The toner discharge port 377 is arranged at the bottom 371 (FIG. 6) of the toner container 30 corresponding to the toner supply port 25 of the developing device 20. The toner that has fallen from the toner discharge port 377 is replenished to the developing device 20 from the toner replenishment port 25.

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

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

The first stirring screw 23 is provided with a suppression paddle 28 (conveyance capacity suppressing unit) on the downstream side in the toner transfer direction from the toner supply port 25, in which the transfer performance of the developer is partially suppressed. In the present embodiment, the restraining paddle 28 is a plate-shaped member arranged between the adjacent first spiral blades 23b 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 begins to stay. Then, the retention of these toners is accumulated to a position immediately upstream of the suppression paddle 28 and where the toner supply port 25 faces the first transport path 221. As a result, a developer retention portion 29 (developer retention portion) is formed near the inlet of the toner supply port 25. Further, in another embodiment, the transport capacity suppressing portion is provided by a region in which the first spiral blade 23b of the first stirring screw 23 is partially missing and the first rotating shaft 23a is partially exposed along the axial direction. It may be formed. Even in such a configuration, the transport capacity of the first stirring screw 23 is partially suppressed, so that a retaining portion for the developer is formed.

When the replenishment toner T2 is replenished from the toner replenishment port 25 and the amount of toner in the storage space 220 increases, the toner retained in the retention portion 29 closes (seals) the toner replenishment port 25 and replenishes more toner. To suppress. After that, when the toner in the storage space 220 is consumed from the developing roller 21 and the amount of toner retained in the retention portion 29 decreases, the amount of toner blocking the toner supply port 25 decreases, and between the retention portion 29 and the toner supply port 25. There will be a gap. As a result, the replenishment toner T2 flows into the storage space 220 from the toner replenishment port 25 again. As described above, in the present embodiment, a volume replenishment type toner replenishment type is adopted in which the receiving amount of the replenishment toner amount is adjusted as the amount of toner staying in the retention portion 29 decreases.

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

The toner container 30 has a tubular shape extending in the left-right direction (first direction, arrow DA direction in FIG. 5, horizontal direction). The toner container 30 houses a replenishing toner (developer) inside. With reference to FIG. 5, the toner container 30 includes a lid 31, a moving wall 32, a shaft 33, a stirring member 35, a container body 37 (container body), a toner sensor (not shown), and a first gear. 381, a second gear 382, and a cover 39 are provided.

The lid portion 31 is fixed to the container body 37 and seals the opening of the container body 37 to define the end face of the internal space 37H described later. The lid portion 31 includes a lid shaft hole portion 31J. The lid shaft hole portion 31J is provided in the central portion of the lid portion 31 and rotatably supports the shaft 33. The lid shaft hole portion 31J is a hole portion formed by a predetermined length in the left direction from the right side surface (inner surface portion) of the lid portion 31.

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

The container body 37 includes a bottom portion 371, a top plate 372, a front wall 373 (FIG. 2), a rear wall 374 (FIG. 2), a right wall 375 (FIG. 5), and a protruding wall 376 (FIG. 5). And. The bottom portion 371 is a bottom portion of the container body 37, and has a semi-cylindrical shape protruding downward. In other words, in the cross-sectional view intersecting the first direction, the bottom portion 371 has an arc shape. The front wall 373 and the rear wall 374 are a pair of side walls erected upward from the side end of the bottom portion 371. The top plate 372 is arranged above the bottom portion 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 an inner peripheral surface 37K formed by the bottom portion 371, the top plate 372, the front wall 373, and the rear wall 374, and further defined by the right wall 375 and the lid portion 31. Further, in the internal space 37H, the area between the right wall 375 and the moving wall 32 is referred to as the accommodation space 37S. The storage space 37S is a space in which the toner is stored inside the toner container 30.

The opposite side of the right wall 375 of the container body 37 in the first direction is open. Then, the lid portion 31 described above closes the opening of the container body 37. The outer peripheral edge of the lid portion 31 is ultrasonically welded to the container body 37. With reference 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.

In addition, referring to FIG. 5, the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37 is slightly inclined inward in the radial direction from the lid 31 side to the right wall 375 side. That is, the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface 37K on the lid 31 side is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface 37K on the right wall 375 side. In this embodiment, the container body 37 is integrally molded by resin molding. The pair of separation molds for molding the container body 37 are separated from each other along the first direction (left-right direction). The inclination of the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37 is formed by the draft of the mold.

Further, the container main body 37 includes a shutter 30S (FIG. 7) and a main body bearing portion 37J. Further, a toner discharge port 377 (developer discharge port) is formed in the container body 37. The toner discharge port 377 is an opening that communicates with the internal space 37H and is opened on the lower surface of the container body 37. The toner discharge port 377 allows the toner to be discharged from the container body 37. As shown in FIG. 5, the toner discharge port 377 is opened on the right end side of the container body 37. In other words, the toner discharge port 377 is arranged adjacent to the right wall 375 in the first direction. Further, the toner discharge port 377 is opened in a rectangular shape with a predetermined length along the first direction and 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 from the toner discharge port 377 toward the developing device 20. In the present embodiment, as described above, the internal space 37H of the container body 37 is formed by the bottom portion 371, the front wall 373, the rear wall 374, and the top plate 372. Therefore, due to the weight of the toner itself, the toner in the accommodation space 37S is collected at the bottom portion 371 having an arc shape, 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 supported at the right end of the container body 37. The shutter 30S closes (seals) the toner discharge port 377 from the outside of the container 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 on 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 protruding to the right from the central portion of the right wall 375. A shaft 33 is inserted through the main body bearing portion 37J. At this time, the right end side of the shaft 33 projects to the outside of the container body 37. Further, inside the cylinder of the main body bearing portion 37J, a part of the stirring member 35 (stirring bearing portion 351) is inserted between the main body bearing portion 37J and the shaft 33.

The moving wall 32 is a wall portion arranged so as to face the first direction (horizontal direction) inside the container main body 37 (internal space 37H). The moving wall 32 defines one end face (left end face) of the accommodation space 37S in the first direction. The other end face (right end face) 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 toward the toner discharge port 377 from the start of use to the end of use of the toner container 30, while moving from the initial position on one end side in the first direction to the other. It has a function of moving along the first direction in the internal space 37H to the final position on the end side. In the present embodiment, the initial position of the moving wall 32 is arranged on the right side (downstream side in the first direction) of the lid portion 31, and the final position is arranged on the immediate left side (upstream side in the first direction) of the toner discharge port 377. There is.

With reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, the moving wall 32 includes a transport surface 320S, an inner wall seal 322, a shaft seal 323, a bearing portion 32J, and an outer peripheral surface 32K. The main body of the moving wall 32, excluding the inner wall seal 322 and the shaft seal 323, is made of a non-magnetic resin material.

The outer peripheral surface 32K is arranged so as to face the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37. The transport surface 320S is a wall surface that intersects the axial direction of the shaft 33. The transport surface 320S defines a storage space 37S in which toner is housed together with the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37. The transport surface 320S transports the toner while pressing the toner in the accommodation space 37S as the moving wall 32 moves.

The bearing portion 32J 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 is inserted through the bearing portion 32J.

The bearing portion 32J includes a female spiral portion 320D (FIG. 5). The female spiral portion 320D is a spiral threaded portion (engaging portion) projecting from the inner peripheral surface of the bearing portion 32J. The female spiral portion 320D has a function of moving the moving wall 32 along the first direction by engaging with the male spiral portion 333 described later on the shaft 33.

The inner wall seal 322 is a seal member arranged so as to cover the periphery of the moving wall 32, in other words, to wrap around the entire peripheral surface 32K of the moving wall 32 in the circumferential direction. 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 surface 37K of the container body 37 and the outer peripheral surface 32K of the moving wall 32. Further, the inner wall seal 322 is slidably and closely arranged with respect to the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37. The inner wall seal 322 prevents the toner in the storage space 37S from flowing out from between the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37 and the outer peripheral surface 32K of the moving wall 32 to the upstream side in the moving direction of the moving wall 32. .. The inner wall seal 322 is fixed to the moving wall 32 by an adhesive, ultrasonic welding, or the like.

The shaft seal 323 is fixed to the bearing portion 32J on the tip side of the moving wall 32 in the moving direction with respect to the female spiral portion 320D (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 adhering to the male spiral portion 333. Therefore, the toner is prevented from agglutinating 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, it adheres to the shaft 33 over the entire circumferential direction of the shaft 33. Therefore, it is prevented that the toner in the accommodation space 37S passes through the bearing portion 32J and flows out to the upstream side in the moving direction with respect to the moving wall 32.

The shaft 33 is rotatably supported by the right wall 375 and the lid 31 of the container 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.

With reference to FIG. 5, the first shaft end portion 331 is the right end portion of the shaft 33 that penetrates the main body bearing portion 37J and projects to the right. The second shaft end portion 332 is the left end portion of the shaft 33. The second shaft end portion 332 is pivotally supported by the lid shaft hole portion 31J formed in the lid portion 31.

The male spiral portion 333 is a spiral threaded portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 33 in the internal space 37H. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, 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 of the shaft 33 adjacent to the lid portion 31. Have been placed up to. The moving wall stop portion 334 is continuously arranged on the downstream side in the first direction of the male spiral portion 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 in the shaft 33 in the internal space 37H.

The stirring member 35 (FIG. 5) is arranged above the toner discharge port 377 and along the right wall 375. The stirring member 35 stirs the toner in the accommodation space 37S and sends out 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 direction of the arrow DB. The stirring member 35 includes a stirring bearing portion 351, a stirring support portion 352, and a stirring blade 353.

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

The stirring support portion 352 is a projecting piece projecting from the left end side of the cylindrical stirring bearing portion 351 in the radial direction in the rotation of the shaft 33. The stirring support portion 352 is arranged along the right wall 375 facing the first direction. The stirring support portion 352 rotates around the shaft 33 in the accommodation space 37S. In particular, in the present embodiment, a pair of stirring support portions 352 are arranged (FIG. 6). The pair of stirring support portions 352 are arranged so as to extend toward opposite sides in the radial direction, and have a propeller shape in which the 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 projecting 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 projected 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 orbiting above 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. Further, the stirring member 35 is rotated and controlled in synchronization with the developing roller 21 of the developing device 20 during the developing operation.

The second gear 382 transmits a 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 penetrating 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 body 37. The cover 39 has a function of exposing a part of the first gear 381 and the second gear 382 in the circumferential direction to the outside and covering the other part of the first gear 381 and the second gear 382 in the circumferential direction. ..

The toner sensor is a sensor arranged at the bottom 371 of the container body 37. The toner sensor is arranged 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. Further, when there is almost no toner in the region of the accommodation space 37S facing the toner sensor, the toner sensor outputs a LOW signal (0V). 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 attached to 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 arranged at the initial position is moved to 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 according to the filled state. The control unit receives the HIGH signal output from the toner sensor and stops the moving wall 32.

As described above, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a volume replenishment type toner replenishment type is adopted. Therefore, when the retention portion 29 (FIG. 4) on the developing device 20 side seals the toner replenishment port 25 from below, the replenishment toner is unlikely to fall from the toner container 30. On the other hand, when toner is supplied from the developing roller 21 of the developing device 20 to the photoconductor drum 121 and the toner in the retention portion 29 decreases, the toner flows into the developing device 20 from the toner discharging port 377 through the toner replenishing port 25. As a result, in the accommodation space 37S of the toner container 30, the toner around the toner sensor disappears, so that the toner sensor outputs a LOW signal. Upon receiving 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 according to the developing operation in the developing device 20. As a result, the stirring member 35 arranged 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. Therefore, the fluidity of the toner is increased, and the toner is stably dropped from the toner discharge port 377.

When 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. By gradually moving the moving wall 32 in the first direction in this way, 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, inside the toner container 30, the space itself in which the toner remains is gradually disappeared. 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 the 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 of the toner discharge port 377 in the first direction. 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, the 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.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the moving wall 32 of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment. Further, FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the moving wall 32 of the toner container 30 of FIG. 5 (FIG. 8). With reference to FIG. 8, the inner wall seal 322 is made of a tape-shaped seal member and is wound around the outer peripheral surface 32K of the moving wall 32. Specifically, the inner wall seal 322 includes a first seal end portion 322A and a second seal end portion 322B on the opposite side of the first seal end portion 322A. Then, after the first seal end portion 322A of the inner wall seal 322 is fixed to the upper surface portion of the moving wall 32, the portion of the inner wall seal 322 between the first seal end portion 322A and the second seal end portion 322B is formed. It is fixed while being wound around the outer peripheral surface 32K of the moving wall 32. Further, the second seal end portion 322B of the inner wall seal 322 is fixed to the upper surface portion of the moving wall 32 so as to overlap the first seal end portion 322A. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, a bent portion 322K is formed in the vicinity of the base end portion of the second seal end portion 322B. Therefore, the second seal end portion 322B is arranged so as to face the first seal end portion 322A on the upstream side of the first seal end portion 322A in the first direction DA. The portion where the first seal end portion 322A and the second seal end portion 322B face each other is defined as the facing portion 322H. The facing portion 322H extends in the front-rear direction so as to intersect (orthogonally) the first direction DA (horizontal direction) on the upper surface portion of the moving wall 32.

The region of the inner wall seal 322 between the first seal end portion 322A and the bent portion 322K is at the same position as the first seal end portion 322A in the first direction DA (the first direction downstream end portion of the moving wall 32). ) (Fig. 8). Then, only the second seal end portion 322B of the inner wall seal 322 is arranged so as to project toward the upstream side of the DA in the first direction from the first seal end portion 322A. As a result, when the inner wall seal 322 is wound around the outer peripheral surface 32K of the moving wall 32, the operator winds the inner wall seal 322 around the moving wall 32 so that the bent portion 322K is closer to the first seal end portion 322A. After attaching, the second seal end portion 322B may be fixed to the outer peripheral surface 32K of the moving wall 32.

On the other hand, with reference to FIG. 9, the moving wall 32 includes an inclined portion 32L. The inclined portion 32L is formed on the downstream side portion of the first direction DA in the upper surface portion of the moving wall 32. The inclined portion 32L has an inclined surface that inclines upward along the first direction DA. In other words, the inclined portion 32L is formed by a part of the upper surface portion of the moving wall 32 facing the first seal end portion 322A so as to project upward (projection portion). The inclined portion 32L is formed in a region where the first seal end portion 322A of the inner wall seal 322 is fixed (adhered) to the moving wall 32. It is desirable that the inclined portion 32L is provided in a range equal to or longer than the length of the facing portion 322H (FIG. 8) in the front-rear direction. Further, the inclined portion 32L may be integrated with the moving wall 32 or may be a separate body.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the tape-shaped inner wall seal 322 is wound around the outer peripheral surface 32K of the moving wall 32. Therefore, as compared with the mode in which another inner wall seal formed in a ring shape in advance is fitted into the outer peripheral surface of the moving wall 32, it is possible to prevent the inner wall seal from being rolled up during mounting.

On the other hand, in such a configuration of the inner wall seal 322, a portion where the first seal end portion 322A and the second seal end portion 322B inevitably overlap is generated. In such a portion, toner leaks, particularly, toner tends to leak from the accommodation space 37S toward the upstream side of the moving wall 32. In the present embodiment, in order to solve such a problem, the facing portion 322H in which the first seal end portion 322A and the second seal end portion 322B face each other is arranged on the upper surface portion of the moving wall 32. In the accommodation space 37S, the amount of toner around the upper surface portion of the moving wall 32 is smaller than that around the lower surface portion of the moving wall 32. Therefore, it is prevented that the toner leaks to the upstream side of the first direction DA from the moving wall 32 through the facing portion 322H.

Further, in the present embodiment, the moving wall 32 includes an inclined portion 32L (compression promoting portion). The inclined portion 32L sets a larger amount of compression of the first seal end portion 322A as compared with the second seal end portion 322B. In other words, in the inclined portion 32L, the amount of compression that the first seal end portion 322A is compressed between the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37 and the outer peripheral surface 32K of the moving wall 32 is the amount of compression that the second seal end portion 322B has. The first seal end portion 322A is pressed so as to be larger than the amount of compression compressed between the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37 and the outer peripheral surface 32K of the moving wall 32.

Further, the inclined surface of the inclined portion 32L faces toward the second seal end portion 322B side. In other words, the inclined surface of the inclined portion 32L is inclined upward toward the downstream side of the DA in the first direction. Therefore, the compressed first seal end portion 322A is deformed so as to approach the second seal end portion 322B, and the gap between the facing portions 322H is sealed (closed). As a result, the leakage of toner in the accommodation space 37S through the facing portion 322H is further suppressed. As described above, in the present embodiment, by providing the moving wall 32 with a simple protrusion (inclined portion 32L), toner can be discharged from between the first seal end portion 322A and the second seal end portion 322B of the inner wall seal 322. It is possible to prevent leakage.

Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37 is gently inclined toward the downstream side in the first direction. The inclination is set so that the inner diameter of the container body 37 gradually decreases from the initial position to the final position of the moving wall 32. Therefore, the amount of compression of the first seal end portion 322A, which is closer to the accommodation space 37S than the second seal end portion 322B, is set to be larger, and toner leakage is stably suppressed. Further, as the moving wall 32 moves, the amount of compression of the inner wall seal 322 (first seal end portion 322A) increases. Therefore, even if the inner wall seal 322 deteriorates with the use of the toner container 30, the compression and sealing performance of the inner wall seal 322 can be maintained. As a result, toner leakage is stably suppressed.

Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the volume replenishment type toner replenishment type is adopted (FIG. 5). In such a configuration, the weight of the toner stored in the storage space 37S of the toner container 30 is applied to the toner around the toner supply port 25, so that stable toner supply is maintained. On the other hand, when the toner in the accommodation space 37S leaks to the upstream side of the moving wall 32, the pressing force for the toner in the accommodation space 37S to press the toner around the toner replenishment port 25 is insufficient, and the toner is replenished (concentration stable). (Securing sex) becomes unstable. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, the inner wall seal 322 includes the first seal end portion 322A and the second seal end portion 322B, and the moving wall 32 includes the inclined portion 32L, so that stable toner supply can be realized. It is said that.

The printer 100 provided with the toner container 30 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, while the toner in the toner container 30 is efficiently supplied to the developing apparatus 20, a toner image is formed on the photoconductor drum 121 and a stable image is formed on the sheet S. Further, it is prevented that toner leaks from between the outer peripheral surface 32K of the moving wall 32 and the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37 to the upstream side in the moving direction of the moving wall 32. 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 monochrome printer is described as the printer 100, but the present invention is not limited thereto. 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 respective toner containers 30 are adjacent to each other from above corresponding to the toners of a plurality of colors. May be mounted in the housing 101.

(2) Further, in the above embodiment, the moving wall 32 moves from the lid 31 side toward the right wall 375 side, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The moving wall 32 may move from the right wall 375 side toward the lid portion 31 side.

(3) Further, in the above embodiment, the aspect in which the inclined portion 32L of the moving wall 32 is formed on the upper surface portion of the moving wall 32 has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the moving wall 32 of the developer container according to the modified embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 10, an inclined portion 32L is also formed on the lower surface portion of the moving wall 32. That is, in the present modification embodiment, the inclined portion 32L is formed on the outer peripheral surface 32K of the moving wall 32 over the entire circumferential direction. Even in such a configuration, the leakage of toner in the accommodation space 37S through the facing portion 322H is further suppressed. Further, since the compression amount (deformation amount) of the inner wall seal 322 is made uniform over the entire circumferential direction, the sealing performance of the inner wall seal 322 can be stably maintained and toner leakage can be stably suppressed. it can. Further, since the inner wall seal 322 is prevented from being partially deformed in the circumferential direction, the moving wall 32 is maintained in a posture perpendicular to the first direction, and the movement of the moving wall 32 is stably realized. To.

(4) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the moving wall 34 of the developer container according to the modified embodiment of the present invention. The moving wall 34 includes a transport wall portion 340, an outer peripheral wall portion 341, an inner wall seal 342, a shaft seal 343, a supply hole cap 344, a moving wall shaft hole portion 34J, and an outer peripheral surface 34K.

The transport wall portion 340 is a wall portion that defines the accommodation space 37S together with the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37. In particular, the transport wall portion 340 includes a transport surface 340S perpendicular to the shaft 33. The transport surface 340S transports the toner while pressing the toner in the accommodation space 37S as the moving wall 34 moves. The transport wall portion 340 further includes a bearing portion 340A and a toner supply hole 340B (developer filling port). The bearing portion 340A is a bearing portion formed at a substantially central portion of the transport wall portion 340. The bearing portion 340A moves along the first direction while holding the moving wall 34. The shaft 33 described above is inserted through the bearing portion 340A. The toner supply hole 340B is formed above the bearing portion 340A so as to penetrate the transport wall portion 340 along the first direction. When the moving wall 34 is attached to the container body 37, the toner supply hole 340B communicates with the accommodation space 37S. When the toner container 30 is manufactured, the toner replenishment hole 340B fills the accommodation space 37S with the replenishment toner.

The outer peripheral wall portion 341 projects from the outer peripheral edge of the transport wall portion 340 toward the side opposite to the accommodation space 37S, that is, toward the upstream side in the moving direction of the moving wall 34. The outer peripheral wall portion 341 is arranged so as to face the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container main body 37. The outer peripheral wall portion 341 includes a plurality of ribs 341A. The plurality of ribs 341A are rib members extending along the first direction in the outer peripheral wall portion 341. The plurality of ribs 341A are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral wall portion 341. The rib 341A has a function of slightly contacting the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37 and preventing the moving wall 34 from inclining in the first direction inside the container body 37.

As shown in FIG. 11, the replenishment hole cap 344 is attached to the toner replenishment hole 340B via the inside of the outer peripheral wall portion 341 and seals the toner replenishment hole 340B. After the replenishment toner is filled in the accommodation space 37S from the toner replenishment hole 340B, the replenishment hole cap 344 is attached to the toner replenishment hole 340B. As a result, the toner is prevented from leaking from the toner supply hole 340B.

The inner wall seal 342 is a seal member arranged so as to cover the periphery of the transport wall portion 340 on the transport wall portion 340 side of the outer peripheral wall portion 341. As shown in FIG. 11, also in the present modification embodiment, after the first seal end portion 342A of the inner wall seal 342 is fixed to the upper part of the transport wall portion 340, the inner wall seal 342 is wound around the transport wall portion 340. It is fixed while being attached. Then, the second seal end portion 342B of the inner wall seal 342 is fixed so as to overlap the first seal end portion 342A. The inner wall seal 342 is compressed and deformed between the inner peripheral portion 37K of the container body 37 and the moving wall 34. The inner wall seal 342 prevents the toner in the accommodation space 31S from flowing out from between the inner peripheral portion 31K of the container body 31 and the moving wall 34 to the upstream side in the moving direction with respect to the moving wall 34. Also in this modified embodiment, an inclined portion (inclined portion 32L of the previous embodiment) (not shown) is formed on at least a part of the outer peripheral surface of the moving wall 34. Therefore, it is further prevented that the toner leaks from the gap between the first seal end portion 342A and the second seal end portion 342B. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the base end portion 342K of the second seal end portion 342B may extend so as to be slightly inclined with respect to the front-rear direction. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the bent portion 322K of the inner wall seal 322 is bent at a right angle (may be substantially a right angle), and the first seal end portion 322A is arranged so as to fit into the bent portion 322K so as to face each other. The entry of toner into the portion 322H is further prevented. At this time, since the inclined portion 32L is also formed below the bent portion 322K, the gap between the bent portion 322K and the first seal end portion 322A is easily crushed, which is more preferable.

100 printer (image forming device)
121 Photoreceptor drum (image carrier)
126 Transfer roller (transfer section)
20 Developing device 210, 210P Developing housing 30 Toner container (developer container)
31 Lid 32, 34 Moving wall 322, 342 Inner wall seal 322A, 342A First seal end (one end)
322B, 342B 2nd seal end (other end)
32L Inclined portion 320S, 340S Transport surface 32K, 34K Outer peripheral surface 33 Shaft 35 Stirring member 37 Container body (container body)
377 Toner outlet (developer outlet)
37H Interior space 37K Interior surface 37S Accommodation space

Claims (6)

A container body having an inner peripheral surface that defines an internal space extending in a tubular shape along the first direction, and a developer discharge port that is opened so as to communicate with the internal space and allows the developer to be discharged. Is formed, the container body and
An outer peripheral surface of the container body that faces the inner peripheral surface and a transport surface that defines the accommodating space in which the developer is accommodated together with the inner peripheral surface of the container body are provided in the accommodating space. A moving wall that moves in the first direction in the internal space while transporting the developer toward the developer discharge port.
A seal member fixed to the moving wall so as to wrap around the entire circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the moving wall and slidably closely arranged with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the container body.
With
The seal member has one end portion fixed to the upper surface portion of the moving wall and the other end portion opposite to the one end portion so as to face the one end portion on the upstream side of the one end portion in the first direction. The other end is fixed to the upper surface of the moving wall, so that the region between the one end and the other end of the sealing member winds around the outer peripheral surface of the moving wall. Placed,
The amount of compression in which one end of the seal member is compressed between the inner peripheral surface of the container body and the outer peripheral surface of the moving wall is the amount of compression, and the other end of the seal member is the inner surface of the container body. pressing the end portion to be larger than the amount of compression is compressed between the peripheral surface and the outer circumferential surface of the moving wall, further it has a compression promoting portion,
The compression promoting portion is a protrusion that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the moving wall toward the inner peripheral surface of the container body in a region facing the one end portion of the sealing member. container. The compression promoting portion presses the one end portion so that the gap between the one end portion and the other end portion is closed by the compression deformation of the one end portion and the other end portion of the sealing member. The developer storage container according to claim 1. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion has an inclined surface that rises toward the downstream side in the first direction. The developer storage container according to claim 1 or 3 , wherein the protrusions are arranged on the entire circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the moving wall. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the compression promoting portion includes a region in which the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the container body is set to decrease toward the downstream side in the first direction. Developer container. The developer container according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and the developer container.
An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface, and an image carrier that supports the developer image and
A developing device in which the developing agent is replenished from the developing agent storage container and the developing agent is supplied to the image carrier.
An image forming apparatus characterized by having.

Images